Preparations from cells cultured from a minimal-deviation hepatoma in the rat exhibit pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (NAD(P)H: NAD(P) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.1.1) activity. The pH optimum, its release by digitonin, and its apparent lack of dependence on steroids for activity tentatively classify it as a transhydrogenase of the type first described for animal tissue.Enzyme preparations from digitonin-treated homogenates were very unstable. The time necessary for the loss of one-half the activity was 16–18 h when the enzyme was stored at 5 °C; this was reduced to 4 h when storage was in polycarbonate tubes.The enzyme apparently transferred hydrogen directly and with equal ease from NADH to both the 3-acetyl-pyridine and thionicotinamide analogues of NAD. Half-saturation values for NAD and its acetylpyridine analogue were 0.99 × 10−5 M and 3.55 × 10−4 M, respectively. The enzyme exhibited its maximum activity in phosphate buffer at pH 5.8. It was inhibited by 50–60% over the pH range 7.0–8.5 in Tris buffer. This could be reversed by dithiothreitol; reversal was complete between pH 8.0 and 8.5.
