The substrate-dependent photoinactivation of urocanase from rat liver

Rat liver urocanase was readily inactivated by near-UV light in the presence of the substrate. Irradiation of substrate or enzyme alone was ineffective. The purpose of this study was to examine the conditions which influenced this inactivation and to investigate the mechanism. The urocanase concentration needed for 50% of the maximum inactivation for a 15 min irradiation was 0.09 μMU. Temperatures from 0 to 300C during irradiation had little influence. Inactivation occurred at -750C, which indicated a photochemical reaction. The pH had little influence on inactivation. Photoinactivation was the same in nitrogen and air. Dialysis experiments showed that unbound small molecules were probably not involved. Inactivated enzyme did not inhibit active enzyme. Chelators, reducing agents, and pyridoxal phosphate did not affect the inactivation. Visible light was not effective. An action spectrum was established with the aid of a monochromator. The action spectrum had a peak at 280 nm and a shoulder extending from 300 to 340 nm which rules out flavins, pyridoxal phosphate, a simple protein, and free urocanase as the chromophore. The results suggest that this photochemical process is not photodynamic action. It appears that only substrate and enzyme are needed for this photoinactivation. The enzyme-substrate complex may be the chromophore. (author)