Oxidative Decarboxylation of Branched-Chain 2-Oxo Fatty Acids by Higher Plant Peroxisomes

Abstract

Peroxisomes from mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyls catalyze, in the presence of branched-chain 2-oxo fatty acid, CoASH and NAD, the release of CO(2), and the formation of NADH and acyl-CoA. The acyl-CoA contains one carbon atom less than the branched-chain 2-oxo fatty acid and serves as substrate for the peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase. CO(2) release, NADH and acyl-CoA formation occur in 1:1:1 stoichiometry. For the first time the data demonstrate directly the oxidative decarboxylation of branched-chain 2-oxo fatty acids in higher plants and a location of this activity in the peroxisomes.