Glutamate Dehydrogenases: The Why and How of Coenzyme Specificity

NAD⁺ and NADP⁺, chemically similar and with almost identical standard oxidation–reduction potentials, nevertheless have distinct roles, NAD⁺ serving catabolism and ATP generation whereas NADPH is the biosynthetic reductant. Separating these roles requires strict specificity for one or the other coenzyme for most dehydrogenases. In many organisms this holds also for glutamate dehydrogenases (GDH), NAD⁺-dependent for glutamate oxidation, NADP⁺-dependent for fixing ammonia. In higher animals, however, GDH has dual specificity. It has been suggested that GDH in mitochondria reacts only with NADP(H), the NAD⁺ reaction being an in vitro artefact. However, contrary evidence suggests mitochondrial GDH not only reacts with NAD⁺ but maintains equilibrium using the same pool as accessed by β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. Another complication is the presence of an energy-linked dehydrogenase driving NADP⁺ reduction by NADH, maintaining the coenzyme pools at different oxidation–reduction potentials. Its coexistence with GDH makes possible a futile cycle, control of which is not yet properly explained. Structural studies show NAD⁺-dependent, NADP⁺-dependent and dual-specificity GDHs are closely related and a few site-directed mutations can reverse specificity. Specificity for NAD⁺ or for NADP⁺ has probably emerged repeatedly during evolution, using different structural solutions on different occasions. In various GDHs the P7 position in the coenzyme-binding domain plays a key role. However, whereas in other dehydrogenases an acidic P7 residue usually hydrogen bonds to the 2′- and 3′-hydroxyls, dictating NAD⁺ specificity, among GDHs, depending on detailed conformation of surrounding residues, an acidic P7 may permit binding of NAD⁺ only, NADP⁺ only, or in higher animals both.     

NADP+-specific 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in denitrifying Pseudomonas species

Several denitrifying Pseudomonas strains contained an NADP⁺-specific 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, in contrast to an NAD⁺-specific pyruvate dehydrogenase, if the cells were grown anaerobically with aromatic compounds. With non-aromatic substrates or after aerobic growth the coenzyme specificity of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase changed to NAD⁺-specificity. The reaction stoichiometry and the apparent K _m-values of the enriched enzymes were determined: pyruvate 0.5 mM, coenzyme A 0.05 mM, NAD⁺ 0.25 mM; 2-oxoglutarate 0.6 mM, coenzyme A 0.05 mM, NADP⁺ 0.03 mM. Isocitrate dehydrogenase was NADP⁺-specific. The findings suggest that these strains contained at least two lipoamide dehydrogenases, one NAD⁺-specific, the other NADP⁺-specific.     

Alteration of coenzyme specificity in halophilic NAD(P) glucose dehydrogenase by site-directed mutagenesis

Structural analysis of glucose dehydrogenase from Haloferax mediterranei revealed that the adenosine 2′-phosphate of NADP⁺ was stabilized by the side chains of Arg207 and Arg208. To investigate the structural determinants for coenzyme specificity, several mutants involving residues Gly206, Arg207 and Arg208 were engineered and kinetically characterized. The single mutants G206D and R207I were less efficient with NADP⁺ than the wild type, and the double and triple mutants G206D/R207I and G206D/R207I/R208N showed no activity with NADP⁺.In the single mutant G206D, the relation k_cat/K_NAD⁺ was 1.6 times higher than in the wild type, resulting in an enzyme that preferred NAD⁺ over NADP⁺. The single mutation was sufficient to modify coenzyme specificity, whereas other dehydrogenases usually required more than one or two mutations to change coenzyme specificity. However, the highest reaction rates were reached with the double mutant G206D/R207I and with coenzyme NAD⁺, where the k_cat was 1.6 times higher than the k_cat of the wild-type enzyme with NADP⁺. However, catalytic efficiency with NAD⁺ was lower, as the K_m value for coenzyme was 77 times higher than the wild type with NADP⁺.     

Engineering of a matched pair of xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase for xylose fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for xylose fermentation has often relied on insertion of a heterologous pathway consisting of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) NAD(P)H-dependent xylose reductase (XR) and NAD⁺-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH). Low ethanol yield, formation of xylitol and other fermentation by-products are seen for many of the S. cerevisiae strains constructed in this way. This has been ascribed to incomplete coenzyme recycling in the steps catalyzed by XR and XDH. Despite various protein-engineering efforts to alter the coenzyme specificity of XR and XDH individually, a pair of enzymes displaying matched utilization of NAD(H) and NADP(H) was not previously reported. We have introduced multiple site-directed mutations in the coenzyme-binding pocket of Galactocandida mastotermitis XDH to enable activity with NADP⁺, which is lacking in the wild-type enzyme. We describe four enzyme variants showing activity for xylitol oxidation by NADP⁺ and NAD⁺. One of the XDH variants utilized NADP⁺ about 4 times more efficiently than NAD⁺. This is close to the preference for NADPH compared with NADH in mutants of Candida tenuis XR. Compared to an S. cerevisiae-reference strain expressing the genes for the wild-type enzymes, the strains comprising the gene encoding the mutated XDH in combination a matched XR mutant gene showed up to 50% decreased glycerol yield without increase in ethanol during xylose fermentation.     

A single‐point mutation enables lactate dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis to utilize NAD+ and NADP+ as cofactor

The NAD⁺‐dependent lactate dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis (BsLDH) catalyzes the enantioselective reduction of pyruvate to lactate. BsLDH is highly specific to NAD⁺ and exhibits only a low activity with NADP⁺ as cofactor. Based on the high activity and good stability of LDHs, these enzymes have been frequently used for the regeneration of NAD⁺. While an application in the regeneration of NADP⁺ is not sufficient due to the cofactor preference of the BsLDH. In addition, NADP⁺‐dependent LDHs have not yet been found in nature. Therefore, a structure‐based approach was performed to predict amino acids involved in the cofactor specificity. Methods of site‐saturation mutagenesis were applied to vary these amino acids, with the aim to alter the cofactor specificity of the BsLDH. Five constructed libraries were screened for improved NADP⁺ acceptance. The mutant V39R was identified to have increased activity with NADP⁺ relative to the wild type. V39R was purified and biochemically characterized. V39R showed excellent kinetic properties with NADP(H) and NAD(H), for instance the maximal specific activity with NADPH was enhanced 100‐fold to 90.8 U/mg. Furthermore, a 249‐fold increased catalytic efficiency was observed. Surprisingly, the activity with NADH was also significantly improved. Overall, we were able to successfully apply V39R in the regeneration of NADP⁺ in an enzyme‐coupled approach combined with the NADP⁺‐dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus kefir. We demonstrate for the first time an application of an LDH in the regeneration of NADP⁺.     

Isolation and regulatory properties of two glutamate dehydrogenases from the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum.

Two distinct glutamate dehydrogenases are present in amoebae of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. One enzyme has been extracted from a crude mitochondrial fraction, and the other from an extramitochondrial cytoplasmic fraction. Both enzymes have been partially purified and characterized. The mitochondrial enzyme can utilize both NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ as coenzyme, while the extramitochondrial is NAD⁺ specific. When the mitondrial enzyme is assayed in the presence of either a rate-limiting or saturating concentration of glutamate, its activity is stimulated by both AMP and ADP and is inhibited by ATP. When the extramitochondrial enzyme is assayed in the presence of a rate-limiting concentration of glutamate, its activity is sensitive to modulation by a number of intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and is inhibited by ADP, ATP, GTP, and CTP.     

A one-step pmr determination of hydrogen transfer stereospecificity of NADP+-linked oxidoreductases

• 1.1. A simple, facile one-step method has been devised to measure the stereospecificity of NADP⁺-linked oxidoreductases. The procedure involves coupling the test enzymes to enzymes of known stereospecificity in the presence of deuterated substrates. The regenerated NADP⁺ in the coupled reactions is analyzed by PMR for its deuterium content at the carbon-4 position of the nicotinamide ring.
• 2.2. It is found that malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37). lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) and glycerate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.29) are A-side stereospecific whereas glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8) are B-side stereospecific.
• 3.3. Enzymes which can utilize both NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ have the same stereospecificity with respect to the coenzyme.

     

The ALDH21 gene found in lower plants and some vascular plants codes for a NADP+‐dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Lower plant species including some green algae, non‐vascular plants (bryophytes) as well as the oldest vascular plants (lycopods) and ferns (monilophytes) possess a unique aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene named ALDH21, which is upregulated during dehydration. However, the gene is absent in flowering plants. Here, we show that ALDH21 from the moss Physcomitrella patens codes for a tetrameric NADP⁺‐dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSALDH), which converts succinic semialdehyde, an intermediate of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt pathway, into succinate in the cytosol. NAD⁺ is a very poor coenzyme for ALDH21 unlike for mitochondrial SSALDHs (ALDH5), which are the closest related ALDH members. Structural comparison between the apoform and the coenzyme complex reveal that NADP⁺ binding induces a conformational change of the loop carrying Arg‐228, which seals the NADP⁺ in the coenzyme cavity via its 2′‐phosphate and α‐phosphate groups. The crystal structure with the bound product succinate shows that its carboxylate group establishes salt bridges with both Arg‐121 and Arg‐457, and a hydrogen bond with Tyr‐296. While both arginine residues are pre‐formed for substrate/product binding, Tyr‐296 moves by more than 1 Å. Both R121A and R457A variants are almost inactive, demonstrating a key role of each arginine in catalysis. Our study implies that bryophytes but presumably also some green algae, lycopods and ferns, which carry both ALDH21 and ALDH5 genes, can oxidize SSAL to succinate in both cytosol and mitochondria, indicating a more diverse GABA shunt pathway compared with higher plants carrying only the mitochondrial ALDH5.     

NAD(P)+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases in mitochondria purified from Picea abies seedlings

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) activities were measured in mitochondria isolated from aerial parts of 21-day-old spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) seedlings. Mitochondria were purified by two methods, involving continuous and discontinuous Percoll gradients. Whatever the method of purification, the mitochondrial outer membrane was about 69% intact, and the mitochondria contained very low cytosolic, chloroplastic and peroxisomal contaminations. Nevertheless, as judged by the recovery of fumarase activity, purification on a continuous 28% Percoll gradient gave the best yield in mitochondria, which exhibited a high degree of inner membrane intactness (91%). The purified mitochondria oxidized succinate and malate with good respiratory control and ADP/O ratios. The highest oxidation rate was obtained with succinate as substrate, and malate oxidation was improved (+ 60%) by addition of exogenous NAD⁺. Experiments using standard respiratory chain inhibitors indicated that, in spruce mitochondria, the alternative pathway was present. Both NAD⁺-isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.41) and NADP⁺-isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42) were present in the mitochondrial matrix fraction, and NAD⁺-IDH activity was about 2-fold higher than NADP⁺-IDH activity. The NAD⁺-IDH showed sigmoidal kinetics in response to isocitrate and standard Michaelis-Menten kinetics for NAD⁺ and Mg²⁺. The NADP⁺-IDH, in contrast, displayed lower K_m values. For NAD⁺-IDH the pH optimum was at 7.4, whereas NADP⁺-IDH exhibited a broad pH optimum between 8.3 and 9. In addition, NAD⁺-IDH was more thermolabile. Adenine nucleotides and 2-oxoglutarate were found to inhibit NAD(P)⁺-IDH activities only at high concentrations.     

Purification and properties of malic enzyme from Pseudomonas diminuta IFO-13182

A malic enzyme from a cell-free extract of Pseudomonas diminuta IFO-13182 was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by DEAE-Sepharose, Sephacryl, and Blue-Sepharose chromatographies. The purified enzyme required either NAD⁺ or NADP⁺ as a coenzyme. From the results of coenzyme specificity, the enzyme should be classified as l-malate: NAD⁺ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating) [EC 1.1.1.39]. The purified enzyme was most active at pH 7.5 and 50°C and was stable in the pH range from 7.0 to 9.0. The isoelectric point was pH 4.3. Its molecular weight was 680,000 by COSMOSIL 5-Diol high performance liquid gel filtration on chromatography and 65,000 by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This indicates that the enzyme consisted of 10 subunits. The malic enzyme activity with NADP⁺ was about twice that measured with NAD⁺.     

Metabolisme du γ-aminobutyrate chez Agaricus bisporus III. La succinate-semialdehyde:NAD(P)+ oxydoreductase

Metabolism of γ-Aminobutyrate in Agaricus bisporus. III. The Succinate-Semialdehyde: NAD (P)⁺ Oxidoreductase. The succinate-semialdehyde:NAD(P)⁺ oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.2.1.16) is responsible for the second step in the catabolism of γ-aminobutyrate: the irreversible enzymatic conversion of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinate. Succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase was extracted from mitochondrial fraction of fruit-bodies of Agaricus bisporus Lge. The mitochondrial pellet was sonicated and centrifuged at 110,000 g; the supernatant obtained was designated the “crude extract”. The enzyme was extremely unstable on storage, unless 1 mM EDTA and 20% glycerol were added. Kinetic studies were carried out at 30°C, and the formation of NADH or NADPH was followed by measuring increase of absorbance at 340 nm with a spectrophotometer. The dehydrogenase was completely inactive when the reaction was run in the absence of thiol and was more active with NAD⁺ than with NADP⁺. In the “crude extract” the activity with NADP⁺ had a pH optimum between 8.6 and 9.1 and the K_m values for SSA and NADP⁺ were 2.0 × 10^?4M and 1.4 × 10^?4M respectively. The pH optimum with NAD⁺ was found between 8.6 and 8.8 and the K_m value for SSA is 4.8 × 10^?4M and for NAD⁺ 2.0 × 10^?3M. With NAD⁺, the kinetic values (pH, K_m) of the “crude extract” chromatographed on hydroxylapatite were unchanged. Inhibition by thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) was uncompetitive with respect to NAD⁺, those by malate, ATP, ADP and NADPH non-competitive and that by NADH competitive. These results and the fact that activity with NAD⁺ was lost more slowly than with NADP⁺ indicate the possibility of at least two mitochondrial succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenases, even though the activities of this enzyme assayed with NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ respectively were not able to be separated from each other by hydroxylapatite column chromatography. Some speculations on the metabolic regulation of this dehydrogenase and considerations on the significance of these results in the physiology of respiration in Agaricus bisporus Lge are given.     

Design of a cytochrome P450BM3 reaction system linked by two‐step cofactor regeneration catalyzed by a soluble transhydrogenase and glycerol dehydrogenase

A cytochrome P450BM3‐catalyzed reaction system linked by a two‐step cofactor regeneration was investigated in a cell‐free system. The two‐step cofactor regeneration of redox cofactors, NADH and NADPH, was constructed by NAD⁺‐dependent bacterial glycerol dehydrogenase (GLD) and bacterial soluble transhydrogenase (STH) both from Escherichia coli. In the present system, the reduced cofactor (NADH) was regenerated by GLD from the oxidized cofactor (NAD⁺) using glycerol as a sacrificial cosubstrate. The reducing equivalents were subsequently transferred to NADP⁺ by STH as a cycling catalyst. The resultant regenerated NADPH was used for the substrate oxidation catalyzed by cytochrome P450BM3. The initial rate of the P450BM3‐catalyzed reaction linked by the two‐step cofactor regeneration showed a slight increase (approximately twice) when increasing the GLD units 10‐fold under initial reaction conditions. In contrast, a 10‐fold increase in STH units resulted in about a 9‐fold increase in the initial reaction rate, implying that transhydrogenation catalyzed by STH was the rate‐determining step. In the system lacking the two‐step cofactor regeneration, 34% conversion of 50 μM of a model substrate (p‐nitrophenoxydecanoic acid) was attained using 50 μM NADPH. In contrast, with the two‐step cofactor regeneration, the same amount of substrate was completely converted using 5 μM of oxidized cofactors (NAD⁺ and NADP⁺) within 1 h. Furthermore, a 10‐fold dilution of the oxidized cofactors still led to approximately 20% conversion in 1 h. These results indicate the potential of the combination of GLD and STH for use in redox cofactor recycling with catalytic quantities of NAD⁺ and NADP⁺. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Interaction of the enzyme with coenzymes and coenzyme analogs.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides utilizes either NAD⁺ or NADP⁺ as coenzyme. Kinetic studies showed that NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ interact with different enzyme forms (Olive, C., Geroch, M. E., and Levy, H. R. (1971) J. Biol. Chem.246, 2047–2057). In the present study the techniques of fluorescence quenching and fluorescence enhancement were used to investigate the interaction between Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and coenzymes. In addition, kinetic studies were performed to examine interaction between the enzyme and various coenzyme analogs. The maximum quenching of protein fluorescence is 5% for NADP⁺ and 50% for NAD⁺. The dissociation constant for NADP⁺, determined from fluorescence quenching measurements, is 3 μm, which is similar to the previously determined K_m of 5.7 μm and K_i of 5 μm. The dissociation constant for NAD⁺ is 2.5 mm, which is 24 times larger than the previously determined K_m of 0.106 mm. Glucose 1-phosphate, a substrate-competitive inhibitor, lowers the dissociation constant and maximum fluorescence quenching for NAD⁺ but not for NADP⁺. This suggests that glucose 6-phosphate may act similarly and thus play a role in enabling the enzyme to utilize NAD⁺ under physiological conditions. When NADPH binds to the enzyme its fluorescence is enhanced 2.3-fold. The enzyme was titrated with NADPH in the absence and presence of NAD⁺; binding of these two coenzymes is competitive. The dissociation constant for NADPH from these measurements is 24 μm; the previously determined K_i is 37.6 μm. The dissociation constant for NAD′ is 2.8 mm, in satisfactory agreement with the value obtained from protein fluorescence quenching measurements. Various compounds which resemble either the adenosine or the nicotinamide portion of the coenzyme structure are coenzyme-competitive inhibitors; 2′,5′-ADP, the most inhibitory analog tested, gives NADP⁺-competitive and NAD⁺-noncompetitive inhibition, consistent with the kinetic mechanism previously proposed. By using pairs of coenzyme-competitive inhibitors it was shown in kinetic studies that the two portions of the NAD⁺ structure cannot be accommodated on the enzyme simultaneously unies they are covalently linked. Fluorescence studies showed that there are both “buried” and “exposed” tryptophan residues in the enzyme structure.     

Preparation of 12-ketochenodeoxycholic acid from cholic acid using coimmobilized 12α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase with NADP cycling at high efficiency

12-Ketochenodeoxycholic acid, an essential intermediate in the synthesis of chenodeoxycholic acid, has been enzymatically prepared from cholic acid. The specific oxidation of the 12α-hydroxyl group of cholic acid with NADP⁺ was catalysed by 12α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (12α-hydroxysteroid: NAD⁺ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.176), and the regeneration of NADP⁺ was obtained through the glutamate dehydrogenase (l-glutamate:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, EC 1.4.1.4) catalysed reduction of α-ketoglutarate. The two enzymes were immobilized onto Sepharose CL-4B activated with tresyl chloride. The coimmobilized enzymes showed a cycling efficiency for the coenzyme similar to that of the free enzymes. High concentrations of cholic acid (up to 4%, w/v) were completely and specifically transformed into the 12-keto derivative using amounts of cofactor about 1600 times lower on a molar basis. The immobilized enzymes maintained 70% of the initial activity after 2 months of continuous use.     

Biochemical characterization of two glutamate dehydrogenases with different cofactor specificities from a hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum calidifontis

Two putative glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) genes (pcal_1031 and pcal_1606) were found in a sulfur-dependent hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrobaculum calidifontis. The two genes were then expressed in Escherichia coli, and both of the recombinant gene products showed GDH activity. The two enzymes were then purified to homogeneity and characterized in detail. Although both purified GDHs had a hexameric structure and neither exhibited allosteric regulation, they showed different coenzyme specificities: one was specific for NAD⁺, the other for NADP⁺ and different heat activation mechanisms. In addition, there was little difference in the kinetic constants, optimal temperature, thermal stability, optimal pH and pH stability between the two enzymes. The overall sequence identity between the two proteins was very high (81 %), but was not high in the region recognizing the 2′ position of the adenine ribose moiety, which is responsible for coenzyme specificity. This is the first report on the identification of two GDHs with different coenzyme specificities from a single hyperthermophilic archaeon and the definition of their basic in vitro properties.     

Heteroexpression and characterization of a monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase from the multicellular prokaryote <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces avermitilis</Emphasis> MA-4680

A monomeric NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from the multicellular prokaryote Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680 (SaIDH) was heteroexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the His-tagged enzyme was further purified to homogeneity. The molecular weight of SaIDH was about 80 kDa which is typical for monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenases. Structure-based sequence alignment reveals that the deduced amino acid sequence of SaIDH shows high sequence identity with known momomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase, and the coenzyme, substrate and metal ion binding sites are completely conserved. The optimal pH and temperature of SaIDH were found to be pH 9.4 and 45°C, respectively. Heat-inactivation studies showed that heating for 20 min at 50°C caused a 50% loss in enzymatic activity. In addition, SaIDH was absolutely specific for NADP⁺ as electron acceptor. Apparent K _m values were 4.98 μM for NADP⁺ and 6,620 μM for NAD⁺, respectively, using Mn²⁺ as divalent cation. The enzyme performed a 33,000-fold greater specificity (k _cat/K _m) for NADP⁺ than NAD⁺. Moreover, SaIDH activity was entirely dependent on the presence of Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺, but was strongly inhibited by Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺. Taken together, our findings implicate the recombinant SaIDH is a divalent cation-dependent monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase which presents a remarkably high cofactor preference for NADP⁺.     

Some properties of glutamate dehydrogenase,glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase from Corynebacterium callunae

Characteristics of the three major ammonia assimilatory enzymes, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in Corynebacterium callunae (NCIB 10338) were examined. The GDH of C. callunae specifically required NADPH and NADP⁺ as coenzymes in the amination and deamination reactions, respectively. This enzyme showed a marked specificity for -ketoglutarate and glutamate as substrates. The optimum pH was 7.2 for NADPH-GDH activity (amination) and 9.0 for NADP⁺-GDH activity (deamination). The results showed that NADPH-GDH and NADP⁺-GDH activities were controlled primarily by product inhibition and that the feedback effectors alanine and valine played a minor role in the control of NADPH-GDH activity. The transferase activity of GS was dependent on Mn⁺² while the biosynthetic activity of the enzyme was dependent on Mg²⁺ as essential activators. The pH optima for transferase and biosynthetic activities were 8.0 and 7.0, respectively. In the transfer reaction, the K _m values were 15.2 mM for glutamine, 1.46 mM for hydroxylamine, 3.5×10^-3 mM for ADP and 1.03 mM for arsenate. Feedback inhibition by alanine, glycine and serine was also found to play an important role in controlling GS activity. In addition, the enzyme activity was sensitive to ATP. The transferase activity of the enzyme was responsive to ionic strength as well as the specific monovalent cation present. GOGAT of C. callunae utilized either NADPH or NADH as coenzymes, although the latter was less effective. The enzyme specifically required -ketoglutarate and glutamine as substrates. In cells grown in a medium with glutamate as the nitrogen source, the optimum pH was 7.6 for NADPH-GOGAT activity and 6.8 for NADH-GOGAT activity. Findings showed that NADPH-GOGAT and NADH-GOGAT activities were controlled by product inhibition caused by NADP⁺ and NAD⁺, respectively, and that ATP also had an important role in the control of NADPH-GOGAT activity. Both activities of GOGAT were found to be inhibited by azaserine.Abbreviations GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - GOGAT glutamate synthase - GS glutamine synthetase     

NAD+ -dependent malic enzyme of Rhizobium meliloti is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation

DEAE-cellulose chromatography of extracts of free-living Rhizobium meliloti cells revealed separate NAD⁺-dependent and NADP⁺-dependent malic enzyme activities. The NAD⁺ malic enzyme exhibited more activity with NAD⁺ as cofactor, but also showed some activity with NADP⁺. The NADP⁺ malic enzyme only showed activity when NADP⁺ was supplied as cofactor. Three independent transposon-induced mutants of R. meliloti which lacked NADP⁺ malic enzyme activity (dme) but retained NADP⁺ malic enzyme activity were isolated. In an otherwise wild-type background, the dme mutations did not alter the carbon utilization phenotype; however, nodules induced by these mutants failed to fix N₂. Structurally, these nodules appeared to develop like wild-type nodules up to the stage where N₂-fixation would normally begin. These results support the proposal that NAD⁺ malic enzyme, together with pyruvate dehydrogenase, functions in the generation of acetyl-CoA required for TCA cycle function in N₂-fixing bacteroids which metabolize C₄-dicarboxylic acids supplied by the plant.     

Tn916-induced mutants of Clostridium acetobutylicum defective in regulation of solvent formation

Sixteen Tn916-induced mutants of Clostridium acetobutylicum were selected that were defective in the production of acetone and butanol. Formation of ethanol, however, was only partially affected. The strains differed with respect to the degree of solvent formation ability and could be assigned to three different groups. Type I mutants (2 strains) were completely defective in acetone and butanol production and contained one or three copies of Tn916 in the chromosome. Analysis of the mutants for enzymes responsible for solvent production revealed the presence of a formerly unknown, specific acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The data obtained also strongly indicate that the NADP⁺-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase is in vivo reponsible for ethanol formation, whereas the NAD⁺-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase is probably involved in butanol production. No activity of this enzyme together with all other enzymes in the acetone and butanol pathway could be found in type I strains. All tetracycline-resistant mutants obtained did no longer sporulate.Non-standard abbreviations AADC acetoacetate decarboxylase - AcaDH acetaldehyde dehydrogenase - BuaDH butyraldehyde dehydrogenase - CoA-TF acetoacetyl coenzyme A: acetate/butyrate: coenzyme A transferase - NAD-ADH, NAD⁺ dependent alcohol dehydrogenase - NADP-ADH, NADP⁺ dependent alcohol dehydrogenase     

Two malate dehydrogenases in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (strain Marburg) was found to contain two malate dehydrogenases, which were partially purified and characterized. One was specific for NAD⁺ and catalyzed the dehydrogenation of malate at approximately one-third of the rate of oxalacetate reduction, and the other could equally well use NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ as coenzyme and catalyzed essentially only the reduction of oxalacetate. Via the N-terminal amino acid sequences, the encoding genes were identified in the genome of M. thermoautotrophicum (strain ΔH). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that the two malate dehydrogenases are phylogenetically only distantly related. The NAD⁺-specific malate dehydrogenase showed high sequence similarity to l-malate dehydrogenase from Methanothermus fervidus, and the NAD(P)⁺-using malate dehyrogenase showed high sequence similarity to l-lactate dehydrogenase from Thermotoga maritima and l-malate dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis. A function of the two malate dehydrogenases in NADPH:NAD⁺ transhydrogenation is discussed. Received: 29 December 1997 / Accepted: 4 March 1998