Metabolic Minimap

Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism, Designed by Donald NicholsonCOMMENTARY

Received for publication, March 20, 2004

Donald Nicholson‡

From the University of Leeds, Leeds LS2, United Kingdom

For over 2 years, Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyEducation (BAMBED)1 has been regularly publishing cop-ies of IUBMB-Nicholson minimaps [1–6] which appear onthe International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Bi-ology (IUBMB) website (www.iubmb.org). The purpose ofthe minimaps is the same as I have sought for over 40years with the Metabolic Pathways Charts, to make me-tabolism “meaningful, wonder-full and fun.” The primaryconcern is that they should be as accurate as possible,and this has involved numerous consultations with manywho know far more about the individual pathways than Ido, and some have been reviewed by leading experts inthe differing fields. The feedback has been hugely satisfy-ing, including, as it does, correction and severe criticismas well as adulation. Please let it continue!

This is all to be welcomed and encouraged, but we mustlook to the future. I am now 88 years old and, happily, stillsound in body and mind, but immersion in the science oflife does not preclude mortality or worse. In any case, Iwant others to experience the joys and satisfactions ofmetabolic cartography, like solving a quadratic equation ora tricky crossword puzzle. It is both a science and an artand can be a valuable aid to teaching and learning in whichthe learner can make positive contributions, all in the in-terests of understanding. A student’s final year project on,say, aromatic amino acids or phospholipids could encour-age an appreciation not only of the elegance of pathwaysbut of intra- and intercellular relationships. Perhaps wecould initiate a Minimap Competition at an IUBMB Con-gress or through a journal such as BAMBED in whichwinning contributions could be included with the others on

the (hopefully prestigious) IUBMB website?Other innovations are developing rapidly and will soon

be available. The advent of Powerpoint XP made hithertoimpossible animations available, converting Minimaps toAnimaps to bring a new realism to biochemistry. It makesbiochemistry BIO-chemistry, and enzymes can now beshown to take a far more active role. Enzymes are essen-tially protein in nature, but some amino acids are moreimportant than others. We can now show reactants flowinginto the inside of an enzyme and aligning with active sitesprior to reaction. Powerpoint XP is virtually useless forthe internet, so our animations are being converted intoFlash, a format which can be easily downloaded almosteverywhere.

The current issue of BAMBED includes Minimaps onpurine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism illustratedin an unconventional way (Figs. 1 and 2). As with theMetabolic Pathways Charts, feedback is sought on all theMinimaps and soon the Animaps, from both seekers andauthorities, to ensure their maximum meaningfulness andattractiveness.

REFERENCES

[1] D. Nicholson (2002) Metabolic minimaps: Mitochondrial ATP forma-tion, Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 30, 3–5.

[2] R. W. Hanson (2002) Metabolic minimaps: Glycolysis and gluconeo-genesis and their regulation, designed by Donald E. Nicholson: Com-mentary: Metabolic minimaps are useful tools, Biochem. Mol. Biol.Educ. 30, 221–223.

[3] R. W. Hanson (2002) Metabolic minimaps: The urea cycle, designed byDonald Nicholson: Commentary: The urea cycle redux, Biochem. Mol.Biol. Educ. 30, 350–352.

[4] M. Brand (2003) Metabolic minimaps: Approximate yield of ATP fromglucose, designed by Donald Nicholson: Commentary, Biochem. Mol.Biol. Educ. 31, 2–4.

[5] V. Skulachev (2003) Metabolic minimaps: Mitochondrial ATP forma-tion: revised, designed by Donald Nicholson: Commentary, Biochem.Mol. Biol. Educ. 31, 83–84.

[6] P. Rich (2003) Metabolic minimaps: Photosynthesis in chloroplast:revised, designed by Donald Nicholson: Commentary, Biochem. Mol.Biol. Educ. 31, 281–282.

‡ To whom correspondence should be addressed: Universityof Leeds, Leeds LS2, United Kingdom. E-mail: d.nicholson@leeds.ac.uk.

1 The abbreviations used are: BAMBED, Biochemistry andMolecular Biology Education; IUBMB, International Union of Bio-chemistry and Molecular Biology.

© 2004 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATIONPrinted in U.S.A. Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 143–145, 2004

This paper is available on line at http://www.bambed.org 143

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