Phosphoglycerate kinase from young and old Turbatrix aceti.

Phosphoglycerate kinase (ATP:3-phospho-D-glycerate-1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.2.3) from young and old Turbatrix aceti has been purified to homogeneity. The "old" enzyme exhibits a marked reduction in specific activity both in crude homogenates and in pure form when compared to preparations from young nematodes. The specific activities for pure "young" and "old" enzymes are 650-750 and 300-400 units/mg, respectively. All other properties of "young" and "old" enzymes were nearly identical, including molecular weight (43 000), Km, behavior on columns, thermal stability and mobility during gel electrophoresis at three pH values. The results are discussed in terms of the possible mechanism of formation of "altered" enzymes. In addition, certain properteis of the nematode phosphoglycerate kinase are compared with those of the enzyme from yeast and rabbit muscle.