Synthesis, utilization, and structure of the tetrahydropterin intermediates in the bovine adrenal medullary de novo biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin.

The biosynthesis of two tetrahydropterin intermediates (H4pterin-1 and H4pterin-2), their conversion to tetrahydrobiopterin, and their overall chemical structures are described. A new high performance liquid chromatographic separation of these and other tetrahydropterins is also described. The biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin from dihydroneopterin triphosphate proceeds in the presence of the bovine adrenal medullary biosynthetic enzymes, Mg2+, NADPH. The biosynthesis of H4pterin-2 occurs under identical conditions, and the compound accumulates in the presence of 1 to 10 microM of N-acetylserotonin, an inhibitor of sepiapterin reductase. At higher concentrations of the inhibitor, the synthesis of H4pterin-2 is also inhibited, and H4pterin-1 accumulates. H4pterin-1 also accumulates in the absence of NADPH. In the presence of NADPH the biosynthetic enzymes convert both intermediates to tetrahydrobiopterin at rates which are greater than the rate of conversion of dihydroneopterin triphosphate to tetrahydrobiopterin. Electrochemical, UV/VIS, oxidation, and ionization properties identify the compounds as tetrahydropterins. The side chain structures of the compounds were determined by a combination of chemical means. The structures of the compounds are 6R-(1',2'-dioxopropyl)-tetrahydropterin (H4pterin-1) and 6R-(L-1'-hydroxy-2'-oxopropyl)-tetrahydropterin (H4pterin-2). The data indicate that the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin from dihydroneopterin triphosphate proceeds in three steps: 1) formation of H4pterin-1 in the presence of Mg2+, 2) NADPH-dependent conversion of H4pterin-1 to H4pterin-2, and 3) NADPH-dependent conversion of H4pterin-2 to tetrahydrobiopterin.