Identification of UBIAD1 as a novel human menaquinone-4 biosynthetic enzyme

Kimie Nakagawa, Yoshihisa Hirota, Natsumi Sawada, Naohito Yuge, Masato Watanabe, Yuri Uchino, Naoko Okuda, Yuka Shimomura, Yoshitomo Suhara and Toshio Okano ()
Additional contact information
Kimie Nakagawa: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Yoshihisa Hirota: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Natsumi Sawada: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Naohito Yuge: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Masato Watanabe: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Yuri Uchino: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Naoko Okuda: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Yuka Shimomura: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Yoshitomo Suhara: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
Toshio Okano: Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan

Nature, 2010, vol. 468, issue 7320, 117-121

Abstract: Key enzyme in vitamin K metabolism Vitamin K, an important factor in blood clotting and bone metabolism, is present in the diet principally as phylloquinone (PK) from plants. One form of the vitamin, menaquinone-4 or MK-4, has a highly specific tissue distribution in the brain, kidney and pancreas in humans and in rats, suggestive of local synthesis from phylloquinone. An enzyme catalysing that synthesis has now been identified: UbiA prenyltransferase containing 1 (UBIAD1) is a human homologue of an Escherichia coli enzyme. Previously its function was unclear, although it is a candidate gene in Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy. The discovery of a human MK-4 enzyme able to biosynthesize the hormonally active form of vitamin K is of relevance to work on human vitamin K requirements and bone health.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09464

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