De novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis in isolated rat glomeruli

Uracil nucleotides: from metabolic intermediates to neuroprotection and neuroinflammation

Uracil nucleotides (i.e., UTP and UDP) have been known for years as fundamental intermediates in the de novo synthesis of the other pyrimidine nucleotides, which altogether represent key building blocks for nucleic acid synthesis. In addition, their sugar conjugates (i.e., UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose) enter in several biochemical routes, for example leading to glycogen biosynthesis, and protein and lipid glycosylation, which in turn contribute to the synthesis of essential components of the cellular plasma membrane. More recently, the existence of a "pyrimidinergic transmission" has arisen from the discovery that several purinergic G protein-coupled P2Y receptors can be activated also or exclusively by uracil nucleotides and sugar conjugates. The number of these receptors is continuously growing over years with the discovery that previously "orphan" G protein-coupled receptors are actually responding to this class of molecules. Therefore, new unforeseen effects mediated by uracil derivatives have emerged, in particular in the nervous system, and previously unexplored avenues for the pharmacological manipulation of this system are currently under investigation. In this commentary we shall try to put together our current knowledge on the biochemical and receptor-mediated effects of uracil nucleotide derivatives with a specific focus on the nervous system in order to depict a clearer view of the importance of the pyrimidinergic system in both physiological and pathological conditions.

Uracil ribonucleotide metabolism in rat and human glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells

Uridine diphosphosugars (UDP-sugars: UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, UDP-glucose, and UDP-glucuronic acid) are essential coenzymes for the synthesis of glomerular basement membrane and mesangial matrix (GBM-MM). This study has characterized UDP-sugar metabolism in rat and human glomerular cells in tissue culture. Culture of rat mesangial cells in medium containing dialyzed fetal calf serum resulted in UTP loss (28 +/- 4 nmol.mg DNA-1.h-1); the addition of 2 microM orotate to this medium resulted in net UTP accretion (5.42 +/- 0.06 nmol.mg DNA-1.h-1). Rat mesangial cells demonstrated 16- and 29- to 46-fold greater UTP and UDP-sugar pools, respectively, than whole glomeruli. In human mesangial cells, 6-azauridine (500 microM) decreased UDP-sugar pools by 48% (P less than 0.05), whereas uridine (50 microM) produced a 2.5-fold increase. Human and rat mesangial cells had greater (1.8- to 6.1-fold) UDP-sugar pools than epithelial cells and 1.7-3.4 times greater labeled precursor incorporation into UDP-sugars. In conclusion, glomerular cells utilize both exogenous orotate and uridine for ribonucleotide synthesis, and the extracellular concentration of these precursors markedly influence the formation and cellular content of UDP-sugars. Prominent differences exist between separate glomerular cell populations in their metabolism of UDP-sugars. This may represent diverse activity of glycosylating reactions.

Renal hypertrophy in experimental diabetes. The activity of the 'de novo' and salvage pathways of purine [corrected] synthesis

Measurements were made of the activity of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase (PPRibP-At, EC 2.4.2.14) and of adenine (APRT, EC 2.4.2.7) and hypoxanthine (HPRT, EC 2.4.2.8) phosphoribosyltransferases, representing the 'de novo' and salvage pathways respectively. PPRibP-At activity increased within 3 days of diabetes, whereas APRT and HPRT increased later. Incorporation of [14C]formate and of [8-14C]adenine into the nucleic acids of kidney slices showed that formate was incorporated earlier, and to a greater extent, than was adenine. These results indicate that, although the 'de novo' pathway for nucleotide synthesis is the main route in early diabetes, the salvage pathway assumes greater importance at later stages.