Crystalline enzyme.substrate complexes of asparate aminotransferase.

Crystalline complexes of cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase of pig heart with the substrates L-glutamate and L-aspartate, and with other amino acids, have been prepared and polarized light absorption spectra have been measured. Striking differences in the directions of polarization of the absorption bands are seen. A complete half-transamination of pyridoxal phosphate to pyridoxamine phosphate by aspartate or by cysteine sulfinate can be demonstrated in the crystal as can the accumulation of a quinonoid intermediate with erythro-beta-hydroxyaspartate. X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystals with erythro-beta-hydroxyaspartate and alpha-methylaspartate are isomorphous with those of both alpha and beta subforms of the native enzyme.