Subunit structure and kinetic properties of L-beta-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase of Drosophila

L-beta-hydroxyacid dehydrogeanse (L-gulonate:NAD+ 3-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.45) of Drosophila is made up of two non-identical subunits with molecular weights of 40 000 and 23 500. Michaelis constants calculated at saturating concentrations of the other substrate were 0.13 mM for NAD+, 0.85 mM for L-gulonate, 14.8 mM for L-beta-hydroxybutyrate; dissociation constants (Kia) were 2.8 mM for L-gulonate, 22 mM for L-beta-hydroxybutyrate. The maximum velocity with L-gulonate as substrate was ten-fold greater than with beta-hydroxybutyrate. As product inhibitors, both NADH and acetoacetate are competitive vs. both substrates, suggesting a rapid equilibrium random mechanism.