Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Rotilio

Publications and source records attributed to G Rotilio.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Differential sensitivity of tumor cells to externally generated hydrogen peroxide. Role of glutathione and related enzymes.

(1) Oxygen uptake and lactate production of different strains of ascites tumor cells were assayed after exposure to an extracellular photochemical system known to produce reactive oxygen derivatives. The various cells tested showed differential sensitivity to the treatment, ranging from nearly full inactivation of Ehrlich cells to nearly full resistance of Yoshida cells. (2) Glucose plus succinate added after the treatment reestablished basal oxygen uptake capacity suggesting that the cell membrane was the primary site of damage. This was confirmed by dye-permeabilization and protein leakage in sensitive cells. (3) H2O2 was shown to be the only relevant oxygen derivative in the production of cell damage: catalase was the only externally added agent that protected sensitive cells, and H2O2 (congruent to 10(-3) M) had the same effects as the photochemical treatment. (4) While the absence of catalase is a feature common to all tumors tested, sensitivity to H2O2 appears to be related to cellular levels of glutathione peroxidase and of its subsidiary enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase and glutathione synthetase.

Animals↗

Effect of drugs on oxidation and precipitation of the isolated chains of human hemoglobin.

The paper deals with the action of: primaquine, epinephrine, adrenochrome, acetylphenylhydrazine and sulphanilamide on the autoxidation of the isolated chains from human hemoglobin and on the precipitation which follows. The effect of superoxide dismutase and catalase on the drug induced autoxidation allows the assessment of the possible role of O2 derivatives (notably superoxide or peroxide) in the overall reaction mechanism. It is also shown that primaquine and acetylphenylhydrazine enhance precipitation of the isolated oxidized chains, while epinephrine and adrenochrome display a small inhibitory effect on precipitation. These effects do not involve O2 radicals, but have presumably to be related to a destabilizing (or stabilizing) action of the drugs on the structure of the protein.

Adrenochrome↗

The binding of copper ions to copper-free bovine superoxide dismutase. Kinetic aspects.

The kinetics of reconstitution of bovine superoxide dismutase from Cu2+ and the copper-free enzyme have been studied by activity, u.v.-absorption, electron-paramagnetic-resonance and pulsed-nuclear-magnetic-resonance measurements. The process appears to be first-order up to 80% completion in most conditions, and is pH-dependent, with an apparent pK of 6.5. U.v.-absorption and solvent proton relaxation rate measurements show that fast binding of Cu2+ occurs, and the initial ligands are likely to be, at least in part, those of the native active site. The recovery of the native activity and spectroscopic properties is a slow process with activation energies of 92 kJ/mol at pH 5.3 and 8.4kJ/mol at pH 8.1 and can be described as a rearrangement of the site around the bound metal. The rate of this process is lower in partially recombined protein samples, probably because of intersubunit interactions.

Acetates↗

Determination of red blood cell superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in newborns in relation to neonatal hemolysis.

Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities have been determined in newborns. Their mean values are approximately the same as in normal adults. In some cases a low content of superoxide dismutase and/or a high (superoxide dismutase/glutathione peroxidase) ratio are associated with hematological symptoms. In addition, a low superoxide dismutase activity is associated with hyperbilirubinemia and is present in two of the three cases showing maximal acetylphenylhdrazine-induced hemoloysis.

Adult↗

The involvement of the bridging imidazolate in the catalytic mechanism of action of bovine superoxide dismutase.

The pulse-radiolysis method has been used to study the catalytic mechanism of O2 leads to dismutation by the Co(II)-substituted bovine erythrocuprein (superoxide dismutase, EC 1.15.1.1). Catalysis is accompanied by spectral changes that may be interpreted in terms of rapid protonation and deprotonation of the Cu-facing nitrogen atom of the imidazolate that bridges the Cu(II) and the Co(II) [or Zn(II)] in the oxidized enzyme. This rapid change permits the possibility that the imidazole is a proton donor in the catalytic reduction of O2 leads to.

Animals↗

The binding of copper ions to copper-free bovine superoxide dismutase. Copper distribution in protein samples recombined with less than stoicheiometric copper ion/protein ratios.

Samples of superoxide dismutase containing less than stoicheiometric amounts of Cu2+ were obtained by either partial re-addition of Cu2+ to the Cu2+-free protein or partial removal of Cu2+ by controlled CN-treatment. In these samples the distribution of the metal between the two identical sites on the two subunits was studied by quantitative gel electrophoresis and found to be statistical only in the process of copper removal by CN-. In the other case the distribution fits a model of co-operative interaction between the two sites, where the sites are equivalent for the binding of the first Cu2+ ion, but the occupation of the first site lowers the activation energy of the binding of the second Cu2+ ion. This indicates that binding of Cu2+ ion at its site on one subunit brings about conformational changes that facilitate Cu2+ binding on the other subunit. These results may relate to possible intersubunit interactions during the catalytic activity.

Animals↗

The binding of copper ions to copper-free bovine superoxide dismutase. Properties of the protein recombined with increasing amounts of copper ions.

1. E.p.r. (electron-paramagnetic-resonance), proton-relaxation and u.v.-absorption parameters, and enzyme activity of samples of Cu2+-free bovine superoxide dismutase recombined with different amounts of Cu2+ up to the stoicheiometric [Cu2+]/protein] ratio were investigated after attainment of equilibrium in the recovery process. 2. The e.p.r. spectra were identical with the spectrum of the native protein at all [Cu2+]/[protein] ratios. The relaxation rate of the water protons (T1) and the u.v. absorption increase as linear functions of the added Cu2+. 3. On the other hand, in recombination experiments in the range pH 7.6-10.5 the enzyme activity shows a non-linear increase as the [Cu2+]/[protein] ratio rises. The experimental curves can be interpreted in terms of the model of co-operative binding of Cu2+ to the two sites proposed on the basis of the electrophoretic analyses of the samples, and show that the specific activity of the molecules containing only one Cu2+ ion is twice as high as that of the molecules with two Cu2+ ions. 4. These results support the hypothesis of an anti-co-operative interaction between the two sites during the activity, which allows only one Cu2+ ion to function in catalysis.

Animals↗