title: A gene duplication led to specialized gamma-aminobutyrate and beta-alanine aminotransferase in yeast.
abstract: In humans, beta-alanine (BAL) and the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) are transaminated by a single aminotransferase enzyme. Apparently, yeast originally also had a single enzyme, but the corresponding gene was duplicated in the Saccharomyces kluyveri lineage. SkUGA1 encodes a homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae GABA aminotransferase, and SkPYD4 encodes an enzyme involved in both BAL and GABA transamination. SkPYD4 and SkUGA1 as well as S. cerevisiae UGA1 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe UGA1 were subcloned, over-expressed and purified. One discontinuous and two continuous coupled assays were used to characterize the substrate specificity and kinetic parameters of the four enzymes. It was found that the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is needed for enzymatic activity and alpha-ketoglutarate, and not pyruvate, as the amino group acceptor. SkPyd4p preferentially uses BAL as the amino group donor (V(max)/K(m)=0.78 U x mg(-1) x mm(-1)), but can also use GABA (V(max)/K(m)=0.42 U x mg(-1) x mm(-1)), while SkUga1p only uses GABA (V(max)/K(m)=4.01 U x mg(-1) x mm(-1)). SpUga1p and ScUga1p transaminate only GABA and not BAL. While mammals degrade BAL and GABA with only one enzyme, but in different tissues, S. kluyveri and related yeasts have two different genes/enzymes to apparently 'distinguish' between the two reactions in a single cell. It is likely that upon duplication approximately 200 million years ago, a specialized Uga1p evolved into a 'novel' transaminase enzyme with broader substrate specificity.
authors.affiliation: BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gorm
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobritzsch
authors.forename: Klaus D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Schnackerz
authors.forename: Jure
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piskur
mesh_terms: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002384:Catalysis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020440:Gene Duplication; D005838:Genotype; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D000637:Transaminases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015091:beta-Alanine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000637:Transaminases; D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase