A Novel NAD-Dependent Dehydrogenase, Highly Specific for 1,5-Anhydro- d -Glucitol, from Trichoderma longibrachiatum Strain 11-3

Abstract

ABSTRACT A novel NAD-dependent dehydrogenase highly specific for 1,5-anhydro- d -glucitol (1,5-AG) was found in the cell extract of an imperfect fungus, Trichoderma longibrachiatum strain 11-3. This fungus used 1,5-AG as a sole carbon source for growth and transformed 1,5-AG into glucose. 1,5-AG dehydrogenase (AGH) was purified to homogeneity, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 36 and 141 kDa by SDS-PAGE and by gel filtration, respectively, suggesting that the enzyme was homotetrameric. The enzyme was highly specific for 1,5-AG and did not exhibit activity with any sugar or sugar alcohol tested in this study other than 1,5-AG. A linear relationship between the initial rate of the enzyme reaction and the concentration of 1,5-AG at the physiological level was observed. The presence of glucose in abundance did not interfere with the relationship. The optimum temperature for the enzyme reaction was 50°C, and the enzyme was stable at temperatures up to 70°C. These results suggested that AGH is a novel enzyme and is useful for specifically diagnosing diabetes mellitus.