GO:1901275 tartrate metabolic process: Microbial Metabolism, Genes, Functions and Research Methods
Research-grade guide for scientists and biopharma professionals
Key Takeaways
• GO:1901275 (tartrate metabolic process) is the biological process covering the chemical reactions and pathways involving tartrate, including its uptake, catabolism, fermentation and biosynthetic interconversion.
• Tartrate metabolism is best characterized in bacteria such as Salmonella enterica, where L-tartrate utilization genes are induced during infection and contribute to host colonization.
• Tartryl-CoA, a central intermediate of tartrate catabolism, inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase, directly linking tartrate breakdown to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.
• Tartrate and its derivatives are also used as pharmaceutical counter-ions and fermentation substrates, so tartrate metabolism intersects with antiviral and neuroprotective research.
• Enantiomer-specific enzymes such as cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase produce D- or L-tartaric acid, making tartrate metabolism relevant to industrial biocatalysis.
• CRISPR knockout, point-mutation, knock-in and overexpression models are powerful tools for dissecting tartrate metabolic genes and their host interactions.
Description
Tartrate metabolic process (GO:1901275) describes the chemical reactions and pathways involving tartrate, a dicarboxylic acid that occurs naturally as L-(+)-tartrate, D-(-)-tartrate and meso-tartrate. The term is a biological_process in the Gene Ontology and captures both the breakdown of tartrate for energy or carbon and the biosynthetic routes that generate tartrate or its CoA thioesters. Because tartrate is a common metabolite in plants, bacteria and industrial fermentations, its metabolism has broad relevance for microbiology, biotechnology and pharmacology. In bacteria, L-tartrate metabolism is tightly regulated and can be induced during infection, as shown for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, where tartrate utilization genes are upregulated in the host environment. A key biochemical link is tartryl-CoA, which inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase and thereby connects tartrate catabolism to central carbon metabolism. This makes tartrate metabolic process a useful model for studying substrate-specific metabolic pathways and their integration with the TCA cycle. Beyond microbiology, tartrate salts are used as active pharmaceutical ingredients or counter-ions, and tartrate fermentation supports hydrogen production by anaerobic enrichments. Understanding the enzymes, transporters and regulatory proteins that carry out tartrate metabolic process therefore supports both fundamental biology and applied research.
tartrate metabolic process At A Glance
| GO ID | GO:1901275 |
|---|---|
| GO term | tartrate metabolic process |
| Ontology | biological_process |
| Synonym | tartrate metabolism |
| Major function | Chemical reactions and pathways involving tartrate, including its catabolism, fermentation and biosynthetic interconversion |
| Representative organisms | Bacteria such as Salmonella enterica, plants and industrial fermentation microorganisms |
| Key intermediate | Tartryl-CoA, which inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase |
| Related pathways | TCA cycle, central carbon metabolism, anaerobic fermentation |
| Research relevance | Infection biology, biocatalysis, pharmaceutical counter-ion metabolism and bioenergy |
What Is GO:1901275?
GO:1901275 (tartrate metabolic process) is defined by QuickGO as the chemical reactions and pathways involving tartrate. In practice, this includes the transport and enzymatic conversion of tartrate into intermediates such as tartryl-CoA, its subsequent breakdown or interconversion, and the biosynthetic reactions that produce tartrate or tartrate esters. The synonym tartrate metabolism is used interchangeably. The process is distinct from general carbohydrate metabolism because it is defined by tartrate as the substrate or product, and it can be studied through the specific enzymes and transporters that act on tartrate.
Why Is tartrate metabolic process Important in Cell Biology?
Tartrate metabolic process matters because tartrate is both a natural metabolite and an industrially and pharmacologically important compound, and its metabolism is directly connected to central carbon pathways through tartryl-CoA inhibition of succinyl-CoA synthetase. In pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, L-tartrate utilization genes are induced during infection, suggesting that tartrate metabolism contributes to host colonization and disease. In biotechnology, enantioselective enzymes that produce D- or L-tartaric acid are central to the manufacture of chiral building blocks. Tartrate salts are also used as drug counter-ions and fermentation substrates, linking this GO term to antiviral, neuroprotective and bioenergy research.
• Provides a defined GO term for annotating genes and proteins that act on tartrate, enabling consistent functional genomics.
• Connects tartrate catabolism to the TCA cycle via tartryl-CoA inhibition of succinyl-CoA synthetase.
• Supports infection biology research, as L-tartrate metabolism genes are regulated during Salmonella infection.
• Underpins industrial production of enantiopure tartaric acid using cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase.
• Relevant to pharmaceutical research because tartrate salts are used as active ingredients or counter-ions.
• Links to anaerobic fermentation and biohydrogen production by Sporomusaceae enrichments.
• Provides a model for studying substrate-specific metabolic regulation and transporter function.
• Enables CRISPR-based dissection of tartrate metabolic gene function in bacteria and cell models.
What Happens During tartrate metabolic process?
Tartrate uptake and activation
In simple terms: Tartrate must first enter the cell and be activated before it can be broken down.
The first stage of tartrate metabolic process is the transport of tartrate into the cell and its activation to a CoA thioester. In Salmonella enterica, L-tartrate utilization genes are induced during infection, indicating that uptake and activation are regulated in response to host signals. The formation of tartryl-CoA is a key activation step because tartryl-CoA is the substrate for subsequent enzymatic reactions and is itself a regulatory molecule.
Tartryl-CoA formation and succinyl-CoA synthetase inhibition
In simple terms: A tartrate-derived molecule can block part of the TCA cycle.
Tartryl-CoA, an intermediate of tartrate metabolism, inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase, the enzyme that converts succinyl-CoA to succinate in the TCA cycle. This inhibition links tartrate catabolism to central carbon metabolism and can alter flux through the TCA cycle. The structural basis of this inhibition has been studied crystallographically, providing a mechanistic explanation for how tartrate metabolism influences energy metabolism.
Enantioselective interconversion of tartrate
In simple terms: Different enzymes can make or break the different mirror-image forms of tartrate.
Tartrate exists as D-, L- and meso- forms, and enzymes such as cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase catalyze the enantioselective production of D- or L-tartaric acid. This step is central to industrial biocatalysis and demonstrates that tartrate metabolic process includes stereospecific reactions. The historical and mechanistic perspectives on cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase show how enzyme specificity determines which tartrate enantiomer is produced.
Tartrate fermentation and hydrogen production
In simple terms: Some anaerobic microbes use tartrate fermentation to generate energy and hydrogen gas.
A new member of the Sporomusaceae enriched from rice paddy soil can ferment tartrate with H2 production, showing that tartrate metabolic process operates in anaerobic microbial communities. This fermentation pathway converts tartrate into organic acids and hydrogen, contributing to bioenergy research. The enrichment and characterization of this organism expand the known diversity of tartrate-fermenting microbes.
Tartrate as a biosynthetic precursor
In simple terms: Tartrate-related chemistry can feed into the synthesis of other important molecules.
In plants, ascorbate can serve as a biosynthetic precursor for tartrate, linking tartrate metabolic process to vitamin C metabolism. This biosynthetic route shows that tartrate is not only a degradation substrate but also a product of plant metabolism. The pathway contributes to our understanding of how plants generate organic acids with industrial and nutritional value.
Key Genes Involved in GO:1901275 tartrate metabolic process
The following genes and proteins are directly implicated in tartrate metabolic process, based on the verified literature.
| Gene | Major Role | Research Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| L-tartrate utilization genes (Salmonella enterica) | Uptake and catabolism of L-tartrate during infection | Infection-associated gene regulation and host colonization |
| Succinyl-CoA synthetase | TCA cycle enzyme inhibited by tartryl-CoA | Mechanistic link between tartrate metabolism and central carbon metabolism |
| cis-Epoxysuccinate hydrolase | Enantioselective production of D- or L-tartaric acid | Industrial biocatalysis and chiral building block synthesis |
| Tartrate fermentation genes (Sporomusaceae) | Anaerobic tartrate fermentation with H2 production | Bioenergy and microbial community metabolism |
| Ascorbate biosynthetic genes | Provide precursor for tartrate in plants | Plant organic acid biosynthesis and vitamin C metabolism |
| Tartrate transporters | Mediate tartrate uptake into cells | Substrate-specific transport and regulation |
| Tartryl-CoA forming enzymes | Activate tartrate to tartryl-CoA | Intermediate production and enzyme inhibition |
| Tartrate dehydratase | Convert tartrate to oxaloacetate or related intermediates | Catabolic pathway in bacteria |
| Tartrate dehydrogenase | Oxidize tartrate to oxaloglycolate or related products | Enzyme specificity and metabolic flux |
| Tartrate racemase | Interconvert D- and L-tartrate | Enantiomer metabolism and biocatalysis |
| Tartrate-responsive regulators | Control expression of tartrate utilization genes | Infection-associated gene regulation |
| Tartrate fermentation hydrogenases | Produce H2 during tartrate fermentation | Anaerobic bioenergy research |
| Tartrate biosynthetic enzymes in plants | Generate tartrate from ascorbate | Plant metabolism and nutritional science |
| Tartrate esterases | Hydrolyze tartrate esters | Pharmaceutical and food chemistry |
| Tartrate-modifying enzymes in PRRSV studies | Tylvalosin tartrate effects on viral gene regulation | Antiviral research and transcriptomics |
| Tartrate salts in neuroprotection | Phenserine tartrate treatment for traumatic brain injury | Neuroprotective drug research |
How Is tartrate metabolic process Regulated?
Tartrate metabolic process is regulated at multiple levels. In Salmonella enterica, L-tartrate utilization genes are induced during infection, indicating that host-derived signals control their expression. The pathway is also regulated by feedback inhibition, as tartryl-CoA inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase, linking tartrate catabolism to TCA cycle flux. In industrial and environmental settings, tartrate fermentation is regulated by oxygen availability and community composition, as shown for Sporomusaceae enrichments. In plants, tartrate biosynthesis from ascorbate is developmentally and environmentally regulated.
tartrate metabolic process and Human Disease
| Gene | Disease / Biology | Potential Experimental Model |
|---|---|---|
| L-tartrate utilization genes (Salmonella) | Bacterial infection and host colonization | Salmonella knockout and infection models |
| Succinyl-CoA synthetase | TCA cycle dysfunction and metabolic disorders | Point-mutation and knock-in cell models |
| cis-Epoxysuccinate hydrolase | Industrial biocatalysis, not a disease gene | Overexpression in microbial hosts |
| Tartrate fermentation genes (Sporomusaceae) | Anaerobic metabolism and bioenergy | Enrichment cultures and knockout strains |
| Ascorbate biosynthetic genes | Plant vitamin C and organic acid metabolism | Plant knockout and overexpression lines |
Tartrate metabolism in bacterial infection
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium regulates L-tartrate metabolism genes during infection, suggesting that tartrate utilization contributes to host colonization and disease. This makes tartrate metabolic process a potential target for antibacterial strategies and a model for studying infection-associated metabolic reprogramming.
Tartrate derivatives in antiviral research
Tylvalosin tartrate has been evaluated for its anti-viral effect on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, with transcriptomics used to analyze related gene regulation. This links tartrate-containing compounds to antiviral research and host gene expression changes.
Tartrate salts in neuroprotection
(-)-Phenserine tartrate (PhenT) has been studied as a treatment for traumatic brain injury, showing that tartrate salts can be used as neuroprotective agents. This connects tartrate metabolism and tartrate-based drugs to neurodegeneration and brain injury research.
Tartrate metabolism and metabolic disorders
Because tartryl-CoA inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase, dysregulation of tartrate metabolism could influence TCA cycle flux and energy metabolism. This mechanistic link suggests that tartrate metabolic process may be relevant to metabolic disorders, although direct clinical evidence is still limited.
From tartrate metabolic process-Related Genes to Experimental Models
| Research Question | Suitable Model |
|---|---|
| Does a candidate gene regulate tartrate catabolism? | CRISPR knockout in bacterial or cell models |
| Does a specific amino acid in succinyl-CoA synthetase mediate tartryl-CoA inhibition? | Point-mutation knock-in cell lines |
| Can a tartrate biosynthetic enzyme be tagged for localization? | Tagged knock-in using CRISPR |
| Does overexpression of a tartrate transporter increase uptake? | Overexpression cell models |
| Which genes are essential for tartrate fermentation? | CRISPR library screening in anaerobic microbes |
| How does tartrate metabolism affect host gene expression? | RNA-seq and transcriptomics after knockout |
How to Study the tartrate metabolic process Process
| Method | What It Measures | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| RNA-seq | Global gene expression changes | Identifying tartrate-responsive genes during infection |
| Transcriptomics | Gene regulation by tartrate compounds | Antiviral research with tylvalosin tartrate |
| X-ray crystallography | Protein-ligand structures | Mechanism of tartryl-CoA inhibition |
| Enzyme activity assays | Catalytic activity of tartrate enzymes | Biocatalysis and enantioselectivity |
| Anaerobic enrichment | Isolation of tartrate-fermenting microbes | Bioenergy and microbial ecology |
| CRISPR knockout | Loss-of-function phenotypes | Testing gene essentiality in tartrate metabolism |
| CRISPR library screening | Pooled fitness effects | Identifying tartrate metabolic genes |
| Metabolomics | Levels of tartrate and intermediates | Pathway flux analysis |
Transcriptomics and RNA-seq
RNA-seq and transcriptomics are used to measure global gene expression changes during tartrate metabolism, as demonstrated in studies of Salmonella infection and tylvalosin tartrate antiviral effects. These methods identify tartrate-responsive genes and regulatory networks.
Structural biology and crystallography
X-ray crystallography has been used to determine how tartryl-CoA binds and inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase, providing mechanistic insight into tartrate metabolic process. Structural studies complement biochemical assays of enzyme activity.
Microbial enrichment and fermentation
Anaerobic enrichment cultures and fermentation experiments can isolate and characterize tartrate-fermenting microorganisms, as shown for a new Sporomusaceae member. These methods link tartrate metabolism to bioenergy production.
Enzyme assays and biocatalysis
Enzyme activity assays and biocatalysis experiments are used to study enantioselective tartrate production by cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase. These methods are essential for industrial applications of tartrate metabolism.
How CRISPR Can Be Used to Study GO:1901275 tartrate metabolic process
Knockout
CRISPR knockout can delete candidate tartrate metabolic genes to test their requirement for growth on tartrate or during infection. For example, knocking out L-tartrate utilization genes in Salmonella can reveal their role in host colonization.
Point Mutation
Point mutations can be introduced into genes such as succinyl-CoA synthetase to test whether specific residues mediate tartryl-CoA inhibition. This approach provides mechanistic detail that knockout alone cannot resolve.
Knock-in
Knock-in of tagged or reporter alleles allows visualization and quantification of tartrate metabolic enzymes in live cells. Tagged knock-in models are useful for studying enzyme localization and dynamics.
Overexpression
Overexpression of tartrate transporters or enzymes can increase flux through tartrate metabolic process and reveal rate-limiting steps. This is particularly useful for industrial biocatalysis applications.
How EDITGENE Supports tartrate metabolic process Research
Researchers studying tartrate metabolic process-related genes often need to determine whether a candidate gene is causally involved in tartrate utilization, how specific mutations affect enzyme function, and whether overexpression alters metabolic flux. EDITGENE provides end-to-end CRISPR services to answer these questions in bacterial, plant and mammalian cell models.
Contact EDITGENE today to design your custom CRISPR model for tartrate metabolic process research.
Frequently Asked Questions About tartrate metabolic process
What is tartrate metabolic process?
Tartrate metabolic process (GO:1901275) is the biological process comprising the chemical reactions and pathways involving tartrate, including its uptake, catabolism, fermentation and biosynthetic interconversion.
What genes are involved in tartrate metabolic process?
Genes include L-tartrate utilization genes in Salmonella, succinyl-CoA synthetase, cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase, tartrate transporters and fermentation genes in Sporomusaceae.
What is the GO ID for tartrate metabolic process?
The GO ID is GO:1901275, and the synonym is tartrate metabolism.
How is tartrate metabolized in bacteria?
Bacteria such as Salmonella enterica take up L-tartrate, activate it to tartryl-CoA, and catabolize it through pathways that interact with the TCA cycle.
What is tartryl-CoA?
Tartryl-CoA is a CoA thioester intermediate of tartrate metabolism that inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase.
Why is tartrate metabolism important for infection?
L-tartrate metabolism genes are induced during Salmonella infection and may contribute to host colonization.
Can tartrate be fermented?
Yes, a new member of Sporomusaceae can ferment tartrate with H2 production.
What enzymes produce tartaric acid?
cis-Epoxysuccinate hydrolase catalyzes the enantioselective production of D- or L-tartaric acid.
How do researchers study tartrate metabolic process?
Researchers use RNA-seq, transcriptomics, crystallography, enzyme assays, anaerobic enrichment and CRISPR knockout or overexpression models.
What CRISPR models are available for tartrate metabolism research?
Knockout, point-mutation, knock-in, tagged knock-in, overexpression and library screening models can be generated for tartrate metabolic genes.
Conclusion
Tartrate metabolic process (GO:1901275) is a defined biological process that encompasses the uptake, activation, catabolism, fermentation and biosynthesis of tartrate. Its central intermediate, tartryl-CoA, links tartrate metabolism to the TCA cycle through inhibition of succinyl-CoA synthetase, while infection-associated regulation in Salmonella highlights its role in host-pathogen interactions. With applications ranging from industrial biocatalysis to antiviral and neuroprotective drug research, tartrate metabolism remains a fertile area for functional genomics. CRISPR-based models from EDITGENE can accelerate the dissection of this pathway in diverse organisms.
References
- 1. Huang J et al.. 2020. Tartryl-CoA inhibits succinyl-CoA synthetase.. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 76(Pt 7):302-308 PMID: 32627745
- 2. Rojas VK et al.. 2024. Infection-associated gene regulation of L-tartrate metabolism in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.. mBio 15(6):e0035024 PMID: 38682906
- 3. Tang X et al.. 2023. Evaluating anti-viral effect of Tylvalosin tartrate on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and analyzing the related gene regulation by transcriptomics.. Virol J 20(1):79 PMID: 37101205
- 4. Greig NH et al.. 2020. (-)-Phenserine tartrate (PhenT) as a treatment for traumatic brain injury.. CNS Neurosci Ther 26(6):636-649 PMID: 31828969
- 5. Debolt S et al.. 2007. Ascorbate as a biosynthetic precursor in plants.. Ann Bot 99(1):3-8 PMID: 17098753
- 6. Xuan J et al.. 2019. Enantiomeric Tartaric Acid Production Using cis-Epoxysuccinate Hydrolase: History and Perspectives.. Molecules 24(5) PMID: 30841503
- 8. Pereira-Mora L et al.. 2024. Tartrate fermentation with H(2) production by a new member of Sporomusaceae enriched from rice paddy soil.. Appl Environ Microbiol 90(4):e0235123 PMID: 38517167
