Physical and kinetic properties of a pyridoxal reductase purified from bakers' yeast.

Pyridoxine dehydrogenase (1.1.1.65) (pyridoxal reductase), purified to homogeneity from baker's yeast, is a monomer of Mr approximately 33,000. It catalyzes the reversible oxidation of pyridoxine by NADP to yield pyridoxal and NADPH; equilibrium lies far in the direction of pyridoxine formation (Keq approximately 1.4 X 10(11) l/mol at 25 degrees C). Reduction of pyridoxal occurs most rapidly at pH 6.0-7.0; oxidation of pyridoxine is optimal at pH 8.6. NAD and NADH do not replace NADP and NADPH as substrates; pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate are the only naturally occurring cosubstrates found. Several other aromatic aldehydes also are reduced, but substrate specificity and other properties of the enzyme distinguish it clearly from other alcohol dehydrogenases or aldehyde reductases. Between pH 6.3 and 7.1 (the intracellular pH of yeast), V/Km with pyridoxal and NADPH as substrates is greater than 600 times that observed with pyridoxine and NADPH as substrates is greater than 600 times that observed with pyridoxine and NADP as substrates. These and other considerations strongly indicate that the dehydrogenase functions in vivo to reduce pyridoxal to pyridoxine, which is the preferred substrate for pyridoxal (pyridoxine) kinase in yeast.