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PubMed1999

Malonate-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in rat striatum depends on dopamine release but not on NMDA receptor activation.

Intrastriatal injection of the reversible succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor malonate produces both energy depletion and striatal lesions similar to that seen in cerebral ischemia and Huntington's disease. The mechanisms of neuronal cell death involve secondary excitotoxicity and the generation of reactive oxygen species. Here, we investigated the effects of dopamine on malonate-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals and striatal lesion volumes. Using in vivo microdialysis, we found that malonate induced a 94-fold increase in extracellular striatal dopamine concentrations. This was paralleled by an increase in the generation of hydroxyl radicals. Prior unilateral lesioning of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway by focal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine blocked the malonate-induced increase in dopamine concentrations and the generation of hydroxyl radicals and attenuated the lesion volume. In contrast, the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 attenuated malonate-induced lesion volumes but did not block the generation of hydroxyl radicals. Thus, the dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways are essential in the pathogenesis of malonate-induced striatal lesions. Our results suggest that the malonate-induced release of dopamine but not NMDA receptor activation mediates hydroxyl radical formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Sequence of a gene cluster from Klebsiella pneumoniae encoding malonate decarboxylase and expression of the enzyme in Escherichia coli.

Malonate decarboxylase of Klebsiella pneumoniae consists of four different subunits and catalyzes the conversion of malonate plus H+ to acetate and CO2. The catalysis proceeds via acetyl and malonyl thioester residues with the phosphribosyl-dephospho-CoA prosthetic group of the acyl carrier protein (ACP) subunit. From a cosmid library of K. pneumoniae, a gene cluster of 9 kb has been isolated and sequenced that included the structural genes for the malonate decarboxylase. The cluster consisted of the eight consecutive genes mdcABCDEFGH and the divergently oriented mdcR gene. The intergenic regions were short (usually < 17 bp, 136 bp between mdcE and mdcF) and ribosome binding sites were found 4-10 bp before each gene. According to N-terminal protein sequencing, the mdcA, C, D and E genes encoded subunits alpha, delta, beta and gamma of malonate decarboxylase. Data bank searches for related proteins with known function revealed that MdcA represents the ACP-transferase and that MdcD and E together probably function as malonyl-S-ACP decarboxylase. MdcC is the (apo) ACP subunit. MdcB and MdcG could be involved in the synthesis and attachment of the prosthetic group. MdcH is similar to various malonyl-CoA:ACP-SH transacylases and therefore probably involved in the initial activation of the enzyme by malonylation. MdcF is a membrane protein that could function as a malonate carrier. The mdcR gene encodes a protein of the LysR regulator family. Malonate decarboxylase was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli from plasmids harbouring the entire gene cluster including mdcR. As partial deletion of the mdcR gene impaired growth of the transformants on malonate, MdcR is probably a transcriptional regulator of the mdc genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Mitochondrial stress-induced dopamine efflux and neuronal damage by malonate involves the dopamine transporter.

Endogenous striatal dopamine (DA) overflow has been associated with neuropathological conditions resulting from ischemia, psychostimulants, and metabolic inhibition. Malonate, a reversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, models the effects of energy impairment in neurodegenerative disorders. We have previously reported that the striatal DA efflux and damage to DA nerve terminals resulting from intrastriatal malonate infusions is prevented by prior DA depletion, suggesting that DA plays a role in the neuronal damage. We presently report that the malonate-induced DA efflux is partially mediated by reverse transport of DA from the cytosol to the extracellular space via the DA transporter (DAT). Pharmacological blockade of the DAT with a series of structurally different inhibitors [cocaine, mazindol, 1-(2-(bis(4-fluophenyl methoxy) ethyl)-4-(3-(4-fluorophenyl)-propyl)piperazine) dimethane sulfonate (GBR 13098) and methyl(-)-3beta-(p-fluorophenyl)-1alphaH,5alphaH-tropane-2beta-carboxylate1,5-naphthalene (Win 35,428)] attenuated malonate-induced DA overflow in vivo and protected mice against subsequent damage to DA nerve terminals. Consistent with these findings, the DAT inhibitors prevented malonate-induced damage to DA neurons in mesencephalic cultures and also protected against the loss of GABA neurons in this system. The DAT inhibitors did not modify malonate-induced formation of reactive oxygen species or lactate production, indicating that the DAT inhibitors neither exert antioxidant effects nor interfere with the actions of malonate. Taken together, these findings provide direct evidence that mitochondrial impairment and metabolic stress cause striatal DA efflux via the DAT and suggest that disruptions in DA homeostasis resulting from energy impairment may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Design of high-dimensional copper(II) malonate complexes with exo-polydentate N-donor ligands.

Two polymeric malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of formulas [(H(2)bpe)[Cu(mal)2]]n.4nH2O (1) and [Cu(4")(mal)(4)(bpe)(3)]n.6nH(2)O (2) [mal = malonate dianion; bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene] have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in triclinic space group P(-)1, Z = 1, with unit cell parameters a = 4.8831(10) A, b = 9.585(2) A, c = 11.813(2) A, alpha = 77.29(3) degrees, beta = 82.18(3) degrees, and gamma = 84.92(3) degrees, whereas complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, with unit cell parameters a = 13.462(3) A, b = 10.275(5) A, c = 19.579(4) A, and beta = 105.21(3) degrees. The structure of 1 consists of anionic malonato-bridged uniform copper(II) chains which are connected through hydrogen bonds involving malonate-oxygen atoms, noncoordinated water molecules, and H(2)bpe(2+) cations. The intrachain copper-copper separation through carboxylate-malonate bridge in the anti-syn conformation is 4.8831(10) A. Complex 2 possesses a three-dimensional structure made up of neutral corrugated malonated-bridged copper(II) layers linked through bis-monodentate bpe molecules. The copper(II) atoms within each layer are bridged by a double mu-oxo and four carboxylato-malonate bridges with copper-copper separations of 3.4095(7) A (through oxo) and 4.9488(11)-6.5268(13) A (through carboxylato). The shortest interlayer copper-copper separation across bridging bpe is 13.434(3) A. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements (2-290 K) show an overall ferromagnetic behavior for both compounds. The magnetic pathway of complex 1 is through a single carboxylate-malonate bridge connecting apical and equatorial positions of adjacent copper(II) atoms, and the value of the magnetic coupling (J) for 1 through a numerical expression for a ferromagnetic uniform chain of interacting local doublets is J = +0.049(1) cm(-1). The values for the magnetic couplings through the main intralayer exchange pathways in 2 which correspond to carboxylate-malonate bridges connecting equatorial-equatorial (J(1)) and equatorial-apical (J(2)) coordination sites and to the double mu-oxo bridge linking equatorial-apical (J(5)) positions have been determined through a simplified model. The three magnetic couplings are weak, two of them being ferromagnetic (J(1) = +23(1) cm(-1) and J(2) = +6.5(1) cm(-1)) and the other one antiferromagnetic [zJ' = -1.0(1) cm(-1)]. The values of the magnetic couplings in 1 and 2 compare well with those previously reported for similar malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of different dimensionalities.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Photoassisted decomposition of malonic acid on TiO2 studied by in situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy.

The photoassisted mineralization, i.e., conversion to CO2 and water, of malonic acid over P25 TiO2 was investigated by in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy in a small volume flow-through cell. Reassignment of the vibrational bands of adsorbed malonic acid, assisted by deuterium labeling, reveals two dissimilar carboxylate groups within the molecule. This indicates adsorption via both carboxylate groups, one in a bridging or bidentate and the other in monodentate coordination. During irradiation the coverage of malonic acid strongly decreases, and oxalate is observed on the surface in at least two different adsorption modes. The major oxalate species observed during irradiation is characterized by monodentate coordination of both carboxylate groups. In the dark, however, part of these species adopts another adsorption mode, possibly interacting only with one carboxylate group. During band gap illumination a large fraction of the surface is not covered by acid. Oxalate is a major intermediate in the mineralization of malonic acid. However, the observed transient kinetics of adsorbed malonic and oxalic acid indicates additional pathways not involving oxalate. The rate constant for oxalate decomposition is slightly larger than the one for oxalate formation from malonic acid. As the oxalate is desorbing slowly from the surface its concentration in the liquid phase is small, despite the fact that it is a major intermediate in the mineralization of malonic acid.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Purification and properties of a novel type of malonate decarboxylase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.

A novel type of malonate decarboxylase which is induced and located in periplasm of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus grown on malonate as sole carbon and energy source was purified to homogeneity. The purified 185-kDa decarboxylase was found to be an oligomer composed of three different polypeptides in a ratio of 2:1:1, designated alpha (65 kDa), beta (32 kDa), and gamma (25 kDa). Optimum pH was 6.8, while pI was 6.39. The enzyme was highly specific for malonate with Km 1.4 mM. This enzyme contained a biotin prosthetic group on alpha subunit which does not seem to be directly related to malonate decarboxylation. The purified enzyme showed almost no activity; activity was restored, however, by treatment with acetic anhydride or malonyl-CoA, which formed an acetyl-enzyme. The 14C-acylated enzyme was isolated by a gel filtration from the reaction mixtures containing [2-14C]malonyl-CoA and the enzyme or [2-14C]malonate, malonyl-CoA, and the enzyme. When treated by thiol-specific reagents, such as N-ethylmaleimide, 5,5'-dinitro-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), and 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid, the purified enzyme showed no increase in activity after the acetic anhydride treatment. The thiol-specific reagents failed to inhibit, however, the catalytically active acetyl-enzyme, suggesting that the site of acylation is the thiol group. Further evidence was provided when sodium borohydride inactivated the acetyl-enzyme. These results suggest that malonate decarboxylation by this enzyme may proceed by a catalytic cycle in which the acetyl group on the active enzyme is displaced by malonate, which binds covalently to a thiol group on the enzyme and is subsequently decarboxylated.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗

PubMed1999

Stereochemical course of biotin-independent malonate decarboxylase catalysis.

Malonate decarboxylases, which catalyze the conversion of malonate to acetate, can be classified into biotin-dependent and biotin-independent enzymes. In order to reveal the stereochemical course of the reactions catalyzed by the biotin-independent enzymes from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas fluorescens, a chiral substrate, malonate carrying (13)C in one carboxyl group and (3)H at one of the methylene positions, was prepared and used in the reactions catalyzed by these two enzymes. The decarboxylation of (R)-[1-(13)C(1), 2-(3)H]malonate in (2)H(2)O gave a pseudo-racemate of chiral acetate which was converted via acetyl-CoA into malate with malate synthase. From the relative proportions of the isotopomers of malate present, determined by (3)H NMR analysis, it was concluded that in the decarboxylation of malonate by these two biotin-independent enzymes COOH is replaced by H with retention of configuration. The same stereochemical outcome had been previously observed for the reaction catalyzed by the biotin-dependent malonate decarboxylase from Malonomonas rubra (J. Micklefield et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117, 1153-1154, 1995).

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗

PubMed2000

Age-dependence of malonate-induced striatal toxicity.

Malonate is an inhibitor of cellular metabolism, which, following intrastriatal injection, induces a striatal pathology similar to that seen in Huntington's disease. In two parallel studies, we have investigated the suggested relationship between the neuronal vulnerability to metabolic toxicity and the decline in metabolic function with increasing age. The first experiment investigated malonate-induced neuronal loss in animals aged from 6 weeks up to 27 months, and the second assessed the activities of two mitochondrial enzymes, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase (CYTOX) in animals aged 6 weeks, 3, 8 and 18 months. In the first study, male Lister-Hooded rats received intrastriatal stereotaxic injections of malonate (0.5 or 1.0 M). Animals were killed 10 days after surgery, and the brains were stained with cresyl violet and processed for NADPH-diaphorase activity and glial fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry. Animals aged 6 months and older exhibited over 60% striatal neuronal loss. However, the degree of neuronal loss did not show any age-related increase in rats between 6 and 27 months of age, indicating that the extent of malonate-induced toxicity does not increase with age in animals older than 6 months. Infusion of 0.5 M malonate produced smaller lesions, which also demonstrated a consistent extent of neuronal loss from 6 months onwards. Metabolic enzyme activities were decreased in the striatum with increasing age, although this effect was only significant for CYTOX activity. Thus, the pattern of malonate-induced neuronal loss in aged animals partially reflects the changes in metabolic activity during ageing.

Aging↗

PubMed1996

Synergistic effects of chronic exposure to subthreshold concentrations of quinolinic acid and malonate in the rat striatum.

Adult rats received chronic intrastriatal dialytic exposure to quinolinic acid (QUIN), malonate, or a combination of QUIN and malonate. The combination of subthreshold concentrations of QUIN (4 mM) and malonate (400 mM) produced lesions larger than did either QUIN or malonate alone. The neurotoxic effect of QUIN combined with malonate was subsequently blocked by co-administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (1 mM). These findings indicate that malonate synergistically enhances NMDA receptor mediated excitotoxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Malonate induces cell death via mitochondrial potential collapse and delayed swelling through an ROS-dependent pathway.

1. Herein we study the effects of the mitochondrial complex II inhibitor malonate on its primary target, the mitochondrion. 2. Malonate induces mitochondrial potential collapse, mitochondrial swelling, cytochrome c (Cyt c) release and depletes glutathione (GSH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide coenzyme (NAD(P)H) stores in brain-isolated mitochondria. 3. Although, mitochondrial potential collapse was almost immediate after malonate addition, mitochondrial swelling was not evident before 15 min of drug presence. This latter effect was blocked by cyclosporin A (CSA), Ruthenium Red (RR), magnesium, catalase, GSH and vitamin E. 4. Malonate added to SH-SY5Y cell cultures produced a marked loss of cell viability together with the release of Cyt c and depletion of GSH and NAD(P)H concentrations. All these effects were not apparent in SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing Bcl-xL. 5. When GSH concentrations were lowered with buthionine sulphoximine, cytoprotection afforded by Bcl-xL overexpression was not evident anymore. 6. Taken together, all these data suggest that malonate causes a rapid mitochondrial potential collapse and reactive oxygen species production that overwhelms mitochondrial antioxidant capacity and leads to mitochondrial swelling. Further permeability transition pore opening and the subsequent release of proapoptotic factors such as Cyt c could therefore be, at least in part, responsible for malonate-induced toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Characterization of the excitotoxic potential of the reversible succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor malonate.

Although the mechanism of neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases remains unknown, it has been hypothesized that relatively minor metabolic defects may predispose neurons to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitotoxic damage in these disorders. To further investigate this possibility, we have characterized the excitotoxic potential of the reversible succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitor malonate. After its intrastriatal stereotaxic injection into male Sprague-Dawley rats, malonate produced a dose-dependent lesion when assessed 3 days after surgery using cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. This lesion was attenuated by coadministration of excess succinate, indicating that it was caused by specific inhibition of SDH. The lesion was also prevented by administration of the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801. MK-801 did not induce hypothermia, and hypothermia itself was not neuroprotective, suggesting that the neuroprotective effect of MK-801 was due to blockade of the NMDA receptor ion channel and not to any nonspecific effect. The competitive NMDA antagonist LY274614 and the glycine site antagonist 7-chlorokynurenate also profoundly attenuated malonate neurotoxicity, further indicating an NMDA receptor-mediated event. Finally, the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) antagonist NBQX (2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)-quinoxaline) was ineffective at preventing malonate toxicity at a dose that effectively reduced S-AMPA toxicity, indicating that non-NMDA receptors are involved minimally, if at all, in the production of the malonate lesion. We conclude that inhibition of SDH by malonate results in NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxic neuronal death. If this mechanism of "secondary" or "weak" excitotoxicity plays a role in neurodegenerative disease, NMDA antagonists and other "antiexcitotoxic" strategies may have therapeutic potential for these diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Striatal malonate lesions are attenuated in neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout mice.

Intrastriatal administration of the reversible succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor malonate produces both energy depletion and striatal lesions by a secondary excitotoxic mechanism. To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO.) in the pathogenesis of the lesions we examined malonate toxicity in mice in which the genes for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) or endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were disrupted. Malonate striatal lesions were significantly attenuated in the nNOS mutant mice, and they were significantly increased in the eNOS mutant mice. Malonate-induced increases in levels of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid/salicylate, markers of hydroxyl radical generation, were significantly attenuated in the nNOS knockout mice. Malonate-induced increases in 3-nitrotyrosine, a marker for peroxynitrite-mediated damage, were blocked in the nNOS mice, whereas a significant increase occurred in the eNOS mice. These findings show that NO. produced by nNOS results in generation of peroxynitrite, which plays a role in malonate neurotoxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Role for dopamine in malonate-induced damage in vivo in striatum and in vitro in mesencephalic cultures.

Defects in mitochondrial energy metabolism have been implicated in the pathology of several neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, the reactive metabolites generated from the metabolism and oxidation of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) are thought to contribute to the damage to neurons of the basal ganglia. We have previously demonstrated that infusions of the metabolic inhibitor malonate into the striata of mice or rats produce degeneration of DA nerve terminals. In the present studies, we demonstrate that an intrastriatal infusion of malonate induces a substantial increase in DA efflux in awake, behaving mice as measured by in vivo microdialysis. Furthermore, pretreatment of mice with tetrabenazine (TBZ) or the TBZ analogue Ro 4-1284 (Ro-4), compounds that reversibly inhibit the vesicular storage of DA, attenuates the malonate-induced DA efflux as well as the damage to DA nerve terminals. Consistent with these findings, the damage to both DA and GABA neurons in mesencephalic cultures by malonate exposure was attenuated by pretreatment with TBZ or Ro-4. Treatment with these compounds did not affect the formation of free radicals or the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation resulting from malonate exposure alone. Our data suggest that DA plays an important role in the neurotoxicity produced by malonate. These findings provide direct evidence that inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase causes an increase in extracellular DA levels and indicate that bioenergetic defects may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic neurodegenerative diseases through a mechanism involving DA.

2H-Benzo(a)quinolizin-2-ol, 2-Ethyl-1,3,4,6,7,11b-↗

PubMed1975

Malonate as a precursor in the biosynthesis of aflatoxins.

Incorporation of [I-14C]acetate and [2-14C]malonate into aflatoxins by resting mycelia of Aspergillus parasiticus resuspended in different buffers was studied. A decrease in pH from 5-8 to 2-8, as well as addition of EDTA, markedly stimulated the incorporation of malonate but the effect on acetate incorporation was less pronounced. Mycelia took up comparatively more acetate than malonate, but more malonate (4-3%) entering mycelia was incorporated into aflatoxins than was acetate (1-6%). Furthermore, the addition of unlabelled acetate reduced the incorporation of label from [I-14C]acetate by 75% but from [2-14C]malonate by only 25%. These results suggest that malonate is an intermediate in aflatoxin synthesis and that is can be incorporated without prior conversion to acetate.

Acetates↗

PubMed1984

Malonate, malonyl-coenzyme A, and acetyl-coenzyme A in developing rat brain.

Free malonate, malonyl-coenzyme A (malonyl-CoA), and acetyl-CoA were assayed in rat brain at developmental ages from the 20th day of gestation to 60 days of postnatal life. The determination of malonate was based on its conversion to malonyl-CoA and decarboxylation to acetyl-CoA by enzyme extracts from Pseudomonas fluorescens. The resulting acetyl-CoA reacted with [4-14C]oxaloacetate to form [5-14C]citrate, which was isolated by TLC. Malonyl-CoA in perchloric acid extracts from brain was converted to acetyl-CoA by rat liver mitochondrial malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.9). Acetyl-CoA derived from this step was assayed by a modified CoA-cycling procedure. Brain acetyl-CoA was also assayed by CoA cycling. Prenatal brain contained no free malonate but malonyl-CoA was present. The acetyl-CoA level was relatively high just prior to birth and declined slightly with growth. Malonate concentrations after birth rose rapidly to reach 192 nmol/g wet weight at 60 days. Adult levels for malonyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA were 1.83 and 1.90 nmol/g wet weight, respectively. The origin and natural role of free malonate in brain are not known but deacylation of malonyl-CoA by reversal of the malonyl-CoA synthetase reaction is postulated. Rat liver and kidney also contain substantial concentrations of free malonate.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

PubMed1987

Effect of free malonate on the utilization of glutamate by rat brain mitochondria.

Malonate is an effective inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase in preparations from brain and other organs. This property was reexamined in isolated rat brain mitochondria during incubation with L-glutamate. The biosynthesis of aspartate was determined by a standard spectrofluorometric method and a radiometric technique. The latter was suitable for aspartate assay after very brief incubations of mitochondria with glutamate. At a concentration of 1 mM or higher, malonate totally inhibited aspartate biosynthesis. At 0.2 mM, the inhibitory effect was still present. It is thus possible that the natural concentration of free malonate in adult rat brain of 192 nmol/g wet weight exerts an effect on citric acid cycle reactions in vivo. The inhibition of glutamate utilization by malonate was readily overcome by the addition of malate which provided oxaloacetate for the transamination of glutamate. The reaction was accompanied by the accumulation of 2-oxoglutarate. The metabolism of glutamate was also blocked by inclusion of arsenite and gamma-vinyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid but again added malate allowed transamination to resume. When arsenite and gamma-vinyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid were present, the role of malonate as an inhibitor of malate entry into the mitochondrial interior could be determined without considering the inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase. The apparent Km and Vmax values for uninhibited malate entry were 0.01 mM and 100 nmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Malonate was a competitive inhibitor of malate transport (Ki = 0.75 mM).

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase by malonic acid produces an "excitotoxic" lesion in rat striatum.

Excitotoxicity and defects in neuronal energy metabolism have both been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. These two mechanisms may be linked through the NMDA receptor, activation of which is dependent on neuronal membrane potential. Because the ability to maintain membrane potential is dependent on neuronal energy metabolism, bioenergetic defects may affect NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. We now report that reversible inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), an enzyme central to both the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain, produces an "excitotoxic" lesion in rat striatum that can be blocked by the NMDA antagonist MK-801. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received intrastriatal stereotaxic injections of the SDH inhibitor malonic acid (1 or 2 mumol) in combination with intraperitoneal injections of vehicle or MK-801 (5 mg/kg) 30 min before and 210 min after malonic acid. Animals were killed 72 h after surgery, and brains were processed for histology, cytochrome oxidase activity, and [3H]MK-801 and [3H]AMPA autoradiography. The higher dose of malonic acid (2 mumol) produced large lesions that were markedly attenuated by treatment with MK-801 (28.1 +/- 3.6 vs. 4.7 +/- 2.6 mm3; p < 0.001). [3H]MK-801 and [3H]AMPA binding were reduced in the lesions by 60 and 63%, respectively. One micromole of malonic acid produced smaller lesions that were almost completely blocked by MK-801 treatment (9.6 +/- 1.3 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.04 mm3; p < 0.0001). The toxic effects of malonic acid were due specifically to inhibition of SDH inasmuch as coinjection of a threefold excess of succinate with the malonic acid blocked the striatal lesions (p < 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Cloning and characterization of mdc genes encoding malonate decarboxylase from Pseudomonas putida.

The DNA fragment encoding malonate decarboxylase, involved in malonate assimilation, was cloned from Pseudomonas putida. The 11-kb DNA fragment contained nine open reading frames, which were designated mdcABCDEGHLM in the given order. N-terminal protein sequencing established that the mdcA, mdcC, mdcD, mdcE and mdcH genes encoded subunits alpha, delta, beta, gamma and epsilon of the malonate decarboxylase, respectively. Malonate decarboxylase was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli from plasmid harboring the entire gene cluster or the mdc genes lacking the mdcL and mdcM genes. The mdcL and mdcM genes encode membrane proteins and disruption of the genes of P. putida by the insertion of a kanamycin resistance cassette reduced the malonate uptake activity of the organism. Thus, we conclude that MdcLM is a malonate transporter.

Carboxy-Lyases↗