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Mapping cross-linking sites in modified proteins with mass spectrometry: an application to cross-linked hemoglobins.

The combined use of trypsin digestion and peptide mass mapping by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is reported here as an effective and rapid means for identifying the cross-linking sites in human oxy hemoglobin A (HbA) cross-linked with either bis(3,5-dibromosalicyl)-succinate or -glutarate. MALDI-MS analysis of a nondigested sample of oxy HbA modified with bis(3,5-dibromosalicyl)-glutarate showed that cross-linking only occurred between the beta 1- and beta 2-protomers and not between alpha 1- and alpha 2- or alpha- and beta-protomers, along with a modification reaction on an un-cross-linked beta-chain. Results of the MALDI tryptic peptide mass maps of cross-linked hemoglobins showed several cross-linked peptides having masses consistent with: beta Val67-Lys95-XL-beta Val67-Lys95, beta Val67-Lys95-XL-beta Val67-Arg104, beta Val67-Arg104-XL-beta Val67-Arg104, where XL represents the succinyl or glutaryl bridging span moiety. Each of these peptides contains Lys82, the targeted residue for these reagents, substantiating the cross-linking sites at beta 1Lys82-beta 2Lys82. This approach in general will enable rapid identification of the cross-linking sites in engineered proteins or intracellularly recombinant cross-linked proteins when the mass of the cross-linker and the protein primary structure are known.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

On the Complexation of Cd(II) Ions with Polyacrylic Acid

Complexation of Cd(II) ions with polyacrylic acid has been studied potentiometrically and by 113Cd NMR spectroscopy. A Donnan model proposed by Marinsky (Marinsky, J. A., in "Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction" (J. A. Marinsky and Y. Marcus, Eds.), Vol. 11, p. 237. Dekker, New York, 1993; Miyajima, T., in "Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction" (J. A. Marinsky and Y. Marcus, Eds.), Vol. 12, p. 275. Dekker, New York, 1995) has been applied in order to correct for the electrostatic effect on the equilibria inherent in the polyelectrolyte nature of the polyions. The potentiometric studies showed that the bidentate ligand complex, (CdA2)0, is the dominant species, but the formation of monodentate ligand complex, (CdA)+, cannot be neglected at low degree of dissociation of the polyacid. The stability constants of the (CdA)+ and (CdA2)0 complexes have been determined to be approximately 3.2 x 10 and 1.6 x 10(2), respectively. These values are in good agreement with the stability constants of 4.1 x 10 and 1.0 x 10(2) for Cd(acetate) and Cd(glutarate) complexes, where acetate and glutarate ions are the monomer analog ligands of polyacrylic acid. The 113Cd NMR chemical shift change upon dissociation of the polyacid also indicates that the dominant complex is (CdA2)0, but (CdA)+ becomes more appreciable with the decreasing degree of dissociation of the polyacid.

Journal Article↗

Physiology and pathophysiology of organic acids in cerebrospinal fluid.

Concentrations of organic acids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) appear to be directly dependent upon their rate of production in the brain. There is evidence that the net release of short-chain monocarboxylic acids from the brain is a major route for removing these products of cerebral metabolism. Concentrations of organic acids in blood and CSF are largely independent of each other. Quantitative reference values for the concentrations of organic acids in CSF and plasma as well as ratios of individual organic acids between CSF and plasma were determined in 35 pairs of samples from paediatric patients. Over 25 organic acids were quantifiable in all or in the majority of CSF and/or plasma specimens (limit of detection 1 mumol/L). There were substantial differences in the CSF/plasma ratios between subgroups of organic acids. Metabolites related to fatty-acid oxidation were present in CSF in substantially less amounts than in plasma. Organic acids related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism and to amino acid degradation were present in CSF in the same amounts as or slightly smaller amounts than in plasma. Finally, some organic acids were found in substantially higher amounts in CSF than in plasma, e.g. glycolate, glycerate, 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, citrate and isocitrate. Studies of organic acids in CSF and plasma samples are presented from patients with 'cerebral' lactic acidosis, disorders of propionate and methylmalonate metabolism, glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and L-2-hydroxy-glutaric aciduria. It became apparent that derangements of organic acids in the CSF may occur independently of the systemic metabolism. Quantitative organic acid analysis in CSF will yield new information on the pathophysiology in the central nervous system (CNS) of these disorders and may prove necessary for successful monitoring of treatment of organoacidopathies, which present mainly with neurological disease. For example, in glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency the urinary excretion of glutarate appears to be an inadequate parameter for monitoring the effect of dietary therapy, without plasma and CSF determinations. In L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria the elevation of L-2-hydroxyglutarate was found to be greater in CSF than in plasma. In addition, some other organic acids, glycolate, glycerate, 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, citrate and isocitrate, were also elevated in the CSF of the patients out of proportion to normal levels in plasma and urine. High concentrations of an unknown compound, which was tentatively identified as 2,4-dihydroxyglutarate, were found in the CSF of patients with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

Energy conservation in the decarboxylation of dicarboxylic acids by fermenting bacteria.

Decarboxylation of dicarboxylic acids (oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, and malate) can serve as the sole energy source for the growth of fermenting bacteria. Since the free energy change of a decarboxylation reaction is small (around -20 kJ per mol) and equivalent to only approximately one-third of the energy required for ATP synthesis from ADP and phosphate under physiological conditions, the decarboxylation energy cannot be conserved by substrate-level phosphorylation. It is either converted (in malonate, succinate, and glutarate fermentation) by membrane-bound primary decarboxylase sodium ion pumps into an electrochemical gradient of sodium ions across the membrane; or, alternatively, an electrochemical proton gradient can be established by the combined action of a soluble decarboxylase with a dicarboxylate/monocarboxylate antiporter (in oxalate and malate fermentation). The thus generated electrochemical Na+ or H+ gradients are then exploited for ATP synthesis by Na+- or H+-coupled F1F0 ATP synthases. This new type of energy conservation has been termed decarboxylation phosphorylation and is responsible entirely for ATP synthesis in several anaerobic bacteria.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A new class of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine prodrugs conjugated with a tumor-homing cyclic peptide CNGRC by ester linkers: synthesis, reactivity, and tumor-cell-selective cytotoxicity.

PURPOSE: Tumor-targeting prodrugs of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FdUrd), which are chemical conjugations of 5-FdUrd with a tumor-homing cyclic peptide CNGRC by succinate and glutarate linkers, were synthesized to investigate the structural effects of linkers on the hydrolytic release of 5-FdUrd and the tumor-cell-selective cytotoxicity. METHODS: A solid phase synthesis method was used to produce 5-FdUrd prodrugs. The kinetics and efficiency of hydrolytic 5-FdUrd release from the prodrugs were investigated in phosphate buffer (PB), fetal bovine serum (FBS), HT-1080 cell lysate, MDA-MB-231 cell lysate, and MEM containing 10% FBS. The tumor-cell-selective cytotoxicity of prodrugs was evaluated by an MTT method. RESULTS: Two tumor-targeting prodrugs CNF1 and CNF2 bearing 5-FdUrd conjugated with a common cyclic peptide CNGRC by succinate and glutarate linkers, respectively, and their control compounds CN1 and CN2 without 5-FdUrd moiety were synthesized and identified. CNF1 underwent hydrolysis to release 5-FdUrd more rapidly and efficiently than CNF2. Both prodrugs were of lower cytotoxicity compared to 5-FdUrd, showing more selective cytotoxicity toward APN/CD13 positive cells (HT-1080) than toward APN/CD13 negative cells (HT-29, MDA-MB-231). CONCLUSIONS: A new class of tumor-targeting 5-FdUrd prodrugs CNF1 and CNF2 were successfully synthesized. These prodrugs targeted a tumor marker APN/CD13 to cause tumor-cell-selective cyctotoxicity due to 5-FdUrd release, the rate of which could be controlled by the structure of ester linker.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Assay for 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylating enzymes based on the determination of [1-14C]succinate: application to prolyl 4-hydroxylase.

A method for the assay of 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylating enzymes based on determination of the reaction product [1-14C]succinate after precipitation of remaining 2-oxo[5-14C]glutarate with 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine is reported. It is particularly useful for the study of the 2-oxoglutarate-coupled dioxygenase prolyl 4-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.2); it is superior to previously described assay methods of this enzyme with respect to simplicity of the procedure, speed, cost, and radiochemical safety. The results are highly reproducible, the standard deviation of repeated measurements being about 2% of the mean. The commercially available 2-oxo[5-14C]glutarate used in this study contained approximately 3% of radioactivity coeluting with succinate in HPLC and 1.5% of an unidentified radioactive compound as impurities, which contributed to the background.

Animals↗

A glucocorticoid prodrug facilitates normal mucosal function in rat colitis without adrenal suppression.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Glucocorticoids remain the foundation of therapy for acute ulcerative colitis despite systemic side effects that limit their use. Prodrugs that selectively deliver glucocorticoids to the colon may lower the required dose and side effects. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a newly synthesized glucocorticoid-dextran prodrug. METHODS: Novel glucocorticoid-dextran prodrug conjugates in which dexamethasone and methylprednisolone were attached to dextran were synthesized using the dicarboxylic acid linkers, succinate and glutarate. The efficacy of the dextran prodrug conjugates and their free glucocorticoids was tested in an acetic acid-induced model of colitis. Repair of the colitis and mucosal function was assessed by measuring net intestinal fluid absorption, macroscopic ulceration, and myeloperoxidase activity. Glucocorticoid toxicity was evaluated by measuring plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and serum corticosterone levels. RESULTS: The prodrug dexamethasone-succinate-dextran was nine times more potent and dexamethasone-glutarate-dextran three times more potent than free dexamethasone in accelerating mucosal repair. Similarly, methylprednisolone-succinate-dextran was four times more potent than free methylprednisolone. The dextran prodrug conjugates affected adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels only at the highest doses in contrast to free dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, which caused marked adrenal suppression at all doses. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that recently synthesized glucocorticoid-dextran prodrug conjugates can be administered orally to facilitate mucosal repair in rat colitis without adrenosuppression.

Adrenal Glands↗

The binding of 1,N6-etheno-NAD to bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase.

The binding of 1,N6-etheno-NAD (epsilon NAD) to bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase (L-glutamate:NAD(P)+ oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.1.3) saturated with glutarate has been investigated at pH 7.0, 0.05 M phosphate buffer at 20 degrees C, by fluorescence titrations. epsilon NAD binds to the protein in a simple fashion: one molecule of coenzyme per enzyme polypeptide chain in the range of enzyme concentrations investigated (from above 50 to a few micromoles of enzyme polypeptide chains/liter). The fluorescence enhancement factor, Q, of bound epsilon NAD relative to free epsilon NAD is independent of the saturation degree, as deduced from the constant value of the long fluorescence decay lifetime (about 21 ns), and is about 17, as deduced from Fmax/F0 ratio values obtained after extrapolation from double reciprocal plots of 1/delta F vs. 1/[glutamate dehydrogenase]. This value for the Q factor is also independent of enzyme concentration, as well as of the presence of either GTP or ADP. At low enzyme concentrations (below 20 mumol polypeptide chains/liter), the dissociation constant of epsilon NAD increases progressively from a plateau value of about 50 microM to about 100 microM at infinite dilution. This is interpreted as being due to a minor affinity of glutamate dehydrogenase hexamers, with respect to higher aggregation states of the enzyme, towards epsilon NAD. As expected, GTP and ADP change the affinity of glutamate dehydrogenase towards epsilon NAD in an opposite manner: GTP strongly increases it, whereas ADP strongly decreases it (Kappd around 6 microM with saturating GTP and around 300 microM with saturating ADP). Furthermore, in the case of GTP, both GTP and epsilon NAD bind to glutamate dehydrogenase with positive cooperativity, with a Hill coefficient of approx. 1.8 for both and a Kappd approximately equal to 30 microM for the binding of GTP to glutamate dehydrogenase saturated with epsilon NAD and glutarate. The value of the Q factor remains the same, even in the presence of the effectors (again from lifetime measurements), as well as the number of epsilon NAD binding sites per enzyme polypeptide chain. These results are interpreted in terms of independent active sites, in the case without effectors. With ADP the binding appears to be simple, but no careful investigation has been attempted at low enzyme concentrations because of the low saturation degree achievable, whereas with GTP the cooperativity can be explained as due to a shift towards hexamers from higher aggregation states.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Indirect ultraviolet detection of biologically relevant organic acids by capillary electrophoresis.

Indirect UV detection of fourteen short-chain organic acids (e.g., oxalic acid, citric acid, malonic acid, tartaric acid, methylmalonic acid, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, succinic acid, ethylmalonic acid, methylsuccinic acid, glutaric acid, apidic acid, methylglutaric acid, lactic acid and pyruvic acid) by capillary electrophoresis is described. The method used phthalate as the UV-absorbing additive in carbonate buffer and the non-absorbing analytes were detected indirectly at 230 nm. The influences of buffer pH, ionic strength, concentration of phthalate and organic modifier on indirect signal response and migration behavior of the organic acids were investigated. Comparisons of reproducibility on migration time, limit of detection and separation efficiency among three types of capillary (e.g., polyacrylamide-coated, myristyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated and uncoated capillaries) were conducted. The method developed was applied to detect succinic acid, methylmalonic acid, citric acid, glutaric acid and lactic acid in human body fluids, and preliminary results were provided.

Buffers↗

Comparative frequency and severity of hypoglycemia in selected organic acidemias, branched chain amino acidemia, and disorders of fructose metabolism.

The Institution's experience with hypoglycemia in different types of organic acidemias, branched chain amino acidemia (MSUD), and disorders of fructose metabolism was reviewed retrospectively. The charts of 144 patients who were followed for 1-5 years were studied for the severity and frequency of hypoglycemia. The patients were mainly Saudi; however, 10-25% were from neighboring countries. Therefore, the observations pertain to the genetic groups in the Arabian peninsula. Organic acidemias which primarily manifest with neurologic signs, such as 4-hydroxybutyric aciduria, infantile onset 3-methylglutaconic aciduria, and glutaric aciduria type 1 never showed hypoglycemia. Patients with beta-ketothiolase deficiency, biotinidase deficiency, or intermittent or intermediate MSUD, also did not have hypoglycemia during metabolic crisis. Hypoglycemia was rare and mild among neonates with classic MSUD, ethylmalonic aciduria, and isovaleric acidemia. Less than 50% of the patients with MSUD older than 8 months, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, methylmalonic acidemia, or propionic acidemia had hypoglycemia during metabolic crisis. On the other hand, patients with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency, holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency, medium or long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, neonatal onset 3-methylglutaconic aciduria, glutaric aciduria type 2, and disorders of fructose metabolism invariably had moderate-to-severe hypoglycemia associated with metabolic crisis. The purpose of this report is to provide the pediatrician, particularly in the Middle East, with a diagnostic guideline to the identification and management of different types of organic acidemias, based on co-existing hypoglycemia.

Acidosis↗

Characterization of salicylate uptake across the basolateral membrane of the malpighian tubules of Drosophila melanogaster.

The organic anion salicylate is a plant secondary metabolite that can protect plants against herbivores. Transport of salicylate across the basolateral membrane of the Malpighian tubules of Drosophila melanogaster was studied using a radioisotope tracer technique. The uptake of [(14)C]salicylate by the Malpighian tubules was active, saturable and Na(+)-dependent; the maximum uptake rate (J(max)) and the half saturation concentration (K(t)) were 12.6 pmoltubule(-1)min(-1) and 30.7micromoll(-1), respectively. In contrast to organic anion transport by vertebrate renal tissues, salicylate uptake was not trans-stimulated by glutarate (0.01-1.0 mmoll(-1)) or cis-inhibited by high concentrations (5 mmoll(-1)) of various alpha-keto acids (glutaric acid, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, succinic acid, and citric acid). Changes in basolateral membrane potential or physiologically relevant changes in bathing saline pH did not affect the rate of [(14)C]salicylate uptake. Ring-structure monocarboxylic acids (benzoic acid, nicotinic acid, gentisic acid, unlabelled salicylic acid, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, probenecid, fluorescein, and P-aminohippuric acid) strongly inhibited [(14)C]salicylate uptake rate. In contrast, short-chain monocarboxylic acids had little (butyric acid) or no effect (lactic acid, pyruvic acid, and propionic acid). Our results suggest that salicylate uptake across the basolateral membrane of D. melanogaster Malpighian tubules is mediated by a non-electrogenic, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid-sensitive, Na(+):salicylate cotransport system.

Animals↗

In vitro evidence for an antioxidant role of 3-hydroxykynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid in the brain.

We investigated the in vitro effect of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HKyn), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA), kynurenine (Kyn) and anthranilic acid (AA) on various parameters of oxidative stress in rat cerebral cortex and in cultured C6 glioma cells. It was demonstrated that 3HKyn and 3HAA significantly reduced the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) and chemiluminescence measurements in rat cerebral cortex, indicating that these metabolites prevent lipid peroxidation in the brain. In addition, GSH spontaneous oxidation was significantly prevented by 3HAA, but not by the other kynurenines in cerebral cortex. We also verified that 3HKyn and 3HAA significantly decreased the peroxyl radicals induced by the thermolysis of 2,2'-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane)-derived peroxyl radicals, and to a higher degree than the classical peroxyl scavenger trolox. 2-Deoxy-d-ribose degradation was also significantly prevented by 3HKyn, implying that this metabolite was able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, the total antioxidant reactivity of C6 glioma cells was significantly increased when these cells were exposed from 1 to 48h to 3HKyn, being the effect more prominent at shorter incubation times. TBA-RS values in C6 cells were significantly reduced by 3HKyn when exposed from 1 to 6h with this kynurenine. However, C6 cell morphology was not altered by 3HKyn. Finally, we tested whether 3HKyn could prevent the increased free radical production induced by glutaric acid (GA), the major metabolite accumulating in glutaric acidemia type I, by evaluating the isolated and combined effects of these compounds on TBA-RS levels and 2',7'-dihydrodichlorofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation in rat brain. GA provoked a significant increase of TBA-RS values and of DCFH oxidation, effects that were attenuated and fully prevented, respectively, by 3HKyn. The results strongly indicate that 3HKyn and 3HAA behave as antioxidants in cerebral cortex and C6 glioma cells from rats.

3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid↗

Acylated flavonoids in callus cultures of Citrus aurantifolia.

Two new acylated flavonol glycosides were isolated along with kaempferol 3-O-beta-rutinoside from 10-year-old callus cultures of Mexican lime. The structures of these new compounds are kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutarate) and kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutarate)-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Cell Line↗

Cancer chemopreventive effect of quassinoid derivatives. Introduction of side chain to shinjulactone C for enhancement of inhibitory effect on Epstein-Barr virus activation.

A series of shinjulactone C (1) derivatives (2-8) were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-tumor promoting effects against Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation introduced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in Raji cells. The succinate and 3',3'-dimethylsuccinate derivatives of 1 exhibited higher inhibitory effects than 1. From the point of view of structure-activity relationships, the succinate derivatives (2, 4) demonstrated better potency than the glutarate derivatives (3, 5-8). As substituted moieties of 3'-position became bulky, the inhibitory effects of the glutarate derivatives (7, 8) significantly decreased.

Antigens, Viral↗

Involvement of arginine and tryptophan residues in catalytic activity of glutaryl 7-aminocephalosporanic acid acylase from Pseudomonas sp. strain GK16.

The glutaryl 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (GL-7-ACA) acylase from Pseudomonas sp. strain GK16 is an (alphabeta)2 heterotetramer of two non-identical subunits that are cleaved autoproteolytically from an enzymatically inactive precursor polypeptide. The newly formed N-terminal serine of the beta subunit plays an essential role as a nucleophile in enzyme activity. Chemical modification studies on the recombinant enzyme purified from Escherichia coli revealed the involvement of a single arginine and tryptophan residue, per alphabeta heterodimer of the enzyme, in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Glutaric acid, 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) (competitive inhibitors) and GL-7-ACA (substrate) could not protect the enzyme against phenylglyoxal-mediated inactivation, whereas except for glutaric acid protection was observed in case of N-bromosuccinimide-mediated inactivation of the enzyme. Kinetic parameters of partially inactivated enzyme samples suggested that while arginine is involved in catalysis, tryptophan is involved in substrate binding.

Amidohydrolases↗

Amino acid residues involved in the catalytic mechanism of NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from Halobacterium salinarum.

The pH dependence of kinetic parameters for a competitive inhibitor (glutarate) was determined in order to obtain information on the chemical mechanism for NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from Halobacterium salinarum. The maximum velocity is pH dependent, decreasing at low pHs giving a pK value of 7.19+/-0.13, while the V/K for l-glutamate at 30 degrees C decreases at low and high pHs, yielding pK values of 7.9+/-0.2 and 9.8+/-0.2, respectively. The glutarate pKis profile decreases at high pHs, yielding a pK of 9. 59+/-0.09 at 30 degrees C. The values of ionization heat calculated from the change in pK with temperature are: 1.19 x 10(4), 5.7 x 10(3), 7 x 10(3), 6.6 x 10(3) cal mol-1, for the residues involved. All these data suggest that the groups required for catalysis and/or binding are lysine, histidine and tyrosine. The enzyme shows a time-dependent loss in glutamate oxidation activity when incubated with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC). Inactivation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with a second-order rate constant of 53 M-1min-1. The pKa of the titratable group was pK1=6.6+/-0.6. Inactivation with ethyl acetimidate also shows pseudo-first-order kinetics as well as inactivation with TNM yielding second-order constants of 1.2 M-1min-1 and 2.8 M-1min-1, and pKas of 8.36 and 9.0, respectively. The proposed mechanism involves hydrogen binding of each of the two carboxylic groups to tyrosyl residues; histidine interacts with one of the N-hydrogens of the l-glutamate amino group. We also corroborate the presence of a conservative lysine that has a remarkable ability to coordinate a water molecule that would act as general base.

Amino Acids↗

Degradation of organic acids by dairy lactic acid bacteria.

One hundred and twelve different strains of lactic acid bacteria, belonging to the genera Leuconostoc, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus, were examined for the ability to degrade 10 organic acids by detecting gas production, using the conventional Durham tube method. All the strains did not break down succinate, glutarate, 2-oxo-glutarate, and mucate. Malate, citrate, pyruvate, fumarate, tartrate, and gluconate were variably attacked. Streptococcus cremoiris AM2, ML8, and SK11 required glucose to produce gas from citrate, whereas Leuconostoc citrovorum and Streptococcus faecalis did not. Streptococcus cremoris differed from the other streptococci in not producing gas from gluconate. From all lactic acid bacteria examined, only Lactobacillus plantarum formed gas from tartarate. Determination of acetoin and diacetyl proved to be a more reliable evidence for assessing the degradation of pyruvate, compared with detection of gas production. Homofermentative lactobacilli and Leuconostoc citrovorum produced acetoin and diacetyl from pyruvate, whereas beta-bacteria did not, a character that would be of taxonomic value. Streptobacteria degraded pyruvate in the presence of glucose with lactate as the major product together with a mean acetate of 4.1%, ethanol 7.9%, acetoin 1.7%, and diacetyl 2.6% yield on a molar basis after 60 days at 30 degrees C. L. brevis produced acetate and lactate. Formation of diacetyl from pyruvate by lactic acid bacteria may play an important role in flavour development in fermenting dairy products, especially in cheese, where lactic acid bacteria usually predominate, and pyruvate is probably excreted in the breaking down of lactose and in the oxidative deamination of alanine by the accompanying microflora.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Imidazol-1-ylalkanoic acids as extrinsic 1H NMR probes for the determination of intracellular pH, extracellular pH and cell volume.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of extrinsic probes for intracellular pH (pHi), extracellular pH (pHo) and cell volume determination by 1H NMR is described. Imidazol-1-ylacetate, malonate, 3-glutarate and 2-succinate esters were synthesized by reaction of imidazole with alpha-bromo esters or with alpha, beta-unsaturated esters. The corresponding acids were prepared by hydrolysis. Rat erythrocytes were readily permeable to methyl imidazol-1-ylacetate, moderately permeable to diethyl 2-imidazol-1-ylsuccinate and impermeable to diethyl 3-imidazol-1-yl-glutarate esters. Imidazol-1-ylacetic acid was the only acid derivative which penetrated the erythrocyte interior when added directly to the incubation medium. Transport of the permeable compounds to the erythrocyte interior was non-saturable up to 200 mM added compound. Addition of methyl imidazol-1-ylacetate or diethyl 2-imidazol-1-ylsuccinate esters to erythrocyte suspensions, resulted in hydrolysis to imidazol-1-ylacetic acid and 2-imidazol-1-ylsuccinic acid mono-ethyl ester in the intracellular and extracellular spaces, respectively. pHi and pHo were determined from the different chemical shifts of the H-2 proton of the acid derivatives in the intracellular (H-2i) and extracellular (H-2o) compartments. In addition, the relative intracellular and extracellular volumes could be calculated from the areas of the intracellular and extracellular H-2 resonances.

Animals↗