| Abstract: | Mechanisms involved in the action of the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EC 1.6.1.1) have been investigated by means of kinetic studies and fluorescence titration. Our results, as well as those from previous investigations, suggest that the allosteric MWC model (Monod, J., Wyman, J., and Changeux, J. P. (1965), J. Mol. Biol. 12, 88-118) may be used as a first step for the explanation of the properties of the transhydrogenase. The basic reaction of the enzyme is the oxidation of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) by diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN+). In terms of the model, the functional R state is favored by TPNH, whereas the product triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPN+) behaves as an allosteric inhibitor, and is therefore assumed to favor the nonfunctional T state. To a slight extent, the T state is also favored by inorganic phosphate. On the other hand, adenosine 2'-monophosphate and several other 2'-phosphate nucleotides function as activators, and hence are presumed to shift the allosteric equilibrium toward the R state. The studies in this paper suggest a specific regulatory site for the transhydrogenase. |
