A malate dehydrogenase of high molecular weight, from bean leaves

Two forms of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) of widely differing molecular weight were found in primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris. Their molecular weights were estimated as 69 000 and 275 000 by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The ratio of these two forms followed an orderly course in which the high molecular weight MDH increased from near zero in very young leaves to about 35% of the total MDH activity in leaves older than 2 weeks. Conditions which cause the high molecular weight MDH to dissociate to active normal molecular weight enzyme are discussed.