Covalent fixation of NAD+ to dehydrogenases and properties of the modified enzymes

Starting from 6-chloropurine riboside and NAD+, different reactive analogues of NAD+ have been obtained by introducing diazoniumaryl or aromatic imidoester groups via flexible spacers into the nonfunctional adenine moiety of the coenzyme. The analogues react with different amino-acid residues of dehydrogenases and form stable amidine or azobridges, respectively. After the formation of a ternary complex by the coenzyme, the enzyme and a pseudosubstrate, the reactive spacer is anchored in the vicinity of the active site. Thus, the coenzyme remains covalently attached to the protein even after decomposition of the complex. On addition of substrates the covalently bound coenzyme is converted to the dihydro-form. In enzymatic tests the modified dehydrogenases show 80-90% of the specific activity of the native enzymes, but they need remarkably higher concentrations of free NAD+ to achieve these values. The dihydro-coenzymes can be reoxidized by oxidizing agents like phenazine methosulfate or by a second enzyme system. Various systems for coenzyme regeneration were investigated; the modified enzymes were lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart and alcohol dehydrogenase from horse liver; the auxiliary enzymes were alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast and liver, lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart, glutamate dehydrogenase and alanine dehydrogenase. Lactate dehydrogenase from heart muscle is inhibited by pyruvate. With alanine dehydrogenase as the auxiliary enzyme, the coenzyme is regenerated and the reaction product, pyruvate, is removed. This system succeeds to convert lactate quantitatively to L-alanine. The thermostability of the binary enzyme systems indicates an interaction of covalently bound coenzymes with both dehydrogenases; both binding sites seem to compete for the coenzyme. The comparison of dehydrogenases with different degrees of modifications shows that product formation mainly depends on the amount of incorporated coenzyme.

N2 fixation and NH4+ assimilation in the thermophilic anaerobes Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum and Clostridium thermoautotrophicum

Inorganic nitrogen metabolism in the obligate anaerobic thermophiles Chlostridium thermosaccharolyticum and Clostridium thermoautotrophicum differs in several respects. C. thermosaccharolyticum contains a nitrogenase as inferred from NH4+ repressible C2H2 reduction, a glutamine synthetase which is partially repressed by ammonium, very labile glutamate synthase activities with both NADH and NADPH, NADPH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase, and NH4+-dependent asparagine synthetase. C. thermoautotrophicum contains no nitrogenase, but glutamine synthetase, no glutamate synthase, no glutamate dehydrogenase, but a NADH-dependent alanine dehydrogenase and a NH4+-dependent asparagine synthetase.

Decreased particulate NADH oxidase activity in Bacillus subtilis spores after polymyxin B treatment

The activities of several enzymes of polymyxin B-treated dormant and germinated spores of Bacillus subtilis were examined. The particulate NADH oxidase of the antibiotic-treated spores showed considerably lower specific and total activities compared with those of untreated ones. The specific and total NADH oxidase activities of untreated spores increased 12- and 15-fold respectively during germination, whereas increases during germination of polymyxin B-treated spores were inhibited. The specific and total activities of particulate NADH cytochrome c reductase of dormant spores were decreased by polymyxin B treatment in almost the same proportion as those of the particulate NADH oxidase. The specific activity of NADH dehydrogenase of dormant spores remained unchanged after antibiotic treatment but the total activity fell considerably. The activities of other enzymes examined were similar for untreated dormant and germinated spores and antibiotic-treated spores. The respiration of polymyxin B-treated dormant spores was inhibited at the same time as the start of germination. Morphologically, polymyxin B-treated dormant spores lost a laminar structure of the cortex and details of the spore protoplast. The inhibitory mechanism of particulate NADH oxidase activity of polymyxin B-treated dormant spores is discussed.

Enzyme markers for Vibrio cholerae: identification of classical, El Tor and environmental strains

Enzyme electrophoretic variants were studied in 49 strains of Vibrio cholerae using zymovar analysis. The following seven enzymes were selected for use: alanine dehydrogenase (ADH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), phosphoglucomutase (PGM), glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). The results indicated the presence of three main groups defined chiefly by their GPI and 6PGDH variants. The first group, defined by possessing the variants GPI-2 and 6PGDH-3, contained all the 01 serovar and E1T or biovar isolates from cholera cases. The second group, defined by possessing the variants GPI-3 and 6PGDH-2, contained all the 01 serovar and classical biovar isolates; the third group was heterogeneous and included the 01 serovar isolates from environmental sources as well as isolates of other serovars (the so called NAGs, non-agglutinable with 01 antisera or NCVs). It is thus now possible to separate the epidemic strains of 01 serovar from other members of this serovar isolated from the environment. Zymovar analysis deals with differences which are a direct expression of the genome and seems to be unaffected by gross phenotypic changes such as smooth-rough variation and phage resistance. It is a promising tool for investigating bacteriological and epidemiological questions, in particular the significance of an environmental reservoir of cholera.

Spontaneous Nif- mutants of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

Revertible, spontaneous Nif- mutants of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata have been shown to accumulate in cultures growing photosynthetically with an amino acid as the nitrogen source such that H2 is maximally produced. The majority of such strains carry mutations which are clustered in a short region of the chromosome, probably representing one or two genes. Because this cluster includes temperature-sensitive mutations, it is also likely that it identifies the structural gene of a polypeptide. The phenotypic characterization of these spontaneous mutants showed (i) an inability to grow with N2 as the nitrogen source, no measurable nitrogenase activity, a reduction or absence of the three polypeptides of the MoFe and Fe proteins of the nitrogenase complex, a faster growth rate on glutamate as the nitrogen source under saturating light, and frequently a small increase in glutamine synthetase activity relative to that of the wild type when grown with glutamate as the nitrogen source. Alterations in other ammonium-assimilatory enzyme activities were not observed. Taken together, these properties suggest that the mutations have affected a regulatory protein necessary for nitrogen fixation.

A fluorometric method for dipeptidase activity measurement in urine, using L-alanyl-L-alanine as substrate

A new method for the measurement of urinary dipeptidase activity is described. The action of dipeptidase on L-Ala-L-Ala results in production of an L-alanine, and this amino acid is simultaneously determined by an L-alanine dehydrogenase-diaphorase system. As urinary substances do not affect this reaction, the measurement can be accomplished without prior dialysis. The mean value +/- S.D. for normals was found to be 12.0 +/- 4.4 IU/g of creatinine. Elevated values were found in chronic nephritis (55.9 +/- 35.0 IU/g of creatinine, P less than 0.001 vs. normal), acute nephritis (46.6 +/- 29.9 IU/g of creatinine, P less than 0.001), and nephrotic syndrome (43.3 +/- 36.5 IU/g of creatinine, P less than 0.001). The dipeptidase activity thus measured showed a significant correlation with dipeptidase activity against L-Leu-L-Leu as substrate. On disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the urinary dipeptidase of a patient with chronic nephritis appeared as one band with similar mobility to human kidney dipeptidase F. Urinary dipeptidase in a patient with chronic nephritis was identical to human kidney dipeptidase on double immunodiffusion analysis.

Alanine dehydrogenase in mycobacteria--a preliminary report

Various mycobacterial species namely M. phlei, M. vaccae, M. scrofulaceum, M. avium and M. tuberculosis have been investigated for the presence of enzyme alanine dehydrogenase which could be important for utilization of alanine by TCA cycle. It was found that alanine dehydrogenase was present in all species of mycobacteria tested irrespective of the fact whether they are rapid or slow growers. Electrophoretic mobilities of alanine dehydrogenase from different species of mycobacteria were not found to be significant for taxonomical differentiation of rapid and slow growers.

Nitrogen metabolism and chloramphenicol production in Streptomyces venezuelae

The relationship between chloramphenicol production and nitrogen metabolism in Streptomyces venezuelae was examined in stirred jar cultures under pH control. Nitrogen sources that supported rapid biomass accumulation gave low rates of antibiotic synthesis during growth. This was consistent with a general incompatibility between fast growth and high yields of chloramphenicol. In media where the growth rate was reduced below the attainable maximum by the rate at which nitrogen could be assimilated, chloramphenicol production was associated with biomass accumulation. Enzymes that are potentially associated with nitrogen assimilation pathways were assayed in cultures supplied with nitrogen sources supporting markedly different growth rates. The results indicated that glutamine synthetase and alanine dehydrogenase levels were relatively insensitive to changes in growth rate and nitrogen source depletion. Glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase, on the other hand, showed high activity in cultures assimilating ammonium nitrogen and markedly decreased activity with poorer nitrogen sources or when ammonium was depleted. If chloramphenicol biosynthesis is coordinately controlled by mechanisms that regulate nitrogen assimilation, glutamate synthase and glutamate dehydrogenase are the most likely enzymes that manifest the regulatory linkage.

Catalytic properties of Sepharose-bound L-alanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus cereus

(1) L-Alanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus cereus was purified by a two-step chromatographic procedure involving Cibacron-Blue 3G-A Sepharose 4B-CL, and Sepharose 6B-CL, and immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. (2) Following immobilization via two of the six subunits, L-alanine dehydrogenase retained 66% of the specific activity of the soluble enzyme. The affinity of the immobilized enzyme for NH4+, pyruvate and L-alanine, was not different to that of the soluble form. The Km of the Sepharose-bound L-alanine dehydrogenase for pyridine coenzymes was 6-8-times higher than in the soluble case. (3) The stability of L-alanine dehydrogenase towards urea or thermal denaturation was increased by immobilization. (4) The incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h of the immobilized L-alanine dehydrogenase with 3 M NH4Cl/NH4OH buffer (pH 9) released 70% of the enzyme. The specific activity and the affinity of the 'solubilized' L-alanine dehydrogenase for the pyridine coenzymes was the same as that obtained with the original, soluble L-alanine dehydrogenase.

Regulation of nitrogen catabolic enzymes in Bacillus spp

The levels of the inducible nitrogen catabolic enzymes arginase (L-arginine amidinohydrolase, EC 3.5.3.1) and alanine dehydrogenase (L-alanine:NAD+ oxidoreductase [deaminating], EC 1.4.1.1) from Bacillus licheniformis and histidase (L-histidine ammonia-lyase, EC 4.3.1.3) from Bacillus subtilis and the ammonia assimilatory enzymes from B. licheniformis were determined in cultures grown in the presence of different nitrogen sources. Although the levels of these enzymes were dependent upon the nitrogen source present, induction of the catabolic enzymes in response to the addition of inducer occurred even in the presence of preferred nitrogen sources. Intracellular pool sizes of ammonia, glutamate, glutamine, and alpha-ketoglutarate were measured in continuous cultures of b. licheniformis growing in the presence of different nitrogen sources. A comparison of the pool sizes of these metabolites with the ammonia assimilatory enzyme levels showed that the pools of the metabolites did not change in a manner consistent with their use as regulators of the synthesis of any of these enzymes.

Ammonia assimilation and synthesis of alanine, aspartate, and glutamate in Methanosarcina barkeri and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The mechanism of ammonia assimilation in Methanosarcina barkeri and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was documented by analysis of enzyme activities, 13NH3 incorporation studies, and comparison of growth and enzyme activity levels in continuous culture. Glutamate accounted for 65 and 52% of the total amino acids in the soluble pools of M. barkeri and M. thermoautotrophicum. Both organisms contained significant activities of glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase. Hydrogen-reduced deazaflavin-factor 420 or flavin mononucleotide but not NAD, NADP, or ferredoxin was used as the electron donor for glutamate synthase in M. barkeri. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity was not detected in either organism, but alanine dehydrogenase activity was present in M. thermoautotrophicum. The in vivo activity of the glutamine synthetase was verified in M. thermoautotrophicum by analysis of 13NH3 incorporation into glutamine, glutamate, and alanine. Alanine dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase activity varied in response to [NH4+] when M. thermoautotrophicum was cultured in a chemostat with cysteine as the sulfur source. Alanine dehydrogenase activity and growth yield (grams of cells/mole of methane) were highest when the organism was cultured with excess ammonia, whereas growth yield was lower and glutamine synthetase was maximal when ammonia was limiting.

Regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase in Bacillus subtilis

The activity of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase in Bacillus subtilis was influenced by the carbon source, but not the nitrogen source, in the growth medium. The highest specific activity for this enzyme was found when B. subtilis was grown in a minimal or rich medium that contained glutamate as the carbon source. It is proposed that glutamate dehydrogenase serves a catabolic function in the metabolism of glutamate, is induced by glutamate, and is subject to catabolite repression.

Genetic studies of D-alanine-dehydrogenase-less mutants of Escherichia coli K12

Genetic analysis of 12 mutants ofEscherichia coliK12 defective in D-alanine dehydrogenase showed thatalnAanddadare alternative names for the same locus.dadwas shown to be a single gene which codes for a protein of 55000–60000 mol. wt. Study of thermosensitive mutants ofdadindicated that its product is a structural component of D-alanine dehydrogenase. The regulatory genealnRwas shown to be involved in positive control ofdadexpression. This was concluded from (i) the absence of constitutive strains among Dad+revertants ofalnR–mutations, (ii) thetransdominance ofalnR+toalnR–, and (iii) the failure to isolate fully constitutive strains by any means. To obtain a uniform nomenclature it is proposed to re-namedadasdadBandalnRasdadQ.

Kinetic mechanism of Bacillus subtilis L-alanine dehydrogenase

L-Alanine dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis has a predominately ordered kinetic mechanism in which NAD adds before L-alanine, and ammonia, pyruvate, and NADH are released in that order. When pyruvate is varied at pH 9.35, levels of ammonia above 50 mM cause uncompetitive substrate inhibition and cause the slope replot to go through the origin. This pattern suggest that iminopyruvate (2% of pyruvate at this pH with 150 mM ammonia) can combine with E-NADH much more tightly than pyruvate does but reacts much more slowly because uptake of the required proton from solution is hindered. Isomerization of the initially formed E-NAD complex to a form which can productively bind L-alanine is the slowest step in the forward direction at pH 7.9, and substrate inhibition by L-alanine largely results from combination of the zwitterion in a nonproductive fashion with this initial E-NAD complex, with the result that the isomerization is prevented. All bimolecular rate constants approach diffusion-limited values at optimal states of protonation of enzyme and substrates except that for ammonia, suggesting that ammonia does not form a complex with E-NADH-pyruvate but reacts directly with it to give a bound carbinolamine.

Use of isotope effects and pH studies to determine the chemical mechanism of Bacillus subtilis L-alanine dehydrogenase

Analysis of deuterium isotope effects with L-alanine-d4 and L-serine-d3, and of pH profiles with the same substrates, shows that L-alanine is sticky (that is, reacts to give products 1-7 times as fast as it dissociates) while L-serin is not. The pH profiles show the following: (1) NH3 and monoanionic amino acids are the substrates; (2) a cationic acid group on the enzyme (probably lysine) with a pK of 9.0-9.6 in E-NAD, but a pK well above 10 in E-NADH, must be protonated for activity and good binding of inhibitors and is probably important for maintaining the proper conformation of the enzyme; (3) A cationic acid group on the enzyme (probably histidine) with a pK around 7 in both E-NAD and E-NADA must be unprotonated for oxidation of amino acids but protonated for binding and reaction of pyruvate. This latter group is the acid-base catalyst for the chemical reaction. In E-NAD, it is so positioned that it can hydrogen bond to (and thus when protonated enhance the binding of) a D-hydroxy or a carbonyl group of an inhibitor, but its state of protonation does not affect the binding of L-lactate or propionate. In E-NADH, it is so placed that it can hydrogen bond to both D- and L-hydroxy groups, as well as in carbonyl groups. A chemical mechanism is postulated in which the dehydrogenation of L-alanine by NAD to produce iminopyruvate is followed by attack of water from the same side from which the hydride was removed. The catalytic histidine transfers a proton from the attacking water to the amino group of the resulting carbinolamine and then removes a proton from the hydroxyl group of the carbinolamine as ammonia is eliminated to give pyruvate.

A rapid one-step method for the isolation of bacteroids from root nodules of soybean plants, utilizing self-generating Percoll gradients

Bacteroids were isolated from the nodules of soybean plants by means of self-generating Percoll density gradients. The entire procedure can be performed in less than 1 h using an ordinary refrigerated centrifuge and angle head rotor. All of the markers for cytosol and bacteroid fractions behaved in accord with other reports in the literature. Asparaginase, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and alanine dehydrogenase were all localized in the bacteroid fraction. Invertase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and leghaemoglobin were all found in the cytosol fraction. Very little (less than 7%) cross contamination between the fractions was observed. The isolated bacteroids were viable, and based on electron micrographs, were free from contaminating plant material. Since the entire procedure is performed isosmotically, very little damage to the bacteroids is likely to occur. No organic compounds, except Percoll, were added to the isolating media, thus aiding in the analysis of bacteroid and cytosol metabolites.

Alteration by heat activation of enzymes localized in spore coats of Bacillus cereus

Heat activation (70 degrees C for 20 min) resulted in alteration in structural proteins and enzymes found in Bacillus cereus spore coats. The three notable changes were increased glycosylation of coat proteins, alteration in polypeptide pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gels, and an increase in free SH groups of proteins. About three polypeptides leaked out in small quantities from the spore coats during heat activation. The extraction of five spore coat associated enzyme activities was followed during the coat stripping procedures, which left the cortex and core intact. Two of these activities, L-alanine dehydrogenase and purine nucleoside hydrolase, were solubilized when the undercoat was extracted by 1,4-dithioerythritol (DTE) at pH 9.8. Three other activities, a protease, a corticolytic enzyme, and purine nucleoside phosphorylase, were solubilized by both DTE alone and DTE plus urea at pH 9.8. The DTE plus urea extraction removed the two more insoluble coat layers, the outer cross-patch, and the inner pitted layers. Mutants deficient in the cross-patch layer contained normal amounts of the protease, corticolytic, and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activities suggesting their association with the pitted layer. In intact spores all five enzymes were found to be stable to the heat activation treatment. However, extracted and partially purified preparations of protease, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and L-alanine dehydrogenase were heat sensitive. Similar preparations of corticolytic enzyme and purine nucleoside hydrolase were stable to the heat activation conditions.

L-alanine dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus

A heat-stable L-alanine dehydrogenase was isolated and purified from the extremely thermophilic microorganism, Thermus thermophilus, by affinity chromatography. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 290 000, as determined by the sedimentation equilibrium method, and is composed of six subunits of identical molecular weight as concluded from sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has been characterized in terms of pH- and substrate concentration-dependence of activity, substrate specificity, inhibition by D-alanine and D-cysteine and amino acid composition. The parameters obtained are very similar to those reported for L-alanine dehydrogenase from the mesophilic microorganism, Bacillus subtilis (Yoshida, A. and Freese, E. (1965) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 96, 248--262). The thermal stability of the T. thermophilus enzyme is much greater than that of the B. subtilis enzyme. Activation free energy (delta G), activation enthalpy (delta H) and activation entropy (delta S) values were determined for both the alanine deamination and for the heat inactivation reactions of the thermophilic and mesophilic enzymes. The values obtained for the catalytic reaction were practically equal. However, the two enzymes differed significantly in these parameters determined for the enzyme inactivation, which indicates that the factors ensuring the thermoresistance of the enzyme from T. thermophilus do not affect enzyme activity.

Influence of substrate or product inhibition on the performance of enzyme reactors

For the design of an enzyme reactor a detailed knowledge of the kinetic parameters of the catalyst under operational conditions is essential. For technical applications high initial substrate concentrations and high degrees of conversions are desirable, in order to save reactor volume and energy in recovery processes. Most of the kinetic data available in the literature have been derived from dilute solutions under initial rate conditions. These data cannot be extrapolated with confidence for technically interesting concentrations because substrate as well as product-inhibition may occur, which would not be observed in dilute solutions and by initial rate measurements. Because of this difficulty effective and fast methods to obtain significant data for technical applications have been developed based on-line rate determinations. Such extensive treatment has proved necessary for the following enzymes: alanine dehydrogenase, formate dehydrogenase and alpha-glucosidase, indicating that we are dealing with a general phenomenon.

[Aspartate, alanine, glutamate, malate glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases in Candida albicans]

Multiple molecular forms of aspartate, alanine, glutamate, malate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases were studied in the course of Candida albicans growth using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The isozyme spectrum and the activity of dehydrogenases were found to depend on the cultural age and the cofactor being used (NAD or NADP). The protein-antigenic spectrum and the composition of multiple molecular forms of dehydrogenases were compared in C. albicans in the course of its growth in order to characterize more completely the properties of the culture at a certain growth phase.

Changes in enzyme activity during differentiation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The patterns of alanine dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activity were studied during the normal vegetative cell cycle and during the processes of gametic differentiation and dedifferentiation in synchronized cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. During all three phases of growth and differentiation the synthesis of DNA was also measured. During gametic differentiation all three enzyme levels were suppressed compared to vegetative cells although DNA and cell number were comparable. During gametic dedifferentiation no DNA synthesis occurred during the first 24 h cycle and only a doubling during the second. It was not until the third cycle that a normal 4-fold increase in DNA was observed. Cell number followed a similar pattern. Although the levels of alanine dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were uniformly low during the first cycle when glutamate dehydrogenase increased 4-fold, during the second cycle the patterns of these enzymes changed markedly. The enzymes did not attain levels characteristic of vegetative cells until the third cycle.

Alanine dehydrogenase of the beta-lactam antibiotic producer Streptomyces clavuligerus

L-Alanine dehydrogenase was found in extracts of the antibiotic producer Streptomyces clavuligerus. The enzyme was induced by ammonia, and the level of induction was dependent on the extracellular concentraction. L-Alanine was the only amino acid able to induce alanine dehydrogenase. The enzyme was characterized from a 38-fold purified preparation. Pyruvate (Km = 1.1 mM), ammonia (Km = 20 mM) and NADH (Km = 0.14 mM) were required for the reductive amination, and L-alanine (Km = 9.1 mM) and NAD (Km = 0.5 mM) for the oxidative deaminating reaction. The aminating reaction was inhibited by alanine, serine and NADPH. Alanine inhibited uncompetitively with respect to NADH (Ki = 1.6 mM) and noncompetitively with respect to ammonia (Ki = 2.0 mM) and pyruvate (Ki = 3.0 mM). In the aminating reaction 3-hydroxypyruvate, glyoxylate and 2-oxobutyrate could partially (6--7%) substitute pyruvate. Alanine dehydrogenase from S. clavuligerus differed with respect to its molecular weight (92000) and its kinetic properties from those described for other microorganisms.

STAGES IN GERMINATION OF SPORES OF BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS

Halmann , M. (The Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona) and A. Keynan . Stages in germination of spores of Bacillus licheniformis . J. Bacteriol. 84: 1187–1193. 1962.—This work defines conditions under which the first biochemical step in germination of spores (the so-called trigger reaction) could be studied separately from subsequent steps in germination. Although the initiation of germination of spores of Bacillus licheniformis occurred only above 20 C, and at pH 6, spores preincubated for short periods at this temperature and pH will continue to germinate when transferred to a lower temperature or pH. d -Alanine, various salts, and ethyl pyruvate inhibited the trigger reaction, but did not inhibit the continued germination of triggered spores. The results of this experiment are consistent with the notion that the germination reaction is composed of at least two distinct metabolic phases, and that the functioning of the enzyme l -alanine dehydrogenase is necessary for the first phase, the trigger reaction.