Reversible ATP-induced inactivation of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase

The branched chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase from rat skeletal muscle, heart, kidney and liver mitochondria can undergo a reversible activation-inactivation cycle in vitro. Similar results were obtained with the enzyme from kidney mitochondria of pig and cow. The dehydrogenase is markedly inhibited by ATP and the inhibition is not reversed by removing the nucleotide. The non-metabolizable ATP analogue adenosine 5′-[beta gamma-imido] triphosphate can block the effect of ATP when added with the nucleotide, but has no effect by itself, nor can it reverse the inhibition in mitochondria preincubated with ATP. These findings suggest that the branched chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase undergoes a stable modification that requires the splitting of the ATP gamma-phosphate group. In skeletal muscle mitochondria the rate of inhibition by ATP is decreased by oxo acid substrates and enhanced by NADH. The dehydrogenase can be reactivated 10-20 fold by incubation at pH 7.8 in a buffer containing Mg2+ and cofactors. Reactivation is blocked by NaF (25 mM). The initial activity of dehydrogenase extracted from various tissues of fed rats varies considerably. Activity is near maximal in kidney and liver whereas the dehydrogenase in heart and skeletal muscle is almost completely inactivated. These studies emphasize that comparisons of branched chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase activity under various physiological conditions or in different tissues must take into account its state of activation. Thus the possibility exists that the branched chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase may be physiologically regulated via a covalent mechanism.