A cyanobacterial gene encoding a protein with extensive homology to mammalian phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRibPP) is the primary precursor in the biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. The synthesis of PRibPP is catalysed by a ubiquitous PRibPP synthetase in many organisms. We provide evidence that a cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp., has a gene encoding a protein with striking homology to mammalian PRibPP synthetases.