Dynamic assembly of malate dehydrogenase-citrate synthase multienzyme complex in the mitochondria

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) and citrate synthase (CIT1), form a multienzyme complex called ‘metabolon’ that channels intermediate, oxaloacetate, between the reaction centers of the enzymes. Since the MDH1-CIT1 metabolon enhances the pathway reactions in vitro, it is postulated to regulate the TCA cycle flux through dynamic assembly in response to cellular metabolic demands. Here, we demonstrated that yeast mitochondrial MDH1 and CIT1 dissociated when aerobic respiration was suppressed by the Crabtree effect and associated when the pathway flux was enhanced by acetate. Pharmacological TCA cycle inhibitions dissociated the complex, while electron transport chain inhibition enhanced the interaction. The multienzyme complex assembly was related to the mitochondrial matrix acidification and oxidation, as well as cellular levels of malate, fumarate, and citrate. These factors significantly affected the MDH1-CIT1 complex affinity in vitro. Especially the buffer pH significantly changed the MDH1-CIT1 affinity within the pH range between 6.0 and 7.0, which is observed in the mitochondrial matrix under physiological conditions. These results show a dynamic association and dissociation of a metabolon in the mitochondria and its relationship with pathway flux, supporting the metabolon’s role in metabolic regulation. Multiple factors, including pH and metabolite availabilities, possibly regulate MDH1-CIT1 interaction.