Identification of creatine as a cofactor of thiamin-diphosphate kinase

Thiamin-diphosphate (TDP) kinase which catalyzes thiamin triphosphate formation from TDP requires a low-molecular-mass cofactor in addition to ATP and Mg2+. The cofactor was isolated in a crystalline form from pig skeletal muscle and identified as creatine by proton NMR, mass spectrometry, infrared spectrometry and elemental analysis. The isolated cofactor and authentic creatine supported the same activity of partially purified TDP kinase at identical molar concentrations. Neither creatine phosphate nor creatinine showed activity as a cofactor. This is the first report showing evidence of the existence of a creatine-dependent enzyme.