Formation of the thioester,N-acetyl,S-lactoylcysteine,by reaction of N-acetylcysteine with pyruvaldehyde in aqueous solution

Summary N-acetylcysteine reacts efficiently with pyruvaldehyde (methylglyoxal) in aqueous solution (pH 7.0) in the presence of a weak base, like imidazole or phosphate, to give the thioester, N-acetyl, S-lactoylcysteine. Reactions of 100 mM N-acetylcysteine with 14 mM, 24 mM and 41 mM pyruvaldehyde yield, respectively, 86%, 76% and 59% N-acetyl, S-lactoylcysteine based on pyruvaldehyde. The decrease in the percent yield at higher pyruvaldehyde concentrations suggests that during its formation the thioester is not only consumed by hydrolysis, but also by reaction with some substance in the pyruvaldehyde preparation. Indeed, purified N-acetyl, S-lactoylcysteine disappears much more rapidly in the presence of pyruvaldehyde than in its absence. Presumably, N-acetyl, S-lactoylcysteine synthesis occurs by rearrangement of the hemithioacetal of N-acetylcysteine and pyruvaldehyde. The significance of this pathway of thioester formation to molecular evolution is discussed.Abbreviations Ac-Cys N-acetylcysteine - Ac-Cys(Lac) N-acetyl, S-lactoylcysteine - Im imidazole - HPO ₄ ⁼ phosphate     

Ferricytochrome c Directly Oxidizes Aminoacetone to Methylglyoxal,a Catabolite Accumulated in Carbonyl Stress

Age-related diseases are associated with increased production of reactive oxygen and carbonyl species such as methylglyoxal. Aminoacetone, a putative threonine catabolite, is reportedly known to undergo metal-catalyzed oxidation to methylglyoxal, NH₄ ⁺ ion, and H₂O₂ coupled with (i) permeabilization of rat liver mitochondria, and (ii) apoptosis of insulin-producing cells. Oxidation of aminoacetone to methylglyoxal is now shown to be accelerated by ferricytochrome c, a reaction initiated by one-electron reduction of ferricytochrome c by aminoacetone without amino acid modifications. The participation of O₂ ^•− and HO^• radical intermediates is demonstrated by the inhibitory effect of added superoxide dismutase and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spin-trapping experiments with 5,5′-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide. We hypothesize that two consecutive one-electron transfers from aminoacetone (E₀ values = −0.51 and −1.0 V) to ferricytochrome c (E₀ = 0.26 V) may lead to aminoacetone enoyl radical and, subsequently, imine aminoacetone, whose hydrolysis yields methylglyoxal and NH₄ ⁺ ion. In the presence of oxygen, aminoacetone enoyl and O₂ ^•− radicals propagate aminoacetone oxidation to methylglyoxal and H₂O₂. These data endorse the hypothesis that aminoacetone, putatively accumulated in diabetes, may directly reduce ferricyt c yielding methylglyoxal and free radicals, thereby triggering redox imbalance and adverse mitochondrial responses.     

Metabolism of the 2-oxoaldehyde methylglyoxal by aldose reductase and by glyoxalase-I: roles for glutathione in both enzymes and implications for diabetic complications

Numerous physiological aldehydes besides glucose are substrates of aldose reductase, the first enzyme of the polyol pathway which has been implicated in the etiology of diabetic complications. The 2-oxoaldehyde methylglyoxal is a preferred substrate of aldose reductase but is also the main physiological substrate of the glutathione-dependent glyoxalase system. Aldose reductase catalyzes the reduction of methylglyoxal efficiently (k_cat=142 min⁻¹ and k_cat/K_m=1.8×10⁷ M⁻¹ min⁻¹). In the presence of physiological concentrations of glutathione, methylglyoxal is significantly converted into the hemithioacetal, which is the actual substrate of glyoxalase-I. However, in the presence of glutathione, the efficiency of reduction of methylglyoxal, catalyzed by aldose reductase, also increases. In addition, the site of reduction switches from the aldehyde to the ketone carbonyl. Thus, glutathione converts aldose reductase from an aldehyde reductase to a ketone reductase with methylglyoxal as substrate. The relative importance of aldose reductase and glyoxalase-I in the metabolic disposal of methylglyoxal is highly dependent upon the concentration of glutathione, owing to the non-catalytic pre-enzymatic reaction between methylglyoxal and glutathione.     

The sterochemical configuration of the lactoyl group of S-lactoylglutathionine formed by the action of glyoxalase I from porcine erythrocytes and yeast

S-Lactoylglutatione formed by the reaction between methylglyoxal and glutathione, catalyzed by glyoxalase I, has been isolated by means of gel filtration. The product was analyzed for content of thiolester, thiol, and d- and l-lactate before and after hydrolysis of the thiolester linkage. From the results it is concluded that glyoxalase I from both porcine erythrocytes and yeast stereospecifically transfers hydrogen to form S-d-lactoylglutathione from methylglyoxal and glutathione.     

Identification of Adducts Formed in the Reactions of Malonaldehyde–glyoxal and Malonaldehyde–methylglyoxal with Adenosine and Calf Thymus DNA

The reactions of adenosine with malonaldehyde and glyoxal, and with malonaldehyde and methylglyoxal resulted in the formation of one malonaldehyde–glyoxal and one malonaldehyde–methylglyoxal conjugate adduct, respectively. These adducts were isolated and purified by reversed‐phase liquid chromatography, and structurally characterized by UV, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The malonaldehyde–glyoxal adduct was identified as 8‐(diformylmethyl)‐3‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)imidazo[2,1‐i]purine (M₁Gx‐A), while the malonaldehyde–methylglyoxal one as 8‐(diformylmethyl)‐7‐methyl‐3‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)imidazo[2,1‐i]purine (M₁MGx‐A). Both adducts were also observed in calf thymus DNA when incubated in the respective aldehydes under physiological pH and temperature. Moreover, in the reaction of methylglyoxal and malonaldehyde with adenosine, an additional adduct was formed. This adduct was found to consist of one unit derived from methylglyoxal and one unit from formaldehyde. The adduct was identified as N⁶‐(2,3‐dihydroxy‐2‐methylpropanoyl)‐9‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)purine (MGxFA‐A). Formaldehyde was found to originate from the commercial methylglyoxal in which it was present as an impurity.     

A simple reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for polysorbate 80 quantitation in monoclonal antibody drug products

In this paper, we discuss an improved high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantitation of polysorbate 80 (polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate), a commonly used stabilizing excipient in therapeutic drug solutions. This method is performed by quantitation of oleic acid, a hydrolysis product of polysorbate 80. Using base hydrolysis, polysorbate 80 releases the oleic acid at a 1:1 molar ratio. The oleic acid can then be separated from other polysorbate 80 hydrolysis products and matrices using reversed phase HPLC. The oleic acid is monitored without derivatization using the absorbance at 195 nm. The method was validated and also shown to be accurate for the quantitation of polysorbate 80 in a high protein concentration monoclonal antibody drug product. For the measured polysorbate 80 concentrations, the repeatability was less than 6.2% relative standard deviation of the mean (% RSD) with the day-to-day intermediate precision being less than 8.2% RSD. The accuracy of the oleic acid quantitation averaged 94–109% in different IgG₁ and IgG₄ drug solutions with variable polysorbate 80 concentrations. In this study, polyoxyethylene, a by-product of the polysorbate 80 hydrolysis was also identified. This peak was not identified by previous methods and also increased proportionally to the polysorbate 80 concentration. We have developed and qualified a method which uses common equipment found in most laboratories and is usable over a range of monoclonal antibody subclasses and protein concentrations.     

Methylglyoxal as a scavenger for superoxide anion-radical

Methylglyoxal at a concentration of 5 mM caused a significant inhibition of superoxide anion radical (O₂^·-) comparable to the effect of Tirone. In the process of O₂^·- generation in the system of egg phosphatidylcholine liposome peroxidation induced by the azo-initiator AIBN, a marked inhibition of chemiluminescence in the presence of 100 mM methylglyoxal was found. At the same time, methylglyoxal did not inhibit free radical peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein particles, which indicates the absence of interaction with methylglyoxal alkoxyl and peroxyl polyenoic lipid radicals. These findings deepen information about the role of methylglyoxal in the regulation of free radical processes.     

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis promoted by cobalt(III).Participation of polynuclear metal complexes

Complex formation between ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) and tn₂CO^III(aq) (tn = trimethylenediamine) and resulting hydrolysis of the ATP to ADP (adenosine 5′-diphosphate), AMP (adenosine 5′-monophosphate), PP_i (pyrophosphate), and P_i (orthophosphate) have been examined by means of ³¹P nmr. With ATP ～0.1 M and tn₂Co^III(aq) up to 0.3 M, complex formation was promoted by equilibrating solutions for a period at pH 4, after which hydrolysis was allowed to proceed at each of several pHs in the range 5 to 9 prior to quenching by addition of strong base. With ATP 0.01 M and tn₂Co^III(aq) up to 0.08 M, the above procedure was followed in some cases; in other experiments the pH of each ATP/tn₂Co^III(aq) solution was adjusted immediately to a value in the range 5 to 9 with the remainder of the procedure as before. In most cases the hydrolysis was at 25°C, but temperature dependence was also examined. The integrals for the β-phosphorus resonance have been used to analyze for ATP in the quenched solutions; independent measurements of ATP by an enzyme/spectrophotometric method (Bergmeyer) gave similar results. Cobalt to ATP molar ratios up to 1 produce tn₂Co^IIIATP as the predominant ATP complex; this 1:1 complex shows no detectable acceleration in hydrolysis compared to free ATP. Cobalt to ATP molar ratios of ?1 lead to complexes of type (tn₂Co^III)₂ATP and (tn₂Co^III)₃ATP, which exhibit greatly enhanced reactivity towards ATP hydrolysis. At a 2:1 molar ratio (0.1 or 0.01 M ATP), the enhancement is rate is ～10⁵ at pH 7 where the rate is a maximum (comparison for 25°C); at higher molar ratios the rate enhancements are even greater. The results support the view that effective metal ion catalysis of ATP hydrolysis requires formation of reactive species involving more than one metal ion per ATP.     

Methylglyoxal Causes Swelling and Activation of a Volume-Sensitive Anion Conductance in Rat Pancreatic β-Cells

Membrane potential and whole-cell current were studied in rat pancreatic β-cells using the `perforated patch' technique and cell volume measured by a video-imaging method. Exposure of β-cells to the α-ketoaldehyde methylglyoxal (1 mm) resulted in depolarization and electrical activity. In cells voltage-clamped at −70 mV, this effect was accompanied by the development of inward current noise. In voltage-pulse experiments, methylglyoxal activated an outwardly rectifying conductance which was virtually identical to the volume-sensitive anion conductance previously described in these cells. Two inhibitors of this conductance, 4,4′-dithiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB), also inhibited the depolarization and inward current evoked by methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal increased β-cell volume to a relative value of 1.33 after 10 min with a gradual return towards basal levels following withdrawal of the α-ketoaldehyde. None of the effects of methylglyoxal was observed in response to t-butylglyoxal which, unlike methylglyoxal, is a poor substrate for the glyoxalase pathway. Methylglyoxal had no apparent effect on β-cell K⁺ channel activity. It is suggested that the metabolism of methylglyoxal to d-lactate causes β-cell swelling and activation of the volume-sensitive anion channel, leading to depolarization. These findings could be relevant to the stimulatory action of d-glucose, the metabolism of which generates significant quantities of l-lactate. Received: 15 May 1998/Revised: 25 September 1998     

Hydrolysis of organic phosphates by corn and soybean roots

Because of the importance of organic phosphates as sources of P for plants, this work was performed to study the hydrolysis of nine organic phosphates by sterile, intact corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) roots. Results showed that the rates of hydrolysis ofp-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNP) in buffered solutions by roots of three varieties of corn and three varieties of soybean ranged from 13 to 22 μmol PO₄−P g⁻¹ root h⁻¹ and from 2.1 to 2.2 μmol PO₄−P 0.1 g⁻¹ root h⁻¹, respectively. The average rate of hydrolysis of PNP in nonbuffered solutions was 2- to 3-fold lower for corn roots and 6- to 10-fold lower for soybean roots as compared with those obtained with buffered solutions. The orthophosphate released from hydrolysis of organic P compounds in buffered solutions during a 48-h incubation of corn roots showed that the maximum rate of hydrolysis of PNP was 4 to 6 times greater than the commonly used substrates: α- and β-glycerophosphates, phenolphthalein diphosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate. The rates of hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate and glucose-1-phosphate were similar and about 6- to 12-fold lower than that of PNP. Phosphoethanolamine and phosphocholine were hydrolyzed slightly, ando-carboxyphenyl phosphate was not hydrolyzed. The rates of hydrolysis of organic P compounds in nonbuffered solutions by corn and soybean roots were 1 to 3 and 1 to 10 times lower than those in buffered solutions, respectively. The trends in rates of hydrolysis by soybean roots of buffered organic P substrates were similar to those observed with corn roots, with the exception of glucose-1-phosphate and phosphoethanolamine.     

Cerium(IV)/Lanthanide(III)/Dextran Ternary Solutions for Efficient and Homogeneous DNA Hydrolysis

Abstract

Homogeneous and neutral solutions are prepared by mixing Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆ and dextrans at pH 7. These homogeneous solutions are active for DNA hydrolysis. Still more importantly, the activities of the binary solutions are greatly promoted by the addition of various lanthanide(III) ions.     

The interaction of superoxide radicals with active dicarbonyl compounds

The interaction of superoxide radical anion (O₂ ^??) with active dicarbonyls (methylglyoxal, glyoxal, and malonic dialdehyde) was studied. It was demonstrated that glyoxal and methylglyoxal inhibited superoxide-dependent accumulation of formazan; however, malonic dialdehyde stimulated this process. The formation of O₂ ^?? in these experiments occurred during the decomposition of the SOTS-1 azo initiator. On the other hand, all of the studied dicarbonyls in this system of O₂ ^?? generation competed for superoxide with the TIR ON spin trap. These compounds also inhibited luminal-dependent chemiluminescence during the AIBN azo initiator-induced peroxidation of liposomes from the egg phosphatidylcholine. A mechanism for the antiradical and antioxidant effects of the studied dicarbonyls, assuming the production of free radical intermediates in their reactions with O₂ ^?? or its protonated form, is proposed.     

Enantioselective cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA catalyzed by chiral macrocyclic lanthanide(III) complexes

The enantiomers of the Sm (III), Eu (III) and Yb (III) complexes [LnL(NO₃)₂](NO₃) of a chiral hexaazamacrocycle were tested as catalysts for the hydrolytic cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA. The catalytic activity was remarkably enantioselective; while the [LnL^SSSS(NO₃)₂](NO₃) enantiomers promoted the cleavage of plasmid pBR322 from the supercoiled form (SC) to the nicked form (NC), the [LnL^RRRR(NO₃)₂](NO₃) enantiomers were inactive. Kinetics of plasmid DNA hydrolysis was also investigated by agarose electrophoresis and it indicated typical single-exponential cleavage reaction. The hydrolytic mechanism of DNA cleavage was confirmed by the successful ligation of hydrolysis product by T4 ligase. The NMR study of the solutions of the complexes in various buffers indicated that the complexes exist as monomeric cationic complexes [LnL(H₂O)₃]^3 + in slightly acidic solutions and as dimeric cationic complexes [Ln₂L₂(μ-OH)₂(H₂O)₂]^4 + in slightly basic 8 mM solutions, with the latter form being a possible catalyst for hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds.     

Generation of electronic energy in the myoglobin-catalyzed oxidation of acetoacetate to methylglyoxal

The myoglobin- or peroxidase-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of acetoacetate to methylglyoxal produces a very weak emission. Light production, methylglyoxal formation, and O₂ uptake strictly correlate with each other. The excited species first formed appears to be triplet methylglyoxal. Formation of the latter species is supported by the increased light emission observed in the presence of very low concentrations of certain sensitizers which contain heavy atoms and have low-lying excited states. In an aprotic solvent the emitter is excited methylglyoxal. The results strongly support the inference that by catalyzing the reaction, myoglobin is damaged by a “photochemistry without light” effect. It is the consequence of the formation of excited methylglyoxal in a major process.     

Reduction of methylglyoxal in Escherichia coli K12 by an aldehyde reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase

Two enzymes, one NADPH-dependent and another NADH-dependent which catalyze the reduction of methylglyoxal to acetol have been isolated and substantially purified from crude extracts of Escherichia coli K₁₂ cells. Substrate specificity and formation of acetol as the reaction product by both the enzymes, reversibility of NADH-dependent enzyme with alcohols as substrates and inhibitor study with NADPH-dependent enzyme indicate that NADPH-dependent and NADH-dependent enzymes are identical with an aldehyde reductase (EC 1.1.1.2) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) respectively. The K_m for methylglyoxal have been determined to be 0.77 mM for NADPH-dependent and 3.8 mM for NADH-dependent enzyme. Stoichiometrically equimolar amount of acetol is formed from methylglyoxal by both NADPH- and NADH-dependent enzymes. In phosphate buffer, both the enzymes are active in the pH range of 5.8–6.6 with no sharp pH optimum. Molecular weight of both the enzymes were found to be 100,000 ± 3,000 by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200 column. Both NADPH- and NADH-dependent enzymes are sensitive to sulfhydryl group reagents.     

Activator proteins for sulphatide hydrolysis and GM1-ganglioside hydrolysis. Probable identity on the basis of their co-purification,properties, ligand binding and immunochemical interactions

The concurrent purification of the activator protein for sulphatide hydrolysis and for G_M1-ganglioside hydrolysis including chromat ofocusing and hydrophobic chromatography stages is described. The purified preparation has a pl of 4.2 and the sub-unit M_r is 10 000. The stoichiometry of binding of sulphatide and ganglioside to the protein is very similar. Both activities are removed in similar proportions on binding to IgG purified from antisera raised against the activator protein. The probable identity of the activator protein for sulphatide hydrolysis with that for G_M1-ganglioside hydrolysis and a molecular explanation for this identity are discussed.     

Immobilization of yeast cells by adhesion on tuff granules

Summary A method for immobilizing yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) possessing invertase activity by direct adhesion on tuff granules coated with insolubilized gelatin is described. The immobilized cells, firmly fixed as a monolayer onto the surface of the support granules display catalytic properties (in terms of apparent K _m) close to free cells and are particularly suitable for continuous sucrose hydrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor. From an industrial point of view, the immobilization method described here has two advantages over other immobilization methods, i.e. the immobilized yeast cells have a fairly good operational stability and their proliferation on tuff granules can be controlled.     

Isolation of Highly Purified “Fucoidan” from Eisenia bicyclis and Its Anticoagulant and Antitumor Activities

Glycolaldehyde and methylglyoxal, both model compounds structurally related to potential C₂ and C₃ sugar fragments, showed extremely high reaction rates in browning with β-alanine compared to the usual reducing sugars and even to such active intermediate products of amino-carbonyl reaction as the Amadori product and osones. Production of C₂ and C₃ sugar fragments in a glucose-β-alanine system was negligible in acidic conditions, but increased with pH in a manner parallel to the increase in browning and also to the N/C ratio of the melanoidins. These results indicated that the proposed new pathway of browning, involving sugar fragmentation, is very important in the initial stages of browning in the Maillard reaction of neutral or alkaline solutions.     

Characterization of Methylglyoxal Synthase from Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 and Its Use in the Formation of 1,2-Propanediol

A gene encoding a putative 150-amino-acid methylglyoxal synthase was identified in Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Methylglyoxal synthase has a native molecular mass of 60 kDa and an optimum pH of 7.5. The K_m and V_max values for the substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate were 0.53 mM and 1.56 mmol min⁻¹ μg⁻¹, respectively. When E. coli glycerol dehydrogenase was coexpressed with methylglyoxal synthase in E. coli BL21(DE3), 3.9 mM 1,2-propanediol was produced.     

N-acetyl-(L-Ala) 3 -p-nitroanilide as a new chromogenic substrate for elastase

The introduction of a useful new chromogenic substrate for the determination of elastase (EC 3.4.4.7) activity is described. N-acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Ala-$\text{p}$-nitroanilide (AcAla₃NA) is a new specific elastase substrate whose hydrolysis can be followed spectrophotometrically at 410 nm in a wide pH range. Its rate of hydrolysis by α-chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.4.5) and trypsin (EC 3.4.4.4.) is 0.02% and 0.001% respectively compared to its rate of hydrolysis by elastase. As little as 0.1 μg elastase/ml can be satisfactorily determined. At pH 8, K_m = 0.88 mM and k_cat = 11.9 sec^?1.