title: A metabolic enzyme doing double duty as a transcription factor.
abstract: Many kinds of multifunctional regulatory proteins have been identified that perform distinct biochemical functions in the nucleus, the cytoplasm, or both. Here we describe the recent discovery by Hall et al. (2004) of a new type of multifunctional protein: a metabolic enzyme that doubles as a transcription factor. This enzyme, Arg5,6, functions as a catalytic enzyme in ornithine biosynthesis and also binds and regulates the promoters of nuclear and mitochondrial genes. It may also regulate precursor mRNA metabolism. We discuss how proteins that serve as both metabolic enzymes and transcription factors might have evolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Miles F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D017851:Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor) / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C492864:Arg5,6 protein, S cerevisiae; D004798:Enzymes; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; D017851:Phosphotransferases (Carboxyl Group Acceptor)