Additional lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes in normal testis and spermatozoa of adult man

Summary Adult human testicular tissue contains up to six previously undescribed lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes in addition to the five LDH isoenzymes normally found and the sixth found in spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa, LDH-X. Additional LDH isoenzymes were also found in spermatozoa but not in seminal fluid or in serum. After electrophoresis one additional LDH isoenzyme of testicular tissue was localized between LDH-1 and LDH-2, two between LDH-2 and LDH-3, two between LDH-3 and LDH-4, and two between LDH-4 and LDH-5. These localizations indicate that the additional LDH isoenzymes are tetramers combining the A and B subunits of the five normal LDH isoenzymes and the C subunit of LDH-X. The additional LDH isoenzymes may be important in the metabolism of spermatogenic germ cells and spermatozoa.     

Isolation of human lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme X by affinity chromatography.

Human isoenzyme LDH-X (lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme X) was isolated from seminal fluid of frozen semen samples by affinity chromatography by using oxamate-Sepharose and AMP-Sepharose. In the presence of 1.6 mM-NAD+, isoenzyme LDH-X does not bind to AMP-Sepharose, whereas the other lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes do. This is the crucial point in the isolation of isoenzyme LDH-X from the other isoenzymes. The purified human isoenzyme LDH-X had a specific activity of 146 units/mg of protein.     

Selective inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase of rat tissues by sodium deoxycholate.

Soluble lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) extracted from brain, skeletal and cardiac muscle and liver of rats, and purified isoenzymes LDH-1 and LDH-5, were incubated with sodium deoxycholate. Deoxycholate almost totally inactivated isoenzyme LDH-5 (A4), whereas it left isoenzyme LDH-1 (B4) unaffected. Tissue lactate dehydrogenase was inactivated to different degrees depending on the origin of the enzyme. Electrophoretic isoenzyme studies of tissue lactate dehydrogenase showed the loss of activity to be quantitatively related to the overall percentage of subunit A distributed among the homotetramer LDH-5 and the heterotetramers LDH-2, LDH-3 and LDH-4. It was concluded that subunit A of lactate dehydrogenase interacts selectively with deoxycholate, irrespective of its association with subunit B. Distinct changes in electrophoretic mobilities of deoxycholate-treated isoenzymes strongly indicated an indiscriminate binding of deoxycholate by all LDH isoenzymes, probably through hydrophobic interactions. The results suggest that the inactivation of the enzyme is non-competitive, but the basis of the selectivity of deoxycholate towards subunit A is not known at present.     

Separation, purification and characterization of three isoenzymes of UDP-glucuronyltransferase from rat liver microsomes

Three isoenzymes of UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) have been separated and purified from liver microsomes of untreated female rats or female rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene. The UDPGT isoenzymes were purified utilizing Chromatofocusing, column isoelectric focusing, and UDP-hexanolamine Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. UDPGT activities could also be separated during UDP-hexanolamine affinity chromatography by elution with different UDPGA (UDP-glucuronic acid) concentrations. One isoenzyme exhibits a subunit molecular weight of 56,000 and is capable of conjugating p-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol, and 4-methylumbelliferone. This isoenzyme is inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment and requires high UDPGA concentrations for elution from the UDP-hexanolamine affinity column in contrast to the other UDPGT isoenzymes. A second isoenzyme was purified and displayed a subunit molecular weight of 50,000. This isoenzyme was not induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and was active towards testosterone, the 17-OH position of beta-estradiol, p-nitrophenol, and 1-naphthol. A third isoenzyme was also purified and exhibited a subunit molecular weight of 52,000. This isoenzyme conjugated androsterone and etiocholanolone and was not induced by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment. This study reports the purification of two separate and distinct rat liver UDPGT isoenzymes capable of conjugating p-nitrophenol, only one of which is inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment. Also, this is the first report of the purification of a UDPGT isoenzyme active towards the 3-OH position of androgens.     

Changes in testicular lactate dehydrogenases of the rat (Rattus norvegicus) during growth and development

1. We have quantified lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) A, B and C enzyme levels during the first twelve weeks of life in rat testes. 2. Proteins were electrophoresed under non-denaturing conditions, isoenzymes identified by activity staining and quantified by densitometry scanning. 3. LDH A declined 2-3-fold during testes growth, changing from the most to the least abundant isoenzyme form. LDH B remained fairly constant, and LDH C increased from undetectable levels at birth to become the most abundant of the three polypeptides from week 3 onwards.     

Comparative analysis of the malate dehydrogenases isolated from the cytosolic fraction of several tissues of guinea-pig Cavia porcellus

The specific activities of the malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase present in the soluble fraction of several guinea-pig tissues are reported. The electrophoretic patterns showed always two forms (A and B) with malate dehydrogenase activity and the five isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase. Chromatography of the different soluble fractions through 5' AMP-Sepharose allowed both molecular forms of malate dehydrogenase to be separated and obtained free from lactate dehydrogenase. Comparative studies of the two forms of malate dehydrogenase evidenced that the A and B forms exhibited cytosolic and mitochondrial characteristics, respectively.     

Pregnancy modulates the expression of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in rat serum and tissues.

1. beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases in maternal rat serum were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and compared with those of adult rat serum. 2. In pregnant serum there is an increase of the isoenzymes which are entirely composed of beta-subunits (B and intermediate forms). 3. These alterations could be compared to those already described in human pregnancy. 4. The levels of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase and the relative expression of alpha- and beta-subunits in normal and pregnant serum correlate with the above isoenzyme expression. 5. The increase of B and intermediate forms as well as the increase of specific activity during pregnancy was not peculiar to maternal serum but was also demonstrated in several foetal tissues and in maternal tissues, in which cases the beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzyme patterns closely resemble the foetal ones rather than those of the adult rat tissues. 6. These analogies strongly suggest that the expression of beta-subunit of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase is regulated by hormones or other factors related to pregnancy.     

Separation and partial characterization of multiple forms of rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase

Rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase was purified and four isoenzyme forms, demonstrated by starch gel electrophoresis, were separated by O-(carboxymethyl)-cellulose chromatography. Each of the isoenzymes had a distinct isoelectric point. All isoenzymes were active with both ethanol (or acetaldehyde) and steroid substrates, and had similar Michaelis-Menten constants for each of the substrates and coenzymes studied. The three isoenzymes with the lowest migration toward the cathode exhibited the same pH optimum of 10.7 for ethanol oxidation, a greater activity with 5 beta-androstan-3 beta-ol-17-one than with ethanol as a substrate, and an unchanged electrophoretic mobility following storage in the presence of 100 microM dithiothreitol. By contrast the isoenzyme with the highest mobility toward the cathode exhibited a pH optimum of 9.5 for ethanol oxidation, a low steroid/ethanol ratio of activity, and converted to the migrating pattern of the two isoenzymes with intermediate mobility when stored. The similarities between the isoenzymes of rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase differ considerably from differences in substrate specificity exhibited by isoenzymes of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase.     

Properties of the testicular lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme.

1. Studies were carried out with pure lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes C4 (LDH isoenzyme X), B4, (LDH isoenzyme 1) and A4 (LDH isoenzyme 5) isolated from mouse testis, heart and muscle tissue respectively; with LDH isoenzyme X purified from pigeon testes and with crude lysates of spermatozoa from man, bull and rabbit. 2. LDH isoenzyme X from all species showed greater ability than the other isoenzymes to catalyse the NAD+-linked interconversions of 2-oxobutanoate into 2-hydroxybutanoate and of 2-oxopentanoate into 2-hydroxypentanoate. 3. Mouse LDH isoenzyme X presented the broadest spectrum of substrate specificity. It exhibited very similar Km values for a variety of 2-oxo acids: 2-oxopropanoate (pyruvate), 2-oxobutanoate, 2-oxo-3-methylbutanoate, 2-oxopentanoate, 2-oxo-3-methylpentanoate, 2-oxo-4-methylpentanoate, 2-oxohexanoate and 2-oxo-3-phenylpropanoate (phenylpyruvate). The corresponding 2-hydroxy acids were also readily utilized in the reverse reaction. A strong inhibition by substrate and product was demonstrated for the direct reaction. 4. Intracellular distribution of LDH isoenzyme X was investigated in mouse testes. LDH isoenzyme X activity was located in the fraction of "heavy mitochondria" and in the soluble phase. 5. A possible functional role for LDH isoenzyme X is proposed: the redox couple-2-oxo acid-2-hydroxy acid could integrate a shuttle system transferring reducing equivalents from cytoplasm to mitochondria.     

Phosphofructokinase D from the epithelial cells of rat small intestine.

Phosphofructokinase from the epithelial cells of rat small intestine was characterized with respect to isoenzyme type in a comparison of its properties with those of the skeletal-muscle, brain and major liver isoenzymes by using five different techniques, namely electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and in polyacrylamide gels, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and immunotitration. When precautions were taken to inhibit the formation of active proteolytic artifacts by the action of endogenous proteinases, each technique revealed that rat intestinal mucosa contains only a single form of phosphofructokinase. The mucosal isoenzyme was found to be very similar to, although not identical with, the major liver isoenzyme and to be quite distinct from the skeletal-muscle isoenzyme when studied by the techniques of cellulose acetate electrophoresis, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and immunotitration, whereas the converse was true when studied by the techniques of (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The mucosal isoenzyme was distinct from the brain isoenzyme when studied by each of the five techniques. Tsai & Kemp [(1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 785-792] reported that animal tissues contain three principal isoenzymes of phosphofructokinase, type A found as the sole isoenzyme in skeletal muscle, type B found as the major isoenzyme in liver and type C found as a significant isoenzyme in brain. Phosphofructokinase from mucosa is distinct from each of these isoenzymes. Following the nomenclature of Tsai & Kemp (1973), the isoenzyme from the mucosa of rat intestinal epithelial cells is designated phosphofructokinase D. The mucosal and liver isoenzymes behave so similarly with respect to their charge and immunological characteristics, on which the typing of isoenzymes is conventionally based, that it is likely that some tissues reported to contain the liver isoenzyme contain instead the mucosal isoenzyme.     

Multiple forms of gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.1).

gamma-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase [4-trimethylaminobutyrate, 2-oxoglutarate:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.11.1] from human kidney was resolved into three forms by chromatofocusing. After further chromatography on an anion-exchanger, each form appeared as a single band on electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. The isoelectric points of isoenzymes 1, 2 and 3 were 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 respectively, as estimated by isoelectric focusing. Their specific activities were 17-29 mu kat/g of protein. The concentrations of the three isoenzymes were about equal, possibly slightly lower for isoenzyme 1. The requirement for Fe2+ and the Km values for gamma-butyrobetaine and 2-oxoglutarate were about the same for the different enzyme forms. L- and D-Carnitine caused decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate to the same extent (8 and 29%) with the three forms. The enzyme forms had the same mass, 64 kDa, as determined by gel filtration in nondenaturing media. The same subunit mass, 42 kDa, was obtained for the multiple forms by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. Isoenzyme 2 was resolved into two protein bands by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels containing urea. Isoenzyme 1 contained only one of these bands and isoenzyme 3 the other. The three enzyme forms of gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase thus appear to be dimeric combinations of two subunits differing in charge but not in size. gamma-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase from crude extracts of human, rat and calf liver was also separated into multiple forms by a chromatofocusing technique. The isoenzyme pattern was the same in human liver and kidney. The technique used to resolve the mammalian enzymes gave no evidence for the presence of multiple forms of the bacterial enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. AK 1.     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme transitions during skeletal differentiation in the mouse embryo

(1) In the mouse embryo there are changes in lactate dehydrogenase activity and isoenzyme pattern during the differentiation of cartilage and bone. (2) The specific activity of lactate dehydrogenase rises during chondrogenesis and falls during osteogenesis. (3) Identical isoenzyme transitions occur in parallel in both tissues: undifferentiated limb bud mesenchyme contains isoenzymes 1-5 whereas in both the cartilaginous and bony portions of a long bone developing from the mesenchyme, there is a progressive shift towards a predominance of the 'anaerobic' isoenzymes 4 and 5.     

Lactate dehydrogenase from the northern krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica: comparison with LDH from the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba

Electrophoretic polymorphism of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.1.1.27) from abdominal muscle is reported in the northern krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica. In the population, from the Gullmarsfjord (west coast of Sweden), LDH was encoded for by two different Ldh-A* and -B* loci. The isoenzymes were named according to their electrophoretic mobilities. Ldh-A* locus was polymorphic. The allelic frequencies were a=0.99, a'=0.002, a"=0.004, a"'=0.004. The level of LDH polymorphism is low. Most individuals possess the same amount of two LDH homopolymers (LDH-A*(4) and LDH-B*(4)). The Meganyctiphanes norvegica LDH-A*(4) and LDH-B*(4) isoenzymes and the predominant LDH-A*(4) isoenzyme from Euphausia superba were purified to specific activities of 294, 306 and 464 micromol NADH min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. In both species the LDH isoenzymes were separated by chromatofocusing. All three isoenzymes are L-specific tetramers with molecular weight of approximately 160 kDa. Northern krill LDH-A*(4) has higher affinity for pyruvate and lactate and is more thermostable than LDH-B*(4). Both isoenzymes are inhibited significantly by high concentration of pyruvate but not lactate. Antarctic krill isoenzyme exhibits high substrate affinities, high NAD inhibition, high inhibition at 10 mM pyruvate, lack of lactate inhibition, and high heat stability and resembles northern krill LDH-A*(4) isoenzyme.     

The excretion of lactate dehydrogenase in human urine after ingestion of aspirin

1. Cells present in normal human urine contain 5-10% of the total lactate dehydrogenase excreted. The enzyme released from these cells by ultrasonication contained a distribution of isoenzymes similar to that found in the bulk of the urine and it is suggested that these cells are the main source of urinary lactate dehydrogenase. 2. Cells were thoroughly washed before examination so it is unlikely that the enzyme found in urinary sediment was simply adsorbed. In addition, full recoveries of added lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes LDH(1) and LDH(5) showed that adsorption did not occur. 3. Most of the cells in normal urine are of the non-squamous epithelial type and their excretion is greatly increased after the ingestion by the subject of 3g. of aspirin. The possible origin of these non-squamous cells from the kidney is discussed. 4. Starch-block electrophoresis and relative activity measurements of lactate dehydrogenase excreted after the subject had taken aspirin show that the enzymes present in urine and cells are very similar, confirming the conclusion reached above (point 1). They have slightly more M subunits than the normal, shown particularly as an increase in isoenzyme LDH(2). The isoenzyme pattern is like that of the kidney medulla and the possible reasons for this are discussed in terms of the concentration of salicylic acid in various parts of the kidney. 5. The results confirm the previous suggestion that the kidney is the main source of urinary lactate dehydrogenase.     

Purification procedure and N-terminal amino acid sequence of yeast malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes

A method has been devised for the rapid isolation of malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. First, anionic proteins were precipitated with polyethyleneimine, whilst hydrophobic malate dehydrogenase remained in the supernatant fluid. Secondly, the supernatant was 30% saturated with ammonium sulfate and the two isoenzymes were separated by hydrophobic phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B chromatography. For further purification the enzymes were chromatofocused, and polybuffer was removed by hydrophobic chromatography. Affinity chromatography with blue Sepharose CL-6B [1] was used as final purification step. The purified isoenzymes were homogeneous as shown by isoelectric focusing and could be used for N-terminal sequencing. 34 amino acid residues could be identified for the cytoplasmic isoenzyme and 56 amino acid residues for the mitochondrial isoenzyme. Although there are regions of strong homology between both isoenzymes, the sequence differences clearly showed support that both isoenzymes are coded by different genes. Sequence comparison clearly indicated that the N-terminus of the cytoplasmic enzyme extended that of the mitochondrial enzyme by 12 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of the extending sequence resembled that of leading sequences known for enzymes which are transported into the mitochondria. The assumed leading sequence is discussed with respect to its possible role in glucose inactivation.     

Purification and properties of two isoenzymes of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Turbo cornutus.

1. beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzymes from the gastropod, T. cornutus, were purified and their properties studied. 2. The two isoenzymes, designated A and B were separated by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography and further purified by CM-cellulose, Concanavalin-A-Sepharose-4B and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. 3. beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase A and B were purified 416 and 208 fold, with yields of 10.6 and 5.1%, respectively. 4. The two isoenzymes appear homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with the A form migrating faster towards the anode than the B form. 5. The purified isoenzymes are virtually free of all other common glycosidase contaminations. 6. The apparent molecular weight of both beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and B is about 100,000 when estimated with gel filtration column chromatography and the pH optimum for both is 4.0. 7. Both beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzyme activities are stimulated by Cl-, Br-, F-, I- and NO3-, and inhibited by Hg+, Ag+, Fe3+, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. 8. The Km values of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and B for the substrate p-nitrophenyl-beta-2-acetamide-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranoside were 2.9 and 3.2 mM, respectively.     

Quaternary structure of higher plant glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases.

1. NAD(P)+-induced changes in the aggregational state of prepurified NADP-linked glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13) were used to isolate the enzyme from Spinacia oleracea, Pisum sativaum and Hordeum vulgare. Each of the three plant species contains two separate isoenzymes. Isoenzyme 1 (fast moving during conventional electrophoresis) precipitates with the ammonium sulfate fraction 55--70% saturation. It shows two separate subunits in dodecylsulfate gels, which are probably arranged as A2B2 in the native enzyme molecule. Isoenzyme 2 (slow moving during conventional electrophoresis) precipitates with the ammonium sulfate fraction 70--95%. It contains a sigle subunit of the same Mr as subunit A in isoenzyme 1 and is apparently a tetramer (A4). The molecular weights of subunits A/B for spinach, peas and barley were determined as 38,000/40,000, 38,000/42,000 and 36,000/39,000 respectively. 2. The NAD-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) was purified from Spinacia oleracea and Pisum sativum by affinity chromatography on blue Sepharose CL-6B. The enzyme from both plant species is shown to be a tetramer of subunits with Mr 39,000. 3. The present findings contrast with heterogeneous results obtained previously by other authors. These results suggested that there are considerable interspecific differences in the quaternary structure of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases from higher plants.     

Changes in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme spectrum during T-lymphocyte differentiation

The pattern of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme spectrum changes on different stages of T-lymphocyte differentiation was studied An enriched population of stem cells has LDH-5, 4 and 3 isoenzymes, and much less LDH-2 activity. The isoenzyme pattern of thymic cell precursors consists of LDH-5, 4, 3 and 2. All the five LDH isoenzymes were found in cortical thymocytes. Medullary thymocytes reveal LDH-5, 4 and 3 isoenzymes. T-lymphocytes of peripheral lymphoid organs contain mainly LDH-5 and in a lesser degree LDH-4 activity.     

Changes in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern during differentiation of rabbit bone-marrow erythroid cells.

1. Differentiation and maturation of rabbit bone-marrow erythroid cells was accompanied by a 15-fold decrease in lactate dehydrogenase activity from approx. 0.1pmol of NADH utilized/min per cell in basophilic cells to 0.007 pmol of NADH/min per cell in reticulocytes. 2. In early cells, cell division takes place with a corresponding decrease in cell volume, but the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase remains almost constant. 3. When cell division ceases, qualitative as well as quantitative changes in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern become apparent and reticulocytes were found to contain almost exclusively the H4 isoenzyme, whereas early erythroblasts contained also the M4 and hybrid isoenzymes. 4. Extracts from a lysosome-enriched subcellular fraction of bone-marrow erythroid cells specifically degraded the M4 isoenzyme in vitro, but the H4 form was stable. It is suggested that lysosomal enzymes are involved in bringing about the observed changes in lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns in vivo.     

The purification of bovine cathepsin B1 and its mode of action on bovine collagens

1. Cathepsin B1 was isolated from bovine spleen by autolysis, (NH(4))(2)SO(4) fractionation and chromatography on Amberlite IRC-50. Two isoenzyme forms were purified to homogeneity by chromatography on CM-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex. 2. A collagenolytic cathepsin was separated from cathepsin B1 during purification. The remaining collagenolytic activity of the purified cathepsin-B1 isoenzymes was no greater than 0.3 unit/unit of cathepsin B1 compared with about 5.0 unit/unit of cathepsin B1 in the autolysed spleen extracts. 3. The cathepsin B1 isoenzymes lowered the viscosity of gelatin at 37 degrees C. Optimum activity was at pH4-5. 4. At 28 degrees C the interchain cross-links in native tropocollagen were cleaved most effectively at pH4-5. Insoluble tendon collagen was digested at pH3.5 and 28 degrees C to yield mainly alpha-chain components, with the loss of a short N-terminal sequence. 5. Electron-microscope studies of collagen fibrils showed that cathepsin B1 caused longitudinal splitting and dissociation of the protofilaments. The effect was not general but occurred at selected sites. 6. The isoenzymes of cathepsin B1 cleaved the telopeptide region of calf skin tropocollagen between the lysine-derived cross-link and the triple helix. The CB1 peptide fragments obtained from enzyme-degraded alpha1 chains were hydrolysed at Gly(12)-Ile(13) and Ser(14)-Val(15). The residual alpha2 CB1 peptides were hydrolysed at Ala(8)-Asp(9) and Asp(9)-Phe(10).