STIMULATION BY PHOSPHATE OF THE ACTIVATION OF GLUTAMATE APODECARBOXYLASE BY PYRIDOXYL-5'-PHOSPHATE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF GABA SYNTHESIS

Pi relieves the inhibition of brain glutamate decarboxylase [EC 4.1.1.15] by ATP. Since inhibition by ATP apparently resulted in formation of the inactive apoenzyme, Pi may relieve this inhibition by promoting activation of the apoenzyme by its cofactor, pyridoxal-5''-phosphate [pyridoxal-P]. This possibility was investigated, using apoenzyme from rat brain. Apoenzyme was usually prepared by incubating glutamate decarboxylase with 20 .mu.M-aminooxyacetate followed by exhaustive dialysis. Activation was studied by incubating the enzyme with pyridoxal-P under various conditions, after which the amount of holoenzyme formed was measured by a 5 min enzyme assay. In the absence of Pi there was an initially rapid but incomplete activation by pyridoxal-P which stopped after 15-20 min. The amount of holoenzyme formed after 20 min increased without saturating as the concentration of pyridoxal-P was raised from 0.03-250 .mu.M. Addition of 1-10 mM Pi increased the initial rate of activation and the final degree of activation. Pi stimulated activation whether present initially or added after 15 min, implying that incomplete activation in the absence of Pi was not attributable to destruction of pyridoxal-P or irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. Pi reduced the concentration of pyridoxal-P, giving half maximal activation from .apprxeq.10 .mu.M - .apprxeq. 0.07 .mu.M. Pi stimulated the residual enzyme activity in the apoenzyme preparation in the absence of added pyridoxal-P, implying that Pi may convert the holoenzyme to a more active form. Pi had very similar effects on glutamate apodecarboxylase from vitamin B6-deficient rats and stimulated the activation of apoenzyme prepared by dissociation of the cofactor by treatment with glutamate, implying that stimulation by Pi is unrelated to the method of preparing apoenzyme. Activation was strongly stimulated by methylphosphonate and arsenate and weakly stimulated by sulfate. Trichloromethylphosphonate, cacodylate, PPi and AMP had little or no effect. Pi apparently relieves the inhibition by ATP, at least in part, by promoting the activation of glutamate apodecarboxylase, and Pi may be an important factor in the regulation of glutamate decarboxylase in vivo.