Enzymatic synthesis of 6R-[U-14C]tetrahydrobiopterin from [U-14C]GTP

Anal Biochem. 1993 Feb 15;209(1):1-5. doi: 10.1006/abio.1993.1074.

Abstract

An enzymatic method for preparing 6R-[U-14C]-tetrahydrobiopterin from [U-14C]GTP is presented. This method utilizes purified preparations of three biosynthetic enzymes for 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin, i.e., Escherichia coli GTP cyclohydrolase I, rat 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase, and rat sepiapterin reductase. Based on the catalytic properties of these enzymes, the reaction conditions were optimized to complete the entire conversion reaction from GTP to 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin in a single reaction solution without the need to isolate unstable intermediates after each enzymatic reaction. The reaction conditions thereby established yielded [U-14C]biopterin in an amount equivalent to 75%, on a molar basis, of the initial amount of [U-14C]GTP. The product was subsequently isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The method produced labeled 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin with a specific activity of 450 Ci/mol and an overall yield of more than 60%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biopterins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Biopterins / biosynthesis
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • GTP Cyclohydrolase / metabolism
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Isotope Labeling / methods
  • Kinetics
  • Phenylalanine Hydroxylase / metabolism
  • Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases*
  • Rats
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Biopterins
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • sepiapterin reductase
  • Phenylalanine Hydroxylase
  • GTP Cyclohydrolase
  • Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases
  • 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase
  • sapropterin