The disproportionation of glyoxylate by lactate dehydrogenase

Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) catalyzes the NAD-dependent oxidation to (oxalate) and reduction (to glycollate) of glyoxylate. The kinetics of this disproportionation are in accord with the usual reaction pathway of lactate dehydrogenase:substrate inhibition with appropriate pH dependence occurs; a steady state in the ratio of NADH to NAD⁺ is set up during the reaction, has the expected dependence on pH, and is independent of the initial glyoxylate, coenzyme, and enzyme concentration. At pH 7 the lactate dehydrogenase-NADH complex is about fivefold more likely to react with and reduce glyoxylate (at a concentration of 100 mm) than to dissociate to produce free NADH, and the ratio of the fraction of the enzyme-NADH complex which dissociates to the fraction which reacts with and reduces glyoxylate varies with glyoxylate concentration and with pH in a manner in agreement with the normal reaction pathway of the enzyme. With all concentrations of glyoxylate and over the pH range 7–9.6 both free (not enzyme bound) NAD⁺ and free NADH are formed in the steady state of the disproportionation. From these results it is apparent that lactate dehydrogenase, like alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1), catalyzes a disproportionation within the bounds of its normal kinetic reaction pathway.