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Measurement of Iso-orotate Decarboxylase Activity in Neurospora Crassa

by Eva M. Marshall

Institution:	Youngstown State University
Department:	Department of Biological Sciences
Degree:	MSin Biology
Year:	1999
Keywords:	Biology, General; iso-orotate decarboxylase
Posted:
Record ID:	1697322
Full text PDF:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu999018116

Abstract

The biosynthesis of uridine-5'-monophosphate (UMP) can occur through two pathways. The first and most common is the de novo pathway, while the second and more unique pathway is the thymidine salvage pathway. The fungus Neurospora crassa, unlike many organisms, contains both but utilizes the second of these pathways to convert thymidine to uracil. My research focuses on the fourth enzyme of the thymidine salvage pathway, iso-orotate decarboxylase. Preliminary characterization of IDCase was determined by a radioactivity based assay using 14C to label the substrate IOA. This decarboxylation assay measures the amount of IDCase activity by detecting the amount of radio-labeled CO2 released from IOA in the reaction at a specified time point.