malic dehydrogenase

ma·late de·hy·dro·gen·ase (MD),

an enzyme that, using either NAD⁺ or NADP⁺, catalyzes the dehydrogenation of malate to oxaloacetate or its decarboxylation to pyruvate and CO₂. At least six malate dehydrogenases are known, distinguished by their products, use of NAD⁺ or NADP⁺, and specificity of substrate (one acts on d-malate, the rest act on l-malate); one of these proteins is an enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Synonym(s): malic acid dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, pyruvic-malic carboxylase

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

malic dehydrogenase

A generic term for a family of enzymes (EC 1.1.1.37–1.1.1.40, 1.1.1.82–1.1.1.83) that catalyse the dehydrogenation of malate to oxaloacetate, or its decarboxylation to pyruvate. These enzymes have been catalogued in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database—e.g., mitochondrial (OMIM:154100), NAD-dependent (OMIM:154200), and NADP-dependent (OMIM:154250) malate dehydrogenases.

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