F
IPR005164

Allantoicase

InterPro entry
Short nameAllantoicase

Description

Allantoicase (also known as allantoate amidinohydrolase) is involved in purine degradation, facilitating the utilization of purines as secondary nitrogen sources under nitrogen-limiting conditions. While purine degradation converges to uric acid in all vertebrates, its further degradation varies from species to species. Uric acid is excreted by birds, reptiles, and some mammals that do not have a functional uricase gene, whereas other mammals produce allantoin. Amphibians and microorganisms produce ammonia and carbon dioxide using the uricolytic pathway. Allantoicase performs the second step in this pathway catalyzing the conversion of allantoate into ureidoglycolate and urea.

allantoate + H(2)0 = (S)-ureidoglycolate + urea

The structure of allantoicase is best described as being composed of two repeats (the allantoicase repeats: AR1 and AR2), which are connected by a flexible linker. The crystal structure, resolved at 2.4A resolution, reveals that AR1 has a very similar fold to AR2, both repeats being jelly-roll motifs, composed of four-stranded and five-stranded antiparallel β-sheets
[1]
. Each jelly-roll motif has two conserved surface patches that probably constitute the active site
[2]
.

The mammalian proteins matched by this entry are thought to be non-functional as mammals do not appear to possess allantoicase activity
[3, 4]
.

References

1.Crystal structure of an allantoicase (YIR029W) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 2.4 A resolution. Xu Q, Schwarzenbacher R, Page R, Sims E, Abdubek P, Ambing E, Biorac T, Brinen LS, Cambell J, Canaves JM, Chiu HJ, Dai X, Deacon AM, DiDonato M, Elsliger MA, Floyd R, Godzik A, Grittini C, Grzechnik SK, Hampton E, Jaroszewski L, Karlak C, Klock HE, Koesema E, Kovarik JS, Kreusch A, Kuhn P, Lesley SA, Levin I, McMullan D, McPhillips TM, Miller MD, Morse A, Moy K, Ouyang J, Quijano K, Reyes R, Rezezadeh F, Robb A, Spraggon G, Stevens RC, van den Bedem H, Velasquez J, Vincent J, von Delft F, Wang X, West B, Wolf G, Hodgson KO, Wooley J, Wilson IA. Proteins 56, 619-24, (2004). View articlePMID: 15229895

2.Crystal structure of yeast allantoicase reveals a repeated jelly roll motif. Leulliot N, Quevillon-Cheruel S, Sorel I, Graille M, Meyer P, Liger D, Blondeau K, Janin J, van Tilbeurgh H. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 23447-52, (2004). View articlePMID: 15020593

3.Human allantoicase gene: cDNA cloning, genomic organization and chromosome localization. Vigetti D, Monetti C, Acquati F, Taramelli R, Bernardini G. Gene 256, 253-60, (2000). View articlePMID: 11054555

4.Genomic organization and chromosome localization of the murine and human allantoicase gene. Vigetti D, Monetti C, Prati M, Gornati R, Bernardini G. Gene 289, 13-7, (2002). PMID: 12036579

GO terms

cellular component

  • None

Cross References

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