Different reactivity of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferases toward an affinity labeling reagent analog of the coenzyme.

The two isoenzymes of aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart have been reacted with a derivative of the coenzyme, 4'-N-(2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenyl) pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate, which is a potential affinity labeling reagent. The derivative has a great affinity for both isoapoenzymes. In the cytosolic isoenzyme, the reversible binding is followed by a covalent labeling of the epsilon amino group of lysine 258, which usually forms an aldimine bond with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. In the mitochondrial isoenzyme, no labeling occurs at the active site. The different reactivity indicates that a small but definite difference exists in the geometry of the two active sites. In the cytosolic isoenzyme also a sulfhydryl group outside the active site region, namely cysteine 45, reacts, but not by an affinity labeling mechanism. In both isoenzymes, the reversibly bound reagent slowly undergoes a splitting reaction by which pyridoxal-5'-phosphate is regenerated and activity re-established; the rate of this reaction is not fast enough to impaire the labeling potential of the reagent.