Disappearance of isocitrate lyase enzyme from cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa

1. When acetate-adapted cells of Chlorella are suspended in nitrogen-free medium and supplied with glucose, isocitrate lyase activity disappears from the cells at a rate of about 9%/h. This loss of activity is shown to be accompanied by loss of isocitrate lyase protein. 2. When isocitrate lyase activity is assayed in intact cells after freezing and thawing, the rate of loss of activity after addition of glucose approaches 20%/h. 3. It is shown, by using 35S, that the rate of turnover of isocitrate lyase protein is somewhat lower than that of other major soluble proteins; general protein turnover during nitrogen starvation, and after glucose addition, is too slow to account for the rate of loss of isocitrate lyase protein. 4. Disappearance of isocitrate lyase activity must result from a mechanism that allows degradation of this specific protein under conditions of limiting nitrogen supply.