Essential Arginine Residues in Lactate Dehydrogenase from Germinating Soybean

Abstract

The lactate dehydrogenase was isolated from soybean (Glycine max. L.) by a procedure that employed biospecific chromatography on a column of Blue-Sepharose CL-6B. The participation of the guanidine group of arginine residues in the mechanism of enzyme action was determined through kinetic and chemical modification studies. The dependence of enzyme activity on pH was followed in the alkaline region (pH 8.6 - 12.8). The pK values found were 12.4 for the enzyme substrate complex and 11.1 for the free enzyme. The enzyme was inactivated by phenylglyoxal, 2,3-butanedione, 1,2-cyclohexanedione and p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal reagents used in modification experiments. Kinetic analysis of the modification indicated that one arginine residue is modified when inactivation occurs. No effect was observed on the rate of inactivation upon addition of coenzyme. The extent of enzyme modification by p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal was determined. It appears there are at least two arginine residues in the active site of the enzyme.