Oligomeric Forms Of Pyruvate Kinase From Chlorella With Different Kinetic Properties

Fast protein liquid chromatography on Superose 6 of crude extracts from the chlorophyllfree mutant no. 20 of the unicellular green alga Chlorella kessleri reveals two possibly oligomeric forms of pyruvate kinase (2.7.1.40). Their occurrence is markedly altered in the course of heterotrophic growth with changing levels of exogenous glucose as carbon source with only one enzyme species with a MW of 400 kDa existing in growing cells, two forms of 400 and 580 kDa in resting cells. Substrate affinity towards PEP of the 400 kDa form is better than that of the 580 kDa species; responses to the effector AMP are different as well. In vitro, addition of PEP or of AMP leads to the formation of higher MW enzyme species with MW of 730, 1050 and 1400 kDA without affecting the total activity. In vivo alterations in the levels of several metabolites including PEP upon addition of glucose have been shown to occur. Therefore, it is discussed, whether changes in the concentration of intermediates and effectors may provide the mechanism for the increased rate of carbohydrate degradation by affecting the occurrence and/or ratio of the various PK forms with different kinetic and regulatory properties. Upon blue light irradiation, which also stimulates carbohydrate breakdown of the Chlorella mutant cells, the distribution of PK is shifted towards the species with higher substrate affinity, a result being in accordance with the above conception