Isolation and properties of malate dehydrogenase from Meso-and thermophilic bacteria

A scheme of purification of malate dehydrogenase from Macromonas bipunctata strain D-405 and Vulcanithermus medioatlanticus DSM 14978^T was developed. This scheme was used to obtain electrophoretically homogeneous enzyme preparations of the mesophilic bacterium M. bipunctata (specific activity, 26.9 ± 0.8 U/mg protein; yield, 10.9%) and the thermophilic bacterium V. medioatlanticus (specific activity, 5.0 ± 0.2 U/mg protein; yield, 19.2%). Using these high-purity enzymatic preparations, the physicochemical and regulatory properties of malate dehydrogenase were studied and the differences in kinetic characteristics and thermal stability of the preparations were determined.     

Malate Dehydrogenase from the Thermophilic Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulcanithermus medioatlanticus</Emphasis>

Thermostable dimeric malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was isolated from the microorganism of hydrothermal vents Vulcanithermus medioatlanticus. The enzyme was electrophoretically homogeneous and possessed the specific activity of 6.9 U/mg. The large molecular weight of the subunits (55 kD) is likely to provide the rigidity of the enzyme structure (the activation energy of the enzymatic reaction is 32.6 kJ/mol). The thermophilic MDH differs little from the mesophilic enzyme in terms of kinetic and regulatory characteristics.     

Subcellular localization and properties of glyoxylate cycle enzymes in the liver of rats with alloxan diabetes.

Key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle (isocitrate lyase and malate synthetase) were found in the liver and kidney of rats suffering from alloxan diabetes. The activities of these enzymes in the liver were 0.080 and 0.0430 U/mg protein, respectively. Isocitrate lyase activity in the kidney was 0.030 U/mg protein, and that of the malate synthetase was 0.018 U/mg protein. Peroxisomal localization of the enzymes was shown. A novel malate dehydrogenase isoform was found in a liver of rats suffering from the alloxan diabetes. The isocitrate lyase was isolated by selective (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and DEAE-Toyopearl chromatography. The resulting enzyme preparation had specific activity 6.1 U/mg protein, corresponding to 76.25-fold purification with 32.6% yield. The isocitrate lyase was found to follow the Michaelis--Menten kinetic scheme (Km for isocitrate, 0.08 mM) and to be competitively inhibited by glucose 1-phosphate (Ki = 1. 25 mM), succinate (Ki = 1.75 mM), and citrate (Ki = 1.0 mM); the pH optimum of the enzyme was 7.5 in Tris-HCl buffer.     

NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase from bovine adrenal cortex cytoplasm. Isolation and properties

The NADP-dependent decarboxylating malate dehydrogenase was isolated from the cytoplasmic fraction of bovine adrenal cortex and purified 3530-fold by 3-fold ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 with subsequent two-fold gel filtration through Toyopearl HW-55. The specific activity of homogeneous enzyme preparations was equal to 60 U/mg protein with a 30% yield. The enzyme molecular weight as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-20 was 155000. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate malate dehydrogenase dissociated into two subunits with Mr 77000. The Arrhenius plot for the reaction rate showed a break at 30 degrees C. The values of activation energy and temperature coefficient above and below the breakpoint were equal to 45049 and 147188 J X mol-1; 1.68 and 2.63, respectively. Within the temperature range of 26-40 degrees C, malate dehydrogenase exhibited hyperbolic kinetics with respect to the substrate. At 30 degrees C, Km for malate was equal to 250 microM, whereas at 40 degrees C it was 130 microM. The curve for the dependence of the initial reaction velocity versus NADP concentration was S-shaped. The Hill coefficient was 1.4, which testifies to positive cooperativity of NADP interaction with malate dehydrogenase.     

Physicochemical,catalytic, and regulatory properties of malate dehydrogenase from Rhodovulum steppense bacteria,strain A-20s

The physicochemical, regulatory, and kinetic properties of malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) from haloalkaliphilic purple nonsulfur Rhodovulum steppense bacteria, strain A-20s, were studied. The malate dehydrogenase (MDH) preparation with a specific activity of 3.775 ± 0.113 U/mg protein was obtained in an electrophoretically homogeneous state using multistep purification. Using homogenous preparations, the molecular weight and the Michaelis constant of the enzyme were determined; the effects of metal ions, the temperature effect, and the thermal stability of the MDH were studied. The dimer structure of the enzyme was demonstrated by DS-Na-electrophoresis.     

Malic acid production by an electrochemical reduction system combined with the use of diaphorase and methylviologen

A regenerating reaction combined with the use of native malate dehydrogenase, native diaphorase, methylviologen, NAD, oxalacetic acid as the substrate and lipoamide as a stabilizer was carried out in the presence of electrolysis. Consequently, malic acid was efficiently produced from oxalacetic acid in the regenerating reaction. A glassy carbon bead electrode was used as a cathode. Twenty four milliamperes were passed at a rotation speed of 500 rpm, 29.8 +/- 0.3 degrees C and -1.0 V. It was found that lipoamide has a stabilizing effect on malate dehydrogenase and diaphorase. Low concentration (50 muM) of NAD was also effective for the stabilization of malate dehydrogenase. NADH regeneration activity based on malic acid production rate was 4.7 U/mg of the enzyme protein of the commercial diaphorase preparation. The current efficiency was more than 74%, compared with the theoretical yield, in the presence of enough oxalacetic acid.     

Isolation,Purification, and Properties of Peroxisomal Malate Dehydrogenase from Maize Mesophyll

Peroxisomal malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) with a specific activity of 533 U/mg (144-fold purification) and a yield of 5% was obtained in a homogeneous state by a purification scheme including sucrose gradient centrifugation from maize mesophyll. The Michaelis constants for the forward and reverse reactions were determined to be 11.6 mM and 256 μM, and the pH optimum was 9.5 and 9.0, respectively. Analysis of the molecular weight of the native enzyme and its subunits showed that the peroxisomal malate dehydrogenase was a homodimer. It was established that the isolated and purified isoform of the enzyme had a higher affinity for malate and NAD⁺ in comparison with the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic isoforms.     

Mechanism of malate dehydrogenase isoform formation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphaerotilus natans</Emphasis> D-507 under different cultivation conditions

Electrophoretically homogenous preparations of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isoforms of the bacteria Sphaerotilus natans D-507 with specific activity 7.46 U/mg and 5.74 U/mg with respect to protein concentration have been obtained. The dimeric isoform of the enzyme was shown to function under organotrophic growth conditions, whereas the tetrameric isoform was induced under mixotrophic cultivation conditions. PCR-analysis revealed a single gene encoding the malate dehydrogenase molecule. The topography of the MDH isoform surface was studied by atomic-force microscopy, and a 3D-structure of the enzyme was obtained. Spectraphotometric analysis data allowed us to suggest that stabilization of the tetrameric form of MDH is due to additional bounds implicated in the quaternary structure formation.     

Protective effects of gabexate mesilate (FOY) against impaired pancreatic energy metabolism in rat acute pancreatitis induced by caerulein.

A supramaximal dose of caerulein (5 micrograms/kg.hr for 3.5 hours) caused edematous acute pancreatitis in rats, characterized by portal hyperamylasemia (32 +/- 3 U/ml) and pancreatic edema (pancreatic water content, 86 +/- 2%) [control group: amylase, 8 +/- 1 U/ml; water content, 74 +/- 2%]. In this model, increased portal levels of malate dehydrogenase (148 +/- 25 U/ml), increased mitochondrial fragility and impaired pancreatic energy charge level (0.77 +/- 0.05) were also observed [control group: malate dehydrogenase, 54 +/- 11 U/ml; energy charge level, 0.94 +/- 0.03]. Administration of gabexate mesilate, FOY, in a dose of 50 mg/kg.hr for 2 hours before and during the caerulein infusion had a significant protective effect against these pancreatic injuries (portal amylase level, 11 +/- 2 U/ml; MDH level, 72 +/- 19 U/ml; E.C., 0.89 +/- 0.02; water content, 76 +/- 2%). FOY in a dose of 20 mg/kg.hr was partially protective. These results indicate that subcellular organelle fragility and malfunction are closely related to the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and suggest the usefulness of FOY in the treatment of this disease.     

Isolation, Purification, and Properties of Malate Dehydrogenase from Sulfur Bacterium Beggiatoa leptomitiformis

Malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37) from the bacterium Beggiatoa leptomitiformis was isolated and purified 123-fold using a five-step purification procedure including the enzyme extraction, ammonium sulfate protein fractionation, gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, and gel chromatography. The enzyme was homogenous according to the electrophoresis data; its activity was 20.43 U/mg protein. This malate dehydrogenase is a homotetramer (Mr = 172 kDa). The catalytic and thermodynamic properties, as well as the analysis of the published data suggest that the tetrameric structure of the enzyme allows it to participate in constructive metabolism supplying the cell with organic acids as a source of carbon.     

Human thrombins. Production, evaluation, and properties of alpha-thrombin.

Human alpha-thrombin, the thromboplastin activation product of prothrombin with high clotting and esterase activity, was produced from Cohn Fraction III paste. The procedure started with 0.4 to 3.2 kg of frozen paste and was completed in 2 or 3 days. Some 23 g of thrombin were recorded for 65 quantitated preparations made from 11 lots of Fraction III paste. These preparations were obtained at protein concentrations of 3.9 +/- 1.3 mg/ml with a yield of 340 +/- 110 mg/kg of paste, which represented 48 +/- 14% of the clotting potential extracted as prothrombin. They had specific clotting activities of 2.8 +/- 0.4 U.S. (NIH) units/microng of protein and titrated to 88 +/- 8% active with p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidinobenzoate (NPGB). Those (N - 29) examined by labeling with [14C]diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (iPr2P-F) and electrophoresing in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels were found to contain only (N = 4) or predominantly alpha-thrombin (97 +/- 3%) and corresponding amounts of ists degradation product, beta-thrombin (2.6 +/- 3.1%). No plasmin(ogen), prothrombin complex factors (II, VII, IX, IXalpha, X, Xalpha), or prothrombin fragments were detected in representative preparations. As produced in 0.75 M NaCl, pH approximately 6, thrombin was stable for approximately 1 week at 4 degrees and for greater than 1 year at less than or equal to 50 degrees; freeze-dried thrombin stored at 4 degrees for greater than 1 year displayed stable clotting activity and no vial to vial variation, permitting its use for reference purposes. Human thrombin generated by Taipan snake venom activation was compared with that produced by rapid thromboplastin activation: after treatment with [14C]iPr2P-F, greater than 95% of the label in both thrombins migrated at the same rate during electrophoresis in SDS; identical pairs of NH2-terminal residues were released in three consecutive Edman degradation cycles.     

Schistosoma mansoni: Purification and characterization of malate dehydrogenases

Isoelectric focusing of a homogenate of Schistosoma mansoni, followed by malate dehydrogenase-specific staining, showed the presence of two major and five minor malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes (EC 1.1.1.37), with isoelectric points ranging from 7.3 to 9.5. The malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes were purified by gel filtration, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE- and CM-cellulose. The isoenzymes could be differentiated by their susceptibility to substrate inhibition. No differences in the Michaelis-Menten constants for substrate were found. One of the isoenzymes is inhibited by 5′-AMP. Further purification of this particular isoenzyme was achieved by affinity chromatography on 5′-AMP-Sepharose 4B. Analysis after subcellular fractionation indicated a mitochondrial origin for this isoenzyme. The mitochondrial isoenzyme (at a recovery of 80%) was purified 218-fold compared to the crude soluble extract, and contained about 40% of the total malate dehydrogenase activity. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 65,500 and showed absolute specificity for l-malic acid, NAD, and NADH. The final preparation has a specific activity of 451 U/mg protein. Physicochemical studies, including binding constants, substrate inhibition, thermostability, and pH optima, demonstrated differences between the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic enzymes. A role for malate dehydrogenase in Schistosoma mansoni metabolism is discussed.     

Isoformes of Malate Dehydrogenase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodovulum Steppense</Emphasis> A-20s Grown Chemotrophically under Aerobic Conditions

Three malate dehydrogenase isoforms (65-, 60-, and 71-fold purifications) with specific activities of 4.23, 3.88, and 4.56 U/mg protein were obtained in an electrophoretically homogenous state from Rhodоvulum steppense bacteria strain A-20s chemotrophically grown under aerobic conditions. The physicochemical and kinetic properties of malate dehydrogenase isoforms were determined. The molecular weight and the Michaelis constants were determined; the effect of hydrogen ions on the forward and reverse MDH reaction was studied. The results of the study demonstrated that the enzyme consists of subunits; the molecular weight of subunits was determined by SDS-PAGE.     

Molecular cloning of groESL locus, and purification and characterization of chaperonins, GroEL and GroES, from Bacillus brevis

The groESL locus of a protein-hypersecreting bacterium, Bacillus brevis, was cloned by PCR using primers designed based on the DNA sequence of a B. subtilis homolog. GroEL protein was purified to apparent homogeneity and its ATPase activity was characterized: it hydrolyzed ATP, CTP, and TTP in this order of reaction rate, and its specific activity for ATP was 0.1 micromole/min/mg protein. Purified GroEL forms a tetradecamer. GroEL was estimated to contain 22% alpha-helix, 24% beta-sheet, and 19% turn structures, by CD measurement. GroES protein was also highly purified to examine its chaperonin activity. GroEL protected from thermal inactivation of and showed refolding-promoting activity for malate dehydrogenase, strictly depending on the presence of ATP and GroES.     

Evidence for succinate production by reduction of fumarate during hypoxia in isolated adult rat heart cells

It has been demonstrated that perfusion of myocardium with glutamic acid or tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates during hypoxia or ischemia, improves cardiac function, increases ATP levels, and stimulates succinate production. In this study isolated adult rat heart cells were used to investigate the mechanism of anaerobic succinate formation and examine beneficial effects attributed to ATP generated by this pathway. Myocytes incubated for 60 min under hypoxic conditions showed a slight loss of ATP from an initial value of 21 +/- 1 nmol/mg protein, a decline of CP from 42 to 17 nmol/mg protein and a fourfold increase in lactic acid production to 1.8 +/- 0.2 mumol/mg protein/h. These metabolite contents were not altered by the addition of malate and 2-oxoglutarate to the incubation medium nor were differences in cell viability observed; however, succinate release was substantially accelerated to 241 +/- 53 nmol/mg protein. Incubation of cells with [U-14C]malate or [2-U-14C]oxoglutarate indicates that succinate is formed directly from malate but not from 2-oxoglutarate. Moreover, anaerobic succinate formation was rotenone sensitive. We conclude that malate reduction to succinate occurs via the reverse action of succinate dehydrogenase in a coupled reaction where NADH is oxidized (and FAD reduced) and ADP is phosphorylated. Furthermore, by transaminating with aspartate to produce oxaloacetate, 2-oxoglutarate stimulates cytosolic malic dehydrogenase activity, whereby malate is formed and NADH is oxidized. In the form of malate, reducing equivalents and substrate are transported into the mitochondria where they are utilized for succinate synthesis.     

Malate dehydrogenase in phototrophic purple bacteria: purification, molecular weight, and quaternary structure.

The citric acid cycle enzyme malate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from the nonsulfur purple bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodomicrobium vannielii, and Rhodocyclus purpureus. Malate dehydrogenase was purified from each species by either a single- or a two-step protocol: triazine dye affinity chromatography was the key step in purification of malate dehydrogenase in all cases. Purification of malate dehydrogenase resulted in a 130- to 240-fold increase in malate dehydrogenase specific activity, depending on the species, with recoveries ranging from 30 to 70%. Homogeneity of malate dehydrogenase preparations from the four organisms was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; a single protein band was observed in purified preparations by both techniques. The molecular weight of native malate dehydrogenases was determined by four independent methods and estimated to be in the range of 130,000 to 140,000 for the enzyme from R. capsulatus, R. rubrum, and R. vannielii and 57,000 for that from R. purpureus. It is concluded that malate dehydrogenase from R. capsulatus, R. rubrum, and R. vannielii is a tetramer composed of four identical subunits, while the enzyme from R. purpureus is a dimer composed of two identical subunits.     

Responses of vascular endothelial oxidant metabolism to lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Quantification of intracellular and extracellular levels and production rates of reactive oxygen species is crucial to understanding their contribution to tissue pathophysiology. We measured basal rates of oxidant production and the activity of xanthine oxidase, proposed to be a key source of O2- and H2O2, in endothelial cells. Then we examined the influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and lipopolysaccharide on endothelial cell oxidant metabolism, in response to the proposal that these inflammatory mediators initiate vascular injury in part by stimulating endothelial xanthine oxidase-mediated production of O2- and H2O2. We determined a basal intracellular H2O2 concentration of 32.8 +/- 10.7 pM in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells by kinetic analysis of aminotriazole-mediated inactivation of endogenous catalase. Catalase activity was 5.72 +/- 1.61 U/mg cell protein and glutathione peroxidase activity was much lower, 8.13 +/- 3.79 mU/mg protein. Only 0.48 +/- 0.18% of total glucose metabolism occurred via the pentose phosphate pathway. The rate of extracellular H2O2 release was 75 +/- 12 pmol.min-1.mg cell protein-1. Intracellular xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase activity determined by pterin oxidation was 2.32 +/- 0.75 microU/mg with 47.1 +/- 11.7% in the oxidase form. Intracellular purine levels of 1.19 +/- 1.04 nmol hypoxanthine/mg protein, 0.13 +/- 0.17 nmol xanthine/mg protein, and undetectable uric acid were consistent with a low activity of xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase. Exposure of endothelial cells to 1000 U/ml tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or 1 microgram/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 1-12 h did not alter basal endothelial cell oxidant production or xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase activity. These results do not support a casual role for H2O2 in the direct endothelial toxicity of TNF and LPS.     

The aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE) in relation to the ethanol formation in Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW200

A bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase gene (adhE) from Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW200 was identified and cloned. To unambiguously characterize the activity of AdhE, the recombinant protein was purified. The purified AdhE exhibited high enzymatic activity attributed to aldehyde dehydrogenase (11.0+/-0.3U/mg) and low alcohol dehydrogenase activity (2.6+/-0.2U/mg). Analysis of adhE homologous expression in T. ethanolicus showed that AdhE affected ethanol production.     

A new approach to continuous counter-current protein chromatography: Direct purification of malate dehydrogenase from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae homogenate as a model system

A novel technique for protein chromatography has been developed, which can be used to extract proteins from particulate-containing solutions (such as fermentation broths or preparations of disrupted cells) on a continuous basis, and delivers clarified streams of purified product. Adsorbents deployed in this type of contactor are based on PVA-coated perfluorocarbons derivitized with affinity ligands such as triazine dyes. In this article, we describe the application of this equipment for the continuous purification of malate dehydrogenase from an unclarified homogenate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a Procion Red HE-7B-derivitized adsorbent. Although operating conditions were not optimized to produce a product of maximized purification factor, concentration, and yield, we have shown that MDH can be purified continuously in 78% yield at a rate of 70 U/min, with a purification factor of approximately 10. This corresponds to specific productivity of approximately 0.35 U/min per milliliter of settled adsorbent, a higher specific productivity than was feasible with the same adsorbent using expanded bed adsorption (EBA). (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 53: 427-441, 1997.     

Limited proteolysis of inactive tetrameric chloroplast NADP-malate dehydrogenase produces active dimers

Carboxy-terminal amino acids of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.82) from pea chloroplasts were removed by treatment with carboxypeptidase Y. This results in the activation of the inactive oxidized enzyme, while activation by light in vivo is thought to occur via reduction of an intrasubunit disulfide bridge. After proteolytic activation the oxidized enzyme had a specific activity of 100 U/mg protein, which is 50% of the maximal activity of the control enzyme in the reduced state. When the truncated enzyme was reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT), the specific activity was further increased to 1200 U/mg. While the native enzyme is composed of four identical subunits of 38,900 Da, the truncated malate dehydrogenase forms dimers composed of two subunits of 38,000 Da. No further change of molecular mass or activity was noticed subsequent to prolonged incubation of native NADP-malate dehydrogenase with carboxypeptidase Y for several days. When the enzyme is denatured by 2 M guanidine-HCl, the proteolytic activation proceeds more rapidly, but only transiently. The truncated enzyme is less accessible to activation by reduced thioredoxin, but the stimulation of activity by DTT alone is more rapid than that of the native enzyme. These results indicate that only a small carboxy-terminal peptide of native NADP-malate dehydrogenase from pea chloroplasts is accessible to proteolytic degradation and that this peptide is involved in the regulation of activity, tetramer formation, and thioredoxin binding. While the pH optimum for catalytic activity of the intact reduced enzyme is at pH 8.0-8.5, it is shifted to more acidic values upon proteolysis of NADP-malate dehydrogenase. At pH values below 8 the reduced truncated enzyme exhibits substrate inhibition by oxaloacetate.