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Pseudo-inhibitors of neutrophil superoxide production: evidence that soybean-derived polypeptides are superoxide dismutases.

We have previously reported the purification of polypeptides from soybean which are potent inhibitors of superoxide production by human neutrophils. We now report that neither oxygen uptake nor hydrogen peroxide production by stimulated neutrophils is affected by these inhibitors. Furthermore, the E-1 and E-3 polypeptides inhibit ferricytochrome c reduction by a xanthine oxidase superoxide generation system. The inhibitory activity of E-3 in the model system is blocked by 1 mM KCN while E-1 is only slightly cyanide sensitive. Atomic absorption analysis of E-1 and E-3 polypeptides reveal copper in the latter and manganese in the former. Thus, E-3 is a copper-containing superoxide dismutase while E-1 appears to be a manganese-containing superoxide dismutase.

Copper↗

Superoxide anion generated by potassium superoxide is cytotoxic and mutagenic to chinese hamster ovary cells.

Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro were exposed to superoxide anion (O2-) generated by the addition of potassium superoxide (KO2) to the cell culture media. It was determined that 2 nmoles O2- per ml media resulted in approximately 50% cell mortality. The number of 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants was also increased in a dose-related fashion. Both these effects of KO2 were inhibitable by the prior addition of superoxide dismutase, indicating that superoxide anion is cytotoxic and genotoxic in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

Generation of superoxide radicals in alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide and the effect of superoxide dismutase on this system.

Superoxide radicals in high concentrations were generated from alkaline H2O2 without using catalysts or irradiation. The dependence of the intensity and parameters of the superoxide radical EPR spectrum on pH, temperature, viscosity and H2O2 concentration were studied. The observed changes are explained on the base of matrix effects. The addition of superoxide dismutase to alkaline H2O2 led initially to a drop in the EPR spectrum intensity, followed by an increase in the concentration of superoxide radicals.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Tyrosine nitration by superoxide and nitric oxide fluxes in biological systems: modeling the impact of superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide diffusion.

Tyrosine nitration is a posttranslational modification observed in many pathologic states that can be associated with peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation. However, in vitro, peroxynitrite-dependent tyrosine nitration is inhibited when its precursors, superoxide (O(2)*(-)) and nitric oxide ((*)NO), are formed at ratios (O(2)*(-)/(*)NO) different from one, severely questioning the use of 3-nitrotyrosine as a biomarker of peroxynitrite-mediated oxidations. We herein hypothesize that in biological systems the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the facile transmembrane diffusion of (*)NO preclude accumulation of O(2)*(-) and (*)NO radicals under flux ratios different from one, preventing the secondary reactions that result in the inhibition of 3-nitrotyrosine formation. Using an array of reactions and kinetic constants, computer-assisted simulations were performed in order to assess the flux of 3-nitrotyrosine formation (J(NO(2(-))Y)) during exposure to simultaneous fluxes of superoxide (J(O(2)*(-))) and nitric oxide (J((*)NO)), varying the radical flux ratios (J(O(2)*(-))/ J((*)NO)), in the presence of carbon dioxide. With a basic set of reactions, J(NO(2(-))Y) as a function of radical flux ratios rendered a bell-shape profile, in complete agreement with previous reports. However, when superoxide dismutation by SOD and (*)NO decay due to diffusion out of the compartment were incorporated in the model, a quite different profile of J(NO(2(-))Y) as a function of the radical flux ratio was obtained: despite the fact that nitration yields were much lower, the bell-shape profile was lost and the extent of tyrosine nitration was responsive to increases in either O(2)*(-) or (*)NO, in agreement with in vivo observations. Thus, the model presented herein serves to reconcile the in vitro and in vivo evidence on the role of peroxynitrite in promoting tyrosine nitration.

Catalysis↗

Conditional knockout of Mn superoxide dismutase in postnatal motor neurons reveals resistance to mitochondrial generated superoxide radicals.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. Mice deficient in the mitochondrial form of superoxide dismutase (SOD2) die during embryonic or early postnatal development, precluding analysis of a pathological role for superoxide in adult tissue. Here, we generated postnatal motor neuron-specific SOD2 knockouts by crossing mice with floxed SOD2 alleles to VAChT-Cre transgenic mice in which Cre expression is restricted to postnatal somatomotor neurons. SOD2 immunoreactivity was specifically lost in a subset of somatomotor neurons resulting in enhanced superoxide production. Yet extensive histological examination revealed no signs of oxidative damage in animals up to 1 year after birth. However, disorganization of distal nerve axons following injury was accelerated in SOD2-deficient motor neurons. These data demonstrate that postnatal motor neurons are surprisingly resistant to oxidative damage from mitochondrial-derived superoxide radicals, but that such damage may sensitize axons to disorganization following nerve injury.

Animals↗

Catalytic pathway of manganese superoxide dismutase by direct observation of superoxide.

Measurement of catalysis by MnSOD using direct observation of the UV absorbance of superoxide allows determination of steady-state catalytic constants. Stabilizing superoxide in aprotic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide permits the use of stopped-flow spectrophotometry, although significant information is lost in the 2- to 4-msec mixing time; generating superoxide by pulse radiolysis requires no mixing time. Studies show that kcat/Km for the decay of superoxide catalyzed by MnSOD proceeds at diffusion control. Investigations using solvent hydrogen isotope effects and enhancement of catalysis by exogenous proton donors show that kcat near 10(4) sec-1 contains a significant contribution from proton transfer steps. The active site of MnSOD is dominated by a hydrogen bond network comprising the manganese-bound aqueous ligand, the side chains of four residues (Gln-143, Tyr-34, His-30, and Tyr-166 from an adjacent subunit), as well as other water molecules. Interrupting this hydrogen bond network by conservative replacement of residues 30, 34, and 166 causes a 10- to 40-fold decrease in maximal velocity, interpreted as an effect on proton transport to the active site, with smaller effects on kcat/Km. Replacement of Gln-143 causes a much greater decrease in catalytic activity, by two to three orders of magnitude, and causes significant changes to the redox potential as well. During catalysis, MnSOD is inhibited by a peroxide complex of the metal in the active site, different from the inhibition of FeSOD and Cu,ZnSOD by Fenton chemistry. Site-specific mutagenesis of active-site residues alters the extent of product inhibition of MnSOD as well, indicating that this is not only a property of the metal. The replacement of Trp-161 with phenylalanine results in a variant that is completely blocked in catalysis by product inhibition.

Catalysis↗

Superoxide-superoxide oxidoreductase activity of the captopril-copper complex.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the interaction of captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, with copper could modify the superoxide dismutase activity of this metal. Results may help to explain the interaction of captopril with reactive oxygen species in the stunned myocardium where substantial mobilization of copper and iron in the coronary flow following ischemia has been reported. METHODS: An assay that generates superoxide anion radicals without the intervention of metal ions was utilized. In addition, direct EPR analysis was applied to assess the redox state of copper during reactions. RESULTS: Captopril-copper complex inhibited the superoxide-mediated reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. In addition, captopril-copper complex was able to suppress formazan production by potassium superoxide. Direct EPR analysis showed that copper was reduced to the cuprous state by captopril and remained in this state in the course of the reaction. Captopril was also stable during the dismutation reaction. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that cuprous-captopril complex is a catalytic species with properties different from those of Cu(2+) alone. A model in which sulfur acts as electron acceptor/donor in place of the metal is proposed and a mechanism of action for this complex is discussed.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Induction of peroxide and superoxide protective enzymes and physiological cross-protection against peroxide killing by a superoxide generator in Vibrio harveyi.

Vibrio harveyi is a causative agent of destructive luminous vibriosis in farmed black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon). V. harveyi peroxide and superoxide stress responses toward elevated levels of a superoxide generated by menadione were investigated. Exposure of V. harveyi to sub-lethal concentrations of menadione induced high expression of genes in both the OxyR regulon (e.g., a monofunctional catalase or KatA and an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C or AhpC), and the SoxRS regulon (e.g., a superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). V. harveyi expressed two detectable, differentially regulated SOD isozymes, [Mn]-SOD and [Fe]-SOD. [Fe]-SOD was expressed constitutively throughout the growth phase while [Mn]-SOD was expressed at the stationary phase and could be induced by a superoxide generator. Physiologically, pre-treatment of V. harveyi with menadione induced cross-protection against subsequent exposure to killing concentrations of H(2)O(2). This induced cross-protection required newly synthesized proteins. However, the treatment did not induce significant protection against exposures to killing concentrations of menadione itself or cross-protect against an organic hydroperoxide (tert-butyl hydroperoxide). Unexpectedly, growing V. harveyi in high-salinity media induced protection against menadione killing. This protection was independent of SOD induction. Stationary-phase cells were more resistant to menadione killing than exponential-phase cells. The induction of oxidative stress protective enzymes and stress-altered physiological responses could play a role in the survival of this bacterium in the host marine crustaceans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Periplasmic copper-zinc superoxide dismutase protects Haemophilus ducreyi from exogenous superoxide.

Haemophilus ducreyi causes chancroid, a sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease implicated in increased heterosexual transmission of HIV. As part of an effort to identify H. ducreyi gene products involved in virulence and pathogenesis, we created random TnphoA insertion mutations in an H. ducreyi 35000 library cloned in Escherichia coli. Inserts encoding exported or secreted PhoA fusion proteins were characterized by DNA sequencing. One such clone encoded a Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme. The Cu-Zn SOD was periplasmic in H. ducreyi and accounted for most of the detectable SOD activity in whole-cell lysates of H. ducreyi grown in vitro. To investigate the function of the Cu-Zn SOD, we created a Cu-Zn SOD-deficient H. ducreyi strain by inserting a cat cassette into the sodC gene. The wild-type and Cu-Zn SOD null mutant strains were equally resistant to excess cytoplasmic superoxide induced by paraquat, demonstrating that the Cu-Zn SOD did not function in the detoxification of cytoplasmic superoxide. However, the Cu-Zn SOD null strain was significantly more susceptible to killing by extracellular superoxide than the wild type. This result suggests that the H. ducreyi Cu-Zn SOD may play a role in bacterial defence against oxidative killing by host immune cells during infection.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Reaction of the desulfoferrodoxin from Desulfoarculus baarsii with superoxide anion. Evidence for a superoxide reductase activity.

Desulfoferrodoxin is a small protein found in sulfate-reducing bacteria that contains two independent mononuclear iron centers, one ferric and one ferrous. Expression of desulfoferrodoxin from Desulfoarculus baarsii has been reported to functionally complement a superoxide dismutase deficient Escherichia coli strain. To elucidate by which mechanism desulfoferrodoxin could substitute for superoxide dismutase in E. coli, we have purified the recombinant protein and studied its reactivity toward O-(2). Desulfoferrodoxin exhibited only a weak superoxide dismutase activity (20 units mg(-1)) that could hardly account for its antioxidant properties. UV-visible and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy studies revealed that the ferrous center of desulfoferrodoxin could specifically and efficiently reduce O-(2), with a rate constant of 6-7 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). In addition, we showed that membrane and cytoplasmic E. coli protein extracts, using NADH and NADPH as electron donors, could reduce the O-(2) oxidized form of desulfoferrodoxin. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that desulfoferrodoxin behaves as a superoxide reductase enzyme and thus provide new insights into the biological mechanisms designed for protection from oxidative stresses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A flash-photometric method for determination of reactivity of superoxide: application to superoxide dismutase assay.

Pulse-generation of O2- by a flash was used to determine the reactivity of O2-, O2- was produced within 10 ms by a flash of light through the excitation of FMN in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and oxygen. Kinetic analysis of cytochrome c reduction by O2- generated by flash yielded the reaction rate constant between cytochrome c and O2- and the spontaneous disproportionation rate constant of O2-. We applied it for superoxide dismutase assay using a linear relation between superoxide dismutase concentration and the apparent rate constant of cytochrome c reduction by O2-. The catalytic rate constant and activation energy at pH 7.3 of bovine liver Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase were found to be 1.75 x 10(9) M-1 . s-1 at 25 degrees C and 26.9 kJ . M-1, respectively. The kinetics of O2- decay can be also monitored at 240 nm in this flash-photometric system and gave the spontaneous disproportionation rate constant of O2- and the catalytic rate constant of superoxide dismutase.

Animals↗

Copper-deficient rat embryos are characterized by low superoxide dismutase activity and elevated superoxide anions.

The teratogenicity of copper (Cu) deficiency may result from increased oxidative stress and oxidative damage. Dams were fed either control (8.0 microg Cu/g) or Cu-deficient (0.5 microg Cu/g) diets. Embryos were collected on Gestational Day 12 for in vivo studies or on Gestational Day 10 and cultured for 48 h in Cu-deficient or Cu-adequate media for in vitro studies. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were measured in control and Cu-deficient embryos as markers of the oxidant defense system. Superoxide anions were measured as an index of exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS). No differences were found in GPX or GR activities among treatment groups. However, SOD activity was lower and superoxide anion concentrations higher in Cu-deficient embryos cultured in Cu-deficient serum compared to control embryos cultured in control serum. Even so, Cu-deficient embryos had similar CuZnSOD protein levels as controls. In the in vitro system, Cu-deficient embryos had a higher frequency of malformations and increased staining for superoxide anions in the forebrain, heart, forelimb, and somites compared to controls. When assessed for lipid and DNA oxidative damage, conjugated diene concentrations were similar among the groups, but a tendency was observed for Cu-deficient embryos to have higher 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentrations than controls. Thus, Cu deficiency resulted in embryos with malformations and reduced SOD enzyme activity. Increased ROS concentrations in the Cu-deficient embryo may cause oxidative damage and contribute to the occurrence of developmental defects.

Animals↗

Superoxide radical level and superoxide dismutase activity changes in maturing mammalian spermatozoa.

Mammalian spermatozoa, which like other living cells are susceptible to oxygen toxicity, generate increasing quantities of superoxide radical as epididymal maturation proceeds. This is associated with a concomitant reduction in the activity of superoxide dismutase. A possible involvement of superoxide radicals in bringing about some of the reported oxidative changes occurring during epididymal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa is discussed. It is suggested that superoxide radical may be involved in regulating membrane changes accompanying sperm maturation.

Animals↗

The superoxide dismutases of Bacillus anthracis do not cooperatively protect against endogenous superoxide stress.

The Bacillus anthracis chromosome encodes four unique, putative superoxide dismutase (sod) genes. During exponential growth and sporulation, sodA1, sodA2, and sodC are transcribed constitutively throughout the growth cycle as individual genes. In contrast, the transcription of sod15 occurs mainly during late exponential and sporulation phases as part of a four-gene operon that may be involved in spore formation. Vegetative cell and spore lysates of wild-type Sterne and superoxide dismutase deletion (Deltasod) mutants show detectable SOD activity for SODA1 and SODA2, and protein analysis suggests that these two proteins form active homodimers and heterodimers. A comparison of the growth of parental versus Deltasod mutants under various chemical oxidative stresses indicates that DeltasodA1 mutants are particularly sensitive to endogenously produced superoxide, whereas DeltasodA2, Deltasod15, and DeltasodC mutants remain as resistant to this stress as the parental strain. In addition, in mouse survival assays, Deltasod15 and DeltasodA1 were responsible for less end-point death, but the level of decreased virulence does not fall within a statistically significant range. Collectively, these data show that sodA1 acts as a major protectant from intracellular superoxide stress, that sod15 is transcribed as part of an operon that may play a role in cell morphology, and that sodA2 and sodC may have minor roles that are not apparent in the conditions tested here.

Bacillus anthracis↗

Protective effect of transfection with secretable superoxide dismutase (SOD) (a signal sequence-SOD fusion protein coding cDNA) expression vector on superoxide anion-induced cytotoxicity in vitro.

For ex vivo gene therapy, superoxide dismutase (SOD) must be secreted into the extracellular space and delivered to damaged cells. Recombinant DNA technique can be used to produce a secretory protein that is fused to a non-secretory protein and a signal peptide of another secretory protein gene. We constructed a secretable SOD eukaryotic expression vector which expresses human SOD cDNA by fusing it to the signal peptide DNA sequence of the human interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene. The ILSOD cDNA constructed by PCR-based gene expression was ligated into the multicloning site of the pRc/CMV plasmid (pRc/CMV-ILSOD). Rat lung epithelial like cells (L2 cells) were transfected with pRc/CMV-ILSOD by lipofection. The extracellular SOD activity of ILSOD-L2 cells (transfected cells with pRc/CMV-ILSOD) was 3 times as high as that of host cells. We used the xanthin (X)/xanthin oxidase (XO) system to produce superoxide anions at the extracellular space. We initially investigated the direct cytotoxicity of superoxide anions upon cells. Host and ILSOD-L2 cells were killed by using X/XO, although the sensitivity of the ILSOD-L2 cells to X/XO induced cytotoxicity was significantly decreased compared with that of host cells. The production of lipid peroxidated substances in the host in the presence of X/XO increased to about twice the control (absence of X/XO) level. However, that of ILSOD-L2 cells did not change in the presence of X/XO. Therefore, ILSOD-L2 cells were resistant to X/XO induced lipid peroxidation. These findings indicated that ILSOD gene transfection protected against direct oxidant stress by X/XO. We then investigated the effect of extracellular SOD secreted from ILSOD-L2 cells on extracellular superoxide anion induced cytotoxicity in normal cells. The conditioned media of host cells had no significant effect upon X/XO induced cytotoxicity. However, the conditioned media of ILSOD-L2 cells protected against X/XO induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the conditioned medium of ILSOD-L2 cells was more effective than that of host cells against the production of lipid peroxidated substances by normal cells under conditions of oxidative stress. These results indicated that non-secretable protein could be delivered to target cells by means of DNA engineering. This strategy could thus provide an ex vivo means of applying gene therapy using non-secretable proteins.

Animals↗

The tetrazolium dyes MTS and XTT provide new quantitative assays for superoxide and superoxide dismutase.

The tetrazolium dyes MTS and XTT were reduced to their soluble formazans by superoxide radical anions (O2-) produced by the oxidation of xanthine by xanthine oxidase under standard conditions. These reactions were compared to the well-known reductions of NBT and cytochrome c by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Reduction of the dyes was completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD). Rate constants for the reaction of MTS and XTT with O2- were estimated at 1.3 +/- .1 x 10(5) M-1S-1 and 8.6 x 10(4) M-1S-1 respectively. The stable MTS and XTT formazans have high extinction coefficients in the visible range which enable sensitive detection and quantification of superoxide radicals, avoiding some of the problems inherent in assays based on production of the insoluble NBT formazan. MTS and XTT have considerable potential both for the quantitative assay of radical production in living tissues and for the assay of superoxide dismutase activity in tissue extracts. Implications for the interpretation of cell culture growth assays which employ these dyes are discussed.

Cytochrome c Group↗

Superoxide dismutase and superoxide radical in Morris hepatomas.

Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) specific activities were measured in tissue homogenates and in isolated mitochondria from normal rat liver and three Morris hepatomas of different growth rates. Total SOD and Mn SOD specific activities were decreased in all tumor homogenates when compared to normal liver; the lowest activity was associated with the fastest growing tumor. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that total Mn SOD specific activity is decreased in all tumors. The Mn SOD specific activity was similar to the total SOD specific activity of isolated mitochondria, indicating that mitochondrial SOD is almost entirely manganese containing. This activity was decreased in the fast- and medium-growth-rate hepatomas but was slightly increased in the tumor with the slowest growth rate when compared to liver. The normal or higher than normal mitochondrial Mn SOD specific activity indicates that decreased mitochondrial SOD specific activity is not a characteristic of all tumors. Superoxide radical (O2-.) formation was measured in submitochondrial particles obtained by sonication of isolated mitochondria and subsequent washings to remove the SOD. The difficulty encountered in reducing the SOD activity suggests that at least part of the mitochondrial SOD might be associated with the mitochondrial membrane. In liver submitochondrial particles, O2-. was formed only when succinate and antimycin A were used together, as substrate and inhibitor of the electron transport chain, respectively. In the hepatomas studied for O2-. production (slow- and fast-growth rates), the formation of the radical was detected in the presence of succinate even when no inhibitor was present. Antimycin A stimulated the production of O2-. in normal rat liver and slow-growth-rate tumor, but not in fast-growth-rate tumor submitochondrial particles. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide did not lead to the production of O2-. by normal liver or hepatoma submitochondrial particles. Mitochondrial membrane damage was seen in micrographs of the medium- and fast-growing hepatomas. This could be a consequence of low mitochondrial SOD concomitant with a flux of superoxide, if the radical is produced in vivo by these mitochondria.

Analysis of Variance↗

Superoxide and inflammation: a mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of superoxide dismutase.

Several models of inflammation induced in laboratory animals were markedly inhibited by intravenous administration of the enzyme superoxide dismutase. In most cases, the enzyme required chemical modification to increase its circulating lifetime. In all cases, histological examination of the sites of the potential lesions revealed that treatment with superoxide dismutase prevented the accumulation of inflammatory cells. Experiments in vitro demonstrated the existence of a plasma factor which reacts with superoxide to become a potent chemotactic factor for neutrophils. The factor apparently serves to call increasing numbers of neutrophils to the inflammatory locus in response to the superoxide produced by the first cells to encounter the stimulus.

Animals↗