Effect of butaclamol enantiomers on hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat brain

The authors demonstrate stereospecificity of the action of butaclamol enantiomers on substrate inhibition of hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and regulation of the tyrosine hydroxylase response by the presynaptic membrane (presynaptic receptors) of rat hypothalamus synaptosomes under membrane activation with dopamine. The effect of (+)-butaclamol on the substrate inhibition of TH was noticeable at a concentration of 10(-8)M, reaching a maximum at 10(-5)M. (-)-Butaclamol administered at the same concentrations did not influence the substrate inhibition of the enzyme. (+)-Butaclamol added to the incubation medium containing hypothalamic synaptosomes concurrently with dopamine (10(-5)M) completely blocked the regulatory action of the latter on TH, with this action mediated via presynaptic receptors. (-)-Butaclamol (10(-5)M) antagonized the action of dopamine under the same conditions. The data obtained indicate high stereo-specificity of butaclamol enantiomers as regards their effect on presynaptic regulation of TH, suggesting that elimination of the substrate inhibition of hypothalamic TH is a stereoselective effect of neuroleptics and can be a prognostically important criterion in the appraisal of compounds with potential neuroleptic activity.     

Effect of neuroleptics on tyrosine hydroxylase from rat hypothalamus synaptosomes]

A study was made of the effect of a number of neuroleptics of various chemical structure of tyrosine-hydroxilase isolated from the synaptosomes of rat hypothalamus. A direct spectrophotometric method of determination of the activity of the enzyme was used; it was based on measurement of the absorbence at 335 nm (at the isobestic point for oxidized forms of a synthetic cofactor 6,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterine). At the tyrosine concentration of 0.15 muM haloperidol, haloanizon, and fluorophenazin were found to increase, and triperidol, droperidol and carbidin -- to decrease the initial rate of thyrosinehydroxilase reaction. All the neuroleptics under study proved to be capable of eliminating the substrate inhibition of the enzyme occurring with a rise of tyrosine concentration to 0.3 mM. The KM value for tyrosine failed to alter with the action of neuroleptics. The effect of neuroleptics was assumed to be of allosteric nature.     

The Activity of Rat Pineal and Brain Tyrosine Hydroxylase During the Daily Cycle of Light and Darkness as Determined by the Modified 14CO2 Assay Method

A previous published assay method for tyrosine hydroxylase by the evolution of 14CO2 was modified to a two-step procedure to allow reliable measurement of large numbers of samples containing low tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The reliability of the method was examined in detail. Properties of rat brain and pineal tyrosine hydroxylase solubilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 were as follows. The apparent Km values of the brain enzyme for L-tyrosine with 1 mM-(6-DL)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-erythro-biopterin (BPH4) as cofactor and for BPH4 with 62 microM-L-tyrosine as substrate were approximately 25 microM and 85 microM, respectively. The Km's for L-tyrosine with 1 mM-(6-DL)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-methylpterin (6MPH4) as cofactor and for 6MPH4 with 210 microM-L-tyrosine as substrate were 68 microM and 270 microM, respectively. The marked substrate inhibition by high concentrations of L-tyrosine was observed only when BPH4 was used as cofactor. High concentrations of BPH4 inhibited the reaction slightly. The kinetic properties of tyrosine hydroxylase in the pineal extract were similar to those of the brain enzyme, except that a Lineweaver-Burk plot of reciprocal velocity versus the reciprocal concentration of BPH4 with 62 microM-L-tyrosine as substrate deviated downward at a BPH4 concentration of about 100 microM. Analyses of the plot indicated that the peculiar kinetic property may represent either the reaction occurring at two independent sites or with two forms (6L- and 6D-isomers) of the tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor, with apparent Km for BPH4 of 23 microM and 1025 microM, respectively, or the negatively cooperative ligand binding with a Hill coefficient of 0.72. Based on the results obtained as reported above the standard assay conditions of tyrosine hydroxylase in tissue extracts were established. Using the assay method and conditions, the absence of the daily rhythmicity of tyrosine hydroxylase in rat pineal glands and three discrete brain areas was demonstrated. The findings, especially on pineal tyrosine hydroxylase, are discussed in relation to the daily change of noradrenaline turnover.     

The hydroxylation of phenylalanine and tyrosine by tyrosine hydroxylase from cultured pheochromocytoma cells.

Pheochromocytoma tyrosine hydroxylase was reported to have unusual catalytic properties, which might be unique to the tumor enzyme (Dix, T. A., Kuhn, D. M., and Benkovic, S. J. (1987) Biochemistry 24, 3354-3361). Two such properties, namely the apparent inability to hydroxylate phenylalanine and an unprecedented reactivity with hydrogen peroxide were investigated further in the present study. Tyrosine hydroxylase was purified to apparent homogeneity from cultured pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. The purified tumor enzyme was entirely dependent on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) for the hydroxylation of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and hydrogen peroxide could not substitute for the natural cofactor. Indeed, in the presence of BH4, increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide completely inhibited enzyme activity. The PC12 hydroxylase exhibited typical kinetics of tyrosine hydroxylation exhibited typical kinetics of tyrosine hydroxylation, both as a function of tyrosine (S0.5 Tyr = 15 microM) and BH4 (apparent Km BH4 = 210 microM). In addition, the enzyme catalyzed the hydroxylation of substantial amounts of phenylalanine to tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (apparent Km Phe = 100 microM). Phenylalanine did not inhibit the enzyme in the concentrations tested, whereas tyrosine showed typical substrate inhibition at concentrations greater than or equal to 50 microM. At higher substrate concentrations, the rate of phenylalanine hydroxylation was equal to or exceeded that of tyrosine. Essentially identical results were obtained with purified tyrosine hydroxylase from pheochromocytoma PC18 cells. The data suggest that the tumor enzyme has the same substrate specificity and sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide as tyrosine hydroxylase from other tissues.     

Expression of rat tyrosine hydroxylase in insect tissue culture cells and purification and characterization of the cloned enzyme

Rat tyrosine hydroxylase has been expressed at high levels in Spodoptera frugiperda cells using a baculovirus expression system. A cDNA containing the coding region for PC12 tyrosine hydroxylase was inserted into the unique EcoRI site of the transfer vector pLJC8 to yield the recombinant vector pLJC9. Spodoptera frugiperda cells were then co-infected with pLJC9 and wild type Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Recombinant virus particles containing the cDNA for tyrosine hydroxylase were selected by hybridization with authentic tyrosine hydroxylase cDNA. Three recombinant viruses were plaque-purified. All expressed a protein of Mr = 55,000 which reacted with antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase. Forty-eight h after infection of cells with recombinant virus, the specific activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the cell lysate was 30-100 nmol of dihydroxyphenylalanine produced/min/mg, consistent with 5-10% of the cell protein being tyrosine hydroxylase. Purification from 2.1 g of cells gave 5.8 mg of enzyme with a specific activity of 1.7 mumol of dihydroxyphenylalanine/min/mg. The purified enzyme is a tetramer of identical subunits, containing one covalently bound phosphoryl residue and 0.1 iron atom/subunit. No carbohydrate was detectable. Steady state kinetic results with tetrahydrobiopterin as substrate are consistent with a sequential mechanism for binding of tyrosine and tetrahydrobiopterin. Substrate inhibition occurs at tyrosine concentrations above 50 microM. Steady state kinetic parameters at pH 6.5 are Vmax = 74 min-1, KBH4 = 21 microM, KTyr = 9.4 microM, and Ko2 less than or equal to 6 microM. The Vmax value shows a broad pH optimum around pH 7. The KBH4 value is pH-dependent, increasing from about 20 microM below pH 7 to about 100 microM above pH 8. The KTyr value is independent of pH between pH 6 and pH 8.5.     

Effect of the atypical neuroleptics karbidin and sulpiride on the synaptosomal tyrosine hydroxylase of the corpus striatum of rats

An in vitro study was made of the influence of the atypical neuroleptics sulpiride and carbidine on the activity of synaptosomal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) of the rat brain striatum. Dopamine was applied as an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylation (10(-6) M), dopamine uptake was blocked by nomifensine (10(-5) M). The experiments were performed in two versions: in a medium containing common (5 mM) and depolarizing concentration of potassium ions. In both the cases sulpiride did not exert any noticeable effect on TH activity but significantly lowered the inhibitory action of dopamine. In a medium containing 30 mM potassium, carbidise inhibited the rate of TH hydroxylation and enhanced the inhibitory action of dopamine on TH activity under blockade of its uptake by nomifensine. It is assumed that the mechanisms of the action of carbidine and sulpiride are different.     

A decrease of neuroprotector effect of ganglioside GM1 on PC12 cells under conditions of oxidative stress in the presence of inhibitor of tyrosine kinase of Trk-receptors

Effects of inhibitors of tyrosine kinases (K-252a, genistein) and of phospholipase A2 (bromophenacetyl bromide) on viability of PC12 cells are studied in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and ganglioside GM1. The degree of inhibition of hydrogen peroxide cytotoxic effect by ganglioside GM1 amounted to 52.8 +/- 4.3 %. However, in the presence in the medium of 0.1 and 1 microM inhibitors of tyrosine kinase of Trk-receptors (K-252a) it was as low as 32.7 +/- 6.5 % and 11.7 +/- 9.8 %, respectively. GM1 prevented Na+, K+-ATPase produced by H2O2, but in the presence of 1 microM K-252a this effect was practically not pronounced. In the presence of another inhibitor of tyrosine kinases--genistein, a tendency for a decrease of the GM1 protective effect was observed at its concentrations 0.1 and 1 microM, whereas at a higher concentration 10 microM genistein depressed the GM1 neuroprotective effect statistically significantly. It was found that inhibitor of phospholipase A2 bromophenacetyl bromide did not affect the action of GM1 aimed at increasing the viability of cells under action of hydrogen peroxide on them. It seems that this enzyme is not involved in the cascade of reactions participating in realization of the ganglioside protective effect. Thus, inhibitor of tyrosine kinase of Trk-receptors K-252 decreases or practically prevents the ganglioside GM1 neuroprotective effect of PC12 cells under stress conditions; the same ability is characteristic of genistein--an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases of the wider spectrum of action.     

The role of sulfhydryl compounds in mammalian melanogenesis: the effect of cysteine and glutathione upon tyrosinase and the intermediates of the pathway

The effect of cysteine and glutathione on mammalian melanogenesis has been studied. It has been shown that their action is mediated by two different mechanisms. (a) The reaction of the thiol groups with dopaquinone after the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of tyrosine and dopa. This mechanism leads to the formation of sulfhydryl-dopa conjugates and finally sulfur-containing pigments, phaeomelanins instead of eumelanins. This fact might produce an inhibition of melanogenesis due to the slower rate of chemical reactions involved in the polymerization of such thiol-conjugates when compared to that of indoles. (b) The direct interaction between the sulfhydryl compounds and the tyrosinase active site. This interaction may regulate the activity of the enzyme. It is shown that Harding-Passey mouse melanoma tyrosinase is more sensitive to sulfhydryl compounds than mushroom tyrosinase. Cysteine always produces an inhibition of the tyrosinase hydroxylase and dopa oxidase activities of melanoma tyrosinase, this inhibition becoming greater as the cysteine concentration increases. On the other hand, glutathione produces an activation of the tyrosine hydroxylase activity below 3 mM and an inhibition at higher concentrations. The limit between the enzymatic activation and inhibition appears at glutathione concentrations similar to the physiological levels of this compound found in melanocytes. Although the switch from eumelanogenesis to phaeomelanogenesis occurs at much lower concentrations of glutathione, taking into account these data it is discussed that this sulfhydryl compound may regulate not only the type but also the amount of melanin formed inside melanocytes.     

Splicing Pattern of Gsα mRNA in Human and Rat Brain

The enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Tyrosine hydroxylase is a substrate for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase as well as other protein kinases. We determined the Km and Vmax of rat pheochromocytoma tyrosine hydroxylase for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and obtained values of 136 microM and 7.1 mumol/min/mg of catalytic subunit, respectively. These values were not appreciably affected by the substrates for tyrosine hydroxylase (tyrosine and tetrahydrobiopterin) or by feedback inhibitors (dopamine and norepinephrine). The high Km of tyrosine hydroxylase correlates with the high content of tyrosine hydroxylase in catecholaminergic cells. We also determined the kinetic constants for peptides modeled after actual or potential tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation sites. We found that the best substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase were those peptides corresponding to serine 40. Tyrosine hydroxylase (36-46), for example, exhibited a Km of 108 microM and a Vmax of 6.93 mumol/min/mg of catalytic subunit. The next best substrate was the peptide corresponding to serine 153. The peptide containing the sequence conforming to serine 19 was a very poor substrate, and that conforming to serine 172 was not phosphorylated to any significant extent. The primary structure of the actual or potential phosphorylation sites is sufficient to explain the substrate behavior of the native enzyme.     

Interaction of tyrosine hydroxylase with ribonucleic acid and purification with DNA-cellulose or poly(A)-sepharose affinity chromatography

Tyrosine hydroxylase in bovine adrenal medulla was activated up to fourfold by incubation with low concentrations (15 micrograms/ml) of ribonucleic acids. At higher RNA concentrations, enzyme activity was inhibited. This interaction with RNA was exploited with the use of poly(A)-Sepharose and DNA-cellulose to effect a rapid purification of stable tyrosine hydroxylase from rat brain and bovine adrenal medulla in high yield (up to 58%). With the purified rat brain enzyme, RNA acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor, a concentration of 15 micrograms/ml lowering the Vmax of tyrosine hydroxylase from 1050 to 569 nmol min-1 mg-1 and lowering the Km for tyrosine from 6.1 to 3.6 microM. With the natural cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), two Km values were obtained, indicating the presence of two forms of the enzyme. Both Km values were decreased only slightly by RNA. The purified brain and adrenal enzymes both contained about 0.07 mol of phosphate/63,000-Da subunit; in both cases, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzed the incorporation of an additional 0.8 mol of phosphate/subunit. The purified enzyme also contains ribonucleic acid, which comprises about 10% of the total mass and appears to be important for full activity.     

Ratio of brain synaptosome Na, K-ATPase to dopamine receptors

Activating (0.3-3 microM) or inhibitory (0.03-0.3 mM) effects of dopamine (DA) in the absence of Ca2+, and its inhibitory effect in the presence of Ca2+ on Na,K-ATPase activity of synaptosomes from the caudate nucleus of the rat brain were confirmed. Na,K-ATPase was shown to be inhibited by 6 neuroleptics, with the degree of inhibition stronger in the presence of Ca2+. It was found that: 1) the biphasic or monophasic nature of DA action on Na,K-ATPase activity was preserved in the presence of neuroleptics, 2) DA enhances the inhibitory effects of neuroleptics on the enzyme, 3) the inhibitory effects of DA on Na,K-ATPase are enhanced by Ca2+ ions. The mechanisms of the modifying action of DA on synaptosomal Na,K-ATPase are discussed.     

Activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by micromolar concentrations of calcium in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal medullary cells

In digitonin-permeabilized bovine adrenal medullary cells, Ca2+ (0.1-1.0 microM) caused an activation of tyrosine hydroxylase which was dependent on the presence of ATP. This Ca2+-induced activation of the enzyme was observed even in the presence of optimal concentration of either cyclic AMP or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) which by itself increased the enzyme activity. Calmodulin inhibitors, trifluoperazine (TFP) and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphtalenesulfonamide (W-7), had little effect on the Ca2+-evoked activation of enzyme. These results suggest that micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ activate the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase probably through a Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal medullary cells although the protein kinase(s) responsible for it still remains to be determined.     

Nitric oxide inhibits tyrosine hydroxylase of rat median eminence

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines. In a previous report we found that intracerebroventricular administration of nitric oxide (NO) generator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) to conscious male rats inhibited dose-dependently the TH activity of the median eminence (ME). In the present study we have tested the in vitro effects of SNP on TH activity, its possible mediator and action mechanism. Exposure of the ME TH to SNP (50, 100 and 500 microM) caused concentration-dependent inhibition of its enzyme activity. Addition of; reduced hemoglobin Hb (10 microM), a NO scavenger, superoxide dismutase SOD (1000 units/ml), a superoxide scavenger enzyme, or uric acid UA (300 microM), a peroxynitrite scavenger, did not affect the enzyme activity by themselves, but prevented the inhibitory effect of SNP 500 microM. However, the presence of methylene blue MB (100 microM), a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, did not alter either basal enzyme activity or the inhibitory action of SNP 500 microM. These results suggest that this action of SNP on TH of the ME would be mediated by peroxynitrite generated by the reaction of NO with superoxide.     

The interaction of FBPase with aldolase: a kinetic and fluorescence investigation on chicken muscle enzymes

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase; EC 3.1.3.11) is strongly inhibited by AMP in vitro and, therefore, at physiological concentrations of substrate and AMP, FBPase should be completely inhibited. Desensitization of rabbit muscle FBPase against AMP inhibition was previously observed in the presence of rabbit muscle aldolase. In this study, we analysed the kinetics of an FBPase catalyzed reaction and interaction between chicken muscle FBPase and chicken muscle aldolase. The initial rate of FBPase reaction vs. substrate concentration shows a maximum activity at a concentration of 20 microM Fru-1,6P2 and then decreases. Assuming rapid equilibrium kinetics, the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was described by the substrate inhibition model, with Ks approximately 5 microM and Ksi approximately 39 microM and factor beta approximately 0.2, describing change in the rate constant (k) of product formation from the ES and ESSi complexes. Based on ultracentrifugation studies, aldolase and FBPase form a hetero-complex with approximately 1:1 stoichiometry with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 3.8 microM. The FBPase-aldolase interaction was confirmed via fluorescence investigation. The aldolase-FBPase interaction results in aldolase fluorescence quenching and its maximum emission spectrum shifting from 344 to 356 nm. The Kd of the FBPase-aldolase complex, determined on the basis of fluorescence changes, is 0.4 microM at 25 degrees C with almost 1:1 stoichiometry. This interaction increases the I(0.5) for the AMP inhibition of FBPase threefold, and slightly affects FBPase affinity to magnesium ions, increasing the Ka and Hill coefficient (n). No effect of aldolase on the FBPase pH optimum was observed. Thus, the decrease in FBPase sensitivity to AMP inhibition enables FBPase to function in vivo thanks to aldolase.     

Conversion of Tyrosine Hydroxylase to Stable and Inactive Form by the End Products

We have reported previously that tyrosine hydroxylase in the crude extract from rat striatum exists in the inactive form showing almost no activity at the physiological pH and that the inactive form is produced by the action of the end products of the enzyme, such as dopamine. The incubation of the enzyme with the end products resulted in not only the inactivation but also a remarkable stabilization of the enzyme. Catechols possessing amino groups but no negatively charged groups on the side chains (catecholamine-type catechols) were effective at a concentration as low as 10(-7) M in both the inactivation and stabilization of the enzyme. In contrast, catechols not possessing positively or negatively charged side chains (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol-type catechols) were ineffective at a concentration of 10(-7) M but effective at a concentration of 10(-6) M for both the inactivation and stabilization. Catechols possessing negatively charged groups (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid-type catechols) were ineffective even at a concentration of 10(-6) M. Thus, the end products of tyrosine hydroxylase appear to serve to keep the enzyme inactive and stable. The reaction mechanism of the conversion of the enzyme from the active/labile form to the inactive/stable form by dopamine was also investigated.     

Enzymatic determination of L-phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate with L-phenylalanine dehydrogenase

An enzymatic method is described for the determination of L-phenylalanine or phenylpyruvate using L-phenylalanine dehydrogenase. The enzyme catalyzes the NAD-dependent oxidative deamination of L-phenylalanine or the reductive amination of the 2-oxoacid, respectively. The stoichiometric coupling of the coenzyme allows a direct spectrophotometric assay of the substrate concentration. The equilibrium of the reaction favors L-phenylalanine formation; however, by measuring initial reaction velocities, the enzyme can be used for L-phenylalanine determination, too. Standard solutions of L-phenylalanine in the range of 10-300 microM and of phenylpyruvate (5-100 microM) show a linearity between the value for dENADH/min and the substrate concentration. Besides phenylalanine, the enzyme can convert tyrosine and methionine, and their oxoacids, respectively. The Km values of these substrates are higher. The influence of tyrosine on the determination of phenylalanine was studied and appeared tolerable for certain applications.     

Yeast allosteric chorismate mutase is locked in the activated state by a single amino acid substitution

Chorismate mutase, a branch-point enzyme in the aromatic amino acid pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and also a mutant chorismate mutase with a single amino acid substitution in the C-terminal part of the protein have been purified approximately 20-fold and 64-fold from overproducing strains, respectively. The wild-type enzyme is activated by tryptophan and subject to feedback inhibition by tyrosine, whereas the mutant enzyme does not respond to activation by tryptophan nor inhibition by tyrosine. Both enzymes are dimers consisting of two identical subunits of Mr 30,000, each one capable of binding one substrate and one activator molecule. Each subunit of the wild-type enzyme also binds one inhibitor molecule, whereas the mutant enzyme lost this ability. The enzyme reaction was observed by 1H NMR and shows a direct and irreversible conversion of chorismate to prephenate without the accumulation of any enzyme-free intermediates. The kinetic data of the wild-type chorismate mutase show positive cooperativity toward the substrate with a Hill coefficient of 1.71 and a [S]0.5 value of 4.0 mM. In the presence of the activator tryptophan, the cooperativity is lost. The enzyme has an [S]0.5 value of 1.2 mM in the presence of 10 microM tryptophan and an increased [S]0.5 value of 8.6 mM in the presence of 300 microM tyrosine. In the mutant enzyme, a loss of cooperativity was observed, and [S]0.5 was reduced to 1.0 mM. This enzyme is therefore locked in the activated state by a single amino acid substitution.     

Syncatalytic inactivation of prolyl 4-hydroxylase by anthracyclines.

The anthracyclines doxorubicin and daunorubicin were found to act as irreversible inhibitors of prolyl 4-hydroxylase. The reaction rate for enzyme from both chick and human origin was first order, the concentration of inhibitor giving 50% inhibition being 60 microM for both compounds after 1 h. The effect was dependent on the presence of iron ions in the reaction mixture. Inactivation could be prevented by addition of high concentrations of ascorbate, but not 2-oxoglutarate, before the inactivation period. The same results were obtained with competitive analogues of these cosubstrates. Lysyl hydroxylase from chick embryos was also susceptible to inactivation. Its activity was decreased by 50% after incubation for 1 h with a 150 microM concentration of the inhibitors. When chick-embryo prolyl 4-hydroxylase was incubated with [14-14C]doxorubicin, both enzyme subunits were radioactively labelled, about 70% of the total radioactivity being found in the alpha-subunit. Since the anthracyclines are known to undergo a redox reaction generating semiquinone radicals with Fe3+ only, the results suggest that the enzyme-bound iron ion is oxidized to a tervalent intermediate in uncoupled reaction cycles. The data also suggest that both enzyme subunits contribute to the catalytic site of prolyl 4-hydroxylase.     

Oxidation of tryptophan by redox intermediates of myeloperoxidase and inhibition of hypochlorous acid production

The neutrophil enzyme myeloperoxidase catalyzes the oxidation of tyrosine to tyrosyl radicals, which cross-link to proteins and initiate lipid peroxidation. Tryptophan is present in plasma at about the same concentration as tyrosine and has a similar one-electron reduction potential. In this investigation, we have determined the ability of myeloperoxidase to catalyze the oxidation of tryptophan to assess whether or not this reaction may contribute to oxidative stress at sites of inflammation. We show that tryptophan is a poor substrate for myeloperoxidase because, even though it reacts rapidly with compound I (kI 2.1 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1)), it reacts sluggishly with compound II (kII 7 M(-1)s(-1)). Tryptophan reversibly inhibited production of hypochlorous acid by purified myeloperoxidase by converting the enzyme to a mixture of compound II and compound III. It gave 50% inhibition (I50) at a concentration of 2 microM. In contrast, it was an ineffective inhibitor of hypochlorous acid production by human neutrophils (I50 80 microM) unless superoxide dismutase was present (I50 5 microM). We propose that compound I of myeloperoxidase will oxidize tryptophan at sites of inflammation. Enzyme turnover will result from the reaction of superoxide or tyrosine with compound II. Thus, tryptophan radicals are potential candidates for exacerbating oxidative stress during inflammation.     

Modulation of rat brain cytosolic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase: effect of cationic amphiphilic drugs and divalent cations

The effects of three cationic amphiphilic drugs on rat brain cytosolic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and their mechanisms of action were studied utilizing membrane-bound, emulsified, and emulsified sonicated phosphatidate as substrates. With the membrane-bound substrate, chlorpromazine, desmethylimipramine, and propranolol inhibited the activity in a dose-dependent fashion with an IC50 of 30-50 microM. In the presence of the emulsified substrate, chlorpromazine was a more potent inhibitor than desmethylimipramine or propranolol but 200 microM was needed for 50% inhibition of activity. Addition of heat-inactivated microsomes to the emulsified substrate, to simulate the conditions with the membrane-bound substrate, did not alter this value. Both Mg2+ and Ca2+ stimulated the enzyme activity but only Ca2+ counteracted the effect of chlorpromazine. Kinetic studies indicate that chlorpromazine acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor of the enzyme. Emulsified sonicated phosphatidate was a good substrate at low (less than 10 microM) concentrations. It was a poor substrate at 1 mM, but at this concentration chlorpromazine stimulated the activity instead of inhibiting. This drug altered the integrity of phosphatidate vesicle membranes as visualized by electron microscopy. The different results obtained with the three types of substrate indicate the importance of the configuration of phosphatidate for the expression of enzyme activity and for its susceptibility to the action of cationic amphiphilic drugs.