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University of Tennessee Health Science Center

The Purification, Properties and Subunit Structure of Glycerol Dehydrogenase

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The inducible, NAD-linked glycerol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.6) of a guanine requiring mutant of A. aerogenes has been purified to homogeneity. The molecular weight of the pure enzyme was found to be 3.4 x 10<sup>5</sup> daltons. The sedimentation coefficient of the enzyme was 10.7 x 10<sup>-13</sup> sec.<sup>-1</sup>. The diffusion constant was 3.07 x 10<sup>-7</sup> cm<sup>2</sup>/sec.</p> <p>The partial specific volume calculated from the amino acid composition was 0.72 ml/g. The following kinetic parameters were determined; K<sub>m</sub> glycerol, 2.4 x 10<sup>-3</sup> m, K<sub>m</sub> NAD, 2.8 x 10<sup>-4</sup> M, K<sub>m</sub> dihydroxyacetone, 5.1 x 10<sup>-4</sup> M, K<sub>m </sub>NADH, 2.3 x 10<sup>-5</sup> M.</p> <p>During the course of the purification of the enzyme it was found that multiple peaks of enzyme activity were eluted from ion-exchange chromatography experiments. Ultracentrifugation experiments with the enzyme treated with urea and dithiothreitol, and with dithiothreitol and p- hydroxymercuribenzoate in the presence of guanidinium chloride indicated that the isolated enzyme is composed of subunits. The untreated enzyme, with a molecular weight of 3.4 x 10<sup>5</sup> daltons, is a hexamer of a species of molecular weight 5.6 x 10<sup>4</sup> daltons. This species in turn is a dimer of a species of molecular weight 2.8 x 10<sup>4</sup> daltons. Disulfide bonds between the smallest species are responsible for the stability of the dimer, while the untreated hexamer of the dimers is stabilized by ionic and hydrophobic forces Thirteen major peaks and one minor peak of enzyme activity were consistently eluted during ion-exchange experiments with the native enzyme. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme treated with dithiothreitol and urea indicated the presence of two species of protein. The amino acid composition of these two proteins and of the thirteen major peaks are consistent with the hypothesis that these two proteins represent the proteins of molecular weight 2.8 x 10<sup>4</sup> daltons observed in the ultracentrifuge and that the stiochiometry of the thirteen major peaks may be represented by the formula (A (12-n) B<sub>n</sub>), n = 0, 1,..., 12, where A and B represent the two proteins separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biochemistry
Year dc:date.available
1969

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Barrett, Michael James
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Charles Walter

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://dc.uthsc.edu/dissertations/578
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dc.uthsc.edu:dissertations-1578

Chain of custody

source
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University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Base URL
dc.uthsc.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
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citation

Barrett, Michael James. The Purification, Properties and Subunit Structure of Glycerol Dehydrogenase. Dissertation thesis, 1969. https://dc.uthsc.edu/dissertations/578