Immunotitration of the catalase in the blood of Japanese subjects and mice suffering from acatalasemia and hypocatalasemia.

Catalase in hemolysates of normal, heterozygous hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic Japanese was immunotitrated with an anti-human blood catalase rabbit serum. Equivalence points were calculated from the regression lines between catalase activity added and catalase activity remaining in the supernatant. Catalase activities at the equivalence points of Japanese normal, hypocatalasemia and acatalasemia were similar. The results indicate that the specific activities of catalase in the normal and of the variant bloods are identical. Catalase in hemolysates of normal and variant mice was immunotitrated with an anti-mouse liver catalase rabbit serum. In contrast to Japanese acatalasemic subject, the equivalence points of catalase in heterozygous hypocatalasemic, homozygous hypocatalasemic, acatalasemic and normal hemolysates were different, and the ratios of specific activity in these variant mice to that in normal were 0.72, 0.46 and 0.21, respectively. The differences in catalase activities at equivalence points were also supported by the statistical analysis on parameters of regression lines of catalase activities remaining in the supernatant on catalase activities added in the immunotitration. These findings suggest that the molecular properties of residual catalase of Japanese acatalasemia and those of mouse acatalasemia are entirely different.     

A study of the catalase monomer produced by lyophilization

Lyophilization of Dounce and Mourtzikos beef liver catalase (Prep. Biochem. 11 (1981) 501-523) under specified conditions produced conformationally altered but not completely denatured catalase monomer which retained both significant catalatic activity and peroxidatic activity towards ethanol. The same lyophilization procedure used with Sigma Co. catalase produced a mixture of conformationally altered catalase monomer and conformationally altered tetramer which showed still higher catalatic and peroxidatic activities; this was attributed to the presence of the altered tetramer. The catalase monomer obtained by the use of Dounce and Mourtzikos catalase is completely reducible by dithionite, as shown by the two-banded spectrum of the reduced material, but apparently retains enough of its native conformation to show some enzymatic activity, since the fully denatured monomer shows no catalatic or peroxidatic activity towards ethanol. The conformationally altered catalase tetramer, which shows more enzymatic activity than the monomer, evidently retains a higher proportion of its native conformation than the monomer, but still appears to be fully reducible with dithionite. Horseradish peroxidase after reduction with dithionite shows spectral bands at positions close to those of reduced lyophilized catalase, but the relative band heights and contours are different. A possible explanation for the observed differences in lyophilization products depending on the starting material (Sigma Co. catalase versus catalase of Dounce and Mourtzikos) is presented.     

Acatalasemia

Summary The abnormalities in acatalasemia at the gene level as well as properties of the residual catalase in Japanese acatalasemia are historically reviewed. The replacement of the fifth nucleic acid, guanine, in the fourth intron by adenine in the acatalasemic gene causes a splicing mutation and hence a deficiency of mRNA. The guanine-to-adenine substitution was detected in two Japanese acatalasemic cases from different families. The properties of the residual catalase are similar to those of normal catalase; the exons are identical. The properties of the residual catalase and the molecular defect in the catalase gene are compared among Japanese, Swiss, and mouse acatalasemias. The physiological role of catalase, as judged from human acatalasemic blood and acatalasemic mice, is also described.     

Properties of erythrocyte catalase from homozygotes and heterozygotes for Swiss-type acatalasemia

The unstable catalase variant found in the blood of individuals homozygous for Swiss-type acatalasemia and the enzyme species present in heterozygous carriers of this rare defect have been further characterized. The mutant enzyme isolated from acatalasemic red cells is considerably more heat labile and differs in electrophoretic mobility from the normal enzyme. Catalase preparations obtained from heterozygotes consist of an apparently uniform enzyme species, probably representing a molecular hybrid, with properties intermediate to those of the normal and the variant enzyme. However, antigenic identity of catalase from all three sources is observed. Model experiments indicate that hybrid catalase molecules can be produced by recombining normal and variant dimer subunits. Fractionation of erythrocytes according to density and age shows that most of the residual catalase activity is localized in juvenile acatalasemic cells, whereas in normal and heterozygous individuals the catalase activity level does not alter significantly during the life span of the red cells. These findings agree with the observation that there is no gene dosage in heterozygotes, their catalase activity values falling within the normal range.     

Sensitization to alloxan-induced diabetes and pancreatic cell apoptosis in acatalasemic mice

Human acatalasemia may be a risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanism by which diabetes is induced is still poorly understood. The impact of catalase deficiency on the onset of diabetes has been studied in homozygous acatalasemic mutant mice or control wild-type mice by intraperitoneal injection of diabetogenic alloxan. The incidence of diabetes was higher in acatalasemic mice treated with a high dose (180 mg/kg body weight) of alloxan. A higher dose of alloxan accelerated severe atrophy of pancreatic islets and induced pancreatic β cell apoptosis in acatalasemic mice in comparison to wild-type mice. Catalase activity remained low in the acatalasemic pancreas without the significant compensatory up-regulation of glutathione peroxidase or superoxide dismutase. Furthermore, daily intraperitoneal injection of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist telmisartan (0.1 mg/kg body weight) prevented the development of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia in acatalasemic mice. This study suggests that catalase plays a crucial role in the defense against oxidative-stress-mediated pancreatic β cell death in an alloxan-induced diabetes mouse model. Treatment with telmisartan may prevent the onset of alloxan-induced diabetes even under acatalasemic conditions.     

Establishment and cellular characteristics of a hepatocyte cell line (oums-31) derived from an acatalasemic mouse

Summary Liver cell lines with very low catalase activity were established from an acatalasemic mouse. Hepatocytes isolated by a collagenase-liver-perfusion technique were cultured in Williams’ E medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The acatalasemic liver cell line showed approximately 20% of the catalase activity of a normal mouse liver cell line, whereas its glutathione peroxidase activity was approximately equal to that of the normal liver cell line. DNA sequence analysis of this cell line showed the same mutation in the catalase gene as is seen in the acatalasemic mouse. Our observation of intracellular content of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) radical and increased susceptibility of the cells to H₂O₂ were compatible with the existence of low catalase activity in the acatalasemic mouse. This hepatocyte cell line should be useful for studying effects of oxidative radical stress at the cellular level.     

Molecular analysis of an acatalasemic mouse mutant

The Csb acatalasemia mouse mutant differentially expresses reduced levels of catalase activity in a tissue specific manner. In order to pinpoint the molecular lesion that imparts the acatalasemia phenotype in Csb mice we have utilized the polymerase chain reaction technique to isolate catalase cDNA clones from control and Csb mouse strains. Sequence analyses of these cDNA clones have revealed a single nucleotide difference within the coding region of catalase between control and Csb mice. This nucleotide transversion (G----T) is located in the third position of amino acid 11 in the catalase monomer. In control mouse strains glutamine (CAG) is encoded at amino acid 11, while in Csb mice this codon (CAT) encodes histidine. This amino acid is located within a region that forms the first major alpha-helix in the amino-terminal arm of the catalase subunit and, as such, may render the catalase molecule unstable under certain physiological conditions.     

Effects of post low-dose X-ray irradiation on carbon tetrachloride-induced acatalasemic mice liver damage

The catalase activities in the blood and organs of the acatalasemic (C3H/AnLCsb-Csb) mouse of the C3H strain are lower than those of the normal (C3H/AnLCSa-Csa) mouse. We examined the effects of post low-dose (0.5 Gy) X-ray irradiation which reduced the oxidative damage under carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in acatalasemic or normal mice. As a result, the 0.5 Gy irradiation after carbon tetrachloride administration decreased the glutamic oxaloacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity in the acatalasemic mouse blood to a level similar to that of the acatalasemic mouse blood not treated with carbon tetrachloride; this is in contrast to a high-dose (15 Gy) irradiation. In the same manner, pathological disorder was improved by 0.5 Gy irradiation. The fat degeneration in normal mice was quickly reduced, in contrast to acatalasemic mice. These findings suggest that low-dose irradiation after carbon tetrachloride administration accelerates the rate of recovery and that catalase plays an important role in the recovery from hepatopathy induced by carbon tetrachloride, in contrast to high-dose irradiation.     

Polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoretic studies of residual catalase in acatalasemia

Erythrocyte catalse in a Japanese-type acatalasemia and a normal control subject was separated by chromatofocusing with or without prior partial purification with DEAE-cellulose. Fractions were analyzed by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis for catalse activity and protein stain. Chromatofocusing revealed no marked difference in pI values between normal and acatalasemic catalases with or without partial purification. In the gel electrophoresis, molecular weights were also similar; two bands of catalase activity with molecular weights of 290,000 and 350,000 for the acatalasemia and of 280,000 and 360,000 for the normal control were found in the partially purified preparations. The molecular weight of normal catalase in untreated hemolysate was 250,000. Normal catalse was identified as protein bands on polyacrylamide gradient gel after fractionation of hemolysate by chromatofocusing. A more sensitive method for protein stain is still required for demonstration of residual catalse protein on the gel.     

Purification and characterization of liver catalase in acatalasemic beagle dog: comparison with normal dog liver catalase

Catalase from acatalasemic dog liver was purified to homogeneity and its properties were compared with those of normal dog liver catalase. The purified acatalasemic and normal dog liver catalases were found to have the same molecular weight (230,000 Da) and isoelectric point (pI: 6.0-6.2) and both enzymes contained four hematins per molecule. The catalytic activity of catalase from acatalasemic dog was normal. Furthermore, there was no difference between the acatalasemic and normal dog catalases in the binding affinity to NADPH (apparent Kd: 0.11-0.12 microM) and in the sensitivity to oxidative stress by hydrogen peroxide, the normal substrate of catalase. The acatalasemic dog enzyme was stable only in a narrow pH range (pH 6-9) although the normal enzyme was stable in a wide pH range (pH 4-10). Acatalasemic dog liver catalase also showed a slight low thermal stability at 37 degrees C and the heat-lability was remarkable at 45 degrees C, compared to the normal dog enzyme. These results indicated that the acatalasemic dog catalase is catalytically normal although it is associated with an unstable molecular structure.     

Experimental sketch of landscapes in protein sequence space

A landscape in protein sequence space shows the relationship between the primary structure and the level of a property of each protein. We developed methods for observing local landscapes experimentally using catalase I from Bacillus stearothermophilus with respect to its catalatic activity, peroxidatic activity, and thermostability. The enzyme gene was randomly mutated and a mutant library composed of 2648 transformants was obtained. Based on the activity and productivity of these transformants, 82 were selected as a sample group for measuring the altitude of catalase I. The altitude of the wild-type enzyme is close to the highest level in the mutant population for the thermostability landscape, but is at the average level for the peroxidatic activity. As for the catalatic activity, its altitude lies in between the two positions. A positive correlation was found between the altitudes of the catalatic and the peroxidatic activities, indicating that the locations of the hills and valleys in the landscapes of the two activities roughly correspond with each other. In contrast, the thermostability landscape appeared quite differently. The smoothness of the landscape was examined via the number of mutations in the structural genes of the mutant enzymes of different properties. The correlation between the number of mutations and the level of each property showed that the thermostability landscape is smooth, but not the two activity landscapes. Thus, the results show that even from a rough sketch of the landscapes based on the experimental data, the characteristic features of catalase I can be elucidated. The sketch of a landscape, therefore, provides a new view in understanding enzymes.     

Peroxidatic activity of mycobacteria and relation to catalase

Winder, Frank G. (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland). Peroxidatic activity of mycobacteria and relation to catalase. J. Bacteriol. 92:413-417. 1966.-Catalase from Mycobacterium smegmatis was purified about 50-fold. All fractions showed a ratio of peroxidatic activity to catalatic activity approximately the same as that of the crude extract, a ratio only about four times that given by catalase from Micrococcus lysodeikticus. This and other evidence strongly suggest that the peroxidatic activity of M. smegmatis is due to its catalase. Less complete evidence suggests that this is true in the case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis also. It is suggested that in the context of the mycobacteria the term "peroxidatic activity" should replace the term "peroxidase" unless evidence is found that a true peroxidase exists in these organisms.     

Relationship of hydrogen peroxide production by Mycoplasma pulmonis to virulence for catalase-deficient mice

Mycoplasma pulmonis, an etiological agent of murine pneumonia, produced about 0.065 mumoles of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) per hr per 10(10) colony-forming units. When glucose was present at a concentration of 0.01 m, H(2)O(2) production was increased by 50%. To determine if H(2)O(2) production by M. pulmonis could be correlated with virulence, normal, acatalasemic, and acatalatic mice were infected with the organism. Three days after infection with M. pulmonis significantly more acatalatic mice had pneumonia than did normal or acatalasemic mice. The pneumonia in acatalatic mice was also more severe than in the other two groups. Five days after infection, pneumonia in the acatalatic mice was resolved, whereas normal mice were severely affected. The presence of pneumonia and the severity were correlated with the recovery of M. pulmonis from the lesions. In vitro studies of the effect of catalase on M. pulmonis showed that exogenously supplied catalase stimulated the growth of M. pulmonis at 37 C and prolonged its survival at 25 C. Hemolysis of sheep blood, guinea pig blood, rabbit blood, and normal and acatalasemic mouse blood by M. pulmonis was inversely related to the catalase activity of the erythrocytes. These findings suggest that H(2)O(2) secretion contributes to the virulence of M. pulmonis and to the death of the microorganism in the absence of host catalase.     

Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and the production of O2-sensitive mutants of Bacillus coagulans

A number of facultatively anaerobic members of the genus Bacillus were screened for their catalase, diaminobenzidine peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities. A strain of Bacillus coagulans (7050) lacking peroxidatic activity and containing single catalatic and superoxide dismutase activities was selected. Responses of the superoxide dismutase activity and catalase level to the partial pressure of oxygen, and Fe and Mn levels, as well as to aerobic and fermentative metabolism, were determined. There appeared to be a relationship between high endogenous catalase levels and the high H2O2 evolution and KCN insensitivity of B. coagulans respiration. Bacillus coagulans 7050 was mutagenized with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and screened for the expression of oxygen intolerance. All of the 38 stable oxygen sensitive mutants obtained had very low or completely absent catalatic activity and catalase protein. No mutant lacked superoxide dismutase, although five showed significantly lowered levels of the enzyme. Exogenous bovine liver catalase restored aerotolerance and reduced cell pleomorphism in the mutants.     

Purification and characterization of a catalase-peroxidase and a typical catalase from the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae

The bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae synthesizes three different types of catalase: a catalase-peroxidase, a typical catalase and an atypical catalase, designated KpCP, KpT and KpA, respectively (Goldberg, I. and Hochman, A. (1989) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 268, 124-128). KpCP, but not the other two enzymes, in addition to the catalatic activity, catalyzes peroxidatic activities with artificial electron donors, as well as with NADH and NADPH. Both KpCP and KpT are tetramers, with heme IX as a prosthetic group, and they show a typical high-spin absorption spectrum which is converted to low-spin when a cyanide complex is formed. The addition of dithionite to KpCP causes a shift in the absorption maxima typical of ferrous heme IX. KpCP has a pH optimum of 6.3 for the catalatic activity and 5.2-5.7 for the peroxidatic activity, and relatively low 'Km' values: 6.5 mM and 0.65 H2O2 for the catalatic and peroxidatic activities, respectively. The activity of the catalase-peroxidase is inhibited by azide and cyanide, but not by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. KpT has wide pH optimum: 5-10.5 and a 'Km' of 50 mM H2O2, it is inhibited by incubation with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and by the acidic forms of cyanide and azide. A significant distinction between the typical catalase and the catalase-peroxidase is the stability of their proteins: KpT is more stable than KpCP to H2O2, temperature, pH and urea.     

The structure and peroxidase activity of a 33‐kDa catalase‐related protein from Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis

True catalases are tyrosine‐liganded, usually tetrameric, hemoproteins with subunit sizes of ～55–84 kDa. Recently characterized hemoproteins with a catalase‐related structure, yet lacking in catalatic activity, include the 40–43 kDa allene oxide synthases of marine invertebrates and cyanobacteria. Herein, we describe the 1.8 Å X‐ray crystal structure of a 33 kDa subunit hemoprotein from Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (annotated as MAP‐2744c), that retains the core elements of the catalase fold and exhibits an organic peroxide‐dependent peroxidase activity. MAP‐2744c exhibits negligible catalatic activity, weak peroxidatic activity using hydrogen peroxide (20/s) and strong peroxidase activity (～300/s) using organic hydroperoxides as co‐substrate. Key amino acid differences significantly impact prosthetic group conformation and placement and confer a distinct activity to this prototypical member of a group of conserved bacterial “minicatalases”. Its structural features and the result of the enzyme assays support a role for MAP‐2744c and its close homologues in mitigating challenge by a variety of reactive oxygen species.     

Oxidative stress-induced expression of catalases in Comamonas terrigena

When grown under oxidative stress, catalatic as well as peroxidatic activity is increased in the Gram-negative bacteriumComamonas terrigena N3H. Two distinct hydroperoxidases were demonstrated by a specific staining. Based on their molar masses and their sensitivity toward 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and high temperatures, they were identified as dimeric catalase-1 (Cat-1; 150 kDa), and as a tetrameric catalase-2 (Cat-2; 240 kDa) with enhanced peroxidatic activity, respectively. These two catalases differ in their expression during the bacterial growth; whereas the expression of the smaller enzyme (Cat-1) is induced by 0.5 mmol/L peroxides in the medium, and to a lesser degree by 25 mg/L Cd²⁺, Cat-2 (typical catalase) is almost specifically induced with cadmium ions.