Studies on Regulatory Functions of Malic Enzymes

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Abstract
Screening of four malic enzymes—NAD-linked enzyme [EC 1.1.1.38], NAD,NADP-linked enzyme [EC 1.1.1.39], NADP-linked enzyme [EC 1.1.1.40], and D-malic enzyme—was carried out with cell-free extracts of the following 16 strains of bacteria by the aid of Sepharose 6B column chromatography: 9 strains of enteric bacteria, 3 strains of Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes faecalis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Clostridium tetanomorphum. All the strains tested contained at least one malic enzyme. The NADP-linked enzyme activity was found in all the strains except C. tetanomorphum, the NAD-linked enzyme activity in 12 strains—8 strains of enteric bacteria, 2 strains of Pseudomonas, Ag. tumefaciens, and C. tetanomorphum—and D-malic enzyme activity in 4 strains—A, aerogenes (IFO 3319 and 12059), Ps. fluorescens, and R. rubrum. The NADP-linked and NAD-linked enzyme activities of two strains of Pseudomonas were not separated by the chromatography. The available evidence suggested that the NAD, NADP-linked enzyme was not present in these 16 strains. The comparative studies of molecular, enzymatic, and serological properties of the malic enzymes in these 16 strains revealed a close similarity of the same types of malic enzymes among enteric bacteria.