Interaction of divalent metal ions with the NADP⁺‐malic enzyme from maize leaves

Abstract

The effect of several metal ions on NADP+‐malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) purified from Zea mays L. leaves was studied Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+ and Cd2+ were all active metal cofactors. The malic enzyme from maize has a moderately high intrinsic preference for Mn2+ relative to Mg2+ at pH 7.0 and 8.0 Negative cooperativity detected in the binding of Mg2+ at pH 7.0 and 8.0 and in the binding of Mn2+ at pH 7.0 suggests the existence of at least two binding sites with different affinity. All of the activating metal ions have preference for octahedral coordination geometry and have ionic radii of 0.86–1.09 Å. The ions that act as inhibitors are outside this range and/or are incapable of octahedral coordination. Ba2+, Sr2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, Be2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Hg2+ showed mixed‐type inhibition. The reciprocal of their K1 values follow the order of their apparence in the Irving‐Williams series of stability that derives in part from size effects. It is suggested that the size of the ions may play a partial role in determining the strength of the metal interaction.