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D T Chuang

Publications and source records attributed to D T Chuang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Molecular phenotypes in cultured maple syrup urine disease cells. Complete E1 alpha cDNA sequence and mRNA and subunit contents of the human branched chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex.

The activity of the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex is deficient in patients with the inherited maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). To elucidate the molecular basis of this metabolic disorder, we have isolated three overlapping cDNA clones encoding the E1 alpha subunit of the human enzyme complex. The composite human E1 alpha cDNA consists of 1783 base pairs encoding the entire human E1 alpha subunit of 400 amino acids with calculated Mr = 45,552. The human E1 alpha and the previously isolated human E2 cDNAs were used as probes in Northern blot analysis with cultured fibroblasts and lymphoblasts from seven unrelated MSUD patients. The results along with those of Western blotting have revealed five distinct molecular phenotypes according to mRNA and protein-subunit contents. These consist of type I, where the levels of E1 alpha mRNA and E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits are normal in cells, but E1 activity is deficient; Type II, where the E1 alpha mRNA is present in normal quantity, whereas the contents of E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits are reduced; Type III, where the level of E1 alpha mRNA is markedly reduced with a concomitant loss of E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits; Type IV, where the contents of both E2 mRNA and E2 subunits are markedly reduced; and Type V, where the E2 mRNA is normally expressed, but the E2 subunit is markedly reduced or completely absent. Type V includes thiamin-responsive (WG-34) and certain classical MSUD cells. These molecular phenotypes have demonstrated the complexity of MSUD and identified the affected gene in different patients for further characterization.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Molecular studies of mammalian branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes: domain structures, expression, and inborn errors.

We have cloned cDNAs encoding the E1b-alpha, E1b-beta, and E2b subunits of the bovine and human branched-chain alpha-keto acid complexes. The deduced primary structures indicate that the mammalian E2b contains a lipoyl-bearing, an E3-binding, and an inner core domain that are linked in series by two flexible hinge regions. The observed conservation among E2 proteins in each of the three folded domains strongly suggests that the structural cores of alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes are evolutionarily related. We have expressed bovine pre-E2b in E. coli. The lipoate-free precursor protein is enzymatically active and appears to assemble into a 24-mer structure. Studies with deletion mutants support the proposal that the antigenicity in pre-E2b is associated with the flexible proline-rich hinge region. We have observed five distinct molecular phenotypes in maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) cells, according to the pattern of the branched-chain complex protein subunits and mRNAs present. The results have demonstrated a high degree of genetic heterogeneity in MSUD and have identified the affected genes which must be characterized.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Characterization and conservation of the inner E2 core domain structure of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from bovine liver. Construction of a cDNA encoding the entire transacylase (E2b) precursor.

A cDNA clone encoding the entire transacylase (E2b) precursor of the bovine branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex has been constructed from two overlapping incomplete cDNA clones which were isolated from a lambda ZAP library prepared from bovine liver poly(A)+ RNA. Nucleotide sequencing indicates that this bovine E2b cDNA insert (bE2-11) is 2701 base pairs in length with an open reading frame of 1446 base pairs. The bE2-11 cDNA insert encodes a leader peptide of 61 residues and a mature E2b polypeptide of 421 amino acid residues with a calculated monomeric molecular mass of 46,518 daltons. The molecular mass of the native E2b component isolated from bovine liver is 1,110,000 daltons as determined by sedimentation equilibrium. This value establishes the 24-subunit octahedral model for the quaternary structure of bovine E2b. The amino-terminal sequences of two tryptic fragments (A and B) of the E2b protein have been determined. Fragment A comprises residues 175 to 421 of the E2b protein and is the inner E2 core domain which contains the transacylase active site. Fragment B, produced by further tryptic cleavage of fragment, comprises residues 205 to 421, but does not have transacylase activity. Both fragments A and B confer the highly assembled 24-mer structure. The primary structure of the inner E2 core domain of bovine E2b (fragment A) is very similar to those of three other E2 proteins (human E2p, Escherichia coli E2p, and E. coli E2k). These similarities suggest that these E2 proteins are structurally and evolutionarily related.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Isolation and sequencing of a cDNA encoding the decarboxylase (E1)alpha precursor of bovine branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. Expression of E1 alpha mRNA and subunit in maple-syrup-urine-disease and 3T3-L1 cells.

A cDNA clone encoding the entire decarboxylase (E1)alpha precursor of the bovine branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex has been isolated from a lambda ZAP library prepared from bovine liver poly(A)+ RNA. Nucleotide sequencing indicates that this E1 alpha cDNA clone is 1821 base pairs (bp) in length with an open reading frame of 1365 bp and a 3'-untranslated region of 356 bp. A polyadenylation signal of the type AATAAA is located 27 bp upstream of the start of a poly(A)+ tail. There is a pair of identical 32-bp direct repeats of unknown function at the 5'-end of the cDNA. The bovine E1 alpha cDNA encodes a leader peptide of 55 residues including three candidate initiation methionines, and a mature E1 alpha of 400 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 45,385. The deduced primary structure shows the published peptide sequences flanking the two phosphorylation sites and the amino-terminal sequence (residues 1-32) of bovine E1 alpha determined in this study. The phosphoserine-bearing regions appear to be homologous between bovine E1 alpha and human pyruvate decarboxylase-alpha subunits, with respect to both amino acid identity and the position in each polypeptide chain. Northern blot analysis using the bovine E1 alpha cDNA as probe shows the presence of a single species of E1 alpha mRNA (2 kilobase pairs) in bovine liver, human placenta, and skin fibroblasts. Moreover, the E1 alpha mRNA exists in normal size and quantity in cultured fibroblasts derived from a maple-syrup-urine-disease homozygote deficient in E1 activity. The results preclude a defect in the transcription and processing of E1 alpha mRNA in these maple-syrup-urine-disease cells. Studies with 3T3-L1 cells show that a single species of E1 alpha mRNA (2 kilobase pairs) is expressed in the cells and that contents of the murine E1 alpha mRNA and subunit are markedly elevated during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. The results indicate that the induction of murine E1 activity during adipocyte differentiation occurs at the pretranslational level.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Conservation of primary structure in the lipoyl-bearing and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase binding domains of mammalian branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex: molecular cloning of human and bovine transacylase (E2) cDNAs.

The subunit structures and conservation of the dihydrolipoyl transacylase (E2) components of bovine and human branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes were investigated by Western blotting, peptide sequencing, and cDNA cloning methods. Rabbit antiserum prepared against the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) denaturated bovine E2 subunit recognized the inner E2 core, and the first hinge region of the E2 chain, but failed to react with the lipoyl-bearing domain as determined by Western blot analysis. The lack of antigenicity in the lipoyl-bearing domain was confirmed with antibodies directed against the native E2 component. A human E2 cDNA (1.6 kb) was isolated from a human liver cDNA library in lambda gt11 with a combination of the above anti-native and anti-SDS-denatured E2 immunoglobulin G's as a probe. The fidelity of the human E2 cDNA was established by nucleotide sequencing which showed the determined peptide sequences of the amino terminus and tryptic fragments of bovine E2. A bovine E2 cDNA (0.7 kb) was also isolated from a bovine liver cDNA library in lambda ZAP with the human E2 cDNA as a probe. Northern blot analysis using the human E2 cDNA probe showed that E2 mRNAs in bovine liver and human kidney mesangial cells are 3.3 and 4.6 kb in size, respectively. Primary structures derived from human and bovine E2 cDNAs show leader sequences including the initiator methionine and the homologous mature peptides consisting of complete lipoyl-bearing and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) binding domains and two hinge regions. In addition, the human E2 cDNA contains a portion of the inner E2 core sequence, a 3'-untranslated region, and a poly(A+) tail. Deduced amino acid sequences of the mammalian E2's were compared with those of Escherichia coli transacetylase and transsuccinylase and bovine kidney transacetylase. The results indicate a high degree of conservation in the sequence flanking the lipoyl-attachment site and in the E3-binding domain. Models are presented to discuss implications for the conserved structure-function relationship in the lipoyl-bearing and E3-binding domains of alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

The bifunctional aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase in lysine degradation. Separation of reductase and dehydrogenase domains by limited proteolysis and column chromatography.

The mammalian aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the first two sequential steps in lysine degradation in the major saccharopine pathway (Markovitz, P. J., Chuang, D. T., and Cox, R. P. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 11643-11646). We show here that limited proteolysis of the highly purified synthase from bovine liver with elastase, chymotrypsin, and papain resulted in separation of lysine-ketoglutarate reductase and saccharopine dehydrogenase activities as judged by activity stainings of the polyacrylamide gel. Enzyme assays showed no loss of the two activities after digestions with these proteases. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis disclosed the presence of two limit polypeptides in the elastolytic digests, i.e. fragment A (Mr = 62,700) and fragment B (Mr = 49,200). These fragments were apparently derived from the same polypeptide (Mr = 115,000) of the parent synthase. The reductase and dehydrogenase activities of the elastase-digested synthase were completely resolved by DEAE-Bio-Gel column chromatography. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that fragment A and fragment B were associated with reductase and dehydrogenase activities, respectively. The bovine synthase showed Mr = 420,000 in sedimentation equilibrium, confirming a tetrameric structure for the enzyme. The above results establish that the reductase and dehydrogenase domains of the aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase are separately folded and functionally independent of each other.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Subunit structure of the dihydrolipoyl transacylase component of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from bovine liver. Mapping of the lipoyl-bearing domain by limited proteolysis.

To characterize the lipoyl-bearing domain of the dihydrolipoyl transacylase (E2) component, purified branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from bovine liver was reductively acylated with [U-14C] alpha-ketoisovalerate in the presence of thiamin pyrophosphate and N-ethylmaleimide. Digestion of the modified complex with increasing concentrations of trypsin sequentially cleaved the E2 polypeptide chain (Mr = 52,000) into five radiolabeled lipoyl-containing fragments in the order of L1 (Mr = 28,000), L2 (Mr = 24,500), L3 (Mr = 21,000), L4 (Mr = 15,000) to L5 (Mr = 14,000) as determined by the autoradiography of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. In addition, a lipoate-free inner E2 core consisting of fragment A (Mr = 26,000) and fragment B (Mr = 22,000) was produced. Fragment A contains the active site for transacylation reaction and fragment B is the subunit-binding domain. Fragment L5 and fragment B were stable and resistant to further tryptic digestion. Mouse antiserum against E2 reacted only with fragments L1, L2, and L3, and did not bind fragments L4, L5, A, and B as judged by immunoblotting analysis. The anti-E2 serum strongly inhibited the overall reaction catalyzed by the complex, but was without effect on the transacylation activity of E2. Measurement of incorporation of [1-14C]isobutyryl groups into the E2 subunit indicated the presence of 1 lipoyl residue/E2 chain. Based on the above data, a model is proposed in which the lipoyl-bearing domain is connected to the inner E2 core via a trypsin-sensitive hinge. The lipoyl-bearing domain contains five consecutive tryptic sites (L1 to L5), with the L1 site in the hinge region, and the L5 site next to the terminal lipoyl-binding sequence. An exposed and antigenic region is located between L1 and L4 tryptic sites of the lipoyl-bearing domain. The region accounts for about 24% of the E2 chain length. Binding of antibodies to this region probably impairs the mobility of the lipoyl-containing polypeptide, resulting in an interruption of the active-site interactions that are necessary for the overall reaction. The lack of antigenicity and resistance to tryptic digestion indicate a highly folded conformation for fragment L5, the limit polypeptide carrying the single lipoyl residue.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Subunit structure of the dihydrolipoyl transacylase component of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from bovine liver. Characterization of the inner transacylase core.

Limited proteolysis has been used to probe the subunit structure (Mr = 52,000) of the dihydrolipoyl transacylase (E2) component of the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex from bovine liver. Digestion of the complex at 0 degrees C with a low concentration of trypsin produces an inner E2 core that retains the activity for the transacylation reaction and is completely dissociated from the decarboxylase (E1) component. The trypsinized E2 maintains the highly assembled structure and migrates faster than the native E2 in the Sepharose 4B column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that the inner E2 core consists of two lipoate-free tryptic fragments, i.e. fragment A and fragment B with Mr = 26,000 and 22,000, respectively. Both fragments apparently fail to bind the E1 component. Fragment A is converted into fragment B by increasing trypsin concentrations. Fragment B is a stable limit polypeptide containing the intersubunit-binding sites for E2. The assemblage of fragment B confers the cubelike appearance of the inner E2 core in electron micrographs. Activity measurements indicate that the larger fragment A, but not fragment B, possesses transacylation activity. It is likely that a critical portion of the active site is present in the 4,000-dalton fragment that is lost during the conversion of fragment A to B.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

A distinct variant of intermediate maple syrup urine disease.

Branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) deficiency, or maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), can be categorized as classical, intermediate, intermittent or thiamine responsive, based on generally concordant in vitro BCKAD activity and severity of phenotype. We present clinical and enzymatic data on a boy with intermediate maple syrup urine disease, and suggest that he represents a novel category of mutation. He presented at age 10 months in ketoacidotic coma, with a history of irritability, poor feeding and growth and developmental delay. Branched chain amino acid restriction effected normal growth and developmental parameters by age 42 months. In contrast to previous patients with intermediate MSUD, his fibroblasts and fibroblast extracts failed to decarboxylate [1-14C]-alpha-ketoisovalerate (KIV). The defect is not in mitochondrial transport of substrate, but rather in the catalytic activity of the E1 component of the BCKAD. Disrupted cells of the proband exhibited negligible BCKAD activity over a wide range of keto acid substrate concentrations, irrespective of the presence of added thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). These results differ from the sigmoidal kinetics observed using classical MSUD extracts, and the hyperbolic kinetics with control preparations under the same assay conditions. We propose that the structurally altered enzyme possesses reduced but not negligible activity in vivo, and exists as an unstable complex in vitro under assay conditions used, even in the presence of added TPP.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Familial hyperlysinemias. Purification and characterization of the bifunctional aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase with lysine-ketoglutarate reductase and saccharopine dehydrogenase activities.

Familial hyperlysinemias are autosomal recessive disorders in the oxidative degradation of lysine. Hyperlysinemia type I is associated with a combined deficiency in lysine-ketoglutarate reductase and saccharopine dehydrogenase activities, the first two sequential steps in the lysine degradative pathway. In familial hyperlysinemia type II, only saccharopine dehydrogenase activity is deficient. We report here that these reductase and dehydrogenase activities occur on a single protein based on the following findings. (i) The activity ratio of reductase/dehydrogenase remained constant (close to unity) throughout a 500-fold purification of both enzyme activities from mitochondrial extracts of baboon and bovine livers. The activity profiles of the reductase and the dehydrogenase superimpose on each other as the enzyme was eluted from DEAE-cellulose and Sephacryl S-300 columns. (ii) Activity-staining of the native polyacrylamide gel showed that both activities migrated the same distance toward the anode. (iii) The highly purified enzyme with the reductase and dehydrogenase activities showed a single polypeptide band of Mr = 115,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native enzyme from baboon and bovine livers has an apparent Mr of 468,000 (Stokes radius = 69.5 A) as determined by gel filtration, which suggests a tetrameric structure of identical subunits. The presence in mammalian tissues of a single protein catalyzing both the reductase and dehydrogenase reactions explains the combined enzyme deficiency observed in hyperlysinemia type I. We propose that the bifunctional enzyme be called aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Catalytic and structural properties of the dihydrolipoyl transacylase component of bovine branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase.

Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase is a multienzyme complex consisting of three catalytic components, i.e. branched-chain alpha-keto acid decarboxylase (E1), dihydrolipoyl transacylase (E2), and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). In this report the E2 component of highly purified branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase from bovine kidney and liver was characterized with an independent radiochemical assay for this component. The assay uses the model reaction: R-14CO-S-CoA + Lip-(SH)2 in equilibrium R-14CO-S-Lip-SH + CoA-SH, which is similar to that catalyzed by the transacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. In this reaction, exogenous dihydrolipoamide substitutes for the protein (E2)-bound dihydrolipoyl moiety, and [1-14C]acyl-CoA synthesized enzymatically is the acyl-CoA substrate. The thioester structure of the reaction product, S-acyldihydrolipoamide, was identified by mass spectrometry, its characteristic absorption at 232-245 nm and by formation of hydroxamate with hydroxylamine. Rates of the E2-catalyzed transacylation reaction with various [1-14C]acyl-CoAs are in the order of [1-14C]isobutyryl-CoA greater than [1-14C] isovaleryl-CoA greater than [1-14C]acetyl-CoA. The activity with acetyl-CoA is 15% of that with isobutyryl-CoA. The E2 activity is strongly inhibited by arsenite. Modification of the covalently bound lipoyl moiety through reductive acylation in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide is without effect on the transacylation reaction. These data, along with results of initial velocity and product inhibition suggest that the model reaction proceeds via a random Bi Bi mechanism. Limited proteolysis of purified bovine liver branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase with trypsin results in complete loss of the overall activity catalyzed by the complex. Nonetheless the activity of the E2 component is not affected. The tryptic digestion cleaves E2 subunits (Mr = 52,600) into a major fragment of Mr = 25,700. By contrast, E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of the complex are relatively resistant to proteolysis with trypsin. The results indicate that structural properties of the E2 component of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase are similar but not identical to those of the transacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Induction of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex in 3T3-L1 adipocytes during differentiation.

The activities of 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes were measured during hormone-mediated differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. Specific activity of leucine-activated branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex increased approx. 10-fold in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared with 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In contrast, specific activity of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex increased by only 3-fold in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The three catalytic component enzymes of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex and the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex showed concomitant increases in their specific activities. A close similarity in kinetics of induction of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex and the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in 3T3-L1 adipocytes suggests that a common mechanism may be involved in hormone-dependent increases in the activities of the catalytic components of these two complexes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes during differentiation.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Thiamin-responsive maple-syrup-urine disease: decreased affinity of the mutant branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase for alpha-ketoisovalerate and thiamin pyrophosphate.

The biochemical basis for the therapeutic effects of thiamin in thiamin-responsive maple-syrup-urine disease (MSUD) was investigated in intact and disrupted fibroblast cultures from normals and patients with various forms of MSUD. Decarboxylation of alpha-keto[1-14C]isovalerate (KIV) by intact cells from a thiamin-responsive MSUD patient was at 30-40% of the normal rate with or without thiamin in the incubation medium. Under similar conditions, intact classical MSUD fibroblasts failed to decarboxylate KIV. Branched-chain alpha-keto acid (BCKA) dehydrogenase activity measured in disrupted cells from the thiamin-responsive subject showed sigmoidal kinetics in the absence of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), with an increased concentration of substrate needed for half-maximal velocity (K0.5 for KIV = 7 mM vs. 0.05 mM in normal cells). When assayed with 0.2 mM TPP present, the mutant enzyme showed (i) a shift in kinetics to near Michaelis-Menten type as observed with the normal BCKA dehydrogenase and (ii) a lower K0.5 value of 4 mM for KIV, suggesting a TPP-mediated increase in the mutant enzyme's affinity for substrate. By contrast, TPP increased only the Vmax and was without effect on the apparent Km for KIV of the BCKA dehydrogenase from cells of normals and patients with classical MSUD and variant thiamin-responsive MSUD (grade 3). Measurement of the apparent Km for TPP of the BCKA dehydrogenase from thiamin-responsive mutant MSUd cells showed a 16-fold increase in the constant to 25 microM compared to enzymes from normal or classical MSUD cells. These findings demonstrate that the primary defect in the thiamin-responsive MSUD patient is a reduced affinity of the mutant BCKA dehydrogenase for TPP that results in impaired oxidative decarboxylation of BCKA.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Detection of heterozygotes in maple-syrup-urine disease: measurements of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase and its components in cell cultures.

To detect heterozygotes for maple-syrup-urine disease (MSUD), activities of branched-chain-alpha-ketoacid (BCKA) dehydrogenase and its components in skin fibroblasts of two obligatory heterozygotes and amnion cells of a fetus at risk were measured. Intact heterozygous cells were found to decarboxylate [1-14C] alpha-ketoisovalerate at rates equal to or only slightly lower than normal subjects. The inability to differentiate heterozygotes from normals with the intact cell assay confirms earlier studies with intact leukocytes using [1-14C]leucine as substrate. By contrast, measurements of BCKA dehydrogenase activity with disrupted cell suspensions showed MSUD heterozygotes with 30%--60% of normal activity. Moreover, biphasic kinetics in heterozygous cells were observed with increasing substrate concentrations. The altered biphasic kinetics probably reflect expression of the normal allele in the early hyperbolic portion of the curve of the mutant allele in the later secondary rise at high substrate concentrations. Assays of component activities showed concordant E1 decarboxylase deficiency in both heterozygous- and homozygous-affected cells, whereas the E3, dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase-component, activity was normal. The above results taken together appear to provide an approach to detection of the heterozygote in MSUD.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Biochemical basis of thiamin-responsive maple syrup urine disease.

The biochemical basis for the therapeutic effects of thiamin in thiamin-responsive MSUD was investigated in intact and disrupted fibroblast cultures from normal subjects and patients with various forms of MSUD. Decarboxylation of [1-14C]KIV by intact cells from thiamin-responsive MSUD was at 30-40% of the normal rate with or without thiamin in the incubation medium. Under similar conditions, intact classical MSUD fibroblasts failed to decarboxylate KIV. BCKA dehydrogenase activity measured in disrupted cells from the thiamin-responsive subject exhibited sigmoidal kinetics in the absence of TPP with an elevated Km value of 7 mM for KIV. When assayed with 0.2 mM TPP present, the mutant enzyme showed a shift in kinetics to near Michaelis-Menten type as observed with the normal BCKA dehydrogenase, and a lower Km value of 4 mM for KIV, suggesting a TPP-mediated increase in the affinity of the mutant enzyme for substrate. By contrast, TPP increased only Vmax and was without effect on the apparent Km for KIV of BCKA dehydrogenase from normal subjects, classical MSUD, and a thiamin-non-responsive MSUD variant (Grade 3). Measurement of apparent Km for TPP of the BCKA dehydrogenase showed a 16-fold increase in the constant to 25 microM for the thiamin-responsive mutant compared to normal or classical MSUD enzymes. These findings demonstrate that the primary defect in the thiamin-responsive MSUD patient is a reduced affinity of the mutant BCKA dehydrogenase for TPP that results in impaired oxidative decarboxylation of BCKA.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗