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The effects of selenite and tellurite on the mammalian enzyme lipoamide dehydrogenase were compared. Selenite acts as a substrate of lipoamide dehydrogenase in a process requiring the presence of lipoamide. In contrast, tellurite is a potent inhibitor, effective in the low micromolar range. The inhibitory effect of tellurite on lipoamide dehydrogenase is partially reverted by dithiothreitol indicating the participation of the thiol groups of the enzyme. Tellurite, but not selenite, stimulates the diaphorase activity of lipoamide dehydrogenase. In a mitochondrial matrix protein preparation, which contains lipoamide dehydrogenase, an inhibitory action similar to that observed on the purified enzyme was also elicited by tellurite. Human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293 T) treated with tellurite show a partial inhibition of lipoamide dehydrogenase. In addition to the toxicological implications of tellurium compounds, the reported results suggest that tellurite and its derivatives can be used as potential tools for studying biochemical reactions.

Cytochrome b5 reductase (cb5r), a member of the flavoprotein transhydrogenase family of oxidoreductase enzymes, catalyzes the transfer of reducing equivalents from the physiological electron donor, NADH, to two molecules of cytochrome b5. We have determined the correct nucleotide sequence for the putative full-length, membrane-associated enzyme from Canis familiaris, and have generated a heterologous expression system for production of a histidine-tagged variant of the soluble, catalytic diaphorase domain, comprising residues I33 to F300. Using a simple two-step chromatographic procedure, the recombinant diaphorase domain has been purified to homogeneity and demonstrated to be a simple flavoprotein with a molecular mass of 31,364 (m/z) that retained both NADH:ferricyanide reductase and NADH:cytochrome b5 reductase activities. The recombinant protein contained a full complement of FAD and exhibited absorption and CD spectra comparable to those of a recombinant form of the rat cytochrome b5 reductase diaphorase domain generated using an identical expression system, suggesting similar protein folding. Oxidation–reduction potentiometric titrations yielded a standard midpoint potential (Eo′) for the FAD/FADH2 couple of −273 ± 5 mV which was identical to the value obtained for the corresponding rat domain. Thermal denaturation studies revealed that the canine domain exhibited stability comparable to that of the rat protein, confirming similar protein conformations. Initial-rate kinetic studies revealed the canine diaphorase domain retained a marked preference for NADH versus NADPH as reducing substrate and exhibited kcat’s of 767 and 600 s−1 for NADH:ferricyanide reductase and NADH:cytochrome b5 reductase activities, respectively, with Km’s of 7, 8, and 12 μM for NADH, K3Fe(CN)6, and cytochrome b5, respectively. Spectral-binding constants (Ks) determined for a variety of NAD+ analogs indicated the highest and lowest affinities were observed for APAD+ (Ks = 71 μM) and PCA+ (Ks = >31 mM), respectively, and indicated the binding contributions of the various portions of the pyridine nucleotide. These results provide the first correct sequence for the full-length, membrane-associated form of C. familiaris cb5r and provide a direct comparison of the enzymes from two phylogenetic sources using identical expression systems that indicate that both enzymes have comparable spectroscopic, kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural properties.

At the normal pH of the cytosol (7.0 to 7.1) and in the presence of physiological (1.0 mM) levels of free Mg2+, the Vmax of the NADPH oxidation is only slightly lower than the Vmax of NADH oxidation in the cytosolic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.8) reaction. Under these conditions physiological (30 microM) levels of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37) inhibited oxidation of 20 microM NADH but had no effect on oxidation of 20 microM NADPH by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Consequently malate dehydrogenase increased the ratio of NADPH to NADH oxidation of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. On the basis of the measured KD of complexes between malate dehydrogenase and these reduced pyridine nucleotides, and their Km in the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase reactions, it could be concluded that malate dehydrogenase would have markedly inhibited NADPH oxidation and inhibited NADH oxidation considerably more than observed if its only effect were to decrease the level of free NADH or NADPH. This indicates that due to the opposite chiral specificity of the two enzymes with respect to reduced pyridine nucleotides, complexes between malate dehydrogenase and NADH or NADPH can function as substrates for glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, but the complex with NADH is less active than free NADH, while the complex with NADPH is as active as free NADPH. Mg2+ enhanced the interactions between malate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase described above. Lactate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.27) had effects similar to those of malate dehydrogenase only in the presence of Mg2+. In the absence of Mg2+, there was no evidence of interaction between lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH, E3) is a component in the pyruvate-, alpha-ketoglutarate- and branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and in the glycine cleavage system. The pathogenic mutations of LADH cause severe metabolic disturbances, called E3 deficiency that often involve cardiological and neurological symptoms and premature death. Our laboratory has recently shown that some of the known pathogenic mutations augment the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capacity of LADH, which may contribute to the clinical presentations. A recent report concluded that elevated oxidative stress generated by the above mutants turns the lipoic acid cofactor on the E2 subunits dysfunctional. In the present contribution we generated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation the conformation of LADH that is proposed to be compatible with ROS generation. We propose here for the first time the structural changes, which are likely to turn the physiological LADH conformation to its ROS-generating conformation. We also created nine of the pathogenic mutants of the ROS-generating conformation and again used MD simulation to detect structural changes that the mutations induced in this LADH conformation. We propose the structural changes that may lead to the modulation in ROS generation of LADH by the pathogenic mutations.

Eleven independent monoclonal antibodies, all IgG's, have been raised against the ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase of spinach leaves. All 11 monoclonal antibodies were able to produce substantial inhibition of the NADPH to 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) diaphorase activity of the enzyme, but none of the antibodies produced any significant inhibition of electron flow from NADPH to ferredoxin catalyzed by the enzyme. Spectral perturbation assays were used to demonstrate that antibody interaction with NADP+ reductase did not interfere significantly with the binding of either ferredoxin or NADP+ to the enzyme. Ultrafiltration binding assays were used to confirm that the monoclonal antibodies did not interfere with complex formation between ferredoxin and the enzyme. These results have been interpreted in terms of the likely presence of one or more highly antigenic epitopes at the site where the nonphysiological electron acceptor, DCPIP, binds to the enzyme. Furthermore, the results suggest that the site where DCPIP is reduced differs from both of the two separate sites at which the two physiological substrates, ferredoxin and NADP+/NADPH, are bound.

ESR spectroscopic evidence is presented for the formation of vanadium(IV) in the reduction of vanadium(V) by three typical, NADPH-dependent, flavoenzymes: glutathione reductase, lipoyl dehydrogenase, and ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase. The vanadium(V)-reduction mechanism appears to be an enzymatic one-electron reduction process. Addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed that the generation of vanadium(IV) does not involve the superoxide (O2−) radical significantly. Measurements under anaerobic atmosphere showed, however, that the enzymes-vanadium-NADPH mixture can cause the reduction of molecular oxygen to generate H2O2. The H2O2 and vanadium(IV) thus formed react to generate hydroxyl (· OH) radical. The · OH formation is inhibited strongly by catalase and to a lesser degree by SOD, but it is enhanced by exogenous H2O2, suggesting the occurrence of a Fenton-like reaction. The inhibition of vanadium(IV) formation by N-ethylmaleimide indicates that the SH group on the flavoenzyme's cystine residueplays an important role in the enzyme's vanadium(V) reductase function. These results thus reveal a new property of the above-mentioned, NADPH-dependent flavoenzymes—their function as vanadium(V) reductases, as well as that as generators of · OH radical in the vanadium(V) reduction mechanism.

The AhpC/AhpD system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis provides important antioxidant protection, particularly when the KatG catalase-peroxidase activity is depressed, as it is in many isoniazid resistant strains. In the absence of lipoamide or bovine dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DHLDH), components of the normal catalytic system, covalent dimers, tetramers, and hexamers are formed when a mixture of AhpC and AhpD is exposed to peroxide. Each of the oligomers contains equimolar amounts of AhpC and AhpD. This oligomerization is reversible because the oligomers can be fully reduced to the monomeric species by dithiothreitol. Using mutagenesis, we confirm here that Cys61 and Cys174 of AhpC as well as Cys133 and Cys130 of AhpD are critical for activity in the fully reconstituted system consisting of AhpC, AhpD, lipoamide, DHLDH, and NADH. A key step in the reduction of oxidized AhpC by reduced AhpD is formation of a disulfide cross-link between Cys61 of AhpC and Cys133 of AhpD. This cross-link can be reduced by intramolecular reaction with either Cys174 of AhpC or Cys130 of AhpD. Cys176 can also, to some extent, substitute for Cys174, providing a measure of redundancy that helps to maintain the efficiency of this antioxidant protective system.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) catalyzes a two-step reaction. Recombinant production of substrate amounts of the lipoyl domains of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) component of the mammalian PDC allowed kinetic characterization of the rapid physiological reaction catalyzed by E1. Using either the N-terminal (L1) or the internal (L2) lipoyl domain of E2 as a substrate, analyses of steady state kinetic data support a ping pong mechanism. Using standard E1 preparations, Michaelis constants (Km) were 52 +/- 14 microM for L1 and 24.8 +/- 3.8 microM for pyruvate and k(cat) was 26.3 s(-1). With less common, higher activity preparations of E1, the Km values wereor =160 microM for L1 andor =35 microM for pyruvate and k(cat) wasor =70 s(-1). Similar results were found with the L2 domain. The best synthetic lipoylated-peptide (L2 residues 163-177) was a much poorer substrate (Kmor =15 mM, k(cat) approximately equals 5 s(-1); k(cat)/Km decreased1,500-fold) than L1 or L2, but a far better substrate in the E1 reaction than free lipoamide (k(cat)/Km increased500-fold). Each lipoate source was an effective substrate in the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) reaction, but E3 had a lower Km for the L2 domain than for lipoamide or the lipoylated peptides. In contrast to measurements with slow E1 model reactions that use artificial acceptors, we confirmed that the natural E1 reaction, using lipoyl domain acceptors, was completely inhibited (99%) by phosphorylation of E1 and the phosphorylation strongly inhibited the reverse of the second step catalyzed by E1. The mechanisms by which phosphorylation interferes with E1 activity is interpreted based on accrued results and the location of phosphorylation sites mapped onto the 3-D structure of related alpha-keto acid dehydrogenases.

The rat form of DT-diaphorase (NAD(P)H: quinone acceptor oxidoreductase; EC 1.6.99.2) is more effective than the human form in activating prodrugs such as CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide). Our site-directed mutagenesis study has revealed that residue 104 (Tyr in the rat enzyme and Gln in the human enzyme) is an important residue responsible for the catalytic differences between the rat and the human enzymes in the activation of CB 1954 (S. Chen et al., 1997, J. Biol. Chem. 272, 1437-1439). The human mutant Q104Y is capable of reducing CB 1954 at a rate identical to that of the wild-type rat DT-diaphorase. In the present study, we prepared both the wild-type human DT-diaphorase- and the mutant Q104Y-expressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines using the cDNA transfection method. The MDA-MB-231 cell line is homozygous for a P187S mutation in the DT-diaphorase gene and has no detectable DT-diaphorase activity. Stable clones for the wild-type transfected cells had the DT-diaphorase activity ranged from 0.1 to 3.8 micromol of DCIP reduced/min/mg of protein and the clones for Q104Y transfected cells had the activity ranged from 0.06 to 1.58 micromol of DCIP reduced/min/mg of protein. Furthermore, in contrast to the cells transfected with only expression vector that were not sensitive to CB 1954 treatment, the wild-type and Q104Y-expressing cells were capable of the reductive activation of CB 1954, resulting in cell eradication. Our data showed that cell killing by CB 1954 followed a dose and incubation-time dependent manner. It was also found that the cell survival upon the treatment of CB 1954 was related to the expressed DT-diaphorase activity in these cells. In the presence of 75 microM CB 1954, a 50% cell killing was achieved in cells containing Q104Y and the wild-type DT-diaphorase with the activity at approximately 0.67 and 3.8 micromol of DCIP reduced/min/mg of protein, respectively. These results agree well with those of the in vitro enzyme assays that show that Q104Y is significantly more active than the wild-type DT-diaphorase in the activation of CB 1954. Finally, the in vivo activation of CB 1954 was demonstrated with a nude mouse model using Q104Y-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells. These studies reveal that DT-diaphorase can activate CB 1954, and human Q104Y mutant enzyme is more active than the wild-type enzyme in the intracellular reductive activation of CB 1954.

Both regular physical exercise and low levels of H(2)O(2) administration result in increased resistance to oxidative stress. We measured the accumulation of reactive carbonyl derivatives and the activities of proteasome complex and DT-diaphorase in cardiac muscle of trained and untrained rats after chronic i.p. administration of 1 ml t-butyl H(2)O(2) (1 mmol/kg for 3 weeks every second day). Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to a control group administered with saline, control administered with H(2)O(2), and exercised administered either saline or H(2)O(2). The activity of DT-diaphorase significantly increased in H(2)O(2) administered and exercised groups, indicating that an increase in H(2)O(2) levels stimulate the activity of this enzyme. The cardiac muscle of H(2)O(2) administered nonexercised animals accumulated significantly more carbonyl than control group (P0.05). The exercise and H(2)O(2) administration resulted in less oxidatively modified protein than found in nonexercised groups (P0.05). The peptide-like activity of proteasome complex was induced by the treatment of H(2)O(2) and exercise and exercise potentiate the effect of H(2)O(2). On the other hand, the chymotrypsin-like and trypsin-like activities were stimulated only by physical training and H(2)O(2) administration. The data suggest that chronic administration of H(2)O(2) after exercise training decreases the accumulation of carbonyl groups below the steady-state level and induces the activity of proteasome and DT-diaphorase. Hence, the stimulating effect of physical exercise on free radical generation is an important phenomenon of the exercise-induced adaptation process since it increases resistance to oxidative stress. Regular exercise training is a valuable physiological means of preconditioning the myocardium to prolonged oxidative stress.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase from Mycobacterium smegmatis was purified to homogeneity over 60-fold. Of 20 amino acid residues identified at the amino terminus of the enzyme, 18 and 17 were identical to the sequences of Mycobacterium leprae and Pseudomonas fluorescens lipoamide dehydrogenases, respectively. The visible spectrum of the isolated enzyme was characteristic of a flavin in apolar environment. Reduction of the enzyme with dithionite results in the appearance of an absorbance shoulder at 530–550 nm, suggesting that reducing equivalents of the two-electron reduced enzyme reside predominantly on the redox-active disulfide–dithiol. The kinetic mechanism of the forward (NAD + reducing) and reverse (NADH oxidizing) reactions proved difficult to study due to severe substrate inhibition by NAD + and NADH. The rate of lipoamide reduction was found to depend upon the NAD + /NADH ratio, with the reaction being activated at low ratios and inhibited at high ratios. The use of 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide allowed initial velocity kinetics to be performed and revealed that the kinetic mechanism is ping pong. In addition to catalyzing the reversible oxidation of dihydrolipoamide, the enzyme displayed high oxidase activity (30% of the lipoamide reduction rate), hydrogen and t -butyl peroxide reductase activity (10% of the lipoamide reduction rate), and both naphthoquinone and benzoquinone reduction (∼200% of the lipoamide reduction rate). The enzyme failed to catalyze the redox cycling of nitrocompounds, but could anaerobically reduce nitrofurazone. The lipoamide-reducing reaction was reversibly inactivated by sodium arsenite, but no decrease in diaphorase activity was observed under these conditions.

Following the two-electron reduction of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone by rat liver DT-diaphorase (also called NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2), the hydroquinone product is slowly autoxidized to the quinone in buffered solutions at pH 7.0. The autoxidation, which generates the superoxide radical (O2-.) and other reactive oxygen species, is the rate-limiting step in the oxidation-reduction (redox) cycling of the quinone. The addition of ascorbate to these reaction mixtures increases the rate of redox cycling. Two mechanisms are proposed to explain this increase: (1) ascorbate reduces the quinone in a one-electron reduction and (2) if Fe(3+)-EDTA is present, ascorbate reduces the metal chelate in a one-electron reduction. Both mechanisms produce O2-. which initiates the free radical chain reaction that results in autoxidation of the hydroquinone. Although ascorbate may be a physiologically important antioxidant under some conditions, the studies reported here show that ascorbate is a prooxidant in the redox cycling of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and, as such, could increase the potential toxicity of this quinone.

The subunits of the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) component of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) associate to form a large inner core with a protruding structure composed of three globular domains connected by mobile linker regions. This exterior region of E2 includes two lipoyl domains which engage not only in the intermediate reactions of the complex but also have integral roles in the kinase-phosphatase regulatory interconversion of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component. To facilitate understanding of these roles, lipoyl domain constructs of the E2 component of human PDC were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST)-linked fusion proteins from plasmid inserts prepared by polymerase chain reaction procedures. The NH2-terminal lipoyl domain, E2L1, and the interior lipoyl domain, E2L2, are connected by a 30-amino-acid hinge region, H1. Constructs designed and expressed were E2L1(1-98), E2L1.H1(1-128), E2L2(120-233), E2H1.L2(98-233), and E2L1.H1.L2(1-233), where numbers in parentheses give the amino acid sequence for the portions of the E2 component incorporated into a construct. The domains were expressed in Escherichia coli with and without lipoate supplementation. GST constructs were purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography and selectively released by thrombin treatment. Sequencing of insert DNAs and NH2-terminal sequencing confirmed that domains were produced as designed. Measurement of masses by electrospray mass spectrometry indicated that constructs with lipoylated, nonlipoylated, and octanoylated forms were produced when expression was with E. coli grown without lipoate supplementation and that fully lipoylated forms were produced upon lipoate supplementation. The lipoylation status was confirmed, following delipoylation with Enterococcus faecalis lipoamidase, by the expected decrease in mass and by the observation in native gel electrophoresis of a shift to a slower mobility (possibly less compact) form. Constructs were used in E1-catalyzed reductive-acetylation reaction in proportion to their degree of lipoylation and were effective substrates in a NADH-dependent dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase reduction reaction. Thus, we have produced lipoyl domain constructs that can be employed in sorting the specific roles of E2L1 and E2L2 in facilitating catalytic and regulatory processes.

The activities of the enzyme components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex are affected to different extents by changes in ionic strength and pH. At pH 7.4 the optimum activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2), and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) occur in the ranges of ionic strengths of 0.06-0.08, 0.01-0.02, and 0.10-0.15 M, respectively. The activity of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is least sensitive to changes in the ionic strength of the assay medium. At constant ionic strength (0.15 M) the optimum activity of E1, E2, and E3 occur at pH 7.4, 7.0, and 8.0, respectively. Changes in pH mostly affect the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase activity. Cl- and HCO3- anions inhibit the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase. In the presence of 80 mM Cl- or HCO3- ions the activity of E1 is inhibited by 25 and 10% respectively. K+, Na+, and HPO4(2-) ions affect the activity of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase. The activity of this enzyme component is stimulated by 28 and 25% in the presence of 80 mM K+ and Na+ cations, respectively. HPO4(2-) stimulates the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase in a calcium-dependent manner. In the presence of 20 mM HPO4(2-) the activity of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase increases 20 and 40% in the absence and presence of 0.1 mM Ca2+, respectively. The activity of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is not affected by K+, Na+, HPO4(2-), Cl-, or HCO3-.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) from muscle of the adult parasitic nematode Ascaris suum plays a unique role in its anaerobic mitochondrial metabolism. Resolution of the intact complex in high salt dissociates the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit but leaves the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase subunit (E3) and two other proteins with apparent M(r)s of 45 and 43 kDa bound to the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) core. These proteins are not observable on Coomassie brilliant blue-stained gels of other eukaryotic PDCs, but the 45-kDa protein is similar in apparent M(r), pI, and sensitivity to trypsin to the Kb subunit of the bovine kidney PDH alpha kinase. Acetylation of the ascarid PDC with [2-14C]pyruvate under conditions designed to maximize the incorporation of label into protein yielded only a single radiolabeled subunit, E2. These results confirm earlier reports that the ascarid PDC lacks protein X, an integral component recently identified in other eukaryotic PDCs. About 1.6 to 1.8 mol of 14C was incorporated/mole of E2, suggesting that the ascarid E2 contained two lipoly-bearing domains. Domain mapping of the 14C-acetylated ascarid E2 by limited tryptic digestion identified two lipoyl-bearing fragments with apparent M(r)s of 50 and 34 kDa and two core fragments with apparent M(r)s of 46 and 30 kDa. The ascarid E2 domain structure appears to be similar to that of other E2s. However, it appears that the subunit-binding domain (E2B) of the ascarid E2 may be significantly larger or be flanked by larger than normal interdomain regions. An enlarged E2B domain may be necessary to accommodate the additional binding of E3 to the E2 subunit in the ascarid complex, in the absence of protein X.

The pH profile of diaphorase activity of ferredoxin:NADP oxidoreductase suggests a pH-dependent transition between two forms of the enzyme. The apparent pH for this transition is about 8.0. The high-activity form, measured at pH 9.0, is strongly inhibited by increased salt concentration, whereas the low-activity form, measured at pH 7.0, is only weakly inhibited. Likewise, treatment of the enzyme with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) inhibits the high-activity form more severely than the low-activity form. The data presented suggest that either high salt or NEM treatment converts the enzyme into a low-activity, pH-independent form. The data indicate that an ionized sulfhydryl group may be necessary for the high-activity form. With the exception of the ferredoxin-cytochrome c acceptor system, all other electron acceptors showed a pH dependence similar to that of the diaphorase activity.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase reacts irreversibly with arsonous acids, RAs(OH)2, and arsonic acids, RAs(O)(OH)2, to form enzyme-inhibitor complexes. The formation of inactive enzyme requires NADH and is kinetically first order in the presence of excess arsonous acid. The second-order rate constant for formation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex was 545 min−1 m −1 for phenylarsonous acid, C6H5As(OH)2, and 5640 min−1 m −1 for methanearsonous acid, CH3As(OH)2. The kinetics of formation of inactive enzyme in the presence of arsonic acids was found to obey a rate law predicted by a two-step mechanism in which a rate-limiting reduction of an arsonic acid to the corresponding arsonous acid by reduced enzyme, E(SH)2, preceded formation of an inactive binary complex of reduced enzyme and arsonous acid: ES2 + NADH + H+ = E(SH)2 + NAD+; E(SH)2 + RAs(O)(OH)2 = ES2 + RAs(OH)2 + H2O; and E(SH)2 + RAs(OH)2 = ES2AsR + 2H2O. GSSG reductase reacts reversibly with C6H5As(OH)2 to form an inactive binary addition compound in the presence of NADPH. The value of the association constant for formation of enzyme inhibitor complex at pH 7.0 was 119 m −1. The initial rate of the GSSG reductase-catalyzed oxidation of NADPH by GSSG was insensitive to MeAs(OH)2. The kinetics of inhibition of GSSG reductase by arsenite and C6H5As(O)(OH)2 were found to obey the rate law described for lipoamide dehydrogenase and arsonic acids. GSSG reductase catalyzed the oxidation of NADPH by p-arsanilic acid. The initial rate of oxidation of NADPH was linearly dependent on enzyme concentration. The turnover number for GSSG reductase with p-arsanilic acid as an oxidant was 0.13 mol NADPH mol FAD−1 min−1.

Two species of free-living nematodes, Turbatrix aceti and Caenorhabditis elegans, exhibited a marked sensitivity to 3 atm of 100% O2. Environmental changes in pH and temperature, which altered nematode respiration, resulted in alterations in the survival of these organisms under high pO2. Levels of defensive enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and dianisidine peroxidase were measured in the two species. No changes in the level of superoxide dismutase or catalase activity were induced by exposure of the nematodes to high pO2. Manipulation of these two enzymes was however achieved using the inhibitors 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and diethyldithiocarbamate. 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (20 mM) eliminated greater than or equal to 80% of the catalase activity in vivo and diethyldithiocarbamate (5 mM) decreased the level of CuZn superoxide dismutase by greater than or equal to 70%. Both of these compounds increased the sensitivity of C. elegans to high pO2 toxicity. Compounds capable of intracellular redox-cycling with O2- -production, such as plumbagin, increased CN- -resistant respiration in the nematodes and imposed an O2-dependent toxicity. These experiments demonstrate the toxicity of intracellular O2- and H2O2 in nematodes and the importance of superoxide dismutase and catalase in providing a defense against these toxic molecules in vivo.

Monospecific rabbit antibodies against the ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase binding protein of spinach thylakoids were obtained and characterized. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction gave single precipitation arcs with the purified antigen or with Triton X-100 extracts of thylakoids or the reductase binding protein complex. Antibodies against the flavoprotein behave similarly. Both antibodies agglutinated thylakoids and precipitated the diaphorase activity of a Triton X-100 extract of these membranes. Isolated Fab fragments of the IgG anti-binding protein inhibited NADP+ photoreduction in a time- and Fab concentration-dependent manner. The presence of ferredoxin diminished the rate of inhibition. In the light, the inactivation rate was higher than in dark and this effect was abolished in the presence of uncouplers. These results suggest that the binding protein is protruding from the thylakoids and could be sensing the proton gradient.

The time course of the overall reaction catalyzed by the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex produces an unexpectedly high lag (τ = 8 s) even in the presence of saturating concentrations of its substrates. The preincubation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with one of the substrates alone decreases the duration of this lag, and all the substrates of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1) and dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component (E2) together (pyruvate, thiamine pyrophosphate, and CoA) result in the complete disappearance of the lag. The reduction of the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase component (E3) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with the substrates of the complex in the absence of NAD+ produces significantly different quenching in the FAD fluorescence, and then the reduction with the substrates of E3 as dihydrolipoic acid and dithioerythritol. (The formation of FADH2 was not observed in the system.) The higher fluorescence quenching in the presence of substrates of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex compared to the effect caused by the substrates of the E3 component (dihydrolipoic acid and DTE) indicates conformational changes additionally manifested in the fluorescence properties of the enzyme complex. The substrate-induced quenching of the enzyme-bound FAD fluorescence shows biphasic kinetics. The rate constant of the slow phase is comparable with the rate constant calculated from the time duration of the lag phase observed in the overall reaction. The kinetic analysis of both intensity and anisotropy decrease of the FAD fluorescence suggests a consecutive transmittance of an all substrate-coordinated, induced conformational changes directed from the pyruvate dehydrogenase-via the lipoyl transacetylase—to the lipoyl dehydrogenase. Two simultaneous conformational effects caused by binding of the substrates can be distinguished; one of them results the fluorescence of the bound FAD to be more quenched, while the other makes the FAD more mobile. The first-order rate constants of both these conformational changes were determined. The present observations suggest that the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex exists in a partially inactive state in the absence of its substrates, and it becomes active due to conformational changes caused by the binding of its substrates.

Rose bengal sensitizes photoinactivation of lipoamide dehydrogenase from pig heart to a constant residual reductase activity resulting from specific destruction of histidine residues. The rate of sensitized photoinactivation is pH dependent and is associated with an ionizable group with pK 6.6 ± 0.2. All steady-state kinetic parameters are markedly reduced by photooxidation. Spectroscopic studies indicate the contribution of oxidized flavin/dithiol to the half-reduced form of the photooxidized enzyme. The proton magnetic resonance spectrum of lipoamide dehydrogenase shows resolved histidine C2 proton peak at δ9.18 ppm and a shoulder at δ9.23 ppm. The shoulder protons are eliminated by the sensitized photooxidation and shifted upfield on deprotonation. At high pH, the characteristic Faraday A term also disappears. These observations suggest that the essential histidine stabilizes the nascent thiolate via the ion pair formation to facilitate the reductase reaction catalyzed by lipoamide dehydrogenase.

We have raised antisera against dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. One antigen was isolated from purified bovine kidney pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). The other antigen was a commercial preparation of porcine heart dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E 3 ) which did not first involve purification of the α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex(es). Both antibody preparations cross-reacted with the E 3 components of PDC, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, and branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase complex. This demonstrates the immunological identity of the E 3 components. These sera totally precipitated E 3 activity from the purified complexes, from purified preparations of E 3 , and from extracts of rat heart and kidney mitochondria. The two sera vary in their reaction with rat liver mitochondrial extracts: the anti PDC-E 3 serum left residual E 3 activity (approximately 50% of the original) that was precipitable by the anti-E 3 antiserum. This indicates that liver contains two immunologically distinct forms of E 3 . Metabolic assays measuring the differential effects of the two sera on the glycine decarboxylation reaction suggest that the form which is immunologically nonreactive with the anti-PDC-E 3 serum could represent the E 3 involved in the glycine cleavage System.

An enzyme system which catalyzes the degradation of glycine to one carbon unit, ammonia, and carbon dioxide and the synthesis of glycine from these three substances has been isolated from rat liver mitochondria. The reversible glycine cleavage system is composed of four protein components named as P-, H-, L-, and T-protein, respectively. A procedure is described for the purification of P-protein which catalyzes the decarboxylation of glycine or its reverse reaction in the presence of H-protein, and for T-protein which participates in the formation of one carbon unit and ammonia or the reverse reaction. The procedure described leads to the isolation of a nearly homogeneous form of T-protein but P-protein still is heterogeneous. The molecular weight of T-protein, estimated by molecular sieve chromatography, is 33,000. Properties of the synthesis and cleavage reactions and the exchange of carboxyl group of glycine with bicarbonate are also presented.

Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase from bovine kidney catalyzes NAD-linked redox reaction of lipoamide. Hates of the catalyzed reaction were studied in both directions. Saturation curves for NAD and lipoamide are nonhyperbolic, suggesting homotropic cooperative interactions of these substrates with the enzyme. The cooperative effect was analyzed by Hill plots according to the diagnostic procedure of Levitzki and Koshland. Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase is subject to homotropic regulation in which NAD acts as a negative cooperative effector, whereas lipoamide acts as a positive cooperative effector. At high concentrations, dihydrolipoamide normalizes the saturation curve of NAD, while NADH tends to enhance the cooperative interaction of lipoamide with the enzyme.

A diaphorase which can employ either TPNH or DPNH as the reductant has been purified from spinach leaves. Preparations of the enzyme, which were estimated to be 90% pure by ultracentrifugal analysis, were unable to catalyze a transhydrogenase reaction between the pyridine nucleotides or either nucleotide and its analogs. The diaphorase which appears to be a flavoprotein catalyzes the reduction of menadione, indophenol dyes, and ferricyanide, but does not catalyze the reduction of flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, or cytochrome c.

The multiple forms of pig heart lipoyl dehydrogenase (NADH:lipoamide oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.4.3) have been resolved by isoelectric focusing in a pH 5–8 gradient and compared with respect to amino acid composition, free carboxyl group content, absorption spectral ratios, circular dichroism and fluorescence properties, specific activities, and relative reactivity with lipoic acid and lipoamide as substrates. No appreciable differences among the multiple forms have been detected in these comparisons. There is, however, considerable variation in the ratio of lipoyl dehydrogenase:diaphorase activities exhibited by the different forms.

The Escherichia coli Crookes pyruvate dehydrogenase complex contains a core, consisting of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase, to which pyruvate dehydrogenase and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (a flavoprotein) are joined by noncovalent bonds. Electron microscopic studies indicated that the design of the transacetylase is based on octahedral (432) symmetry and, therefore, it would be expected to contain 24 very similar, if not identical, polypeptide chains. Evidence is presented that the transacetylase does indeed consist of 24 apparently identical polypeptide chains. Each dehydrogenase (about 112,000). Both the uncomplexed pyruvate dehydrogenase and the flavoprotein contain two apparently identical polypeptide chains. The available data do not permit a decision as to whether each of these enzymes is present in the complex as a monomer or a dimer. It appears that the E. coli Crookes pyruvate dehydrogenase complex contains 24 pyruvate dehydrogenase chains, 24 dihydrolipoyl transacetylase chains, and 12 flavoprotein chains. Possible distributions of the pyruvate dehydrogenase chains and the flavoprotein chains around the transacetylase core are discussed.

1. 1. An enzyme was isolated from spinach-leaf chloroplasts which catalyzes the reduction of dyes by TPNH. 2. 2. A 20-fold purification has been achieved over the initial chloroplast extract, or a 100-fold purification over the crude homogenate. 3. 3. Diaphorase activity was found to be widely distributed among higher plants. 4. 4. TPNH was the only electron donor found to be active. Several dyes can be used as electron acceptors, but cytochrome c will not be reduced. 5. 5. The pH optimum and the affinities of the enzyme have been determined. 6. 6. The enzyme is inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, iodoacetate, and some heavy metals, but is insensitive to Versene, cyanide, azide, hydroxylamine, or o-phenanthroline. 7. 7. FAD has been shown to be associated with the enzyme. 8. 8. The relation of the enzyme to photosynthesis and the Hill reaction, and its possible use as an analytical tool, are discussed.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase (NADH:lipoamide oxidoreductase EC 1.6.4.3) has been isolated from Ascaris suum muscle mitochondria. This activity has been purified to apparent homogeneity from both the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and from 150,000g mitochondrial supernatants which were devoid of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity. The enzymes from both sources exhibited similar kinetic, catalytic, and regulatory properties and appear to be identical as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native enzyme acts as a dimer, containing 2 mol of FAD, and has a subunit molecular weight of 54,000, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel chromatography. The enzyme also possesses substantial NADH:NAD+ transhydrogenase activity. Heat denaturation and differential solubilization experiments imply that the transhydrogenase activity previously reported is, in fact, associated with the lipoamide dehydrogenase moiety of the Ascaris pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Whether or not this activity functions physiologically in hydride ion translocation, as previously suggested, remains to be demonstrated.

The effect of dicoumarol on glucuronidation of 3-OH-benzo(a)pyrene (BP) appears to be due to inhibition of UDPglucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT)and not to an inhibited DT-diaphorase (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase); to date the only enzyme known to be inhibited by dicoumarol. This dicoumarol-sensitive form of UDPGT does not seem to be identical to the major form catalyzing the glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol or methylumbelliferone, nor to the isozyme involved in the formation of phenolphthalein glucuronides. These conclusions are based on the following observations: (1) In solubilized microsomes, devoid of DT-diaphorase, a 3-OH-BP glucuronidation activity is found which is very similar to that observed in microsomes before passing through an azodicoumarol Sepharose 6B column that binds more than 98% of DT-diaphorase; (2) in the eluate from this column the inhibition by dicoumarol of 3-OH-BP glucuronidation is the same as in microsomes containing DT-diaphorase; (3) other coumarin derivatives, which are either modified or substituted in the methylene bridge between the two coumarin entities in dicoumarol, are potent inhibitors of DT-diaphorase but not of UDPGT; (4) a concentration of 10−6 m dicoumarol is sufficient to inhibit 3-OH-BP glucuronidation 50%. In contrast, to inhibit glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol or methylumbelliferone the concentration of dicoumarol must be raised to the substrate level: i.e., 10−4 m . Phenolphthalein glucuronidation is almost unaffected even by this high concentration of dicoumarol. The present investigation also reveals that DT-diaphorase and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase can both catalyze the reduction of BP-3,6-quinone for the formation of BP-3,6-quinol glucuronides. In the eluate from the azodicoumarol Sepharose 6B column, no NADH-supported glucuronidation of BP-3,6-quinone can be detected unless DT-diaphorase is added. However, NADPH-supported formation of BP-3,6-quinol glucuronides can still be observed. The rate of the latter reaction is sufficient enough to allow studies on the effect of dicoumarol on BP-3,6-quinone glucuronidation. These results show that glucuronidation of BP-3,6-quinols is also catalyzed by a dicoumarol-sensitive UDPGT. However, not only is the formation of BP-3,6-quinol monoglucuronides inhibited by dicoumarol, but the conversion of monoglucuronides to diglucuronides is inhibited as well. The former reaction is inhibited 50% by 3.5 × 10−6 m dicoumarol (close to the I50 for 3-OH-BP glucuronidation), whereas 10 times less dicoumarol (2 × 10−7 m ) is sufficient for 50% inhibition of the latter reaction. These results are consistent with previous suggestions that two different forms of UDPGT are involved in the formation of BP-3,6-quinol mono- and diglucuronides.

Pseudomonas putida produces two lipoamide dehydrogenases with molecular weights of 49,000 and 56,000 designated LPD-val and LPD-glc, respectively. LPD-val is required for oxidation of valine, since it is specifically utilized as the E3 component of branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase. Since glycine oxidation by bacteria and mammals also requires lipoamide dehydrogenase, we desired to determine which lipoamide dehydrogenase would be used by the P. putida glycine oxidation system. When grown in a medium with glycine as the sole nitrogen source, P. putida produced a single lipoamide dehydrogenase with a molecular weight of 56,000 and which reacted with antiserum to LPD-glc. The partially purified glycine oxidation system from P. putida was stimulated by LPD-glc but not by LPD-val and was inhibited by anti-LPD-glc, but not by anti-LPD-val. It was not possible to detect LPD-val in extracts of cells grown in glucose-glycine medium by the use of anti-LPD-val. LPD-glc was five times as active as LPD-val in catalyzing the oxidation of purified protein H, the heat-stable, lipoic acid-containing protein of the glycine oxidation system. These results indicate that LPD-glc is specifically utilized for glycine oxidation in P. putida.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) is the common component of the three alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes oxidizing pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and the branched-chain alpha-ketoacids. E3 also participates in the glycine cleavage system. E3 belongs to the enzyme family called pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases, catalyzing the electron transfer between pyridine nucleotides and disulfide compounds. This review summarizes the information available for E3 from a variety of species, from a halophilic archaebacterium which has E3 but no alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes, to mammalian species. Evidence is reviewed for the existence of two E3 isozymes (one for pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex and the other for branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex) in Pseudomonas species and for possible mammalian isozymes of E3, one associated with the three alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and one for the glycine cleavage system. The comparison of the complete amino acid sequences of E3 from Escherichia coli, yeast, pig, and human shows considerable homologies of certain amino acid residues or short stretches of sequences, especially in the specific catalytic and structural domains. Similar homology is found with the limited available amino acid sequence information on E3 from several other species. Sequence comparison is also presented for other member flavoproteins [e.g., glutathione reductase and mercury(II) reductase] of the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase family. Based on the known tertiary structure of human glutathione reductase it may be possible to predict the domain structures of E3. Additionally, the sequence information may help to better understand a divergent evolutionary relationship among these flavoproteins in different species.

The α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex in extracts of bovine kidney and liver mitochondria is inactivated rapidly at 25 °C. This inactivation is not accompanied by loss of activity of the three component enzymes of the complex. This inactivation can be prevented by extensive washing of the mitochondria with dilute phosphate buffer prior to rupturing the mitochondria by freezing and thawing. Evidence is presented that the washings contain a protease which cleaves a peptide bond or bonds in the dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase component of the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, and this limited proteolysis results in dissociation of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase from the transsuccinylase. The protease appears to be specific for the transsuccinylase component of the mammalian α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. It does not affect the activity of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex or the Escherichia coli α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. The protease has been purified about 100-fold from extracts of unwashed mitochondria from bovine kidney. It requires a thiol for activity and it is not affected by treatment with diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate or phenylmethyl sulfonylfluoride. A component has been detected in highly purified preparations of the bovine kidney α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which is present in trace amounts, if at all, in purified preparations of the bovine heart α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. This component is tightly bound to the transsuccinylase.

Chemical modifications are carried out to investigate cationic residues of lipoamide dehydrogenase. Amidinations with imidoesters which introduce amidino groups with various substituents, alter the dehydrogenase activity without significantly affecting other functional activities. Correlation analyses of kinetic parameters (lipoamide reduction catalyzed by amidinated enzymes) for substituent effects offer a useful technique for studying structure-function relationship of the lysine residues. The specificity of phosphopyridoxylation and subsequent photoinactivation of the phosphopyridoxylated enzyme enable us to identify the lysine residue at the proximity of the active site histidine. Sensitized photoinactivation of glyoxalated enzyme together with relevant results suggest that the lysine residue provides cationic environment to the hydrophobic active site, and thereby, affects the reactivity of the active site histidine in the dehydrogenase reaction.

The enzymatic complex nitrate reductase from Chlorella fusca is inactivated by simple thiols, like dithioerythritol and mercaptoethanol, and by sulfite. The inactivation affects FNH2-nitrate reductase but not NADH-diaphorase. In all cases, partial reactivation can be achieved by addition of ferricyanide. The extent of inactivation is increased by the presence of NAD+, but not by NADP+. Nitrate, on the contrary, protects the complex against inactivation. Although the interaction of thiols and sulfite with molybdenum or other possible metal present in the complex is not excluded, it seems probable that the inactivation produced by these reagents involves the reduction of disulfide bridges.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase from pig heart exists in monomer-dimer equilibrium. The effect of the state of subunit aggregation on the multifunctionality of lipoamide dehydrogenase was investigated by the use of chemically trapped monomeric and dimeric enzymes. Reductive carboxymethylation with 2-mercaptoethanol-iodoacetate yields the stable monomeric enzyme which has been isolated for structural and kinetic studies. The chemically induced monomerization is accompanied by conformational changes resulting in an increased mobility of flavin-adenine dinucleotide. The chemically trapped monomer shows an enhanced diaphorase activity, a reduced electron transferase activity, and a complete loss in dehydrogenase as well as transhydrogenase activities. The enhanced diaphorase activity is associated with increased catalytic efficiencies and the reversal of an inhibitory NADH effect at high concentrations. Treatment of lipoamide dehydrogenase with dimethyl suberimidate gives amidinated samples containing crosslinked dimer. The crosslinked enzyme exhibits a higher dehydrogenase catalytic efficiency than the noncrosslinked enzyme with different kinetic mechanisms without significantly affecting the kinetic parameters of diaphorase reaction. Although the dimeric structure is intimately associated with the dehydrogenase activity, it does not preclude the diaphorase activity. An altered flavin-adenine dinucleotide environment accompanying monomerization is likely responsible for the enhanced diaphorase activity.

A series of DPNH diaphorases has been isolated from cell-free extracts of the H37Ra strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis . These diaphorases are either soluble or can be solubilized by treatment of the DPNH-oxidase particles with either digitonin or with alkaline buffers following lyophilization. Each diaphorase preparation can use more than one electron acceptor (nitro-BT, 5 DCPP, ferricyanide, K 3 , or cytochrome c). This multiplicity of electron acceptors is a reflection of the multiplicity of diapliorases in each preparation and is not due to lack of electron acceptor specificity. The soluble and particulate diaphorases are related. The DPNH-diaphorase activities solubilized from the washed DPNH-oxidizing particles are identical with the soluble DPNH diaphorases found in the original cell-free extract. We conclude that the soluble DPNH diaphorases found in the original cell-free extract are derived from the comminution of the DPNH-oxidase particles during preparation of the cell-free extract. The DPNH-oxidase particles are probably derived from the cytoplasmic membrane as opposed to pre-existing intracellular particles. Evidence is presented suggesting the production of more than one diaphorase with the same electron acceptor specificity, the same enzymatic constants but different physical characteristics.

The binding of pyridine nucleotides by pig heart lipoyl dehydrogenase (NADH: lipoamide oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.4.3) results in a small but significant decrease in fluorescence emission by the enzyme-bound flavin. The binding of NAD, 3-acetyl-NAD, and thionicotinamide NAD have been studied by fluorescence titration of the enzyme with these compounds. At 25 °, the titration curves with NAD and 3-acetyl-NAD are biphasic, indicating “low affinity” and “high affinity” sites. For NAD, dissociation constants of 0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.9 ± 0.2 m m were estimated, while 0.3 ± 0.1 and 2.1 ± 0.1 m m were obtained with the 3-acetyl analog. Biphasicity was retained at 5 °, but increasing the temperature to 37 ° resulted in monophasic titration curves. In contrast, thionicotinamide NAD gave monophasic titration curves at both 25 ° and 37 °, with 0.5 ± 0.1 m m being estimated as the dissociation constant at 25 °. NAD acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor of NADH in the diaphorase reaction catalyzed by this enzyme (estimated Ki, 0.19 m m ) while the thionicotinamide and 3-acetyl analogs were competitive inhibitors (estimated Ki values of 2 × 10−2 and 1.3 × 10−2 m m , respectively). No direct correlation could be seen between the binding affinities and the effects of these compounds on the diaphorase activities of lipoyl dehydrogenase.

An FAD containing diaphorase and lipoamide dehydrogenase were purified as by-products in the isolation of cobalamin methyltransferase from extracts of Escherichia coli B. In the presence of 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) and/or NADH these two flavoproteins, as well as pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase, were shown to replace substantially the requirement for free FMNH2 (or FADH2) by the bacterial methyltrausferase. Assay systems containing each of these three flavoproteins, respectively, differed in their dependencies on DTT and NADH. The differences were attributed, in part, to the ability of E. coli B lipoamide dehydrogenase to use DTT as a substrate in comparison to the bacterial diaphorase and pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase. In addition, a preliminary incubation of the cobalamin protein with DTT markedly increased its activity in the presence of two of the NADH-reduced flavoproteins. For each of the three flavoproteins 1 mμmole of added, bound FAD could be shown to support the synthesis of 10 mμmoles of 14CH3−-methionine. With the use of NADH + iodoacetamide-treated pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase, it was demonstrated that both the semiquinoid (FADH·) state and the fully reduced (FADH2) form of a single flavoprotein can function as reductants for the cobalamin enzyme.

A diaphorase which utilizes both reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) has been purified from a commercial preparation of Clostridium kluyverii . The purified enzyme appears to be homogeneous, and contains flavin mononucleotide (FMN) as a cofactor. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 24,000 and 1 mole of FMN per mole of enzyme is present. No evidence has been found for any metal ion involvement. The enzyme does not catalyze hydrogen exchange between pyridine nucleotides, and cannot utilize DPNH or TPNH to reduce oxygen or cytochrome c . The enzyme is protected against denaturation in urea, guanidine hydrochloride and at elevated temperatures by DPNH, TPNH and FMN, but not by DPN, TPN, FAD or riboflavin.

The small protein units obtained from acetylated myosins of red, white and cardiac muscles of the rabbit, have been compared. Histochemical staining for NAD diaphorase shows that some red muscles have exclusively “red” fibers, while others have a mixture of red and white. The “pure” red yield a myosin with small units corresponding electrophoretically to those of cardiac myosin, plus a new slow band. The myosin of “mixed” red muscles shows five bands, corresponding to the two cardiac and the three white skeletal bands. The Ca-ATPase of the myosin of red fibers is close to that of cardiac myosin. The myosins of wild rabbit muscles resemble those of the tame in small units and in enzymic activity. The two small units of cardiac myosin have molecular weights of 19,300 and 21,700.

N - dl -Lipoyl- d -glucosamine and N - dl -lipoyl- d -glucosaminitol were prepared and tested as substrates for lipoyl dehydrogenase (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide: Lipoamide oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.4.3). It was anticipated that such lipoateamino carbohydrate derivatives would be superior substrates for the enzyme, having greater water solubility than lipoamide, and greater enzyme affinity than lipoate and other anionic derivatives. N - dl -Lipoyl- d -glucosamine proved to be only sparingly soluble in water although both derivatives were more soluble than dl -lipoamide. Both compounds were enzymatically reduced by NADH, but they were no better as substrates for lipoyl dehydrogenase than lipoate anion. Saturation kinetics were not observed indicating that enzyme-substrate interaction was rate limiting. Conventional saturation kinetics were obtained with the dithiol forms of these lipoate derivatives serving as electron donors for the enzymatic reduction of NAD, but their effectiveness as substrates was lower than with dl -dihydrolipoamide. It is suggested that the active center of lipoyl dehydrogenase is hydrophobic and as a consequence those derivatives with a highly hydrated function near the lipoyl carbonyl group are inferior substrates.

2,6-Dichlorophenolindophenol reacts with the sulfhydryl group at the active site of apo-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase isolated from chicken muscle to form a leuco dye-enzyme adduct which is yellow. The leuco dye-enzyme adduct is oxidized by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol to form an oxidized dye-enzyme adduct which is blue. NADH converts the oxidized enzyme-dye adduct to the leuco enzymedye adduct. The enzyme-dye adducts catalyze the oxidation of NADH by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol in a reaction which exhibits “ping-pong” kinetics. The pH rate behavior of the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme-dye adduct differs considerably from the non-enzymatic oxidation of NADH by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol. A scheme for the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme-dye adduct which is consistent with the experimental observations is presented.

A new flavoenzyme was partially purified from the soluble fraction of Bombyx silkworm eggs. The enzyme catalyzes the reduction of cytochrome c at an equal rate in the presence of NADH or NADPH as substrate. This reaction requires an aminophenol such as 3-hydroxykynurenine or its dimer, xanthommatin, as cofactor. It was also found that 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol is a direct electron acceptor without cofactor. Sulfhydryl reagents, quinacrine, and dicoumarol inhibited this enzyme while metal chelaters had no inhibitory effect. The enzyme was also found in the soluble fraction of rat liver, and we studied its possible identity with DT-diaphorase (EC.I.6.99.2) found by Ernster in the same fraction. Several lines of evidence show that the enzyme is quite different from DT-diaphorase. Experiments using rat mitochondria showed the possibility that the enzyme can mediate the oxidation of extramitochondrial NADH and NADPH by the mitochondrial system.

Diphenylamine (DPA) at concentrations of 10−4M and above inhibits NADH oxidase and succinoxidase activities of plant mitochondria. At the lower concentrations (≦2.7 × 10−4M) the inhibitory effects result primarily from DPA acting in the region between succinic and NADH dehydrogenases, and the first cytochrome component of the electron transport chain(s). This conclusion was based on the following results: (1) DPA delayed the reduction of mitochondrial cytochromes in the sweet potato succinoxidase system; no reduced-oxidized cytochrome pairs were observed; (2) NADH- and succinic-cytochrome c reductase activities of the mitochondria were severely inhibited by 2.7 × 10−4M DPA; (3) succinic dehydrogenase and NADH diaphorase activities of the mitochondria were not inhibited by that concentration of DPA; (4) menadione effects an antimycin A-insensitive shunt from NADH to cytochrome c which is not inhibited by DPA; and (5) much smaller effects were exerted by DPA on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity. The antimycin A-insensitive respiration in sweet potato mitochondria was also inhibited by DPA, suggesting that DPA may be useful in testing alternate pathway theories.