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Detection of a novel sepiapterin reductase mRNA: assay of mRNA in various cells and tissues of various species.

Fragments of cDNA coding for rat, murine, and human sepiapterin reductase (SR) were amplified by PCR via primer positioning close to the reported 3'-end of the coding region in the rat enzyme. They were sequenced and used as probes for mRNA detection. Northern blot analysis detected two mRNA species for SR. Their sizes were 1.3 and 2.1 kb for rat, 1.3 and 2.3 kb for mouse, and 1.6 and 2.1 kb for human cell lines. Comparison of rat cell lines and rat tissues indicated that in tissues only the 1.3-kb species is present. Washing of the Northern blots under different stringency conditions indicated a more stable interaction of the 1.3-kb mRNA species with the cDNA probe as compared to the 2.3-kb species. The 1.3-kb species corresponds to the reported 28.2-kDa molecular mass of rat SR monomer. SR mRNA expression is absent in the human NK-like cell line YT and in the murine erythroleukemia subclone B8/3, which both lack SR activity. Moreover, the relative mRNA expression correlates with the enzymatic activities of different cell lines within the same species. This indicates that SR activity is regulated by its steady state mRNA levels.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Tetrahydrobiopterin deficiencies without hyperphenylalaninemia: diagnosis and genetics of dopa-responsive dystonia and sepiapterin reductase deficiency.

DOPA responsive dystonia (DRD) and sepiapterin reductase (SR) deficiency are inherited disorders of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) metabolism characterized by the signs and symptoms related to monoamine neurotransmitter deficiency. In contrast to classical forms of BH4 deficiency DRD and SR deficiency present without hyperphenylalaninemia and thus cannot be detected by the neonatal screening for phenylketonuria (PKU). While DRD is mostly caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the GTP cyclohydrolase I gene (GCH1), SR deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease. The most important biochemical investigations for the diagnosis of these neurological diseases includes CSF investigations for neurotransmitter metabolites and pterins as well as neopterin and biopterin production in cytokine-stimulated fibroblasts. Discovery of SR deficiency opened new insights into alternative pathways of the cofactor BH4 via carbonyl, aldose, and dihydrofolate reductases. As a consequence of the low dihydrofolate reductase activity in the brain, dihydrobiopterin intermediate accumulates and inhibits tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases and uncouples nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), leading to neurotransmitter deficiency and possibly also to neuronal cell death.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Developmental changes of sepiapterin synthase activity associated with a variegated purple gene in Drosophila melanogaster.

A variegated position effect on the autonomous gene, purple, has been studid enzymologically in Drosophila melanogaster. Sepiapterin synthase, the enzyme system associated with pr+, was examined for activity in different developmental stages of the fly. The results indicate that T(y:22)prc5, cn/prc4 cn flies (flies in which pr+ has been translocated and which exhibit variegation) have a reduced amount of enzyme activity as compared with both Oregon-R and pr1 flies. This reduction in activity was not found in larval stages, which suggests that the inactivation process probably occurs in late larval or early pupal stages. The phenotype of the variegated adult has white eyes with red-colored spots and patches where drosopterins occur. The phenotype of the fly carrying the translocation is modified by the presence of additional Y chromosomes. This extends the observation from other systems that extra heterochromatin acts to suppress the variegated position effect. The advantages of studying the variegation by measuring enzyme activity, as well as the phenotypic expression, are several; for example, the developmental time at which variegation occurs may be estimated even though drosopterin synthesis is not occurring.

Animals↗

The zebrafish mutation m865 affects formation of dopaminergic neurons and neuronal survival, and maps to a genetic interval containing the sepiapterin reductase locus.

The zebrafish mutation m865 was isolated during a large-scale mutagenesis screen aimed at identifying genes involved in the development and maintenance of subgroups of neurons in the zebrafish central nervous system. The phenotype of m865 mutant embryos shows defects in the development of dopaminergic neurons in the pretectum and of retinal amacrine cells, as well as abnormal caudal dopaminergic cluster in the diencephalon. The effects of the mutation appear not to be restricted to dopaminergic neurons, as development of other neurotransmitter systems (serotonergic and cholinergic) is impaired as well. Furthermore, increased apoptosis is localized to the m865 mutant retina and in the optic tectum starting at 24hpf, and may lead to the observed reduced size of the mutant head and eye. Early patterning is not affected in m865 mutant embryos, and expression of genes known to play a role in dopaminergic cell differentiation is normal except for reduced expression of nurr1 in the mutant retina. Thus the m865 mutation does not specifically affect dopaminergic neuron development. m865 was genetically mapped to linkage group 5, and the critical genomic interval could be narrowed down to a region of 110 kb, containing four candidate genes. For one of these candidate genes, sepiapterin reductase (spr), a requirement for neuronal survival has previously been implicated, including dopaminergic neurons. Identification of the mutated gene should lead to a more detailed understanding of the defects observed in m865 mutant embryos, and potentially could enhance the understanding of the development and maintenance of specific dopaminergic neuronal populations.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

The enzymatic activities of GTP cyclohydrolase, sepiapterin reductase, dihydropteridine reductase and dihydrofolate reductase; and tetrahydrobiopterin content in mammalian ocular tissues and in human senile cataracts.

The enzymatic activities of GTP cyclohydrolase, sepiapterin reductase, dihydropterin reductase and dihydrofolate reductase were determined in the ocular tissues of rat, rabbit, calf and human. The enzymatic activities of the pteridine biosynthesis and the content of tetrahydropteridine (BH4) were higher in retina and ciliary body-iris as compared with lens tissue in all mammalian species tested. The activities of the pteridine synthesizing enzymes and BH4 content were decreased in human senile cataracts as compared with age-matched clear human lenses. The loss of BH4 may result in lenticular proteins more susceptible to oxidation and contribute to high molecular weight protein formation in cataracts.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Functional role of sepiapterin reductase in the biosynthesis of tetrahydropteridines in Dictyostelium discoideum Ax2.

In Dictyostelium discoideum Ax2 l-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is produced in much smaller amount than its stereoisomer d-threo-tetrahydrobiopterin (DH4), both of which are catalyzed by sepiapterin reductase (SR) at the terminal steps. In order to investigate their putative function and biosynthetic regulation, we performed quantitative analysis of not only the intracellular pteridines by HPLC but also the biosynthetic enzymes (GTP cyclohydrolase I, 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase, SR, and aldose reductase-like enzyme) by Northern blot analysis and activity assay. We found that both SR transcript and activity increased in parallel with a remarkable decline in aldose reductase-like enzyme activity when BH4 increased transiently in the early development. Through in vitro assay of BH4/DH4 synthesis and in vivo rescue experiment of SR knockout mutant, we demonstrated that Dictyostelium SR favors DH4 synthesis while human SR does BH4 synthesis. The results suggest that Dictyostelium SR prefers 1'-oxo-2'-d-hydroxypropyl-tetrahydropterin to 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin as a substrate, thereby maintaining dominant production of DH4 over BH4 in sufficient supply of AR-like enzyme, while allowing increase of BH4 when SR prevails quantitatively over aldose reductase-like enzyme. On the other hand, a transient increase of BH4 may imply that BH4 has an independent function from DH4 in Dictyostelium.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Sepiapterin reductases from Chlorobium tepidum and Chlorobium limicola catalyze the synthesis of L-threo-tetrahydrobiopterin from 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin.

The ORF sequences of the gene encoding sepiapterin reductase were cloned from the genomic DNAs of Chlorobium tepidum and Chlorobium limicola, which are known to produce L-threo- and L-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of C. limicola consists of 241 residues, while C. tepidum SR has three residues more at the C-terminal. The overall protein sequence identity was 87.7%. Both recombinant proteins generated from Escherichia coli were identified to catalyze reduction of diketo compound 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin to L-threo-BH4. This result suggests that C. limicola needs an additional enzyme for L-erythro-BH4 synthesis to yield its glycoside. The catalytic activity of Chlorobium SRs also supports the previously proposed mechanism of two consecutive reductions of C1' carbonyl group of 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin via isomerization reaction.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

The complete amino acid sequence of the mature form of rat sepiapterin reductase.

The partial amino acid sequence of rat sepiapterin reductase was determined using peptides generated by cleavage of the S-carboxyamidomethylated protein with Achromobacter protease I, cyanogen bromide, chymotrypsin or BNPS-skatole. The protein began with N-acetyl methionyl residue at the N-terminus and ended with isoleucyl residue at the C-terminus. The present results essentially coincided with the amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA recently reported by Citron et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 6436-6440 (1990)), clarified the processing event during the biosynthesis and provided the complete amino acid sequence of the mature form of the enzyme.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Glutathione depletion in nigrostriatal slice cultures: GABA loss, dopamine resistance and protection by the tetrahydrobiopterin precursor sepiapterin.

Dopaminergic neurons in culture are preferentially resistant to the toxicity of glutathione (GSH) depletion. This effect may be due to high intrinsic levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). Here we studied the effects of manipulating GSH and/or BH(4) levels on selective neurotoxicity in organotypic nigrostriatal slice cultures. Following treatments with L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 10-100 microM, 2 days exposure, 2 days recovery), either alone or in combination with the BH(4) precursor L-sepiapterin (SEP, 20 microM), or the BH(4) synthesis inhibitor 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (DAHP, 5 mM), toxic effects were assessed by HPLC analysis of medium and tissues, cellular propidium iodide (PI) uptake, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux, as well as stereological counting of tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) positive cells. Thirty micromolar BSO produced 91% GSH and 81% GABA depletion and general cell death, but no significant effect on medium homovanillic acid (HVA) or tissue dopamine (DA) levels. SEP prevented or delayed GABA depletion, PI uptake and LDH efflux by BSO, whereas DAHP in combination with BSO caused (almost) complete loss of medium HVA, tissue DA and TH positive cells. We suggest that under pathological conditions with reduced GSH, impaired synthesis of BH(4) may accelerate nigral cell loss, whereas increasing intracellular BH(4) may provide protection to both DA and GABA neurons.

Animals↗

Localization of sepiapterin reductase in the human brain.

Sepiapterin reductase (SPR) is the enzyme that catalyzes the final step of the synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), the cofactor for phenylalanine hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), tryptophan hydroxylase, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Although SPR is essential for synthesizing BH4, the distribution of SPR in the human brain has not yet been clarified. In the present study, we purified recombinant human SPR from cDNA, raised an antibody against human SPR (hSPR), and examined the localization of SPR protein and SPR activity. Human brain homogenates from the substantia nigra (SN), caudate nucleus (CN), gray and white matters of the cerebral cortex (CTX), and dorsal and ventral parts of the medulla oblongata (MO) were subjected to Western blot analysis with anti-hSPR antibody or with anti-TH antibody. Whereas TH protein showed a restricted localization, being mainly detected in the SN and CN, SPR protein was detected in all brain regions examined. SPR activity was relatively high compared with the activity of GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH), the rate-limiting biosynthetic enzyme of BH4, and was more widely distributed than GCH activity. Immunohistochemistry revealed SPR immunoreactivity in pyramidal neurons in the cerebral CTX, in a small number of striatal neurons, and in neurons of the hypothalamic and brain stem monoaminergic fields and olivary nucleus. Double-staining immunohistochemistry showed that TH and SPR were colocalized in the SN dopamine neurons. Localization of SPR immunoreactive neurons corresponded to monoamine or NOS neuronal fields, and also to the areas where no monoamine or NOS neurons were located. The results indicate that there might be a BH4 biosynthetic pathway where GCH is not involved and that SPR might have some yet unidentified function(s) in addition to BH4 biosynthesis.

Adult↗

Role of the conserved Ser-Tyr-Lys triad of the SDR family in sepiapterin reductase.

Sepiapterin reductase (EC 1.1.1.153; SPR) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin; and SPR has been identified as a member of the NADP(H)-preferring short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family based on its catalytic properties for exogenous carbonyl compounds and molecular structure. To examine possible differences in the catalytic sites of SPR for exogenous carbonyl compounds and the native pteridine substrates, we investigated by site-directed mutagenesis the role of the highly conserved Ser-Tyr-Lys triad (Ser and YXXXK motif) in SPR, which was shown to be the catalytic site of SDR-family enzymes. From the analysis of catalytic constants for single- and double-point mutants against the triad, Ser and YXXXK motif, in the SPR molecule, participate in the reduction of the carbonyl group of both pteridine and exogenous carbonyl compounds. The Ser and the Tyr of the triad may co-act in proton transfer and stabilization for the carbonyl group of substrates, as was demonstrated for those in the SDR family. But either the Tyr or the Ser of SPR can function alone for proton transfer to a certain extent and show low activity for both substrates.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide for sepiapterin reductase on the viability of PC12 cells in the presence of exogenous carbonyl compounds.

Sepiapterin reductase (SPR) is known as an essential enzyme for the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin. SPR belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family and also reduces various exogenous carbonyl compounds including phenylpropanedione. We found in the present study that phenylpropanedione decreased the rate of proliferation of PC12 cells and that this rate was further diminished by the transfection of the cells with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide for SPR mRNA. When the cells were treated with N-acetylserotonin, a specific inhibitor of SPR, in the presence of phenylpropanedione, the cell number decreased to almost the same level as when the cells were transfected with the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Thus, the SDR activity of SPR in PC12 cells may serve for detoxification of exogenous carbonyl compounds besides functioning as a specific enzyme for the formation of tetrahydrobiopterin.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Isolation and characterization of the Drosophila melanogaster cDNA encoding the sepiapterin reductase.

We have isolated and characterized the cDNA encoding Drosophila melanogaster sepiapterin reductase (SR). The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequence was 29% identical to those of mammalian SRs. The active site residues proposed from the three-dimensional structure of mouse SR are well conserved in Drosophila SR. The protein-coding region of the cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli as a histidine fusion protein, and the resulting recombinant protein proved to have SR activity. The SR activity of the recombinant protein was inhibited by two indoleamines, N-acetyl serotonin and melatonin. Southern analysis suggests that the Drosophila SR gene is encoded by a single copy gene. RNA blot analysis revealed that the gene expresses 1.5 kb mRNA in both adult heads and bodies.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Cloning of mouse sepiapterin reductase gene and characterization of its promoter region.

We have isolated and characterized approximately 5 kb mouse sepiapterin reductase gene (Spr) and a highly homologous pseudogene (Sprp). The authentic Spr gene is present as a single copy in the mouse genome and is composed of three exons containing the entire coding region. The primer extension experiment located the transcription initiation site in a putative pyrimidine-rich Inr element. The promoter region of the Spr gene is embedded within a CpG island. It was shown that the promoter region is devoid of distinctive TATA and CAAT boxes. Transient transfection of a series of 5' deletion derivatives of the Spr promoter showed the sequence between -83 and -51 to be essential for promoter activity. The pseudogene Sprp lacks promoter region and exon 3.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Structure, chromosomal localization, and expression of the Drosophila melanogaster gene encoding sepiapterin reductase.

We have isolated and characterized a Drosophila melanogaster gene encoding the sepiapterin reductase (SR). The gene does not have introns. The 5'- and 3'-RACE analysis, which determined the transcription start point (tsp) and polyadenylation site, respectively, showed that the gene produces single mRNA species. The potential promoter region lacks distinct TATAAA or CCAAT box consensus sequences. RNA blot analysis revealed that the gene encodes a 1.4kb transcript that could be detected throughout development and in both heads and bodies of adults. The Drosophila SR gene maps to 15A on the X chromosome.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Biosynthesis of pteridines. NMR studies on the reaction mechanisms of GTP cyclohydrolase I, pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase, and sepiapterin reductase.

GTP cyclohydrolase I catalyzes a ring expansion affording dihydroneopterin triphosphate from GTP. [1',2',3',4',5'-13C5, 2'-2H1]GTP was prepared enzymatically from [U-13C6]glucose for use as enzyme substrate. Multinuclear NMR experiments showed that the reaction catalyzed by GTP cyclohydrolase I involves the release of a proton from C-2' of GTP that is exchanged with the bulk solvent. Subsequently, a proton is reintroduced stereospecifically from the bulk solvent. This is in line with an Amadori rearrangement mechanism. The proton introduced from solvent occupies the pro-7R position in the enzyme product. The data also confirm that the reaction catalyzed by pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase results in the incorporation of solvent protons into positions C-6 and C-3' of the enzyme product. On the other hand, the reaction catalyzed by sepiapterin reductase does not involve any detectable incorporation of solvent protons into tetrahydrobiopterin.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Mutations in the sepiapterin reductase gene cause a novel tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent monoamine-neurotransmitter deficiency without hyperphenylalaninemia.

Classic tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) deficiencies are characterized by hyperphenylalaninemia and deficiency of monoamine neurotransmitters. In this article, we report two patients with progressive psychomotor retardation, dystonia, severe dopamine and serotonin deficiencies (low levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic and homovanillic acids), and abnormal pterin pattern (high levels of biopterin and dihydrobiopterin) in cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, they presented with normal urinary pterins and without hyperphenylalaninemia. Investigation of skin fibroblasts revealed inactive sepiapterin reductase (SR), the enzyme catalyzing the final two-step reaction in the biosynthesis of BH(4). Mutations in the SPR gene were detected in both patients and their family members. One patient was homozygous for a TC-->CT dinucleotide exchange, predicting a truncated SR (Q119X). The other patient was a compound heterozygote for a genomic 5-bp deletion (1397-1401delAGAAC) resulting in abolished SPR-gene expression and an A-->G transition leading to an R150G amino acid substitution and to inactive SR as confirmed by recombinant expression. The absence of hyperphenylalaninemia and the presence of normal urinary pterin metabolites and of normal SR-like activity in red blood cells may be explained by alternative pathways for the final two-step reaction of BH(4) biosynthesis in peripheral and neuronal tissues. We propose that, for the biosynthesis of BH(4) in peripheral tissues, SR activity may be substituted by aldose reductase (AR), carbonyl reductase (CR), and dihydrofolate reductase, whereas, in the brain, only AR and CR are fully present. Thus, autosomal recessive SR deficiency leads to BH(4) and to neurotransmitter deficiencies without hyperphenylalaninemia and may not be detected by neonatal screening for phenylketonuria.

Adolescent↗