PYCR1

UniProt ID: P32322
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: INITIALIZED
πŸ“ Provide Detailed Feedback

Gene Description

PYCR1 (pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1) is a mitochondrial NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductase (EC 1.5.1.2) that catalyzes the final, committed step of proline biosynthesis: the reduction of (S)-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to L-proline. P5C is the common intermediate produced from glutamate (via P5C synthase) or from ornithine (via ornithine aminotransferase); PYCR1 acts primarily on the glutamate route. The enzyme is a homodecamer assembled as five homodimers, with each subunit built from an N-terminal Rossmann-fold dinucleotide-binding domain and a C-terminal dimerization domain. At physiological substrate and cofactor concentrations it has higher activity with NADH than NADPH, and it is competitively inhibited by its product proline. Beyond supplying proline for protein synthesis and collagen, PYCR1 participates in the proline/P5C redox cycle that shuttles reducing equivalents between mitochondria and cytosol, linking it to redox homeostasis and the cellular response to oxidative stress. Loss-of-function variants in PYCR1 cause autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 2B and 3B (progeroid/De Barsy-like phenotypes), with altered mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential and increased apoptosis under oxidative stress. PYCR1 is frequently overexpressed in cancers, where proline biosynthesis supports tumor growth.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Core catalytic molecular function of PYCR1, robustly supported experimentally in human (kinetics and crystal structures) and conserved across the P5C reductase family. The phylogenetic (IBA) inference is fully consistent with the direct evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/PYCR1/PYCR1-uniprot.txt
Oxidoreductase that catalyzes the last step in proline
GO:0055129 L-proline biosynthetic process
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Core biological process. PYCR1 catalyzes the final step of L-proline biosynthesis; the IBA inference matches the experimental human data and the UniProt pathway annotation (L-proline from L-glutamate 5-semialdehyde, step 1/1).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/PYCR1/PYCR1-uniprot.txt
Amino-acid biosynthesis; L-proline biosynthesis; L-proline
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic (ARBA/InterPro/Rhea/EC) assignment of the core catalytic activity. Redundant with the experimental IDA annotations but correct; keep as supporting the core function.
GO:0005739 mitochondrion
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic localization to mitochondrion, consistent with experimental IDA subcellular-fractionation and co-localization evidence. Correct; the more specific mitochondrial matrix term is also annotated.
GO:0034599 cellular response to oxidative stress
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: ARBA electronic annotation duplicating the experimental IMP annotation (PMID:19648921), where fibroblasts from affected individuals showed increased apoptosis upon oxidative stress. A genuine but non-core role of PYCR1; retain as non-core.
GO:0055129 L-proline biosynthetic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic (ARBA/InterPro/UniPathway) assignment of the core proline biosynthesis process. Redundant with experimental IDA/IBA annotations but correct.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 cooperates with PYCR1 in cell protection against oxidat...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Bare "protein binding" from a physical interaction with DJ-1/PARK7. Uninformative as a molecular function term (it does not describe what PYCR1 does), so mark as over-annotated rather than accept. The underlying interaction is real (DJ-1 directly binds PYCR1 and enhances its activity) and is captured biologically elsewhere.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 directly bound to PYCR1 in vivo and in
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:32296183
A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Bare "protein binding" from a high-throughput binary interactome (HuRI) screen (interaction with TNPO2). Uninformative molecular-function term; the interaction is not known to correspond to a specific biological function of PYCR1. Mark as over-annotated.
GO:0042802 identical protein binding
IPI
PMID:16730026
Crystal structure of human pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Self-association reported from the crystal structure, which showed a decameric architecture of five homodimers. "Identical protein binding" is a defensible capture of the obligate homo-oligomerization that underlies catalysis, but it is not the core function; keep as non-core. The oligomeric state is better represented by the pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase complex annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16730026
a decameric architecture with five homodimer subunits
GO:0042802 identical protein binding
IPI
PMID:2722838
Purified human erythrocyte pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Self-association from early sizing-chromatography work on purified human erythrocyte P5C reductase, which showed a 300,000-350,000 Mr native species consistent with a 10- to 12-mer. Supports homo-oligomerization; keep as non-core (see the complex annotation for the oligomeric assembly).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:2722838
suggesting that the native enzyme exists as a 10- to
GO:1902792 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase complex
IDA
PMID:28258219
Resolving the cofactor-binding site in the proline biosynthe...
ACCEPT
Summary: PYCR1 assembles into a homodecamer (pentamer of dimers), directly demonstrated by crystallography and sedimentation velocity. This complex is the catalytically active form. Accurate and informative; accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28258219
PYCR1 forms a concentration-dependent decamer in solution, consistent with the
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
IDA
PMID:23024808
Functional specialization in proline biosynthesis of melanom...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct enzymatic characterization of human PYCR1 (catalytic activity, kinetics, cofactor preference, product inhibition). Strong support for the core molecular function. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/PYCR1/PYCR1-uniprot.txt
concentrations, has higher specific activity in the presence of NADH
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
IDA
PMID:28258219
Resolving the cofactor-binding site in the proline biosynthe...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct kinetic and mutational characterization of human PYCR1, including the T238A mutant with decreased P5C reductase activity confirming the catalytic mechanism. Strong support for the core function. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28258219
catalyzing the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of Ξ”1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline
GO:0005739 mitochondrion
IDA
PMID:23024808
Functional specialization in proline biosynthesis of melanom...
ACCEPT
Summary: Subcellular fractionation localized PYCR1 (and PYCR2) to the mitochondria. Correct localization; the more specific mitochondrial matrix is also annotated. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23024808
are localized in the mitochondria, and primarily involved in the conversion of glutamate to proline
GO:0055129 L-proline biosynthetic process
IDA
PMID:23024808
Functional specialization in proline biosynthesis of melanom...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct isotope-tracing evidence that PYCR1 contributes to proline biosynthesis, primarily production of proline from glutamate. Core biological process. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23024808
PYCR1 contributes primarily to production of proline from glutamate
GO:0055129 L-proline biosynthetic process
IDA
PMID:28258219
Resolving the cofactor-binding site in the proline biosynthe...
ACCEPT
Summary: Structural/kinetic study framing PYCR1 as the final enzyme in proline biosynthesis. Supports the core biological process. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28258219
is the final enzyme in proline biosynthesis
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
IDA
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 cooperates with PYCR1 in cell protection against oxidat...
ACCEPT
Summary: Core catalytic activity annotated from the DJ-1/PYCR1 study, which measured PYCR1 enzymatic activity (enhanced in vitro by DJ-1). Consistent with the core function; accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 enhanced the enzymatic activity of PYCR1 in vitro
GO:1903377 negative regulation of oxidative stress-induced neuron intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway
IMP
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 cooperates with PYCR1 in cell protection against oxidat...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Highly specific process term derived from the DJ-1/PYCR1 oxidative-stress-protection study. The paper reports that cells knocked down for DJ-1 and PYCR1 showed lower viability under oxidative stress, placing PYCR1 on an anti-oxidative-stress pathway, but the "neuron intrinsic apoptotic signaling" specificity is an over-reach: the cited experiments used cell lines and did not establish a neuron-specific apoptotic pathway. This is a plausible but non-core, over-specified role; retain as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23743200
cells knocked down for DJ-1 and PYCR1 showed lower viability under oxidative stress conditions
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:24930674
Frequent amplification of ORAOV1 gene in esophageal squamous...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Bare "protein binding" from the interaction of PYCR1 (P5C reductase) with ORAOV1/LTO1 demonstrated by peptide mass fingerprinting. Uninformative molecular-function term; the physical interaction is real but does not describe PYCR1's function. Mark as over-annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24930674
ORAOV1 bound to pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (PYCR), which is associated with proline metabolism
GO:0005759 mitochondrial matrix
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-70664
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome traceable-author-statement placing the PYCR1 decamer reaction in the mitochondrial matrix, consistent with the mitochondrial localization established experimentally. Appropriate and more specific than "mitochondrion"; accept.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-70664
PYCR1 decamer reduces (S)-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate to L-Pro
GO:0005739 mitochondrion
IDA
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 cooperates with PYCR1 in cell protection against oxidat...
ACCEPT
Summary: PYCR1 co-localized with DJ-1 in mitochondria. Correct localization; accept (mitochondrial matrix is the more specific annotation).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 and PYCR1 colocalized in mitochondria
GO:0051881 regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential
IMP
PMID:23743200
DJ-1 cooperates with PYCR1 in cell protection against oxidat...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: The DJ-1/PYCR1 study reports that both proteins are involved in regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential (differently). Also supported independently by the cutis-laxa fibroblast work (PMID:19648921), which found altered mitochondrial membrane potential in patient cells. A genuine downstream/physiological effect of PYCR1 dysfunction rather than its core function; retain as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23743200
involved in regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
IDA
PMID:16730026
Crystal structure of human pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct enzymatic/mutagenesis characterization (Glu221) from the first human PYCR1 crystal structure. Strong support for the core catalytic activity. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16730026
catalyzes the reduction of Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline using NAD(P)H as the cofactor
GO:0055129 L-proline biosynthetic process
IDA
PMID:16730026
Crystal structure of human pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase...
ACCEPT
Summary: Core biological process supported by the structural/enzymatic study. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16730026
catalyzes the reduction of Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline
GO:0005739 mitochondrion
IDA
PMID:19648921
Mutations in PYCR1 cause cutis laxa with progeroid features.
ACCEPT
Summary: Co-localization study in the cutis-laxa paper showed PYCR1 localizes to mitochondria. Correct localization; accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19648921
an enzyme involved in proline metabolism, localizes to mitochondria
GO:0034599 cellular response to oxidative stress
IMP
PMID:19648921
Mutations in PYCR1 cause cutis laxa with progeroid features.
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Fibroblasts from PYCR1-deficient (cutis laxa) individuals showed increased apoptosis upon oxidative stress, implicating PYCR1 in the cellular response to oxidative stress. A genuine but non-core, disease-related role; retain as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19648921
increased apoptosis rate upon oxidative stress were evident in fibroblasts from affected individuals
GO:0004735 pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase activity
TAS
PMID:1730675
Cloning human pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase cDNA by comp...
ACCEPT
Summary: Original cDNA-cloning paper; PYCR1 complemented proline auxotrophy in yeast and the enzyme catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent conversion of P5C to proline. Traceable author statement supporting the core catalytic activity. Accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1730675
catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent
GO:0055129 L-proline biosynthetic process
TAS
PMID:1730675
Cloning human pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase cDNA by comp...
ACCEPT
Summary: Cloning by complementation of proline auxotrophy establishes PYCR1's role in proline biosynthesis. Core biological process; accept.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1730675
two of which gained proline prototrophy

Core Functions

Catalyzes the terminal step of L-proline biosynthesis: the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of (S)-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to L-proline, acting mainly on P5C derived from glutamate. Functions as a mitochondrial homodecamer with higher activity toward NADH than NADPH at physiological concentrations and is competitively inhibited by product proline.

Supporting Evidence:
  • file:human/PYCR1/PYCR1-uniprot.txt
    Oxidoreductase that catalyzes the last step in proline
  • PMID:28258219
    catalyzing the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of Ξ”1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline

References

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)

πŸ“š Additional Documentation

Notes

(PYCR1-notes.md)

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)

πŸ“„ View Raw YAML

Loading supporting content…

Download this section (compressed HTML)