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Phosphoglycerate mutase

Phosphoglycerate mutase is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Phosphoglycerate mutase rather than just read about it. In short: This enzyme is not to be confused with Bisphosphoglycerate mutase which catalyzes the conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM) is any enzyme that catalyzes step 8 of glycolysis – the internal transfer of a phosphate group from C-3 to C-2 which results in the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG) to 2-phosphoglycerate (2PG) through a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate inte…

Phosphoglycerate mutase — main illustration
Phosphoglycerate mutase — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Phosphoglycerate mutase belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Phosphoglycerate mutase to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Phosphoglycerate mutase from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

This enzyme is not to be confused with Bisphosphoglycerate mutase which catalyzes the conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM) is any enzyme that catalyzes step 8 of glycolysis – the internal transfer of a phosphate group from C-3 to C-2 which results in the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG) to 2-phosphoglycerate (2PG) through a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate intermediate. These enzymes are categorized into the two distinct classes of either cofactor-dependent (dPGM) or cofactor-independent (iPGM). The dPGM enzyme (EC 5.4.2.11) is composed of approximately 250 amino acids and is found in all vertebrates as well as in some invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria. The iPGM (EC 5.4.2.12) class is found in all plants and algae as well as in some invertebrate, fungi, and Gram-positive bacteria. This class of PGM enzyme shares the same superfamily as alkaline phosphatase.

Mechanism PGM is an isomerase enzyme, effectively transferring a phosphate group (PO3−4) from the C-3 carbon of 3-phosphoglycerate to the C-2 carbon forming 2-phosphoglycerate. There are a total of three reactions dPGM can catalyze: a mutase reaction resulting in the conversion of 3PG to 2PG and vice versa, a phosphatase reaction creating phosphoglycerate from 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate, and a synthase reaction producing 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate from 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate similar to the enzyme bisphosphoglycerate mutase. Kinetic and structural studies have provided evidence that indicate dPGM and bisphosphoglycerate mutase are paralogous structures. Both enzymes are contained in the superfamily that also contains the phosphatase portion of phosphofructokinase 2 and prostatic acid phosphatase. The catalyzed mutase reaction involves two separate phosphoryl groups and the ending phosphate on the 2-carbon is not the same phosphate removed from the 3-carbon. In the cofactor-dependent enzyme's initial state, the active site contains a phosphohistidine complex formed by phosphorylation of a specific histidine residue. When 3-phosphoglycerate enters the active site, the phosphohistidine complex is positioned as to facilitate transfer of phosphate from enzyme to substrate C-2 creating a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate intermediate. Dephosphorylation of the enzyme histidine actuates a local allosteric change in enzyme configuration which now aligns the substrates 3-C phosphate group with enzyme active site histidine and facilitates phosphate transfer returning the enzyme to its initial phosphorylated state and releasing product 2-phosphoglycerate. 2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate is required a cofactor for dPGM. In contrast, the iPGM class is independent of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate and catalyzes the intramolecular transfer of the phosphate group on monophosphoglycerates using a phosphoserineintermediate.

Reaction summary 3PG + P-Enzyme → 2,3BPG + Enzyme → 2PG + P-Enzyme

3-phosphoglycerate intermediate 2-phosphoglycerate ΔG°′=+1.1 kcal/mol

Isozymes Phosphoglycerate mutase exists primarily as a dimer of two either identical or closely related subunits of about 32 kDa. The enzyme is found in organisms as simple as yeast through Homo sapiens and its structure is highly conserved throughout. (Yeast PGM≈74% conserved vs mammal form). In mammals, the enzyme subunits appear to be either a muscle-derived form (m-type) or other tissue (b-type, for brain where the b-isozyme was originally isolated). Existing as a dimer, the enzyme then has three isozymes depending on which subunit forms makeup the whole molecule (mm, bb or mb). The mm-type is found mainly in smooth muscle almost exclusively. The mb-isozyme is found in cardiac and skeletal muscle and the bb-type is found in the rest of tissues. While all three isozymes may be found in any tissue, the above distributions are based on prevalence in each.

Interactive pathway map Click on genes, proteins and metabolites below to link to respective articles.

Regulation Phosphoglycerate mutase has a small positive Gibbs free energy and this reaction proceeds easily in both directions. Since it is a reversible reaction, it is not the site of major regulation mechanisms or regulation schemes for the glycolytic pathway. Anionic molecules such as vanadate, acetate, chloride ion, phosphate, 2-phosphoglycolate, and N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-amino]ethanesulfonate are known inhibitors of the mutase activity of dPGM. Studies have shown dPGM to be sensitive to changes in ionic concentration, where increasing concentrations of salts result in the activation of the enzyme's phosphatase activity while inhibiting its mutase activity. Certain salts, such as KCl, are known to be competitive inhibitors in respect to 2-phosphoglycerate and mutase activity. Both phosphate and 2-phosphoglycolate are competitive inhibitors of mutase activity in respect to the substrates 2-phosphoglycerate and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate.

Clinical significance In humans the PGAM2 gene which encodes this enzyme is located on the short arm of chromosome 7. Deficiency of phosphoglycerate mutase causes glycogen storage disease type X, a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder with symptoms ranging from mild to moderate; is not thought life-threatening and can be managed with changes in lifestyle. This presents as a metabolic myopathy and is one of the many forms of syndromes formerly referred to as muscular dystrophy. PGAM1 deficiency affects the liver, while PGAM2 deficiency affects the muscle. Onset is generally noted as childhood to early adult though some who may be mildly affected by the disorder may not know they have it. Patients with PGAM deficiency are usually asymptomatic, except when they engage in brief, strenuous efforts which may trigger myalgias, cramps, muscle necrosis and myoglobinuria. An unusual pathologic feature of PGAM deficiency is the association with tubular aggregates. The symptoms are an intolerance to physical exertion or activity, cramps and muscle pain. Permanent weakness is rare. The disease is not progressive and has an excellent prognosis.

Human proteins containing this domain BPGM; PFKFB1; PFKFB2; PFKFB3; PFKFB4; PGAM1; PGAM2; PGAM4; PGAM5; STS1; UBASH3A;

References

External links Phosphoglycerate+Mutase at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) PDBe-KB provides an overview of all the structure information available in the PDB for Human Phosphoglycerate mutase 1

Illustrations

Phosphoglycerate mutase illustration
Phosphoglycerate mutase: Citrate is structurally similar to the substrate 3-phosphoglycerate. The citrate molecule is shown in green. The suspected catalytically essential histidine residue involved in forming the phosphohistidine complex is directly to the left of the bound citrate molecule.
Citrate is structurally similar to the substrate 3-phosphoglycerate. The citrate molecule is shown in green. The suspected catalytically essential histidine residue involved in forming the phosphohistidine complex is directly to the left of the bound citrate molecule.
Phosphoglycerate mutase illustration
Phosphoglycerate mutase illustration
Phosphoglycerate mutase illustration

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Phosphoglycerate mutase

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Phosphoglycerate mutase claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Phosphoglycerate mutase before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Phosphoglycerate mutase ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Phosphoglycerate mutase

In research
Phosphoglycerate mutase appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Phosphoglycerate mutase in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Phosphoglycerate mutase is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics EC 5.4.2, Genes on human chromosome 10, Genes on human chromosome 7, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Phosphoglycerate mutase outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Phosphoglycerate mutase in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Phosphoglycerate mutase means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Phosphoglycerate mutase out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Phosphoglycerate mutase in simple terms?

This enzyme is not to be confused with Bisphosphoglycerate mutase which catalyzes the conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM) is any enzyme that catalyzes step 8 of glycolysis – the internal transfer of a phosphate group from C-3 to C-2 which…

Why does Phosphoglycerate mutase matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Phosphoglycerate mutase?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Phosphoglycerate mutase.

Tags

  • EC 5.4.2
  • Genes on human chromosome 10
  • Genes on human chromosome 7
  • Glycolysis enzymes

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