title: AGXT2: a promiscuous aminotransferase.
abstract: Alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (AGXT2) is a multifunctional mitochondrial aminotransferase that was first identified in 1978. The physiological importance of AGXT2 was largely overlooked for three decades because AGXT2 is less active in glyoxylate metabolism than AGXT1, the enzyme that is deficient in primary hyperoxaluria type I. Recently, several novel functions of AGXT2 have been 'rediscovered' in the setting of modern genomic and metabolomic studies. It is now apparent that AGXT2 has multiple substrates and products and that altered AGXT2 activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, renal, neurological, and hematological diseases. This article reviews the biochemical properties and physiological functions of AGXT2, its unique role at the intersection of key mitochondrial pathways, and its potential as a drug target.
authors.affiliation: University Center for Vascular Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 42, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Roman N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Rodionov
authors.affiliation: University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 42, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jarzebska
authors.affiliation: University Center for Vascular Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology, University Hospital 'Carl Gustav Carus', Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 42, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: steven-lentz@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lentz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D000637:Transaminases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000637:Transaminases; C019635:Alanine-glyoxylate transaminase
keywords: alanine; amino acid metabolism; aminotransferase; glyoxylate; methylarginine