NAD+ Kinase Activities in Euglena Gracilis and Phaseolus Vulgaris

After an electrophoretic separation of proteins from Euglena gracilis and dry seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris in native conditions in polyacrylamide gels, gels were incubated in mixtures containing NAD+, Mg-ATP2-, glucose 6-phosphate, G6P dehydrogenase, and either phenazine ethosulfate and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (PES/MTT) or phenazine methosulfate and nitro blue tetrazolium (PMS/NBT) as coupled redox system for NAD+ kinase activity detection. In the presence of PES/MTT, 4 bands were revealed for E. gracilis, among which two corresponded to NAD+ kinase activity, the other corresponding to a NAD+ reductase activity due to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). In the presence of PMS/NBT, only the bands of NAD+ kinase activity were revealed. With Phaseolus vulgaris, 3 bands of ADH were always revealed in both mixtures, and only the use of PMS/NBT allowed the detection of NAD+ kinase as a fourth band. With both materials, NAD+ reductase staining in gels was intensifed in the presence of GTP or ATP and even further with ADP or GDP. The results demonstrate that: 1) the NAD+ kinase and NAD+ reductase are two distinct enzymes; 2) the NAD+ reductase corresponds to ADH.