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Biomedical subjects

P M Brophy

Publications and source records attributed to P M Brophy.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Glutathione transferase in helminths.

The helminth glutathione (GSH) transferases are present as isoenzymes but fail to show a clear biochemical homology to any of the three mammalian GSH transferase families. GSH transferase is one of the major detoxification systems found in helminths, particularly high levels being found in cestodes and digeneans. Helminth GSH transferases bind a range of anthelmintics but there is limited evidence that the enzymes can conjugate anthelmintics with glutathione. Other natural substrates of helminth GSH transferase may be secondary products of lipid peroxidation including lipid hydroperoxides and reactive carbonyls. Lipid peroxidation can arise via free radicals produced by host immuno-effector cells and helminth GSH transferase may help form a defence system against immune-mediated damage. GSH transferase has also been identified as a protective antigen in schistosomiasis.

Animals↗

Detoxification of secondary products of lipid peroxidation in the cytosol of a mouse fibroblast cell line.

A cytosolic fraction prepared from a mouse fibroblast cell line reduced secondary products of lipid peroxidation, including alkenals, alkanals, alk-2-enals, and alka-2,4-dienals, using NADH or NADPH. An alternative route for detoxification of alk-2-enals and alka-2,4-dienals in the cell line cytosol was via glutathione conjugation. The major glutathione transferase in the cell line cytosol was partially characterized by glutathione-agarose chromatography and chromatofocusing. High glutathione peroxidase activity suggested that the enzyme was an alpha family glutathione transferase. The major glutathione transferase also efficiently catalyzed the conjugation of alk-2-enals and alka-2,4-dienals with glutathione.

Animals↗

Glutathione transferases in the tapeworm Moniezia expansa.

Four forms of GSH transferase were resolved from Moniezia expansa cytosol by GSH-Sepharose affinity chromatography and chromatofocusing in the range pH 6-4, and the presence of isoenzymes was further suggested by analytical isoelectric focusing. The four GSH transferase forms in the cestode showed no clear biochemical relationship to any one mammalian GSH transferase family. The N-terminal of the major GSH transferase form showed sequence homology with the Mu and Alpha family GSH transferases. The major GSH transferase appeared to bind a number of commercially available anthelmintics but did not appear to conjugate the compounds with GSH. The major GSH transferase efficiently conjugated members of the trans-alk-2-enal and trans,trans-alka-2,4-dienal series, established secondary products of lipid peroxidation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification of cytosolic glutathione transferases from Schistocephalus solidus (plerocercoid): interaction with anthelmintics and products of lipid peroxidation.

Glutathione (GSH) transferase isoenzymes have been partially resolved from the cytosol of Schistocephalus solidus (plerocercoid) by GSH affinity chromatography and chromatofocusing at pH 7-5. The presence of isomeric forms was also suggested by analytical isoelectric focusing and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that GSH transferase forms were dimers with a subunit size of approximately 24 kDa. The major GSH transferase form in S. solidus (plerocercoid) showed greater biochemical relationship to the Mu family of mammalian GSH transferase compared to the mammalian Alpha or Pi families. The major subunit purified by GSH affinity chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC also showed high N-terminal homology with the Mu family. A minor GSH transferase form appeared more biochemically related to the Alpha family with respect to substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity. The major GSH transferase was inhibited by haematin-related compounds, bile acids and a number of anthelmintics including members of the benzimidazole and phenol-based class of compounds. The major GSH transferase had conjugating activity with members of the trans, trans-2,4-alkadienal and trans-2-alkenal series, secondary products of lipid peroxidation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Strategies for detoxification of aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation in helminths.

Crude extracts from a number of helminths including Schistosoma intercalatum and Fasciola hepatica were able to detoxify known aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation. A major route for alk-2-enal and alka-2,4-dienal detoxification in parasitic helminths was via glutathione conjugation and glutathione transferase appeared to be responsible for the activity. As yet uncharacterised NADPH-linked systems may provide an important secondary pathway for detoxification of alk-2-enals and alka-2,4-dienals in parasitic helminths. The free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus had higher active NADH/NADPH-linked aldehyde reduction systems compared to parasitic helminths. The NADH linked and NADPH linked reductions in P. redivivus were mitochondrial and cytosolic activities respectively. NADH/NADPH-linked systems may be responsible for alkanal reduction in helminths as there is no evidence of conjugation of alkanals with glutathione. P. redivivus and Haemonchus contortus were also able to oxidise aldehydes via NAD/NADP-linked systems.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗