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Concentrations and fluxes of organic carbon substrates in the aquatic environment.

Data concerning concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic compounds (DOC) from marine and lacustrine environments are reviewed and discussed. Dissolved free amino acids and carbohydrates comprised the main fraction in the labile organic carbon pool. Dissolved free amino acids in marine waters varied between 3-1400 nM and those of fresh waters between 2.6-4124 nM. Dissolved free carbohydrates varied between 0.4-5000 nM in marine systems and between 14-111 nM in fresh waters, The turnover times of both substrate pools varied in marine waters between 1.4 hours and 948 days and in fresh waters between 2 hours and 51 days. Measurements of stable 12/13C-ratio and 14C-isotope dating in ocean deep water samples revealed DOC turnover times between 2000-6000 years. Studies on carbon flows within the aquatic food webs revealed that about 50% of photosynthetically fixed carbon was channelled via DOC to the bacterioplankton. Excreted organic carbon varied between 1-70% of photosynthetically fixed carbon in marine waters and between 1-99% in fresh waters. The labile organic carbon pool represented only 10-30% of the DOC. The majority (70-90%) of the DOC was recalcitrant to microbial assimilation. Only 10-20% of the DOC could be easily chemically identified. Most of the large bulk material represented dissolved humic matter and neither the chemical structure nor the ecological function of the DOC is as yet clearly understood.

Amino Acids↗

Thrombin-induced calcium oscillation in human platelets and MEG-01, a megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line.

Digital imaging microscopy revealed that human platelets show periodic intracellular Ca++ elevation in response to 0.01 U/ml thrombin. MEG-01, a megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, also responded with oscillatory intracellular Ca++ elevation (0.7-1 times/min) to thrombin (0.001-0.003U/ml). Ca++ transients appears to be fused with higher thrombin doses. With extracellular Ca++ concentrations of 0.1 mM or less, Ca++ oscillation could not be elicited, or even when present, it disappeared after a few spikings of [Ca++]i. Extracellular Ca++ concentrations of 0.3 mM or more were required to facilitate ongoing Ca++ oscillation, suggesting an important role of Ca++ influx for Ca++ oscillation.

Blood Platelets↗

Contrasting molecular cytotoxic mechanisms of mitomycin C and its two analogs, BMY 25282 and BMY 25067, in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The molecular cytotoxic mechanisms of mitomycin C (MMC) and its analogs, BMY 25282 and BMY 25067, have been investigated using isolated hepatocytes as a model system for studying toxicity to nondividing tissues. These drugs have quinone and aziridine moieties, and tumor cell cytotoxicity has been attributed to DNA alkylation and cross-linking. By contrast, the following results suggest that these drugs cause oxidative stress in nondividing cells by different mechanisms. Both hepatocytes or hepatic microsomes and NADPH were able to catalyse oxygen activation by all three drugs, suggesting that enzymatic reduction results in the formation of auto-oxidizable species. Their relative effectiveness at activating oxygen was BMY 25282 >> BMY 25067 > MMC. However, their relative cytotoxic effectiveness was BMY 25067 >> BMY 25282 > MMC, and it was increased markedly if hepatocyte glutathione-reductase or catalase was inactivated. Furthermore, ascorbate increased the toxic potencies of both BMY 25282 and MMC in catalase-inactivated hepatocytes by as much as 60- and 40-fold, respectively. Hepatocyte glutathione (GSH) oxidation was also increased. The relative resistance of normal hepatocytes to MMC and BMY 25282 can be attributed therefore, to the high levels of enzymes in hepatocytes involved in hydrogen peroxide detoxification. BMY 25067 cytotoxicity unlike that of BMY 25282 or MMC was prevented by the addition of the thiol reductant dithiothreitol. BMY 25067 also differed in being much more toxic towards GSH-depleted hepatocytes. Furthermore, BMY 25067, unlike MMC and BMY 25282, caused a rapid decrease in hepatocyte ATP levels and inhibited mitochondrial respiration. This could be prevented by the addition of the thiol reductant dithiothreitol, which restored intracellular GSH levels. Its toxic potency to catalase- or glutathione reductase-inactivated hepatocytes also was not increased by ascorbate. Therefore, the cytotoxicity of BMY 25067 can probably be attributed to oxidative stress by the aminodisulfide moiety which causes GSH and mixed disulfide formation, resulting in mitochondrial toxicity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Aroclor-1254-induced rat-liver S9 causes chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells but not human lymphocytes: a role for active oxygen?

Incubation of CHO cells with Aroclor-1254 induced S9 mix gave higher than normal levels of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sometimes achieving exceptional levels (e.g. up to 40 CA, minus gaps, per 100 cells against a normal range of 0-10). The same batches of S9 gave normal CA frequencies in human lymphocytes from whole blood cultures, normal mutation frequencies in bacterial reversion (Ames) tests and mammalian cell hgprt mutation tests, and normal levels of repair in scheduled DNA synthesis tests. As cytochrome P-450 enzymes, in the absence of substrate, will cycle electrons and could produce active oxygen species (AOS), which are known to be clastogenic, this was investigated. Preliminary studies showed the complete S9 mix was required for the high levels of CA, and that CA levels could be dramatically reduced by co-incubation with catalase or vitamin E. Interestingly, uninduced S9 and phenobarbitone/beta-naphthoflavone induced S9 mixes did not cause high levels of CA, and presumably have different isozymes of P-450 that do not generate AOS as readily. These observations suggest that CHO cells are sensitive to AOS which are inactivated by blood components. This may have implications for the choice of cell system in routine clastogenicity testing of novel chemicals.

Animals↗

The role of estrogen as a parahormone in brain and pituitary.

Where aromatase and estrogen receptors are co-localized in brain and pituitary, estrogen functions as a parahormone, and estrogen levels which determine the occurrence or magnitude of a response are those in close proximity to targets. Teleost fish, a vertebrate group characterized by exceptionally high aromatase in neuroendocrine tissues, are technically advantageous animal models for studying the cellular location of aromatase, natural changes correlated with seasonal reproductive cycles, substrate-dependence of the reaction, steroid induction of enzyme activity, and possible non-genomic actions of estrogen on cultured neurons. In addition, characterization of steroid receptors reveals that the androgen receptor, like aromatase, is present in unusually high concentrations (10- to 100-fold higher than in mammalian brain). Since androgen receptors and aromatase both utilize testosterone as a ligand, their high abundance in teleost brain may be the consequence of a functional interdependence during evolution, although the primary causal factor is unknown. These studies illustrate the usefulness of unconventional species and a comparative approach for obtaining new insights into brain-steroid interactions.

Animals↗

Apparent activation of rabbit lung membrane adenylate cyclase by cytosolic proteins possessing adenylate kinase activity.

Lung cytosolic fraction (23500 x g supernatant) activates cAMP synthesis by lung membrane adenylate cyclase (AC). 23 kDa and 29 kDa proteins were isolated from rabbit lung cytosolic fraction in a homogeneous state, as 'activators' of lung membrane AC. Both of these proteins possess high adenylate kinase (AK) activity and are able to mimic the 'activating' effect of lung cytosol on the lung membrane AC in the standard incubation mixture devoid of adenylate kinase. The activating effect is abolished in the presence of adenylate kinase inhibitor DAPP and after heat- or trypsin-treatment of the cytosolic fraction. Commercial adenylate kinase or nonionic detergent Lubrol PX activate cAMP synthesis by lung membrane AC in a similar manner to that of cytosolic fraction. In the presence of commercial adenylate kinase or Lubrol PX no activating effect of the cytosolic fraction on lung membrane AC is revealed. The ability of cytosolic fraction, commercial adenylate kinase, Lubrol PX or purified 23 kDa and 29 kDa proteins to activate cAMP synthesis by lung membrane AC correlates with their ability to support the constant ATP (AC substrate) concentration in the AC assay mixture. Our data indicate that 'activation' of lung membrane AC in the presence of cytosolic fraction may be produced by cytosolic adenylate kinase activity which regenerates ATP from AMP in the presence of creatine kinase and creatine phosphate providing the substrate for cAMP synthesis by AC.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Protein requirements for long term missions.

A key component of the diet for a space mission is protein. This first part of this paper reviews the reasons for emphasizing protein nutrition and then discusses what the requirements are likely to be. The second part discusses potential advantages of modifying these requirements and describes potential approaches to effecting these modifications based on well established ground based models.

Amino Acids↗

Cytochrome P-450scc activity and substrate supply in human placental trophoblasts.

The degree of saturation of cytochrome P-450scc with cholesterol and the substrate turnover number of the cytochrome in cultured trophoblasts and mitochondria from the human placenta were investigated. Cholesterol sulfate was found to be a suitable substrate for probing the degree of saturation of cytochrome P-450scc with substrate during culture and in isolated mitochondria, since it enabled the maximum velocity of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage reaction to be estimated. In contrast, 25-hydroxycholesterol and low density lipoprotein supported trophoblast progesterone production at lower rates than that measured with saturating cholesterol sulfate. In the absence of exogenous substrate, the highest rate of progesterone synthesis by trophoblasts was observed at the beginning of the culture. With cholesterol sulfate as substrate, the turnover number of cytochrome P-450scc in cultured cells was 2.8 min-1 and was not significantly different to the turnover number of the cytochrome for placental mitochondria, where cholesterol is known to be saturating. Results indicate that cholesterol is limiting for progesterone synthesis in cultured trophoblasts even in the presence of lipoprotein rich medium and 8-bromo-cAMP. The concentration of cytochrome P-450scc in trophoblasts was only 20% of that measured for placental homogenate suggesting an induction of the cytochrome occurs when the trophoblasts fuse in vivo to form syncytiotrophoblasts.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Direct evidence for recycling of myeloperoxidase-catalyzed phenoxyl radicals of a vitamin E homologue, 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxy chromane, by ascorbate/dihydrolipoate in living HL-60 cells.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-catalyzed one-electron oxidation of endogenous phenolic constituents (e.g., antioxidants, hydroxylated metabolites) and exogenous compounds (e.g., drugs, environmental chemicals) generates free radical intermediates: phenoxyl radicals. Reduction of these intermediates by endogenous reductants, i.e. recycling, may enhance their antioxidant potential and/or prevent their potential cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. The goal of this work was to determine whether generation and recycling of MPO-catalyzed phenoxyl radicals of a vitamin E homologue, 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychromane (PMC), by physiologically relevant intracellular reductants such as ascorbate/lipoate could be demonstrated in intact MPO-rich human leukemia HL-60 cells. A model system was developed to show that MPO/H(2)O(2)-catalyzed PMC phenoxyl radicals (PMC*) could be recycled by ascorbate or ascorbate/dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) to regenerate the parent compound. Absorbance measurements demonstrated that ascorbate prevents net oxidation of PMC by recycling the phenoxyl radical back to the parent compound. The presence of DHLA in the reaction mixture containing ascorbate extended the recycling reaction through regeneration of ascorbate. DHLA alone was unable to prevent PMC oxidation. These conclusions were confirmed by direct detection of PMC* and ascorbate radicals formed during the time course of the reactions by EPR spectroscopy. Based on results in the model system, PMC* and ascorbate radicals were identified by EPR spectroscopy in ascorbate-loaded HL-60 cells after addition of H(2)O(2) and the inhibitor of catalase, 3-aminotriazole (3-AT). The time course of PMC* and ascorbate radicals was found to follow the same reaction sequence as during their recycling in the model system. Recycling of PMC by ascorbate was also confirmed by HPLC assays in HL-60 cells. Pre-loading of HL-60 cells with lipoic acid regenerated ascorbate and thus increased the efficiency of ascorbate in recycling PMC*. Lipoic acid had no effect on PMC oxidation in the absence of ascorbate. Thus PMC phenoxyl radical does not directly oxidize thiols but can be recycled by dihydrolipoate in the presence of ascorbate. The role of phenoxyl radical recycling in maintaining antioxidant defense and protecting against cytotoxic and genotoxic phenolics is discussed.

Antioxidants↗

In vitro recycling of alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate for the salvage of purine bases.

In this paper, we extend our previous observation on the mobilization of the ribose moiety from a purine nucleoside to a pyrimidine base, with subsequent pyrimidine nucleotides formation (Cappiello et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1425 (1998) 273-281). The data show that, at least in vitro, also the reverse process is possible. In rat brain extracts, the activated ribose, stemming from uridine as ribose 1-phosphate, can be used to salvage adenine and hypoxanthine to their respective nucleotides. Since the salvage of purine bases is a 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate-dependent process, catalyzed by adenine phosphoribosyltransferase and hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase, our results imply that Rib-1P must be transformed into 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate, via the successive action of phosphopentomutase and 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate synthetase; and,in fact, no adenosine could be found as an intermediate when rat brain extracts were incubated with adenine, Rib-1P and ATP, showing that adenine salvage does not imply adenine ribosylation, followed by adenosine phosphorylation. Taken together with our previous results on the Rib-1P-dependent salvage of pyrimidine nucleotides, our results give a clear picture of the in vitro Rib-1P recycling, for both purine and pyrimidine salvage.

Animals↗

The future. Monitoring cellular energetics.

Current monitoring of critically ill patients uses measurement of global parameters such as oxygen consumption and lactate levels. With development of new monitoring technologies, it may be possible to monitor patients on an organ or tissue level, allowing manipulation of specific organ or tissue perfusion. Potentially useful techniques for monitoring tissue energetics in the future include NIR and NMR spectroscopy. However, both of these techniques are currently limited in their usefulness due to technical factors; NIR by its inability to monitor "silent" metabolically active organs and NMR by its cost, size, and interference of magnetic fields with electronic equipment. Both of these techniques may be useful for identification of dysoxia or oxygen-limited mitochondrial turnover. Experimental evidence suggests that organs in the septic state are more sensitive to dysoxia. Implications for the care of the patient with sepsis include possible decreased tolerance to factors leading to dysoxia, such as hypoxemia, hemodilution, or ischemia.

Critical Care↗

Analysis of thiols with tyrosinase-modified carbon paste electrodes based on blocking of substrate recycling.

The enzyme, tyrosinase, was immobilized inside carbon paste electrodes (CPE) for the analysis of thiol-containing compounds such as the reduced form of glutathione (GSH) and L-cysteine. The measuring principle of this sensor is based on the blocking of the substrate recycling process between the enzyme and the electrode. The current response is monitored at -0.050 V versus Ag/AgCl. At this low potential, interferences from easily oxidizable species such as ascorbic acid and uric acid are minimized. The tyrosinase CPE is characterized both in steady state experiments and by flow injection analysis (FIA). GSH is used as the model thiol-containing compound for the study. The highest response for GSH was obtained around pH 6.5. A detection limit of 100 nM and 1 microM is achieved for GSH in steady state and in flow measurements, respectively. The analytical range for GSH is dependent on the concentration of the tyrosinase substrate (catechol). In steady state experiments, and at a lower substrate concentration (10 microM catechol), a linear range of 1-8 microM is found for GSH as compared with 5-30 microM at a higher substrate concentration of 20 microM catechol. Current response of the tyrosinase CPE is not affected by the oxidized form of GSH and L-cysteine (glutathione disulfide, GSSG, and L-cystine, respectively) and sulfur-containing compound such as methionine. The tyrosinase CPE can also detect coenzyme A, which makes it possible to construct biosensors based on enzymes producing or utilizing coenzyme A.

Biosensing Techniques↗

The translocation of transportin-cargo complexes through nuclear pores is independent of both Ran and energy.

Active transport between nucleus and cytoplasm proceeds through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and is mediated largely by shuttling transport receptors that use direct RanGTP binding to coordinate loading and unloading of cargo [1] [2] [3] [4]. Import receptors such as importin beta or transportin bind their substrates at low RanGTP levels in the cytoplasm and release them upon encountering RanGTP in the nucleus, where a high RanGTP concentration is predicted. This substrate release is, in the case of import by the importin alpha/beta heterodimer, coupled directly to importin beta release from the NPCs. If the importin beta -RanGTP interaction is prevented, import intermediates arrest at the nuclear side of the NPCs [5] [6]. This arrest makes it difficult to probe directly the Ran and energy requirements of the actual translocation from the cytoplasmic to the nuclear side of the NPC, which immediately precedes substrate release. Here, we have shown that in the case of transportin, dissociation of transportin-substrate complexes is uncoupled from transportin release from NPCs. This allowed us to dissect the requirements of translocation through the NPC, substrate release and transportin recycling. Surprisingly, translocation of transportin-substrate complexes into the nucleus requires neither Ran nor nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs). It is only nuclear RanGTP, not GTP hydrolysis, that is needed for dissociation of transportin-substrate complexes and for re-export of transportin to the cytoplasm. GTP hydrolysis is apparently required only to restore the import competence of the re-exported transportin and, thus, for multiple rounds of transportin-dependent import. In addition, we provide evidence that at least one type of substrate can also complete NPC passage mediated by importin beta independently of Ran and energy.

Guanosine Triphosphate↗

Effects on plasma glucose and lactate.

Injection of amylin or amylin agonists, including human and rat amylin, pramlintide, salmon calcitonin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), increases the plasma levels of lactate and glucose in non-diabetic fasting rats and mice. This response can be useful in identifying and defining amylin agonists (amylinomimetic agents) (Cooper et al.) and has been investigated in several studies. Increases in plasma glucose and lactate are not present in all species. In humans, for example, increases in lactate are observed at high pramlintide doses but not at doses that would be used to therapeutically regulate plasma glucose. In species where it occurs, the increase in plasma lactate with amylin is comparable to that observed with exercise or adrenergic agents, and it is distinguishable from the very high levels observed during lactic acidosis (as may occur with biguanides). In contrast to lactic acidosis, the plasma lactate with amylin is derived from skeletal muscle rather than liver. Increases in plasma lactate and glucose in some species may initially appear inconsistent with a glucose-lowering effect of amylin agonists. But glycemic effects are due to actions in skeletal muscle and are present only in some species, whereas glucose-lowering actions are attributable to effects in gastrointestinal systems and are present in all species studied to date. And while glycemic effects are most pronounced in the fasted state, glucose-lowering effects are most pronounced in the postprandial state. Since they were discovered first, effects of higher doses of amylin on plasma glucose, especially in the fasted state, are described first and are related to concomitant changes in plasma lactate. These effects are prominent in rodents but are barely discernible in humans. Effects of lower doses of pramlintide to suppress plasma glucose profiles in the postprandial period are also observable in normal and diabetic rats, however, and are covered here as well. The relationship between plasma lactate and glucose concentrations can be confusing. Via some mechanisms, changes in plasma glucose can drive changes in lactate, while via different mechanisms, changes in lactate can drive changes in glucose concentration. The recursive loop created by these separate links, and for which its discoverers received the Nobel prize, is the Cori cycle (Cori, 1931). This cycle of substrate fluxes, simplified as plasma glucose --> muscle glycogen --> plasma lactate --> liver glycogen --> plasma glucose, is important in the redistribution of carbohydrate fuels in some species (Cori and Cori, 1929) and is discussed here in relation to the role of amylin.

Amyloid↗

Role of hydrogen bonds in the reaction mechanism of chalcone isomerase.

In flavonoid, isoflavonoid, and anthocyanin biosynthesis, chalcone isomerase (CHI) catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of chalcones into (S)-flavanones with a second-order rate constant that approaches the diffusion-controlled limit. The three-dimensional structures of alfalfa CHI complexed with different flavanones indicate that two sets of hydrogen bonds may possess critical roles in catalysis. The first set of interactions includes two conserved amino acids (Thr48 and Tyr106) that mediate a hydrogen bond network with two active site water molecules. The second set of hydrogen bonds occurs between the flavanone 7-hydroxyl group and two active site residues (Asn113 and Thr190). Comparison of the steady-state kinetic parameters of wild-type and mutant CHIs demonstrates that efficient cyclization of various chalcones into their respective flavanones requires both sets of contacts. For example, the T48A, T48S, Y106F, N113A, and T190A mutants exhibit 1550-, 3-, 30-, 7-, and 6-fold reductions in k(cat) and 2-3-fold changes in K(m) with 4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone as a substrate. Kinetic comparisons of the pH-dependence of the reactions catalyzed by wild-type and mutant enzymes indicate that the active site hydrogen bonds contributed by these four residues do not significantly alter the pK(a) of the intramolecular cyclization reaction. Determinations of solvent kinetic isotope and solvent viscosity effects for wild-type and mutant enzymes reveal a change from a diffusion-controlled reaction to one limited by chemistry in the T48A and Y106F mutants. The X-ray crystal structures of the T48A and Y106F mutants support the assertion that the observed kinetic effects result from the loss of key hydrogen bonds at the CHI active site. Our results are consistent with a reaction mechanism for CHI in which Thr48 polarizes the ketone of the substrate and Tyr106 stabilizes a key catalytic water molecule. Hydrogen bonds contributed by Asn113 and Thr190 provide additional stabilization in the transition state. Conservation of these residues in CHIs from other plant species implies a common reaction mechanism for enzyme-catalyzed flavanone formation in all plants.

Binding Sites↗