Reaction ability and alkylation kinetics of sulfhydride groups of soluble succinate dehydrogenase

Inhibition kinetics of succinate--an acceptor of oxidoreductase activity of soluble succinate dehydrogenase by N-ethylmaleimide is studied. The alkylation reaction is described by the kinetic equation of the first order, its stechiometric coefficient being 1. The binding of enzyme sulphhydride groups by p-chloromercuriumbenzoate blocks the enzyme alkylation and its inhibition by oxaloacetate. Succinate protects succinate dehydrogenase from the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide. The reaction of the enzyme with an alkylating agent in the presence of different substrate concentrations corresponds kinetically to the model, according to which a sulphhydride group acts in the active site of the enzyme. pKa of this group is 7.0 at 20degreesC. The dependency of the maximal substrate oxidation reaction rate and that of the enzyme alkylation rate on pH coinside at the pH range 5.8--7.8. The presence of anions in the alkylation medium decreases the reaction ability of the active site with respect to N-ethylmaleimide. A mechanism of the initial stage of succinate oxidation with the cooperation of the sulphhydride group of the enzyme active site is postulated.