Reaction of Phospholipid with Brain Glutamate Decarboxylase

We investigated the effect of derivatized phospholipid, P-pyridoxyl dipalmiuylphosphatidylethanolamine (P-pyr-DPPE), on the catalytic activity of purified porcine brain glutamate decarboxylase(GAD) which catalyzes the synthesis of GABA known as major inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS. When the P-pyr-DPPE was incorporated into dipalmitdylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC) or phosphatidylserine(PS) vesicles, these vesicles enhanced the catalytic activity of GAD. P-pyr-DPPE also interacted with apoglutamate decarboxylase(apoGAD) and produced the free pyridoxal-5-phosphate(PLP) which is the natural cofactor of GAD. This result indicated that apoGAD catalyzed the cleavage reaction of the P-pyridoxyl moiety of the derivatized phopholipid to generate free PLP, and then free PLP bound to the apoGAD resulting in restroration of the catalytic activity of the enzyme.