JBC, Vol. 250, Issue 16, 6191-6196, Aug, 1975
L-fucose metabolism in mammals. Kinetic studies on pork liver 2-keto-3-deoxy-L-fuconate:NAD+ oxidoreductase
N. A. Nwokoro and H. Schachter
Pork liver 2-keto-3-deoxy-L-fuconate:NAD+ oxidoreductase has been shown to
convert 2-keto-3-deoxy-L-fuconate to a 6-carbon acid tentatively identified
as 2,4(or 5)-diketo-5(or 4)-monohydroxyhexanoate. The enzyme has a pH
optimum of 10. 5 or higher. It is stabilized by dithiothereitol and
inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and heavy metals (Ag+, Hg2+, Co2+,
Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+), suggesting the presence of a functionally
essential sulfhydryl group; pre-treatment of enzyme with NAD+ prevents
inhibition by p-hydrocymercuribenzoate and heavy metals indicating that
this sulfhydryl group may be near the NAD+ binding site. The enzyme has an
absolute requirement for NAD+; NADP+ is an ineffective coenzyme. Several
lines of evidence indicate that the same enzyme acts on both
2-keto-3-deocy-L-fuconate and 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-arabonate; thus, the pure
enzyme acts on both substrates, the two substrates have very similar
kinetic parameters (Km values are: 2-keto-3-deocy-L-fuconate, 0.20 mM;
2-keto-3-deoxy-D-arabonate, 0.25 mM; NAD+ for either substrate, 0.22 to
0.25 mM), the two substrates show identical pH and temperature profiles and
the two substrates compete for common enzyme active sites. A large number
of other sugars and sugar acids, including several 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonates,
were ineffective as substrates. The dehydrogenase was also found in calf,
beef, lamb, mouse, and rat liver. These studies when considered together
with previous studies on the metabolism of L-fucose in pork liver indicate
the presence of a soluble enzyme pathway capable of converting L-fucose to
2,4(or 5)-diketo-5(or 4)-monohydroxyhexanoate; this pathway can also
convert D-arabinose, and probably L-galactose, to the analogous derivatives
(diketomonohydroxypentanoate and diketodihydroxyhexanoate, respectively.