Inhibition of pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase by specific modification of lysine residues with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid.

Pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase was inactivated irreversibly by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS). Biphasic inactivation of the enzyme was observed with the inhibitor. NADPH provided protection to the enzyme against inactivation by TNBS and the extent of protection increased with NADPH concentration indicating that the essential lysine residues are present at the NADPH binding site. The stoichiometric results with TNBS showed that 4 mol of lysine residues are modified per mole of fatty acid synthetase upon complete inactivation. The rapid reaction of two amino groups per enzyme molecule led to the loss of 60% of the enzyme activity. These approaches suggested that two lysine residues present at the active site are essential for the enzymatic activity of fatty acid synthetase.