α-Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.2) is widely present in the mitochondria of animals, plants, microorganisms, and cultured cells. It is a key regulatory enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, catalyzing the oxidative decarboxylation of α-ketoglutarate to produce succinyl-CoA.
Assay Principle: α-KGDH catalyzes the reaction of α-ketoglutarate, NAD⁺, and coenzyme A to generate succinyl-CoA, carbon dioxide, and NADH. NADH exhibits a characteristic absorption peak at 340 nm, and the activity of α-KGDH is expressed as the rate of NADH production.