Malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes: cellular locations and role in the flow of metabolites between the cytoplasm and cell organelles.

Malate dehydrogenases belong to the most active enzymes in glyoxysomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes, chloroplasts and the cytosol. In this review, the properties and the role of the isoenzymes in different compartments of the cell are compared, with emphasis on molecular biological aspects. Structure and function of malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes from plants, mammalian cells and ascomycetes (yeast, Neurospora) are considered. Significant information on evolutionary aspects and characterisation of functional domains of the enzymes emanates from bacterial malate and lactate dehydrogenases modified by protein engineering. The review endeavours to give up-to-date information on the biogenesis and intracellular targeting of malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes as well as enzymes cooperating with them in the flow of metabolites of a given pathway and organelle.