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Conversion of 5-S-ethyl-5-thio-D-ribose to ethionine in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Basis for the selective toxicity of 5-S-ethyl-5-thio-D-ribose.

5-S-Ethyl-5-thio-D-ribose (ethylthioribose) exhibits antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Giardia lamblia, and Ochromonas malhamensis, but is nontoxic to cultured human and murine bone marrow cells (Riscoe, M. K., Ferro, A. J., and Fitchen, J. H. (1988) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 32, 1904-1906). We propose the following mechanism to account for the observed selective toxicity of ethylthioribose. 1) The cytocidal action of ethylthioribose against protozoa is a result of its conversion to ethionine, a well-known cytotoxic agent. 2) This transformation occurs through the pathway which normally converts 5-S-methyl-5-thio-D-ribose (methylthioribose) to methionine. 3) Conversion of ethylthioribose to ethionine cannot occur in mammalian cells since these cells cannot phosphorylate methylthioribose (ethylthioribose), a first step in the pathway to methionine (ethionine). To test this hypothesis, [5-3H]ethylthioribose has been synthesized and its metabolism by cell-free extracts of Klebsiella pneumoniae and rat liver was examined. The pathway by which methylthioribose is converted to methionine in K. pneumoniae is well characterized. When supplemented with ATP and L-glutamine, the bacterial extract efficiently converted [5-3H]ethylthioribose to [3H]ethionine. By contrast, ethionine was not produced upon incubation of [5-3H]ethylthioribose, ATP, and L-glutamine with rat liver homogenate. The mammalian cell extract lacks a kinase activity capable of converting ethylthioribose to 1-phospho-5-S-ethyl-5-thio-alpha-D-ribofuranoside, an obligate intermediate in the biosynthesis of ethionine from ethylthioribose in K. pneumoniae. These results support our hypothesis and provide a basis for understanding the apparently selective toxicity of ethylthioribose.

Animals↗

ENHANCEMENT BY ADENINE OF THE INHIBITION OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM BY ETHIONINE.

Smith, Robert C. (Auburn University, Auburn. Ala.), and W. D. Salmon. Enhancement by adenine of the inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium by ethionine. J. Bacteriol. 89:1494-1498. 1965.-The inhibition by ethionine of the growth of Salmonella typhimurium was increased by adenine and several other purines. This effect was counteracted by the addition of methionine to the cultures. There was no preferential inhibition of nucleic acid or protein synthesis by adenine plus ethionine. Adenine stimulated the uptake of radioactive ethionine by the cells. Adenine may produce the effects observed by increasing the rate at which ethionine enters the cell and reaches its primary site of antibacterial action.

Adenine↗

Influence of dietary soybean trypsin inhibitors and DL-ethionine on sulfur amino acid adequacy of diets for young rats.

Weanling male Wistar rats were fed 20% protein diets based on casein or either of two combinations of soy protein isolate and ground raw soy providing three levels of soybean trypsin inhibitors (SBTI; 0, 448 and 808 mg of trypsin inhibited per 100 g of diet respectively). DL-ethionine was included at three levels (0, 0.05% and 0.10%) with each level of SBTI. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of ad libitum feeding, diets containing SBTI without DL-ethionine were associated with decreases in weight gain, feed efficiency, serum cholesterol and serum urea nitrogen. Higher levels of triglycerides, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and altered serum free amino acid levels were also found. Increased dietary levels of DL-ethionine also resulted in deficits in growth and feed efficiency, decreased serum cholesterol, increased SGPT and similar alterations in serum free amino acids. Combination of dietary SBTI with DL-ethionine resulted in even greater growth deficits and serum cholesterol decreases as well as increases in SGPT and serum triglycerides and changes in serum free amino acid levels. Methionine deficiency in the young rats fed SBTI and DL-ethionine was indicated by the changes in serum amino acids and growth deficits. Moderation of some effects over the 12 week test period suggested decreased methionine requirements in the older rats.

Amino Acids↗

Pancreatic regeneration after ethionine-induced acute pancreatitis in rats lacking pancreatic CCK-A receptor gene expression.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) on the development of ethionine-induced pancreatitis and pancreatic recovery. We used Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model lacking pancreatic CCK-A receptor gene expression. METHODS: Ethionine-induced pancreatitis was induced in the 7-week-old male OLETF rats and in a control group that does not lack the pancreatic CCK-A receptor, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. The two groups were maintained on a low-protein diet for 11 days. During the last 4 days of the low-protein diet, dl-ethionine 20 mg/100 g body weight was administered intraperitoneally once daily. Histologic and biochemical examinations of the pancreas were performed, and plasma CCK concentrations were measured on days 1, 4, and 7 after the last ethionine administration. RESULTS: Pancreatic histologic scores for inflammation, hemorrhage, and necrosis in the LETO and OLETF rats were highest on days 1 and 4, respectively. Pancreatic weight, DNA content, and protein level per DNA content in both groups decreased during the low-protein diet, and recovery signs were delayed in the OLETF rats. The highest plasma CCK concentrations in the LETO and OLETF rats were reached on days 1 and 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ethionine-induced pancreatitis developed in the OLETF rats, and their pancreatic regeneration was delayed in comparison to that in the LETO rats. Our results suggested that CCK plays an important role in the development of pancreatitis as well as in the pancreatic repair process.

Animals↗

Effect of L-ethionine on macromolecular synthesis in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes.

2--4 mM L-ethionine completely inhibits DNA synthesis in phytohaemagglutinin- or concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes even though it does not prevent the morphological changes characteristic of blast formation. Evidence is presented which indicates that complete commitment to DNA synthesis as well as a substantial increase in the rates of RNA and protein synthesis can occur in the presence of ethionine. Ethionine, however, does inhibit methylation of tRNA and prevents mitogen-induced increase in the activity of histone-modifying enzymes. All of these effects of exposure to ethionine are completely reversible. Removal of ethionine after 24 h or more of exposure results in a rapid, synchronous wave of DNA synthesis, an increase in the rate of methylation of RNA and an increase in activity of histone-modifying enzymes.

Acetyltransferases↗

Effect of ethionine on the in vitro synthesis and degradation of mitochondrial translation products in yeast.

The effect of ethionine, an amino acid analog of methionine, has been studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in relation to cell growth, oxygen consumption, in vitro protein synthesis of mitochondrial translation products (MTPs) and the degradation of those mitoribosomally made proteins by an ATP-dependent process present within the organelle. Ethionine was found to increase the generation time of those cells already committed to cell division and to abolish the initiation of new cell cycles. Oxygen consumption of cultures grown in the presence of the analog was drastically reduced. Ethionine was also found to impair the incorporation of methionine and leucine into mitochondrial translation products, however the synthesis of proteins was not totally blocked and, apparently, mitochondria utilized ethionine as a precursor amino acid. MTPs synthesized by isolated mitochondria in the presence of ethionine were rapidly degraded inside the organelle at a faster rate compared with the normal proteins synthesized under identical conditions in the mitochondria. It is also shown that these in vitro synthesized proteins are degraded by an ATP-stimulated proteolytic system, as has been previously established.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Influence of DL-ethionine on the NAD content and on the activity of the poly(ADPR)synthetase in the rat liver.

1. Ethionine, an analogue of methionine, is known to cause a number of serious changes. In this study, its influence on the NAD + NADH2 content and on the activity of the poly(ADPR)synthetase in rat liver has been investigated. 2. DL-Ethionine decreases the content of NAD + NADH2 in adrenalectomized, but not in normal animals. 3. After injection of nicotinamide the NAD + NADH2 content in the liver of adrenalectomized rats is much higher than in that of normal ones. 4. DL-Ethionine diminishes the NAD synthesis caused by nicotinamide in adrenalectomized animals and increases it in normal ones. DL-Tryptophan induces only a slight NAD synthesis, which is reduced in adrenalectomized animals by thionine. 5. 1-Methylnicotinamide slightly decreases the NAD concentration in normal animals, but increases it considerably in adrenalectomized ones. DL-ethionine reduces the NAD + NADH content in adrenalectomized animals in the presence of 1-methylnicotinamide. 6. The activity of poly(ADPR)synthetase of in-vitro tested nuclei is slightly increased after treatment with DL-ethionine.

Adrenalectomy↗

Sequential alterations in the hepatic content and metabolism of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP induced by DL-ethionine: evidence for malignant transformation of liver with a sustained increase in cyclic AMP.

There is evidence than adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) may have antagonistic actions on cell growth, with cAMP inhibiting and cGMP stimulating this process. However, reductions in cAMP and increases in cGMP are not charactersitic of all neoplastic tissues. Thus, benign and malignant tissues from hepatoma-bearing rats exposed to the hepatic carcinogen DL-ethionine have elevated rather than depressed cAMP, compared to control liver, and parenteral administration of this drug increases hepatic cAMP within hours. In the present study, the effects of ethionine ingestion on the hepatic content and metabolism of both cAMP and cGMP were examined sequentially in rats at 2 and then 6 wk intervals, from the initiation of drug administration until the development of hepatomas. After 2 wk, cAMP content of quick-frozen liver from rats receiving ethionine (E) was significantly increased (826 +/- 91 pmole/g wet weight) above that of liver from pair-fed controls (C, 415 +/- 44), whether calculated by tissue wet weight, protein, or DNA content. In benign tissue from E, higher cAMP was still evident after in vitro incubations of slices with 2 mM 1-methyl-3-iso-butylxanthine (MIX) and was associated with enhanced adenylate cyclase and unchanged high or low Km cAMP-phosphodiesterase activities. These findings are compatible with accelerated cAMP generation in liver from E. Protein kinase activity ratios were significantly increased in frozen liver from E (0.52 +/- 0.04 versus 0.36 +/- 0.03 in C), and the percent glycogen synthetase in the I form was clearly reduced (19% +/- 2% in E versus 47% +/- 5% in c). incubation of hepatic slices from E or C with MIX and/or 10 muM glucagon further increased cAMP and protein kinase activity ratios, data which imply higher effective, as well as total, cellular cAMP in E. Changes in cAMP metabolism and action observed at 2 wk persisted throughout the 38-wk period of drug ingestion. Adenylate cyclase activity, cAMP content, and protein kinase activity ratios of ethionine-induced hepatomas exceeded those of both the surrounding liver from tumor-bearing rats and that of control liver, but alterations in these parameters were qualitatively similar in both tissues from E. By contrast, while cGMP in quick-frozen surrounding liver from tumor-bearing rats (36 +/- 4 pmole/g wet weight) did not differ from that of control liver (30 +/- 3), cGMP in the hepatomas was increased. This change was evident in both frozen tumor (89 +/- 10) and in tumor slices incubated in vitro with MIX (C, 90 +/- 11; surrounding liver, 85 +/- 10; hepatoma 231 +/- 29). These results indicate that malignant conversion can occur in liver with a sustained elevation of both total and effective cAMP during the premalignant phase. The increase in cGMP detected in ethionine-induced hepatomas could also be a key determinant of malignant transformation in the model, although premalignant changes in cGMP were not apparent.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Effect of L-ethionine on the expression of the SOS system in Escherichia coli.

The effect of L-ethionine, the ethyl analog of the essential amino acid methionine, on the SOS system of Escherichia coli was studied. This compound does not induce either inhibition of cell division nor cessation of cell respiration in a RecA+ Met+ RelA+ strain, nor in RecA+ Met- RelA+ or RecA+ Met- RelA- mutants. Nevertheless, L-ethionine blocks the expression of both cited SOS functions in a recA441 mutant when it is growing at the restrictive temperature of 42 degrees C. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of the L-ethionine on the induction of the SOS system in this mutant is increased when the cells are preincubated for several hours in the presence of the analog, before the temperature shift. Moreover, cultures of the recA441 mutant incubated at 42 degrees C in the presence of both L-ethionine and L-methionine present the same behaviour as the cultures of this mutant growing at the same temperature but without either amino acid. On the other hand, L-ethionine does not have any effect on the expression of the two mentioned SOS functions when these are induced by UV-irradiation in a RecA+ strain even if this compound is added to the cells several hours before irradiation.

DNA Repair↗

Effect of ethionine on synthesis and methylation of ribosomal ribonucleic acid in regenerating rat liver.

Ethionine, a hepatocarcinogen, was administered into rats 24 h before partial hepatectomy and immediately thereafter. Hepatic precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) obtained 20 h after the operation of rats injected with ethionine and adenine resulted in methyl deficiency as judged by the incorporation of [3H]methyl group of S-adenosylmethionine into nuclear rRNA by partially purified rRNA methylase. The ethionine and adenine treatment causes methyl deficiency of nuclear rRNA at 2'-hydroxyribose sites of cytidine and uridine, but not at base sites. Although the ethionine and adenine treatment produced no significant change in total hepatic RNA synthesis in vivo assayed by the incorporation of labeled orotate, a one-third increase in nuclear rRNA synthesis as well as a one-third decrease in microsomal rRNA synthesis was found under the treatment. These results suggest that the undermethylation at 2'-hydroxyribose of pre-rRNA in liver nucleus, which is caused by ethionine and adenine administration into rats, causes an inhibition of the processing of nuclear pre-rRNA to cytoplasmic rRNA.

Animals↗

Decreased estradiol receptor concentrations in ethionine-induced fatty liver of rats.

Ethionine, a methionine analogue, induces fatty liver in rats. The mechanism by which ethionine induces fatty liver is thought to be due to the inhibition of synthesis of very-low-density lipoprotein. Since the synthesis of lipoprotein is correlated with liver estradiol receptor concentrations, we examined the effect of ethionine on estradiol receptor concentrations in rat liver. Estradiol receptor concentrations in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions were greatly decreased by a single injection of ethionine at a dose of 0.5 mg/g body wt. In particular, the decrease in nuclear receptor concentrations was observed a few hours after the injection and correlated with the decrease in triglyceride content in the very-low-density lipoprotein fraction. These results suggest that liver estradiol receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of ethionine-induced fatty liver of rats.

Animals↗

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotides in acute liver injury induced by ethionine, and a comparison with the effects of salicylate.

1. The effects of single doses of ethionine or sodium salicylate on the nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide content of rat liver have been studied. 2. There was no significant change in the sum of NAD+NADH(2) during the early period (0-2hr.) of the liver injury induced by ethionine but there was a decrease in this value of approx. 30% by 4hr. after administration. 3. Ethionine had no significant effect on the NADP+NADPH(2) during the first 2hr. period after administration. The sum then decreased to a value approx. 70% of the control by 3hr. after dosing but showed a partial recovery at the 4hr. period before decreasing again in later stages of the poisoning. 4. Salicylate produced a very rapid decrease in the NADP+NADPH(2) in the liver after intraperitoneal injection. After 1hr. the decrease was approx. 30% of the initial value; the sum slowly returned towards the normal range during the following 4hr. 5. A high parenteral dose of salicylate was found to cause only a small depression in the concentration of ATP in rat liver in contrast with the rapid depletion produced by ethionine. 6. These results are discussed in terms of the liver disturbances produced by ethionine and salicylate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Evidence for ethylation of rat liver deoxyribonucleic acid after administration of ethionine.

1. Administration of a large dose (500mg/kg body wt.) of (3)H-labelled l-ethionine to rats resulted in the incorporation of a small amount of radioactivity into the liver DNA. Considerable evidence that this radioactivity was not due to contamination of the isolated DNA with labelled protein, RNA, S-adenosyl-l-ethionine or l-ethionine was obtained. 2. After acidic hydrolysis of the DNA isolated from the livers of rats treated with labelled l-ethionine, virtually all of the radioactivity present in the DNA was found in a fraction with similar chromatographic properties to 7-ethylguanine. 3. Treatment of rats with comparable doses of l-methionine did not lead to the formation of 7-methylguanine in the liver DNA. 4. These results are discussed in relation to the induction of liver tumours by ethionine.

Alkylation↗

The effect of ethionine on ribonucleic acid synthesis in rat liver.

1. By 1h after administration of ethionine to the female rat the appearance of newly synthesized 18SrRNA in the cytoplasm is completely inhibited. This is not caused by inhibition of RNA synthesis, for the synthesis of the large ribosomal precursor RNA (45S) and of tRNA continues. Cleavage of 45S RNA to 32S RNA also occurs, but there was no evidence for the accumulation of mature or immature rRNA in the nucleus. 2. The effect of ethionine on the maturation of rRNA was not mimicked by an inhibitor of protein synthesis (cycloheximide) or an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis [methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone)]. 3. Unlike the ethionine-induced inhibition of protein synthesis, this effect was not prevented by concurrent administration of inosine. A similar effect could be induced in HeLa cells by incubation for 1h in a medium lacking methionine. The ATP concentration in these cells was normal. From these two observations it was concluded that the effect of etionine on rRNA maturation is not caused by an ethionine-induced lack of ATP. It is suggested that ethionine, by lowering the hepatic concentration of S-adenosylmethionine, prevents methylation of the ribosomal precursor. The methylation is essential for the correct maturation of the molecule; without methylation complete degradation occurs.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effect of d,l-ethionine administration on the histomorphology of canine pancreatic acinar and beta-cells.

d,l-Ethionine produces pancreatic exocrine necrosis and islet proliferation in hamsters and dogs. As a first step in examining whether induction of islet proliferation has therapeutic applications in animals with exhausted or destroyed insulin-producing beta-cells, we studied pancreatic pathological alterations after intravenous administration of d,l-ethionine in normal dogs. Histomorphological changes in pancreatic acinar cells and beta-cells were assessed in three groups of six clinically normal crossbred dogs administered d,l-ethionine (100 mg/ kg) intravenously three times a week for two weeks. Six additional dogs served as untreated controls. Group I was euthanased and necropsied on day 15 (72 hours after the final dose of ethionine). Groups II and III were euthanased on days 29 and 43 respectively. Severe acinar destruction occurred resulting in significant (p < 0.001) shrinkage of the pancreas in all groups. Although there was variability in histomorphology within groups, pancreases of group I generally exhibited widespread loss of pancreatic acinar structure. Remaining acinar cells were difficult to discern from other cell types within lobules and were surrounded by infiltrates, predominantly of lymphocytes. Partial acinar cellular regeneration had occurred by day 29, but was still incomplete at day 43. Immunohistochemistry suggested that the effect of d,l-ethionine administration on the histomorphology of beta-cells in the left lobe was minimal; however, morphometry demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the number of individual beta-cells in groups II and III, and clusters of 2-10, 10-20 and 20+ cells in Group II. It is probable that the apparent increase in the number of individual and other beta-cell arrangements observed in some groups resulted primarily from alterations in the exocrine tissue, although some beta-cell hyperplasia cannot be excluded completely.

Animals↗

The degenerative changes in pancreatic acinar cells caused by DL-ethionine.

Degeneration of pancreatic acinar cells in rats injected with ethionine was studied by electron microscopy. The most conspicuous morphologic lesions occurred in the ergastoplasm. There was a widening of the endoplasmic reticulum, a decrease in number of membrane-associated ribosomes, and a development of fine and coarse vacuoles containing agranular disoriented membranes. Cytoplasmic ribosomes unassociated with membranes were less numerous. Nuclear changes consisted of a coarsening and clumping of the nuclear chromatin, chromatin margination, and increased osmiophilia and vacuolation of the nucleolus. Eight to ten days after the beginning of ethionine injections, changes in zymogen granules, mitochondria, and the Golgi apparatus appeared, but only after extensive damage to the acinar cell. The effects were consistent with ethionine's known interference with protein metabolism but also suggest disturbance in ribonucleic acid metabolism. The ergastoplasmic changes after ethionine were similar in some respects to the early lesions produced in liver parenchymal cells by fasting, to the changes occurring in animals on protein-free diets, or to some of the liver changes produced by azo dye carcinogens. The ribosomal and ergastoplasmic changes represent early morphologic expressions of the biochemical effect of ethionine.

Acinar Cells↗

A dominant negative effect of eth-1r, a mutant allele of the Neurospora crassa S-adenosylmethionine synthetase-encoding gene conferring resistance to the methionine toxic analogue ethionine.

eth-1r, a thermosensitive allele of the Neurospora crassa S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase gene that confers ethionine resistance, has been cloned and sequenced. Replacement of an aspartic amino acid residue (D48-->N48), perfectly conserved in prokaryotic, fungal and higher eukaryotic AdoMet synthetases, was found responsible for both thermosensitivity and ethionine resistance conferred by eth-1r. Gene fusion constructs, designed to overexpress eth-1r in vivo, render transformant cells resistant to ethionine. Dominance of ethionine resistance was further demonstrated in eth-1+/eth-1r partial diploids carrying identical gene doses of both alleles. Heterozygous eth-1+/eth-1r cells have, at the same time, both the thermotolerance conferred by eth-1+ and the ethionine-resistant phenotype conferred by eth-1r. AdoMet levels and AdoMet synthetase activities were dramatically decreased in heterozygous eth-1+/ eth-1r cells. We propose that this negative effect exerted by eth-1r results from the in vivo formation of heteromeric eth-1+/eth-1r AdoMet synthetase molecules.

Alleles↗

Effect of dietary DL-ethionine on egg laying and activities of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases in liver and kidney of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica.

The effect of dietary DL-ethionine on egg laying and activities of succinate dehydrogenases, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, in liver and kidney of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica was investigated. When quail at full laying were fed a diet supplemented with DL-ethionine at 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.30% (w/w), respectively, apparent DL-ethionine concentration dependent inhibitions of egg laying rate, weights of ovary and oviduct, and egg weight were observed. At the 0.30% level, activity per g tissue of cytoplasmic L-glygerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from liver and kidney decreased to about one-half of the initial activity. A significant difference in the activity of mitochondrial L-glycerol 3-phosphate and succinate dehydrogenase from liver and kidney was obtained between the control and the DL-ethionine fed quail, respectively. These results indicated that dietary DL-ethionine inhibits egg laying and activities of L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases and succinate dehydrogenase of both liver and kidney of Japanese quail.

Animals↗