Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) aids in carbohydrate and fat metabolism by serving as a cofactor. It is majorly responsible for catalyzing the enzymatic reactions involved in sphingolipid synthesis and neurotransmitter (dopamine and serotonin) synthesis.
Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) is synthesized in a multiple-step process. The two pathways inlcude pyridoxal phosphate biosynthetic protein (PdxA)- pyridoxine-5′-phosphate synthase (PdxJ) pathway and the pyridoxal 5′-phosphate synthase subunit PDX1/PDX2 pathway.