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Age and sex related alterations in serum and platelet monoamine oxidase.

The process of aging presents itself with various alterations in physiological events. Although the turnover of catecholamines increases with aging, there is a lack of response to catecholamines in target tissues. One of the key enzymes in catecholamine metabolism is monoamine oxidase. It has been suggested that tissue and serum monoamine oxidase activities show pathological alterations in various diseases while physiological fluctuations can also be detected in normals. The aim of this study is to determine the sex and age related changes of platelet and serum monoamine oxidase in healthy volunteers. In this study, 75 healthy volunteers of different ages (21-80 a) and sexes (40 females, 35 males) were included. Serum and platelet monoamine oxidase determinations were performed spectrophotofluorometrically by Tufvesson's (Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1970; 26:151-4) and Kraml's (Biochem Pharmacol 1965; 14:1684-6) modified methods, respectively. While there was no significant difference in serum monoamine oxidase activities related to age and sex, platelet monoamine oxidase manifested a significant increase in females compared to males (p < 0.05) and the mean values in both sexes showed an increase with age (p < 0.001). The results of this study imply that platelet monoamine oxidase shows an age related increase which is more prominent in females.

Adult↗

Alternative oxidase in the branched mitochondrial respiratory network: an overview on structure, function, regulation, and role.

Plants and some other organisms including protists possess a complex branched respiratory network in their mitochondria. Some pathways of this network are not energy-conserving and allow sites of energy conservation to be bypassed, leading to a decrease of the energy yield in the cells. It is a challenge to understand the regulation of the partitioning of electrons between the various energy-dissipating and -conserving pathways. This review is focused on the oxidase side of the respiratory chain that presents a cyanide-resistant energy-dissipating alternative oxidase (AOX) besides the cytochrome pathway. The known structural properties of AOX are described including transmembrane topology, dimerization, and active sites. Regulation of the alternative oxidase activity is presented in detail because of its complexity. The alternative oxidase activity is dependent on substrate availability: total ubiquinone concentration and its redox state in the membrane and O2 concentration in the cell. The alternative oxidase activity can be long-term regulated (gene expression) or short-term (post-translational modification, allosteric activation) regulated. Electron distribution (partitioning) between the alternative and cytochrome pathways during steady-state respiration is a crucial measurement to quantitatively analyze the effects of the various levels of regulation of the alternative oxidase. Three approaches are described with their specific domain of application and limitations: kinetic approach, oxygen isotope differential discrimination, and ADP/O method (thermokinetic approach). Lastly, the role of the alternative oxidase in non-thermogenic tissues is discussed in relation to the energy metabolism balance of the cell (supply in reducing equivalents/demand in energy and carbon) and with harmful reactive oxygen species formation.

Cell Respiration↗

Elevated superoxide generation in mononuclear phagocytes by treatment with 1 alpha hydroxyvitamin D3: changes in kinetics and in oxidase cytosolic factor p47.

The effect of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha OHD3) treatment on the superoxide production of phagocytic cells in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was studied. A 3-day treatment of CAPD patients with 3 micrograms per day of 1 alpha OHD3 (high-dose treatment) significantly increased NADPH oxidase and killing activities in peritoneal macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes (P < 0.001) as compared with low-dose (0.25 microgram/day of 1 alpha OHD3) treatment or nontreatment. The high oxidase activity observed in macrophages and monocytes after the treatment with 1 alpha OHD3, correlated significantly to the increase in the amount of the cytosolic factor p47 of the NADPH oxidase as detected by western blotting analysis. Superoxide production by the peripheral blood neutrophils of these patients only slightly increased with 1 alpha OHD3 treatment, and the amount of p47 was not affected by 1 alpha OHD3 administration. In order to evaluate the significance of the oxidase cytosolic factor in dictating oxidase activity, a reconstitution of NADPH oxidase was conducted by mixing macrophage cytosols and membranes in a cell-free system. The addition of macrophage cytosol from patients on high-dose treatment to macrophage membranes from patients in all of the categories of treatment resulted in significantly higher (P < 0.001) superoxide production as opposed to the macrophage cytosol from nontreated patients. These results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 causes an increase in NADPH oxidase activity in the peritoneal macrophages and monocytes of CAPD patients by inducing synthesis and elevating the amount of the cytosolic factor p47.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcitriol↗

Phagocytic NADPH oxidase overactivity underlies oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome.

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate whether a relationship exists between phagocytic NADPH oxidase activity and oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome patients. The study was performed in 56 metabolic syndrome patients (metabolic syndrome group), 99 patients with one or two cardiovascular risk factors (cardiovascular risk factor group), and 28 healthy subjects (control group). NADPH oxidase expression and activity was augmented (P < 0.05) in metabolic syndrome compared with cardiovascular risk factor and control groups. Insulin was enhanced (P < 0.05) in metabolic syndrome patients compared with cardiovascular risk factor and control groups and correlated with NADPH oxidase activity in the overall population. Insulin stimulated NADPH oxidase activity; this effect was abolished by a specific protein kinase C inhibitor. Oxidized LDL and nitrotyrosine levels and carotid intima-media thickness were increased (P < 0.05) in the metabolic syndrome group compared with cardiovascular risk factor and control groups and correlated with NADPH oxidase activity in the overall population. These findings suggest that phagocytic NADPH oxidase overactivity is involved in oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome patients. Our findings also suggest that hyperinsulinemia may contribute to oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome patients through activation of NADPH oxidase.

Atherosclerosis↗

Comparison of kinetic properties between plant and fungal amine oxidases.

Kinetic properties of novel amine oxidases isolated from a mold Aspergillus niger AKU 3302 were compared to those of typical plant amine oxidase from pea seedling (EC 1.4.3.6). Pea amine oxidase showed highest affinity with diamines, such as putrescine and cadaverine, while fungal enzymes oxidized preferably n-hexylamine and tyramine. All enzymes were inhibited by carbonyl reagents, copper chelating agents, some substrate analogs and alkaloids, but there were quite significant differences in the sensitivity and inhibition modes. Aminoguanidine, which strongly inhibited pea amine oxidases showed only little effect on fungal enzymes. Substrate analogs such as 1.5-diamino-3-pentanone and 1-amino-3-phenyl-3-propanone, which were potent competitive inhibitors of pea amine oxidases, inhibited fungal enzymes much more weakly and non competitively. Also various alkaloids behaving as competitive inhibitors of pea amine oxidase inhibited the fungal enzymes non competitively. Very surprising was the potent inhibition of fungal enzymes by artificial substrates of pea amine oxidases, E- and Z-1,4-diamino-2-butene. The relationships between the different inhibition modes and possible binding at the active site are discussed.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Microglia proliferation is regulated by hydrogen peroxide from NADPH oxidase.

Microglia are resident brain macrophages that become activated and proliferate following brain damage or stimulation by immune mediators, such as IL-1beta or TNF-alpha. We investigated the mechanisms by which microglial proliferation is regulated in primary cultures of rat glia. We found that basal proliferation of microglia was stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta or TNF-alpha, and this proliferation was completely inhibited by catalase, implicating hydrogen peroxide as a mediator of proliferation. In addition, inhibitors of NADPH oxidase (diphenylene iodonium or apocynin) also prevented microglia proliferation, suggesting that this may be the source of hydrogen peroxide. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha rapidly stimulated the rate of hydrogen peroxide produced by isolated microglia, and this was inhibited by diphenylene iodonium, implying that the cytokines were acting directly on microglia to stimulate the NADPH oxidase. Low concentrations of PMA or arachidonic acid (known activators of NADPH oxidase) or xanthine/xanthine oxidase or glucose oxidase (generating hydrogen peroxide) also increased microglia proliferation and this was blocked by catalase, showing that NADPH oxidase activation or hydrogen peroxide was sufficient to stimulate microglia proliferation. In contrast to microglia, the proliferation of astrocytes was unaffected by the presence of catalase. In conclusion, these findings indicate that microglial proliferation in response to IL-1beta or TNF-alpha is mediated by hydrogen peroxide from NADPH oxidase.

Animals↗

Post-translational glycosylation and proteolytic processing of a lysyl oxidase precursor.

The synthesis and post-translational processing of a lysyl oxidase precursor protein predicted by the cDNA sequence of rat aorta lysyl oxidase were investigated. In vitro transcription of the cloned lysyl oxidase cDNA and cell-free translation of its mRNA transcript yielded a 47-kDa protein in the absence and a 50-kDa glycosylated protein in the presence of pancreatic membranes, each of which were immunoprecipitated with antibody against the 32-kDa bovine enzyme. Similarly, an N-glycosylated, 50-kDa protein band was synthesized by and immunoprecipitated from cultured neonatal rat aorta smooth muscle cells labeled with [35S]methionine. Pulse-chase studies of proteins newly synthesized by these cells demonstrated that the glycosylated 50-kDa precursor is secreted and that it is processed to the 32-kDa molecular form of lysyl oxidase principally in the medium. The presence of an extracellular processing enzyme activity which converts the 50-kDa precursor to the 32-kDa species was demonstrated by incubating conditioned medium of neonatal rat aorta smooth muscle cell cultures as a source of processing activity with conditioned medium containing 35S-labeled precursor synthesized but not processed by a tumorigenic cell line transfected with a lysyl oxidase expression vector. In contrast to the 50-kDa species, the 32-kDa protein does not appear to be N-glycosylated consistent with the loss of N-linked oligosaccharide units during the processing to the smaller species. The modes of biosynthesis and secretion of lysyl oxidase are discussed in terms of other nonproteolytic activities required for activation of prolysyl oxidase.

Animals↗

Characterization and developmental expression of chick aortic lysyl oxidase.

The complete primary structure of chick lysyl oxidase was determined by recombinant DNA techniques. The nucleotide sequence of contiguous chick lysyl oxidase cDNA clones contained an open reading frame of 1260 bases which encodes a predicted protein of 420 amino acid residues (48,150 Da). In comparison to the deduced primary structure of rat lysyl oxidase, the chick enzyme is larger in size and exhibits a strong conservation of sequence within the latter two thirds of the molecule (92% identity) and a high degree of divergence in the first 150 amino acid residues (60% identity allowing for several insertions in both sequences). The developmental steady-state levels of lysyl oxidase mRNA together with the mRNAs encoding two of the enzyme's substrates (tropoelastin and type I collagen) increased between 8 and 16 days of embryonic development. Although levels of lysyl oxidase mRNA increased during aortic embryogenesis, the specific activity of the enzyme remained fairly constant suggesting that lysyl oxidase activity increases in direct proportion to total protein synthesis and cell number. In situ hybridization showed that the spatial expressions of lysyl oxidase and tropoelastin transcripts differ suggesting that the enzyme and substrate genes are differentially regulated within the cells of the arterial wall.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A missense mutation of L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase causes the inability of scurvy-prone osteogenic disorder rats to synthesize L-ascorbic acid.

The osteogenic disorder Shionogi (ODS) rat is a mutant Wistar rat that is subject to scurvy, because it lacks L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, a key enzyme in L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified cDNAs for mutant and normal rat L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidases demonstrated that the mutant cDNA has a single base mutation from G to A at nucleotide 182, which mutation alters the 61st amino acid residue from Cys to Tyr. To test the effect of this mutation on the expression of L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, we inserted a region of the cDNAs coding for normal and mutant L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidases into an expression vector, pSVL, and transfected COS-1 cells with such vectors. The result indicated that the defined amino acid substitution does decrease both the amount of immunologically detectable protein and the level of enzyme activity to about one-tenth of their normal values, while it does not affect the amount of the mRNA produced in the transfected cells. This situation is similar to our previous observation that L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase is expressed in the liver of the ODS rat at a very low level irrespective of the presence of a normal amount of L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase-specific mRNA of a normal size (Nishikimi, M., Koshizaka, T., Kondo, K., and Yagi, K. (1989) Experientia (Basel) 45, 126-129). Thus it became clear that the Cys-->Tyr substitution is responsible for the L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase deficiency in the ODS rat.

Animals↗

The antiangiogenic agent SU5416 down-regulates phorbol ester-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase 2 expression by inhibiting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity.

Increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 and the production of PGs appear to provide a survival advantage to transformed cells through the inhibition of apoptosis, increased attachment to extracellular matrix, increased invasiveness and the stimulation of angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an angiogenic antagonist, SU5416, could inhibit endogenous and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-mediated induction of COX-2 expression. SU5416 (5 micro M) inhibited endogenous as well as PMA-mediated induction of COX-2 expression when analyzed by immunoblot and Northern blot analysis. However, COX-1 expression remained unchanged under similar conditions. PMA is a potent inducer of reactive oxygen species that can play an important role during the induction of COX-2 expression. Our results demonstrated that PMA-mediated induction of COX-2 expression was found to be dependent on NADPH oxidase activity. An inhibitor of NADPH oxidase (diphenyleneiodonium chloride) blocked the PMA-mediated induction of COX-2 expression. The oxidase complex exhibited a temporal pattern of activation after exposure to PMA in which maximum activation was observed at 30 min after the addition of PMA. Activation of NADPH oxidase was also inhibited by SU5416, whereas an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling was unable to prevent the PMA-mediated induction of NADPH oxidase activity. When we blocked the PMA-mediated production of reactive oxygen species by blocking NADPH oxidase with SU5416, COX-2 expression and PGE(2) synthesis were also inhibited. Our results suggest that inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity, blocking of COX-2 expression, and PGE(2) synthesis may represent novel targets for SU5416.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

Expression of nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase system in the ocular lens.

PURPOSE: The primary goal of this study was to characterize the Rac GTPase associated, NADPH oxidase-mediated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-generating system in the lens tissue. METHODS: NADPH oxidase activity in lens tissue was determined by quantifying superoxide-induced lucigenin photoemission. Immunological and PCR/RT-PCR techniques were utilized to determine expression of different components of the NADPH oxidase system in lens tissue. Growth factor stimulated ROS production was determined quantitatively in human lens epithelial cells using dichlorofluorescein diacetate. RESULTS: Lens homogenates from different species showed generation of superoxide in a lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence assay in the presence of NADPH. This activity was found to be lens protein concentration dependent, heat sensitive, and inhibitable by superoxide dismutase and the flavoprotein inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI). The distribution of superoxide generating activity in lens was confined predominantly to the lens epithelium, with very low levels in cortex and none in the nucleus. Immunological assays have demonstrated the presence of p67phox and p47phox in lens tissue, while PCR and RT-PCR reactions amplified DNA products corresponding to the p67phox, p40phox, p22phox, gp91phox, and Rac1 components of the NADPH oxidase complex from human and mouse lens cDNA libraries. Serum starved human lens epithelial cells stimulated with different growth factors including EGF, b-FGF, PDGF, TGF-beta, and LPA demonstrated increased production of ROS, a response which was blocked by inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, such as DPI and the antioxidant-N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). RT-PCR analysis of human lens RNA confirmed readily detectable levels of expression of low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP), which is a well-characterized target of redox signaling pathway(s). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the presence of a functional nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase system in lens that is predominantly localized to the lens epithelium. Several growth factors appear to stimulate the activity of lens NADPH oxidase, resulting in increased production of ROS in lens epithelial cells, indicating that redox signaling may have an important role in growth factor effects on lens growth and development.

Animals↗

[Activation of the alternative oxidase of Yarrowia lipolytica by adenosine 5'-monophosphate].

The study of the effect of nucleoside phosphates on the activity of cyanide-resistant oxidase in the mitochondria and the submitochondrial particles of Yarrowia lipolytica showed that adenosine monophosphate (5'-AMP, AMP) did not stimulate the respiration of the intact mitochondria. The incubation of the mitochondria at room temperature (25 degrees C) for 3-5 h or their treatment with ultrasound, phospholipase A, and detergent Triton X-100 at a low temperature inactivated the cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase. The inactivated alternative oxidase could be reactivated by AMP. The reactivating effect of AMP was enhanced by azolectin. Some other nucleoside phosphates also showed reactivating ability in the following descending order. AMP = GMP > GDP > GTP > XMP > IMP. The apparent reaction rate constant Km for AMP upon the reactivation of the alternative oxidase of mitochondria treated with Triton X-100 or incubated at 25 degrees C was 12.5 and 20 microM, respectively. The Km for AMP upon the reactivation of the alternative oxidase of submitochondrial particles was 15 microM. During the incubation of yeast cells under conditions promoting the development of alternative oxidase, the content of adenine nucleotides (AMP, ADP, and ATP) in the cells and their respiration tended to decrease. The subsequent addition of cyanide to the cells activated their respiration, diminished the intracellular content of ATP three times, and augmented the content of AMP five times. These data suggest that the stimulation of cell respiration by cyanide may be due to the activation of alternative oxidase by AMP.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Tyrosine codon corresponds to topa quinone at the active site of copper amine oxidases.

The recently discovered organic cofactor of bovine serum amine oxidase, topa quinone, is an uncommon amino acid residue in the polypeptide backbone (Janes, S. M., Mu, D., Wemmer, D., Smith, A. J., Kaur, S., Maltby, D., Burlingame, A. L., and Klinman, J. P. (1990) Science 248, 981-987). The amine oxidase gene from the yeast Hansenula polymorpha has been cloned and sequenced (Bruinenberg, P. G., Evers, M., Waterham, H. R., Kuipers, J., Arnberg, A. C., and Geert, A. B. (1989) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1008, 157-167). In order to understand the incorporation of topa quinone in eukaryotes, we have isolated yeast amine oxidase from H. polymorpha. Following protocols established with bovine serum amine oxidase, yeast amine oxidase was derivatized with [14C]phenylhydrazine, followed by thermolytic digestion and isolation of a dominant radiolabeled peptide by high pressure liquid chromatography. Comparison of resonance Raman spectra for this peptide to spectra of a model compound demonstrates that topa quinone is the cofactor. By alignment of a DNA-derived yeast amine oxidase sequence with the topa quinone-containing peptide sequence, it is found that the tyrosine codon, UAC, corresponds to topa quinone in the mature protein. In a similar manner, alignment of a tryptic peptide from bovine serum amine oxidase implicates tyrosine as the precursor to topa quinone in mammals.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Mediation of glycosylated and partially-deglycosylated glucose oxidase of Aspergillus niger by a ferrocene-derivatised detergent.

A ferrocene-derivatised detergent, (11-ferrocenylundecyl) trimethylammonium bromide (FTMAB), when oxidised to the corresponding ferricinium ion, was found by electrochemical studies to be an effective electron acceptor for reduced glucose oxidase of Aspergillus niger (EC 1.13.4) and thus acts as a electron-transfer mediator between glucose oxidase and a working electrode held at a potential sufficiently positive to reoxidise reduced FTMAB. An increase in mediating activity was produced when FTMAB was present in concentrations above its critical micelle concentration. An 'enzyme electrode' was formed by adsorption of glucose oxidase and FTMAB surfactant on a graphite rod. The electrode functioned as an amperometric biosensor for glucose in phosphate-buffered saline solution. A mixed micelle of glucose oxidase and FTMAB, probably adsorbed on the electrode surface, appears to be advantageous for the amperometric determination of glucose. Additionally, glucose oxidase was treated with alpha-mannosidase. When this partially-deglycosylated glucose oxidase was incorporated in an enzyme electrode, a 100-fold increase in the second-order rate constant (k) for electron transfer between the enzyme and FTMAB was observed, together with increased current densities, with respect to the equivalent values for FTMAB and commercial glucose oxidase. The use of deglycosylated enzymes in biosensors is suggested.

Aspergillus niger↗

The membrane-associated component of the amphiphile-activated, cytosol-dependent superoxide-forming NADPH oxidase of macrophages is identical to cytochrome b559.

The superoxide (O2-) forming NADPH oxidase complex of resting phagocytes can be activated in a cell-free system by certain anionic amphiphiles, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). For O2- production to occur, the participation of both membrane-associated and cytosol-derived components is required. The purpose of this investigation was to isolate and characterize the membrane component of NADPH oxidase. For this purpose, guinea pig macrophage membranes were extracted with 1 M NaCl, solubilized by 40 mM octyl glucoside, and subjected to a purification sequence consisting of absorption with DEAE-Sepharose, affinity chromatography on heparin-agarose, and chromatography on hydroxylapatite. At each purification step, fractions were assayed for their ability to support SDS-elicited, cytosol-dependent O2- production, following incorporation in liposomes of phosphatidylcholine. We found that membrane oxidase activity copurified strictly with cytochrome b559. Peak hydroxylapatite fractions exhibited specific O2(-)-forming activity in the range of 81-115 mumol of O2-/mg protein/min and a specific cytochrome b559 content of 7-14 nmol of cytochrome b559/mg protein. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the peak oxidase activity fractions, derived by hydroxylapatite chromatography, revealed essentially two bands that were identified as the beta (54-60 kDa) and alpha (21/22 kDa) subunits of guinea pig cytochrome b559. The relation of the two polypeptides to cytochrome b559 was established by correlation with a spectral signal characteristic of cytochrome b559, immunoblotting with antibodies against defined human cytochrome b559 beta and alpha chain peptides, cross-linking studies, and deglycosylation experiments. Hydroxylapatite-purified membrane oxidase preparations did not contain FAD and were free of cytochrome c reductase activity. Purified membrane oxidase preparations were also capable of cooperating with purified cytosolic components in SDS-elicited cell-free O2- production. We conclude that the membrane-associated component of the O2- generating NADPH oxidase is identical to cytochrome b559.

Animals↗

Imbalance of purine metabolism in hepatomas of different growth rates as expressed in behavior of xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2).

The behavior of the rate-limiting enzyme of purine catabolism, xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2); was examined in normal liver, in 17 hepatomas of different growth rates, and in rapidly growing differentiating and regenerating liver. Xanthine oxidase activity was measured in the supernatant fluid prepared by centrifugation of 5% homogenates at 100,000 X g for 30 min. There was no uricase activity in the supernatant fluid. The affinity of xanthine oxidase to xanthine was similar in normal liver and in slow- and rapidly growing hepatomas (Km=6 to 8 muM), and theoptimum pH was 8.0; at pH 7.4, the activity was 80% of that at the pH optimum. A standard assay was worked out for the liver and hepatoma systems; the enzyme activity was linear during 60-min incubation and proportionate with amounts of protein added over a range of 0.5 to 3.0 mg. Xanthine oxidase specific activity was 9 times higher in small intestine than in liver. Activities in lung, spleen, kidney, heart, testes, and thymus were 67, 59, 21, 19, 8, and 8%, and in skeletal muscle, brain, and bone marrow activities were 5% of that of the liver. In regenerating liver, xanthine oxidase activity was not changed from that of the liver of sham-operated controls up to 96 hr after operation. The activity of the average differentiating liver cell was less than 5% of that of adult liver during the first week after birth. At postnatal ages of 18, 25, 30 and 40 days, the activity rose to 18, 46, 76, and 94%, respectively, of that of the adult liver. In starvation, hepatic xanthine oxidase activity per cell was preferentially depleted as compared to the decline in protein concentration. Upon refeeding, the enzymatic activity was restored more slowly than the protein content. Since xanthine oxidase activity was decreased in all examined hepatomas, including the slowest-growing, well-differentiated neoplasms, the altered activity of this enzyme appears to be.linked with neoplastic transformatiobosyl 1-pyrophosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14), was increassed in the hepatomas, the reprogramming of gene expression results in an imbalance that favors the synthetic over the catabolic potential. This enzymatic imbalance should confer selective advantages to the cancer cells.

Animals↗

Resolution of a low molecular weight G protein in neutrophil cytosol required for NADPH oxidase activation and reconstitution by recombinant Krev-1 protein.

Activation of the membrane-associated NADPH oxidase in intact human neutrophils requires a receptor-associated heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein that is sensitive to pertussis toxin. Activation of this NADPH oxidase by arachidonate in a cell-free system requires an additional downstream pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein (Gabig, T. G., English, D., Akard, L. P., and Schell, M. J. (1987) (J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1685-1690) that is located in the cytosolic fraction of unstimulated cells (Gabig, T. G., Eklund, E. A., Potter, G. B., and Dykes, J. R. (1990) J. Immunol. 145, 945-951). In the present study, immunodepletion of G proteins from the cytosolic fraction of unstimulated neutrophils resulted in a loss of the ability to activate NADPH oxidase in the membrane fraction. The activity in immunodepleted cytosol was fully reconstituted by a partially purified fraction from neutrophil cytosol that contained a 21-kDa GTP-binding protein. Purified human recombinant Krev-1 p21 also completely reconstituted immunodepleted cytosol whereas recombinant human H-ras p21 or yeast RAS GTP-binding proteins had no reconstitutive activity. Rabbit antisera raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the effector region of Krev-1 (amino acids 31-43) completely inhibited cell-free NADPH oxidase activation, and this inhibition was blocked by the synthetic 31-43 peptide. An inhibitory monoclonal antibody specific for ras p21 amino acids 60-77 (Y13-259) had no effect on cell-free NADPH oxidase activation. Activation of the NADPH oxidase in intact neutrophils by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate caused a marked increase in the amount of membrane-associated antigen recognized by 151 antiserum on Western blot. Thus a G protein in the cytosol of unstimulated neutrophils antigenically and functionally related to Krev-1 may be the downstream effector G protein for NADPH oxidase activation. This system represents a unique model to study molecular interactions of a ras-like G protein.

Cell-Free System↗

Amino acid sequence of long chain alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase from rat kidney, a member of the family of FMN-dependent alpha-hydroxy acid-oxidizing enzymes.

The complete amino acid sequence of rat kidney long chain alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase has been determined by microsequencing, using a number of standard enzymatic and chemical cleavages. Peptides were purified by high pressure liquid chromatography or by gel electrophoresis followed by electrotransfer. The sequence comprises 352 residues and ends with a peroxisomal targeting sequence SRL. The present work definitely establishes that hydroxy acid oxidase is a member of the family of FMN-dependent alpha-hydroxy acid-oxidizing enzymes. The family includes lactate oxidase, short chain alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase (glycolate oxidase), flavocytochrome b2, and mandelate dehydrogenase. There are altogether 45 totally conserved positions among the six sequences known. The sequence similarities are analyzed in light of the known three-dimensional structure of flavocytochrome b2 and glycolate oxidase. It is concluded that long chain hydroxy acid oxidase should be folded as a beta 8 alpha 8 barrel and should dehydrogenate alpha-hydroxy acids according to the same chemical mechanism as other enzymes of the family, in spite of a Tyr----Phe substitution at the active site.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗