Kinetic regulation of the mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by the external NADH dehydrogenase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the two most important systems for conveying excess cytosolic NADH to the mitochondrial respiratory chain are external NADH dehydrogenase (Nde1p/Nde2p) and the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase shuttle. In the latter system, NADH is oxidized to NAD+ and dihydroxyacetone phosphate is reduced to glycerol 3-phosphate by the cytosolic Gpd1p; glycerol 3-phosphate gives two electrons to the respiratory chain via mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gut2p)-regenerating dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Both Nde1p/Nde2p and Gut2p are located in the inner mitochondrial membrane with catalytic sites facing the intermembranal space. In this study, we showed kinetic interactions between these two enzymes. First, deletion of either one of the external dehydrogenases caused an increase in the efficiency of the remaining enzyme. Second, the activation of NADH dehydrogenase inhibited the Gut2p in such a manner that, at a saturating concentration of NADH, glycerol 3-phosphate is not used as respiratory substrate. This effect was not a consequence of a direct action of NADH on Gut2p activity because both NADIR dehydrogenase and its substrate were needed for Gut2p inhibition. This kinetic regulation of the activity of an enzyme as a function of the rate of another having a similar physiological function may be allowed by their association into the same supramolecular complex in the inner membrane. The physiological consequences of this regulation are discussed.