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PubMed2005

Establishment of a practical enzymatic assay method for determination of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity using high-performance liquid chromatography.

BACKGROUND: Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is one of the various target disorders for tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) newborn screening. In the diagnosis of IVA, no enzymatic assay method for isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD) activity has been reported whereby the production of enoyl-CoA species was directly detected. We established a direct assay method to detect 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA (MC-CoA) production using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). METHODS: Isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase crude enzyme was prepared by sonicating lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Aliquots were incubated with isovaleryl-CoA, flavin adenine dinucleotide, and phenazine methosulfate. 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA produced in the samples was separated by HPLC and detected using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The detection of MC-CoA was reproducible depending upon the concentration of the substrates, the incubation time, and the number of cells contained in the crude enzyme solution. We applied this assay to three patients diagnosed with IVA and showed that neither of them had detectable residual activity. Only a few hours were required from the initial blood sampling to the end of the assay. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that this method for detecting MC-CoA production, using HPLC, is a practical assay for determining IVD activity. It can be a useful confirmatory test for IVA cases detected through MS/MS screening of newborns.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2006

Aqueous solubility data for pressurized hot water extraction for solid heterocyclic analogs of anthracene, phenanthrene and fluorene.

We report the aqueous solubilities of phenanthrene and several solid three-ring aromatic heterocycles (phenanthridine, acridine, phenazine, thianthrene, phenothiazine, phenoxathiin, phenoxazine, carbazole, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene) at temperatures ranging from 313K to the solute melting point and at a pressure of 5MPa. The data were measured by dynamic saturation method using an in-house-assembled apparatus for pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE). The solute from a known mass of the saturated aqueous solution was transferred to an organic solvent (hexane or toluene), and the organic phase was analyzed by GC/MS. In any of the solutes, the GC/MS records did not indicate any noticeable decomposition within the temperature range of the measurements. The resultant solubilities were converted to activity coefficients of the individual solutes in saturated aqueous solutions, and the results are discussed in terms of temperature and type/number of heteroatoms.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed2004

Enzymatic reactions in anaerobic 2-methylnaphthalene degradation by the sulphate-reducing enrichment culture N 47.

The upper pathway of anaerobic degradation of 2-methylnaphthalene was studied with a sulphate-reducing enrichment culture, which is able to grow with naphthalene or 2-methylnaphthalene as sole carbon source and electron donor. Anaerobic degradation of 2-methylnaphthalene is initiated by an addition of fumarate to the methyl-group producing the first intermediate, naphthyl-2-methyl-succinate. In a subsequent beta-oxidation of the original methyl atom, the central metabolite 2-naphthoic acid is generated. In the following pathway, the aromatic ring system is reduced, cleaved, and finally oxidised to CO(2). Here, we present two new enzymatic reactions of the 2-methylnaphthalene degradation pathway that were measured in crude cell extracts. All metabolites were identified with HPLC by co-elution with synthesised reference substances. The first enzyme, succinyl-CoA:naphthyl-2-methyl-succinate CoA-transferase, catalyses the activation of naphthyl-2-methyl-succinic acid to the corresponding CoA ester. The average specific activity of this enzyme was 19.6 nmol x min(-1) x mg of protein(-1). The CoA-transfer was not inhibited by sodium borohydride and only partially by hydroxylamine, indicating that this enzyme belongs to the family III of CoA-transferases like the corresponding enzyme in the anaerobic toluene degradation pathway. The product of this CoA-transfer reaction, naphthyl-2-methyl-succinyl-CoA is then oxidised in a reaction to naphthyl-2-methylene-succinyl-CoA by the enzyme naphthyl-2-methyl-succinyl-CoA dehydrogenase. The specific activity of this enzyme was 0.115 nmol x min(-1) x mg of protein(-1). The enzymatic activity could only be detected using phenazine methosulphate as electron acceptor. No activity was observed with natural electron acceptors such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or flavin adenine dinucleotide. The two novel reactions presented here demonstrate that the original methyl-group of 2-methylnaphthalene is oxidised to the carboxyl group of 2-naphthoic acid in the upper part of the anaerobic degradation pathway.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed2005

Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the monitoring of malate- and oxaloacetate-producing enzymes.

We demonstrate a facile blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) technique to detect two malate-generating enzymes, namely fumarase (FUM), malate synthase (MS) and four oxaloacetate-forming enzymes, namely pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), citrate lyase (CL) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was utilized as a coupling enzyme to detect either malate or oxaloacetate in the presence of their respective substrates and cofactors. The latter four oxaloacetate-forming enzymes were identified by 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP) and p-iodonitrotetrazolium (INT) while the former two malate-producing enzymes were visualized by INT and phenazine methosulfate (PMS) in the reaction mixtures, respectively. The band formed at the site of enzymatic activity was easily quantified, while Coomassie staining provided information on the protein concentration. Hence, the expression and the activity of these enzymes can be readily evaluated. A two-dimensional (2D) BN-PAGE or SDS-PAGE enabled the rapid purification of the enzyme of interest. This technique also provides a quick and inexpensive means of quantifying these enzymatic activities in normal and stressed biological systems.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed2005

Pyruvate ameliorates the defect in ureogenesis from ammonia in citrin-deficient mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mutations in SLC25A13, encoding the mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate carrier citrin, cause adult-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2) in humans. We have previously reported that although citrin-knockout (Ctrn-/-) mice fail to display symptoms of CTLN2, liver perfusion revealed a deficit in ureogenesis from ammonia accompanied by an increase in the perfusate lactate-to-pyruvate (L/P) ratio. The present study explores the effects of pyruvate, aspartate and citrate on improving the abnormalities observed in the Ctrn-/- liver. METHODS: We measured the rate of ureogenesis from ammonium chloride using the liver-perfusion system. RESULTS: Pyruvate infusion lowered the L/P ratio and corrected the deficit in ureogenesis in the Ctrn-/- liver. This effect was found to be dose-dependent in both instances. Phenazine methosulfate, a cytosolic oxidant, also improved the rate of ureogenesis in the Ctrn-/- liver and led to a fall in the L/P ratio. The addition of aspartate or citrate did not change either the rate of ureogenesis or the L/P ratio in the Ctrn-/- liver. CONCLUSIONS: Citrin deficiency disturbs urea synthesis primarily as a result of an elevated cytosolic NADH/NAD+ ratio owing to limited reoxidation of reducing equivalents. Clinically, pyruvate may have a therapeutic benefit for CTLN2 patients.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2004

DNA-binding and photoactivated enantiospecific cleavage of chiral polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes.

A series of enantiomeric polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes Delta- and Lambda-[Ru(bpy)2CNOIP](PF6)2 (Delta-1 and Lambda-1; BPY=2,2'-bipyridine, CNOIP=2-(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), Delta- and Lambda-[Ru(bpy)2HPIP](PF6)2 (Delta-2 and Lambda-2; HPIP=2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), Delta- and Lambda-[Ru(bpy)2DPPZ](PF6)2 (Delta-3 and Lambda-3; DPPZ=dipyrido[3,2:a-2',3':c]-phenazine), Delta- and Lambda-[Ru(bpy)2TAPTP](PF6)2 (Delta-4 and Lambda-4; TAPTP=4,5,9,18-tetraazaphenanthreno[9,10-b] triphenylene) have been synthesized. Binding of these chiral complexes to calf thymus DNA has been studied by spectroscopic methods, viscosity, and equilibrium dialysis. The experimental results indicated that all the enantiomers of these complexes bound to DNA through an intercalative mode, but the binding affinity of each chiral complex to DNA was different due to the different shape and planarity of the intercalative ligand. After binding to DNA, the luminescence property of complex 1 was distinctly different from complexes 2 to 4. Upon irradiation at 302 nm, complexes 2-4 were found to promote the cleavage of plasmid pBR 322 DNA from supercoiled form I to nicked form II, and obvious enantioselectively was observed on DNA cleavage for the enantiomers of complexes 2 and 4. The mechanisms for DNA cleavage by these enantiomeric complexes were also proposed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Ru(phen)2DPPZ]2+ is in contact with DNA bases when it forms a luminescent complex with single-stranded oligonucleotides.

The luminescence intensity of the Delta- and Lambda-enantiomer of [Ru(phen)2DPPZ]2+ ([Ru(phenanthroline)2 dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine]2+) complex enhanced upon binding to double stranded DNA, which has been known as "light switch effect". The enhancement of the luminescence required the intercalation of the large ligand between DNA base pairs. In this study, we report the enhancement in the luminescence intensity when the metal complexes bind to single stranded oligonucleotides, indicating that the "light switch effect" does not require intercalation of the large DPPZ ligand. Oligonucleotides may provide a hydrophobic cavity for the [Ru(phen)2DPPZ]2+ complex to prevent the quenching by the water molecule. In the cavity, the metal complex is in contact with DNA bases as is evidenced by the observation that the excited energy of the DNA bases transfer to the bound metal complex. However, the contact of the metal complex with DNA bases is different from the stacking of DPPZ in the intercalation pocket. In addition to the normal two luminescence lifetimes, a short lifetime in the range of 1-2 ns was found for both the delta- and lambda-enantiomer of [Ru(phen)2DPPZ]2+ when complexed with single stranded oligonucleotides, which may be assigned to the metal complex that is outside of the cavity, interacting with phosphate groups of DNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Synthesis, characterization and DNA-binding properties of rac-[Ru(5,6-dmp)2(dppz)]2+--enantiopreferential DNA binding and co-ligand promoted exciton coupling.

The new mixed ligand complex [Ru(5,6-dmp)2(dppz)]Cl2 [5,6-dmp = 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine] has been isolated and its DNA-binding properties studied by employing UV-visible (UV-Vis), steady-state and time-resolved emission and circular dichroism spectral methods, viscometry, thermal denaturation and cyclic/differential pulse voltammetric techniques. The complex acts as a 'molecular light-switch' on binding to DNA, but the enhancement in emission intensity is only 75% of that of the parent complex [Ru(phen)2(dppz)]2+ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). The emission decay curves and quenching studies suggest two different DNA-binding modes both involving intercalation of the dppz ligand of [Ru(5,6-dmp)2(dppz)]Cl2. The characteristic red-shift of the induced CD signal, which is not observed for the phen analogue, arises from exciton coupling. The hydrophobicity and polarizability of 5,6-dmp co-ligand strongly favour the formation of a stable structural and electronic scaffold on the DNA surface for the unbound molecules to couple with the DNA-bound complexes facilitating spontaneous assembly of novel extended molecular aggregates using DNA as a helical nanotemplate. This observation is consistent with the shift in Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox potential to more positive values with a dramatic drop in peak current on binding of the 5,6-dmp complex to calf thymus (CT) DNA. Equilibrium dialysis experiments monitored by CD spectroscopy unambiguously reveal the preferential binding of the delta-enantiomer to the right-handed calf thymus (CT) DNA. The 5,6-dmp complex exhibits preferential binding to [d(AT)6]2 over [d(GC)6]2 and the complex aggregates formed consist of six [Ru(5,6-dmp)2(dppz)]2+ cations per base pair of [d(AT)6]2; however, only one [Ru(phen)2(dppz)]2+ cation per base pair is involved in DNA binding.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis and characterization of [Au(dppz)2]Cl3. DNA interaction studies and biological activity against Leishmania (L) mexicana.

[Au(dppz)(2)]Cl(3) was synthesized by the reaction of HAuCl(4) in excess of the dypirido[3,2-a: 2,3-c]phenazine (dppz) ligand. This complex was characterized by elemental analysis, fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass, NMR, UV-visible and IR spectroscopies. DNA-gold complex interactions were studied by spectroscopic titrations, viscosity measurements and electrophoretical assays. These studies showed that the gold complex interacts with DNA by intercalation mode. These observations, led us to carry out biological tests on cultures of promastigotes of Leishmania (L) mexicana. [Au(dppz)(2)]Cl(3) induced a dose dependent antiproliferative activity with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.4nM and lethal doses LD(26) of 17nM for 48h. These findings suggest that a very potent leishmanicidal activity could be associated to the cellular processes involving parasite DNA, constituting a new promising chemotherapeutic alternative in the search for definitive leishmaniasis cure.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The two modes of binding of Ru(phen)(2)dppz(2+) to DNA: thermodynamic evidence and kinetic studies.

The binding of Ru(phen)(2)dppz(2+) (dppz=dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) to DNA was investigated at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C using stopped-flow and spectrophotometric methods. Equilibrium measurements show that two modes of binding, whose characteristics depend on the polymer to dye ratio (C(P)/C(D)), are operative. The binding mode occurring for values of C(P)/C(D) higher than 3 exhibits positive cooperativity, which is confirmed by kinetic experiments. The reaction parameters are K=2 x 10(3)M(-1), omega=550, n=1, k(r)=(1.9+/-0.5) x 10(7)M(-1)s(-1) and k(d)=(9.5+/-2.5)x10(3)s(-1) at I=0.012 M. The results are discussed in terms of prevailing surface interaction with DNA grooves accompanied by partial intercalation of the dppz residue. The other binding mode becomes operative for C(P)/C(D)<3 and the equilibria analysis shows this is an ordinary intercalation mode (K=1.3 x 10(6) M(-1), n=1.5 at I=0.012 M and K=2 x 10(5) M(-1), n=1.2 at I=0.21 M). Similar behaviour is displayed by double-stranded poly(A).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Gluconic acid: an antifungal agent produced by Pseudomonas species in biological control of take-all.

Pseudomonas strain AN5 (Ps. str. AN5), a non-fluorescent Australian bacterial isolate, is an effective biological control (biocontrol) agent of the take-all disease of wheat caused by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt). Ps. str. AN5 controls Ggt by producing an antifungal compound which was purified by thin layer and column chromatography, and identified by NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis to be d-gluconic acid. Commercially bought pure gluconic acid strongly inhibited Ggt. Two different transposon mutants of Ps. str. AN5 which had lost take-all biocontrol did not produce d-gluconic acid. Gluconic acid production was restored, along with take-all biocontrol, when one of these transposon mutants was complemented with the corresponding open reading frame from wild-type genomic DNA. Gluconic acid was detected in the rhizosphere of wheat roots treated with the wild-type Ps. str. AN5, but not in untreated wheat or wheat treated with a transposon mutant strain which had lost biocontrol. The antifungal compounds phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, produced by other Pseudomonads and previously shown to be effective in suppressing the take-all disease, were not detected in Ps. str. AN5 extracts. These results suggest that d-gluconic acid is the most significant antifungal agent produced by Ps. str. AN5 in biocontrol of take-all on wheat roots.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2005

Modifying oocytes and embryos to improve their cryopreservation.

Numerous studies indicate that in vitro-produced bovine embryos do not survive cryopreservation as well as those produced in vivo. Furthermore, embryos cultured in vitro in the absence of blood serum are more cryotolerant than embryos cultured in media containing serum. Although in vivo-produced embryos are more cryotolerant, there appear to be breed differences. Most if not all of these observations are correlated with cytoplasmic lipid content of embryos; more and larger lipid droplets are associated with reduced cryotolerance. This review concerns strategies for modifying oocytes and embryos to increase cryosurvival. Reduction of cytoplasmic lipid content of embryos with phenazine ethosulfate (PES), a compound that oxidizes NADPH, even improved cryotolerance of bovine embryos cultured in the absence of serum. Whether cytoplasmic lipid content per se or associated changes in lipid composition of cell membranes are responsible for differences in cryotolerance is unknown. Increasing cholesterol content of membranes of sperm and oocytes via cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin also appears to improve cryotolerance. While lipids have been emphasized and appear to be important, non-lipid aspects of cell composition also likely affect cryotolerance, and might be modified to improve cryotolerance. Additional research on mechanisms of variation in cryotolerance will be applicable to circumvent cryo-intolerance attributable to variation associated with the individual animal, breed, species, cell type, and factors such as nutrition and season of the year.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae succinate dehydrogenase anchor subunit, Sdh4p: mutations at the C-terminal lys-132 perturb the hydrophobic domain.

The yeast succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a tetramer of non-equivalent subunits, Sdh1p-Sdh4p, that couples the oxidation of succinate to the transfer of electrons to ubiquinone. One of the membrane anchor subunits, Sdh4p, has an unusual 30 amino acid extension at the C-terminus that is not present in SDH anchor subunits of other organisms. We identify Lys-132 in the Sdh4p C-terminal region as necessary for enzyme stability, ubiquinone reduction, and cytochrome b562 assembly in SDH. Five Lys-132 substituted SDH4 genes were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and introduced into an SDH4 knockout strain. The mutants, K132E, K132G, K132Q, K132R, and K132V were characterized in vivo for respiratory growth and in vitro for ubiquinone reduction, enzyme stability, and cytochrome b562 assembly. Only the K132R substitution, which conserves the positive charge of Lys-132, produces a wild-type enzyme. The remaining four mutants do not affect the ability of SDH to oxidize succinate in the presence of the artificial electron acceptor, phenazine methosulfate, but impair quinone reductase activity, enzyme stability, and heme insertion. Our results suggest that the presence of a positive charge on residue 132 in the C-terminus of Sdh4p is critical for establishing a stable conformation in the SDH hydrophobic domain that is compatible with ubiquinone reduction and cytochrome b562 assembly. In addition, our data suggest that heme does not play an essential role in quinone reduction.

Cytochrome b Group↗
PubMed1992

Oxidation of dithiothreitol during turnover of nitric oxide reductase: evidence for generation of nitroxyl with the enzyme from Paracoccus denitrificans.

The stoichiometric relationship between thiol oxidized and NO reduced was studied for the reaction catalyzed by nitric oxide reductase from Paracoccus denitrificans. The reaction systems consisted of dithiothreitol, ascorbate, phenazine methosulfate, enzyme and NO, or that system minus ascorbate. The mole ratio of thiol groups oxidized to NO reduced was observed to be 2.3 to 1.5 over a range of NO from 0.09 to 0.35 mumol. A ratio of 1.0 was expected for the simple reduction of NO by 1-electron to N2O. The oxidation of additional thiol is attributed to the trapping of nitrosyl hydride (nitroxyl, NO/NOH) by thiol.

Dithiothreitol↗
PubMed1989

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of hexose monophosphate shunt activity in cultured cells.

A GC/MS method is described for monitoring the relative amount of glucose degraded to lactate via the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMPS) in neoplastic cells. C6 glioma cells were incubated in medium supplemented with [1-13 C]glucose and medium containing [1-13C]glucose with 0.001 mM phenazine methosulfate (PMS). The ratio of the [13C]lactate to [12C]lactate determined from the measurement of the m/z 219/220 and 117/118 ions of the trimethyl silyl derivative, was used to calculate HMPS activity. PMS increased HMPS activity in C6 glioma cells by 3.2 and 4.8 fold at 2 and 12 hours of incubation respectively. GC/MS results were compared with 1H NMR measurements of the [3-13C]lactate/[3-12C]lactate ratio. The GC/MS method was found to require less sample size and yielded better sensitivity than the NMR method.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

In vitro effects of mangiferin on superoxide concentrations and expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta genes.

This study investigated the effects of the natural polyphenol mangiferin (MA) on superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) production, xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, vascular contractility, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA levels, and tumour growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) mRNA levels. O(2)(-) was generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XO) and phenazine methosulphate (PMS)-NADH systems. XO activity was determined by measurement of uric acid production with xanthine as substrate. Vascular contraction experiments were performed with intact rat aortic rings. iNOS, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta gene expression in rat macrophages stimulated in vivo with 3% thioglycollate and in vitro with 100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide and 10U/mL of interferon-gamma were evaluated semiquantitatively by the retrotranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction. MA at 10-100 microM, like the known O(2)(-) scavenger superoxide dismutase (1U/mL), scavenged O(2)(-) produced by the HX/XO and PMS-NADH systems. By contrast MA at 1-100 microM, unlike allopurinol (10 microM), was unable to inhibit XO activity. MA at 1-100 microM did not modify resting tone or the contractile responses elicited by 1 microM phenylephrine or 1 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in rat aorta. MA at 1-100 microM, like dexamethasone (100 microM), decreased iNOS mRNA levels in activated macrophages. At 100 microM, MA also reduced TNF-alpha mRNA levels, but increased TGF-beta mRNA levels. These results thus indicate that MA is an O(2)(-) scavenger and that it inhibits expression of the iNOS and TNF-alpha genes, suggesting that it may be of potential value in the treatment of inflammatory and/or neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, the finding that MA enhances TGF-beta gene expression suggests that this polyphenol might also be of value in the prevention of cancer, autoimmune disorders, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

PsaC subunit of photosystem I is oriented with iron-sulfur cluster F(B) as the immediate electron donor to ferredoxin and flavodoxin.

The PsaC subunit of photosystem I (PS I) binds two [4Fe-4S] clusters, F(A) and F(B), functioning as electron carriers between F(X) and soluble ferredoxin. To resolve the issue whether F(A) or F(B) is proximal to F(X), we used single-turnover flashes to promote step-by-step electron transfer between electron carriers in control (both F(A) and F(B) present) and HgCl2-treated (F(B)-less) PS I complexes from Synechococcus sp. PCC 6301 and analyzed the kinetics of P700+ reduction by monitoring the absorbance changes at 832 nm in the presence of a fast electron donor (phenazine methosulfate (PMS)). In control PS I complexes exogenously added ferredoxin, or flavodoxin could be photoreduced on each flash, thus allowing P700+ to be reduced from PMS. In F(B)-less complexes, both in the presence and in the absence of ferredoxin or flavodoxin, P700+ was reduced from PMS only on the first flash and was reduced from F(X)- on the following flashes, indicating lack of electron transfer to ferredoxin or flavodoxin. In the F(B)-less complexes, a normal level of P700 photooxidation was detected accompanied by a high yield of charge recombination between P700+ and F(A)- in the presence of a slow donor, 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol. This recombination remained the only pathway of F(A)- reoxidation in the presence of added ferredoxin, consistent with the lack of forward electron transfer. F(A)- could be reoxidized by methyl viologen in F(B)-less PS I complexes, although at a concentration two orders of magnitude higher than is required in wild-type PS I complexes, thus implying the presence of a diffusion barrier. The inhibition of electron transfer to ferredoxin and flavodoxin was completely reversed after reconstituting the F(B) cluster. Using rate versus distance estimates for electron transfer rates from F(X) to ferredoxin for two possible orientations of PsaC, we conclude that the kinetic data are best compatible with PsaC being oriented with F(A) as the cluster proximal to F(X) and F(B) as the distal cluster that donates electrons to ferredoxin.

Biophysical Phenomena↗
PubMed2001

The effect of carvedilol on enhanced ADP-ribosylation and red blood cell membrane damage caused by free radicals.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have reported that the beta and alpha adrenoceptor blocker carvedilol has unique protective effects on free radical-induced myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to examine how carvedilol regulates reactive-oxygen-species-mediated signaling and decreases red blood cell membrane damage in heart perfusion and in a rheological model. METHODS: The ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative cell damage, and changes in the intracellular signaling mediated by reactive oxygen species and peroxynitrite were studied on rat hearts in a Langendorff perfusion system (n=15). The effect of carvedilol on red blood cell suspension viscosity (hematocrit: 60%) incubated with free radical generator (phenazine methosulphate) was also investigated (n=10). The measurements were performed on a capillary viscosimeter. RESULTS: In both studies a protective effect of carvedilol was found, as the decrease of red blood cell suspension viscosity and K(+) concentration in the supernatant indicated. Carvedilol significantly decreased the ischemia-reperfusion-induced free radical production and the NAD(+) catabolism and reversed the poly- and mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Carvedilol also decreased the lipid peroxidation and membrane damages as determined by free malondialdehyde production and the release of intracellular enzymes. The self ADP-ribosylation of isolated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase was also significantly inhibited by carvedilol. CONCLUSION: Our results show that carvedilol can modulate the reactive-oxygen-species-induced signaling through poly- and mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation reactions, the NAD(+) catabolism in postischemic perfused hearts and has a marked scavenger effect on free radical generator-induced red blood cell membrane damage. All these findings may play an important role in the beneficial effects of carvedilol treatment in different cardiovascular diseases.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗