Reactivation of metal-requiring apoenzymes by phytochelatin-metal complexes

Abstract

The enzymatically inactive, metal-requiring apoforms of diamino oxidase and of carbonic anhydrase were reactivated by copper- and zinc-phytochelatin complexes, respectively. The level and the rate of reactivation effected by metal complexes consisting of poly(γ-glutamylcysteinyl)glycine as well as by the respective free metal ion were compared. An efficient transfer of zinc and copper from phytochelatin-complexes to apoenzymes was observed in vitro. © 1991.