Reaction schematic showing the mechanism of OMP decarboxylase catalysis through a putative vinyl carbanion at the C6 position. This carbanion is likely stabilized by the nearby protonated lysine residue. The Lys93 and Asp91 residue numbering corresponds to the sequence for OMP decarboxylase from S. cerevisiae.[13]
Relation to UMP synthase
In yeast and bacteria, OMP decarboxylase is a single-function enzyme. However, in mammals, OMP decarboxylase is part of a single protein with two catalytic activities. This bifunctional enzyme is named UMP synthase and it also catalyzes the preceding reaction in pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis, the transfer of ribose 5-phosphate from 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate to orotate to form OMP. In organisms utilizing OMP decarboxylase, this reaction is catalyzed by orotate phosphoribosyltransferase.[14]
Importance in yeast genetics
Mutations in the gene encoding OMP decarboxylase in yeast (URA3) leads to auxotrophy in uracil. In addition, a function OMP decarboxylase renders yeast strains sensitive to the molecule 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA).[15] The establishment of the URA3 gene as a selection marker with both positive and negative selection strategies has made the controlled expression of OMP decarboxylase a significant laboratory tool for the investigation of yeast genetics.