Lawsone accumulation in normal and transformed cultures of henna,Lawsonia inermis

The improvement of axillary shoot formation of Lawsonia inermis L. cultured in vitro depended on the iron concentration in the culture medium. Regenerated shoots were rooted on a hormone-free half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium (1/2 MS) before transfer to greenhouse conditions. Determination of lawsone in the plant material was investigated using a new HPLC method. The results showed that lawsone accumulation in vivo is restricted to the aerial part of the plant. In addition, the possibility of inducing lawsone biosynthesis in root cultures was studied. Hairy root cultures were established by a co-culture method using leaf segments of L. inermis and Agrobacterium rhizogenes NCIB 8196. Of several basal media tested, the production of lawsone (0.13% dry weight) was only observed in hairy roots tissues incubated in the dark and cultured in 1/2 MS or MS media. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

1,4-Naphthoquinone,an intermediate in juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) biosynthesis

Evidence is presented which shows that 1,4-naphthoquinone, a new natural product, is involved in the biosynthesis ofjuglone in Juglans regia.     

5-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (juglone) and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone) influence on jack bean urease activity: Elucidation of the difference in inhibition activity

The aim of this study was elucidation of the difference in inhibition influence of 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (juglone) and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone) on jack bean urease activity. It was found that juglone acted as a strong, time and concentration dependent inactivator of urease. On the contrary, lawsone showed an inconsiderable inhibition influence. The reactivation of juglone modified urease showed the participation of reversible and irreversible contribution in the inactivation. In the presence of an excess of DTT, urease inactivated by juglone regained 70% of its activity. The reversible inactivation was attributed to oxidation of the essential urease thiols by reactive oxygen species (ROS) realizing during reduction of juglone to seminaphthoquinone. Presence of hydrogen peroxide in the incubation system was proved by direct determination and by application of catalase. The irreversible contribution in the inhibition was assumed as an arylation of urease thiol groups by juglone. The insignificant urease inhibition by lawsone was concluded as an effect of a low hydrogen peroxide generation and lawsone resistance for reaction with protein thiols. It was found that lawsone well reacted with l-cysteine, poorly with glutathione and hardly with urease thiols. The observed sequence was arranged according the rule the more complex thiol the less susceptible for reaction with lawsone. On the other hand, juglone displayed an excellent reactivity towards both thiols and urease. Thus, this indicated a significance of a steric hindrance which appeared when the hydroxyl group changing position from 5 in juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) to 2 in lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone).     

New PPARgamma ligands based on 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone: computer-aided design, synthesis, and receptor-binding studies

FlexX-based molecular docking study was employed to identify 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone as a new 'acidic head group' for the design of a novel series of PPARgamma ligands. To provide the proof of concept, designed molecules were synthesized and evaluated in a standard radioligand-binding assay. Out of eight molecules, four were found to bind to the murine PPARgamma with IC(50) ranging from 0.2 to 56.2 microM as compared to standard pioglitazone, with IC(50) of 0.7 microM.     

Identification of CBS2 as a mitochondrial protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The nuclear genome encoded yeast protein CBS2 is required for translational activation of mitochondrial cytochrome b RNA. Genetic studies have shown that the target sequence of the CBS2 protein is the 5 untranslated leader sequence of cytochrome b RNA. Here we report on the intracellular localization of CBS2. CBS2 protein, expressed in Escherichia coli and prepared from inclusion bodies, was used as an antigen to raise a polyclonal rabbit antiserum. Affinity-purified CBS2 antibodies detect a 45 kDa protein in mitochondrial lysates of wild-type cells, which is absent in a strain in which the CBS2 gene has been deleted. The protein is overexpressed in mitochondrial extracts of a transformant carrying the CBS2 gene on a high copy number plasmid, but undetectable in the post-mitochondrial supernatant. Intramitochondrial localization of CBS2 was verified by in vitro import of CBS2 protein that had been synthesized in a reticulocyte lysate programmed with CBS2 mRNA transcribed in vitro. Mitochondrial import of CBS2 is not accompanied by any detectable proteolytic processing.     

A comparison of the effects of 1,4-naphthoquinone and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone) on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced growth of maize coleoptile cells

The effects of 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ-2-OH) on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced growth, medium pH changes and membrane potential (E_m) in maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptile cells were determined. In addition, the redox cycling properties of both naphthoquinones were also compared. The dose-response curves constructed for the effects of NQ and NQ-2-OH on endogenous and IAA-induced growth differ in shape. It was found that NQ was by 10–50% more effective in inhibiting IAA-induced growth in maize coleoptile segments than NQ-2-OH. Simultaneous measurements of growth and external medium pH indicated that NQ and NQ-2-OH reduced or eliminated proton extrusion at all of the concentrations used, excluding NQ at 1 µM. It was found that both naphthoquinones at concentrations higher than 10 µM caused the depolarisation of the membrane potential (E_m). Additionally, compared to the controls, NQ- and NQ-2-OH-exposure of coleoptile segments, at concentrations higher than 10 µM, caused an elevation of the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production and plasma membrane redox activity. The highest catalase activity was observed at 10 µM NQ and it was ca. 18-fold greater (at 4 h) than in the control medium. Moreover, it was also found that NQ and NQ-2-OH, at all concentrations studied, increased the malondialdehyde content of coleoptile segments at 4 h of the experiment. The data presented here are discussed taking into account the “acid growth hypothesis” of auxin action and the mechanisms by which naphthoquinones interact with biological systems.     

Properties of triacylglycerol lipase in a mitochondrial fraction from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

A triacylglycerol lipase in a mitochondrial fraction isolated from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been characterized and the hydrolysis studied kinetically using an insoluble artificial triacylglycerol suspension. 1. The triacylglycerol was hydrolyzed almost completely to fatty acids and glycerol. The lipase activity was inhibited by potassium fluoride and the sodium salts of -chloride, -glycocholate and -pyrophosphate as well as by protamine sulfate but at concentrations much too high to indicate that the lipase is a non specific esterase or a lipoprotein lipase. Also parachloromercuribenzoate inhibited the lipase activity. Inhibitory effect of fatty acid was observed at concentrations above 1mM. This inhibition may provide a regulatory mechanism of the lipase in vivo. 2. On the day of isolation the lipase activity of intact mitochondria at pH 7.5 and 30 degrees C was 400 nmol free fatty acid -h-1 - mg-1 at a triacylglycerol concentration of 9.0 mM. Sonication of the mitochondria increased the activity 2-3 fold. Freezing of the mitochondria also activated the lipase and this activation was dependent upon the freezing method, the concentration of mitochondrial protein and the presence of bovine serum albumin. 3. The particulate nature of the assay system was illustrated by the observation that the apparent Km value of the lipase increased with the concentration of mitochondrial protein. For each protein concentration the lipase had two apparent Km values when the activity was assayed with intact mitochondria, but only one when assayed with submitochondrial particles. At the same protein concentration the Km value for the latter was identical with the "low affinity" Km for the lipase in intact mitochondria.     

Purification and characteristics of a mitochondrial endonuclease from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a membrane-bound mitochondrial nuclease. The enzyme was purified nearly 500-fold from sphaeroplasts of the organism by differential centrifugation, differential solubilization, heparin-agarose chromatography, and gel filtration. A final specific activity of 98 mumol min-1 (mg of protein)-1 was obtained. The enzyme required further purification to achieve homogeneity. Two peaks of activity were obtained after gel filtration with apparent molecular weights of 140000 and 57000. Otherwise, these two components have nearly identical characteristics. Without detergent the enzyme is insoluble and has very low activity. Zwittergent 3-14 or Triton X-100 in the presence of KCl could be used to solubilize and activate the enzyme. A number of other detergents were much less effective in solubilizing or activating the nuclease. The enzyme requires Mg2+ for activity, and this can be replaced to some degree by Mn2+ but not by Ca2+ or Zn2+. It is most active at pH 6.5-7.0 and degrades the substrate to small oligonucleotides with 5'-phosphate ends. The relative rates of hydrolysis were 100 for poly(A), 31 for ssDNA, 19 for RNA, 2.1 for dsDNA, and less than or equal to 0.2 for poly(C). Under the assay conditions used the enzyme appears to constitute about 90% of the total nuclease activity of the cell. The enzyme is unstable, especially at neutral and alkaline pH.     

2-Methylthio-1,4-naphthoquinone, a unique sulfur-containing quinone from a thermophilic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Hydrogenobacter thermophilus

A quinone was extracted and purified from the cells of an extremely thermophilic hydrogen bacterium, Hydrogenobacter thermophilus TK-6 (IAM 12695). Its chemical structure was determined as 2-methylthio-3-VI, VII-tetrahydromultiprenyl-1,4-naphthoquinone by elemental analysis, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy of the quinone and by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the ozonolysis products of the quinone. It was shown that the other five strains of H. thermophilus have the same quinone system. We named the quinone with the 2-methylthio-1,4-naphthoquinone nucleus "methionaquinone." The abbreviation of MTK is recommended for this class of quinone.     

AAT1, a gene encoding a mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have isolated a gene, AAT1, encoding an aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic library. AAT1 encodes a 451 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 51,687, which is likely to be the yeast mitochondrial AspAT. Sequence comparison of this yeast AspAT with AspATs from other organisms shows a high degree of homology in regions previously shown to be important for catalysis. However, the yeast mitochondrial AspAT contains four obvious insertions with respect to all other known AspATs, suggesting that the AAT1-encoded protein represents a distinct AspAT.     

N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase contains both nuclear and mitochondrial targeting signals in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The TRM1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a tRNA modification enzyme, N2,N2-dimethylguanosine-specific tRNA methyltransferase, which modifies both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs. The enzyme is targeted to mitochondria for the modification of mitochondrial tRNAs. Cellular fractionation and indirect immunofluorescence studies reported here demonstrate that this enzyme is also localized to the nucleus. Further, immunofluorescence experiments using strains that overproduce the enzyme show a staining at the periphery of the nucleus suggesting that the enzyme is found in a subnuclear destination near or at the nuclear membrane. There is no obvious cytoplasmic staining in these overproducing strains. Fusion protein technology was used to begin to localize sequences involved in the nuclear targeting of this enzyme. Indirect immunofluorescence studies indicate that sequences between the first 70 and 213 NH2-terminal amino acids of the methyltransferase are sufficient to target Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase to nuclei.     

Cloning and characteristics of a positive regulatory gene, THI2 (PHO6), of thiamin biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A thi2(pho6) mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, defective in the expression of structural genes for thiamin-repressible acid phosphatase and enzymes involved in thiamin biosynthesis, was found to retain sufficient thiamin transport activity. The transport activity was repressed by thiamin in growth medium. We isolated from a S. cerevisiae genomic library two hybrid plasmids, pTSR1 and pTSR2, containing 10.2- and 12.0-kilobase (kb) DNA fragments, respectively, which complement the thi2(pho6) mutation of S. cerevisiae. This gene was localized on a 6.0-kb ClaI-ClaI fragment in the subclone pTSR3. Complementation of the enzyme activities for thiamin metabolism in the thi2(pho6) mutant transformed by some plasmids with the TH12(PHO6) gene was also examined.     

The class V myosin motor protein, Myo2, plays a major role in mitochondrial motility in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The actin cytoskeleton is essential for polarized, bud-directed movement of cellular membranes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and thus ensures accurate inheritance of organelles during cell division. Also, mitochondrial distribution and inheritance depend on the actin cytoskeleton, though the precise molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, we establish the class V myosin motor protein, Myo2, as an important mediator of mitochondrial motility in budding yeast. We found that mutants with abnormal expression levels of Myo2 or its associated light chain, Mlc1, exhibit aberrant mitochondrial morphology and loss of mitochondrial DNA. Specific mutations in the globular tail of Myo2 lead to aggregation of mitochondria in the mother cell. Isolated mitochondria lacking functional Myo2 are severely impaired in their capacity to bind to actin filaments in vitro. Time-resolved fluorescence microscopy revealed a block of bud-directed anterograde mitochondrial movement in cargo binding-defective myo2 mutant cells. We conclude that Myo2 plays an important and direct role for mitochondrial motility and inheritance in budding yeast.     

Identification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of two isoforms of a novel mitochondrial transporter for 2-oxoadipate and 2-oxoglutarate

The nuclear genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes 35 members of a family of membrane proteins. Known members transport substrates and products across the inner membranes of mitochondria. We have localized two hitherto unidentified family members, Odc1p and Odc2p, to the inner membranes of mitochondria. They are isoforms with 61% sequence identity, and we have shown in reconstituted liposomes that they transport the oxodicarboxylates 2-oxoadipate and 2-oxoglutarate by a strict counter exchange mechanism. Intraliposomal adipate and glutarate and to a lesser extent malate and citrate supported [14C]oxoglutarate uptake. The expression of Odc1p, the more abundant isoform, made in the presence of nonfermentable carbon sources, is repressed by glucose. The main physiological roles of Odc1p and Odc2p are probably to supply 2-oxoadipate and 2-oxoglutarate from the mitochondrial matrix to the cytosol where they are used in the biosynthesis of lysine and glutamate, respectively, and in lysine catabolism.     

Purification and characterization of a mitochondrial isozyme of C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

C1-Tetrahydrofolate synthase is a trifunctional polypeptide found in eukaryotic organisms that catalyzes 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.3), 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase (EC 3.5.4.9), and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.1.5) activities. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase is encoded by the ADE3 locus, yet ade3 mutants have low but detectable levels of these enzyme activities. Synthetase, cyclohydrolase, and dehydrogenase activities in an ade3 deletion strain co-purify 4,000-fold to yield a single protein species as seen on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The native molecular weight of the isozyme (Mr = 200,000 by gel exclusion chromatography) and the size of its subunits (Mr = 100,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) are similar to those of C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase. Cell fractionation experiments show that the isozyme, but not C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase, is localized in the mitochondria. Genetic studies indicate that the isozyme is encoded in the nuclear genome. Peptide mapping experiments show that C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase and the isozyme are not structurally identical. However, immunotitration experiments and amino acid sequence analysis suggest that C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase and the isozyme are structurally related. We propose to call the isozyme "mitochondrial C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase."