Methylmalonic semialdehyde dehydrogenase

Serum carnosinase activity is readily measured as a marker for carnosinosis, homocarnosinosis and in instances of jS-alanine elevation in physiological fluids [7]. For quantification, carnosine is incubated with sera samples, and the histidine liberated in the reaction is quantified as the fluorescent o-phthalaldehyde derivative [19]. To estimate the activity of methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (direct enzyme determination methods have not been reported), fibroblast extracts are incubated with l-14C-/ -alanine and trapping of 14C02. 

Methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency [8] has been described in a single patient. This patient, a boy, came to attention because of an elevated concentration of methionine on routine neonatal screening. The value exceeded 1000 imol/l. By 4 years of age he had developed normally. A valine load was followed by an increase in 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid excretion. Incubation of fibroblasts from the patient with 2-valine or p-[1- C]-alanine led to no production of C02 from valine and very little from )ff-alanine in contrast to control cells. 

Examination of plasma and urine revealed elevated quantities of jff-ala-nine, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, (R)- and (S)-3-aminoisobutyric acid, (R)-and (S)-3-hydroxyisobutyric acid and (S)-2-hydroxymethylbutyric acid. Direct enzymatic assay of methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase is unavailable revealed homozygosity for DNA analysis 1336 G>A transversion which substituted an arginine for a highly conserved glycine at amino acid residue 446. 

The site of the defect in methylmalonic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency. 

Table 7.5. 3-Hydroxyisobutyric acidemia due to methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency...

Table 7.6. 3-Hydroxyisobutyric acidemia with normal methylmalonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase ...

Gibson KM, Lee CF, Bennett MJ, Holmes B, Nyhan WL (1993) Combined malonic, methylmalonic and ethylmalonic acid semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiencies an inborn error of beta-alanine, L-valine and L-alloisoleucine metabolism J Inherit Metab Dis 16 563-567... 

The best-studied example of a CoA-dependent nonphosphorylating ALDH is the methylmalonate-semi-aldehyde dehydrogenase, which has been isolated from both mammalian and bacterial sources. This enzyme transforms malonate semialdehyde and methylmalonate semialdehyde into acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA, respectively, through an oxidation reaction as described above, followed by a decarboxylation reminiscent of other (3-keto acids. Mechanistic studies of the B. sukilis enzyme have shown that it is activated by NAD" " binding, that it exhibits half-of-sites reactivity (only two moles of NADH forms per tetrameric protein unit) and that the decarboxylation reaction occurs after formation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate. Acyl transfer from the enzyme to CoA completes the reaction. 

Hydroxisobutyrate is oxidized by a DPN-specific dehydrogenase TPN is not attacked and the enzyme does not attack any known analogs of either 8-hydroxyisobutyrate or the oxidation product, methylmalonate semialdehyde. The further degradation of the branched chain has not... 

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