白藜芦醇减轻神经元氧化应激损伤的作用机制研究

目的:观察白藜芦醇(RSV)对过氧化氢(H2O2)所致的海马神经元HT22细胞损伤的保护作用,并探讨超氧化物歧化酶2(Mn-SOD)在其中的作用。方法:采用体外培养HT22小鼠海马神经元细胞系,H2O2作为损伤因素模拟氧化应激损伤。将细胞分为5组,分别为正常培养组(Control)、150μM H2O2损伤组(H2O2)、25μM白藜芦醇保护组(RSV+H2O2)、SOD2-si RNA干扰组(SOD2-si RNA+RSV+H2O2)和乱序RNA组(SC-si RNA+RSV+H2O2),药物暴露24 h后,应用MTT法检测HT22细胞活力、比色法检测乳酸脱氢酶(Lactate Dehydrogenase,LDH)释放量、相差显微镜观测细胞形态。结果:与对照组相比,H2O2组的活力显著下降(P0.05),LDH释放量明显增加(P0.05),细胞形态明显破坏;25μM的RSV显著恢复了HT22细胞的活力、减少了LDH释放、改善了细胞形态,而SOD2-si RNA显著逆转了RSV引起的上述保护作用,乱序RNA(SC-si RNA)未对上述保护作用产生明显影响。结论:白藜芦醇可能通过上调SOD2减轻H2O2对HT22细胞的氧化应激损伤。     

槲皮素调节大鼠肝细胞谷胱甘肽代谢的机制

目的：探讨60 μmol/L槲皮素调节BRL大鼠肝细胞谷胱甘肽（GSH）代谢的可能机制。方法：采用MTT法测定槲皮素对BRL细胞活力的影响;采用试剂盒法检测细胞内GSH和GSSG的含量,以及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）、肝脏谷胱甘肽 S转移酶（GST）、γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸连接酶（γ-GCL）、谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）的活性;采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测GSH-Px、GST、γ-GCL和GR基因mRNA的表达情况;采用ELISA法测定细胞内的Keap1、总Nrf2、ERK1/2、磷酸化ERK1/2（p-ERK1/2）、JNK、p-JNK,以及细胞核Nrf2的蛋白水平。结果：槲皮素不影响大鼠肝细胞的活力（P>0.05）;与对照组比较,槲皮素组细胞内还原型GSH含量和GSH/GSSG比值（P<0.05）显著降低（P<0.05）,γ-GCL酶活性显著减弱（P<0.05）,GR和GSH-Px的mRNA表达显著减少（P<0.05）,Keap1和JNK蛋白水平显著降低（P<0.05）。结论：槲皮素可减少BRL大鼠肝细胞还原型GSH的含量,这种作用主要与槲皮素抑制GSH的生成有关。     

槲皮素对甲硫氨酸负载大鼠氨基酸代谢的影响

为探讨槲皮素对甲硫氨酸(Met)负载大鼠氨基酸代谢的影响,将Wistar大鼠24只随机分为3组,即对照组、1％甲硫氨酸组以及1％甲硫氨酸和0.5％槲皮素组,喂养6周后,采用高压液相色谱法测定血清中半胱氨酸含量,全自动氨基酸分析仪测定血清中其他氨基酸含量.结果显示,1％甲硫氨酸干预后除对牛磺酸产生显著影响外,对其他氨基酸没有明显影响.0.5％槲皮素干预后,血清必需氨基酸苏氨酸、缬氨酸含量较1％ Met组显著升高(p＜0.05),牛磺酸、缬氨酸、亮氨酸和异亮氨酸较对照组亦显著升高(p＜0.05),而血清丝氨酸和脯氨酸含量较对照组显著降低(p＜0.05).结果表明,槲皮素可能加强甲硫氨酸转硫化代谢途径.     

不同营养治疗途径对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠血浆氨基酸谱和电解质的影响

目的比较不同配方肠内营养(EN)和肠外营养(PN)制剂对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)大鼠血浆氨基酸谱和电解质水平的影响。方法建立大鼠SAP模型,根据SAP营养代谢配制专用EN配方(EN-S)和含益生元(PRE)的EN配方(RPE-EN)。40只大鼠随机分为正常对照组(A组)、SAP+EN-S组(B组)、SAP+PRE-EN组(C组)、SAP+商品EN组(D组)和SAP+PN组(E组),营养治疗持续7 d,检测血浆氨基酸谱和电解质水平。结果B~E组主要氨基酸和总氨基酸水平显著低于A组(P<0.05),D组天门冬氨酸、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸水平显著低于B组(P<0.05)和C组,而谷氨酸、精氨酸、丙氨酸和苯丙氨酸显著低于C组(P<0.05),低于B组但无显著性差异;B~E组血清铁显著低于A组(P<0.05),D组的血清铁显著低于C组(P<0.05),除C组外,其余各组的血浆钠显著低于A组。结论EN-S配方在提高某些氨基酸水平上作用优于商品EN;含PRE微生态营养制剂具有改善蛋白质代谢和电解质平衡的作用;短期应用EN和PN对SAP动物蛋白质代谢和电解质平衡作用无显著性差异。     

小剂量多巴胺对氧化应激诱导大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的影响及其机制

目的:探讨小剂量多巴胺(DA)对氧化应激诱导大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的作用及可能机制。方法:采用培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞,随机分为正常对照组(control),过氧化氢处理组(H2O2),小剂量多巴胺干预组(DA+H2O2),多巴胺受体Ⅰ型阻断剂干预组(DR1+DA+H2O2),多巴胺受体II型阻断剂干预组(DR2+DA+H2O2);应用流式细胞仪、MTT检测心肌细胞的凋亡率,透射电子显微镜检测细胞超微结构的变化,比色法检测细胞培养液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,Western blot检测Cytochrone c、Caspase 3、Caspase 9的蛋白表达情况。结果:与单纯H2O2组相比,小剂量多巴胺(10μmol/L)可降低LDH活性,升高SOD活性,抑制心肌细胞凋亡和凋亡相关蛋白的表达;DR1阻断剂SCH-23390干预后,能够部分逆转这种作用,而DR2阻断剂Haloperido干预后没有明显的变化。结论:小剂量多巴胺可能通过DR1抑制氧化应激诱导的心肌细胞凋亡。     

何首乌苷通过激活BDNF/TrkB信号通路拮抗H2O2诱导的大鼠海马神经元氧化损伤

探讨脑源性神经营养因子/酪氨酸激酶受体B(BDNF/TrkB)信号通路激活参与何首乌苷(PMG)对过氧化氢(H2O2)诱导神经元氧化应激损伤的保护作用。实验采用神经元原代培养,建立大鼠乳鼠海马神经元氧化应激损伤模型。实验结果显示高浓度的H2O2与MTT测定的细胞存活率降低相关,选择细胞存活率在40%~50%之间的200μmol/LH2O2浓度作为氧化应激损伤的实验浓度。与模型组相比,PMG预处理组(200μmol/L)可抑制H2O2诱导的神经元损伤(P<0.001)。TUNEL和β-微管蛋白III荧光染色显示PMG保护H2O2诱导的神经细胞损伤,明显降低细胞凋亡率(P<0.001),细胞骨架形态恢复正常。与PMG+H2O2预处理组相比较,当加入BDNF/TrkB信号转导通路阻断剂K252a后,PMG+H2O2+K252a组神经元细胞存活率大幅度下降(P<0.01),细胞骨架形态呈损伤状态。同时,我们发现PMG预处理恢复H2O2诱导的BDNF和P-TrkB的低表达水平,并且用K252a阻断BDNF/TrkB信号传导抑制了PMG对BDNF和P-TrkB表达水平的影响(P<0.01)。综上所述,何首乌苷可能通过激活BDNF/TrkB信号转导通路及维护神经元骨架的完整,实现对大鼠海马神经元氧化应激损伤的拮抗作用。     

含氢HTK液对大鼠供心保存中心肌细胞凋亡的影响

目的:研究合氢HTK液对供心保存过程中心肌细胞凋亡的影响.方法:SD大鼠随机分4组:对照组(保存液为HTK液)、H1组(保存液为含氢浓度约0.8mM的HTK液),H2组(含氢浓度约0.4mM的HTK液),H3组(含氢浓度约0.2mM的HTK液).采用Langendorff离体大鼠心脏灌注法,心脏分别在各组保存液中冷保存(4℃)6h,Tunel染色测定心肌细胞凋亡率,荧光定量实时PCR检测凋亡相关基因Bcl-2和Bax的mRNA表达,分光光度法检测心肌组织中Caspase-3活性.结果:供心冷保存(4℃)6h后,H1、H2、H3组凋亡指数明显低于对照组.H1、H2、H3组的Bcl-2mRNA表达水平显著高于对照组(P<0.01或P<0.05);对照组的Bax mRNA水平明显高于H1、H2、H3组(P<0.01或P<0.05),对照组caspase-3活性明显高于H1、H2、H3组(P<0.01).结论:舍氢HTK明显抑制供心保存时大鼠心脏心肌细胞凋亡.     

葡萄糖氧化酶诱导肝细胞氧化应激模型的建立

目的:研究不同浓度葡萄糖氧化酶(GO)对人肝细胞L02氧化应激水平的影响,以确定建立肝细胞氧化应激模型的合适浓度。方法:用不同浓度GO干预L02肝细胞2h,MTT法检测细胞的存活率,流式细胞术检测细胞内活性氧簇(ROS),荧光强度(FI)来表示ROS水平。分光光度法检测检测细胞MDA、GSH,速率法检测细胞培养液LDH、AST和ALT的水平。结果:①随GO浓度增加,肝细胞的存活率逐渐降低,其中75U/L、100U/L和125U/L组存活率显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。②随GO浓度增加,MDA含量逐渐增高,其中50U/L、75U/L、100U/L、125U/L组MDA水平较对照组显著增高(P<0.05)。GSH水平随GO浓度增高而逐渐减低,各干预组较对照组均显著降低(P<0.05)。GO各干预组FI均较对照组显著降低(P<0.05)。③各干预组LDH活性均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),50U/L、75U/L、100U/L、125U/L干预组AST与ALT水平均较对照组显著增高(P<0.05)。结论:GO能引起的肝细胞氧化应激损伤有剂量依赖性,100U/L是建立肝细胞氧化应激的合适浓度。     

铜离子急性胁迫对虎纹蛙肝脏中三羧酸循环及自由基代谢的影响

为探明铜离子(Cu2+)对两栖动物肝脏线粒体中三羧酸(Tricarboxyl acid, TCA)循环及自由基代谢的毒理作用,采用静水暴露实验,研究了Cu2+不同浓度和不同暴露时间对虎纹蛙(Hoplobatrachus chinensis)肝脏线粒体中异柠檬酸脱氢酶(ICDHm)活性、-酮戊二酸脱氢酶(-KGDH)活性、抗超氧阴离子(anti-O2)活性、过氧化氢(H2O2)含量、抑制羟自由基(inhabit-OH)活性、一氧化氮(NO)含量以及一氧化氮合成酶(NOS)活性的影响。暴露实验共设置6个Cu2+浓度组(0.0、2.0、4.0、6.0、8.0和10.0 mg/L),分5个暴露时间(0、24h、48h、72h和96h)取材,对每个浓度的不同暴露时间分别取6个样本,测定TCA循环及自由基代谢的相关指标。结果显示,在TCA循环中随着Cu2+浓度的增加和暴露时间的延长,时间和浓度因素对ICDHm活性影响无显著性交互作用(P0.05),暴露时间的延长对ICDHm活性无显著性影响(P0.05),但随着Cu2+浓度的增加ICDHm活性逐渐减小;而时间和浓度因素对-KGDH活性影响有显著交互作用(P0.05),暴露处理后-KGDH活性下降,分别在24h和96h的4.0、6.0 mg/L时活性最低。在自由基代谢中,时间和浓度因素对抗O2活性、H2O2含量影响有显著交互作用(P0.05),而对抑制OH活性、NO含量、NOS活性的影响无显著性交互作用(P0.05)。不同时间随着Cu2+浓度的增加,抗O2活性均呈现出逐渐下降的趋势;实验处理后H2O2含量升高,在24h的6.0 mg/L时含量最大;随着暴露时间的延长和Cu2+浓度的增加抑制OH活性均逐渐降低;而NO含量和NOS活性的变化趋势基本相同,即随着Cu2+浓度的增加先增加后减少并趋近0浓度组,且都在6.0 mg/L时达到最大。研究结果表明急性Cu2+暴露对虎纹蛙肝脏线粒体中TCA循环及自由基代谢有显著的毒性作用。       

RNAi特异性抑制A20基因对H2O2诱导的HUASMC细胞表型的影响

目的:通过采用锌指蛋白A20基因干扰技术观察其对H2O2诱导的人脐动脉血管平滑肌细胞(HUASMC)超微结构影响,以初步研究锌指蛋白A20在氧化还原方面对细胞的保护作用.方法:将培养的人脐动脉血管平滑肌细胞随机分六组,空白组;A20siRNA组;scramble siRNA组;H2O2组;H2O2+A20siRNA组;H2O2+scramble siRNA,采用RT-PCR,Western-blotting方法观察A20基因表达变化,应用透射电镜观察细胞超微结构改变.结果:空白组A20mRNA与蛋白有微弱表达,A20siRNA组较空白组表达减少(P＜0.05);H2O2组A20mRNA与蛋白表达明显高于空白组但显著低于H2O2+A20siRNA组(P＜0.05)干扰效率大约55%.空白组平滑肌细胞(VSMC)电镜下呈典型的"收缩表型";H2O2组VSMC表型发生明显改变,呈"合成表型"H2O2+A20siRNA组成典型的合成表型且肌丝明显减少,细胞器及分泌物增多.结论:A20基因可以抑制H2O2损伤诱导的血管平滑肌细胞表型转化.     

Effect of amino acids on X-ray-induced hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical formation in water and 8-oxoguanine in DNA

Generation of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals in L-amino acid solutions in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, under X-ray irradiation was determined by enhanced chemiluminescence in the luminol-p-iodophenol-peroxidase system and using the fluorescent probe coumarin-3-carboxylic acid, respectively. Amino acids are divided into three groups according to their effect on the hydrogen peroxide formation under irradiation: those decreasing yield of H2O2, having no effect, and increasing its yield. All studied amino acids at 1 mM concentration decrease the yield of hydroxyl radicals in solution under X-ray irradiation. However, the highest effect is observed in the order: Cys > His > Phe = Met = Trp > Tyr. At Cys, Tyr, and His concentrations close to physiological, the yield of hydroxyl radicals decreases significantly. Immunoenzyme analysis using monoclonal antibodies to 8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine) was applied to study the effect of amino acids with the most pronounced antioxidant properties (Cys, Met, Tyr, Trp, Phe, His, Lys, Arg, Pro) on 8-oxoguanine formation in vitro under X-ray irradiation. It is shown that amino acids decrease the content of 8-oxoguanine in DNA. These amino acids within DNA-binding proteins may protect intracellular DNA against oxidative damage caused by formation of reactive oxygen species in conditions of moderate oxidative stress.     

Characterization and expression of L-amino acid oxidase of mouse milk

l-Amino acid oxidase (LAO) was purified from mouse milk. LAO reacted with l-amino acids in an apparent order of Phe > Met, Tyr > Cys, Leu > His other 11 amino acids tested and produced H(2)O(2) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. LAO in milk had a molecular mass of about 113 kDa and was converted to a 60-kDa protein by SDS-PAGE. LAO consisted of two subunits. The N- and C-terminal amino acid sequence determination followed by cDNA cloning showed that the 60-kDa protein consisted of 497 amino acids. LAO mRNA spanned about 2.0 kb, and its expression was found only in the mammary epithelial cells. Glucocorticoid was essential for LAO gene expression. Thus, the LAO gene is expressed acutely upon the onset of milk synthesis. LAO mRNA increased 1 day before parturition, peaked during early to mid-lactation, and decreased at the end of lactation. This is the first demonstration showing that LAO is present in milk. Mastitis is caused by an intramammary bacterial infection. As mouse milk produced H(2)O(2) using endogenous free amino acids, we suggest that LAO, together with free amino acids, is responsible for killing bacteria in the mammary gland.     

Replacement of methionine 208 in a truncated Bacillus sp. TS-23 alpha-amylase with oxidation-resistant leucine enhances its resistance to hydrogen peroxide

The methionine residues at positions 17, 104, 208, 214, 292, 315, 324, and 446 in the primary amino acid sequence of a truncated Bacillus sp. TS-23 alpha-amylase (His(6)-tagged BLADeltaNC) was changed to oxidative-resistant leucine by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzymes with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 54 kDa were overexpressed in recombinant Escherichia coli. The specific activity for Met315Leu and Met446Leu was decreased by more than 76%, while Met17Leu, Met104Leu, Met208Leu, Met214Leu, Met292Leu, and Met324Leu showed 247, 128, 37, 260, 232, and 241%, respectively, higher activity than the wild-type enzyme. In comparison with wild-type enzyme, a lower K(m) value was observed for all mutant enzymes. The 3.2- and 4.5-fold increases in the catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) for Met208Leu and Met324Leu, respectively, were partly contributed by a 68% and 38% decrease in K(m) values. Wild-type enzyme was sensitive to chemical oxidation, but Met208Leu was stable even in the presence of 500 mM H(2)O(2). Except for Met214Leu, which was quite sensitive to H(2)O(2), the other mutants showed a profile of oxidative inactivation similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. These observations indicate that the oxidative stability of His(6)-tagged BLADeltaNC can be improved by replacement of the critical methionine residue with leucine.     

Sensitized photooxygenation and peroxidase-catalyzed inactivation of xanthine oxidase--evidence of cysteine damage by singlet oxygen

Xanthine oxidase (XO) has been investigated for its decreased activity in several cancerous tissues and constitutive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo seems to contribute significantly to its inactivation. Singlet oxygen (1O2) production has been suggested to be relevant when considering folic acid metabolism by cancer cells. Thus, the susceptibility of XO to inactivation by 1O2 generated either by the bioenergized systems folic acid/peroxidase/GSH/Mn2+/O2 and malonaldehyde/peroxidase/Mn2+/O2 or by methylene blue (MB) or eosin-sensitized photooxygenation was studied. Our results showed that other ROS were also responsible for XO inactivation when MB was used. In contrast, eosin produced almost exclusively 1O2. Kinetic studies of XO oxidation in the malonaldehyde/peroxidase system showed that histidine (His) is a competitive inhibitor with respect to XO. A similar result was observed in the eosin-photosensitized process, suggesting the involvement of 1O2 in both processes. In addition, an efficient quenching of XO oxidation by guanosine in the folic acid/peroxidase system was observed. Amino acid analysis revealed that cysteine (Cys) is more affected than other XO amino acids also prone to oxidation such as tyrosine (Tyr), methionine (Met) and His. These results indicate that 1O2 may cause oxidative damage to the Cys residues of XO, with loss of enzyme activity. Alteration of the flavin prosthetic site is hypothesized.     

Sequential 1H NMR assignments of iron(II) cytochrome c551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Sequence-specific 1H NMR resonance assignments for all but the C-terminal Lys 82 are reported for iron(II) cytochrome c551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 25 degrees C and pH = 6.8. Spin systems were identified by using TOCSY and DQF-COSY spectra in 2H2O and 1H2O. Sequential assignments were made by using NOESY connectivities between adjacent amide, alpha, and beta protons. Resonances from several amino acids including His 16, Gly 24, Ile 48, and Met 61 experience strong ring-current shifts due to their placement near the heme. All heme protons, including the previously unassigned propionates, have been identified. Preliminary analysis of sequential and medium-range NOEs provides evidence for substantial amounts of helix in the solution structure. Long-range NOEs indicate that the folds in solution and crystal structures are similar. For one aromatic side chain (Tyr 27) that is close to the heme group we found a transition from hindered ring rotation at low temperature to rapid rotation at high temperature.     

Amino acids content and electrophoretic profile of camel milk casein from different camel breeds in Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to evaluate amino acids content and the electrophoretic profile of camel milk casein from different camel breeds. Milk from three different camel breeds (Majaheim, Wadah and Safrah) as well as cow milk were used in this study.Results showed that ash and moisture contents were significantly higher in camel milk casein of all breeds compared to that of cow milk. On the other hand, casein protein of cow milk was significantly higher compared to that of all camel milk breeds. Molecular weights of casein patterns of camel milk breeds were higher compared to that of cow milk.Essential (Phe, Lys and His) and non-essential amino acids content was significantly higher in cow milk casein compared to the casein of all camel milk breeds. However, there was no significant difference for the other essential amino acids between cow casein and the casein of Safrah breed and their quantities in cow and Safrah casein were significantly higher compared to the other two breeds. Non-essential amino acids except Arg and the essential amino acids (Met, Ile, Lue and Phe) were also significantly higher in cow milk α-casein compared to α-casein from all camel breeds. Moreover, essential amino acids (Val, Phe and His) and the non-essential amino acids (Gly and Ser) content was significantly higher in cow milk β-casein compared to the β-casein of all camel milk breeds and the opposite was true for Lys, Thr, Met and Ile. However, Met, Ile, Phe and His were significantly higher for β-casein of Majaheim compared to the other two milk breeds. The non-essential amino acids (Gly, Tyr, Ala and Asp) and the essential amino acids (Thr, Val and Ile) were significantly higher in cow milk κ-casein compared to that for all camel milk breeds. There was no significant difference among all camel milk breeds in their κ-casein content of most essential amino acids.Relative migration of casein bands of camel milk casein was not identical. The relative migration of α_s-, β- and κ-casein of camel casein was slower than those of cow casein. The molecular weights of α_s-, β- and κ-casein of camel caseins were 27.6, 23.8 and 22.4 KDa, respectively. More studies are needed to elucidate the structure of camel milk.     

Regulation of branched-chain, and sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism by glutathione during ultradian metabolic oscillation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Autonomous ultradian metabolic oscillation (T approximately or =50 min) was detected in an aerobic chemostat culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A pulse injection of GSH (a reduced form of glutathione) into the culture induced a perturbation in metabolic oscillation, with respiratory inhibition caused by H2S burst production. As the production of H2S in the culture was controlled by different amino acids, we attempted to characterize the effects of GSH on amino acid metabolism, particularly with regard to branched chain and sulfur-containing amino acids. During stable metabolic oscillation, concentrations of intracellular glutamate, aspartate, threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, and cysteine were observed to oscillate with the same periods of dissolved O2 oscillation, although the oscillation amplitudes and maximal phases were shown to differ. The methionine concentration was stably maintained at 0.05 mM. When GSH (100 microM) was injected into the culture, cellular levels of branched chain amino acids increased dramatically with continuous H2S production, whereas the cysteine and methionine concentrations were noticeably reduced. These results indicate that GSH-dependent perturbation occurs as the result of the promotion of branched chain amino acid synthesis and an attenuation of cysteine and methionine synthesis, both of which activate the generation of H2S. In a low sulfate medium containing 2.5 mM sulfate, the GSH injections did not result in perturbations of dissolved O2, NAD(P)H redox oscillations without burst H2 production. This suggests that GSH-dependent perturbation is intimately linked with the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids and H2 generation, rather than with direct GSH-GSSG redox control.     

Evidence for the involvement of histidine A(12) in the aggregation and precipitation of human relaxin induced by metal-catalyzed oxidation

The metal-catalyzed oxidation (ascorbate/cupric chloride/oxygen) of recombinant human relaxin (rhRlx, type II) was shown by Li et al. [Li, S., Nguyen, T. H., Sch?neich, C., and Borchardt, R. T. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 5762-5772] to result in the chemical modification of His A(12), Met B(4), and Met B(25). Considering the fact that His A(12) exists in an extended loop that joins two alpha-helices in this protein, we hypothesized that oxidation of this specific amino acid leads to alterations in the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein, resulting in the pH-dependent aggregation/precipitation phenomena observed in our earlier studies (i.e., at pH >6.0 most of the degradants of rhRlx are insoluble). Evidence obtained in the current study that supports this hypothesis includes the following: (i) oxidation of rhRlx with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), which leads only to modification of Met B(4) and Met B(25), does not result in the pH-dependent aggregation/precipitation of the protein; and (ii) metal-catalyzed oxidation of porcine relaxin (pRlx), which does not contain His at position A(12), leads to chemical degradation of the protein [e.g., Met A(2) is oxidized] but produces only slight pH-dependent aggregation/precipitation of the protein. In addition, experimental evidence is provided to show that the physical instability of rhRlx observed at pH >6.0 does not appear to be related to the pH-dependent solubility of a common protein degradant. Instead, it appears that several oxidation products of His A(12) are produced in a pH-dependent manner and that these oxidation products produce different effects on the physical stability of the protein. Evidence in support of this conclusion includes the observation that the soluble degradants of rhRlx showed reduced levels of His, reduced levels of the T(2)-T(7) tryptic fragment that contained His A(12), and the presence of 2-oxo-His. Similarly, the precipitated degradants of rhRlx showed reduced levels of His but no 2-oxo-His. In addition, the soluble degradants, which contain 2-oxo-His, appear to exist as monomers having an average molecular weight similar to that of rhRlx. These results suggest that the metal-catalyzed oxidation of His A(12) leads to other, as yet unidentified oxidation products of His A(12) that affect the secondary/tertiary structure of the protein more significantly than does 2-oxo-His and ultimately lead to the physical instability of the protein observed at higher pH values.