[Heterogeneity and regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase activity in mammalian brain and liver]

The present report concerns the study of the catalytic properties and the coenzyme affinity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and its isoenzymes in various preparations of the brain and liver as well as the different regulatory mechanisms controlling the ratio of the rates of biogenesis and breakdown of glutamate (Glu). The investigations carried out showed that GDH activity of various preparations of brain and liver (crystalline enzymes, cellular extracts and mitochondria) are markedly different from each other by their catalytic and regulatory properties as well as by their coenzyme activity. The data obtained make us conclude that nicotinamide-hypoxanthine-nucleotide (deaminoNAD) is a more effective coenzyme in the oxidative deamination of Glu, than other piridine nucleotides (NAD, NADP, deamino-NADP). It is supposed that in the formation of ammonia and amino acids in brain and especially liver, together with other known mechanisms an important role may be ascribed to the process of transdeamination. In this aspect, as a co-factor of oxidative deamination of Glu deamino-NAD (D-NAD) is thought to be of significant importance.