Disruption of sugar nucleotide clearance is a therapeutic vulnerability of cancer cells.

Identifying metabolic steps that are specifically required for the survival of cancer cells but are dispensable in normal cells remains a challenge1. Here we report a therapeutic vulnerability in a sugar nucleotide biosynthetic pathway that can be exploited in cancer cells with only a limited impact on normal cells. A systematic examination of conditionally essential metabolic enzymes revealed that UXS1, a Golgi enzyme that converts one sugar nucleotide (UDP-glucuronic acid, UDPGA) to another (UDP-xylose), is essential only in cells that express high levels of the enzyme immediately upstream of it, UGDH. This conditional relationship exists because UXS1 is required to prevent excess accumulation of UDPGA, which is produced by UGDH. UXS1 not only clears away UDPGA but also limits its production through negative feedback on UGDH. Excess UDPGA disrupts Golgi morphology and function, which impedes the trafficking of surface receptors such as EGFR to the plasma membrane and diminishes the signalling capacity of cells. UGDH expression is elevated in several cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma, and is further enhanced during chemoresistant selection. As a result, these cancer cells are selectively dependent on UXS1 for UDPGA detoxification, revealing a potential weakness in tumours with high levels of UGDH.

Functional characterization of the UDP-xylose biosynthesis pathway in Rhodothermus marinus.

UDP-glucuronic acid dehydrogenase (UGD) and UDP-xylose synthase (UXS) are the two enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of UDP-xylose from UDP-glucose. Several UGDs from bacterial sources, which oxidize UDP-glucose to glucuronic acid, have been found and functionally characterized whereas only few reports on bacterial UXS isoforms exist. Rhodothermus marinus, a halothermophilic bacterium commonly found in hot springs, proved to be a valuable source of carbohydrate active enzymes of biotechnological interest, such as xylanases, mannanases, and epimerases. However, no enzymes of R. marinus involved in the biosynthesis or modification of nucleotide sugars have been reported yet. Herein, we describe the cloning and characterization of two putative UGD (RmUGD1 and RmUGD2) and one UXS (RmUXS) isoform from this organism. All three enzymes could be expressed in recombinant form and purified to near homogeneity. UPLC- and NMR-based activity tests showed that RmUGD1 and RmUXS are indeed active enzymes, whereas no enzymatic activity could be detected by RmUGD2. Both RmUGD1 and RmUXS showed a temperature optimum of 60 °C, with almost no loss of activity after 1 h exposure at 70 °C. No metal ions were required for enzymatic activities. Zn(2+) ions strongly inhibited both enzymes. RmUGD1 showed higher salt tolerance and had a higher pH optimum than RmUXS. Furthermore, RmUGD1 was inhibited by UDP-xylose at higher concentrations. By coupling recombinant RmUXS and RmUGD1, UDP-xylose could be successfully synthesized directly from UDP-glucose. The high activity of the herein described enzymes make RmUGD1 and RmUXS the first thermo-tolerant biocatalysts for the synthesis of UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-xylose.

cDNA-AFLP analysis on bolting or flowering of flowering Chinese cabbage and molecular characteristics of BrcuDFR-like/BrcuAXS gene.

The molecular basis of flower bud differentiation in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. Chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee) was studied in this work. Samples were taken from two varieties, the early-blooming "Youqin 49" and the late-blooming "Youqingtiancaixin 80", at five different developmental stages and studied via cDNA-AFLP. Nineteen expression sequence tags (ESTs) associated with bolting or flowering were isolated and cloned. Blast results indicated that 15 ESTs were involved in the synthesis of anthocayanins, photosynthesis, signal transduction, and phytochrome production. Two ESTs had high similarity to hypothetical proteins with unknown function. Two other ESTs shared no similarity to any sequence in the NCBI database and potentially may be newly identified genes. The deduced amino acid sequences of EST amplified by primer A6T4 or A8T4 had high similarity to both dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) and UDP-D: -apiose/UDP-D: -xylose synthase (AXS), thus was named BrcuDFR-like/BrcuAXS. Using the cDNA sequence, a putative BrcuDFR-like/BrcuAXS gene was cloned and characterized from flowering Chinese cabbage via rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA has 1332 bp with an open frame of 919 bp which codes for a polypeptide of 313 amino acids. The corresponding genome sequence is 2,046 bp. Comparison of cDNA and its corresponding genomic sequence indicates that BrcuDFR-like/BrcuAXS contains 9 exons and 8 introns. The temporal expression patterns indicated the gene is more likely to encode the DFR protein, which catalyzes the synthesis of anthocayanins, than UDP-D: -apiose/UDP-D: -xylose synthase (AXS), which catalyzes the conversion of UDP-D: -glucuronate to a mixture of UDP-D: -apiose and UDP-D: -xylose. Further work is needed to determine what role BrcuDFR-like/BrcuAXS plays during floral organ development.

Biosynthesis of UDP-xylose and UDP-arabinose in Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021: first characterization of a bacterial UDP-xylose synthase, and UDP-xylose 4-epimerase.

Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium that fixes nitrogen after being established inside nodules that can form on the roots of several legumes, including Medicago truncatula. A mutation in an S. meliloti gene (lpsB) required for lipopolysaccharide synthesis has been reported to result in defective nodulation and an increase in the synthesis of a xylose-containing glycan. Glycans containing xylose as well as arabinose are also formed by other rhizobial species, but little is known about their structures and the biosynthetic pathways leading to their formation. To gain insight into the biosynthesis of these glycans and their biological roles, we report the identification of an operon in S. meliloti 1021 that contains two genes encoding activities not previously described in bacteria. One gene encodes a UDP-xylose synthase (Uxs) that converts UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-xylose, and the second encodes a UDP-xylose 4-epimerase (Uxe) that interconverts UDP-xylose and UDP-arabinose. Similar genes were also identified in other rhizobial species, including Rhizobium leguminosarum, suggesting that they have important roles in the life cycle of this agronomically important class of bacteria. Functional studies established that recombinant SmUxs1 is likely to be active as a dimer and is inhibited by NADH and UDP-arabinose. SmUxe is inhibited by UDP-galactose, even though this nucleotide sugar is not a substrate for the 4-epimerase. Unambiguous evidence for the conversions of UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-α-D-xylose and then to UDP-ß-L-arabinose (UDP-arabinopyranose) was obtained using real-time (1)H-NMR spectroscopy. Our results provide new information about the ability of rhizobia to form UDP-xylose and UDP-arabinose, which are then used for the synthesis of xylose- and arabinose-containing glycans.

Characterization of CalS9 in the biosynthesis of UDP-xylose and the production of xylosyl-attached hybrid compound.

The gene cluster of calicheamicin contains calS9, which encodes UDP-GlcA decarboxylase that converts UDP-GlcA to UDP-xylose. calS9 was cloned in pET32a(+) and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) to characterize its putative function. The reaction product was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. The deoxysugar biosynthesis of Streptomyces sp. KCTC 0041BP was inactivated by gene replacement to generate Streptomyces sp. GerSM2 mutant, which was unable to produce dihydrochalcomycin. calS7, calS8, and calS9 UDP-xylose biosynthetic genes were cloned in an integrative plasmid pSET152 to generate pBPDS, which was heterologously expressed in Streptomyces sp. GerSM2. Finally, novel glycosylated product, 5-O-xylosyl-chalconolide derivative, in the conjugal transformants was isolated and analyzed by HPLC and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Reconstruction of de novo pathway for synthesis of UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-xylose from intrinsic UDP-glucose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose are required for the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycan in mammals and of cell wall polysaccharides in plants. Given the importance of these glycans to some organisms, the development of a system for production of UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose from a common precursor could prove useful for a number of applications. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacks an endogenous ability to synthesize or consume UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose. However, yeast have a large cytoplasmic pool of UDP-D-glucose that could be used to synthesize cell wall beta-glucan, as a precursor of UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose. Thus, if a mechanism for converting the precursors into the end-products can be identified, yeast may be harnessed as a system for production of glycans. Here we report a novel S. cerevisiae strain that coexpresses the Arabidopsis thaliana genes UGD1 and UXS3, which encode a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (AtUGD1) and a UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (AtUXS3), respectively, which are required for the conversion of UDP-D-glucose to UDP-D-xylose in plants. The recombinant yeast strain was capable of converting UDP-D-glucose to UDP-D-glucuronic acid, and UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-D-xylose, in the cytoplasm, demonstrating the usefulness of this yeast system for the synthesis of glycans. Furthermore, we observed that overexpression of AtUGD1 caused a reduction in the UDP-D-glucose pool, whereas coexpression of AtUXS3 and AtUGD1 did not result in reduction of the UDP-D-glucose pool. Enzymatic analysis of the purified hexamer His-AtUGD1 revealed that AtUGD1 activity is strongly inhibited by UDP-D-xylose, suggesting that AtUGD1 maintains intracellular levels of UDP-D-glucose in cooperation with AtUXS3 via the inhibition of AtUGD1 by UDP-D-xylose.

Discovery and Biochemical Characterization of the UDP-Xylose Biosynthesis Pathway in Sphaerobacter thermophilus.

The biosynthesis of UDP-xylose requires the stepwise oxidation/ decarboxylation of UDP-glucose, which is catalyzed by the enzymes UDPglucuronic acid dehydrogenase (UGD) and UDP-xylose synthase (UXS). UDPxylose biosynthesis is ubiquitous in animals and plants. However, only a few UGD and UXS isoforms of bacterial origin have thus far been biochemically characterized. Sphaerobacter thermophilus DSM 20745 is a bacterium isolated from heated sewage sludge, and therefore can be a valuable source of thermostable enzymes of biotechnological interest. However, no biochemical characterizations of any S. thermophilus enzymes have yet been reported. Herein, we describe the cloning and characterization of putative UGD (StUGD) and UXS (StUXS) isoforms from this organism. HPLC- and plate reader-based activity tests of the recombinantly expressed StUGD and StUXS showed that they are indeed active enzymes. Both StUGD and StUXS showed a temperature optimum of 70°C, and a reasonable thermal stability up to 60°C. No metal ions were required for enzymatic activities. StUGD had a higher pH optimum than StUXS. The simple purification procedures and the thermotolerance of StUGD and StUXS make them valuable biocatalysts for the synthesis of UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-xylose at elevated temperatures. The biosynthetic potential of StUGD was further exemplified in a coupled enzymatic reaction with an UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, allowing the glucuronylation of the natural model substrate bilirubin.

Biosynthesis of UDP-xylose: characterization of membrane-bound AtUxs2.

UDP-xylose (UDP-Xyl) is a sugar donor for the synthesis of glycoproteins, polysaccharides, various metabolites, and oligosaccharides in plants, vertebrates, and fungi. In plants, the biosynthesis of UDP-Xyl from UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) appears to be catalyzed by numerous UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (Uxs) isoforms. For example, six Uxs isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) and four in rice have been identified. However, the reason/s for the existence of several isoforms that are necessary for the synthesis of UDP-Xyl remains unknown. Here, we describe a Uxs isoform in Arabidopsis, AtUXS2, encoding an integral membrane protein that appears to be localized to the Golgi apparatus. The enzyme is a dimer and has distinct properties. Unlike the UXS3 isoform, which is shown here to be a soluble protein, the UXS2 isoform is membrane bound. The characteristics of the membrane-bound AtUxs2 and cytosolic AtUxs3 support the hypothesis that unique UDP-GlcA-DCs possessing distinct sub-cellular localizations can spatially regulate specific xylosylation events in plant cells.

Functional cloning and characterization of a UDP- glucuronic acid decarboxylase: the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans elucidates UDP-xylose synthesis.

UDP-xylose is a sugar donor required for the synthesis of diverse and important glycan structures in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Xylose-containing glycans are particularly abundant in plants and in the polysaccharide capsule that is the major virulence factor of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Biosynthesis of UDP-xylose is mediated by UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase, which converts UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-xylose. Although this enzymatic activity was described over 40 years ago it has never been fully purified, and the gene encoding it has not been identified. We used homology to a bacterial gene, hypothesized to encode a related function, to identify a cryptococcal sequence as putatively encoding a UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase. A soluble 47-kDa protein derived from bacteria expressing the C. neoformans gene catalyzed conversion of UDP-glucuronic acid to UDP-xylose, as confirmed by NMR analysis. NADH, UDP, and UDP-xylose inhibit the activity. Close homologs of the cryptococcal gene, which we termed UXS1, appear in genome sequence data from organisms ranging from bacteria to humans.

Biosynthesis of UDP-xylose. Cloning and characterization of a novel Arabidopsis gene family, UXS, encoding soluble and putative membrane-bound UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase isoforms.

UDP-xylose (Xyl) is an important sugar donor for the synthesis of glycoproteins, polysaccharides, various metabolites, and oligosaccharides in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. UDP-Xyl also feedback inhibits upstream enzymes (UDP-glucose [Glc] dehydrogenase, UDP-Glc pyrophosphorylase, and UDP-GlcA decarboxylase) and is involved in its own synthesis and the synthesis of UDP-arabinose. In plants, biosynthesis of UDP-Xyl is catalyzed by different membrane-bound and soluble UDP-GlcA decarboxylase (UDP-GlcA-DC) isozymes, all of which convert UDP-GlcA to UDP-Xyl. Because synthesis of UDP-Xyl occurs both in the cytosol and in membranes, it is not known which source of UDP-Xyl the different Golgi-localized xylosyltransferases are utilizing. Here, we describe the identification of several distinct Arabidopsis genes (named AtUXS for UDP-Xyl synthase) that encode functional UDP-GlcA-DC isoforms. The Arabidopsis genome contains five UXS genes and their protein products can be subdivided into three isozyme classes (A-C), one soluble and two distinct putative membrane bound. AtUxs from each class, when expressed in Escherichia coli, generate active UDP-GlcA-DC that converts UDP-GlcA to UDP-Xyl. Members of this gene family have a large conserved C-terminal catalytic domain (approximately 300 amino acids long) and an N-terminal variable domain differing in sequence and size (30-120 amino acids long). Isoforms of class A and B appear to encode putative type II membrane proteins with their catalytic domains facing the lumen (like Golgi-glycosyltransferases) and their N-terminal variable domain facing the cytosol. Uxs class C is likely a cytosolic isoform. The characteristics of the plant Uxs support the hypothesis that unique UDP-GlcA-DCs with distinct subcellular localizations are required for specific xylosylation events.