Characterization of Plant Alcohol Dehydrogenase

The final activity of the alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.1, abbreviated ADH) from germinating pea, isolated by fractionating with ammonium sulphate, chromatography on DEAE cellulose and gel filtration, was 80,000, from bean 25,000 and from lentil 13,500 units per mg protein. Molecular weights of the ADHs are close to each other: pea and bean ADH 60,000, lentil ADH 70,000. The K_m values are mutually similar with three enzymes, i.e. of the order of 10⁻⁴M for NAD and 10⁻²M for ethanol. The pH optima lie in the alkaline region. These enzymes catalyse oxidation of a number of monovalent alcohols. At temperatures above 60°C the enzymes are thermally unstable. Stability is enhanced slowly by ethanol but not by NAD. Pyrazol, imidazol and pyridine inhibit plant ADH similarly to the enzyme from horse liver. There is a similarity between plant alcohol dehydrogenases and animal and yeast enzymes.     

Purification and Properties of Rape Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Germinating seeds with the highest specific activity (24 hour germination) were used for isolation of alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH, from rape (Brassica napus L. cv. T?ebi?ská). The rape ADH was purified by fractionation with ammonium sulphate, desalting on Sephadex G 25, chromatography on DEAE cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G 150. Using this isolation procedure, enzyme with a specific activity 85.6 times higher than that of the crude extract was obtained. The molecular weight of the enzyme obtained is 66.000. The enzyme is a metallo-enzyme containing sulfhydryl groups as evidence by the inhibitory effect of chelating compounds and thiol reagents. The optimum pH for the oxidation of ethanol is 8.5 and for reduction of acetaldehyde 7.0. The enzyme exhibits a relatively wide substrate specificity towards alcohols. Dimethyl-sulphoxide (DMSO), some amides and oximes and some intermediates of the carbohydrate metabolism act as ADH inhibitors, ATP as analogue of NAD also exhibits an inhibitory effect. The inhibitory effect of heterocyclic substances (pyrazol, imidazol, pyridine) is similar to the effect on liver alcohol dehydrogenase.     

The Structure of Pea Alcohol Dehydrogenase Using Inactivation by Iodoacetate

Alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1, abbreviated ADH) isolated from germinating pea seeds (Pisum arvense L.) is inactivated by iodoacetate. The inactivation rate is decreased by ATP, ADP, AMP, NAD, chloride ions and o-phenanthroline. The nucleotides studied are bound in the area of the coenzyme binding site, similar to iodoacetate. On the other hand, o-phenanthroline binds zinc ions in a chelate which is apparently bound in the close vicinity of the coenzyme binding site.