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Novel deoxynucleoside-phosphorylating enzymes in mycoplasmas: evidence for efficient utilization of deoxynucleosides

L Wang1, J Westberg, G Bölske

  • 1Department of Veterinary Medical Chemistry, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. liya.wang@vmk.slu.se

Molecular Microbiology
|December 12, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasmas lack the ability to create new nucleosides, relying instead on salvage pathways. This study identified key deoxynucleoside kinase enzymes in four mycoplasma species, crucial for their survival and genome replication.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Mycoplasmas are unique bacteria incapable of de novo purine and pyrimidine synthesis.
  • They rely entirely on salvage pathways for nucleoside and base acquisition, making these enzymes critical for survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the deoxynucleoside phosphorylation capabilities of four mycoplasma species.
  • To identify and characterize the specific deoxynucleoside kinases involved in mycoplasma nucleoside salvage.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme activity assays were performed on extracts from Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, Acholeplasma laidlawii, and Mycoplasma arginini.
  • Genomic analysis of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC identified potential kinase genes.
  • A dGK-like gene from M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC was cloned, expressed, and purified for functional characterization.

Main Results:

  • High activities of thymidine kinase (TK), deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK), and deoxyadenosine kinase (dAK) were detected across the studied species.
  • Nucleoside phosphotransferase and pyrophosphate-dependent deoxynucleoside kinase activities varied among species.
  • The characterized M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC enzyme showed highest activity with deoxyadenosine, suggesting it functions as a deoxyadenosine kinase.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasmas possess a robust deoxynucleoside salvage system involving multiple kinase activities.
  • The identified deoxyadenosine kinase in M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC likely contributes to maintaining large dATP pools essential for genome replication.
  • These findings highlight the importance of salvage pathways for mycoplasma viability and potential therapeutic targets.

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