Control of the redox state of the nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide couple in rat liver cytoplasm

1. A study has been made of the ability of rat liver in vivo to maintain equilibrium in the combined glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase reactions, i.e. in the system: [Formula: see text] Attempts were made to upset equilibrium. The [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio was rapidly changed by injection of ethanol or crotyl alcohol, and the value of [ATP]/[ADP][HPO(4) (2-)] was rapidly changed by injection of ethionine or carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone. 2. The concentrations of the metabolites occurring in the above equation were measured in freeze-clamped liver. 3. Although the injected agents caused large changes in the concentrations of the individual components, near-equilibrium in the system was maintained, as indicated by the fact that the value of [ATP]/[ADP][HPO(4) (2-)], referred to as the phosphorylation state of the adenine nucleotides, measured directly agreed with the value calculated for equilibrium conditions from the above equation. 4. The results are discussed and taken to confirm that the order of magnitude of the value of the redox state of the cytoplasmic NAD couple in rat liver is controlled by the phosphorylation state of the adenine nucleotide system.     

The redox chemistry of the Alzheimer's disease amyloid β peptide

There is a growing body of evidence to support a role for oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with increased levels of lipid peroxidation, DNA and protein oxidation products (HNE, 8-HO-guanidine and protein carbonyls respectively) in AD brains. The brain is a highly oxidative organ consuming 20% of the body's oxygen despite accounting for only 2% of the total body weight. With normal ageing the brain accumulates metals ions such iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). Consequently the brain is abundant in antioxidants to control and prevent the detrimental formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated via Fenton chemistry involving redox active metal ion reduction and activation of molecular oxygen. In AD there is an over accumulation of the Amyloid β peptide (Aβ), this is the result of either an elevated generation from amyloid precursor protein (APP) or inefficient clearance of Aβ from the brain. Aβ can efficiently generate reactive oxygen species in the presence of the transition metals copper and iron in vitro. Under oxidative conditions Aβ will form stable dityrosine cross-linked dimers which are generated from free radical attack on the tyrosine residue at position 10. There are elevated levels of urea and SDS resistant stable linked Aβ oligomers as well as dityrosine cross-linked peptides and proteins in AD brain. Since soluble Aβ levels correlate best with the degree of degeneration [C.A. McLean, R.A. Cherny, F.W. Fraser, S.J. Fuller, M.J. Smith, K. Beyreuther, A.I. Bush, C.L. Masters, Soluble pool of Abeta amyloid as a determinant of severity of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, Ann. Neurol. 46 (1999) 860-866] we suggest that the toxic Aβ species corresponds to a soluble dityrosine cross-linked oligomer. Current therapeutic strategies using metal chelators such as clioquinol and desferrioxamine have had some success in altering the progression of AD symptoms. Similarly, natural antioxidants curcumin and ginkgo extract have modest but positive effects in slowing AD development. Therefore, drugs that target the oxidative pathways in AD could have genuine therapeutic efficacy.     

Is the nectar redox cycle a floral defense against microbial attack?

Many angiosperms use a remarkable reproductive strategy that relies on attracting animals (insect, avian or mammalian pollinators) to transfer pollen between plants. Relying on other organisms for sexual reproduction seems evolutionarily untenable, but the great diversity of angiosperms illustrates how highly successful this strategy is. To attract pollinators, plants offer a variety of rewards. Perhaps the primary floral reward is floral nectar. Plant nectar has long been considered a simple sugar solution but recent work has demonstrated that nectar is a complex biological fluid containing significant and important biochemistry with the potential function of inhibiting microbial growth. These results lead the way to novel insights into the mechanisms of floral defense and the co-evolution of angiosperms and their pollinators.     

Nitrogen transformations at the sediment–water interface across redox gradients in the Laurentian Great Lakes

The capacity of a lake to remove reactive nitrogen (N) through denitrification has important implications both for the lake and for downstream ecosystems. In large oligotropic lakes such as Lake Superior, where nitrate (NO₃ ^?) concentrations have increased steadily over the past century, deep oxygen penetration into sediments may limit the denitrification rates. We tested the hypothesis that the position of the redox gradient in lake sediments affects denitrification by measuring net N-fluxes across the sediment–water interface for intact sediment cores collected across a range of sediment oxycline values from nearshore and offshore sites in Lake Superior, as well as sites in Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Across this redox gradient, as the thickness of the oxygenated sediment layer increased from Lake Erie to Lake Superior, fluxes of NH₄ ⁺ and N₂ out of the sediment decreased, and sediments shifted from a net sink to a net source of NO₃ ^?. Denitrification of NO₃ ^? from overlying water decreased with thickness of the oxygenated sediment layer. Our results indicate that, unlike sediments from Lake Erie and Lake Huron, Lake Superior sediments do not remove significant amounts of water column NO₃ ^? through denitrification, likely as a result of the thick oxygenated sediment layer.     

The redox state of the nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotides in rat liver homogenates

1. The redox state of the NAD couple of rat liver mitochondria, as measured by the [beta-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio, rapidly changed in the direction of oxidation during the preparation of homogenates in a saline medium. The value of the [beta-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio fell from 2.3 to 0.15 in 10min. EDTA diminished the fall and succinate prevented it. 2. The redox state of the rat liver cytoplasm, as measured by the [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio, changed slightly in the direction of reduction during the preparation of homogenate. This was prevented by succinate. 3. In unsupplemented homogenates the differences in the redox states of mitochondria and cytoplasm decreased. Succinate and EDTA together maintained the differences within the physiological range. A measure of the ability of the mitochondria to maintain different redox states in mitochondria and cytoplasm is the value of the expression [lactate][acetoacetate]/[pyruvate][beta-hydroxybutyrate]. If there are no differences in the redox states of the NAD in the two cell compartments the value of the expression is 444 at 37 degrees . The value in the intact rat liver is between 4.7 and 21. 4. alpha-Oxoglutarate or glutamate were still more effective than succinate in maintaining high [beta-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratios in the homogenates because these substrates supply a reducing agent of NAD(+) and, through succinate, an inhibitor of the oxidation of NADH. 5. When supplemented with alpha-oxoglutarate and EDTA, homogenates readily adjust the redox state of the beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase system after it has been upset by the addition of either acetoacetate or beta-hydroxybutyrate. 6. Amytal and rotenone raised the value of the [beta-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio. This is taken to indicate that the reduction of acetoacetate in the homogenates was not an energy-linked process. 7. 2,4-Dinitrophenol shifted the [beta-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio in the presence of succinate in favour of oxidation because it inhibited the oxidation of succinate and accelerated the oxidation of NADH. 8. Rotenone increased the rate of ketone-body formation of liver homogenates, though it decreased the rate of oxygen uptake.     

Understanding the association between dietary antioxidants, redox status and disease: is the Total Antioxidant Capacity the right tool?

Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) considers the cumulative action of all the antioxidants present in plasma and body fluids, thus providing an integrated parameter rather than the simple sum of measurable antioxidants. The capacity of known and unknown antioxidants and their synergistic interaction is, therefore, assessed, thus giving an insight into the delicate balance in vivo between oxidants and antioxidants. There is new evidence indicating the importance of understanding the mechanisms of the homeostatic control of TAC in plasma and tissues and its modification during oxidative stress development. Recently, the epidemiological application of TAC has been proposed as a new tool for investigating the relationship between dietary antioxidants and cancer risk in population studies. This review outlines the pros and cons of the more common assays for measuring plasma TAC and the latest findings on dietary modulation of plasma redox status. Finally, the feasibility of the 'TAC concept' as an innovative tool for investigating the association between diet and oxidative stress is discussed.     

A Förster-resonance-energy transfer-based method for fluorescence detection of the protein redox state

A method for fluorescence detection of a protein's redox state based on resonance energy transfer from an attached fluorescence label to the prosthetic group of the redox protein is described and tested for proteins containing three types of prosthetic groups: a type-1 copper site (azurin, amicyanin, plastocyanin, and pseudoazurin), a heme group (cytochrome c550), and a flavin mononucleotide (flavodoxin). This method permits one to reliably distinguish between reduced and oxidized proteins and to perform potentiometric titrations at submicromolar concentrations.     

Ca²⁺ signals of astrocytes are modulated by the NAD⁺/NADH redox state

Astrocytes are important glial cells in the brain providing metabolic support to neurons as well as contributing to brain signaling. These different functional levels have to be highly coordinated to allow for proper cell and brain function. In this study, we show that in astrocytes the NAD(+) /NADH redox state modulates dopamine-induced Ca(2+) signals thereby connecting metabolism and Ca(2+) signaling. Application of dopamine induced a dose-dependent increase in Ca(2+) signal frequency in these cells, which was dependent on D(1) -receptor signaling, glycolytic activity, an increase in cytosolic NADH and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor operated intracellular Ca(2+) stores. Application of dopamine at a low concentration (1 μM) did not induce an increase in Ca(2+) signal frequency by itself. However, simultaneously increasing cytosolic NADH content either by direct application of NADH or by application of lactate resulted in a pronounced increase in Ca(2+) signal frequency. This increase could be blocked by co-application of pyruvate, suggesting that indeed the NAD(+) /NADH redox state is regulating Ca(2+) signals. We conclude that at the NAD(+) /NADH redox state metabolic and signaling information is integrated in astrocytes, thereby most likely contributing to precisely coordinate these different tasks of astrocytes.     

Cellular calcium and redox regulation: the mediator of vertebrate environmental sex determination?

Many reptiles and some fish determine offspring sex by environmental cues such as incubation temperature. The mechanism by which environmental signals are captured and transduced into specific sexual phenotypes has remained unexplained for over 50 years. Indeed, environmental sex determination (ESD) has been viewed as an intractable problem because sex determination is influenced by a myriad of genes that may be subject to environmental influence. Recent demonstrations of ancient, conserved epigenetic processes in the regulatory response to environmental cues suggest that the mechanisms of ESD have a previously unsuspected level of commonality, but the proximal sensor of temperature that ultimately gives rise to one sexual phenotype or the other remains unidentified. Here, we propose that in ESD species, environmental cues are sensed by the cell through highly conserved ancestral elements of calcium and redox (CaRe) status, then transduced to activate ubiquitous signal transduction pathways, or influence epigenetic processes, ultimately to drive the differential expression of sex genes. The early evolutionary origins of CaRe regulation, and its essential role in eukaryotic cell function, gives CaRe a propensity to be independently recruited for diverse roles as a ‘cellular sensor’ of environmental conditions. Our synthesis provides the first cohesive mechanistic model connecting environmental signals and sex determination pathways in vertebrates, providing direction and a framework for developing targeted experimentation.     

Does the redox status of cytochrome C act as a fail-safe mechanism in the regulation of programmed cell death?

It has now become recognized that one of the key events in the induction of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in both plants and animals is the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. It is also known that oxidative stress imposed on cells can have a profound effect on the onset or progression of apoptosis. Here, we discuss how the redox status of cytochrome c, and thus its structure, can be altered by the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH). We suggest that cytochrome c will only induce programmed cell death if present in the cytoplasm in the oxidized state, and that the presence of high levels of cytoplasmic GSH maintain cytochrome c in an inactive (reduced) state, thus behaving as a fail-safe mechanism if cytochrome c is released by mitochondria when programmed cell death is not the required outcome. If the redox status of the cell is disturbed however, perhaps in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, GSH concentrations will drop, the cellular E(h) will rise, and cytochrome c will tend towards the oxidized state, allowing programmed cell death to proceed. Therefore, we propose that the redox state of cytoplasmic cytochrome c may be a key regulator of programmed cell death.     

The redox state of free nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide phosphate in the cytoplasm of rat liver

1. The concentrations of the oxidized and reduced substrates of the ;malic' enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42) were measured in freeze-clamped rat livers. By assuming that the reactants of these dehydrogenase systems are at equilibrium in the cytoplasm the [free NADP(+)]/[free NADPH] ratio was calculated. The justification of the assumption is discussed. 2. The values of this ratio obtained under different nutritional conditions (well-fed, 48hr.-starved, fed with a low-carbohydrate diet, fed with a high-sucrose diet) were all of the same order of magnitude although characteristic changes occurred on varying the diet. The value of the ratio fell on starvation and on feeding with the low-carbohydrate diet and rose slightly on feeding with the high-sucrose diet. 3. The mean values of the ratio were calculated to be between 0.001 and 0.015, which is about 100000 times lower than the values of the cytoplasmic [free NAD(+)]/[free NADH] ratio. 4. The differences in the redox state of the two nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide couples can be explained on a simple physicochemical basis. The differences are the result of equilibria that are determined by the equilibrium constants of a number of highly active readily reversible dehydrogenases and transaminases and the concentrations of the substrates and products of these enzymes. 5. The decisive feature is the fact that the NAD and NADP couples share substrates. This sharing provides a link between the redox states of the two couples. 6. The application of the method of calculation to data published by Kraupp, Adler-Kastner, Niessner & Plank (1967), Goldberg, Passonneau & Lowry (1966) and Kauffman, Brown, Passonneau & Lowry (1968) shows that the redox states of the NAD and NADP couples in cardiac-muscle cytoplasm and in mouse-brain cytoplasm are of the same order as those in rat liver. 7. The determination of the equilibrium constant at 38 degrees , pH7.0 and I 0.25 (required for the calculation of the [free NADP(+)]/[free NADPH] ratio), gave a value of 3.44x10(-2)m for the ;malic' enzyme (with CO(2) rather than HCO(3) (-) as the reactant) and a value of 1.98x10(-2)m(-1) for glutathione reductase.     

Electronic characterization of the oxidized state of the blue copper protein rusticyanin by 1H NMR: is the axial methionine the dominant influence for the high redox potential?

The oxidized state of rusticyanin, the blue copper protein with the highest redox potential in its class, has been investigated through (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance applied to its cobalt(II) derivative. The assignment of the protons belonging to the coordinated residues has been performed. Many other amino acids situated in the vicinity of the metal ion, including six hydrophobic residues (isoleucine140 and five phenylalanines) have also been identified. The orientation of the main axes of the magnetic susceptibility tensor for the cobalt(II)-rusticyanin as well as its axial, Deltachi(ax), and rhombic, Deltachi(rh), magnetic susceptibility anisotropy components have been determined. A comparison of the present results with those previously obtained for cobalt(II)azurin [Donaire, A., Salgado, J., Moratal, J. M. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 8659-8673] allows us to provide further insights into the reasons for the high redox potential of this protein. According to our results, the interaction between the metal ion and the thioether Sdelta of the axial methionine is not as influential as the strong destabilizing effect that the hydrophobic residues close to the metal ion undergo in the oxidized state.     

Importance of dynamical processes in the coordination chemistry and redox conversion of copper amyloid-β complexes

Interaction of Cu ions with the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease; hence, determining the coordination of Cu^I and Cu^II ions to Aβ and the pathway of the Cu^I(Aβ)/Cu^II(Aβ) redox conversion is of great interest. In the present report, we use the room temperature X-ray absorption near edge structure to show that the binding sites of the Cu^I and Cu^II complexes are similar to those previously determined from frozen-solution studies. More precisely, the Cu^I is coordinated by the imidazole groups of two histidine residues in a linear fashion. However, an NMR study unravels the involvement of all three histidine residues in the Cu^I binding due to dynamical exchange between several set of ligands. The presence of an equilibrium is also responsible for the complex redox process observed by cyclic voltammetry and evidenced by a concentration-dependent electrochemical response.     

The PsbQ′ protein affects the redox potential of the Q<Subscript>A</Subscript> in photosystem II

Red alga contains four extrinsic proteins in photosystem II (PSII), which are PsbO, PsbV, PsbU, and PsbQ′. Except for the PsbQ′, the composition is the same in cyanobacterial PSII. Reconstitution analysis of cyanobacterial PSII has shown that oxygen-evolving activity does not depend on the presence of PsbQ′. Recently, the structure of red algal PSII was elucidated. However, the role of PsbQ′ remains unknown. In this study, the function of the acceptor side of PSII was analyzed in PsbQ′-reconstituted PSII by redox titration of Q_A and thermoluminescence. The redox potential of Q_A was positively shifted when PsbQ′ was attached to the PSII. The positive shift of Q_A is thought to cause a decrease in the amount of triplet chlorophyll in PSII. On the basis of these results, we propose that PsbQ′ has a photoprotective function when irradiated with strong light.     

Defined subcomplexes of the A1 ATPase from the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei Gö1: biochemical properties and redox regulation

The potential A(1) ATPase genes ahaA, ahaB, ahaC, ahaD, ahaE, ahaF, and ahaG from the anaerobic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei G?1 were overexpressed in Escherichia coli DK8 (pTL2). An A(1) complex was purified to apparent homogeneity and shown by Western blot and N-terminal sequence analyses to contain subunits A, B, C, D, and F but to be devoid of subunits E and G. Further removal of subunit C was without effect on ATPase activity. The enzyme was most active at pH 5.2 and required bisulfite and acetate for maximal activity. Kinetic studies confirmed three new inhibitors for A(1) ATPases (diethylstilbestrol and its derivatives hexestrol and dienestrol) and identified redox modulation as a new type of regulation of archaeal A(1) ATPases.     

The structure of the organic hydroperoxide resistance protein from Deinococcus radiodurans. Do conformational changes facilitate recycling of the redox disulfide?

The three-dimensional structure of the organic hydroperoxide resistance protein (OHRP) from Deinococcus radiodurans as determined using single crystal xray diffraction techniques is reported. Comparison of the structure with that obtained for OHRP from Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals that the polypeptide chain of OHRPs can adopt two significantly different conformations ("in" and "out") in the region of the active site disulfide moiety. It is postulated that the closed configuration is consistent with efficient catalysis of the reduction of organic hydroperoxides, whereas the open form is required for enzyme recycling. Comparison of the structures of OHRP and that of the osmotically induced protein C (OsmC) from Mycoplasma pneumoniae shows that OHRPs and OsmCs are structurally homologous, perhaps indicating related functions for the two families of proteins.     

α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase: a mitochondrial redox sensor

α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH), a key regulatory enzyme within the Krebs cycle, is sensitive to mitochondrial redox status. Treatment of mitochondria with H?O? results in reversible inhibition of KGDH due to glutathionylation of the cofactor, lipoic acid. Upon consumption of H?O?, glutathione is removed by glutaredoxin restoring KGDH activity. Glutathionylation appears to be enzymatically catalysed or require a unique microenvironment. This may represent an antioxidant response, diminishing the flow of electrons to the respiratory chain and protecting sulphydryl residues from oxidative damage. KGDH is, however, also susceptible to oxidative damage. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a lipid peroxidation product, reacts with lipoic acid resulting in enzyme inactivation. Evidence indicates that HNE modified lipoic acid is cleaved from KGDH, potentially the first step of a repair process. KGDH is therefore a likely redox sensor, reversibly altering metabolism to reduce oxidative damage and, under severe oxidative stress, acting as a sentinel of mitochondrial viability.