Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “GLUTARATES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

Transmembrane helices 3 and 4 are involved in substrate recognition by the Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter, NaDC1.

The Na(+)/dicarboxylate cotransporters (NaDC1) from mouse (m) and rabbit (rb) differ in their ability to handle glutarate. Substrate-dependent inward currents, measured using two-electrode voltage clamp, were similar for glutarate and succinate in Xenopus oocytes expressing mNaDC1. In contrast, currents evoked by glutarate in rbNaDC1 were only about 5% of the succinate-dependent currents. To identify domains involved in glutarate transport, we constructed a series of chimeric transporters between mouse and rabbit NaDC1. Although residues found in multiple transmembrane helices (TM) participate in glutarate transport, the most important contribution is made by TM 3 and 4 and the associated loops. The R(M3-4) chimera, consisting of rbNaDC1 with substitution of TM 3-4 from mNaDC1, had a decreased K(0.5)(glutarate) of 4 mM compared with 15 mM in wild-type rbNaDC1 without any effect on K(0.5)(succinate). The chimeras were also characterized using dual-label competitive uptakes with (14)C-glutarate and (3)H-succinate to calculate the transport specificity ratio (TSR), a measure of relative catalytic efficiency with the two substrates. The TSR analysis provides evidence for functional coupling in the transition state between TM 3 and 4. We conclude that TM 3 and 4 contain amino acid residues that are important determinants of substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency in NaDC1.

Animals↗

Variable clinical and biochemical presentation of seven Spanish cases with glutaryl-CoA-dehydrogenase deficiency.

In this report, we describe seven new patients with a severe deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase in cultured skin fibroblasts. Three of the patients studied excreted high levels of glutaric acid. The remaining four patients presented a lack of significant glutaric aciduria. However, glutaric acid was found in increased levels in CSF. In both groups of patients, the urine glutaric acid levels were not related to their metabolic condition at the time of sampling. Hypocarnitinemia was a common finding. Some patients also showed defects on respiratory chain complexes in muscle biopsy. Only one patient has a normal psychomotor development. The other six patients are severely handicapped despite the attempts of different therapies. In patients with progressive neurological deterioration with dystonia and cerebellar signs associated with temporal lobe atrophy and bilateral basal ganglia damage on MRI, a glutaric aciduria type I (GA I) should always be investigated. The presence of glutaric acid in body fluids, especially in CSF, as well as plasma carnitine levels, should be determined. These procedures can lead to the diagnosis of glutaric aciduria type I.

Brain↗

Indirect coupling of organic anion secretion to sodium in teleost (Paralichthys lethostigma) renal tubules.

Recent findings in both rat and crab indicate that renal accumulation of p-aminohippurate (PAH) across the basolateral membrane can be coupled indirectly to the Na gradient through PAH-glutarate exchange and Na/glutarate cotransport. However, the role of this mechanism in net transepithelial PAH secretion was not examined. Therefore, proximal tubules from Southern flounder kidney were used to assess both the presence of indirect coupling in the fish and its relationship to net secretion. [14C]glutarate uptake by proximal tubular masses was concentrative, Na dependent, and Li inhibitable. Glutarate efflux from preloaded masses was stimulated by addition of PAH to the medium. Thus flounder tubules exhibited both Na/glutarate uptake and glutarate-PAH exchange. Furthermore, steady-state [3H]PAH accumulation was increased 50% by 10-50 microM glutarate, and this increase was abolished by Li, indicating indirect coupling of PAH entry to Na. To determine whether indirect coupling affected net secretion as well as tissue accumulation, the steady-state accumulation of an anionic dye, fluorescein (FL), was measured in individual renal tubules by use of epifluorescence microscopy and video-image analysis. FL accumulated in tubules to levels that were 20-40 times higher than the medium. In most fish, luminal fluorescence was measurably higher than cellular, and uptake in both compartments was markedly reduced by PAH and Li. Moreover, FL accumulation in cells and lumina was increased by 70-100% when 50 microM glutarate was added to the bathing medium. Thus glutarate not only stimulated uphill FL entry into the cells, but also stimulated active secretion into the tubular lumen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Contraluminal para-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney. II. Specificity: aliphatic dicarboxylic acids.

In order to study the specificity for contraluminal para-aminohippurate (PAH) transport, the inhibitory potency of aliphatic dicarboxylates on 3H-PAH influx, as well as the inhibitory effect on 35SO4(2-)- and 3H-succinate influx, from the interstitium into cortical tubular cells in situ has been determined. The following was found: Testing a homologous series of dicarboxylates--ranging from the 2 C oxalate to the 10 C sebacate--PAH transport was inhibited by succinate (app. Ki 1.35 mmol/l), and all longer dicarboxylates, with high potency (app. Ki 0.05--0.35 mmol/l). Sulfate transport was inhibited only by oxalate (app. Ki 1.1 mmol/l), while dicarboxylate transport was inhibited by succinate, glutarate, adipate and pimelate with decreasing potency (app. Ki 0.04, 0.24, 0.91, 4.0 mmol/l, respectively). PAH transport was inhibited by succinate and glutarate with high potency (app. Ki 1.35 and 0.05 mmol/l), by the correspondent monomethylester to a lesser extent (app. Ki 1.7 and 0.74 mmol/l), but not by the dimethylester. On the other hand, the semialdehyde of succinate with a Ki-value of 1.2 mmol/l, had the same inhibitory potency as succinate itself, while the dialdehyde of glutarate (app. Ki 1.4 mmol/l) was much less potent as glutarate. Introduction of an oxo-, methyl- or sulfhydroxyl-group group onto the 2-position of succinate, or of an oxo-group onto the 2-position of glutarate moderately augmented the inhibitory potency against PAH-uptake. However, introduction of a 2-hydroxy group onto succinate or glutarate in the L-position reduced the inhibitory potency more than in the D-position. Introduction of two methyl-, sulfhydryl- or hydroxyl-groups in the 2-3 position of succinate reduced or abolished its inhibitory potency. The introduction of a 2-amino group onto succinate or glutarate abolished its effect on PAH transport.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aminohippuric Acids↗

Protection of glutamate dehydrogenase by nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide against reversible inactivation by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as a sensitive indicator of conformational change induced by substrates and substrate analogues.

1. The steady residual activity of ox liver glutamate dehydrogenase at equilibrium with the reversible inactivator pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was measured in the presence and absence of various protecting agents. 2. NAD(+) (up to 15mm) and its 3-acetylpyridine analogue (up to 5mm) both failed to protect, in contrast with NADH. 3. Partial protection was given by glutarate and by succinate. Adipate and pentanoate were much less effective. 4. Correspondingly, whereas succinate and glutarate were both shown to be strong inhibitors of the catalytic reaction, competitive with glutamate, adipate was only weakly competitive, and the still weaker inhibition by pentanoate was non-competitive. 5. When the enzyme was saturated with glutarate, NAD(+) became a good, although still partial, protecting agent. In the absence of protection, 1.8mm-pyridoxal 5'-phosphate decreased enzyme activity to 9%, in the presence of 150mm-glutarate to 29%, and with glutarate and 1mm-NAD(+) only to 73%. 6. 2-Oxoglutarate also promoted protection by NAD(+), but neither pentanoate nor succinate did so. The finding with succinate is remarkable in view of findings 3 and 4 above. 7. It seems possible that substrates or analogues possessing the glutarate structure promote a conformational change that alters the mode of NAD(+) binding. This may explain why glutamate is a much better substrate than norvaline or aspartate and why negative interactions in coenzyme binding occur only in the formation of ternary complexes with glutamate or its analogues.

Animals↗

Small aliphatic dicarboxylic acids inhibit renal uptake of administered mercury.

We evaluated the effects of pretreating rats intravenously with small aliphatic dicarboxylic acids on the renal disposition of injected inorganic mercury. Three different sets of experiments were carried out. When rats were pretreated with succinic acid, glutaric acid, or adipic acid 5 min prior to the injection of a 0.5-mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride, there was a significant dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the renal disposition of mercury during the first hour after the administration of mercuric chloride. Both glutaric and adipic acid, at a dose of 1.0 mmol/kg, caused the greatest level of inhibition in the renal tubular uptake of inorganic mercury. By the end of the first hour after the injection of mercuric chloride, the renal burden of mercury in rats pretreated with either glutaric or adipic acid was 27-35% lower than in corresponding control rats. Malonic acid at a dose of 1.0 mmol/kg had no effect on the renal disposition of inorganic mercury. The inhibitory effect of succinic, glutaric, or adipic acid on the overall renal uptake of mercury was due to effects in both the cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla. Findings from an experiment in which rats had their ureters ligated showed that the inhibitory effect of glutaric acid on the renal tubular uptake of mercury was due to inhibition of the uptake of mercury at the basolateral membrane. Our findings confirm that one of the mechanisms involved in the proximal tubular uptake of inorganic mercury is located on the basolateral membrane. According to findings from our previous studies, this mechanism appears to involve the activity of the organic anion transporter. The inhibitory effects of dicarboxylic acids on the renal tubular uptake of administered inorganic mercury, especially in rats whose ureters had been ligated, are consistent with the hypothesis that the organic anion transport system is involved in the basolateral uptake of inorganic mercury along the proximal tubule.

Adipates↗

Transport of anionic drugs across the basolateral membrane of proximal S2 segments of the rabbit kidney. Inverse relationship between the affinity to the p-aminohippurate transport system and the transport rate.

The renal p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport system, which resides in the S2 segments of proximal tubules, is a main tubular secretory system for drugs. Previous studies have shown that the hydrophobicity of drugs is positively correlated with their affinity for the basolateral PAH transporter. Affinity was deduced from inhibition of tubular 3H-PAH uptake. However, up to now, no studies are available which tested the relationship between hydrophobicity and transport rate of drugs. Therefore, in the present study, the basolateral transport rates of several drugs (probenecid, CAS 57-66-9, furosemide, CAS 54-31-9, bumetanide, CAS 28395-03-1, mefruside, CAS 7195-27-9) which are substrates of the PAH transporter and which differ markedly regarding their hydrophobic properties (log P values ranging from 1-3) were determined on non-perfused proximal S2 segments microdissected from rabbit kidneys without the use of enzymatic solutions. To measure the transport rate advantage of the finding was taken that the PAH transporter in the basolateral membrane of proximal S2 segments acts as a countertransporter which exchanges PAH with dicarboxylates (glutarate or alpha-keto-glutarate). Hence, the stimulatory effect of a drug on the 14C-glutarate efflux rate of 14C-glutarate preloaded S2 segments is a measure of its translocation across the basolateral cell membrane. The results revealed that with increasing hydrophobicity (mefruside < furosemide < bumetanide < probenecid) the stimulating effect of the drugs on 14C-glutarate efflux decreased indicating that the compounds are more slowly translocated although their potency to inhibit 3H-PAH uptake increased. Thus, an inverse relationship between hydrophobicity and hence affinity of the drugs for the PAH transporter and transport rate could be established.

Algorithms↗

Mechanism of organic anion transport across the apical membrane of choroid plexus.

The mechanism and membrane localization of choroid plexus (CP) organic anion transport were determined in apical (or brush border) membrane vesicles isolated from bovine choroid plexus and in intact CP tissue from cow and rat. Brush border membrane vesicles were enriched in Na(+),K(+)-ATPase (20-fold; an apical marker in CP) and demonstrated specific, sodium-coupled transport of proline, glucose, and glutarate. Vesicular uptake of the anionic herbicide 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was markedly stimulated by an inward sodium gradient but only in the presence of glutarate, indicating the presence of apical dicarboxylate/organic anion exchange. Consistent with this interpretation, an imposed outward glutarate gradient stimulated 2,4-D uptake in the absence of sodium. Under both conditions, uptake was dramatically slowed and overshoot was abolished by probenecid. Likewise, apical accumulation of 2,4-D by intact bovine choroid plexus tissue in vitro was stimulated by external glutarate in the presence of sodium. Glutarate stimulation was abolished by 5 mM LiCl. Identical findings were obtained using rat CP tissue, which showed both sodium/glutarate-stimulated 2,4-D (tissue/medium (T/M) approximately 8) and p-aminohippurate (T/M = 2) transport. Finally, since the renal exchanger (rROAT1) has been cloned in rat kidney, a rROAT1-green fluorescent protein construct was used to analyze exchanger distribution directly in transiently transfected rat CP. As predicted by the functional studies, the fluorescently tagged transporter was seen in apical but not basolateral membranes of the CP.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Transport of C5 dicarboxylate compounds by Pseudomonas putida.

Induced glutarate and 2-oxoglutarate uptake and transport by Pseudomonas putida were investigated in whole cells and membrane vesicles, respectively. Uptake of 2-oxoglutarate, but not glutarate, was against a concentration gradient to 1.7-fold greater than the initial extracellular concentration. Membrane vesicles transported 2-oxoglutarate and glutarate against gradients to intramembrane concentrations fivefold greater than the initial extravesicle concentrations. The rates of transport of both compounds were greatest in the presence of the artificial electron donor system phenazine methosulfate-ascorbate. Malate and D-lactate were the only naturally occurring compounds that served as electron donors. Uptake and transport were inhibited by KCN, NaN3, and 2,2-dinitrophenol. Kinetic parameters of transport were: glutarate, apparent Km--1.22 mM, Vmax--400 nmol/min per mg of membrane protein; 2-oxoglutarate, apparent Km--131 microM, Vmax--255 nmol/min per mg of membrane protein. Studies of competitive inhibition indicated a common system for transport of five C5 dicarboxylate compounds. The apparent Km and Ki values with 2-oxoglutarate as a substrate placed the substrate affinity for transport in the order 2-oxoglutarate greater than glutarate greater than D-2-hydroxyglutarate and L-2-hydroxyglutarate greater than glutaconate.

Biological Transport↗

Coupled transport of p-aminohippurate by rat kidney basolateral membrane vesicles.

p-Aminohippuric acid (PAH) transport by basolateral membrane (BLM) vesicles isolated from rat renal cortex was stimulated very little by a Na+ gradient (out greater than in). However, when micromolar concentrations of glutaric acid or alpha-ketoglutaric acid were added in the presence of a out greater than in Na+ gradient, PAH uptake was accelerated greater than 20-fold and an overshoot of greater than fivefold was produced. Other anions, e.g., fumarate, stimulated PAH uptake very modestly under these conditions (approximately 2-fold), and that stimulation was totally prevented by short circuiting, i.e., with K+ (in = out) and valinomycin. Glutarate-stimulated uptake was inhibited by 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) and probenecid and was slightly stimulated by the imposition of an inside-negative membrane potential. Furthermore, even in the absence of a Na+ gradient, glutarate-loaded vesicles exhibited a marked acceleration of PAH uptake (5-fold) and a modest overshoot (2.5-fold). These results suggest an indirect coupling of BLM PAH uptake to the Na+ gradient by a cyclic accumulation (Na+-dependent) of glutarate followed by its efflux from the vesicle in exchange for PAH. This coupled system was absent in apical membranes. Thus net secretory transport of PAH may entail Na+-dependent, glutarate-driven PAH uptake at the BLM, followed by the exit of PAH into the lumen down its electrochemical gradient, probably in exchange for other anions, e.g., Cl-, HCO3-, or OH-.

Aminohippuric Acids↗

Mechanism-based inhibition of human folylpolyglutamate synthetase: design, synthesis, and biochemical characterization of a phosphapeptide mimic of the tetrahedral intermediate.

Folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) catalyzes anATP-dependent ligation reaction that results in the synthesis of poly(gamma-glutamate) metabolites of folates and some antifolates. We have synthesized and characterized the prototype of a new class of mechanism-based FPGS inhibitor in which a phosphonate moiety mimics the tetrahedral intermediate formed during the ligation reaction. This phosphonate, 4-amino-4-deoxy-10-methyl-pteroyl-L-glutamyl-gamma-[Psi¿P(O)(OH)-O¿] glutarate (4-NH2-10-CH3-Pte-L-Glu-gamma-[Psi¿P(O)(OH)-O¿]glutarate), is not a substrate for human FPGS, but is a linear, competitive inhibitor (Kis = 46 nM) with respect to methotrexate as the variable substrate. Inhibition is not time-dependent and preincubation of FPGS with this phosphonate does not increase the degree of inhibition, suggesting that it is not a slow, tight-binding inhibitor involving a time-dependent isomerization, EI --> EI*. Substructures containing the phosphonate moiety but lacking the pterin are much less inhibitory to FPGS, indicating that a significant portion of the inhibitor binding energy is derived from the pterin moiety, a feature also observed in substrate binding. 4-NH2-10-CH3-Pte-L-Glu-gamma-[Psi¿P(O)(OH)-O¿]glutarate is also an analog of a proposed tetrahedral intermediate in the reaction catalyzed by gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (gamma-GH), another enzyme of importance in controlling folate homeostasis in cells. This intermediate would arise from direct attack of H2O on the dipeptide, 4-NH2-10-CH3-Pte-L-Glu-gamma-L-Glu. The fact that 4-NH2-10-CH3-Pte-L-Glu-gamma-[Psi¿P(O)(OH)-O¿]glutarate is not an inhibitor of gamma-GH strongly suggests that hydrolysis of poly-gamma-glutamates catalyzed by gamma-GH does not involve the direct attack of water at the scissile amide bond. Methotrexate, its gamma-glutamyl dipeptide metabolite, and 4-NH2-10-CH3-Pte-L-Glu-gamma-[Psi¿P(O)(OH)-O¿]glutarate are equipotent as inhibitors of human dihydrofolate reductase (the primary target of methotrexate), but the phosphonate does not significantly inhibit another important folate-dependent enzyme, thymidylate synthase. Thus, the phosphonate moiety in this analog represents an important new lead in the development of FPGS inhibitors.

Animals↗

The hygroscopic properties of dicarboxylic and multifunctional acids: measurements and UNIFAC predictions.

The role of water-soluble organic compounds on the hygroscopic properties of atmospheric aerosols has recently been the subject of many studies. In particular, low molecular weight dicarboxylic acids and some multifunctional organic acids have been found or are expected to exist in atmospheric aerosols in urban, semiurban, rural, and remote sites. Unlike for their inorganic counterparts, the hygroscopic properties of organic acids have not been well characterized. In this study, the hygroscopic properties of selected water-soluble dicarboxylic acids (oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, and glutaric acid) and multifunctional acids (citric acid, DL-malic acid, and L-(+)-tartaric acid) were studied using single droplets levitated in an electrodynamic balance at 25 degrees C. The water activities of bulk samples of dilute solutions were also measured. Solute evaporation was observed in the dicarboxylic acids but not in the multifunctional acids. Oxalic acid, succinic acid, and glutaric acid droplets crystallize upon evaporation of water, but, except for glutaric acid droplets, do not deliquesce even at 90% relative humidity (RH). Mass transfer limitation of the deliquescence process was observed in glutaric acid. Neither crystallization nor deliquescence was observed in malonic acid, citric acid, DL-malic acid, or L-(+)-tartaric acid. Malonic acid and these three hydroxy-carboxylic acids absorb water even at RH much lower than their respective deliquescence RH. The growth factor (Gf), defined as the ratio of the particle diameter at RH = 10% to that at RH = 90%, of oxalic acid and succinic acid was close to unity, indicating no hygroscopicity in this range. The remaining acids (malonic acid, glutaric acid, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid) showed roughly similar hygroscopicity of a Gf of 1.30-1.53, which is similar to that of "more hygroscopic" aerosols in field measurements reported in the literature. A generalized equation for these four acids, Gf = (1-aw)-0.163, was developed to represent the hygroscopicity of these acids. Water activity predictions from calculations using the UNIFAC model were found to agree with the measured water activity data to within 40% for most of the acids but the deviations were as large as about 100% for malic acid and tartaric acid. We modified the functional group interaction parameters of the COOH(-H20, OH-H20, and OH-COOH pairs by fitting the UNIFAC model with the measured data. The modified UNIFAC model improves the agreement of predictions and measurements to within 38% for all the acids studied.

Aerosols↗

Transport of 99mTc-MAG3 via rat renal organic anion transporter 1.

UNLABELLED: Recently, complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding a p-aminohippurate (PAH) transporter designated rat organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) was isolated. OAT1, a multispecific organic anion transporter at the basolateral membrane, is exclusively expressed in the middle segment of the proximal tubule in the rat kidney. It has been proposed that OAT1 is indirectly involved in PAH uptake via the Na(+) dicarboxylate cotransporter. In this study, in molecular biologic experiments using OAT1-expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes, we obtained evidence that (99m)Tc-mercaptoacetylglycylglycylglycine (MAG3) is transported via OAT1. METHODS: Capped OAT1 complementary RNA (cRNA) was synthesized from library plasmid cDNA linearized with BamHI using in vitro transcription. Defolliculated oocytes were injected with 10 ng of OAT1 cRNA. Two to 3 d after injection, uptake of (99m)Tc-MAG3 was measured using ND96 solution containing 18.5 kBq of (99m)Tc-MAG3. Before the uptake experiments, OAT1-expressing oocytes were preincubated for 2 h with 1 mmol/L glutarate (a dicarboxylate), to generate an outwardly directed glutarate gradient. Then, after incubation for 60 min at room temperature, radioactivity of oocytes was determined. For the inhibition experiments, uptake was assessed in the absence or presence of inhibitor: 2 mmol/L of PAH, o-iodohippurate (OIH), probenecid, 3,5-diiodo-4-pyridone-N-acetate (iodopyracet), furosemide, ethacrynic acid, glucoheptonate, maleic acid, L-Tyr, or tetraethylammonium (TEA) or 0.1 mmol/L of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). RESULTS: Na(+) had a significant effect on (99m)Tc-MAG3 uptake (P < 0.05). Accumulated glutarate stimulated simultaneous (99m)Tc-MAG3 uptake and glutarate excretion (P < 0.001). The following compounds significantly inhibited (99m)Tc-MAG3 uptake: PAH, 8.5% +/- 16.2% of (99m)Tc-MAG3 uptake in the absence of an inhibitor; OIH, 26.4% +/- 21.7%; probenecid, 29.1% +/- 12.4%; iodopyracet, 15.8% +/- 7.9%; furosemide, 30.5% +/- 15.7%; ethacrynic acid, 21.6% +/- 10.6%; glucoheptonate, 35.6% +/- 22.6%; and maleic acid, 60.1% +/- 18.7%. (99m)Tc-MAG3 accumulation in Xenopus laevis oocytes was not significantly inhibited by TEA, L-Tyr, or DNP. CONCLUSION: The following substances had a cis-inhibitory effect on (99m)Tc-MAG3 transport: PAH, OIH, probenecid, iodopyracet, furosemide, ethacrynic acid, and glucoheptonate. Glutarate had a trans-stimulative effect on (99m)Tc-MAG3 transport. (99m)Tc-MAG3 acts as a substrate of OAT1, an organic anion/dicarboxylate exchanger.

Animals↗

Pathomechanisms of neurodegeneration in glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency is an inherited organic aciduria with predominantly neurological presentation. Biochemically, it is characterized by an accumulation and enhanced urinary excretion of two key organic acids, glutaric acid and 3-hydroxyglutaric acid. If untreated, acute striatal degeneration is often precipitated by febrile illnesses during a vulnerable period of brain development in infancy or early childhood, resulting in a dystonic dyskinetic movement disorder. The mechanism underlying these acute encephalopathic crises has been partially elucidated using in vitro and in vivo models. 3-Hydroxyglutaric and glutaric acids share structural similarities with the main excitatory amino acid glutamate and are considered to play an important role in the pathophysiology of this disease. 3-Hydroxyglutaric acid induces excitotoxic cell damage specifically via activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Furthermore, glutaric and 3-hydroxyglutaric acids indirectly modulate glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, resulting in an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. It also has been suggested that secondary amplification loops potentiate the neurotoxic properties of these organic acids. Probable mechanisms for this effect include cytokine-stimulated nitric oxide production, a decrease in energy metabolism, and reduction of cellular creatine phosphate levels. Finally, maturation-dependent changes in the expression of neuronal glutamate receptors may affect the vulnerability to 3-hydroxyglutaric and glutaric acid toxicity.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Anticonvulsant activity of deaminated analogues of glutamic acid diethyl ester (GDEE).

GDEE, a specific but low-potency antagonist of the quisqualate or 'Type 2' excitatory amino acid receptor, blocks seizures induced by homocysteine and quisqualic acid. Deaminated analogues of GDEE were examined for anticonvulsant activity in mice, for the purpose of determining the structural properties of GDEE required for anticonvulsant activity. The deaminated derivative of GDEE, diethyl glutarate (5 carbon chain) inhibited homocysteine thiolactone (HTL)-induced seizures with an ED50 of 533 mg/kg. A similar compound with carbon chain length increased by two (diethyl pimelate; 7 carbons) was less effective. Decreases or further increases in carbon chain length resulted in a nearly complete loss of activity. Dimethyl glutarate (5 carbons) and dimethyl adipate (6 carbons) were similar to diethyl glutarate in potency, blocking HTL-induced seizures with ED50s of about 625 and 540 mg/kg, respectively. Diethyl ethylmalonate, diethyl maleate, and diethyl fumarate were much less effective. Diethyl glutarate, but not diethyl succinate (4 carbons), blocked seizures induced by intracerebral quisqualic acid. None of the agents tested blocked pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. Thus a number of deaminated structural variants of GDEE have anticonvulsant activity equal to that of GDEE. The amino group of GDEE appears therefore to be irrelevant for its anticonvulsant effect.

Animals↗

Microbial metabolism of the pyridine ring. Metabolic pathways of pyridine biodegradation by soil bacteria.

1. Two bacteria, a Bacillus sp. and a Nocardia sp. (strain Z1) were isolated from soil by enrichment with 0.1 percent (v/v) pyridine and grew rapidly on this compound as sole C, N and energy source. The monohydroxypyridines, tetrahydropyridine, piperidine and some other analogues were not utilized for growth or oxidized by washed suspensions of either bacterium. 2. Cell-free extracts were unable to metabolize pyridine even after supplementation with a variety of cofactors or protecting agents. Treatment of cells with toluene led to rapid loss of the ability to oxidize pyridine. 3. In the presence of 10mM-semicarbazide at pH 6.0, Nocardia Z1 accumulated a semialdehyde idenditied as its 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone by chromatography, mixed melting point, mass spectrometry and isotope trapping from [2,6(-14)C]pyridine as glutarate semialdehyde. 4. Extracts of this bacterium prepared from cells grown with pyridine or exposed to the gratuitous inducer 2-picoline, contained high activities of a specific glutarate semialdehyde dehydrogenase. 5. Cells grown with pyridine or glutarate also contained a glutaric dialdehyde dehydrogenase, an acyl-CoA synthetase and elevated amounts of isocitrate lyase but no glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. 6. Bacillus 4 accumulated in the presence of 10mM-semicarbazide several acidic carbonyl compounds from pyridine among which was succinate semialdehyde. Extracts of this bacillus after growth of the cells with pyridine contained an inducible succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase in amounts at least 50-fold over those found in succinate-grown cells. 7. Two mutants of this bacillus, selected for their inability to grow on pyridine were deficient in succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase. 8. In the presence of 0.2mM-KCN, washed suspensions of Bacillus 4 accumulated formate and possibly formamide from pyridine. The use of [14C]pyridine showed that formate was derived from C-2 of the pyridine ring. 9. The organism had a specific formamide amidohydrolase cleaving formamide quantitatively to formate and NH3. 10. Formate was further oxidized by the particle fraction. There was no soluble formate dehydrogenase in extracts.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Negative co-operativity in glutamate dehydrogenase. Involvement of the 2-position in glutamate in the induction of conformational changes.

The 2-position substituent on substrates or substrate analogues for glutamate dehydrogenase is shown to be intimately involved in the induction of conformational changes between subunits in the hexamer by coenzyme. These conformational changes are associated with the negative co-operativity exhibited by this enzyme. 2-Oxoglutarate and L-2-hydroxyglutarate induce indications of co-operativity similar to those induced by the substrate of oxidative deamination, glutamate, in kinetic studies. Glutarate (2-position CH2) does not. A comparison of the effects of L-2-hydroxyglutarate and D-2-hydroxyglutarate or D-glutamate indicates that the 2-position substituent must be in the L-configuration for these conformational changes to be triggered. In addition, glutarate and L-glutamate in ternary enzyme-NAD(P)H-substrate complexes induce very different coenzyme fluorescence properties, showing that glutamate induces a different conformation of the enzyme-coenzyme complex from that induced by glutarate. Although glutamate and glutarate both tighten the binding of reduced coenzyme to the active site, the effect is much greater with glutamate, and the binding is described by two dissociation constants when glutamate is present. The data suggest that the two carboxy groups on the substrate are required to allow synergistic binding of coenzyme and substrate to the active site, but that interactions between the 2-position on the substrate and the enzyme trigger the conformational changes that result in subunit-subunit interactions and in the catalytic co-operativity exhibited by this enzyme.

Binding Sites↗

Inhibition of glucose-induced release of insulin by aldose reductase inhibitors.

ALDOSE REDUCTASE (ALDITOL: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.21) is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of glucose to its sugar alcohol, sorbitol. In this study, aldose reductase and a closely related enzyme, L-hexonate dehydrogenase (L-gulonate: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.19), were purified from rat pancreas. Glutaric acid, 2,4-dimethyl glutaric acid, 3,3-tetramethylene glutaric acid, and colchicine inhibited both enzymes, albeit with different potencies. These compounds also inhibited both phases of glucose-induced release of insulin by the perfused rat pancreas. The potencies of these inhibitors in depressing the release of insulin correlated with their effectiveness in inhibiting aldose reductase. At higher concentrations of inhibitors, tolbutamide-induced release of insulin was also depressed. The addition of exogenous sorbitol to pancreases treated with glutaric acid restored their ability to respond to glucose and tolbutamide. These findings suggest that the conversion of free intracellular glucose to sorbitol in the beta cell is an essential step in the glucose-induced release mechanism.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗