Purine Biosynthesis Enzymes in Hippocampal Neurons.
Despite reports implicating disrupted purine metabolism in causing a wide spectrum of neurological defects, the mechanistic details of purine biosynthesis in neurons are largely unknown. As an initial step in filling that gap, we examined the expression and subcellular distribution of three purine biosynthesis enzymes (PFAS, PAICS and ATIC) in rat hippocampal neurons. Using immunoblotting and high-resolution light and electron microscopic analysis, we find that all three enzymes are broadly distributed in hippocampal neurons with pools of these enzymes associated with mitochondria. These findings suggest a potential link between purine metabolism and mitochondrial function in neurons and provide an impetus for further studies.
['Williamson|Julie|J|', 'Petralia|Ronald S|RS|', 'Wang|Ya-Xian|YX|', 'Mattson|Mark P|MP|', 'Yao|Pamela J|PJ|']
D000818:Animals D019733:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases with Glutamine as Amide-N-Donor D002478:Cells, Cultured D006367:HeLa Cells D006624:Hippocampus D006801:Humans D019877:Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases D008854:Microscopy, Electron D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence D008928:Mitochondria D009097:Multienzyme Complexes D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins D009474:Neurons D009709:Nucleotide Deaminases D010453:Peptide Synthases D061251:Primary Cell Culture D011687:Purines D051381:Rats D013347:Subcellular Fractions
Purine biosynthesis Neuron Mitochondria Hippocampus