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Role of malate synthesis mediated by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in guard cells in the regulation of stomatal movement.

To clarify the pathway and role of malate synthesis in guard cells, epidermal strips isolated from Vicia faba L. leaflets were treated with 3,3-dichloro-2-dihydroxyphosphinoylmethyl-2-propenoate (DCDP), a specific inhibitor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC). When dark-closed stomata were illuminated, malate accumulated in guard cells and stomata opened; these were inhibited by 60% and 30%, respectively, by 5 mM DCDP treatment. When light-opened stomata were treated with DCDP, both malate level in guard cells and stomatal aperture decreased. Treatment with 5 mM DCDP partially inhibited CO2 incorporation into malate in guard cells. Treatment with mannitol at 0.4 M (osmotic stress) in the light increased malate level in guard cells and closed stomata. DCDP treatment decreased both malate level and stomatal aperture under stressed condition. These results show that malate synthesis in the light under both non-stressed and stressed conditions is dependent on PEPC activity. The extent of the decrease in malate level by DCDP treatment was larger under stressed condition than under nonstressed condition, suggesting that osmotic stress may enhance the activity of this pathway of malate synthesis which is induced by light. Role of malate synthesis in guard cells is discussed.

Acrylates↗

Malate synthase from Corynebacterium glutamicum: sequence analysis of the gene and biochemical characterization of the enzyme.

Malate synthase is one of the key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle and is essential for growth on acetate as sole carbon source. The aceB gene from Corynebacterium glutamicum, encoding malate synthase, was isolated, subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and C. glutamicum. Sequencing of a 3024 bp DNA fragment containing the aceB gene revealed that it is located close to the isocitrate lyase gene aceA. The two genes are separated by 597 bp and are transcribed in divergent directions. The predicted aceB gene product consists of 739 amino acids with an M(r) of 82,362. Interestingly, this polypeptide shows only weak identity with malate synthase polypeptides from other organisms and possesses an extra N-terminal sequence of about 170 amino acid residues. Inactivation of the chromosomal aceB gene led to the absence of malate synthase activity and to the inability to grow on acetate, suggesting that only one malate synthase is present in C. glutamicum. The malate synthase was purified from an aceB-overexpressing C. glutamicum strain and biochemically characterized. The native enzyme was shown to be a monomer migrating at an M(r) of about 80,000. By sequencing the N-terminus of malate synthase the predicted translational start site of the enzyme was confirmed. The enzyme displayed Km values of 30 microM and 12 microM for the substrates glyoxylate and acetyl CoA, respectively. Oxalate, glycolate and ATP were found to be inhibitors of malate synthase activity. The present study provides evidence that the malate synthase from C. glutamicum is functionally similar to other malate synthase enzymes but is different both in size and primary structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Specific inhibition of Physarum polycephalum DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase by poly(L-malate) and related polyanions.

Poly(L-malate) is an unusual polyanion found in nuclei of plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum. We have investigated, by enzymatic and fluorimetric methods, whether poly(L-malate) and structurally related polyanions can interact with DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase complex and with histones of P. polycephalum. Poly(L-malate) is found to inhibit the activities of the DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase complex and to bind to histones. The mode of inhibition is competitive with regard to DNA in elongation and noncompetitive in the priming of DNA synthesis. Spermidine, spermine, and histones from P. polycephalum and from calf thymus bind to poly(L-malate) and antagonize the inhibition. The polyanions poly(vinyl sulfate), poly(acrylate), poly(L-malate), poly(D,L-malate), poly(L-aspartate), poly(L-glutamate) have been examined for their potency to inhibit the DNA polymerase. The degree of inhibition is found to depend on the distance between neighboring charges, given by the number of atoms (N) interspaced between them. Poly(L-malate) (N = 5) and poly(D,L-malate) (N = 5) are the most efficient inhibitors, followed by poly(L-aspartate) (N = 6), poly(acrylate) (N = 3), poly(L-glutamate) (N = 8), poly(vinyl sulfate) (N = 3). It is proposed that poly(L-malate) interacts with DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase of P. polycephalum. According to its physical and biochemical properties, poly(L-malate) may alternatively function as a molecular chaperone in nucleosome assembly in the S phase and as both an inhibitor and a stock-piling agent of DNA-polymerase-alpha-primase in the G2 phase and M phase of the plasmodial cell cycle.

Animals↗

13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of malate and citrate synthesis and compartmentation in higher plant cells.

The synthesis of malate and citrate by sycamore cells (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) perfused with KH13CO3 was analyzed using 13C NMR. To perform in vivo experiments, cells were compressed in a 25-mm tube and perfused with an arrangement enabling tight control of the circulating nutrient medium. An original method using paramagnetic Mn2+ that induced a complete loss of the vacuolar malate and citrate signals was developed to discriminate between cytoplasmic and vacuolar pools of malate and citrate. Our results indicated the following. (a) The accumulation of appreciable amounts of malate in sycamore cells required rather high (1 mM) concentrations of bicarbonate at all the pH values tested. (b) Malate was equally labeled at C-1 and C-4, suggesting that malate labeled at C-1 was produced by randomization of C-1 and C-4 by mitochondrial fumarase. Indeed, the separation of the intact organelles from the lysed protoplasts indicated that fumarase activity was essentially limited to the mitochondria. Similarly, citrate was equally enriched at C-1 and C-5 + C-6 carboxyls. (c) Malate appeared first in the cytoplasmic compartment; and when a threshold of cytoplasmic malate concentration was attained, malate molecules were expelled into the vacuole, where they accumulated. On the other hand, citrate accumulated steadily in the vacuole. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated the central role played by the tonoplast in governing the vacuolar influx of citrate and the permanent exchange of malate between the cytoplasm and the vacuole.

Bicarbonates↗

Immunological and biochemical studies on isozymes of malate dehydrogenase and citrate synthetase in castor bean glyoxysomes.

Rabbit gamma-globulin obtained after the injection of solubilized proteins of castor bean (Ricinus communis L var. Hale) glyoxysomes contains antibodies against some of the glyoxysomal enzymes. The gamma-globulin was shown to inhibit by 50% and 80%, respectively, the in vitro activities of the castor bean glyoxysomal citrate synthetase and malate dehydrogenase. The conditions required for the inactivation are described.The glyoxysomal and mitochondrial citrate synthetase from castor bean endosperm show no significant difference in the above immunological test, in their apparent Michaelis constant values for acetyl coenzyme A and oxaloacetate, or in their sensitivity toward ATP inhibition. In the immunological test, glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase from castor bean endosperm appeared to be related more closely to the leaf peroxisomal malate dehydrogenase from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and to the glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase from a variety of other fatty seedlings than to the castor bean mitochondrial or soluble malate dehydrogenase. Unlike the mitochondrial or soluble malate dehydrogenase, the castor bean glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase is easily inactivated by gentle heat treatment, as was reported previously by other workers for the leaf peroxisomal malate dehydrogenase. Thus, the malate dehydrogenases from various plant microbodies share some common characteristics which distinguish them from other isozymes of malate dehydrogenase.

Journal Article↗

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↗

C nuclear magnetic resonance study of acetate incorporation into malate during ca-uptake by isolated leaf tissues.

(13)C Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of leaflets of Gleditsia triacanthos and Albizia julibrisin was used to determine the fate of acetate taken up during the absorption of calcium from (13)C-labeled Ca-acetate solution. Small amounts of acetate accumulated temporarily in the leaf tissues, but the bulk of acetate was incorporated into malate. The initial rate of malate synthesis was very low, but increased rapidly during acetate treatment and reached its maximum after 8 hours; the enzymes involved in malate synthesis thus appear to be substrate induced. Use of acetate-2-(13)C yielded malate labeled in C-3, indicating that vacuolar malate accumulating during Ca-uptake might be synthesized via malate synthase from acetate and glyoxalate. However, a source of glyoxalate condensing with acetate during malate synthesis could not be identified. Glycolate produced in photorespiration is an unlikely source, because glycolate-2-(13)C was absorbed and metabolized by the leaf tissues into products of the glycolate pathway, but was not a major precursor in malate synthesis. Malate synthesis via the glyoxalate cycle is also unlikely, because no evidence for the recycling of a (13)C-labeled 4-carbon organic acid was found. Malate synthesis in the leaflets of Gleditsia and Albizia thus appears to involve the inducible condensation of acetate with a 2-carbon compound of unidentified nature and origin.

Journal Article↗

Occurrence of Two Pathways for Malate Oxidation in Bacteroids Isolated from Sesbania rostrata Stem Nodules during C(2)H(2) Reduction.

Malate oxidation supported C(2)H(2) reduction by bacteroids isolated from Sesbania rostrata stem nodules. Optimal activity reached 7.5 nanomoles per minute per milligram of dry weight and was in the same order of magnitude as that observed with succinate but always required a lower O(2) tension. Malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37), purified 66-fold from bacteroids, actively oxidized malate (K(m) = 0.19 millimolar). Malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.39) from Sesbania bacteroids had a lower affinity for malate (K(m) = 2.32 millimolar). Both enzymes exclusively required NAD(+) as cofactor and required an alkaline pH for optimal activity. 2-Oxoglutarate and oxalate, inhibiting malate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme, respectively, were used to specifically block each malate oxidation pathway in bacteroids. The predominance of malate dehydrogenase activity to support bacteroid N(2) fixation was demonstrated. The inhibition of O(2) consumption by 2-oxoglutarate confirmed the importance of the malate dehydrogenase pathway in malate oxidation. It is proposed that the utilization of malate, with regard to O(2), is important in a general strategy of this legume to maintain N(2) fixation under O(2) limited conditions.

Journal Article↗

Changes in NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme and malate dehydrogenase activities during fibroblast proliferation.

A sensitive isotope exchange method was developed to assess the requirements for and compartmentation of pyruvate and oxalacetate production from malate in proliferating and nonproliferating human fibroblasts. Malatedependent pyruvate production (malic enzyme activity) in the particulate fraction containing the mitochondria was dependent on either NAD+ or NADP+. The production of pyruvate from malate in the soluble, cytosolic fraction was strictly dependent on NADP+. Oxalacetate production from malate (malate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.37) in both the particulate and soluble fraction was strictly dependent on NAD+. Relative to nonproliferating cells, NAD+-linked malic enzyme activity was slightly reduced and the NADP+-linked activity was unchanged in the particulate fraction of serum-stimulated, exponentially proliferating cells. However, a reduced activity of particulate malate dehydrogenase resulted in a two-fold increase in the ratio of NAD(P)+-linked malic enzyme to NAD+-linked malate dehydrogenase activity in the particulate fraction of proliferating fibroblasts. An increase in soluble NADP+-dependent malic enzyme activity and a decrease in NAD+-linked malate dehydrogenase indicated an increase in the ratio of pyruvate-producing to oxalacetate-producing malate oxidase activity in the cytosol of proliferating cells. These coordinate changes may affect the relative amount of malate that is oxidized to oxalacetate and pyruvate in proliferating cells and, therefore, the efficient utilization of glutamine as a respiratory fuel during cell proliferation.

Cell Division↗

Comparison of D-malate and beta, beta-dimethylmalate dehydrogenases from Pseudomonas fluorescens UK-1.

D-Malate dehydrogenase (D-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.83) was purified to homogeneity from Pseudomonas fluorescens UK-1 grown on D-malate and some properties of the purified enzyme were compared with those of beta, beta-dimethylmalate dehydrogenase (3,3-dimethyl-D-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.84). D-Malate dehydrogenase has the molecular weight and subunit size of 140 000 and 34 000, respectively (the same as those of beta, beta-dimethylmalate dehydrogenase). The amino acid compositions of the two enzymes are similar as well. D-Malate dehydrogenase cross-reacted with anti-beta, beta-dimethylmalate dehydrogenase and beta, beta-dimethylmalate dehydrogenase cross-reacted with anti-D-malate dehydrogenase. The two dehydrogenases have similar catalytical properties. Both of the dehydrogenases were unaffected by sulphydryl reagents but were inactivated by 1,2-butanedione. NAD provided better protection against inactivation than D-malate or beta,beta-dimethyl-DL-malate.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Sensitivity of the plant vacuolar malate channel to pH, Ca2+ and anion-channel blockers.

The organic anion malate is accumulated in the central vacuole of most plant cells. Malate has several important roles in plant vacuoles, such as the maintenance of charge balance and pH regulation, as an osmolyte involved in the generation of cell turgor, and as a storage form of CO2. Transport of malate across the vacuolar membrane is important for the regulation of cytoplasmic pH and the control of cellular metabolism, particularly in plants showing crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), in which large fluxes of malate occur during the day/night cycle. By applying the patch-clamp technique, in the whole-vacuole configuration, to isolated vacuoles from leaf mesophyll cells of the CAM plant Kalanchoë daigremontiana, we studied the regulation of the vacuolar malate channel by pH and Ca2+, as well as its sensitivity to anion-channel blockers. Malate currents were found to be insensitive to Ca2+ on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane over a range from approximately 10(-8) M to 10(-4) M. In contrast, decreasing cytoplasmic pH below 7.5 had a significant modulatory effect on channel activity, reducing malate currents by 40%, whereas increasing cytoplasmic pH above 7.5 resulted in no change in current. Several known Cl?-channel blockers inhibited the vacuolar malate currents: niflumic acid and indanoyloxyacetic acid (IAA-94) proved to be the most effective inhibitors, exerting half-maximal effects at concentrations of approximately 20 mM, suggesting that the plant vacuolar malate channel may share certain similarities with other classes of known anion channels.

Biological Transport↗

Replacement of arginine-171 and aspartate-453 in Streptomyces coelicolor malate synthase A by site-directed mutagenesis inactivates the enzyme.

Malate synthase, a key enzyme of the glyoxylate cycle, catalyzes the condensation of glyoxylate and acetyl-CoA to yield malate and CoA. Escherichia coli is known to possess two forms of malate synthase, A and G respectively. The recent elucidation of the E. coli malate synthase G crystal structure suggested two residues, Arg338 and Asp631, are essential for catalysis. Multiple sequence alignment of 26 known malate synthase enzymes revealed that the two proposed sites are highly conserved, despite the low homologies between the two distinct forms of the enzyme (13-18%). The conservation of these residues in both forms of malate synthase suggests that they possess a similar catalytic strategy. Thus, despite the absence of a three-dimensional structure for malate synthase A, the significance of this enzyme in the primary metabolic pathway has prompted the investigation of the involvement of the corresponding residues, Arg171 and Asp453, in Streptomyces coelicolor malate synthase A by site-directed mutagenesis. Heterologous expression in E. coli followed by purification of the constructed mutant proteins, Arg171Leu and Asp453Ala, were performed and subsequent enzyme assays of the purified mutant proteins indicated a significant loss of catalytic activity, thus attesting to the need for the corresponding conserved residues to maintain malate synthase functionality.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aluminium triggers malate-independent potassium release via ion channels from the root apex in wheat.

The regulatory mechanisms for the aluminium (Al)-induced efflux of K(+) and malate from the root apex of Al-resistant wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Atlas) were characterized. Treatment with 20 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) chloride, a K(+)-channel inhibitor, blocked the Al-induced K(+) efflux by 65%, but blocked the Al-induced malate efflux only slightly. Lanthanum (La(3+)) or ytterbium (Yb(3+)) strongly inhibited the K(+) efflux, but slightly increased malate efflux. These lanthanides applied together with Al did not affect the Al-induced malate efflux, but reduced the Al-induced K(+) efflux by 57% for La(3+) and by 35% for Yb(3+). By contrast, pretreatment with 50 microM niflumic acid, an anion-channel inhibitor, strongly suppressed the Al-induced malate efflux, but did not affect the Al-induced K(+) efflux. The efflux of K(+) uncoupled with that of malate resulted in the alkalization of intracellular pH in the root apex, suggesting that the release of K(+) coupled with malate plays an important role in stabilizing intracellular pH. Copper (Cu(2+)) induced the release of K(+) via a TEA-insensitive pathway without the release of malate in both Al-resistant and Al-sensitive (cultivar Scout) wheat. Simultaneous application of Al and Cu(2+) to the root apices resulted in TEA-sensitive K(+) efflux in Atlas but not in Scout, suggesting that Al competes with Cu(2+) for K(+) efflux. Taken together, these results suggest that Al-induced K(+) efflux is mediated by both TEA- and lanthanide-sensitive K(+) channels, although this induction is not a prerequisite for the induction of the release of malate.

Aluminum↗

Malate synthase: aggregation, deaggregation, and binding of phospholipids.

Octameric malate synthase is located in the glyoxysomes of cucumber cotyledons. The enzyme is predominantly confined to the organelle's membrane and can be solubilized with Mg2+. Separation of cell structures in a zonal rotor afforded, besides glyoxysomes, two other zones with malate synthase activity, viz., in the gradient supernatant and in the range of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Malate synthases of these three fractions were purified to apparent homogeneity and classified according to their molecular weight. Differences in subunit molecular weight, however, could not be detected when malate synthases from the three fractions were compared. Mature malate synthase, as well as malate synthase prepared from fractions sedimenting similarly to the ER, exhibited the following behavior with respect to aggregation and deaggregation: at low salt concentrations and in the absence of Mg2+, the enzyme shifted to aggregated forms (approx 100 S); with 2 mM Mg2+, malate synthase deaggregated and occurred predominantly as an octamer (19 S). By changing buffer conditions, mature forms of malate synthase could be interconverted repeatedly between octameric and aggregated forms, whereas a monomeric form (5 S), prepared from soluble fractions assigned to the cytosol, did not oligomerize. The amphipathic properties of malate synthase were demonstrated by the enzyme's capacity for binding phospholipids.

Macromolecular Substances↗

Crystal structure of Escherichia coli malate dehydrogenase. A complex of the apoenzyme and citrate at 1.87 A resolution.

The crystal structure of malate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli has been determined with a resulting R-factor of 0.187 for X-ray data from 8.0 to 1.87 A. Molecular replacement, using the partially refined structure of porcine mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase as a probe, provided initial phases. The structure of this prokaryotic enzyme is closely homologous with the mitochondrial enzyme but somewhat less similar to cytosolic malate dehydrogenase from eukaryotes. However, all three enzymes are dimeric and form the subunit-subunit interface through similar surface regions. A citrate ion, found in the active site, helps define the residues involved in substrate binding and catalysis. Two arginine residues, R81 and R153, interacting with the citrate are believed to confer substrate specificity. The hydroxyl of the citrate is hydrogen-bonded to a histidine, H177, and similar interactions could be assigned to a bound malate or oxaloacetate. Histidine 177 is also hydrogen-bonded to an aspartate, D150, to form a classic His.Asp pair. Studies of the active site cavity indicate that the bound citrate would occupy part of the site needed for the coenzyme. In a model building study, the cofactor, NAD, was placed into the coenzyme site which exists when the citrate was converted to malate and crystallographic water molecules removed. This hypothetical model of a ternary complex was energy minimized for comparison with the structure of the binary complex of porcine cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. Many residues involved in cofactor binding in the minimized E. coli malate dehydrogenase structure are homologous to coenzyme binding residues in cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. In the energy minimized structure of the ternary complex, the C-4 atom of NAD is in van der Waals' contact with the C-3 atom of the malate. A catalytic cycle involves hydride transfer between these two atoms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coupled reaction of immobilized aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase. A plausible model for the cellular behaviour of these enzymes.

To study the effect of facilitated diffusion of the intermediate metabolite, oxaloacetate, on the coupled reaction of aspartate aminotransferase (L-aspartate: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) and malate dehydrogenase (L-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37), these enzymes were co-immobilized on the surface of a collagen film. The kinetic properties of the immobilized enzymes were compared with those observed with the enzymes in solution. Since the reactions correspond to the cytosolic enzymes, they have been studied in the direction aspartate aminotransferase toward malate dehydrogenase. Coupled enzymes in solution showed classical behaviour. A lag-time was observed before they reached a steady state and this lag-time was dependent on the kinetic properties of the second enzyme, malate dehydrogenase. The same lag-time was observed when malate dehydrogenase in solution was coupled with aspartate aminotransferase bound to the film. When aspartate aminotransferase in solution was coupled with malate dehydrogenase bound to the collagen film, a very long lag-time was observed. Theoretical considerations showed that in the latter case, the lag-time was dependent on the kinetic properties of the second enzyme and the transport coefficient of the intermediate substrate through the boundary layer near the surface of the film. Then both enzymes were co-immobilized on the collagen film. The coupled activity of aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase was compared for films with an activity ratio of 5 and 0.8. In both cases, a highly efficient coupling was observed. In the former case, where malate dehydrogenase was rate-limiting, 81% of this limiting activity was observed. In the latter case, aspartate aminotransferase was rate-limiting and 82% of its rate was obtained for the final product formation. The linear increase of product formation with time corresponded fairly well to the theoretical equations developed in the paper. To interpret these rate equations, one should assume that the intermediate substrate oxaloacetate formed by aspartate aminotransferase was used by malate dehydrogenase in the diffusion layer near the film, before diffusing in the bulk solution.

Animals↗

Purification of particulate malate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from Leishmania mexicana mexicana.

The particulate activities of Leishmania mexicana mexicana amastigote malate dehydrogenase (L-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (ATP:oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase (transphosphorylating) EC 4.1.1.49) have been purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity by hydrophobic interaction chromatography using Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B, affinity chromatography using 5'AMP-Sepharose 4B, and gel filtration using Sephadex G-100. Malate dehydrogenase was purified 150-fold overall with a final specific activity of 1230 units/mg protein and a recovery of 63%. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was purified 132-fold with a final specific activity of 30.3 units/mg protein and a recovery of 20%. Molecular weights determined by gel filtration and SDS-gel electrophoresis were 39 800 and 33 300 for malate dehydrogenase and 63 100 and 65 100 for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, respectively. Kinetic studies with malate dehydrogenase assayed in the direction of oxaloacetic acid reduction showed a Km(NADH) of 41 microM and a Km(oxaloacetic acid) of 39 microM. For malate oxidation there was a Km(malate) of 3.6 mM and a Km(NAD) of 0.79 mM. Oxaloacetic acid exhibited substrate inhibition at concentrations greater than 0.83 mM and malate was found to be a product inhibitor at high concentrations. However, there was no modification of enzyme activity by a number of glycolytic intermediates and cofactors, suggesting that malate dehydrogenase is not a major regulatory enzyme in L. m. mexicana. The results show that these L. m. mexicana amastigote enzymes are in several ways similar to their mammalian counterparts; nevertheless, their apparent importance and unique subcellular organization in the parasite make them potential targets for chemotherapeutic attack.

Animals↗

Stability and immunological cross-reactivity of malate dehydrogenases from mesophilic and thermophilic sources.

The thermostability in vitro of dimeric and tetrameric malate dehydrogenases [S)-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) from mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria shows a good correlation to the growth temperature of the source organism but no consistent relationship to enzyme subunit structure. The thermophile malate dehydrogenases are, in general, more resistant to the surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and to the denaturants, guanidinium chloride and urea, than their mesophilic counterparts, with the dimer in each thermal class being more resistant to the chemical perturbants than the tetramer. Sedimentation analysis suggests that denaturation of the malate dehydrogenases by acid-periodate or SDS produces discrete subunits, whereas denaturation by guanidinium chloride followed by carboxymethylation yields ill-defined protein species. SDS and acid-periodate were therefore preferred to generate denatured malate dehydrogenases for use as immunogens and antigens. The native malate dehydrogenases exhibit immunological cross-reactivity only when they are in the same oligomeric form and derived from closely related species, which may, however, be from different thermal classes. Taking immunological cross-reactivity as an indicator of structural similarity, this supports the idea that the thermophilic trait evolved independently within each phyletic line. With denatured malate dehydrogenases as immunogens and antigens, cross-reactivity is manifested between all the malate dehydrogenases examined. This suggests that appreciable primary structural homology exists between the malate dehydrogenases, whether dimeric or tetrameric, from thermophiles and mesophiles and from various taxa.

Bacillus↗