Interaction of Zn2+ and Eu3+ with bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase

Bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase is potently inhibited by Zn2+ ions. At pH 7.0 a kinetic dissociation constant for Zn2+ of 18 microM is obtained. The fluorescent lanthanide Eu3+ competes for the Zn2+-binding site and relieves the Zn2+-induced inhibition, but does not cause inhibition. Studies on the effects of Zn2+ or Eu3+ on the tertiary and quaternary structure of the enzyme by the use of protein fluorescence, heat-stability and re-activation after guanidinium chloride denaturation indicate that, whereas Zn2+ affects both tertiary and quaternary structure, Eu3+ does not affect either, consistent with its lack of effect on enzymic properties. Eu3+ fluorescence had a strong excitation peak at 395 nm with emission at 456 nm. In the presence of glutamate dehydrogenase the fluorescence emission is shifted to 501 nm. Eu3+, with high-affinity binding site and distinctive fluorescence properties after binding, would appear to be an ideal fluorophore for use in conformational studies or resonance-energy-transfer studies.