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Metabolism and Enzymology

Comparison of Phosphoenolpyruvate-Carboxykinase from Autotrophically and Heterotrophically Grown Euglena and Its Role during Dark Anaerobiosis ¹

Botanical Institute, University of Bonn, D-5300 Bonn 1, Federal Republic of Germany

Euglena gracilis (1224-5/9) contains phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase when grown autotrophic with CO₂ in the light. Its yield is higher when an additional carbon source like glucose has been added. The enzyme is lacking in cells provided with CO₂ alone and kept in the dark, whereas highest yields result if both glucose and CO₂ are provided together in the dark. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and affinity chromatography on GMP-Sepharose. The latter step was most effective to protect the enzyme from inactivation. Its homogeneity was tested electrophoretically and immunologically. Enzymes from autotrophic and heterotrophically grown cells have identical pH optima and similar isoelectric points. The molecular weight was different: 761,000 for the enzyme from autotrophic and 550,000 for that from heterotrophic cells as determined by gel filtration. The subunit molecular weight of both enzymes is nearly the same. The kinetic data of the enzymes are slightly different. Glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates are of limited influence on enzyme activity and inhibitory in unphysiological high concentrations. From Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it is evident that the enzyme is localized in the cytosol. With the latter quantification test the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase protein content was found 10 times higher in heterotrophically grown cells than when cultivated under autotrophic conditions.

¹ Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.