Inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase by salicylate in vitro

Abstract

Salicylate inhibits the activity of glutamate decarboxylase from Escherichia coli by a reversible mechanism, but high concentrations of the drug denature the enzyme protein Salicylate inhibits the activity of glutamate decarboxylase prepared from Escherichia coli and rat brain (Gould, Huggins & Smith, 1963; Gould & Smith, 1965). It was suggested that the mechanism of inhibition involved an irreversible combination of the drug with the enzyme protein. This mechanism has not been confirmed in the present work. High concentrations of salicylate denature, and lower concentrations cause a reversible inhibition of the bacterial enzyme.