The nature of the multiple forms of cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase from pig and sheep heart.

Starch-gel electrophoresis of sheep heart aspartate aminotransferase was carried out over the range pH7.0-8.5. The enzyme separates into three subforms in the same way as the pig heart enzyme. As the pH was increased the distance migrated by each subform increased by the same amount, so that they remained the same distance apart. Titration of the enzyme over the appropriate pH range was used to calculate the difference in charge between the subforms and it was concluded that they differ by one charged group per dimer from their nearest neighbour on the electrophoretogram over the whole pH range studied. It was also shown that the pig-heart alpha and beta subforms differ by almost one charged group per dimer in the range pH5.5-5.7 and that the spacing between the subforms on starch-gel electrophoresis at pH8.0 is the same as that for the sheep enzyme. Since the charge difference between the subforms is maintained over such a wide range of pH, it is concluded that they probably differ from each other in covalent structure, because of the improbability that conformational differences can give rise to such behaviour. The relationship between the subforms and inactive binding of the coenzyme is also examined.