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PROSITE documentation PDOC00401
Dihydroorotase signatures


Description

Dihydroorotase (EC 3.5.2.3) (DHOase) catalyzes the third step in the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine, the conversion of ureidosuccinic acid (N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate) into dihydroorotate. Dihydroorotase binds a zinc ion which is required for its catalytic activity [1].

In bacteria, DHOase is a dimer of identical chains of about 400 amino-acid residues (gene pyrC). In higher eukaryotes, DHOase is part of a large multi-functional protein known as 'rudimentary' in Drosophila and CAD in mammals and which catalyzes the first three steps of pyrimidine biosynthesis [2]. The DHOase domain is located in the central part of this polyprotein. In yeasts, DHOase is encoded by a monofunctional protein (gene URA4). However, a defective DHOase domain [3] is found in a multifunctional protein (gene URA2) that catalyzes the first two steps of pyrimidine biosynthesis.

The comparison of DHOase sequences from various sources shows [4] that there are two highly conserved regions. The first located in the N-terminal extremity contains two histidine residues suggested [3] to be involved in binding the zinc ion. The second is found in the C-terminal part. We developed signature patterns for both regions.

Allantoinase (EC 3.5.2.5) is the enzyme that hydrolyzes allantoin into allantoate. In yeast (gene DAL1) [5], it is the first enzyme in the allantoin degradation pathway; in amphibians [6] and fishs it catalyzes the second step in the degradation of uric acid. The sequence of allantoinase is evolutionary related to that of DHOases.

Last update:

December 2004 / Pattern and text revised.

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Technical section

PROSITE methods (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:

DIHYDROOROTASE_1, PS00482; Dihydroorotase signature 1  (PATTERN)

DIHYDROOROTASE_2, PS00483; Dihydroorotase signature 2  (PATTERN)


References

1AuthorsBrown D.C. Collins K.D.
TitleDihydroorotase from Escherichia coli. Substitution of Co(II) for the active site Zn(II).
SourceJ. Biol. Chem. 266:1597-1604(1991).
PubMed ID1671037

2AuthorsDavidson J.N. Chen K.C. Jamison R.S. Musmanno L.A. Kern C.B.
TitleThe evolutionary history of the first three enzymes in pyrimidine biosynthesis.
SourceBioEssays 15:157-164(1993).
PubMed ID8098212

3AuthorsSouciet J.-L. Nagy M. Le Gouar M. Lacroute F. Potier S.
TitleOrganization of the yeast URA2 gene: identification of a defective dihydroorotase-like domain in the multifunctional carbamoylphosphate synthetase-aspartate transcarbamylase complex.
SourceGene 79:59-70(1989).
PubMed ID2570735

4AuthorsGuyonvarch A. Nguyen-Juilleret M. Hubert J.-C. Lacroute F.
TitleStructure of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae URA4 gene encoding dihydroorotase.
SourceMol. Gen. Genet. 212:134-141(1988).
PubMed ID2897615

5AuthorsBuckholz R.G. Cooper T.G.
TitleThe allantoinase (DAL1) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
SourceYeast 7:913-923(1991).
PubMed ID1803816

6AuthorsHayashi S. Jain S. Chu R. Alvares K. Xu B. Erfurth F. Usuda N. Rao M.S. Reddy S.K. Noguchi T.
TitleAmphibian allantoinase. Molecular cloning, tissue distribution, and functional expression.
SourceJ. Biol. Chem. 269:12269-12276(1994).
PubMed ID8163532



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