Activation of carbamoyl phosphate synthase by N-acetyl-L-aspartate

Carbamoyl phosphate synthase from liver of both rat and frog, normally dependent on N-acetyl-l-glutamate (on the basis of K(m) and physiological concentrations) as an activator, was shown to be activated by high concentrations of N-acetyl-l-aspartate. However, the high concentrations of N-acetyl-l-aspartate required for activation produce non-competitive inhibition. Similarly, high concentrations of N-acetyl-l-glutamate, in very large excess of the amount required to activate the enzyme, inhibit. The limit for N-acetyl-l-glutamate as an impurity in N-acetyl-l-aspartate was found to be less than 1 in 5000 parts, far below the 1 in 250 parts needed to produce the activation observed with N-acetyl-l-aspartate.