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Oxidative decarboxylation of benzoic acid by peroxyl radicals.

A chemical model based on the thermal decomposition of AAPH (2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride is used for the production of peroxyl radicals. Peroxyl radicals induces the decarboxylation of [7-13C]benzoic acid and the production of 13CO2, which is measured by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS). The decarboxylation depends on temperature, AAPH, and benzoic acid concentrations. The decarboxylation also depends on the presence of oxygen. Electron spin resonance studies are performed to confirm the presence of peroxyl radicals under oxygen and of carbon-centered radicals in the absence of oxygen. Decarboxylation rates are measured in the presence of various antioxidants: ascorbate, dimethylsulfoxide, mannitol, and uric acid. It turns out that the decarboxylation is inhibited by each of these antioxidants. The ratio of decarboxylation rates, with and without the antioxidant, varies linearly with the antioxidant concentration. HPLC and GC-MS analyses of reaction products between benzoic acid and AAPH-derived radicals do not detect the presence of radical substitution products on the aromatic ring or the products derived from benzoic acid. There is no doubt that GC-IRMS is a powerful technique to investigate the effects of peroxyl radicals on benzoic acid. In addition, it is possible to follow the degradation of 13C-labeled chemical targets exposed to peroxyl radicals through the production of 13CO2.

Amidines↗

Mechanisms of enzymatic and acid-catalyzed decarboxylations of prephenate.

The prephenate dehydrogenase activity of the bifunctional enzyme chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of both prephenate and deoxoprephenate, which lacks the keto group in the side chain (V 78% and V/K 18% those of prephenate). Hydride transfer is to the B side of NAD, and the acetylpyridine and pyridinecarboxaldehyde analogues of NAD have V/K values 40 and 9% and V values 107 and 13% those of NAD. Since the 13C isotope effect on the decarboxylation is 1.0103 with deuterated and 1.0033 with unlabeled deoxoprephenate (the deuterium isotope effect on V/K is 2.34), the mechanism is concerted, and if CO2 has no reverse commitment, the intrinsic 13C and deuterium isotope effects are 1.0155 (corresponding to a very early transition state for C-C bond cleavage) and 7.3, and the forward commitment is 3.7. With deoxodihydroprephenate (lacking one double bond in the ring), oxidation occurs without decarboxylation, and one enantiomer has a V/K value 23-fold higher than the other (deuterium isotope effects are 3.6 and 4.1 for fast and slow isomers; V for the fast isomer is 5% and V/K 0.7% those of prephenate). The fully saturated analogue of deoxoprephenate is a very slow substrate (V 0.07% and V/K approximately 10(-5%) those of prephenate). pH profiles show a group with pK = 8.3 that must be protonated for substrate binding and a catalytic group with pK = 6.5 that is a cationic acid (likely histidine). This group facilitates hydride transfer by beginning to accept the proton from the 4-hydroxyl group of prephenate prior to the beginning of C-C cleavage (or fully accepting it in the oxidation of the analogues with only one double bond or none in the ring). In contrast with the enzymatic reaction, the acid-catalyzed decarboxylation of prephenate and deoxoprephenate (t1/2 of 3.7 min at low pH) is a stepwise reaction with a carbonium ion intermediate, since 18O is incorporated into substrate and its epi isomer during reaction in H218O. pH profiles show that the hydroxyl group must be protonated and the carboxyl (pK approximately 4.2) ionized for carbonium ion formation. The carbonium ion formed from prephenate decarboxylates 1.75 times faster than it reacts with water (giving 1.8 times as much prephenate as epi isomer). The observed 13C isotope effect of 1.0082 thus corresponds to an intrinsic isotope effect of 1.023, indicating an early transition state for the decarboxylation step. epi-Prephenate is at least 20 times more stable to acid than prephenate because it exists largely as an internal hemiketal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Carbon Isotopes↗

Light-driven decarboxylation of wild-type green fluorescent protein.

The response of wild-type GFP to UV and visible light was investigated using steady state absorption, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopies. As reported previously [van Thor, Nat. Struct. Biol. 2002, 9, 37-41], irradiation of GFP results in decarboxylation of E222. Here it is reported that the rate of the light-driven decarboxylation reaction strongly depends on the excitation wavelength, decreasing in the order 254 nm > 280 nm > 476 nm. The relative efficiencies of decarboxylation are explained in terms of the Kolbe-type mechanism in which the excited state of the chromophore acts as an oxidant by accepting an electron from E222. Specifically, it is proposed that 254 nm excitation populates the S2 (or higher) excited state of the chromophore, whereas 404 and 476 nm excitation populate the S1 excited state of neutral and anionic forms, respectively, and that the relative oxidizing power of the three excited states controls the rate of the decarboxylation reaction. In addition, the role of W57 in the photophysics of GFP has been probed by mutating this residue to phenylalanine. These studies reveal that while W57 does not affect decarboxylation, this residue is involved in resonance energy transfer with the chromophore, thereby partially explaining the green fluorescence observed upon UV irradiation of wild-type GFP. Finally, comparison of Raman spectra obtained from nonilluminated and decarboxylated forms of wild-type GFP has provided further vibrational band assignments for neutral and anionic forms of the chromophore within the protein. In addition, these spectra provide valuable insight into the specific interactions between the protein and the chromophore that control the optical properties of wild-type GFP.

Decarboxylation↗

Accelerating unimolecular decarboxylation by preassociated acid catalysis in thiamin-derived intermediates: implicating Brønsted acids as carbanion traps in enzymes.

Mandelylthiamin (MT) is formally the conjugate of thiamin and benzoylformate. It is the simplified analogue of the first covalent intermediate in benzoylformate decarboxylase. Although MT is the functional equivalent of the enzymic intermediate, it is 106-fold less reactive in decarboxylation. Furthermore, upon loss of carbon dioxide, it undergoes a fragmentation reaction that is about 102-fold faster than the enzymic reaction. While Brønsted acids in general can suppress the fragmentation to some extent, they do not accelerate the decarboxylation. Surprisingly, the conjugate acid of pyridine accelerates decarboxylation; it also blocks fragmentation with particularly high efficiency. These results are consistent with the conjugate acid of pyridine acting as a "spectator" catalyst, associating with MT prior to decarboxylation. In the absence of catalyst, carbon dioxide formed upon carbon-carbon bond breaking overwhelmingly reverts to the carboxylate. Association of pyridine (and its conjugate acid) with MT permits trapping of the nascent carbanion by protonation, while nonassociated acids must arrive by the relatively slow process of diffusion. C-Alkyl pyridine acids provide similar catalysis while other acids have no effect. This suggests that an enzyme that generates an aldehyde from a 2-ketoacid should have functional Brønsted acids in their active sites that would trap the carbanion, as does benzoylformate decarboxylase. Enzymes that give nonaldehydic products from decarboxylation of thiamin diphosphate conjugates containing an associated electron acceptor or electrophilic substrate would also be able to prevent the reversal of decarboxylation.

Acids↗

Factors determining the sequence of oxidative decarboxylation of the 2- and 4-propionate substituents of coproporphyrinogen III by coproporphyrinogen oxidase in rat liver.

Coproporphyrinogen oxidase (EC 1.3.3.3) catalyses the oxidative decarboxylation of the 2- and 4-propionate substituents of coproporphyrinogen III to form protoporphyrinogen IX. A 4-propionate-substituted porphyrinogen, harderoporphyrinogen, which is also a substrate for coproporphyrinogen oxidase, is formed during the reaction. Synthetic [(14)C]coproporphyrinogens III, specifically labelled in the carboxyl carbon atoms of either the 2- or 4-propionate substituents, were used to measure the rate of decarboxylation of each substituent by rat liver coproporphyrinogen oxidase. The experimental results, together with the recognition that in all known substrates of coproporphyrinogen oxidase only those propionate groups flanked by a specific arrangement of substituents are decarboxylated, indicate that the 4-propionate group of coproporphyrinogen III cannot be attacked until the 2-propionate group has been decarboxylated. Production of (14)CO(2) from the substrate labelled in the 2-propionate group therefore measures the formation of harderoporphyrinogen, whereas (14)CO(2) from the 4-propionate-labelled substrate measures protoporphyrinogen IX formation. The rate of harderoporphyrinogen formation is about twice that of protoporphyrinogen, and this ratio is unchanged by varying the concentration of coproporphyrinogen III or by competitive inhibition of the enzyme. When coproporphyrinogen III is present in an excess, two fractions of harderoporphyrinogen can be distinguished. One accumulates during the reaction, and the other, which is destined to become protoporphyrinogen IX, does not equilibrate with added harderoporphyrinogen. It is suggested that both decarboxylations take place at the same active centre, which becomes temporarily inaccessible to coproporphyrinogen III and added harderoporphyrinogen, and that the molecule rotates after the first decarboxylation to allow the second to take place.

Animals↗

Carbon isotope fractionation in the decarboxylation of phenylpropiolic acid in hydrogen donating media.

13C kinetic isotope effect (KIE) in the decarboxylation of phenylpropiolic acid (PPA) in tetralin medium (Tn) has been determined at 409-432 K and found to be of magnitude similar to the 13C KIE observed in the decarboxylation of malonic acid where the rupture of the C-C bond is the rate determining step. 13C KIE equals 1.0318/at 136 degrees C in the decarboxylation of PPA in Tn medium. Intramolecular 13C KIE in the decarboxylation of malonic acid equals 1.0316 at this temperature. Thus it has been shown that the nearly "full" 13C KIE can be achieved by providing the excess hydrogen to Calpha of PPA (or to triple acetylene bond) using not only strong mineral acids as the source of protons but also by carrying out the decarboxylation in organic medium like tetralin. A mechanism of decarboxylation of PPA in Tn is suggested.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Assessment of effect of starvation, glucose, fatty acids and hormones on alpha-decarboxylation of leucine in skeletal muscle of rat.

The present investigations of rates of oxidation of [U-14C] or [1-14C]leucine by homogenates of gastrocnemius muscle of fed and starved rats have indicated that 14CO2 production is mainly the result of alpha-decarboxylation of leucine in this tissue. This incomplete oxidation was not the result of imparied tricarboxylic acid cycle since the oxidation of palmitate proceeded to completion within the experimental conditions. In the subsequent studies, the effect of altered nutrition and metabolic factors on alpha-decarboxylation of leucine by gastrocnemius muscle homogenates was investigated. Starvation increased the rate of alpha-decarboxylation of leucine. Glucose or palmitate (C16) added in physiological concentrations to the incubation medium were without effect on decarboxylation of leucine, but this reaction was stimulated by addition of 1 mM hexanoate (C6) or octanoate (C8) to the incubation medium. However, when fatty acid chain length was elongated to C10 (decanoate), the stimulatory effect was not only abolished, but this fatty acid significantly inhibited the rate of leucine decarboxylation. Addition of insulin, epinephrine, glucagon and cyclic AMP within a wide range of concentrations to the incubation medium did not significantly affect the rate of decarboxylation of leucine. These studies indicate a complex interrelationship between the metabolism of leucine and that of fatty acids.

Animals↗

Evidence of decarboxylation of lysine by mammalian ornithine decarboxylase.

In enzymic preparations from mouse kidney stimulated with the anabolic steroid Durabolin (nandrolone phenpropionate) lysine and ornithine were shown to inhibit the decarboxylation of each other competitively. The Michaelis constants for the decarboxylations were approximately equal to the inhibition constants of the two amino acids. The pH optima of the decarboxylation of lysine and ornithine were found to be identical. Chromatographic studies of the enzyme preparation on a Sephadex G-150 Superfine column did not bring about a separation of the two enzyme activities. The ratio of the decarboxylating activities was practically the same during the elution. Lysine decarboxylating activity was also shown to be present in growth hormone stimulated rat liver. The results are in agreement with the assumption that the decarboxylation of lysine and ornithine is carried out by the same enzyme.

Animals↗

Decarboxylation of L-dopa and 5-hydroxytryptophan in dispersed rat pancreas acinar cells.

Amino acid decarboxylation activity in dispersed rat pancreas acinar cells and fractions derived by differential centrifugation of homogenate of these cells was studied. The rate of decarboxylation was measured by determining the rate of production of the [3H]-amine from [3H]-amino acid or the rate of production of 14CO2 from the [14C]-carboxy-labelled amino acid. Only the hydroxylated amino acids L-dopa and 5-hydroxytryptophan are decarboxylated by intact dispersed pancreas acinar cells or cell homogenates at all pH values and amino acid concentrations tested. The decarboxylase activity is located exclusively in the cell cytosol. Each substrate competitively inhibits the decarboxylation of the other and the decarboxylation of each is inhibited by NSD-1055. The estimated Km and Vmax are, for L-dopa, 4.8 X 10(-5) M and 2.5 nmol/mg protein/min and for 5-hydroxytryptophan, 2.9 X 10(-5) M and 0.3 nmol/mg protein/min. The pH optimum for 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylation is from 7.0-8.5 while that for L-dopa is 7.0. It is concluded that pancreas acinar cells possess a single aromatic amino acid decarboxylase specific for the hydroxylated amino acids L-dopa and 5-hydroxytryptophan, and which is similar in all properties studied to the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase found in several other mammalian tissues.

Animals↗

Intestinal decarboxylation of orally administered L-dopa. Influence of pharmacological preparations, dose magnitude, dose sequence and food intake.

The intestinal decarboxylation and the absorption of orally administered L-dopa have been studied in 20 parkinsonian patients in different conditions. The decarboxylation generally amounted to 50-70% of the dose given, i.e. only 30-50% of orally administered L-dopa reached the general circulation. The shape of the plasma concentration curve varied individually and with the resolvation time of the type of pharmacological preparation given. No obvious difference in the degree of intestinal decarboxylation was observed when tablets with different resolvation times were given but the net absorption of L-dopa was somewhat greater when it was given as a solution. The decarboxylation in the intestinal organs was found to be rather constant at different times of the day. Isocaloric meals, whether rich in protein or carbohydrate, caused a delay in absorption of L-dopa, but did not change the degree of decarboxylation. Diurnal variations in the clinical response to L-dopa, could, thus, not be related to diurnal variations in the decarboxylation in the intestinal organs. The delay in L-dopa absorption after meals may be misinterpreted as lack of response. At dosage with short intervals, the delay may cause an additive effect of two doses.

Administration, Oral↗

Tartrate dehydrogenase catalyzes the stepwise oxidative decarboxylation of D-malate with both NAD and thio-NAD.

Tartrate dehydrogenase catalyzes the divalent metal ion- and NAD-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of D-malate to yield CO(2), pyruvate, and NADH. The enzyme also catalyzes the metal ion-dependent oxidation of (+)-tartrate to yield oxaloglycolate and NADH. pH-rate profiles and isotope effects were measured to probe the mechanism of this unique enzyme. Data suggest a general base mechanism with likely general acid catalysis in the oxidative decarboxylation of D-malate. Of interest, the mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of D-malate is stepwise with NAD(+) or the more oxidizing thio-NAD(+). The mechanism does not become concerted with the latter as observed for the malic enzyme, which catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of L-malate [Karsten, W. E., and Cook, P. F. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 2096-2103]. It appears the change in mechanism observed with malic enzyme is specific to its transition state structure and not a generalized trait of metal ion- and NAD(P)-dependent beta-hydroxy acid oxidative decarboxylases. The V/K(malate) pH-rate profile decreases at low and high pH and exhibits pK(a) values of about 6.3 and 8.3, while that for V/K(tartrate) (measured from pH 7.5 to pH 9) exhibits a pK(a) of 8.6 on the basic side. A single pK(a) of 6.3 is observed on the acid side of the V(max) pH profile, but the pK(a) seen on the basic side of the V/K pH profiles is not observed in the V(max) pH profiles. Data suggest the requirement for a general base that accepts a proton from the 2-hydroxyl group of either substrate to facilitate hydride transfer. A second enzymatic group is also required protonated for optimum binding of substrates and may also function as a general acid to donate a proton to the enolpyruvate intermediate to form pyruvate. The (13)C isotope effect, measured on the decarboxylation of D-malate using NAD(+) as the dinucleotide substrate, decreases from a value of 1.0096 +/- 0.0006 with D-malate to 1.00787 +/- 0.00006 with D-malate-2-d, suggesting a stepwise mechanism for the oxidative decarboxylation of D-malate. Using thio-NAD(+) as the dinucleotide substrate the (13)C isotope effects are 1.0034 +/- 0.0007 and 1.0027 +/- 0.0002 with D-malate and D-malate-2-d, respectively.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

A seemingly well understood light-induced peroxide decarboxylation reaction reinvestigated with femtosecond time resolution.

The photoinduced (266 nm) ultrafast decarboxylation of the peroxyester tert-butyl 9-methylfluorene-9-percarboxylate (TBFC) in solution has been studied with femtosecond time resolution. While the photodissociation of TBFC occurs too fast to be resolved, the intermediate 9-methylfluorenylcarbonyloxy radical (MeFl-CO(2)) decarboxylates on a picosecond time scale. The latter process is monitored by pump-probe absorption spectroscopy at wavelengths between 400 and 883 nm. The measured transient absorbance signals reveal a dominant fast decay with a lifetime of a few picoseconds and, to a minor extent, a slow component with a lifetime of about 55 ps. Statistical modeling of MeFl-CO(2) decarboxylation employing molecular parameters calculated by density functional theory suggests that the fast component is associated with the decarboxylation of vibrationally hot radicals, whereas the 55 ps decay reflects the dissociation of thermally equilibrated MeFl-CO(2) at ambient temperature. The vast majority of MeFl-CO(2) radicals thus decarboxylate on a time scale about an order of magnitude faster than expected from the time constant of 55 ps reported by Falvey and Schuster for this reference reaction. This literature value turns out to refer to decarboxylation rate of MeFl-CO(2) at ambient temperature.

Journal Article↗

Overtone-induced decarboxylation: a potential sink for atmospheric diacids.

Atmospheric photochemistry induced by solar excitation of vibrational overtone transitions has recently been demonstrated to be of importance in cleaving weak bonds (in HO(2)NO(2)) and inducing intramolecular rearrangement followed by reaction (in H(2)SO(4)). Here, we propose another potentially important process: the decarboxylation of organic acids. To demonstrate this possibility, we have calculated the decarboxylation pathways for malonic acid and its monohydrate. The barrier to the gas-phase decarboxylation was calculated to be in the range 26-28 kcal/mol at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory, in good agreement with previous results. The transition state is a six-membered ring structure which is accessed via concerted O-H and C-C stretches; excitation of v(OH) > or = 3 of either one of the OH stretching modes is sufficient to supply the energy needed for the decarboxylation. A low-energy isomer of the malonic acid-water complex forms an eight-membered, multiply hydrogen bonded structure, bound by 3-6 kcal/mol, somewhat less stable than the lowest energy, six-membered ring isomer. Decarboxylation of such complexes uses water as a catalyst; the water accepts an acidic proton from one malonic acid group and transfers a proton to the carbonyl of the other acid group. The barrier for this process is 20-22 kcal/mol, suggesting that complexes excited to v(OH) > or = 2 possess sufficient energy to react. Using estimated absorption cross sections for the OH overtone transitions, we suggest that the overtone-induced decarboxylation of malonic acid and its water complex is competitive with wet deposition of the acid and with gas-phase reaction with OH for removal of the acid.

Journal Article↗

Preferential decarboxylation of hydrophilic phosphatidylserine species in cultured cells. Implications on the mechanism of transport to mitochondria and cellular aminophospholipid species compositions.

In baby hamster kidney and other cultured cells the majority of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is synthesized from phosphatidylserine (PS) in a process which involves transport of PS from the endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria and decarboxylation therein by PS decarboxylase. To study the mechanism of this transport process, we first determined the molecular species composition of PE and PS from baby hamster kidney and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Interestingly, the hydrophilic diacyl molecular species were found to be much more abundant in PE than in PS, suggesting that hydrophilic PS species may be more readily transported to mitochondria than the hydrophobic ones. To study this, we compared the rates of decarboxylation of different PS molecular species in these cells. The cells were pulse labeled with [3H]serine whereafter the distribution of the labels among PS and PE molecular species was determined by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and liquid scintillation counting. The hydrophilic PE species contained relatively much more 3H label than those of PS, which indicates that they are more readily decarboxylated than the hydrophobic ones. Control experiments showed that differences in [3H]PS and -PE molecular species profiles are not due to (i) incorporation of 3H label to some PE species via alternative pathways, (ii) differences in degradation or remodeling among species, or (iii) selective decarboxylation of PS molecular species by the enzyme. Therefore, hydrophilic PS species are indeed decarboxylated faster than the hydrophobic ones. The rate of decarboxylation decreased systematically with hydrophobicity, strongly suggesting that formation of so called activated monomers, i.e. lipid molecules perpendicularly displaced from the membrane (Jones, J. D., and Thompson, T. E. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 1593-1600), is the rate-limiting step in the transport of PS from the endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria. The formation of activated monomers and thus the rate of transfer is probably greatly enhanced by frequent collisions between the two membranes which tend to be closely associated. The present data also provides a feasible explanation why hydrophilic molecular species in these cells are much more abundant in PE as compared with PS, its immediate precursor.

Animals↗

The Involvement of Aspartate and Glutamate in the Decarboxylation of Malate by Isolated Bundle Sheath Chloroplasts from Zea mays.

Aspartate or glutamate stimulated the rate of light-dependent malate decarboxylation by isolated Zea mays bundle sheath chloroplasts. Stimulation involved a decrease in the apparent K(m) (malate) and an increased maximum velocity of decarboxylation. In the presence of glutamate other dicarboxylates (succinate, fumarate) competitively inhibited malate decarboxylation by intact chloroplasts with respect to malate with an apparent K(i) of about 6 millimolar. For comparison the K(i) for inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme from freshly lysed chloroplasts by these dicarboxylates was 15 millimolar. A range of compounds structurally related to aspartate stimulated malate decarboxylation by intact chloroplasts. K(a) values for stimulation at 5 millimolar malate were 1.7, 5, and 10 millimolar for l-glutamate, l-aspartate, and beta-methyl-dl-aspartate, respectively. Certain compounds, notably cysteic acid, which stimulated malate decarboxylation by intact chloroplasts inhibited malate decarboxylation by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme obtained from lysed chloroplasts and assayed under comparable conditions. It was concluded that aspartate, glutamate, and related compounds affect the transport of malate into the intact chloroplasts and that malate translocation does not take place on the general dicarboxylate translocator previously reported for higher plant chloroplasts.

Journal Article↗

Mechanism of decarboxylation of p-aminosalicylic acid.

The rate of decarboxylation of p-aminosalicylic acid (1) in aqueous solutions was studied at 25 degrees C (mu = 0.5) as a function of pH and buffer concentration. A pH-rate profile was generated by using the rate constants extrapolated to zero buffer concentration. The profile was bell-shaped, with the maximum rate of decarboxylation near the isoelectric pH. The rate constants obtained in buffered solutions indicated general acid catalysis. Bronsted behavior appeared to be adhered to. The two ionization constants of 1 were determined spectrophotometrically at 25 degrees C and at an ionic strength of 0.5. An HPLC method was used to characterize the degradation products of the reaction. Kinetic solvent deuterium isotope effects were studied to further confirm the mechanism of decarboxylation. Below pH 7.0, the mechanism of 1 decarboxylation is the rate controlling proton attack on the carbon-alpha to the carboxylic acid group of 1 anion and the ampholyte, followed by the rapid decarboxylation of the formed intermediate.

Aminosalicylic Acid↗

Anaerobic malonate decarboxylation by Citrobacter diversus. Growth and metabolic studies, and evidence of ATP formation.

Citrobacter diversus ATCC 27156 was able to grow by decarboxylation of malonate to acetate under strictly anaerobic conditions, in the presence of yeast extract. The growth yield, corrected for growth on yeast extract, was 2.03 g cell dry mass per mol malonate. The addition of malonate to ATP-depleted cell suspensions (less than 0.2 nmol ATP/mg cell protein) resulted in a rapid increase in cellular ATP levels to between 4.5 and 6.0 nmol/mg cell protein. Intact cells decarboxylated malonate at rates of up to 1.5 mumol/min.mg protein. Enzyme assays on malonate-grown cells indicated activation of malonate by an ATP-dependent ligase reaction and by CoA transfer from acetyl-CoA, followed by decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA to acetyl-CoA with subsequent recovery of the invested ATP by substrate level phosphorylation through the activity of acetate kinase. Net ATP synthesis is postulated to be mediated by gradient formation coupled to the decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA. The protonophore CCCP and H(+)-ATPase inhibitor DCCD significantly reduced cellular ATP levels, suggesting a role for proton gradients in the energy metabolism of this strain when growing an malonate. Inhibitors of sodium metabolism or ommission of sodium had no effect on ATP levels or malonate decarboxylation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Photosynthesis in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-type C4 plants: pathways of C4 acid decarboxylation in bundle sheath cells of Urochloa panicoides.

The mechanism of C4 acid decarboxylation was studied in bundle sheath cell strands from Urochloa panicoides, a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK)-type C4 plant. Added malate was decarboxylated to give pyruvate and this activity was often increased by adding ADP. Added oxaloacetate or aspartate plus 2-oxoglutarate (which produce oxaloacetate via aspartate aminotransferase) gave little metabolic decarboxylation alone but with added ATP there was a rapid production of PEP. For this activity ADP could replace ATP but only when added in combination with malate. In addition, the inclusion of aspartate plus 2-oxoglutarate with malate plus ADP often increased the rate of pyruvate production from malate by more than twofold. Experiments with respiratory chain inhibitors showed that the malate-dependent stimulation of oxaloacetate decarboxylation (PEP production) was probably due to ATP generated during the oxidation of malate in mitochondria. We could provide no evidence that photophosphorylation could serve as an alternative source of ATP for the PEP carboxykinase reaction. We concluded that both PEP carboxykinase and mitochondrial NAD-malic enzyme contribute to C4 acid decarboxylation in these cells, with the required ATP being derived from oxidation-linked phosphorylation in mitochondria.

Aspartic Acid↗