Cytoplasmic malic enzyme from mouse kidneys

NADP⁺-dependent cytoplasmic malic enzyme was purified to homogeneity from mouse kidneys by a two-step procedure involving 8-(6-aminohexyl)-amino-2, 5-ADP-Sepharose affinity chromatography and DEAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. The biochemical properties of the purified enzyme from DBA/2J mice were characterized. These include the determination of molecular weight and amino acid compositions, steady-state kinetics, thermal stability and inactivations by iodoacetate and urea. The native enzyme is a tetramer with a molecular weight of 270,000.K_m's for NADP⁺, l-malate, NADPH and pyruvate were determined to be 3.3 µm,, 50 µm, 10.5 gm respectively. Similar to the pigeon liver enzyme, the mouse enzyme exhibits an ordered kinetic mechanism proceeding with the binding of coenzyme first. The enzyme is only weakly inhibited by ATP and other cellular metabolites. A remarkable similarity in amino acid compositions was found between the mouse and rat liver malic enzymes.Abbreviations DTNB 5,5-dithio, bis-nitrobenzoic acid