Final answer:
The enzymes responsible for synthesizing IMP from PRPP are found in the cytosol and are part of the de novo purine nucleotide synthesis pathway. These cytoplasmic enzymes work successively to create the purine nucleotides necessary for DNA and RNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzymes involved in the synthesis of inosine monophosphate (IMP) from 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) are localized within the cytosol of human cells. This pathway is part of the de novo purine nucleotide synthesis and is essential for producing purine nucleotides that are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. During this biosynthesis, a series of enzymatic reactions occur, which are cytoplasmic. Enzymes such as amidophosphoribosyl transferase, adenylosuccinate synthetase, and adenylosuccinate lyase, among others, catalyze these steps successively. The cellular localization is consistent with the fact that many biosynthetic pathways, including purine nucleotide synthesis and other pathways such as the salvage pathway and pyrimidine biosynthesis, take place in the cytosol, providing compartmentalization and regulation of metabolic processes.