The effects of magnesium ions on the interactions of ox brain and liver glutamate dehydrogenase with ATP and GTP.

The effects of ATP and GTP on the activities of ox liver and brain glutamate dehydrogenase were determined in the absence and presence of added Mg2+ ions. Although GTP was an inhibitor of the enzyme reaction assayed in the direction of NAD+ reduction, the magnesium complex of this nucleotide had no effect on the activity. Similarly the magnesium complex of ATP was without effect on the activity of the enzyme although the free nucleotide was an activator. These results suggest that it is important to take account of magnesium complex formation when considering the regulatory actions of these nucleotides.