The cytoophidium and its kind: Filamentation and compartmentation of metabolic enzymes

Journal article

Compartmentation is essential for the localization of biological processes within a cell. In 2010, three groups independently reported that cytidine triphosphate synthase (CTPS), a metabolic enzyme for de novo synthesis of the nucleotide CTP, is compartmentalized in cytoophidia (Greek for "cellular snakes") in bacteria, yeast, and fruit flies. Subsequent studies demonstrate that CTPS can also form filaments in human cells. Thus, the cytoophidium represents a new type of intracellular compartment that is strikingly conserved across prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Multiple lines of evidence have recently suggested that polymerization of metabolic enzymes such as CTPS and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase into filamentous cytoophidia modulates enzymatic activity. With many more metabolic enzymes found to form the cytoophidium and its kind, compartmentation via filamentation may serve as a general mechanism for the regulation of metabolism. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology Volume 32 is October 06, 2016. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/catalog/pubdates.aspx for revised estimates.

Authors: Liu, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Annual Reviews
• Journal: Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
• Volume: 32
• Pages: 349-372
• Publication date: 2016-06-27
• Acceptance date: 2016-04-21
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-111315-124907
• EISSN: 1530-8995
• ISSN: 1081-0706
• Pmid: 27362644
• Language: English
• Keywords: CTPS; cytoplasm; metabolism; organelle; nucleus; IMPDH; CTP synthase