Oligomerization and the Affinity of Maize Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase for Its Substrate

When two different forms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from maize (Zea mays L.) leaves are present in an assay it is possible to estimate the ratio of Vmax to Km (V/K) for the two forms separately. This measure of the binding of the substrate by the enzyme permits evaluation of the effects of various treatments on the relative substrate-binding velocity of the enzyme. PEPC diluted 1/20 is present in a mixture of a tetrameric form with a high affinity for phosphoenolpyruvate and a dimeric form with a low affinity (M.-X. Wu, C.R. Meyer, K.O. Willeford, R.T. Wedding [1990] Arch Biochem Biophys 281: 324-329). Malate at 5 mM reduced (V/K)1,[mdash]the V/K of the probable tetrameric form[mdash]almost to zero, but reduced (V/K)2[mdash]the V/K of the probable dimer[mdash]by only about 80%. Glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) at 5 mM increased (V/K)1 to 155% of the control but had no effect on (V/K)2. Glycerol (20%) alone increased both V/Ks, and its effects are additive to the Glc-6-P effects, implying different mechanisms for activation by Glc-6-P and glycerol.