Evidence for alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase monomer activity with the aid of enzyme immobilization

Immobilization of pigeon breast muscle alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B was carried out. Conditions for dissociation of the dimeric enzyme bound to the carrier via a single subunit were determined. Immobilized enzyme monomers with a specific activity higher than that of the dimer were obtained. The immobilized subunits are capable of reassociating with the soluble ones; this is accompanied by the restoration of the initial amount of the matrix-bound protein and the reconstitution of the activity typical of the immobilized enzyme original preparations.