Interaction of α-Lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues with the enzyme components of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Abstract Lipoic acid (α-lipoic acid, thioctic acid) is applied as a therapeutic agent in various diseases accompanied by polyneuropathia such as diabetes mellitus. The stereoselectivity and specificity of lipoic acid for the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and its component enzymes from different sources has been studied. The dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase component from pig heart has a clear preference for R -lipoic acid, a substrate which reacts 24 times faster than the S -enantiomer. Selectivity is more at the stage of the catalytic reaction than of binding. The Michaelis constants of both enantiomers are comparable ( K m = 3.7 and 5.5 mM for R - and S -lipoic acid, respectively) and the S -enantiomer inhibits the R -lipoic acid dependent reaction with an inhibition constant similar to its Michaelis constant. When three lipoic acid homologues were tested, RS -1,2-dithiolane-3-caproic acid was one carbon atom longer than lipoic acid, while RS -bisnorlipoic acid and RS -tetranorlipoic acid were two and four carbon atoms shorter, respectively. All are poor substrates but bind to and inhibit the enzyme with an affinity similar to that of S -lipoic acid. No essential differences with respect to its reaction with lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues exist between free and complex-bound dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from human renal carcinoma has a higher Michaelis constant for R -lipoic acid ( K m = 18 mM) and does not accept the S -enantiomer as a substrate. Both enantiomers of lipoic acid are inhibitors of the overall reaction of the bovine pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, but stimulate the respective enzyme complexes from rat as well as from Escherichia coli . The S -enantiomer is the stronger inhibitor, the R -enantiomer the better activator. The two enantiomers have no influence on the partial reaction of the bovine pyruvate dehydrogenase component, but do inhibit this enzyme component from rat kidney. The implications of these results are discussed.