Knowns and Unknowns of Vitamin B₆ Metabolism in Escherichia coli

Vitamin B₆ is an ensemble of six interconvertible vitamers: pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxamine (PM), pyridoxal (PL), and their 5'-phosphate derivatives, PNP, PMP, and PLP. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is a coenzyme in a variety of enzyme reactions concerning transformations of amino and amino acid compounds. This review summarizes all known and putative PLP-binding proteins found in the Escherichia coli MG1655 proteome. PLP can have toxic effects since it contains a very reactive aldehyde group at its 4' position that easily forms aldimines with primary and secondary amines and reacts with thiols. Most PLP is bound either to the enzymes that use it as a cofactor or to PLP carrier proteins, protected from the cellular environment but at the same time readily transferable to PLP-dependent apoenzymes. E. coli and its relatives synthesize PLP through the seven-step deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate (DXP)-dependent pathway. Other bacteria synthesize PLP in a single step, through a so-called DXP-independent pathway. Although the DXP-dependent pathway was the first to be revealed, the discovery of the widespread DXP-independent pathway determined a decline of interest in E. coli vitamin B₆ metabolism. In E. coli, as in most organisms, PLP can also be obtained from PL, PN, and PM, imported from the environment or recycled from protein turnover, via a salvage pathway. Our review deals with all aspects of vitamin B₆ metabolism in E. coli, from transcriptional to posttranslational regulation. A critical interpretation of results is presented, in particular, concerning the most obscure aspects of PLP homeostasis and delivery to PLP-dependent enzymes.