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Glucuronidation of diflunisal by rat liver microsomes. Effect of microsomal beta-glucuronidase activity.

The in vitro formation rates of the phenolic (DPG) and acyl (DAG) glucuronides of diflunisal were investigated using rat liver microsomes. Preliminary studies showed that DAG hydrolysed rapidly (T1/2 = 12 min) when incubated in the presence of rat liver microsomes at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees. DPG was much more stable under the same conditions (T1/2 = 35 hr). Hydrolysis of DAG and DPG by rat liver microsomes was inhibited by 4 mM saccharolactone, a beta-glucuronidase inhibitor. The apparent Km and Vmax values for the formation of DAG in the absence and presence of 4 mM D-saccharic acid-1,4-lactone (saccharolactone) were the following: Km = 0.05 +/- 0.02 vs 0.08 +/- 0.02 mM and Vmax = 0.20 +/- 0.06 vs 0.43 +/- 0.07 nmol/min/mg protein (0 and 4 mM saccharolactone, respectively). The significant increase in apparent Vmax for DAG formation in the presence of saccharolactone can be explained by the inhibition of beta-glucuronidase-catalysed hydrolysis of DAG. Apparent Km and Vmax values for the formation rate of DPG were not affected by addition of saccharolactone to the incubation medium. These results indicate that beta-glucuronidase-catalysed hydrolysis of certain glucuronides formed during microsomal incubations may significantly affect the apparent glucuronidation rate due to the presence of a glucuronidation-deglucuronidation cycle.

Animals↗

Characterization of tannic acid metabolites formed in vitro by rat liver microsomes and assay of their carcinogenicity by the microsomal degranulation technique.

Tannic acid is converted to four metabolites on incubation with isolated rat liver microsomes. Bis-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)methanone (I); 3,4,6,7,9,10-hexahydroxy-2,11-epoxy-1,12-(epoxy-methano)-14H , 16H-benzo[b](1,4)benzodioxepino [3,2-g](1,4)benzodioxepin-14,16,17-trione (II) and 1,1,2-trimethyl-1-ethanyl-2-ylidene tris(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) (III) were isolated from the post-microsomal supernatant of the incubate while 6,12,18,26,27,29,31,33-octahydroxy-22,22-dimethyl-2,8,14,20-tet raoxapentacyclo (22.2.2.2(4,7).2(10,13).2(16,19) tetratriaconta-4,6,10,12,16,18,24,26,27,29,31,33-dodecene-3, 9,15,21,23-pentone (IV) was found attached with the microsomal fraction. Metabolite (III) was found to be a potential carcinogen on the basis of microsomal degranulation technique.

Animals↗

Microsomal glutathione transferase 1 is not S-nitrosylated in rat liver microsomes or in endotoxin challenged rats.

In vitro activation of purified rat microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) by S-nitrosylation has been recently reported. This study was designated to explore its in vivo relevance. Unexpectedly, we failed to detect S-nitrosylated MGST1 in rat liver microsomes treated with S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO); neither did we observe MGST1 S-nitrosylation in endotoxin challenged rats. However, by using matrix-assisted laser dissociation/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), we identified several other proteins which are susceptible to S-nitrosylation in liver microsomes, including retinol dehydrogenase type I (RODH I), aldolase B, cytochrome P4502C11, and peroxiredoxin 1. Our results suggest that MGST1 S-nitrosylation is unlikely to be involved in the protection mechanism against nitrosative stress caused by endotoxin challenge. Further studies on the novel S-nitrosylable microsomal proteins are also warranted.

Animals↗

Hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in the koala and tammar wallaby: high 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity in koala liver microsomes.

We have studied the hepatic microsomal xenobiotic metabolising capacity of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Total cytochrome P450 content in hepatic microsomes from koala (0.87 +/- 0.18 nmol/mg protein, n = 4, mean (S.D.) and rat were comparable while tammar wallaby displayed reduced P450 content (0.24 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg protein). Associated microsomal activities (NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, aminopyrine N-demethylation, aniline hydroxylation, and androstenedione 6beta- and 16alpha-hydroxylation) in koala liver were similar to or reduced relative to rat. Hepatic microsomal NADPH-supported 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (17beta-HSOR) activity was significantly higher in koala (9.99+/-3.08 nmol/mg protein/min) than in tammar wallaby liver (0.86 +/- 0.16 nmol/mg protein/min). However, when NADH was utilised as cofactor the activity was similar in both marsupial species (koala, 1.44 +/- 0.84 nmol/mg protein/min; tammar wallaby, 1.52 +/- 0.44 nmol/mg protein/min). Michaelis-Menten parameters for the kinetics of 17beta-HSOR androstenedione reduction by NADPH and NADH were determined in the koala. The Km for androstenedione was of the order of 1.9-4 microM (n = 4) irrespective of the cofactor used, whilst the Km for NADPH was 0.04-0.05 microM (n = 2) and for NADH was 134-430 microM (n = 2). Potential inhibitors were evaluated for their effects on NADPH-mediated 17beta-HSOR activity with menadione and, to lesser extents, menthone, benzaldehyde and metyrapone eliciting significant inhibition. From detailed kinetic studies menthone was found to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of the activity in koala liver (Ki 220 microM).

Animals↗

Activation of microsomal glutathione S-transferase and inhibition of cytochrome P450 1A1 activity as a model system for detecting protein alkylation by thiourea-containing compounds in rat liver microsomes.

The recent development of several promising new thiourea-containing drugs has renewed interest in the thiourea functionality as a potential toxicophore. Most adverse reactions of thiourea-containing compounds are attributed to the thionocarbonyl moiety. Oxidation of these thionocarbonyl compounds by flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO) and cytochrome P450 isoenzymes (P450) to reactive sulfenic, sulfinic, or sulfonic acids leads to alkylation of essential macromolecules. To more rationally design thiourea-containing drugs, structure-toxicity relationships (STRs) must be derived. Since for the development of STRs a large number of thiourea-containing compounds must be investigated, it is important to develop rapid in vitro assays for alkylating potential. In this study, the utility of activation of microsomal glutathione S-transferase (mGST) and inactivation of P450 1A1 as markers of the alkylating potential of metabolites of thiourea-containing compounds was investigated. It was found that metabolites of thiourea-containing compounds inactivate P450 1A1 in a time-dependent manner, as evidenced by a decrease in 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation (EROD) activity. An extent of inactivation of P450 1A1 by 100 microM N-phenylthiourea (PTU) of 64% was found after 10 min. This inactivation was dependent on the presence of NADPH and the presence of the thionosulfur, since the carbonyl analogue of PTU was not found to inactivate P450 1A1, and was partially prevented by heat treatment of the microsomes which is known to selectively inactivate FMO enzymes. Inactivation of P450 1A1 could be reversed by treatment with dithiothreitol, indicating the formation of disulfide bonds. However, thiourea-containing compounds also inhibited the EROD activity of P450 1A1 in a competitive manner. This property complicates the usefulness of the EROD activity of P450 1A1 as a marker for the alkylating potential of thiourea-containing compounds. It was found that metabolites of thiourea-containing compounds could transiently activate the mGST. A maximal level of activation by 100 microM PTU of 162+/-16% was found after 10 min. Activation of mGST by 100 microM PTU was dependent on the presence of NADPH and the presence of the thionosulfur, since the carbonyl analogue of PTU was not found to activate mGST. Activation was completely prevented by heat treatment of the microsomes, indicating involvement of FMO in the bioactivation process. Finally, a series of structurally diverse thiourea-containing compounds were tested for their ability to activate mGST. It appeared that their potency in alkylating mGST was inversely related to their Vmax/Km value for the FMO enzyme. From this study, it is concluded that, whereas activation of mGST in rat liver microsomes may be a useful system with which to investigate the relationship between structure and alkylating potential of thiourea-containing compounds in vitro, inactivation of P450 1A1 is not.

Alkylation↗

Studies on the mechanism of hepatic microsomal N-oxide formation. N-oxidation of NN-dimethylaniline by a reconstituted rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-448 enzyme system.

The N-oxidation of NN-dimethylaniline was studied by using a reconstituted rabbit liver microsomal enzyme system consisting of highly purified cytochrome P-448, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and lipid factor. Both cytochrome P-448 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase were required for optimum N-oxygenating activity; the catalytic capacity of the reductase fraction for supporting N-oxide formation varied with the isolation procedure applied. Addition of microsomal lipids to the assay media stimulated N-oxidation of the arylamine. N-Oxide formation appeared to be not generally controlled by electron transfer from cytochrome b5 to cytochrome P-448. The present work confirms that cytochrome P-448 can mediate about 44% of the rabbit liver microsomal N-oxidation of NN-dimethylaniline, thus reinforcing the existence of at least two distinct tertiary amine N-oxidases, i.e. haemoprotein and flavoprotein oxidase, in liver microsomal fractions.

Aniline Compounds↗

The activity of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein is essential for accumulation of triglyceride within microsomes in McA-RH7777 cells. A unified model for the assembly of very low density lipoproteins.

Previously, based on distinct requirement of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and kinetics of triglyceride (TG) utilization, we concluded that assembly of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) containing B48 or B100 was achieved through different paths (Wang, Y. , McLeod, R. S., and Yao, Z. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 12272-12278). To test if the apparent dual mechanisms were accounted for by apolipoprotein B (apoB) length, we studied VLDL assembly using transfected cells expressing various apoB forms (e.g. B64, B72, B80, and B100). For each apoB, enlargement of lipoprotein to form VLDL via bulk TG incorporation was induced by exogenous oleate, which could be blocked by MTP inhibitor BMS-197636 treatment. While particle enlargement was readily demonstrable by density ultracentrifugation for B64- and B72-VLDL, it was not obvious for B80- and B100-VLDL unless the VLDL was further resolved by cumulative rate flotation into VLDL(1) (S(f) > 100) and VLDL(2) (S(f) 20-100). BMS-197636 diminished B100 secretion in a dose-dependent manner (0.05-0.5 microM) and also blocked the particle enlargement from small to large B100-lipoproteins. These results yield a unified model that can accommodate VLDL assembly with all apoB forms, which invalidates our previous conclusion. To gain a better understanding of the MTP action, we examined the effect of BMS-197636 on lipid and apoB synthesis during VLDL assembly. While BMS-197636 (0.2 microM) entirely abolished B100-VLDL(1) assembly/secretion, it did not affect B100 translation or translocation across the microsomal membrane, nor did it affect TG synthesis and cell TG mass. However, BMS-197636 drastically decreased accumulation of [(3)H]glycerol-labeled TG and TG mass within microsomal lumen. The decreased TG accumulation was not a result of impaired B100-VLDL assembly, because in cells treated with brefeldin A (0.2 microgram/ml), the assembly of B100-VLDL was blocked yet lumenal TG accumulation was normal. Thus, MTP plays a role in facilitating accumulation of TG within microsomes, a prerequisite for the post-translational assembly of TG-enriched VLDL.

Animals↗

Biogenesis of microsomal membrane glycoproteins in rat liver. I. Presence of glycoproteins in microsomes and cytosol.

The glycoproteins of microsomes and cytosol were studied. Various washing procedures did not release the proteins from the microsomes, and immunological tests demonstrated that the sialoproteins are not serum components. Low concentrations of deoxycholate and incubation in 0.25 M sucrose solution liberated a small amount of microsomal sialoprotein and this fraction exhibited a high degree of labeling of protein-bound N-acetylneuraminic acid. A part of the glycoprotein fraction could not be solubilized, even with a high concentration of the detergent. Thoroughly perfused rat liver contained sialoproteins in the particle-free supernate. The level of sialoprotein present could not be due to contamination with serum or broken organelles. The high in vivo incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into protein-bound sialic acid of Golgi membranes and cytosol was paralleled by a delayed and lesser rate of incorporation into the rough and smooth microsomal membranes. This incorporation pattern suggests the possibility that the glycoproteins of cytosol and Golgi may later be incorporated into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Proteins of rough microsomal membranes related to ribosome binding. I. Identification of ribophorins I and II, membrane proteins characteristics of rough microsomes.

Rat liver rough microsomes (RM) contain two integral membrane proteins which are not found in smooth microsomes (SM) and appear to be related to the presence of ribosome-binding sites. These proteins, of molecular weight 65,000 and 63,000, were designated ribophorins I and II, respectively. They were not released from the microsomal membranes by alkali or acid treatment, or when the ribosomes were detached by incubation with puromycin in a high salt medium. The anionic detergent sodium deoxycholate caused solubilization of the ribophorins, but neutral detergents led to their recovery with the sedimentable ribosomes. Ribosomal aggregates containing both ribophorins, but few other membrane proteins, were obtained from RM treated with the nonionic detergent Kyro EOB (2.5 X10(-2) M) in a low ionic strength medium. Sedimentation patterns produced by these aggregates resembled those of large polysomes but were not affected by RNase treatment. The aggregates, however, were dispersed by mild trypsinization (10 microgram trypsin for 30 min at 0 degrees C), incubation with deoxycholate, or in a medium of high salt concentration. These treatments led to a concomitant degradation or release of the ribophorins. It was estimated, from the staining intensity of protein bands in acrylamide gels, that in the Kyro EOB aggregates there were one to two molecules of each ribophorin per ribosome. Sedimentable complexes without ribosomes containing both ribophorins could also be obtained by dissolving RM previously stripped of ribosomes by puromycin-KCl using cholate, a milder detergent than DOC. Electron microscope examination of the residue obtained from RM treated with Kyro EOB showed that the rapidly sedimenting polysome-like aggregates containing the ribophorins consisted of groups of tightly packed ribosomes which were associated with remnants of the microsomal membranes.

Animals↗

Studies on the interactions between phospholipids and membrane-bound enzymes in microsomes. Effects of phospholipases C on kinetic properties of the glucose-6-phosphatase system in rat liver microsomes.

Through kinetic analysis, the relationships between the glucose-6-phosphatase system and constituent phospholipids were studied in rat liver microsomes. When phosphoglycerides such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine on the microsomal membrane were hydrolyzed by phospholipase C of C. perfringens, the activities of glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase and glucose-6-P:glucose phosphotransferase both decreased with or without subsequent exposure to taurocholate. In these cases, the Michaelis constants (Km) for glucose-6-P were increased, concomitant with the decrease in the maximal velocities (Vmax) for glucose-6-P hydrolysis. On exposure to taurocholate, the apparent Km for glucose of phosphotransferase was decreased. When phosphatidylinositol was hydrolyzed by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of B. thuringiensis, the activities of phosphohydrolase and phosphotransferase were both decreased on exposure to taurocholate. In this case, the value of Vmax of phosphohydrolase was decreased and that of Km for glucose-6-P was slightly decreased, while the apparent Km for glucose of phosphotransferase was increased. Without exposure to detergent, the activities of phosphohydrolase and phosphotransferase both decreased at glucose-6-P concentrations higher than 10 mM. However, at a concentration lower than 1 mM, the activity of phosphohydrolase became higher than that of the control, and Vmax and Km for glucose-6-P were decreased. A similar tendency was also observed in microsomes where membranous phosphatidylinositol was hydrolyzed, when they were treated with DIDS (an anion-transport inhibitor). From these results, it is concluded that the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase is greatly influenced by changes of the phospholipids on the microsomal membrane, and the activity of glucose-6-P translocase is stimulated by the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol.

Animals↗

Interaction of pyrazole and 4-methylpyrazole with hepatic microsomes: effect on cytochrome P-450 content, microsomal oxidation of alcohols, and binding spectra.

Microsomes isolated from rats treated with either pyrazole or 4-methylpyrazole, potent inhibitors of alcohol dehydrogenase, catalyzed the oxidation of ethanol and 2-butanol at rates 2-3-fold higher than saline controls. Time course experiments and dose-response experiments indicated that an increase in the microsomal oxidation of alcohols could be observed 24 hr after a single treatment with 200 mg/kg body weight of either pyrazole or 4-methylpyrazole, and after 2 or 3 days of treatment with 50 mg/kg of either of these compounds. The pyrazole treatment did not change the activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, the content of cytochrome P-450, or the oxidation of aminopyrine. Hence, microsomal oxidation of alcohols was increased by the pyrazole treatment whether results were expressed "per mg of protein" or "per nmol of P-450." Microsomes from the pyrazole-treated rats displayed an increase in binding spectrum with ethanol as the substrate as compared to controls, as well as type 2 binding spectrum with dimethyl sulfoxide and 2-butanol. These results suggest the possibility that pyrazole may induce an alcohol-preferring P-450 isozyme. By contrast, the 4-methylpyrazole treatment, besides increasing the oxidation of alcohols, also increased the oxidation of aminopyrine and the content of cytochrome P-450. The increase in the oxidation of alcohols and aminopyrine was primarily due to the increase in content of P-450 produced by the 4-methylpyrazole treatment. Binding spectra with dimethyl sulfoxide and 2-butanol were also observed after 4-methylpyrazole treatment; however, the 2-butanol-binding spectrum was a modified type 1 spectrum, not type 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcohols↗

Structural analysis of CYP2C9 and CYP2C5 and an evaluation of commonly used molecular modeling techniques.

This work had two separate aims: to evaluate different modeling techniques and to make a detailed structural characterization of CYP2C9. To achieve these goals, the consensus principal component analysis (CPCA) technique and distance measurements were used to explore available crystal structures, newly built homology models, and repeated molecular dynamics simulations. The CPCA was based on molecular interaction fields focused on the active site regions of the proteins and include detailed amino acid analysis. The comparison of the CYP2C9 and CYP2C5 crystal structures revealed differences in the flexible regions such as the B-C and F-G loop and the N and C termini. Cross homology models of CYP2C9 and CYP2C5, using their respective crystal structures as templates, indicated that such models were more similar to their templates than to their target proteins. Inclusion of multiple templates slightly improved the similarity to the crystal target in some cases and could be recommended even though it requires a careful manual alignment process. The application of molecular dynamics simulations to highly flexible proteins such as cytochromes P450 is also explored and the information is extracted by the CPCA. Advantages and drawbacks are presented for the different modeling techniques. Despite the varying modeling success, the models give insight and understanding by the mutual forming and discarding of hypotheses. This is a dynamic process since the crystal structures are improving with time and, therefore, the answers to the models are also changing accordingly.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Determination of the characteristics, properties and homogeneity of rat brain microsomes. Binding of lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and 5' nucleotidase to microsomal membranes.

Quantitatively, the amount of microsomes obtained using dimethyl sulfoxide is larger than that obtained from sucrose solutions (Centelles, Franco & Bozal (1986) Biol. Chem. Hoppe Seyler 367, 461-475). In this paper it is demonstrated that from a qualitative point of view they appeared to be indistinguishable with respect to molecular characteristics. Thus, both types of microsomes had the same behaviour in experiments of isopicnic ultracentrifugation with Percoll, isoelectric focusing and gel permeation. In these experiments, the 5'-nucleotidase, lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activities bound to the microsomal fraction were also studied. Lactate and malate dehydrogenase activities were always found in free and membrane-bound form. In contrast, 5'-nucleotidase activity was always encountered bound to microsomal membranes.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Oxidative metabolism of 1-nitropyrene by rabbit liver microsomes and purified microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes.

Rabbit liver (male) microsomal metabolism of 10 microM [4,5,9,10-3H]-1-nitropyrene (1NP) was investigated. The total metabolism was not appreciably different with rates of 4.44 +/- 0.45, 3.98 +/- 0.19, 3.90 +/- 0.16, and 3.75 +/- 0.27 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively, for microsomes from phenobarbital, Aroclor-1254, ethanol-treated, and untreated rabbits. However, a more noticeable difference was found in the formation of specific metabolites. Phenobarbital treatment induced changes which favored 1-nitropyrene-3-ol formation, and Aroclor-1254 and ethanol-induced changes which favored 1-nitropyren-6-ol and 1-nitropyren-8-ol formation. 1NP was incubated with untreated microsomes and alpha-naphthoflavone, an inhibitor of rabbit cytochrome P-450 form 6 at low concentrations (less than 1 microM), and an activator of form 3c at high concentrations. The presence of alpha-naphthoflavone changed the profile of metabolites while not affecting the total metabolism. Using purified isozymes of rabbit P-450, we found the constitutive form 3b metabolized 1NP at the highest rate with a catalytic activity of 26.8 nmol/min/nmol P-450. Forms 2 and 6 exhibited rates of 2 and 2.2 nmol/min/nmol P-450. Forms 3a, 3c, and 4 had rates about 50- to 300-fold lower than form 3b. High performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the metabolites when the incubations were carried out in the presence of purified rabbit epoxide hydrolase. With form 6, 54% of the metabolites were accounted for as 1-nitropyren-3-ol, while with form 3b, 73% of the metabolites were 1-nitropyren-6-ol and 1-nitropyren-8-ol. The K-region dihydrodiols were formed by forms 2 and 3b, but not by forms 3c or 6. These results demonstrate that 1NP is a preferential substrate for form 3b, and that a preponderance of the metabolism with untreated rabbit liver microsomes can be attributed to this isozyme.

Animals↗

Effects of carbonyl compounds (4-hydroxyalkenals) originating from the peroxidation of liver microsomal lipids on various microsomal enzyme activities of the liver.

Carbonyl compounds released during the NADPH-Fe dependent peroxidation of liver microsomal lipids and identified as 4-hydroxyalkenals (almost entirely as 4-hydroxynonenal) while inhibiting microsomal enzymes (such as glucose 6-phosphatase and aminopyrine demethylase) which are affected by lipid peroxidation, have no effect on microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The latter enzyme activity is unaffected (or even increased) when liver microsomes are allowed to peroxidize in the NADPH-Fe dependent system. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, contrary to the other enzymes, is similarly unaffected after CCl4 poisoning, that is in a situation in which peroxidation of membrane lipids of liver endoplasmic reticulum has been unequivocally demonstrated. It appears therefore that the effects exherted by lipid peroxidation or by 4-hydroxyalkenals originating from lipid peroxidation parallel the effects of CCl4 intoxication in vivo.

Aldehydes↗

N-hydroxylation of the antiprotozoal drug pentamidine catalyzed by rabbit liver cytochrome P-450 2C3 or human liver microsomes, microsomal retroreduction, and further oxidative transformation of the formed amidoximes. Possible relationship to the biological oxidation of arginine to NG-hydroxyarginine, citrulline, and nitric oxide.

Previous investigations have shown that the antiprotozoal drug pentamidine is N-hydroxylated by rabbit and rat liver microsomal fractions. Indirect evidence for the participation of the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system was obtained. In this study, rabbit liver cytochrome P-450 2C3 is shown by reconstitution experiments with highly purified variants of P-450 2C3 isolated from rabbit liver and purified variants of P-450 2C3 expressed by recombinant Escherichia coli to be a microsomal pentamidine N-hydroxylase. The two variants, P-450 2C3 (6 beta H) and P-450 2C3 (6 beta L), are equally efficient for the formation of the monoamidoxime derivative of pentamidine. N-hydroxypentamidine is further oxidized to the respective amide by reconstituted rabbit liver P-450 enzyme systems involving the oxidase and peroxidase activities of this enzyme. Formation of nitric oxide [(NO); endothelium-derived relaxing factor] during this oxidation is shown by the detection of the cytochrome P-420-Fe(II)-NO complex by visible difference spectroscopy. The possibility for the N-hydroxylation of pentamidine to the corresponding amidoximes and subsequent oxidative conversion to the respective amide derivatives is comparable with the physiological transformation of arginine to citrulline via N-hydroxyarginine with liberation of NO (endothelium-derived relaxing factor). The N-hydroxylated derivatives of pentamidine are easily retroreduced by microsomal fractions from rabbit liver. NADH is preferred to NADPH as cofactor for this reduction, and the reaction is strongly suppressed by the addition of N-methylylhydroxylamine. The N-hydroxylation of pentamidine and the retroreduction are also catalyzed by human liver microsomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Acetohexamide reductase activities in liver microsomes and cytosol of cisplatin-treated male rats: cisplatin indirectly modulates the microsomal enzyme activity.

Treatment with cisplatin, at a dose of 7.2 mg/kg body weight, caused a significant decrease of acetohexamide reductase activity in liver microsomes of male rats at 4 and 7 days after its treatment; this dose of cisplatin has been reported to decrease testosterone levels in serum of male rats. However, the treatment with cisplatin could not decrease acetohexamide reductase activity in liver cytosol of male rats at the days tested. Although acetohexamide reductase activity in liver microsomes of male rats, as described above, was decreased by the treatment with cisplatin, the decreased microsomal enzyme activity was nearly restored when testosterone propionate was given once daily for 7 days after cisplatin treatment. Based on these results, it is reasonable to postulate that cisplatin indirectly decreases the microsomal enzyme activity which is regulated by androgens, by causing a significant decrease of the testosterone level in serum of male rats.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Purification and characterization of human placental microsomal aminopeptidase: immunological difference between placental microsomal aminopeptidase and pregnancy serum cystyl-aminopeptidase.

Human placental microsomal aminopeptidase (microsomal PAP) was purified 3,880-fold from human placenta and characterized. The enzyme was solubilized from membrane fractions with Triton X-100 and also trypsin digestion, and subjected to zinc sulfate fractionation, chromatographies with DE-52, hydroxylapatite, Sephacryl S-300 and lentil lectin-Sepharose 4B, and finally affinity chromatography with bestatin-Sepharose 4B. Microsomal PAP was separated from aminopeptidase A (AAP) by affinity chromatography. The apparent relative molecular mass (Mr) of the enzyme was estimated to be 220,000 by high-performance liquid chromatography with an aqueous gel column. The purified enzyme gave almost a single band with a molecular mass of 140,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 5.2. The purified enzyme was most active at pH 8.0 with L-leucine-p-nitroanilide as substrate; the Km value for this substrate was 1.1 mmol/l. The microsomal PAP was immunologically different from the pregnancy serum cystyl aminopeptidase (serum PAP).

Aminopeptidases↗