Aconitase from porcine heart

Aconitase may be usefull in diabetes research as well as to study structural conservation between iron-responsive element binding proteins (IRE-BP) and isomerases .

Aconitase catalyses the stereo-specific isomerization of citrate to isocitrate via cis-aconitate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Aconitase is inhibited by cyanide, sulfide and copper and mercury at low concentrations. It is competitively inhibited by trans-aconitate. Aconitase contains an internal Fe-S cluster which is responsible for its activity.

Crude preparation containing aconitase activity

One unit will convert 1.0 μmole of citrate (via cis-aconitate) to isocitrate per min at pH 7.4 at 25 °C.