Purification and properties of extremely thermostable glutamate dehydrogenases from two hyperthermophilic archaebacteria, Pyrococcus woesei and Pyrococcus furiosus.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (L-glutamate: NADP oxidoreductase, deaminating, EC 1.4.1.4) from the hyperthermophilic archaebacteria Pyrococcus woesei and P. furiosus were purified to homogeneity from crude extracts. The enzymes had similar enzymological properties: molecular mass, subunit structure, optimum pHs for the oxidative deamination and reductive amination, substrate specificity and coenzyme specificity as well as thermostability; the activity was not lost after incubation at 105 degrees C for 30 min. However, some differences were detected in resistance to urea denaturation and effects of salts on their activity and stability. The N-terminal 20 amino acid sequences of the two enzymes were identical.