Initial rate studies at pH 7.6 with three aldehydes, product inhibition patterns with NADH and dead-end inhibition with adenosine diphosphoribose show that the kinetic mechanism of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle cannot be ordered, and support an enzyme-substitution mechanism. Deviations from Michaelis-Menten behaviour are consistent with negative interactions in the binding of NAD' and instability of the species E(NAD)3 and E(NAD)4. Inhibition with large concentrations of phosphate and arsenate indicates competition for a binding site for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, and is not found with glyceraldehyde as substrate.I t is known that the binding of NAD' or NADH to rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (~-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate : NAD + oxidoreductase, phosphorylating) involves more than one dissociation constant, indicating either that the four subunits of the enzyme are not identical and equivalent, or that the coenzyme binding is negatively cooperative [I -31. The greatest difference of binding free energy is between the second and third coenzyme molecules [3] and there is evidence of a conformational change of the protein at half-saturation with NAD' [4].The steady-state kinetics of the enzyme-catalysed reaction have been investigated in some detail by several groups of workers, with conflicting results and conclusions. Furfine and Velick [5] concluded that mechanism was of the rapid equilibrium, random type involving a quaternary complex, from data with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate as substrate, whereas Fahien [6], using glyceraldehyde, proposed an ordered mechanism. Orsi and Cleland [7] also proposed an ordered mechanism with NAD', aldehyde and phosphate or arsenate adding in that order, based on studies of inhibition by substrate, products and inactive substrate analogues, and suggested that release of NADH is the final step, rate-limiting when glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is the substrate. In none of ~ -Ahh,rviarion.s. Gra-3-P, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate; Gra, Etiqwe. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC glyceraldeh yde.
1.2.1.12).these studies, nor in similar studies with the pigmuscle enzyme [8,9], were deviations from MichaelisMenten behaviour suggestive of negative cooperativity reported. Intersecting patterns of linear reciprocal plots were obtained, which also appeared to eliminate the possibility of an enzyme-substitution mechanism with product dissociation before combination of all the substrates.However, Duggleby and Dennis [lo] have since reported initial rate data for the enzyme from pea seeds consistent with an enzyme-substitution mechanism in which the two stable forms of enzyme involved in the catalytic cycle are an enzyme . NAD' complex and acyl-enzyme. They argued that this is the basic mechanism for the enzyme from other sources also. A similar mechanism had been proposed by Trentham [ll] from pre-steady-state kinetic studies of the enzymes from lobster and sturgeon muscle.The objectives of the present work were to reinvestigate the st...