Studies on pig liver mevalonate-5-diphosphate decarboxylase

Abstract

A procedure in which three sequential enzymes of cholesterol biosynthesis, mevalonate kinase (ATP:( R)-mevalonate) 5-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.36), phosphomevalonate kinase (ATP:( R)-5-phosphomevalonate) phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.2) and mevalonate-5-diphosphate decarboxylase (ATP:( R)-5-diphosphomevalonate) carboxy-lyase (dehydrating), EC 4.1.1.33), from pig liver, could be purified in the one operation is described. Mevalonate kinase and phosphomevalonate kinase were utilized for the enzymic synthesis of mevalonate 5-diphosphate (both 1- 14C-labelled and unlabelled), the substrate for mevalonate-5-diphosphate decarboxylase, using excess free ATP 4−). A radioactive assay for the enzyme, based on the release of 14CO 2 from [1- 14C]mevalonate-5-diphosphate, was developed. The assay allowed reassessment of the metal and nucleotide specificity of the decarboxylase. ATP could be partially replaced by GTP and ITP, but no activity was observed with CTP, UTP or TTP. Apparent activation of the enzyme by ATP 4− was observed as found for mevalonate kinase (C.S. Lee and W.J. O'Sullivan (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 747, 215–224) and phosphomevalonate kinase (C.S. Lee and W.J. O'Sullivan (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 839, 83–89). The presence of 1 mM excess free ATP 4−, above that complexed as the substrate MgATP 2−, decreased the K m for MgATP 2− from 0.45 mM to 0.15 mM. MgADP − was shown to act as a competitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP 2−.