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PubMed1981

Activities of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase and its components in skin fibroblasts from normal and classical-maple-syrup-urine-disease subjects.

1. Comparisons of the activity and kinetics of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase in cultured skin fibroblasts from normal and classical maple-syrup-urine-disease (MSUD) subjects provide a kinetic explanation for the enzyme defect. 2. In the intact cell assays, normal fibroblasts demonstrated hyperbolic kinetics with 3-methyl-2-oxo[1-14C]butyrate as a substrate. Intact fibroblasts from four classical MSUD patients showed no decarboxylation over a substrate concentration range of 0.25 to 5.0 mM, and thiamin (4 mM) was without effect. 3. The overall reaction of the multienzyme complex was efficiently reconstituted by using a disrupted-cell system. Normals again showed typical hyperbolic kinetics at the 2-oxo acid concentrations of 0.1 to 5 mM. The Vmax. and apparent Km values were 0.10 +/- 0.02 m-unit/mg of protein and 0.05-0.1 mM respectively, with 3-methyl-2-oxobutyrate. In contrast, classical MSUD patients exhibited sigmoidal kinetics (Hill coefficient, 2.5) with activity approaching 40-60% of the normal value at 5 mM substrate. The K0.5 values from the Hill plots for MSUD patients were 4-7 mM. 4. The E1 (branched-chain 2-oxo acid decarboxylase) component of the multienzyme complex was measured in disrupted-particulate preparations. Normals again showed hyperbolic kinetics with the 2-oxo acid, whereas MSUD preparations exhibited sigmoidal kinetics with the activity of E1 strictly dependent on substrate concentration. Apparent Km or K0.5 were 0.1 and 1.0 mM for normal and MSUD subjects respectively. 5. Measurements of E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase) and E3 (dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase) in MSUD preparations showed them to be in the normal range. 6. The above data suggest a defect in the E1 step of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase in classical MSUD patients.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗
PubMed1983

Hydrodynamic properties and structure of the rat liver 12 S arginyl- and lysyl-tRNA synthetase complex.

Eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases occur in multienzyme complexes in contrast to their prokaryotic counterparts. A core 12 S rat liver complex (Mr 290,000) was recently purified to homogeneity consisting of two polypeptides with Mr 73,000 and 65,000 identified as lysyl- and arginyl-tRNA synthetase, respectively (Dang et al. (1982) Biochemistry 21,1959-1966). Using the modified hydrodynamic theory of Kirkwood (Kirkwood, J.R. (1954) J. Polym. Sci. 12,1-14), we have determined that the model most consistent with the hydrodynamic properties of the 12 S complex is a tetrameric tetrahedral model.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗
PubMed2001

Inhibition of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 subunit and its tyrosine 177 variants by thiamin 2-thiazolone and thiamin 2-thiothiazolone diphosphates. Evidence for reversible tight-binding inhibition.

Variants of the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit (E1; EC ) of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex with Y177A and Y177F substitutions were created. Both variants displayed pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex activity at levels of 11% (Y177A E1) and 7% (Y177F E1) of the parental enzyme. The K(m) values for thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) were 1.58 microm (parental E1) and 6.65 microm (Y177A E1), whereas the Y177F E1 variant was not saturated at 200 microm. According to fluorescence studies, binding of ThDP was unaffected by the Tyr(177) substitutions. The ThDP analogs thiamin 2-thiazolone diphosphate (ThTDP) and thiamin 2-thiothiazolone diphosphate (ThTTDP) behaved as tight-binding inhibitors of parental E1 (K(i) = 0.003 microm for ThTDP and K(i) = 0.064 microm for ThTTDP) and the Y177A and Y177F variants. This analysis revealed that ThTDP and ThTTDP bound to parental E1 via a two-step mechanism, but that ThTDP bound to the Y177A variant via a one-step mechanism. Binding of ThTDP was affected and that of ThTTDP was unaffected by substitutions at Tyr(177). Addition of ThDP or ThTDP to parental E1 resulted in similar CD spectral changes in the near-UV region. In contrast, binding of ThTTDP to either parental E1 or the Y177A and Y177F variants was accompanied by the appearance of a positive band at 330 nm, indicating that ThTTDP was bound in a chiral environment. In combination with x-ray structural evidence on the location of Tyr(177), the kinetic and spectroscopic data suggest that Tyr(177) has a role in stabilization of some transition state(s) in the reaction pathway, starting with the free enzyme and culminating with the first irreversible step (decarboxylation), as well as in reductive acetylation of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of the metal centers of the Ni/Fe-S component of the carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase enzyme complex from Methanosarcina thermophila.

Methanosarcina thermophila contains a multienzyme complex called the carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase complex, which has been resolved into a nickel/iron-sulfur and a corrinoid/iron-sulfur component. This complex plays a central role in acetoclastic methanogenesis. The Ni/Fe-S component catalyzes CO oxidation and has been proposed to be involved in cleavage of acetyl-CoA into its methyl, carbonyl, and CoA moieties. In the work reported here, three metal centers in the Ni/Fe-S component were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry and pre-steady state kinetics. Center A contains nickel and iron and forms an EPR active adduct with CO, which is called the NiFeC species. The EPR spectrum of the NiFeC species has g values of 2.059, 2.051, and 2.029 and is observable at temperatures as high as 150 K. This signal had previously been observed only in the carbon-monoxide dehydrogenase complex of M. thermophila and the acetyl-CoA synthase from acetate-producing bacteria. Incubation of the CO-reduced Ni/Fe-S component with acetyl-CoA resulted in an increase in intensity of the NiFeC signal, which supports a role for the component in the cleavage of acetyl-CoA. Generation of the NiFeC EPR signal occurs with a rate constant of 0.4 s-1, a result that demonstrates the kinetic competence of this species in the acetyl-CoA cleavage reaction but rules it out as the site of oxidation of CO to CO2. Center B is likely to be a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ center with g values of 2.04, 1.93, and 1.89 (gav = 1.95) and a standard reduction potential (E'0) of -444 mV. At potentials less than -500 mV, another EPR signal develops that appears to originate from another state of Center B. Center C is a fast relaxing center with g values of 2.02, 1.88, and 1.71 (gav = 1.87) and an E'0 of -154 mV.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1995

Dissociation and reassembly of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component of the bovine heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

The catalytic activity and the state of aggregation of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase-lipoamide dehydrogenase binding protein (E2-E3BP) subcomplex of the bovine heart pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex were investigated. Treatment of E2-E3BP with the chaotropic salts GndnCl or KSCN led to a rapid decrease in transacetylase activity which was accompanied by a loss of the native quaternary structure, as indicated by changes in the sedimentation properties of the E2-E3BP subcomplex. Reassembly or refolding of dissociated E2-E3BP was achieved for the GndnCl-treated subcomplex using a defined protocol. This reassembly procedure effectively excluded all E3BP from the reassembled oligomeric transacetylase. The reassembled oligomeric E2, free of E3BP, was unable to reconstitute the overall activity of the complex following incubation with pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3). In binding studies using radiolabeled components it was demonstrated that the reassembled transacetylase, while retaining its capacity for reductive acetylation and its ability to bind E1, lost its ability to bind E3. The evidence presented in this study indicates that the strong association of E3BP with E2 facilitates the binding of E3, the lipoamide dehydrogenase component, and therefore may have an important role in the assembly and ultimately the catalytic activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1994

Expression in Escherichia coli of genes encoding the E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus and assembly of a functional E1 component (alpha 2 beta 2) in vitro.

The E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of the pyruvate decarboxylase (E1) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus were produced from two genes overexpressed separately in Escherichia coli. A functional E1 enzyme was generated from disrupted mixtures of cells containing the separately overexpressed E1 alpha and E1 beta genes. The purified E1 enzyme exhibited an apparent molecular mass of 150,000 Da, consistent with an alpha 2 beta 2 structure. The Km for pyruvate and kcat (30 degrees C) were found to be 0.9 +/- 0.2 microM and 0.47 +/- 0.03 s-1, respectively. The purified E1 alpha subunit existed as a monomer (42,000 Da), whereas the E1 beta subunit existed mainly (95%) in a tetrameric form (145,000 Da). Mixing equimolar amounts of the pure recombinant E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits in vitro generated a functional E1 enzyme with a molecular mass and an E1 activity similar to those of the E1(alpha 2 beta 2) enzyme purified from disrupted mixtures of cells containing individually expressed subunits. Mixing individual subunits in vitro with one of the subunits in excess resulted in complete assembly of the lesser subunit into the intact E1 (alpha 2 beta 2) enzyme. Thus, no chaperonin is needed in vitro to promote the assembly of the separate subunits to form the E1 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of B. stearothermophilus.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Conjugative mapping of pyruvate, 2-ketoglutarate, and branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase genes in Pseudomonas putida mutants.

Branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase, an enzyme in the common pathway of branched-chain amino acid catabolism of Pseudomonas putida, is a multienzyme complex which catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of branched-chain keto acids. The objective of the present study was to isolate strains with mutations of this and other keto acid dehydrogenases and to map the location of the mutations on the chromosome of P. putida. Several strains with mutations of branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase, two pyruvate and two 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, were isolated, and the defective subunits were identified by biochemical analysis. By using a recombinant XYL-K plasmid to mediate conjugation, these mutations were mapped in relation to a series of auxotrophic and other catabolic mutations. The last time of entry recorded was at approximately 35 min, and the data were consistent with a single point of entry. Branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase mutations affecting E1, E1 plus E2, and E3 subunits mapped at approximately 35 min. One other strain affected in the common pathway was deficient in branched-chain amino acid transaminase, and the mutation was mapped at 16 min. The mutations in the two pyruvate dehydrogenase mutants, one deficient in E1 and the other deficient in E1 plus E2, mapped at 22 minutes. The 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase mutation affecting the E1 subunit mapped at 12 minutes. A 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase mutant deficient in E3 was isolated, but the mutation proved too leaky to map.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗
PubMed1981

Metabolism of orotic acid: lack of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase in rat intestinal mucosa.

The main enzymes involved in orotic acid metabolism, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase, are associated as a multienzyme complex (complex U) which is present in the liver of most vertebrate species. Orotic-acid-enriched diets produce increased pyrimidine synthesis which competes with purine synthesis for 5-phosphoribosyl diphosphate, resulting in decreased adenylate levels in liver cells. Inhibition of secretion of very low density lipoproteins and hepatic steatosis is then observed. In contrast, lipoproteins secretion by the intestine is not impaired and fat does not accumulate in enterocytes. The aim of this work was to investigate whether orotate is differently metabolized in gut and in liver thus explaining the lack of effect on the intestinal lipoproteins secretion. Complex U was found in appreciable amounts in rat, mouse and rabbit livers; the intestinal mucosa of the two last species contains a much lower level of multienzyme complex whereas in rat intestine its activity cannot be detected. Indeed, radioactive aspartate and orotate were not incorporated into intestinal cells RNA. The absence of orotate metabolisation by lack of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase activity in rat intestine would explain why this organ, in contrast to the liver, is protected against disturbances of nucleotide metabolism and lipoproteins secretion induced by orotic-acid-supplemented diets.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Rapid intramolecular coupling of active sites in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli: mechanism for rate enhancement in a multimeric structure.

In the absence of CoA and presence of pyruvate, the lipoic acid residues covalently bound to the lipoate acetyltransferase core component (acetyl-CoA:dihydrolipoate S-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.12) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli become reductively acetylated. A study of a series of reassembled complexes varying only in their content of pyruvate decarboxylase [pyruvate:lipoate-oxidoreductase (decarboxylating and acceptor-acetylating) EC 1.2.4.1] showed that the initial direct reductive acetylation of lipoic acid residues can be followed by extensive intramolecular transacetylation reaction between lipoic acid residues on neighboring polypeptide chains of the lipoate acetyltransferase core [Bates, D. L., Danson, M. J., Hale, G., Hooper, E. A. & Perham, R. N. (1977) Nature (London) 268, 313-316]. Pulsed-quenched-flow measurements of the rates of the acetylation reactions in the various complexes now demonstrate that the intramolecular transacetylation reactions are not rate-determining in the normal reaction mechanism of the enzyme. There is therefore the potential for rapid multiple coupling of active sites in the lipoate acetyltransferase core. The rate constant for the overall complex reaction, measured by stopped-flow fluorimetry, is found to be approximately twice that for the reductive acetylation reaction measured by pulsed-quenched flow. This result could mean that CoA is an allosteric stimulator of the reductive acetylation part of the overall reaction or that there are two active sites on each chain of the lipoate acetyltransferase component working in parallel. A system of rapid functional connection of active sites in a multienzyme complex ensures that sequential reactions can be successfully coupled even under conditions of low substrate concentrations for the different steps. The substantial rate enhancement thus achieved offers a plausible explanation for the unusual complexity of the quaternary structure of the enzyme.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1976

Studies on the synthesis of rat liver fatty acid synthetase.

The synthesis of the multienzyme complex rat liver fatty acid synthetase was investigated utilizing modifications of methods developed in the laboratory of Schimke (Schimke, R. T. (1964) J. Biol. Chem. 239, 3808-3817 and Arias, I. M., Doyle, D., and Schimke, R. T. (1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 3303-3315). The relative amounts of radioactivity from a pulse of labeled lysine appearing in polypeptides derived from purified synthetase complex can be measured compensating for the varying amounts of lysine per polypeptide chain. The results show that labeled amino acid is incorporated into polypeptides derived from the complex at heterogeneous rates. However, 10 to 15 hours after the administration of a pulse, the amount of label per lysine residue in these polypeptides is identical. The results support the previously proposed model of this multienzyme complex (Tweto, J., Dehlinger, P., and Larrabee, A. R. (1972) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 48, 1371-1377). The previous work and that reported here suggests the existence of a pool of synthetase subunits which is an obligatory intermediate in both synthesis and turnover of the complex. The results obtained in this work are consistent with this model if the exchange of subunits into the intact complex is a relatively slow process requiring several hours to reach equilibrium.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Vitamin B1].

Vitamin B1 (thiamin), taken-up into cells, is converted to thiamin diphosphate (TDP), and TDP acts as a cofactor for several enzymes involving in carbohydrate metabolism. CoA-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate is catalyzed by pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDC) with NAD+ as an electron acceptor in most organisms involving mammals and higher plants. PDC consists of three component enzymes, one of which is pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide) which contains TDP as a prosthetic group. Similar multienzyme complex for 2-oxoglutarate or branched chain 2-oxoacids is also found in mammals. In anaerobic bacteria, archaebacteria and anaerobic protozoa, pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) functions for the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate with ferredoxin in place of NAD+. PFOR contains TDP as a cofactor; however its structure is quite different from PDC and 1-3[4Fe-4S] clusters are involved as redox centers. Pyruvate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (PNOR), which catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate with NADP+ as an electron acceptor, occurs in mitochondria of Euglena gracilis, a protist containing chloroplasts. PNOR consists of two functional domains, one of which contains TDP and 3[4Fe-4S] clusters and resembles PFOR. Another domain involves FMN and FAD as redox centers and its structure is similar to NADPH-cytochrom P450 reductase.

Carboxy-Lyases↗
PubMed1991

Substrate channeling in glycolysis: a phantom phenomenon.

It has been proposed that glycolytic enzymes form multienzyme complexes for direct transfer of metabolites from the producing enzyme to the utilizing one. Reexamination of the supporting evidence, which involves the transfer of NADH between its complexes with glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase, GPDH; EC 1.1.1.8) and with L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27), has shown that the supporting evidence is based on misinterpretation of the kinetics of ligand exchange. Srivastava et al. have responded with a revision of their own and criticism of our data. To clarify this problem, we have carried out detailed kinetic studies on NADH binding to GPHD and LDH and on the displacement of enzyme-bound NADH by LDH or GPDH. The experiments were conducted at 10 degrees C in 50 mM Hepes, pH 7.5/100 mM KCl/1 mM EDTA/1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, using rabbit muscle GPDH and LDH. The results show that the kinetic patterns exhibited by the displacement of NADH-bound enzyme by either GPDH or LDH are consistent with a dissociative mechanism but not with a direct transfer mechanism. Theoretical analysis shows that a combined dissociative and direct transfer mechanism can explain the transient kinetic data reported by Srivastava et al. if, and only if, a majority (approximately 90%) of the enzyme present in lower concentration exists as a complex with the second enzyme. However, data from tracer and traditional sedimentation equilibrium and from gel filtration experiments show that LDH and GPDH do not form complexes in the presence of saturating NADH concentration when the enzyme concentrations are ranged between 4 and 50 microM, a concentration equal to or greater than that used by Srivastava et al. Our results demonstrate that GPDH and LDH do not form multienzyme complex and the transfer of NADH between these enzymes proceeds via a dissociative mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase complex from Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

The acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase (ACDS) multienzyme complex catalyzes the reversible cleavage and synthesis of acetyl-CoA in methanogens. This report of the enzyme complex in Archaeoglobus fulgidus demonstrates the existence of a functional ACDS complex in an organism that is not a methanogen. The A. fulgidus enzyme complex contained five subunits of 89, 72, 50, 49.5, and 18.5 kDa, and it catalyzed the overall synthesis of acetyl-CoA according to the following reaction: CO2 + 2 Fdred(Fe2+) + 2 H+ + CH3 - H4SPt + CoA <==> acetyl-CoA + H4SPt + 2 Fdox(Fe3+) + H2O where Fd is ferredoxin, and CH3-H4SPt and H4SPt denote N5-methyl-tetrahydrosarcinapterin and tetrahydrosarcinapterin, respectively.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed2000

Interaction between the lipoamide-containing H-protein and the lipoamide dehydrogenase (L-protein) of the glycine decarboxylase multienzyme system. 1. Biochemical studies.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase or dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (EC 1.8.1. 4) is the E3-protein component of the mitochondrial 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes. It is also the L-protein component of the glycine decarboxylase system. Although the enzymology of this enzyme has been studied exhaustively using free lipoamide as substrate, no data are available concerning the kinetic parameters of this enzyme with its physiological substrates, the dihydrolipoyl domain of the E2 component (dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase) of the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes or the dihydrolipoyl H-protein of the mitochondrial glycine decarboxylase. In this paper, we demonstrate that Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, a specific disulfide reducing agent, allows a continuous reduction of the lipoyl group associated with the H-protein during the course of the reaction catalysed by the L-protein. This provided a valuable new tool with which to study the catalytic properties of the lipoamide dehydrogenase. The L-protein displayed a much higher affinity for the dihydrolipoyl H-protein than for free dihydrolipoamide. The oxidation of the dihydrolipoyl H-protein was not affected by the presence of structurally related analogues (apoH-protein or octanoylated H-protein). In marked contrast, these analogues strongly and competitively inhibited the decarboxylation of the glycine molecule catalysed by the P-protein component of the glycine decarboxylase system. Small unfolded proteolytic fragments of the H-protein, containing the lipoamide moiety, displayed Km values for the L-protein close to that found for the H-protein. On the other hand, these fragments were not able to promote the decarboxylation of the glycine in the presence of the P-protein. New highly hydrophilic lipoate analogues were synthesized. All of them showed Km and kcat/Km values very close to that found for the H-protein. From our results we concluded that no structural interaction is required for the L-protein to catalyse the oxidation of the dihydrolipoyl H-protein. We discuss the possibility that one function of the H-protein is to maintain a high concentration of the hydrophobic lipoate molecules in a nonmicellar state which would be accessible to the catalytic site of the lipoamide dehydrogenase.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1999

Mitochondrial citrate synthase is immobilized in vivo.

The enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the mitochondrial matrix are proposed to form a multienzyme complex, in which there is channeling of substrates between enzyme active sites. However no direct evidence has been obtained in vivo for the involvement of these enzymes in such a complex. We have labeled the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme, citrate synthase 1, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, by biosynthetic incorporation of 5-fluorotryptophan. Comparison of the 19F NMR resonance intensities from the labeled enzyme in the intact cell and in cell-free lysates indicated that the enzyme is motionally restricted in vivo, consistent with its participation in a multienzyme complex.

Citrate (si)-Synthase↗
PubMed1989

[Methionyl-tRna synthetase from wheat germ. Effect of an endogenous protease and correlations between structural characteristics and catalytic properties].

Methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) has been described as a free monomeric or oligomeric enzyme; or included in a multienzyme complex. Moreover, on limited tryptic digestion, it can generate shorter forms. So, when purified from wheat-germ lysate, the possible presence of proteases able to hydrolyse this enzyme was investigated. When extraction was performed with sulfhydryl-blocking reagents, an active monomeric MetRS of Mr 105,000 was purified. This enzyme form was identical to the structure exhibiting methionyl-tRNA synthetase activity in multienzyme complexes. Without this inhibitor, MetRS was purified as an active dimeric form of Mr 165,000 with identical subunits of Mr 82,000. A protease inhibited by sulfhydryl-blocking reagents and included in a complex of Mr 2.10(6) was isolated from this wheat-germ lysate. This protease was able to hydrolyse different proteins (albumin, casein), but was without activity for a trypsin substrate, such as N-alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginine p-nitroanilide. When added to a solution of Mr-105,000 MetRS, it yielded an inactive peptide of Mr 20,000, containing numerous charged amino acids and a protein of Mr 82,000, able to give an active dimeric enzyme of Mr 165,000. Amino acid analysis of this last form, indicated an identical structure with the active dimeric MetRS of Mr 165,000, purified in the absence of protease inhibitors. Moreover, the affinity for methionine was the same for the monomeric enzyme of Mr 105,000 and the dimeric form of Mr 165,000, probably because proteolysis did not affect the catalytic domain. When enzymic activity of the proteolyzed form (Mr 2 x 82,000) was studied versus enzyme concentration, a decrease in specific activity, at low concentrations, was seen. This phenomenon was analysed on the basis of the existence of an equilibrium between an active dimer and two inactive monomers. With the active monomeric form of Mr 105,000, no change in specific activity with decreasing enzyme concentration occurred.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

Targeted disruption of the murine dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene (Dld) results in perigastrulation lethality.

The Dld gene product, known as dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase or the E3 component, catalyzes the oxidation of dihydrolipoyl moieties of four mitochondrial multienzyme complexes: pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase, and the glycine cleavage system. Deficiency of E3 activity in humans results in various degrees of neurological dysfunction and organic acidosis caused by accumulation of branched-chain amino acids and lactic acid. In this study, we have introduced a null mutation into the murine Dld gene (Dldtm1mjp). The heterozygous animals are shown to have approximately half of wild-type activity levels for E3 and all affected multienzyme complexes but are phenotypically normal. In contrast, the Dld-/- class dies prenatally with apparent developmental delay at 7.5 days postcoitum followed by resorption by 9.5 days postcoitum. The Dld-/- embryos cease to develop at a time shortly after implantation into the uterine wall when most of the embryos have begun to gastrulate. This null phenotype provides in vivo evidence for the requirement of a mitochondrial oxidative pathway during the perigastrulation period. Furthermore, the early prenatal lethal condition of the complete deficiency state may explain the low incidence of detectable cases of E3 deficiency in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Fatty acid synthetase activity in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Characterization of the acyl carrier protein-dependent elongating system.

Mycobacterium smegmatis extracts contain two fatty acyl synthetase systems (Brindley, D.N., Matsumura, S. and Bloch, K. (1966) Nature 224, 666-669). One is the extensively studied multienzyme complex, (molecular weight 1.39 - 10(6)) which produces shorter C16 and C18) and longer (C24 and higher) fatty acids in a bimodal pattern. The second synthetase is acyl carrier-protein (ACP) dependent and elongates the CoA derivatives of C12 and longer chains. In contrast to the type I synthetase which also extends long fatty acyl chains, the ACP-dependent system produces homologous fatty acids up to 30 carbon atoms long in approximately equal proportions. Other properties which distinguish the ACP-dependent system from the multienzyme complex include the resistance to high concentrations of palmitoyl-CoA and to low ionic strength and the lack of stimulation by mycobacterial polysaccharides. The possibility that the two fatty acid synthetases are complimentary in their function is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗