Identity of Kynurenine: Pyruvate Aminotransferase with Histidine:Pyruvate Aminotransferase

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Abstract
Kynurenine pyruvate aminotransferase was purified from rat kidney. The purified enzyme had an isoelectric point of pH 5.2 and a pH optimum of 9.3. The enzyme was active with pyruvate as amino acceptor but not with 2-oxoglutarate, and utilized various aromatic amino acids as amino donors. L-Amino acids were effective in the following order of activity: histidine > phenylalanine > kynurenine > tyrosine > tryptophan > 5-hydroxytryptophan. The apparent Km values were about 0.63 mM, 1.4 mM and 0.09 mM for histidine, kynurenine and phenylalanine, respectively. Km values for pyruvate were 5.5 mM with histidine as amino donor, 1.3 mM with kynurenine and 8.5 mM with phenylalanine. Kynurenine pyruvate aminotransferase activity of the enzyme was inhibited by the addition of histidine or phenylalanine. The MW determined by gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation were approximately 76,000 and 79,000, respectively. On the basis of purification ratio, substrate specificity, inhibition by common substrates, subcellular distribution, isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, it is suggested that kynurenine pyruvate aminotransferase is identical with histidine pyruvate aminotransferase and also with phenylalanine pyruvate aminotransferase. The physiological significance of the enzyme is discussed.