Biosynthesis of valine and isoleucine in plants II. Dihydroxyacid dehydratase from Phaseolus radiatus

• 1.

  1. An enzyme catalysing the conversion of α,β-dihydroxyisovalerate and α,β-dihydroxy-β-methylvalerate to α-ketoisovalerate and α-keto-β-methylvalerate has been partially purified from green gram (Phaseolus radiatus), and its characteristics studied.

• 2.

  2. A natural inhibitor, heat stable and inorganic in nature, was observed in the crude extracts.

• 3.

  3. The observed K_m values for α-β-dihydroxyisovalerate and α,β-dihydroxy-β-methylvalerate were 2.4 · 10⁻³ M and 9 · 10⁻⁴ M, respectively.

• 4.

  4. The enzyme required the presence of a divalent metal ion (Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ or Fe²⁺) for maximal activity. Heavy metals like Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ were inhibitory.

• 5.

  5. The optimal activity was around pH 8.0 and the optimum temperature at 52°. The activation energy is found to be 12 600 cal/mole.

• 6.

  6. The enzyme was inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide and sulphydryl compounds like cysteine, glutathione, 2-mercaptoethanol and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol. The inhibition by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate could not be reversed by any of the sulfhydryl compounds tested.