Characterization of a cDNA clone for human NAD⁺-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase α-subunit and structural comparison with its isoenzymes from different species

A 0.6 kb cDNA fragment encoding the human NAD(+)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase alpha-subunit (H-IDH alpha) was amplified by PCR using oligonucleotide primers synthesized on the basis of pig tryptic peptide sequences [Huang and Colman (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8266-8273]. With the amplified cDNA as a probe, cDNA clones for IDH alpha were isolated from a human heart lambda gt11 cDNA library. The deduced protein sequence of the largest cDNA clone (2628 bp) rendered a precursor protein of 366 amino acids (39,591 Da) and a mature protein of 339 amino acids (36,640 Da). The deduced H-IDH alpha protein sequence is highly similar to the partial peptide sequences of the pig enzyme. It is 55, 43 and 44% identical with yeast NAD(+)-specific IDH2, yeast NAD(+)-specific IDH1 and monkey NAD(+)-specific IDH gamma-subunit (IDH gamma) respectively. However, it has less similarity (about 30%) to NADP(+)-specific IDH from Escherichia coli and bovine mitochondria. These results indicate that the structure of IDH alpha closely resembles that of IDH2, the catalytic subunit of the yeast enzyme. Structural analysis of the deduced H-IDH alpha protein revealed that the amino acids responsible for the binding of isocitrate, Mg2+ and NAD+ are highly conserved. It also has two conserved motifs for the binding sites of ATP and ADP, but a canonical Ca(2+)-binding motif was not recognized. Unusual penta-(ATTTA) and tri-(TAA or ATT) nucleotides which are respectively believed to interact with RNA-binding proteins and be near the endonuclease cleavage sites were frequently recognized in its 3′ untranslated region, indicating the possibility of an additional method of regulation of this enzyme. Northern-blot analysis suggests that one mRNA transcript (2.8 kb) exists in cultured HeLa cells. Genomic DNA Southern-blot analysis indicates that the IDH alpha gene is not closely related to that of the other IDH isoenzymes, and IDH alpha appears to be encoded by a single gene.