Malic enzyme activity in heart

Regulation of mitochondrial and cytosolic malic enzymes from cultured rat brain astrocytes

Malate has a number of key roles in the brain, including its function as a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate, and as a participant in the malate-aspartate shuttle. In addition, malate is converted to pyruvate and CO2 via malic enzyme and may participate in metabolic trafficking between astrocytes and neurons. We have previously demonstrated that malate is metabolized in at least two compartments of TCA cycle activity in astrocytes. Since malic enzyme contributes to the overall regulation of malate metabolism, we determined the activity and kinetics of the mitochondrial and cytosolic forms of this enzyme from cultured astrocytes. Malic enzyme activity measured at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.5 mM malate was 4.15 +/- 0.47 and 11.61 +/- 0.98 nmol/min/mg protein, in mitochondria and cytosol, respectively (mean +/- SEM, n = 18-19). Malic enzyme activity was also measured in the presence of several endogenous compounds, which have been shown to alter intracellular malate metabolism in astrocytes, to determine if these compounds affected malic enzyme activity. Lactate inhibited cytosolic malic enzyme by a noncompetitive mechanism, but had no effect on the mitochondrial enzyme. alpha-Ketoglutarate inhibited both cytosolic and mitochondrial malic enzymes by a partial noncompetitive mechanism. Citrate inhibited cytosolic malic enzyme competitively and inhibited mitochondrial malic enzyme noncompetitively at low concentrations of malate, but competitively at high concentrations of malate. Both glutamate and aspartate decreased the activity of mitochondrial malic enzyme, but also increased the affinity of the enzyme for malate. The results demonstrate that mitochondrial and cytosolic malic enzymes have different kinetic parameters and are regulated differently by endogenous compounds previously shown to alter malate metabolism in astrocytes. We propose that malic enzyme in brain has an important role in the complete oxidation of anaplerotic compounds for energy.

Purification, cDNA cloning and heterologous expression of the human mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme

Mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme (ME; EC 1.1.1.39) has been purified to homogeneity and characterized kinetically from bovine heart. Partial amino acid sequence information allowed amplification of a specific bovine cDNA, which was used to isolate a full-length human cDNA of this isoform of ME. The cDNA is 1930 bp long and codes for a protein of 604 amino acids. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of this isoform with published sequences of other human ME isoforms shows stretches of homology interrupted by larger regions with significant differences. The human protein has been expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant human protein has the same kinetic properties as the corresponding protein purified from bovine heart. Northern blot analysis showed a strong tissue-specific transcription with a predominantly high expression-rate in organs with a low division-rate.

Comparison between developmental and senescent changes in enzyme activities linked to energy metabolism in rat heart

The developmental and senescent patterns of a number of heart enzyme activities linked to energy metabolism have been studied in rats aged between 4 days and 21 months. A morphometric study of mitochondrial volume fractions and numbers has been also carried out. Developmental changes result in a rise of most mitochondrial enzymes (NADP+-isocitrate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, succinate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase) and mitochondrial volume fractions. Exceptions are NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase, which declines from 4 days onwards, and NAD+-malate dehydrogenase, which declines and then rises over the same period. Senescent changes follow two different trends. While pyruvate kinase and those mitochondrial enzymes lying between citrate formation and isocitrate oxidation (citrate synthase, NADP+-and NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenases) decline to some degree, mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and NAD+-malate dehydrogenase activities increase over the same period. This could point towards a partial impairment of Krebs cycle function, and a reduced energy-producing capacity in the aged rat heart.

High activity of NADP-dependent malic enzyme in mitochondria from abdomen muscle of the crayfish Orconectes limosus

1. Mitochondria isolated from abdomen muscle of crayfish Orconectes limosus exhibit malic enzyme activity in the presence of L-malate, NADP and Mn2+ ions after addition of Triton X-100. Under optimal conditions about 230 nmole of reduced NADP and an equivalent amount of pyruvate are produced per min per mg of mitochondrial protein. 2. The pH optimum for decarboxylation of L-malate is about 7.5. 3. The apparent Km for L-malate, NADP and Mn2+ ions was found to be 0.66, 0.012, and 0.0025 mM, respectively. 4. The requirement for Mn2+ can be replaced by Mg2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ ions; however, higher concentrations of these ions than Mn2+ are required for a full stimulation of malic enzyme activity. 5. Oxaloacetate and pyruvate inhibited the enzyme activity in a competitive manner with apparent Ki values of 0.05 mM and 5.4 mM, respectively.