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Inhibition of copper amine oxidase by haloamines: a killer product mechanism.

The observation that the alkylamines 2-Br-ethylamine and 2-C1-ethylamine and 1,2-diaminoethane, the shortest diamine, are irreversible inhibitors of several copper amine oxidases led to the investigation of the mechanism by which these compounds react with the highly active amine oxidase from lentil seedlings. 1,2-Diaminoethane, 2-Br-ethylamine, and 2-C1-ethylamine were found to be both poor substrates and irreversible inhibitors of lentil amine oxidase; inactivation took place in both the presence and absence of oxygen. All three compounds strongly affected the spectrum of the enzyme, leading to the formation of a stable band at 336 nm both in anaerobiosis and in aerobiosis, consistent with an interaction with the enzyme cofactor 6-hydroxydopa. On the contrary, the corresponding propylamine compounds 1,3-diaminopropane, 3-Br-propylamine, and 3-C1-propylamine were reversible inhibitors of lentil amine oxidase. Inhibition was shown to be due to the aldehyde oxidation products rather than the short chain amines themselves; a reaction mechanism is presented which involves attack of the aldehyde on the 6-hydroxydopa-derived free radical catalytic intermediate. With 1,2-diaminoethane, 2-Br-ethylamine, and 2-C1-ethylamine, the complex produced will form a stable 6-membered ring, causing irreversible inhibition of the enzyme.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Synthesis and receptor binding properties of fluoro- and iodo-substituted high affinity sigma receptor ligands: identification of potential PET and SPECT sigma receptor imaging agents.

Unlabeled fluoro- and iodo-substituted ligands exhibiting very high affinity and selectivity for sigma receptors were synthesized based on three different structural classes of sigma receptor ligands. These compounds were evaluated for sigma receptor affinity and specificity in order to assess their potential as PET/SPECT imaging agents. Thus, (+)- and (-)-N-(5-fluoro-1-pentyl)normetazocines [(+)- and (-)-4] based on the (+)-benzomorphan class of sigma ligands were synthesized via N-alkylation of optically pure (+)- and (-)-normetazocine with 5-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]-1-pentyl fluoride (11). (+)- and (-)-4 displaced [3H](+)-3-PPP with Ki values of 0.29 and 73.6 nM and [3H](+)-pentazocine with Ki values of 10.5 and 38.9 nM, respectively. The second class of PET/SPECT ligands was based upon the N-(arylethyl)-N-alkyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine class of sigma ligands; N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethyl]-N-(3-fluoro-1-propyl)-2-(1- pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine (5) was obtained via N-alkylation of N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethyl]-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine (14) with 3-fluoropropyl p-toluenesulfonate. 5 exhibited Ki values of 4.22 and 5.07 nM for displacement of [3H](+)-3-PPP and [3H](+)-pentazocine, respectively, comparable with the parent N-propyl compound. Attempts to synthesize N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethyl]-N-[3- [(methylsulfonyl)oxy]-1-propyl]-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine (26), a precursor to 5 that could conceivably be converted to [18F]-5 by treatment with 18F-, proved unsuccessful. The sequence of regioselective nitration, catalytic hydrogenation, and diazotization followed by NaI quench of N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethyl]-N-methyl-2-(1- pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine (2) afforded the iodinated ethylenediamine N-[2-(2-iodo-4,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethyl]-N-methyl-2-(1- pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine (8), a potential SPECT ligand for sigma receptors. This compound showed an affinity of 0.54 nM ([3H](+)-3-PPP) comparable with the parent compound 2 (Ki = 0.34 nM, [3H](+)-3-PPP). Ligand 8 exhibited a similar potency against [3H](+)-pentazocine. The third class of high-affinity sigma receptor ligands was rationalized based on rearrangement of the bonds in ethylenediamine 2 to give 1-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethyl]-4-(1-propyl)piperazine (3). This compound exhibited very high affinity (Ki = 0.31 nM, [3H](+)-3-PPP) and selectivity for sigma receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Study on EDTA-degrading bacterium Burkholderia cepacia YL-6 for bioaugmentation.

Bioaugmentation production of EDTA-degrading bacterium Burkholderia cepacia YL-6 was carried out in an aerobic fermentor. Three different carbon sources (ferric-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Fe-EDTA), potassium acetate, and ethylamine) were used. The bacterium cultivated with Fe-EDTA and maintained in the growth phase could reach the maximum cell concentration on the 38th day. Whereas, the bacterium cultivated with potassium acetate and ethylamine reach the maximum cell concentration at the 76th and 100th hour. The viable-cell counts of the augmentation agents made by feeding Fe-EDTA, potassium acetate, and ethylamine were 8.2x10(10), 6.8x10(11), and 4.3x10(11) CFU/g agent, respectively. The EDTA-degradation time required for the afore-mentioned bioaugmentation agents made by feeding various carbon sources lay in the following order: ethylamine<potassium acetate<Fe-EDTA. Especially, the most efficient bioaugmentation agent (made by feeding ethylamine) only required 10 and 13 days for complete degradation of EDTA from the Fe-EDTA and Cu-EDTA complexes, respectively. It shows that ethylamine was the best substrate for augmentation production of EDTA-degrading bacterium B. cepacia YL-6.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Reaction of fungal amine oxidase with beta-bromoethylamine.

beta-Br-ethylamine is both a substrate and an irreversible inhibitor of amine oxidase from Aspergillus niger. The enzyme catalyzes the nonoxidative elimination of HBr from beta-Br-ethylamine to form acetaldehyde. beta-Br-ethylamine meets several criteria for an irreversible substrate analog or suicide inhibitor. 1) It inactivates the oxidized enzyme, but not the reduced enzyme. 2) The Michaelis constant for beta-Br-ethylamine in the elimination reaction showed a similar magnitude to that of the related constant found when the haloamine acted as an inhibitor. 3) The enzyme was protected from the inactivation by the co-existence of the substrate. 4) Inactivation with beta-Br-[14C]ethylamine resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity corresponding to 1 mol of the label/mol of the monomeric unit of the enzyme and a decrease of 1 mol of the -SH group. 5) Inactivation was accompanied by the formation of a new absorption peak at 320 nm which was bleached by addition of NaBH4.

Aerobiosis↗

Identification of endothelial H1, vascular H2 and cardiac presynaptic H3 receptors in the pithed rat.

In pithed and vagotomized rats the effects of the H3 receptor agonist R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine, the H1 receptor agonist 2-(2-thiazolyl)ethylamine and the H2 receptor agonist dimaprit on basal diastolic blood pressure, basal heart rate and the electrically induced rise in heart rate were examined. Basal diastolic blood pressure was not altered by low, but increased by high doses of R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine; the latter effect was not affected by selective H1, H2 or H3 receptor antagonists and by prazosin, but was attenuated by rauwolscine. Rauwolscine also unmasked a vasodepressor response to R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine not affected by the H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide, but counteracted by the H1 receptor antagonist dimetindene or the H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine. The vasodepressor responses to 2-(2-thiazolyl)ethylamine and dimaprit were antagonized by dimetindene and ranitidine, respectively. The vasodepressor response to 2-(2-thiazolyl)ethylamine was not altered by indomethacin, but reduced by an inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (which, by itself, markedly increased blood pressure). Both drug tools did not alter the effect of dimaprit. Basal heart rate was not affected by 2-(2-thiazolyl)ethylamine (examined after administration of propranolol), dimaprit and R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine. The electrically induced increase in heart rate (studied in animals which had received rauwolscine) was decreased by R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine but not affected by 2-(2-thiazolyl)ethylamine and dimaprit. The effect of R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine was abolished by thioperamide. R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine did not influence the increase in heart rate produced by isoprenaline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Ring opening photoreactions of 5-bromouracil and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine with selected alkylamines.

Several studies in the literature indicate that histones (lysine rich proteins found associated with DNA in eukaryotic chromatin), as well as poly-L-lysine, can be photocross-linked by ultraviolet (UV) light to DNA in which 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine has been substituted for thymidine. To gain some insight into the possible nature of this cross-linking, we have studied the photoreactions occurring in deoxygenated aqueous solutions containing 5-bromouracil (I) (BrUra) or 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (III) (BrdUrd) and ethylamine, a lysine side chain analog. In the case of I this reaction produced the ring opened compound N-(N'-ethylcarbamoyl)-3-amino-2-bromoacrylamide (Ia). A small amount of N-(N'-ethylcarbamoyl)-3-ethylamino-2-bromoacrylamide (Ic) was also isolated. It was found that purified Ia, standing in the presence of ethylamine, was gradually converted to Ic in a dark reaction. The beta and alpha anomers of N-(N'-ethylcarbamoyl)-3-(2'deoxyribofuranos-1'-yl) amino-2-bromoacrylamide (IIIa and IIIb respectively) were isolated as products in the photoreaction of III with ethylamine; the alpha anomer was produced in a dark reaction from the beta anomer. The identity of these anomers was established by comparison of their proton NMR spectra with those of the four corresponding alpha and beta furanosyl and pyranosyl isomeric nucleosides of thymine, which are presented in the Appendix. A study was also made of the reaction of I with methylamine; a ring opened product analogous to Ia, viz. N-(N'-methylcarbamoyl)-3-amino-2-bromoacrylamide (IIa) was formed. A similar study with 5-bromo-1-methyluracil produced N-(N'-methylcarbamoyl)-3-methylamino-2-bromoacrylamide (IIc) as a product. Likewise, the reaction of 5-chlorouracil with ethylamine was studied and N-(N'-ethylcarbamoyl)-3-amino-2-chloroacrylamide (Ie), which is analogous in structure to Ia, was found to be produced. Structural identifications were made through use of UV spectroscopy, high resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and, in the case of Ia and IIa, 13C-NMR spectroscopy. In the BrUra and BrdUrd reaction systems, described above, dehalogenation reactions accounted for a major portion of the products. The yields of ring opened products, determined at pH 10, ranged from a high of 10.3% in the BrUra-ethylamine system to a low of 1.7% in the MeBrUra-methylamine system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amines↗

Metabolites of N-ethylbenzamide, N,N-diethylbenzamide and related compounds detected in rat urine by NMR spectroscopy.

In rats treated ip with N-ethylbenzamide (EB) at doses of 250-500 mg/kg, this amide was metabolized by hydrolysis to ethylamine and benzoic acid, the latter detected in the urine as hippuric acid. Proposed metabolic pathways were investigated by treatment of male Wistar rats with EB and N-ethyl-alpha-13C-benzamide followed by examination of urine samples by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. Ethylamine was detected by 1H and 13C NMR techniques. Estimation of metabolite levels in 24-hr posttreatment urine by 1H NMR spectroscopy with an internal standard of 3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid and correction for background levels of hippuric acid in control urine showed that the percentage of the dose excreted as hippuric acid was 52-76%. The corresponding range for the excretion of ethylamine (detected as an ethylammonium cation) was 27-41%. Signals for EB, benzamide, and benzoic acid were not above the background in urine of treated animals. A similar NMR study with unlabeled p-chloro-N-ethylbenzamide (p-Cl EB) resulted in the detection of p-chlorohippuric acid and ethylamine. Treatment of rats with N,N-diethylbenzamide and p-chloro-N,N-diethylbenzamide gave the same detectable metabolites in the urine as those found in experiments with EB and p-Cl EB. These observations could be rationalized with a metabolic pathway involving an initial oxidative mono-N-deethylation reaction followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the secondary amides to ethylamine and benzoic acids and conjugation of the latter with glycine. N-Methylbenzamide was also found to be eliminated in the urine as hippuric acid.

Animals↗

N-alkyl substituted analogs of the sigma receptor ligand BD1008 and traditional sigma receptor ligands affect cocaine-induced convulsions and lethality in mice.

Cocaine binds to sigma receptors with comparable affinity to its well-established interaction with dopamine transporters. Previous studies have shown BD1008 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine) to have high affinity and selectivity for sigma receptors, and to additionally attenuate the locomotor stimulatory effects of cocaine. Therefore, in the present study, three N-alkyl substituted analogs of BD1008 were characterized in receptor binding and behavioral studies: BD1060 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine), BD1067 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-ethyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine), and BD1052 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-allyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine). Similarly to BD1008, all three analogs exhibited high affinity and selectivity for sigma receptors. In behavioral studies, BD1008, BD1060 or BD1067 attenuated cocaine-induced convulsions and lethality in Swiss Webster mice. The protective effects appear to be mediated through sigma receptor antagonism because traditional sigma receptor antagonists with high to moderate affinity for these receptors also attenuated the behavioral toxicity of cocaine. In contrast, traditional and novel sigma receptor agonists such as di-o-tolylguanidine and BD1052 worsened the behavioral toxicity of cocaine. To further characterize the actions of the N-alkyl substituted compounds, they were microinjected into the rat red nucleus, a functional assay of sigma receptor activity, where they produced agonist vs. antagonist actions that were consistent with their effects on cocaine-induced behaviors. Together, the data demonstrate that BD1008, BD1060 or BD1067 can attenuate the behavioral toxicity of cocaine, most likely through functional antagonism of sigma receptors.

Alkylation↗

Catalytic properties of human urinary kallikrein.

Kinetic studies have been carried out with a well-characterized preparation of human urinary (h.u.) kallikrein using chromogenic substrates. Steady-state and pre-steady-state data for h.u. kallikrein catalyzed hydrolysis of N alpha-carbobenzoxy-L-lysine p-nitrophenyl ester (ZLysONp) and of N alpha-carbobenzoxy-L-alanine p-nitrophenyl ester (ZAlaONp) in the presence and absence of ethylamine and acetamidine have been obtained under various conditions and have been analyzed in the framework of the minimum three-step mechanism: (formula see text) The pH dependencies of the kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of ZLysONp and ZAlaONp in the presence of saturating levels of ethylamine and acetamidine show that at acid pH values (less than or equal to 4) the k3 step (deacylation) is rate limiting in catalysis, whereas for pH values greater than or equal to 6, k2 (acylation) becomes rate limiting. On the other hand, the acylation step is rate limiting in the enzymatic hydrolysis of ZAlaONp over the whole pH range explored. Saturating concentrations of acetamidine increase, more than those of ethylamine, kcat for the hydrolysis of ZAlaONp. The affinity of h.u. kallikrein for acetamidine and ethylamine changes about 5-fold with pH between pH 5 and 3. The pH dependence of the spectral properties of free hu. kallikrein reflects the ionization of a group with a pKa value of 4.45 +/- 0.1. The results point out that, similarly to bovine beta-trypsin, h.u. kallikrein catalysis involves an ionizable group which has a pKa of about 4.5 in the free enzyme and a pKa of about 3.7 in the enzyme bound to cationic substrates or ligands.

Amidines↗

Mechanisms of copper loading on the Schizosaccharomyces pombe copper amine oxidase 1 expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Copper amine oxidases (CAOs) are found in almost every living kingdom. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the few yeast species that lacks an endogenous CAO, heterologous gene expression of CAOs from other organisms produces a functional enzyme. To begin to characterize their function and mechanisms of copper acquisition, two putative cao(+) genes from Schizosaccharomyces pombe were expressed in S. cerevisiae. Expression of spao1(+) resulted in the production of an active enzyme capable of catalysing the oxidative deamination of primary amines. On the other hand, expression of spao2(+) failed to produce an active CAO. Using a functional spao1(+)-GFP fusion allele, the SPAO1 protein was localized in the cytosol. Under copper-limiting conditions, yeast cells harbouring deletions of the MAC1, CTR1 and CTR3 genes were defective in amine oxidase activity. Likewise, atx1Delta null cells exhibited no CAO activity, while ccc2Delta mutant cells exhibited decreased levels of amine oxidase activity, and mutations in cox17Delta and ccs1Delta did not cause any defects in this activity. Copper-deprived S. cerevisiae cells expressing spao1(+) required a functional atx1(+) gene for growth on minimal medium containing ethylamine as the sole nitrogen source. Under these conditions, the inability of the atx1Delta cells to utilize ethylamine correlated with the lack of SPAO1 activity, in spite of the efficient expression of the protein. Cells carrying a disrupted ccc2Delta allele exhibited only weak growth on ethylamine medium containing a copper chelator. The results of these studies reveal that expression of the heterologous spao1(+) gene in S. cerevisiae is required for its growth in medium containing ethylamine as the sole nitrogen source, and that expression of an active Schiz. pombe SPAO1 protein in S. cerevisiae depends on the acquisition of copper through the high-affinity copper transporters Ctr1 and Ctr3, and the copper chaperone Atx1.

Alleles↗

Theanine production by coupled fermentation with energy transfer employing Pseudomonas taetrolens Y-30 glutamine synthetase and baker's yeast cells.

Theanine was formed from glutamic acid and ethylamine by coupling the reaction of glutamine synthetase (GS) of Pseudomonas taetrolens Y-30 with sugar fermentation of baker's yeast cells as an ATP-regeneration system. Theanine formation was stimulated by the addition of Mn2+ to the mixture for the coupling. The addition of Mg2+ was less effective. In a mixture containing a larger amount of yeast cells with a fixed level of GS, glucose (the energy source) was consumed rapidly, resulting in a decrease in the final yield of theanine. On the other hand, an increase in GS amounts increased theanine formation in a mixture with a fixed amount of yeast cells. High concentrations of ethylamine enhanced theanine formation whereas inhibited yeast fermentation of sugar and the two contrary effects of ethylamine caused a high yield of theanine based on glucose consumed. In an improved reaction mixture containing 200 mM sodium glutamate, 1,200 mM ethylamine, 300 mM glucose, 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), 5 mM MnCl2, 5 mM AMP, 100 units/ml GS, and 60 mg/ml yeast cells, approximately 170 mM theanine was formed in 48 h.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Effects of dietary amines on small intestinal variables in neonatal pigs fed soy protein isolate.

Six litters of newborn crossbred piglets were utilized to examine 1) the effects of substituting 20% of the protein of an all-milk protein liquid diet with a soy protein isolate (milk-soy diet) on small intestinal variables and 2) the effects of supplementing this milk-soy diet with 25 g of either putrescine or ethylamine per kilogram diet on small intestinal variables. Small intestinal xylose absorption tended to increase from wk 1 to wk 2 of age in pigs fed the milk, putrescine and ethylamine diets, but not in pigs fed the milk, putrescine and ethylamine diets, but not in pigs fed the unsupplemented milk-soy diet. Crypt depth in pigs fed the milk-soy diet tended to be less (9.4%; P greater than .10) than the crypt depth in pigs fed the other diets, but mitotic index was not different (P greater than .10) among diets. Mucosal protein, DNA and RNA concentrations and mucosal brush border sucrase and cytosolic dipeptidase activities tended to be least in pigs fed the putrescine and ethylamine diets. Concentration of mucosal putrescine was greatest (P less than .002) in the distal regions of the small intestine of pigs fed putrescine. Mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity was inhibited by putrescine (P less than .02), but it was not affected by the soybean protein isolate used in this study. Supplementing soy protein isolate diets with amines may enhance intestinal absorption and enterocyte proliferation.

Amines↗

The action of plasma amine oxidase on beta-haloamines. Evidence for proton abstraction in the oxidative reaction.

The action of plasma amine oxidase upon beta-Br-ethylamine beta-Cl-ethylamine, beta-OH-phenylethylamine, and beta-Cl-phenylethylamine was examined. Beta-Br-ethylamine is a substrate and irreversible inactivator of the enzyme. The enzyme becomes covalently labeled by the inactivator. Approximately 2 mol of inactivator are incorporated per mol of enzyme (MW 170,000). The reduced enzyme is not inactivated. The enzyme catalyzes the elimination of HCl from beta-Cl-phenylethylamine to produce phenylacetaldehyde. The rate of the elimination reaction is comparable to the normal oxidative reaction. We conclude that the occurrence of this elimination reaction establishes the ability of the enzyme to catalyze proton abstraction from C-1 of the substrate and that proton abstraction occurs during the catalytic oxidation normally catalyzed by plasma amine oxidase. Beta-Cl-ethylamine is only oxidized to corresponding aldehyde. Beta-OH-phenylethylamine is neither oxidized, nor does elimination occur. It is a competitive inhibitor in the oxidation of benzylamine and in the elimination of HCl from beta-Cl-phenylethylamine.

Animals↗

The inhibitory effect of histamine on the motility of rat uterus in vivo.

The experiments concerned the effects of histamine and its analogs 4-methylhistamine and 2-pyridyl-ethylamine on the spontaneous activity of the estrogenized rat uterus in vivo. These agonists given intravenously inhibited uterine activity. Histamine and 4-methylhistamine, but not 2-pyridyl ethylamine, produced this effect in a dose-dependent manner. The ability of histamine to reduce uterine activity was lowered by pretreatment with reserpine, adrenalectomy or 6-hydroxydopamine. The effect of 4-methylhistamine also was reduced by reserpine or adrenalectomy. The inhibitory effect of 2-(2-pyridyl) ethylamine was completely abolished by reserpine or adrenalectomy. Cimetidine attenuated the residual inhibitory effect of histamine in reserpinized rats. These results suggest that the uterine inhibitory action of histamine and 4-methylhistamine is mediated through catecholamine release and direct stimulation of the H2-receptors. The effect of 2-(2-pyridyl) ethylamine is only mediated by release catecholamine.

Adrenalectomy↗

Metabolism of theanine, gamma-glutamylethylamide, in rats.

The metabolism of theanine, one of the major amino acid components in tea (Camellia sinensis), was studied in rats. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorometric detection was used to evaluate the nature of theanine's metabolites in plasma, urine, and tissues. In the urine samples collected after administration of 100, 200, and 400 mg each of theanine, intact theanine, L-glutamic acid, and ethylamine, these compounds were detected in a dose-dependent manner. When 200 mg of theanine was orally administered to rats, the plasma concentrations of theanine and ethylamine reached their highest levels about 0.5 and 2 h after administration, respectively. It seems most likely that the enzymatic hydrolysis of theanine to glutamic acid and ethylamine was accomplished in the kidney. These results indicate that orally administered theanine is absorbed through the intestinal tract and hydrolyzed to glutamic acid and ethylamine in the rat kidney.

Administration, Oral↗

The inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by primary amines. A role for transglutaminase in the secretory mechanism.

Rat pancreatic islets contain a Ca2+-activated and thiol-dependent transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13) comparable in activity with that found in rat liver, lung and spleen. The Ca2+-dependence of this enzyme is such that half-maximal velocity was obtained in the region of 40 microM. Preincubation of rat islets with primary-amine substrates of transglutaminase (monodansylcadaverine, methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine and cystamine) led to an inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin release by these amines. Kinetic analysis of the competitive substrates methylamine, monodansylcadaverine, propylamine and ethylamine for their ability to inhibit islet transglutaminase activity indicated a potency that matched their ability to inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin release. When these amines were tested for their effects on glucose-stimulated protein synthesis and glucose utilization, the most potent inhibitor of insulin release, monodansylcadaverine, had no effect on either process at 100 microM. The amines cystamine, ethylamine, methylamine and propylamine had variable effects on these metabolic processes. For ethylamine, methylamine and propylamine, concentrations were found which inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin release in a manner which was found to be independent of their effects on either glucose oxidation or protein synthesis. Primary amines may therefore inhibit insulin release through their incorporation by islet transglutaminase into normal cross-linking sites. A role for protein cross-linking in the secretory mechanism is suggested.

Acyltransferases↗

Deodorizing effects of tea catechins on amines and ammonia.

Deodorizing effects of tea catechins on amines were examined under alkaline conditions to eliminate the neutralization reaction. They showed deodorizing activity on ethylamine, but none on dimethylamine or trimethylamine. Deodorizing activity on ethylamine was found to be in the order of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate > gallic acid > (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) > (-)-epicatechin gallate > ethyl gallate >> (+)-catechin = (-)-epicatechin. Further, reaction products of EGC with methylamine, ethylamine, and ammonia were detected by HPLC, indicating that a deodorizing reaction other than neutralization occurs. From structural analysis of the reaction product with the methylamine isolated as a peracetylated derivative, the product was presumed to be methylamine substituted EGC, in which the hydroxyl group of EGC at the 4' position is replaced by the methylamino group. The same replacement reaction took place in the case of ethylamine and ammonia.

Amines↗

Purification and characterization of glutamine synthetase of Pseudomonas taetrolens Y-30: an enzyme usable for production of theanine by coupling with the alcoholic fermentation system of baker's yeast.

Concentrated cell-extract of Pseudomonas taetrolens Y-30, isolated as a methylamine-assimilating organism, formed gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine) from glutamic acid and ethylamine in a mixture containing the alcoholic fermentation system of baker's yeast for ATP-regeneration. Glutamine synthetase (GS), probably responsible for theanine formation, was isolated from the extract of the organism grown on a medium containing 1% methylamine, 1% glycerol, 0.5% yeast extract, and 0.2% polypepton as carbon and nitrogen sources. The molecular mass was estimated to be 660 kDa by gel filtration and 55 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting that Ps. taetrolens Y-30 GS consists of 12 identical subunits. The enzyme required Mg2+ or Mn2+ for its activity. Under the standard reaction condition for glutamine formation (pH 8.0 with 30 mM Mg2+), GS showed 7% and 1% reactivity toward methylamine and ethylamine respectively of that to ammonia. Reactivity to the alkylamines varied with optimum pH of the reaction in response to divalent cation in the mixture: pH 11.0 was the optimum for the Mg2+ -dependent reaction with ethylamine, and pH 8.5 was the optimum for the Mn2+ -dependent reaction. In a mixture of an optimum reaction condition with 1000 mM ethylamine (at pH 8.5 with 3 mM Mn2+), reactivity increased up to 7% of the reactivity to ammonia in the standard reaction condition. The isolated GS formed theanine in the mixture with the yeast fermentation system.

Energy Transfer↗