Molecular orientation and position of the pig M4 and H4 isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase in their crystal cells

Ternary complexes of M₄ and H₄ isoenzymes of porcine lactate dehydrogenase have been crystallized, the M₄ isoenzyme in space group P22₁2₁ with one half molecule per asymmetric unit, and the H₄ isoenzyme in space group C₂ with one whole molecule per asymmetric unit. The orientation and position of the tetramers in their unit cells have been determined by X-ray analysis. Rotation function results comparing the ternary complexes of the pig M₄ isoenzyme with the known structure of the dogfish M₄ enzyme not only defined the direction but also permitted recognition of the individual P, Q and R molecular 2-fold axes. The position of the molecular center was determined by placing a properly oriented dogfish M₄ lactate dehydrogenase electron density into the pig muscle cell. Structure factors were calculated as the molecular center was varied along the common crystallographic and molecular 2-fold axis and compared with observed amplitudes. Precession photographs of the three major zones of the monoclinic pig H₄ isoenzyme exhibited striking similarities to the corresponding zones of the orthorhombio pig M₄ isoenzyme, in spite of the differences in space groups. These similarities permit the determination of approximate phases from the implied orientation and position of the pig H₄ lactate dehydrogenase molecule in its monoclinic cell.