NADP regulates the light activation of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase

The chloroplastic NADP-dependent malate-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.82) activity is modulated by light and dark. The enzyme is activated upon illumination of intact or broken chloroplasts or by incubation with dithiothreitol, whereas dark has the opposite effect. The present communication shows an additional regulation of the light modulation: in isolated intact pea chloroplasts, light activation was inhibited in the presence of electron acceptors such as sodium bicarbonate, 3-phosphoglycerate or oxaloacetate, which consume NADPH₂ and produce NADP. With broken chloroplasts, addition of NADP resulted in a pronounced lag phase of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase light activation, while NADPH₂ was without any effect. The extent of the lag phase was correlated to the amount of NADP added. When light was replaced by dithiotreitol, the inhibition effect was even more pronounced. It was assumed that NADP inhibits the modulation reaction directly: reduced thioredoxin, a potent mediator of activation by light, or dithiotreitol appear to counteract NADP in a competitive manner. The results indicate a physiological role of NADP in the regulation of chloroplastic NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase which is capable of removing electrons from the chloroplast, via oxaloacetate reduction and malate export. Thus an NADP concentration sufficient for continuous photosynthetic electron flow may be achieved.     

Analysis of the kinetic mechanism of halophilic NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase

The amination of 2-oxoglutarate catalyzed by NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.4, L-glutamate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (deaminating)) from Halobacterium halobium has been analyzed by initial rate, graphical analysis, and product and competitive inhibition studies. Initial rate and graphical analysis reveal that a B term (representing 2-oxoglutarate) is not statistically necessary for an initial rate equation. However, the absence of a B term does not distinguish between ordered and random binding of NADPH and ammonia. The patterns of product inhibition by NADP+ and L-glutamate, and competitive inhibition by hydroxylamine and succinate permit deduction of the kinetic mechanism as ordered, with NADPH, 2-oxoglutarate and ammonia added in that order, and L-glutamate release preceding NADP+ release.     

Expression of human mitochondrial NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase during lymphocyte activation

In the process of identifying genes involved in optimization of lymphocyte activation, we have cloned the human mitochondrial NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (mNADP-IDH) cDNA. The cDNA and its deduced amino acid (AA) sequence had a high degree of homology with those of the porcine and bovine. The heart and muscle had the highest constitutive expression of the gene. The expression of steady-state mRNA in the resting T and B lymphocytes was low but was induced after mitogen stimulation. The mRNA levels peaked around 48 h and remained elevated at 72 h. At the protein level, the micothondrial but not cytosolic NADP-IDH activity was augmented after the mitogen stimulation. There was no cell cycle-dependent fluctuation of mNADP-IDH expression in synchronized Jurkat cells. In T and B cells, rapamycin (RAPA) could repress the mitogen-stimulated mNADP-IDH expression, although most of the early or late phase activation-related genes including a G-protein β subunit-related gene H12.3 were not affected by the drug. The restricted expression of the gene in certain tissues and the activation-related expression in lymphocytes suggest that this gene might be necessary for optimal functions in heart, muscle, and the activated lymphocytes. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Preliminary crystallographic studies of glycosomal glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Crystals of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase from the glycosome of Trypanosoma brucei brucei have been grown, and a partial data set has been collected using synchrotron radiation. The crystals diffract initially to 2.3 A resolution. The space group is P2(1)2(1)2, with cell dimensions a = 135 A, b = 255 A, c = 115 A, so there are probably at least two tetramers in the asymmetric unit.     

Half-of-the sites reactivity in the catalytic mechanism of yeast glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Novick &; Weiner (1957) proposed a model in which induction of the lac operon with suboptimal concentrations of inducer generates a population containing both uninduced and fully induced cells. The latter arise as cells acquire the galactoside transport system, thus initiating an autocatalytic cycle of induction since this permease can transport an inducer for its own synthesis. Evidence in favor of this model has been obtained from direct measurements of the enzyme content of individual cells, using a fluorogenic assay sensitive to one molecule of β-d-galactosidase. Fully induced cells, at the predicted frequency, were found in suboptimally induced populations of wild type strains, and of a strain lacking thiogalactoside transacetylase, but not of a strain lacking galactoside permease. In the wild type, the frequency of cells with an enzyme content intermediate between uninduced and fully induced levels was greater than the frequency predicted for cells within the autocatalytic cycle of induction. According to the model, then, in some of these cells, induction of β-d-galactosidase has occurred without formation of the permease necessary to initiate accumulation of inducer.     

Increase in chloroplastic thiol groups by SO2 and its effect on light modulation of NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

In broken spinach chloroplasts the total amount of thiol groups is about 3.7 mol mg^-1 chlorophyll. Two thirds are represented by the masked form (which is only titratable after unfolding of the protein). Of the free groups, those reacting with NBD·Cl (1.2–2.0 mol mg^-1 chlorophyll) seem to be undergoing oxidation more readily than those reacting with DTNB (1.0 mol mg^-1 chlorophyll). SO₂ application causes a maximal increase of 25% in free thiols, and doubles the amount of the masked thiols. The light triggered increase in SH, which starts at an elevated level, runs parallel to that of the controls. SO₂ application of 1.8 mg m^-3 (=28 nmol l^-1) for 1 h does not affect the dark level of NADP-GPD but enhances the light modulation by increasing the ratio of activation. This enhancement is explained by an increase in masked thiol groups during the preceding fumigation period.Abbreviations DTNB 5,5 dithiobis-2-nitrobenzene-2-oxa-1,3 diazole - NBD·Cl 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzene-2-oxa-1,3 diazole - PCMB p-chloromercuribenzoate - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate - NADP-GPD NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13) - HEPES N-2-Hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid - MES 2[N-Morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid - PGA 3-phosphoglyceric acid     

Comparison of the characteristics of the immobilized and solubilized glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase of human erythrocyte membranes.

We studied human erythrocyte membrane associated glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase in order to determine if a biological form of immobilization of the enzyme altered its kinetic properties. The results indicated that the partially purified solubilized glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase did not differ, with regard to Km for substrates or pH activity profile, from the same enzyme which was immobilized on the inner face of the erythrocyte plasma membrane.