Biochemical characterization of the arginine degrading enzymes arginase and arginine deiminase and their effect on nitric oxide production

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is a biomediator believed to be synthesized primarily from extracellular arginine. Various methodologies have been used to inhibit NO synthesis so as to elucidate its physiological and pathophysiological function. Several investigators have utilized various arginine degrading enzymes as a means of lowering extracellular arginine. Arginase, most commonly derived from mammalian sources, has been most often used. However, arginase has failed to inhibit NO synthesis. Therefore, a systematic biochemical characterization of arginase and arginine deiminase (ADI) derived from M. Hominus was undertaken Material/Methods: The murine macrophage cell line N-9 was treated with either arginase or arginine deiminase to determine the effect on intracellular and extracellular arginine and nitric oxide production. Results: Arginase was found to have all alkaline pH optima(∼9.5) with little enzyme activity at physiological pH. In contrast, the pH optima of ADI was ∼6.5, retaining >70% of its activity at physiological pH. ADI had more than 1000 fold higher affinity for arginine (Km ∼ 30 μM for ADI vs ∼45 mM for arginase), and was able to lower arginine levels to a much greater extent than arginase. ADI, unlike arginase, was effective in lowering extracellular arginine in tissue culture media and inhibit NO production by the murine macrophage cell line N-9 in response to gamma interferon and LPS stimulation. Conclusions: These data suggest that ADI may be useful for delineating the role of NO in a variety of biological systems as well as determining the role of extracellular arginine in its synthesis.