Different reactivity of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferases toward an affinity labeling reagent analog of the coenzyme.

Abstract

The two isoenzymes of aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart have been reacted with a derivative of the coenzyme, 4'-N-(2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenyl) pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate, which is a potential affinity labeling reagent. The derivative has a great affinity for both isoapoenzymes. In the cytosolic isoenzyme, the reversible binding is followed by a covalent labeling of the epsilon amino group of lysine 258, which usually forms an aldimine bond with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. In the mitochondrial isoenzyme, no labeling occurs at the active site. The different reactivity indicates that a small but definite difference exists in the geometry of the two active sites. In the cytosolic isoenzyme also a sulfhydryl group outside the active site region, namely cysteine 45, reacts, but not by an affinity labeling mechanism. In both isoenzymes, the reversibly bound reagent slowly undergoes a splitting reaction by which pyridoxal-5'-phosphate is regenerated and activity re-established; the rate of this reaction is not fast enough to impaire the labeling potential of the reagent.