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Annexin 5 mediates a peroxide-induced Ca(2+) influx in B cells.

Annexin 5 is a Ca(2+)-binding protein, the function of which is poorly understood. Structural and electrophysiological studies have shown that annexin 5 can mediate Ca(2+) fluxes across phospholipid membranes in vitro [1]. There is, however, no direct evidence for the existence of annexin 5 Ca(2+) channels in living cells. Here, we show that annexin 5 inserts into phospholipid vesicle membranes at neutral pH in the presence of peroxide. We then used targeted gene disruption to explore the role of annexin 5 in peroxide-induced Ca(2+) signaling in DT40 pre-B cells. DT40 clones lacking annexin 5 exhibited normal Ca(2+) responses to both thapsigargin and B-cell receptor stimulation, but lacked the sustained phase of the response to peroxide. This late phase was due to Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular space, demonstrating that annexin 5 mediates a peroxide-induced Ca(2+) influx. Thus, peroxide induces annexin 5 membrane insertion in vitro, and peroxide-induced Ca(2+) entry in vivo in DT40 cells requires annexin 5. Our results are consistent with a role for annexin 5 either as a Ca(2+) channel, or as a signaling intermediate in the peroxide-induced Ca(2+)-influx pathway.

Animals↗

Non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of microsomes and mitochondria isolated from liver and heart of pigeon and rat.

Studies were carried out to determine the level of ascorbate-Fe2+ dependent lipid peroxidation of mitochondria and microsomes isolated from liver and heart of rat and pigeon. Measurements of chemiluminescence indicate that the lipid peroxidation process was more effective in mitochondria and microsomes from rat liver than in the same organelles obtained from pigeon. In both mitochondria and microsomes from liver of both species a significant decrease of arachidonic acid was observed during peroxidation. The rate C18:2 n6/C20:4 n6 was 4.5 times higher in pigeon than in rat liver. This observation can explain the differences noted when light emission and unsaturation index of both species were analysed. A significant decrease of C18:2 n6 and C20:4 n6 in pigeon liver mitochondria was observed when compared with native organelles whereas in pigeon liver microsomes only C20:4 n6 diminished. In rat liver mitochondria only arachidonic acid C20:4 n6 showed a significant decrease whereas in rat liver microsomes C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3 decreased significantly. However changes were not observed in the fatty acid profile of mitochondria and microsomes isolated from pigeon heart. In the heart under our peroxidation conditions the fatty acid profile does not appear to be responsible for the different susceptibility to the lipid peroxidation process. The lack of a relationship between fatty acid unsaturation and sensitivity to peroxidation observed in heart suggest that other factor/s may be involved in the protection to lipid peroxidation in microsomes and mitochondria isolated from heart.

Animals↗

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in leaf development.

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation has been implicated in programmed cell death, which is a major process of leaf senescence. To test this hypothesis we developed a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for a simultaneous analysis of the major hydro(pero)xy polyenoic fatty acids. Quantities of lipid peroxidation products in leaves of different stages of development including natural senescence indicated a strong increase in the level of oxygenated polyenoic fatty acids (PUFAs) during the late stages of leaf senescence. Comprehensive structural elucidation of the oxygenation products by means of HPLC, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance suggested a non-enzymatic origin. However, in some cases a small share of specifically oxidized PUFAs was identified suggesting involvement of lipid peroxidizing enzymes. To inspect the possible role of enzymatic lipid peroxidation in leaf senescence, we analyzed the abundance of lipoxygenases (LOXs) in rosette leaves of Arabidopsis. LOXs and their product (9Z,11E,13S,15Z)-13-hydroperoxy-9,11,15-octadecatrienoic acid were exclusively detected in young green leaves. In contrast, in senescing leaves the specific LOX products were overlaid by large amounts of stereo-random lipid peroxidation products originating from non-enzymatic oxidation. These data indicate a limited contribution of LOXs to total lipid peroxidation, and a dominant role of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in late stages of leaf development.

Arabidopsis↗

Molecular dynamics simulations of the resting and hydrogen peroxide-bound states of cytochrome c peroxidase.

The current hypothesis for the formation of the catalytically active compound I of peroxidases from the resting state and peroxide involves formation of a reversible "inner-sphere" complex in which the peroxide is bound to the heme iron. It is this precursor that is postulated to then form compound I. However, this crucial putative transient intermediate has not yet been definitively detected or characterized by experimental methods. We report here the use of energy minimization and molecular dynamics simulation together with the known X-ray structure of cytochrome c peroxidase to investigate the nature of this complex and comparisons of it with the resting state in which a water is bound as a ligand. Among the properties monitored in these simulations are the mode of binding of the peroxide to the heme iron, its interactions with neighboring amino acid residues, and the extent to which the binding of the peroxide perturbs both the local environment around the heme unit and more distant regions. The results of this study indicate that solvated, full protein dynamics is required to obtain reliable results for the known resting-state complex and hence for the uncharacterized peroxide complex. In this complex, the peroxide binds to the heme iron in a dynamically averaged end-on fashion, rather than a bridged structure, with approximately equal probability of each oxygen serving as the ligand to the iron. Binding of the peroxide as a ligand disrupts the H-bonded network of waters in the distal binding pocket which are present in the resting state, but there is no dramatic perturbation of the nearby amino acid residues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

Implication of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase membrane recruitment in hydrogen peroxide-induced activation of PI3K and Akt.

The effect of tyrosine phosphorylation of PI3K on its enzymatic activity is quite controversial, and the molecular mechanism by which ROS trigger PI3K membrane relocation is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of hydrogen peroxide-induced PI3K activation in DT40 cells, utilizing genetic and pharmacological approaches. Our results revealed that hydrogen peroxide induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the p110 but not the p85 subunit of PI3K in DT40 cells. This phosphorylation was intact in Btk- and Cbl-deficient DT40 cells, but was drastically suppressed in Lyn, Syk, or BCAP-deficient DT40 cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation of p110 did not alter its catalytic activity, and hydrogen peroxide stimulation did not cause an increase in the intrinsic PI3K activity; however, hydrogen peroxide stimulation did induce PI(3,4,5)P3 accumulation and activate Akt. The activation of Akt, as monitored by its ability to phosphorylate GSK-3alpha/beta and by its S473 phosphorylation, was strictly dependent on PI3K activity. Under our conditions, hydrogen peroxide-induced PI3K and Akt activation was independent of Lyn, Syk, Cbl, BCAP, or Ras when each was eliminated individually either by mutation or by a specific inhibitor. In comparison, Akt activation by B cell receptor cross-linking was dependent on BCAP. In addition, hydrogen peroxide treatment caused an increase in the amount of p85 PI3K associated with the particulate fraction. Together, these results indicate that the hydrogen peroxide-induced PI3K and Akt activation in DT40 cells was achieved through PI3K membrane recruitment to its substrate site, thereby enabling PI3K to maximize its catalytic efficiency.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Oxymyoglobin oxidation and membrane lipid peroxidation initiated by iron redox cycle: prevention of oxidation by enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants.

The red color of muscle is principally due to the presence of oxymyoglobin. Oxidation of heme iron from the ferrous to the ferric state produces a brownish color, which consumers find undesirable. The aim of this study was to use enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants to simulate in situ muscle antioxidation reactions in order to understand better the mechanism by which the iron redox cycle catalyzes membrane lipid peroxidation and oxymyoglobin oxidation. The inclusion of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the model system decreased oxymyoglobin oxidation by 10% without affecting lipid peroxidation. Addition of catalase decreased oxymyoglobin oxidation by approximately 40% but not lipid peroxidation. Increasing the ceruloplasmin concentration inhibited lipid peroxidation but increased oxymyoglobin oxidation, which was inhibited by SOD and catalase. Conalbumin (50 microM), a specific iron chelator, inhibited peroxidation and oxymyoglobin oxidation by almost 50%. The addition of the antioxidant catechin (500 microM) decreased lipid peroxidation by 90% but oxymyoglobin oxidation by only 50%. Feeding turkeys with vitamin E at several levels significantly increased the alpha-tocopherol level of membranes, thus preventing oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation. In conclusion, oxymyoglobin stability in the model system was affected by two pathways: (a) oxygen active species, such as O(2)*(-), H(2)O(2), HO*, and ferryl, generated during autoxidation of myoglobin and oxidation of ferrous ions and ascorbic acid; and (b) lipid radicals, such as ROO*, RO*, and hydroperoxides, generated during lipid peroxidation. Maximum inhibition could be achieved only by introducing inhibitors of both pathways into the system.

Animals↗

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation in synaptosomes and liposomes by nitrates and nitrites.

NO is produced endogenously from arginine by the action of NO synthase, and exogenously by nitrovasodilators, including organic nitrates and nitrites. NO has been proposed as a cytotoxic and cytoprotective agent. There is strong evidence that NO acts as an apparent antioxidant in inhibiting lipid peroxidation, via chain termination, and interestingly lipid nitrates and nitrites have been proposed to be products of this chain termination. Both pro- and antioxidant mechanisms may be drawn for nitrates and nitrites; therefore, their effects on lipid peroxidation were measured in two systems, using tocopherol, thiol, and an NO donor for comparison: (1) rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes with Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and (2) phospholipid liposomes with an azo-initiator induction system, quantified by a fluorescent probe of peroxide formation. In contrast to the classical nitrate nitroglycerin, novel nitrates which release NO on reaction with thiols and two novel nitrates which spontaneously generate NO in aqueous solution inhibited lipid peroxidation. i-Amyl nitrite inhibited lipid peroxidation, and its properties were further studied with ESR spectroscopy. The data show that classical nitrites and novel nitrates are not prooxidants, but inhibit lipid peroxidation.

Amyl Nitrite↗

NADPH-initiated cytochrome P450-dependent free iron-independent microsomal lipid peroxidation: specific prevention by ascorbic acid.

In this paper we demonstrate that ascorbic acid specifically prevents NADPH-initiated cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated microsomal lipid peroxidation in the absence of free iron. Lipid peroxidation has been evidenced by the formations of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxide and malondialdehyde. Other scavengers of reactive oxygen species including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, alpha-tocopherol, uric acid, thiourea, mannitol, histidine, beta-carotene and probucol are ineffective to prevent the NADPH-initiated P450-mediated free iron-independent microsomal lipid peroxidation. Using a reconstituted system comprised of purified NADPH-P450 reductase, P450 and isolated microsomal lipid or pure L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine diarachidoyl, a mechanism has been proposed for the iron-independent microsomal lipid peroxidation and its prevention by ascorbic acid. It is proposed that the perferryl moiety P450 Fe3+.O2.- initiates lipid peroxidation by abstracting methylene hydrogen from polyunsaturated lipid to form lipid radical, which then combines with oxygen to produce the chain propagating peroxyl radical for subsequent formation of lipid peroxides. Apparently, ascorbic acid prevents initiation of lipid peroxidation by interacting with P450 Fe3+.O2.-.

Animals↗

The effect of vitamin E on the response of rabbit bladder smooth muscle to hydrogen peroxide.

There is increasing evidence that ischemia, reperfusion, and the generation of free radicals are major etiological factors in the progression of bladder dysfunction after partial outlet obstruction. In vitro studies demonstrated that the magnitude of contractile dysfunction following exposure of bladder smooth muscle to hypoxia followed by re-oxygenation was related to the level of lipid peroxidation indicating that membrane lipid peroxidation participated in the contractile failure induced. Recent studies demonstrated that incubation of isolated strips of bladder smooth muscle with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) result in progressive contractile dysfunctions and is associated with progressive increases in MDA (peroxidation product). The current study investigates if feeding rabbits a diet high in vitamin E protects the bladder from the effects of in vitro H2O2. Sixty-four male New Zealand White rabbits were separated into two groups: The rabbits in group 1 were fed a normal diet (28 rabbits) whereas the rabbits in group 2 were placed on a diet enriched with alpha-tocopherol (36 rabbits). After 3 weeks on the normal or high E diet, each rabbit was anesthetized and the bladder excised and cut into 6 isolated strips of bladder detrusor. Each strip was mounted in individual 15 ml baths containing oxygenated Tyrode's solution. The contractile responses to field stimulation (FS), carbachol. and KCl were determined. The strips were washed and exposed to one of the following concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): 0% (control), 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0% for a period of 1 h. At the end of the hour each strip was washed free of H2O2 and a second set of contractile responses were performed and compared to the first set. At the end of the experiment, each strip was frozen and stored at -70 degrees C for analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a measure of peroxidation. In both groups, H2O2 produced similar dose dependent decreases in the contractile responses to all forms of stimulation. In the normal-diet group H2O2 produced a dose dependent increase in MDA formation, whereas in the high E group there were no increases in MDA at any concentration of H2O2. Feeding rabbits a diet high in vitamin E protected the bladder smooth muscle from peroxidation, but had no significant effect on the contractile dysfunctions mediated by direct incubation with H2O2.

Animal Feed↗

Non-enzymatic and enzymatic lipid peroxidation of microsomes and nuclei obtained from rat liver.

The present study investigates in a experimental system in vitro the relationship between the non-enzymatic (ascorbate-Fe2+) and enzymatic (NADPH) lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and nuclei. Chemiluminescence was measured as cpm/mg protein during 180 min at 37 degrees C. Approximately 50-55% of the fatty acids located in rat liver microsomes and nuclei are polyunsaturated with a prevalence of C18:2 n6 and C20:4 n6. The values of total light emission during the non-enzymatic and enzymatic lipid peroxidation were highest in microsomes than in nuclei. A significant decrease of C20:4 n6 and C22:6 n3 in rat liver microsomes and nuclei was observed during the lipid ascorbate-Fe2+-dependent peroxidation, whereas a significant decrease of C20:4 n6 in rat liver microsomes was observed during enzymatic lipid peroxidation. Over the time course studies, analysis of chemiluminescence in microsomes and nuclei demonstrated that the lipid peroxidation in the presence of ascorbate-Fe2+ reach a maximum at 50 and 30 min, respectively, whereas in the presence of NADPH it reachs a maximum at 20 min in both organelles. In liver microsomes and nuclei the peroxidizability index (pi) which indicates the degree of vulnerability to degradation of a selected membrane showed statistically significant differences between control versus ascorbate-Fe2+ when microsomes or nuclei were compared. Our results indicate that non-enzymatic (ascorbate-Fe2+) and enzymatic (NADPH) lipid peroxidation are operative in rat liver microsomes and nuclei but the sensitivities of both organelles to lipid peroxidation evidenced by chemiluminescence was greater in the presence of ascorbate-Fe2+ when compared with NADPH.

Animals↗

The protection of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids by melatonin during nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes.

The in vivo and in vitro effects of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) on lipid peroxidation of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) located in rat liver microsomes were determined. The effect of intraperitoneal administration of melatonin (10 mg/kg weight/24 hr) on ascorbate-Fe++ induced lipid peroxidation of isolated rat liver microsomes was first examined. The ascorbate induced light emission in hepatic microsomes was inhibited by melatonin treatment [control group: 10.714 +/- 0.894; melatonin group: 3.162 +/- 0.515, counts per minute (cpm) x 10(-5)]. Significant differences in the content of arachidonic C20:4 n-6 and docosahexaenoic acid C22:6 n-3 were observed when control microsomes were lipid peroxidized in the presence of ascorbic acid. These changes were less pronounced in liver microsomes isolated from melatonin treated rats. In vitro assays showed that after incubation of rat liver microsomes in an ascorbate-Fe++ system, at 37 degrees C for 210 min, the total cpm originated from light emission (chemiluminescence) was found to be lower in those membranes incubated in the presence of melatonin. The fatty acid composition of total lipids isolated from rat liver microsomes was substantially modified when subjected to nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation with a considerable decrease of docosahexaenoic acid 22:6 n-3 and arachidonic acid 20:4 n-6. The inhibition of the lipid peroxidation process evaluated as chemiluminescence (total cpm at selected times) was melatonin concentration dependent. Melatonin, at a concentration 1.2 mm, inhibited almost completely the lipid peroxidation process. Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids were more affected than docosapentaenoic acid during the lipid peroxidation process. Not all fatty acids were equally protected after the addition of melatonin to the incubation medium. Our results indicate that melatonin may act in vivo and in vitro as an antioxidant protecting long chain PUFA present in rat liver microsomes from the deleterious effect by a selective mechanism that reduces the loss of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids.

Animals↗

Role of cytochrome P-450 in hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity to LLC-PK1 cells.

The current study was designed to test the role of cytochrome P-450 in hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity, and to determine whether it may serve as a source of catalytic iron. Hydrogen peroxide led to iron release (as measured by iron/bathophenanthroline complex) from the microsomes prepared from LLC-PK1 cells. Cimetidine, which inhibits cytochrome P-450 by interacting with the heme iron, significantly blocked iron release, whereas ranitidine, which has a similar structure as cimetidine but is a weak inhibitor of P-450, did not have an effect (H2O2, 0.42 +/- 0.04; H2O2 + cimetidine, 0.23 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein; N = 4, P < 0.01). Exposure of LLC-PK1 cells to hydrogen peroxide (2.5 mM) resulted in a significant increase in the bleomycin-detectable iron (iron capable of catalyzing free radical reactions) content that was prevented by cimetidine, but not ranitidine. We then examined the effect of the inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 on cell death (as measured by Trypan blue exclusion) after exposure of LLC-PK1 cells to 2.5 mM hydrogen peroxide for 120 minutes. Inhibition of cytochrome P-450 by cimetidine significantly reduced the cell death; the effect was observed with 0.05 mM and was concentration dependent with 1 mM affording almost complete protection (H2O2, 59 +/- 1.3% vs. H2O2 + cimetidine, 11 +/- 0.7%; N = 5, P < 0.01). In contrast, ranitidine did not show any protection. We confirmed that the protective effect of cimetidine was not related to scavenging hydrogen peroxide or hydroxyl radicals or chelating iron. A second inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, piperonyl butoxide, had a similar dose-dependent beneficial effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury. Our data thus indicate an important role of cytochrome P-450 in hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity to LLC-PK1 cells and suggest that cytochrome P-450 may serve as a source of catalytic iron.

Animals↗

Lipoprotein profiles and serum peroxide levels of aged women consuming palmolein or oleic acid-rich sunflower oil diets.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypercholesterolemic effects of a dietary exchange between 16:0 and 18:1 while 18:2 was at relatively lower level (approximately 4%) in aged women with initially high total serum cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values and with high intakes of dietary cholesterol. DESIGN: Subjects were assigned to two consecutive 28 d periods. In the first period all subjects followed an oleic acid-rich diet in the form of oleic acid-rich sunflower oil. This was followed by a second period rich in palmitic acid in the form of palmolein. Nutrient intakes, serum lipids, lipoproteins, antioxidant vitamins, peroxides and LDL-peroxides were measured at two dietary periods. SETTING: Instituto de Nutrición y Bromatología (CSIC), Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología I (Nutrición) and Sección Departamental de Quimica Analítica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. RESULTS: The palmolein period led to an increase in TC (P < 0.001; 17.7%) and serum apolipoprotein (Apo) B levels (P < 0.001; 18.0%). LDL-C and LDL-Apo B concentrations were higher (P < 0.001, 4.33+/-0.94 mmol/L and P < 0.01, 1.08+/-0.20 g/L, respectively) following this period than following the oleic acid-rich sunflower oil diet (3.56+/-0.85 mmol/L, 0.93+/-0.16g/L, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the TC/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio between the two dietary periods. Serum and LDL-peroxides were lower (P < 0.01, 49.5%, and P < 0.001, 69.0%, respectively) after the palmolein diet than after the oleic acid-rich sunflower oil diet. The palmolein diet significantly increased TC, LDL-C, Apo B, VLDL-ApoB, LDL-ApoB in women with TC > or = 6.21 mmol/L or with TC < 6.21 mmol/L, but the increase in Apo B, LDL-C and LDL-Apo B was greater among the women with high TC. The palmolein diet increased HDL-C in women with high or with low TC but this rise was on the borderline of statistical significance (P = 0.06) only in normocholesterolemics. Serum and LDL-peroxides tended to be higher in women with TC > 6.21 mmol/L than in women with TC < 6.21 mmol/L, but palmolein decreased serum and LDL-peroxide in hypercholesterolemics more than in the normocholesterolemics, resulting in serum and LDL-peroxide levels which theoretically are more adequate. CONCLUSIONS: Though palmolein increased LDL-C concentrations, it better protected LDL particles, mainly in women with high TC, against peroxidation than did oleic acid-rich sunflower oil.

Aged↗

Sensitivity of respiratory chain activities to lipid peroxidation: effect of vitamin E deficiency.

Rats fed a vitamin E-depleted diet for 48 weeks had undetectable levels of vitamin E in the gastrocnemius muscle and liver, leading to elevated malondialdehyde levels in both tissues and an elevated GSH level in muscle. Skeletal-muscle mitochondria showed decreased mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) activities, whereas liver MRC activities were increased. Exposure of normal rat liver submitochondrial particles (SMPs) to an in vitro NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation system resulted in a dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation and inhibition of complex I and complex IV activities. Complex I exhibited greater sensitivity to lipid peroxidation than complex IV. At low and high NADPH concentrations, the rate of lipid peroxidation and the level of enzyme inhibition were essentially the same in liver SMPs from both vitamin E-deficient and control rats, suggesting that under these conditions, the loss of vitamin E did not exacerbate the effects of either lipid peroxidation or enzyme inhibition. These results indicate that normal vitamin E levels in liver mitochondria are not required for protection against lipid peroxidation and are consistent with the normal liver mitochondrial function in vitamin E-deficient animals. This suggests other antioxidants, such as ubiquinol and GSH, may be more important in protecting liver mitochondria and MRC from lipid peroxidation.

Animals↗

Ceramide induces a loss in cytosolic peroxide levels in mononuclear cells.

Ceramide (a sphingolipid) and reactive oxygen species are each partly responsible for intracellular signal transduction in response to a variety of agents. It has been reported that ceramide and reactive oxygen species are intimately linked and show reciprocal regulation [Liu, Andreieu-Abadie, Levade, Zhang, Obeid and Hannun (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 11313-11320]. Utilizing synthetic, short-chain ceramide to mimic the cellular responses to fluctuations in natural endogenous ceramide formation or using stimulation of CD95 to induce ceramide formation, we found that the principal redox-altering property of ceramide is to lower the [peroxide](cyt) (cytosolic peroxide concentration). Apoptosis of Jurkat T-cells, primary resting and phytohaemagglutinin-activated human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes was preceded by a loss in [peroxide](cyt), as measured by the peroxide-sensitive probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (also reflected in a lower rate of superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction), and this was not associated with a loss of membrane integrity. Where growth arrest of U937 monocytes was observed without a loss of membrane integrity, the decrease in [peroxide](cyt) was of a lower magnitude when compared with that preceding the onset of apoptosis in T-cells. Furthermore, decreasing the cytosolic peroxide level in U937 monocytes before the application of synthetic ceramide by pretreatment with either of the antioxidants N -acetyl cysteine or glutathione conferred apoptosis. However, N -acetyl cysteine or glutathione did not affect the kinetics or magnitude of ceramide-induced apoptosis of Jurkat T-cells. Therefore the primary redox effect of cellular ceramide accumulation is to lower the [peroxide](cyt) of both primary and immortalized cells, the magnitude of which dictates the cellular response.

Apoptosis↗

Nitric oxide consumption through lipid peroxidation in brain cell suspensions and homogenates.

Mechanisms which inactivate NO (nitric oxide) are probably important in governing the physiological and pathological effects of this ubiquitous signalling molecule. Cells isolated from the cerebellum, a brain region rich in the NO signalling pathway, consume NO avidly. This property was preserved in brain homogenates and required both particulate and supernatant fractions. A purified fraction of the particulate component was rich in phospholipids, and NO consumption was inhibited by procedures that inhibited lipid peroxidation, namely a transition metal chelator, the vitamin E analogue Trolox and ascorbate oxidase. The requirement for the supernatant was accounted for by its content of ascorbate which catalyses metal-dependent lipid peroxidation. The NO-degrading activity of the homogenate was mimicked by a representative mixture of brain lipids together with ascorbate and, under these conditions, the lipids underwent peroxidation. In a suspension of cerebellar cells, there was a continuous low level of lipid peroxidation, and consumption of NO by the cells was decreased by approx. 50% by lipid-peroxidation inhibitors. Lipid peroxidation was also abolished when NO was supplied at a continuously low rate (approximately 100 nM/min), which explains why NO consumption by this process is saturable. Part of the activity remaining after the inhibition of lipid peroxidation was accounted for by contaminating red blood cells, but there was also another component whose activity was greatly enhanced when the cells were maintained under air-equilibrated conditions. A similar NO-consuming process was present in cerebellar glial cells grown in tissue culture but not in blood platelets or leucocytes, suggesting a specialized mechanism.

Animals↗

Reaction of variant sperm-whale myoglobins with hydrogen peroxide: the effects of mutating a histidine residue in the haem distal pocket.

The reaction of hydrogen peroxide with a number of variants of sperm-whale myoglobin in which the distal pocket histidine residue (His64) had been mutated was studied with a combination of stopped-flow spectroscopy and freeze-quench EPR. The rate of the initial bimolecular reaction with hydrogen peroxide in all the proteins studied was found to depend on the polarity of the amino acid side chain at position 64. In wild-type myoglobin there were no significant optical changes subsequent to this reaction, suggesting the rapid formation of the well-characterized oxyferryl species. This conclusion was supported by freeze-quench EPR data, which were consistent with the pattern of reactivity previously reported [King and Winfield (1963) J. Biol. Chem. 238, 1520-1528]. In those myoglobins bearing a mutation at position 64, the initial bimolecular reaction with hydrogen peroxide yielded an intermediate species that subsequently decayed via a second hydrogen peroxide-dependent step leading to modification or destruction of the haem. In the mutant His64-->Gln the calculated electronic absorption spectrum of the intermediate was not that of an oxyferryl species but seemed to be that of a low-spin ferric haem. Freeze-quench EPR studies of this mutant and the apolar mutant (His64-->Val) revealed the accumulation of a novel intermediate after the first hydrogen peroxide-dependent reaction. The unusual EPR characteristics of this species are provisionally assigned to a low-spin ferric haem with bound peroxide as the distal ligand. These results are interpreted in terms of a reaction scheme in which the polarity of the distal pocket governs the rate of binding of hydrogen peroxide to the haem iron and the residue at position 64 governs both the rate of heterolytic oxygen scission and the stability of the oxyferryl product.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of RpoS and AlgT in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm resistance to hydrogen peroxide and monochloramine.

The role of two sigma factors, AlgT and RpoS, in mediating Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm resistance to hydrogen peroxide and monochloramine was investigated. Two knock out mutant strains, SS24 (rpoS-) and PAO6852 (algT-), were compared with a wild type, PAO1, in their susceptibility to monochloramine and hydrogen peroxide. When grown as biofilms on alginate gel beads (mean untreated areal cell density 3.7 +/- 0.27 log cfu cm-2) or on glass slides (mean untreated areal cell density 7.6 +/- 0.9 log cfu cm-2), wild type bacteria exhibited reduced susceptibility to both antimicrobial agents in comparison with suspended cells. On alginate gel beads, all strains were equally resistant to monochloramine. rpoS- and algT- gel bead biofilms of 24-hour-old were more susceptible to hydrogen peroxide disinfection than were biofilms formed by PAO1. Biofilm disinfection rate coefficients for the two mutant strains were statistically indistinguishable from planktonic disinfection rate coefficients, indicating complete loss of biofilm resistance. While 48-hour-old algT- biofilm cells became resistant to hydrogen peroxide, 48-hour-old rpoS- biofilm cells remained highly susceptible. With the thicker biofilms formed on glass coupons, all strains were equally resistant to both hydrogen peroxide and monochloramine. It is concluded that while RpoS and AlgT may play a transient role in protecting thin biofilms from hydrogen peroxide, these sigma factors do not mediate resistance to monochloramine and do not contribute significantly to the hydrogen peroxide resistance of thick biofilms.

Alginates↗