Uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine

Uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine
Identifiers
CAS number 7277-98-7
PubChem 445675
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C17H27N3O17P2
Molar mass 607.35 g mol−1
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine or UDP-GlcNAc is a nucleotide sugar and a coenzyme in metabolism. It is used by glycosyltransferases to transfer N-acetylglucosamine residues to substrates. D-Glucosamine is made naturally in the form of glucosamine-6-phosphate, and is the biochemical precursor of all nitrogen-containing sugars.[1] To be specific, glucosamine-6-phosphate is synthesized from fructose 6-phosphate and glutamine[2] as the first step of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway.[3] The end-product of this pathway is UDP-GlcNAc, which is then used for making glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and glycolipids.[4]

UDP-GlcNAc is extensively involved in intracellular signaling as a substrate for O-linked N-actetylglucosamine transferases (OGTs) in a wide range of species. It is also involved in nuclear pore formation and nuclear signalling. OGTs and OG-ases play an important role in the structure of the cytoskeleton. In mammals, there is enrichment of OGT transcripts in the pancreas beta-cells, and UDP-GlcNAc is thought to be part of the glucose sensing mechanism. There is also evidence that it plays a part in insulin sensitivity in other cells. In plants, it is involved in the control of gibberellin production.[5]

Clostridium novyi type A alpha-toxin is an O-linked N-actetylglucosamine transferase acting on Rho proteins and causing the collapse of the cytoskeleton.

References

  1. ^ Roseman, S (2001). "Reflections on glycobiology". The Journal of biological chemistry 276 (45): 41527–42. doi:10.1074/jbc.R100053200. PMID 11553646. http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/276/45/41527. 
  2. ^ Sudhamoy Ghosh; Blumenthal, HJ; Davidson, E; Roseman, S (1960-05-01). "Glucosamine Metabolism". Journal of Biological Chemistry 235 (5): 1265. PMID 13827775. http://www.jbc.org/cgi/reprint/235/5/1265. 
  3. ^ International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  4. ^ Milewski S, Gabriel I, Olchowy J (2006). "Enzymes of UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis in yeast". Yeast 23 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1002/yea.1337. PMID 16408321. 
  5. ^ http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/full/15/11/1865 Hanover J. A.: Glycan-dependent signaling: O-linked N-acetylglucosamine. The FASEB Journal. 2001;15:1865-1876.