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. 1983 May;72(1):194–199. doi: 10.1104/pp.72.1.194

Extraction and Partial Characterization of the Glycine Decarboxylase Multienzyme Complex from Pea Leaf Mitochondria 1

G Sarojini 1, David J Oliver 1
PMCID: PMC1066194  PMID: 16662959

Abstract

Glycine decarboxylase has been successfully solubilized from pea (Pisum sativum) leaf mitochondria as an acetone powder. The enzyme was dependent on added dithiothreitol and pyridoxal phosphate for maximal activity. The enzyme preparation could catalyze the exchange of CO2 into the carboxyl carbon of glycine, the reverse of the glycine decarboxylase reaction by converting serine, NH4+, and CO2 into glycine, and 14CO2 release from [1-14C]glycine. The half-maximal concentrations for the glycine-bicarbonate exchange reaction were 1.7 millimolar glycine, 16 millimolar NaH14CO2, and 0.006 millimolar pyridoxal phosphate. The enzyme (glycine-bicarbonate exchange reaction) was active in the assay conditions for 1 hour and could be stored for over 1 month. The enzymic mechanism appeared similar to that reported for the enzyme from animals and bacteria but some quantitative differences were noted. These included the tenacity of binding to the mitochondrial membrane, the concentration of pyridoxal phosphate needed for maximum activity, the requirement for dithiothreitol for maximum activity, and the total amount of activity present. Now that this enzyme has been solubilized, a more detailed understanding of this important step in photorespiration should be possible.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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