Aconitase catalyzes a reversible isomerization of citrate into isocitrate in the Krebs cycle. Escherichia coli possesses two kinds of aconitases, aconitase A (AcnA) and B (AcnB), whose structural organizations are different. We analyzed the structural state of AcnA by the chemical crosslinking and small-angle X-ray scattering. The protein adopts a homodimer in Solution, as AcnB does. The catalytic assay of the two aconitases revealed that the isomerization of isocitrate displayed a negative cooperativity of the two active sites within each homodimer. On the other hand, insignificant cooperativity was observed in the reverse reaction. Therefore, the homodimerization of AcnAB yields a substrate-dependent cooperative effect. In Conjunction with the dissociable homodimer of AcnB, the catalytic property could affect the intracellular metabolic process involving the Krebs cycle. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved.