Antibodies against an inter-domain segment of polypeptide chain inhibit active-site coupling in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex.

A synthetic peptide, AAPAAAPAKQEAAAPAPAAKAEAPAAAPAAKA, proved to be an efficient and specific immunogen in rabbits. The amino acid sequence of the peptide is identical to that of the inter-domain region (PEP3) linking the innermost of the three lipoyl domains to the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding domain in the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli. Fab fragments from anti-PEP3 antibodies selectively inhibited active-site coupling in the complex without affecting the individual activities of the three component enzymes, highlighting the role of the inter-domain regions as flexible linkers in catalysis.