Concerted inhibition of NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase by oxalacetate and glyoxylate. I. Oxalomalate formation and stability, and nature of the enzyme inhibition.

Oxalacetate and glyoxylate are each weak inhibitors of NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (threo-DS-isocitrate:NADP+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.42)9 Together, however, they act in a concerted manner and strongly inhibit the enzyme. The rates of formation and dissociation of the enzyme inhibitor complex, and the rate of formation and the stability of the aldol condensation product of oxalacetate and glyoxylate, oxalomalate, were examined. The data obtained do not support the often suggested possibility that oxalomalate, per se, formed non-enzymatically in isocitrate dehydrogenase assay mixtures containing oxalacetate and glyoxylate, is responsible for the observed inhibition of the enzyme. Rather, the data presented in this communication suggest that oxalacetate binds to the enzyme first, and that the subsequent binding of glyoxylate leads to the formation of a catalytically inactive enzyme-inhibitor complex.