Fumarase activity in NAD-dependent malic enzyme, MaeA, from Escherichia coli

NAD-dependent malic enzymes catalyze NAD reduction to NADH while converting malate to pyruvate and CO2. In this study, NAD was reduced to NADH by MaeA, NAD-dependent malic enzyme from Escherichia coli, when fumarate was used as substrate. This suggested that MaeA catalyzed the conversion of fumarate to malate and then malate to pyruvate. The K0.5 value for fumarate was determined as 13 mM, different from previously characterized fumarases in Escherichia coli. Fumarate inhibited the malic enzyme activity of MaeA where NAD reduction to NADH was examined in the presence of malate as substrate. Human ME2, an NAD-dependent malic enzyme, also converted NAD to NADH in the presence of fumarate, suggesting that the duplex activity as fumarase and malic enzyme might be conserved in various NAD-dependent malic enzymes. MaeB, NADP-dependent malic enzyme from Escherichia coli, did not reduce NADP to NADPH in the presence of fumarate, suggesting the fumarase activities of MaeA and ME2 were specific.