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Z Kochan

Publications and source records attributed to Z Kochan.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Dietary alpha-tocopherol prevents dehydroepiandrosterone-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and mitochondria.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal steroid, causes lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and mitochondria and induces hepatocarcinogenesis. It was investigated whether alpha-tocopherol, a naturally occurring free radical chain terminator, could decrease lipid peroxidation. When DHEA-free diet supplemented with increasing concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 1000 mg/kg diet) was fed to rats for 7 days, a marked lipid peroxidation (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation) was observed at concentrations 25 and 50 mg/kg in liver microsomes and mitochondria isolated from these animals. Lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced at concentrations > or = 100 mg/kg. When DHEA (500 mg/kg diet) was fed to rats simultaneously with increasing concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, strong lipid peroxidation was observed at alpha-tocopherol concentrations < or = 200 mg/kg diet. However, microsomes and mitochondria isolated from livers of rats fed alpha-tocopherol at doses of 400 and 1000 mg/kg diet produced only negligible amounts of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The data show that high concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in the diet decrease DHEA-induced microsomal and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. Our results support the concept that alpha-tocopherol can protect against DHEA-induced lipid peroxidation and consequently against steroid-induced liver cell damage and, perhaps, also tumour development.

Animals↗

Unususal increase of lipogenesis in rat white adipose tissue after multiple cycles of starvation-refeeding.

The purpose of the study was to determine the response of liver and brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissue lipogenesis and total body weight in rats subjected to multiple cycles of 3 days of fasting and 3 days of refeeding. Rats fasted for 3 days showed significant reduction in body weight. These changes were reversed on 3 days' refeeding. Body weight was much higher in rats fed ad libitum than in animals experiencing more than one cycle of 3 days of fasting followed by 3 days of refeeding. Despite the significant body weight reduction, an unusual increase of lipogenesis in WAT was found after multiple cycles of starvation-refeeding of rats on standard laboratory diet. The rate of lipogenesis in the liver and BAT was also elevated but to a much smaller extent. A parallel increase in enzymatic activities related to fatty acid synthesis, ie, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-citrate lyase, NADP-linked malic enzyme, and hexose monophosphate shunt dehydrogenases, suggests that the increased rate of lipogenesis in WAT is a consequence of increased lipogenic enzyme activities. These data suggest that upregulation of WAT lipogenesis occurs after the multiple cycles of the starvation-refeeding protocol. An unusual increase of lipogenesis in rat WAT may have a survival advantage, because starved-refed rats must develop the ability to ingest large amounts of food during a refeeding period to store it in a convenient form than can be used as an oxidizable substrate during a period of starvation. Moreover, these results suggest that it is possible to develop appropriate starvation-refeeding conditions that may inhibit body weight gain.

Adipose Tissue↗

[Obesity genes].

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Adipose Tissue↗

A comparison of the secondary structure of human brain mitochondrial and cytosolic 'malic' enzyme investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

The secondary structure of human brain cytosolic and mitochondrial 'malic' enzymes purified to homogeneity has been investigated by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy. The absorbance IR spectra of these two isoenzymes were slightly different, but calculated secondary-structure compositions were essentially similar (38% alpha-helix, 38-39% beta-sheet, 14% beta-turn and 9-10% random structure). These proportions were not affected by succinate, a positive effector of mitochondrial 'malic' enzyme activity. IR spectra indicate that the tertiary structures of human brain cytosolic and mitochondrial 'malic' enzymes are slightly different, and addition of succinate does not cause conformational changes to the tertiary structure of the mitochondrial enzyme. Thermal-denaturation patterns of the cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes, obtained from spectra recorded at different temperatures in the absence or presence of Mg2+, suggest that the tertiary structure of both isoenzymes is stabilized by bivalent cations and that the cytosolic enzyme possesses a more compact tertiary structure.

Brain↗

Structural properties and thermal stability of human liver and heart fatty acid binding proteins: a Fourier transform IR spectroscopy study.

The secondary structure and the thermal stability of human liver (L-FABP) and heart (H-FABP) fatty acid-binding proteins were analyzed, in the absence and in the presence of oleic acid, by Fourier transform ir spectroscopy. The study was done in order to gain information on the secondary as well three-dimensional structure of L-FABP and to check the possible H-FABP self-association that has been found to occur in rat and pig H-FABP. Comparison of human L-FABP and H-FABP ir spectra reveals that, in spite of the low sequence homology, the two proteins have similar secondary and probably tertiary structures. The ir data indicates that a larger amount of beta-strands are exposed to the solvent in H-FABP as compared to L-FABP, suggesting minor differences in the three-dimensional structures of these proteins. The binding of oleic acid to L-FABP and H-FABP stabilizes their structures and does not modify their secondary structure. The ir spectra neither confirm nor exclude self-association of human H-FABP.

Amides↗

Comparative studies on NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme in the central nervous system of ectothermic and endothermic animals.

The maximum activity and intracellular distribution of NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme in brain of Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia and Pisces are reported. Malic enzyme activity was present in all animals brains investigated. Most of the enzyme activity was located in the mitochondrial fraction. In brain of endothermic animals the activity of malic enzyme was several-fold higher than in ectothermic animals. Other NADPH-producing enzymes (i.e. NADP(+)-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and hexosemonophosphate shunt dehydrogenase) activities were essentially similar in all animals brains tested. However, the total potential capability of NADPH production was lower in ectothermic animals (due mainly to lower malic enzyme activity). It is suggested that the presence of NADP(+)-linked malic enzyme in the brain may be related mainly to mitochondrial metabolism, especially to maintain the mitochondrial pool of NADP+ in reduced form.

Animals↗

Purification and properties of cytosolic and mitochondrial malic enzyme isolated from human brain.

Three isoforms of malic enzyme have been described in mammalian tissues: a cytosolic NADP(+)-dependent enzyme, a NADP(+)-dependent mitochondrial isoform and a mitochondrial isozyme which can use both NAD+ and NADP+ but is more effective with NAD+. We purified mitochondrial and cytosolic malic enzyme from human brain extract to apparent homogeneity in order to compare properties of these isozymes and to verify whether mitochondria contain one or two malic enzyme. Specific activities of both isoforms are approx. 90 mumol/min/mg of protein, which corresponds to about 1900-fold purification. The two isozymes have identical native molecular mass (257 kDa) and are presumably tetramers composed of four identical subunits (M(r) = 64 kDa). The isoelectric point of cytosolic isozyme is 5.65, and that of mitochondrial one is 7.0. The isozymes show a substantial difference in their capability to catalyse the reductive carboxylation of pyruvate to malate: the maximal carboxylation rate approaches 80% that of decarboxylation velocity for the cytosolic enzyme, and only 17% for the mitochondrial isozyme. The coenzyme specificity of both isozymes is not stringent; NADP+ is the preferred and NAD+ can substitute it, although with much lower efficiency. The homogenous cytosolic malic enzyme catalysed decarboxylation of oxaloacetate and NADPH-dependent reduction of pyruvate at about 24 and 0.5% of the maximum rate of NADP-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of malate respectively. Decarboxylation of oxaloacetate catalysed by mitochondrial malic enzyme has not been detectable, while NADP-linked reduction of pyruvate approaches only 0.15% of the maximum rate of NADP-linked oxidative decarboxylation of malate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain↗

Different regulatory properties of the cytosolic and mitochondrial forms of malic enzyme isolated from human brain.

The human brain contains a cytosolic and mitochondrial form of NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme. To investigate their possible metabolic roles we compared the regulatory properties of these two iso-enzymes. The mitochondrial malic enzyme exhibited a sigmoid substrate saturation curve at low malate concentration which was shifted to the right at both higher pH values and in the presence of low concentration of Mn2+ or Mg2+. Succinate or fumarate increased the activity of the mitochondrial malic enzyme at low malate concentration. Both activators shifted the plot of reaction velocity versus malate concentration to the left, and removed sigmoidicity, but the maximum velocity was unaffected. The activation was associated with a decrease in Hill coefficient from 2.3 to 1.1. The human brain cytosolic malic enzyme displayed a hyperbolic substrate saturation kinetics and no sigmoidicity was detected even at high pH and low malate concentrations. Succinate or fumarate exerted no effect on the enzyme activity. Excess of malate inhibited the oxidative decarboxylation catalysed by cytosolic enzyme at pH 7.0 and below. In contrast, decarboxylation catalysed by mitochondrial malic enzyme, was unaffected by the substrate. These results suggest that under in vivo conditions, cytosolic malic enzyme catalyses both oxidative decarboxylation of malate and reductive carboxylation of pyruvate, whereas the role of mitochondrial enzyme is limited to decarboxylation of malate. One may speculate that in vivo the reaction catalysed by cytosolic malic enzyme supplies dicarboxylic acids (anaplerotic function) for the formation of neurotransmitters, while the mitochondrial enzyme regulates the flux rate via Krebs cycle by disposition of the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (cataplerotic function).

Brain↗

Subregional and intracellular distribution of NADP-linked malic enzyme in human brain.

High total activity (expressed as mumol/min/g of wet tissue or per milligram of DNA) and differential subregional distribution of NADP-linked malic enzyme was found in autopsy specimens of human brain. Striatum showed the highest activity of malic enzyme, which was two- to five-fold higher than that in other human organs tested. High activity was also found in frontal cortex, while the lowest activity of the enzyme in the central nervous system was found in cerebellum, substantia alba, and corpus callosum. In striatum, frontal cortex, pons, and cerebellum more than 80% of total malic enzyme activity was localized in the mitochondrial fraction, while in substantia alba and corpus callosum approximately 60% of the enzyme activity was present in the mitochondrial fraction. Relatively high specific activity of malic enzyme was found in a crude mitochondrial fraction isolated from various regions of human brain. The highest specific activity was found in the mitochondria isolated from striatum (more than 100 nmol/min/mg of mitochondrial protein); the lowest, but still high (approximately 32 nmol/min/mg of mitochondrial protein) was present in corpus callosum. These data and the different ratios of citrate synthase to mitochondrial malic enzyme activities found in different regions of brain suggest that human brain mitochondria, like the mitochondria isolated from other mammalian brains, are extremely heterogenous. A possible role of mitochondrial malic enzyme in human brain metabolism is discussed.

Brain↗

Nucleotide and adenosine metabolism in different cell types of human and rat heart.

Evaluation of enzyme activities involved in nucleotide metabolism and adenosine production within different cell types can provide important information on their contribution to the overall metabolism of the heart. The following enzyme activities were determined: adenosine kinase (AK), adenosine deaminase (ADA), S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), AMP deaminase (AMPD), membrane 5'nucleotidase (M5'N), AMP specific (AC5'N) and IMP specific (IC5'N) cytosolic 5'nucleotidases in (1) rat heart (n = 5), (2) rat cardiomyocytes obtained by collagenase digestion (n = 5), (3) human heart (n = 6) obtained from explants or papillary muscles collected during heart transplantation or mitral valve replacement, and (4) human umbilical cord endothelial cells in primary culture (n = 4). In the human heart, activities (mumol/min/g wet weight) were as follows: AK (0.14 +/- 0.01), ADA (0.46 +/- 0.03), SAHH (0.001 +/- 0.0003), PNP (0.43 +/- 0.08), AMPD (0.41 +/- 0.05), M5'N (1.75 +/- 0.12), IC5'N (0.21 +/- 0.03) and AC5'N (0.11 +/- 0.02). These enzyme activities were lower than those determined in the rat heart with the exception of AC5'N and IC5'N which were equal. The most prominent difference observed was for AMPD and M5'N which were nine and five-fold more active in the rat heart. Rat cardiomyocyte enzyme activities were comparable to those measured in whole rat heart with the exception of ADA (six-fold lower) and PNP (16-fold lower). Endothelial cell activities were notably different from those in the human heart particularly in the case of SAHH (nine-fold higher) and PNP (16-fold higher).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Endothelial nucleotide catabolism and adenosine production.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study pathways of nucleotide catabolism and adenosine production in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) incubated under normal conditions and following inhibition of ATP synthesis. METHODS: Confluent cultures of HUVEC were incubated for 45 min in Hank's balanced salt solution in a 95% O2/5%CO2 atmosphere under the following experimental conditions: (1) in presence of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, erythro-9(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA); (2) with EHNA and the adenosine kinase inhibitor, 5'-iodotubercidin (ITu); (3) with iodoacetate and oligomycin (I+O), inhibitors of ATP production, and EHNA; (4) with I+O, EHNA, and an inhibitor of ecto 5'-nucleotidase, alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate (AOPCP). Nucleotide and catabolite contents in both cells and medium were analysed by HPLC. RESULTS: The initial contents of ATP, ADP, and AMP were 9.12(SEM 1.2), 0.73(0.08) and 0.11(0.02) nmol per culture flask respectively. These levels were maintained under experimental condition (1), with only a small increase in hypoxanthine in the medium of 0.9(0.2) nmol. Under experimental condition (2), adenosine accumulation in the medium was greatly enhanced [increase by 0.9(0.2) nmol], while the rise in hypoxanthine was similar to that in experimental condition (1). Under experimental condition (3), cellular ATP was totally depleted after 45 min and AMP increased to 4.3(0.9) nmol. Adenosine in the medium was increased by 5.4(0.2) nmol, the increase in the sum of hypoxanthine and inosine was 1.6(0.2) nmol, and the increases in uric acid and xanthine were less than 0.4 nmol. Under experimental condition (4), where AOPCP was present in addition to I+O and EHNA, adenosine production was markedly reduced and AMP accumulated in the medium [1.2(0.2) nmol]. CONCLUSIONS: Adenosine is generated continuously in cultured HUVEC under normal conditions, but is immediately recycled via adenosine kinase. In ATP depleted cells, nucleotide catabolism proceeds predominantly via intracellular dephosphorylation of AMP with a small contribution from the extracellular dephosphorylation pathway. The capacity of the AMP deamination pathway in endothelium is small and the flux through xanthine oxidoreductase is minimal.

Adenosine↗

Inhibition of lipogenesis in rat brown adipose tissue by clofibrate.

The effect of clofibrate (Atromid S, ethyl-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionate) administration for 7 days to rats on lipogenesis and on some lipogenic enzyme activities in brown adipose tissue (BAT), liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) was examined. As compared to control rats the rate of lipogenesis in BAT in the clofibrate-treated animals was significantly decreased. The rate of liver lipogenesis increased slightly, whereas lipogenesis in the WAT was not affected by clofibrate. In BAT, the drug treatment resulted in depression of fatty acid synthase, ATP-citrate lyase, malic enzyme, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities. The activity of liver fatty acid synthase did not change, ATP-citrate lyase activity slightly decreased, whereas the activity of malic enzyme significantly increased in this organ after clofibrate feeding. The ATP-citrate lyase activity in WAT decreased, while fatty acid synthase and other lipogenic enzymes were not changed after clofibrate feeding. Clofibrate treatment did not influence the activity of NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase (enzymes not linked directly to lipogenesis), either in BAT, liver or WAT. The data presented suggest that the hypolipidaemic effect of clofibrate in the rat may be due (possibly among other mechanisms) to reduction of the rate of fatty acid synthesis in BAT but not in the liver and WAT.

Adipose Tissue↗

Changes of malic enzyme activity in the developing rat brain are due to both the increase of mitochondrial protein content and the increase of specific activity.

1. The pattern of NADP-linked malic enzyme activity estimated in the whole brain homogenate did not parallel that found in liver of developing rat. 2. Studies on intracellular distribution of malic enzyme in brain showed that the mitochondrial enzyme increased about three-fold between 10th and 40th day of life. Thereafter, a slow gradual increase to the adult level was observed. 3. The extramitochondrial malic enzyme from brain, like the liver enzyme, increased at the time of weaning, although to a lesser extent. At day 5 the brain malic enzyme was equally distributed between mitochondria and cytosol. 4. During the postnatal development, the contribution of the mitochondrial malic enzyme in the total activity was increasing, reaching the value approx. 80% at day 150 after birth. 5. The increase with age of the malic enzyme specific activity was observed in both synaptosomal and non-synaptosomal mitochondria, the changes in the last fraction being more pronounced. 6. The activity of citrate synthase developed markedly between 10-40 postnatal days, increasing about five-fold, while the specific activity of the enzyme did change neither in the synaptosomal nor in non-synaptosomal mitochondria at this period. 7. We conclude that the changes in malic enzyme activity in the developing rat brain are mainly due both to the increase of mitochondrial protein content and to the increase of specific activity of the mitochondrial malic enzyme.

Animals↗

Developmental changes of lipogenic enzyme activities and lipogenesis in brown adipose tissue and liver of the rat.

1. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver lipogenesis in vivo estimated by using 3H2O as tracer was very low and did not change significantly between 10 and 20 days after birth. Lipogenesis increased dramatically in both tissues by weaning at 20 days, peaking between 25 and 30 days of age. Since that time the rate of fatty acid synthesis in BAT decreased gradually to reach adult level after 2 months, whereas in the liver there was a sharp decrease of lipogenesis. 2. The activities of fatty acid synthase, citrate cleavage enzyme, malic enzyme and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase essentially followed a similar course of developmental changes as lipogenesis. 3. In contrast to the enzymes listed above NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase remained unaltered over the period studied, whereas lactate and malate dehydrogenases exhibited very high activity at 10 days after birth and from then decreased to reach adult level at the age of about 20 days. 4. The data obtained indicate that no substantial differences could be detected in the developmental pattern of lipogenesis and lipogenic enzyme activities between BAT and liver up to 30 days of age but after this time these processes were not co-ordinated in both tissues. Beyond this time the BAT was characterized by a much higher rate of lipogenesis than the liver. 5. The results are discussed in terms of the nutrient changes and the relationship between thermogenesis and lipogenesis in BAT.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗