NADPH regulates human NAD kinase, a NADP-biosynthetic enzyme.

NAD kinase (NADK, EC 2.7.1.23) is the sole NADP-biosynthetic enzyme that catalyzes phosphorylation of NAD to yield NADP using ATP as a phosphoryl donor, and thus, plays a vital role in the cell and represents a potentially powerful antimicrobial drug target. Although methods for expression and purification of human NADK have been previously established (Lerner et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 288:69-74, ), the purification procedure could be significantly improved. In this study, we improved the method for expression and purification of human NADK in Escherichia coli and obtained a purified homogeneous enzyme only through heat treatment and single column chromatography. Using the purified human NADK, we revealed a sigmoidal kinetic behavior toward ATP and the inhibitory effects of NADPH and NADH, but not of NADP, on the catalytic activity of the enzyme. These inhibitory effects provide insight into the regulation of intracellular NADPH synthesis. Furthermore, these attributes may provide a clue to design a novel drug against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in which this bacterial NADK is potently inhibited by NADP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]