D-Arabinose Methabolism: Characterization of Bifunctional Arabinokinase/ Pyrophosphorylase of Leishmania major

Abstract

In this work we describe an unusual enzyme from Leishmania major (Arabinokinase/Pyrophosphorylase) that catalyzes the synthesis of GDP-D-arabinopyranose (GDP-D-Arap) via a D-arabinose-1-phosphate intermediate in the presence of ATP and GTP. Our data indicate GDP-D-Arap transport in vivo by the LPG2 multispecific nucleotide sugar transporter into the Leishmania Golgi apparatus, in which it can be used by glycosyltransferases as a donor substrate for glycosylation.