$Ca^{2+}$ is Required to Make Functional Malate Synthase in Corynebacterium glutamicum

The role of $Ca^{2+}$ in making functional malate synthase in Corynebacterium glutamicum was investigated using the cloned DNA coding for the enzyme. Introduction of cloned aceB into C. glutamicum overexpressed malate synthase as judged by SDS-PAGE. However, the increase in enzyme activity of the expressed malate synthase did not match the level of overexpression observed in SDS-PAGE. Addition of $Ca^{2+}$ to the growth medium specifically increased the activity. The malate synthase could be stained with ruthenium red in a $Ca^{2+}$-specific manner. This agrees with the previous observation which reported a potential $Ca^{2+}$-binding domain in the N-terminal region of the protein.