Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is a crucial enzyme in cellular metabolism, playing a vital role in the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle). It catalyzes the reversible conversion of malate to oxaloacetate while reducing NAD+ to NADH. This enzyme is ubiquitous, found in all kingdoms of life, and is essential for energy production and various metabolic pathways .
MDH exists in multiple isoforms, primarily cytosolic MDH (cyMDH) and mitochondrial MDH (mMDH). These isoforms are localized in different cellular compartments and have distinct physiological roles. The cytosolic form is involved in the malate-aspartate shuttle, which transfers reducing equivalents across the mitochondrial membrane, while the mitochondrial form is directly involved in the citric acid cycle .
Recombinant MDH refers to the enzyme produced through recombinant DNA technology. This involves inserting the gene encoding MDH into a suitable expression system, such as bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells, to produce the enzyme in large quantities. Recombinant MDH is used extensively in research and industrial applications due to its high purity and activity.
The functional characterization of recombinant MDH involves studying its catalytic properties, substrate specificity, and kinetic parameters. MDH catalyzes the dehydrogenation of malic acid to generate oxaloacetic acid, accompanied by the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. This reaction is crucial for maintaining the redox balance within the cell and is involved in various metabolic pathways, including gluconeogenesis, amino acid metabolism, and lipid biosynthesis .
Recombinant MDH has several applications in biotechnology and research: