A novel D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate binding protein, a truncated albumin, with D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitory property

We have purified a novel protein from mice muscle, which through N-terminal amino acid sequencing was identified as a truncated form of mouse albumin. The protein was found to be a monomer of ∼64 kDa and located in the cytosol. The purified protein strongly crossreacted with commercial albumin antibody. Presence of this protein was observed in different mouse organs. Further biochemical studies as well as CD spectroscopy indicated that the protein binds D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate limiting the availability of the substrate to the enzyme D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, thereby inhibiting its catalytic activity. The implication of this protein in the control of glycolysis has been discussed. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(10): 995–1000, 2009