Tyrosine aminotransferase from chick liver. Heat activation and cold inactivation of the enzyme.

The reversible heat activation and cold inactivation of tyrosine aminotransferase (L-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.5) of chick liver were investigated. When the enzyme obtained by gel filtration was preincubated at 37 degrees C for 10 min with 50 micrometer pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (pyridoxal-5'-P), a 7-fold increase in enzyme activity was detected. When the preincubated enzyme was cooled to 0 degrees C, it lost its activity. Furthermore, the dramatic cyclical changes in enzyme activity occurred by sequential heating at 37 degrees C and cooling to 0 degrees C of the enzyme, in the presence of pyridoxal-5'-P, over shorter periods of time without loss of enzyme activity. However, when alpha-ketoglutarate was added to the enzyme during cold exposure, no further decrease in activity was observed. This protective effect was seen at a concentration of 5 muM.