Malate degradation and

Substantial amounts of polymalatase have been isolated from plasmodial extracts. This may refer to stored enzyme before secretion, because /3-poly(L-malate) is not degraded in plasmodia [24]. Several other fungi were found to secrete /3-poly(L-malate) degrading activities to L-malic acid (Ratberger, Molitoris and Holler, unpublished results). These enzymes have not yet been purified and characterized. 

Since citric acid cycle intermediates are quickly labeled it is assumed that much subsequent metabolism of malate is by citric acid cycle reactions. Of course, the malate itself could enter the mitochondria, and no doubt does (Lips and Beevers, 1966 a, b MacLennan et al., 1963). Pyruvate and/or P-enolpyruvate resulting from decarboxylation probably enter the citric acid cycle via acetate. Bradbeer and Ranson (1963) found that " C-pyruvate supplied to Kalanchoe leaves in the dark was consumed by the citric acid cycle. Some was also found as free sugars. Hence, there is a slow equilibration of malate and malate degradation products with other metabolic events in the cell. Measurements of oxygen consumption during CAM metabolism can leave no doubt that the citric acid cycle is active in succulents (e.g., Szarek and Ting, 1974b Kinraide and Behan, 1975 Kaplan et al., 1976 a, b 1977). 

Hence, those enzymes involving PEP carboxylation and regeneration, and malate production and degradation plus synthesis of the amino acids aspartate and alanine from the keto acids oxalacetate and pyruvate are deemed most interesting for our understanding in CAM. 

The acetyl-CoA derived from amino acid degradation is normally insufficient for fatty acid biosynthesis, and the acetyl-CoA produced by pyruvate dehydrogenase and by fatty acid oxidation cannot cross the mitochondrial membrane to participate directly in fatty acid synthesis. Instead, acetyl-CoA is linked with oxaloacetate to form citrate, which is transported from the mitochondrial matrix to the cytosol (Figure 25.1). Here it can be converted back into acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate by ATP-citrate lyase. In this manner, mitochondrial acetyl-CoA becomes the substrate for cytosolic fatty acid synthesis. (Oxaloacetate returns to the mitochondria in the form of either pyruvate or malate, which is then reconverted to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate, respectively.)... 

Poly(L-malate) decomposes spontaneously to L-ma-late by ester hydrolysis [2,4,5]. Hydrolytic degradation of the polymer sodium salt at pH 7.0 and 37°C results in a random cleavage of the polymer, the molecular mass decreasing by 50% after a period of 10 h [2]. The rate of hydrolysis is accelerated in acidic and alkaline solutions. This was first noted by changes in the activity of the polymer to inhibit DNA polymerase a of P. polycephalum [4]. The explanation of this phenomenon was that the degradation was slowest between pH 5-9 (Fig. 2) as would be expected if it were acid/base-catalyzed. In choosing a buffer, one should be aware of specific buffer catalysis. We found that the polymer was more stable in phosphate buffer than in Tris/HCl-buffer. 

Poly-j3-malate is readily degraded completely to L-malic acid under both acid and base conditions [108], and it can also be hydrolyzed by enzymes within the cell [105,106]. Recently, several bacteria were isolated which were able to utilize poly-/i-malate as sole carbon source for growth [109]. Because the polymer is biodegradable and bioadsorbable, it is of considerable interest for pharmaceutical applications, especially in controlled-release drug delivery systems [97,98]. Chemical routes to poly-/ -malate are expected to provide materials with various properties [110]. 

Poly(L-malate) [poly(malic acid) (PMA)], is a water-soluble polyanion produced by slime molds and some yeasts such as Physarum polycephalum or Aureobasidium pullulans, respectively. Its function and metabolism has been studied during the last few years [122-125]. Recently, several PMA-degrad-ing bacteria have been isolated, and a cytoplasmic membrane-bound PMA hydrolase was purified from Comamonas acidovans strain 7789 [126] that... 

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