Properties of enzymes involved in D-galactonate catabolism in fungi

Two enzymes catalyze the two step reactions in the D-galactonate nonphosphorolytic catabolic pathway of Aspergillus terreus, namely D-galactonate dehydratase and 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-galactonate (KDGal) aldolase. Maximum enzyme activities were obtained at 40 degrees C and pH 8.0 or at 50 degrees C and pH 7.5 for these two enzymes, respectively. Stability of the two enzymes under different conditions was investigated. From a Lineweaver-Burk plot of the reciprocal of initial velocities and substrate concentrations, apparent Km values were calculated for D-galactonate, pyruvate and glyceraldehyde and found to be 8.33, 14.28 and 5.55 mM, respectively, in crude cell-free extracts. Results indicated the requirement of magnesium cation for D-galactonate dehydratase activity at an initial concentrations of 10(-2) M. The presence of Mg2+ in the reaction mixture seems to induce greatly the fitness of the dehydratase with D-galactonate as no activity could be detected with 24-h dialyzed extract in the absence of magnesium cation.