NMR method for superoxide dismutase assay in brain and liver homogenates.

A method for copper- and manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu- and MnSOD) assay in tissue homogenates such as liver and brain, based on the measurement of the longitudinal nuclear relaxation time (T1) of F-, has been developed as a preliminary approach to in vivo measurement of these enzymes. The relaxation rate of F-, which increases linearly with the SOD concentration, also depends on the oxidation state of the metal ion present in the active site of the enzyme. The relaxivity values of the oxidized, reduced and turnovering CuSOD were found to be 9.6 x 10(6), much less than 1 x 10(2) and 5.2 x 10(6) M-1 s-1, respectively, while for MnSOD the corresponding values were 2.9 x 10(6), 4.2 x 10(6) and 3.6 x 10(6) M-1 s-1, respectively. These high relaxivity values allow the detection of SODs in brain and liver homogenates where, under aerobic conditions, these enzymes appear in the steady-state. The contribution of the two types of SOD to the F- relaxation rate in the homogenates was measured by addition of either diethyldithiocarbamate or cyanide, both of which selectively inhibit the CuSOD. The comparison between NMR and activity data confirmed the possibility of carrying out accurate and precise measurements of SODs in homogenates by NMR.     

Polarographic assay and intracellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in rat liver.

1. A polarographic assay of superoxide (O2--) dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activity is described, in which the ability of the enzyme to inhibit O2---dependent sulphite oxidation, initiated by xanthine oxidase activity, is measured. The assay was used in a study of the intracellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in rat liver. Both cyanide-sensitive cupro-zinc dismutase (92% of the total activity) and cyanide-insensitive mangano-dismutase (8%) were measured. 2. Rat liver homogenates contained both particulate (16%y and soluble (84%) dismutase activity. The particulate activity contained both types of dismutase, whereas nearly all the soluble dismutase was a cupro-zinc enzymes. The distribution pattern of mangano-dismutase was similar to that of cytochrome oxidase and glutamate dehydrogenase, indicating that the enzyme was probably present exclusively in the mitochondria. 3. Superoxide dismutase activity in the heavy-mitochondrial (M) fraction was latent and was activated severalfold and largely solubilized by sonication. Treatment of the M fraction with digitonin or a hypo-osmotic suspending medium indicated that most of the cupro-zinc dismutase was located in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, whereas the mangano-enzyme was located in the inner-membrane and matrix space. 4. A small amount of dismutase activity appeared to be present in the nuclei and microsomal fraction, but little or no activity in the lysosomes or peroxisomes. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the intracellular location of known O2---generating enzymes, the possible role of superoxide dismutase activity in intracellular H2O2 formation, and to current views on the physiological function of the enzyme.     

A rapid whole-cell assay for superoxide dismutase

A procedure is described for the intact-cell assay of superoxide dismutase(s). The technique involves the use of toluene which renders the cells permeable to the necessary components of a photochemical assay for superoxide dismutase. Whole-cell superoxide dismutase activities from a number of procaryotic and eucaryotic microorganisms compare with cell-free activities and with activities reported in the literature. Using this procedure, changing levels of superoxide dismutase are readily monitored under conditions known to modulate superoxide dismutase activity assayed in vitro. In whole cells of Escherichia coli, exogenous methyl viologen causes a marked increase in superoxide dismutase activity, whereas in the cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, such treatment leads to a marked, light-dependent loss of whole-cell superoxide dismutase activity.     

A picomolar spectrophotometric assay for superoxide dismutase

During the aerobic xanthine oxidase reaction, O₂^? is produced and accumulates to a steady state determined by a balance between the rate of production of this radical and its rate of dismutation. Addition of ferricytochrome c then results in a biphasic reduction, the very rapid phase of which reflects reaction of the accumulated O₂^?, while the slower phase corresponds to the continuing production of this radical. Superoxide dismutase suppresses the accumulation of O₂^? during the xanthine oxidase reaction and thus diminishes the burst of reduction seen upon addition of ferricytochrome c. This effect has been utilized, at pH 10.2, as the basis of an assay that permits measurement of picomolar levels of superoxide dismutase. The theory and practice of this ultrasensitive assay are described.     

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic assay of superoxide dismutase.

Superoxide dismutase from breef brain and rat liver was assayed in an enzymatic system, using xanthine oxidase, and a non-enzymatic system, based on aerobic reduction of nitro-blue tetrazolium in presence of phenazine methosulphate. The non-enzymatic assay is rapid and simple and permits simulatneous analysis of many samples. Similar results are found by the two methods of assay of superoxide dismutase.     

A spectrophotometric assay for superoxide dismutase activities in crude tissue fractions.

A sensitive and reliable assay method was developed to characterize crude cell homogenates and subcellular fractions with regard to their superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. The determination of SOD activities was based on the well-known spectrophotometric assay introduced by McCord & Fridovich [(1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 6049-6055], with partially succinylated (3-carboxypropionylated) rather than native ferricytochrome c as indicating scavenger. Partial succinylation of cytochrome c resulted in minimization of interference associated with the interaction of cytochrome c with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase or cytochrome c reductases. The further increase in specificity, with regard to exclusion of cytochrome c oxidase interference, gained as a consequence of the high pH of 10 enabled the analysis of samples as rich in cytochrome c oxidase activity as the mitochondrial fraction in the presence or absence of membrane-disrupting detergents. Linear relationships for the dependence of the SOD activities with protein concentration were obtained with rat liver homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, indicating negligible interference. Furthermore, by choosing a high pH for the assay medium, a 4-fold increase in sensitivity compared with the classical SOD assay, carried out at pH 7.8, was gained as well as a more precise resolution of Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD by 2 mM-KCN in samples with a high ratio of Mn-SOD to Cu/Zn-SOD, such as mitochondria. The complete trapping of the O2.- radicals, which was more feasible at pH 10 than at pH 7.8, enabled the application of a simple equation derived for the calculation of appropriately defined units of SOD activity from a single experiment.     

An assay for superoxide dismutase activity in mammalian tissue homogenates

During the course of measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat breast tissue, interferences in the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and cytochrome c assay systems were noted. These interferences inhibit accurate measurement of SOD activity in breast tissues, necessitating the development of a new NBT-based assay that includes compounds capable of inhibiting tissue specific interferences. The most effective compounds were metal chelators that were also electron transport chain inhibitors. Bathocuproine sulfonate (BCS) was the most effective of these compounds. The inclusion of BCS in the NBT assay system was shown to make the accurate measurement of SOD activity in tissues with interferences possible.     

Identification of superoxide dismutase in rat liver peroxisomes.

In this paper we have investigated whether or not superoxide dismutase is localized in peroxisomes from rat liver. Using an improved method to prepare peroxisomes from clofibrate induced rat livers, we identified superoxide dismutase activity in peroxisomes. This activity was found to be predominantly of the copper-zinc type. The finding of superoxide dismutase activity in peroxisomes makes sense since peroxisomes also contain superoxide generating enzyme activities such as xanthine oxidase.     

Endocytosis of superoxide dismutase by rat liver.

We have investigated the endocytosis by rat liver of superoxide dismutase (SOD) labelled with 125I. (125I) SOD is quickly taken up by the liver where it remains in significant amounts for at least 150 min. Adsorptive endocytosis is probably involved. Distribution of radioactivity was established after differential and isopycnic centrifugation and compared with that of cathepsin C, a lysosomal enzyme. Results show that the behavior of radioactivity is similar to that of the hydrolase. SOD activity is only marginally affected by incubation in the presence of a purified lysosome extract; moreover, when (125I) SOD is treated in the same conditions, only a few percent of radioactivity becomes acidosoluble. These observations indicate that SOD taken up by the liver accumulates in lysosomes where it can stay for a relatively long time owing to its relative resistance to lysosomal hydrolases.     

Quantitative assessment of tyrosine nitration of manganese superoxide dismutase in angiotensin II-infused rat kidney

Hypertension caused by angiotensin II is characterized by an increase in tissue oxidant stress as evidenced by increased quantities of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a key mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme that is inactivated in conditions of oxidant stress by reacting with peroxynitrite to form 3-nitrotyrosine in its active site. The increase in 3-nitrotyrosine content in MnSOD in the kidney of angiotensin II-infused rats was assessed in this study by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and HPLC with UV detection (HPLC-UV). MnSOD activity decreased approximately 50% in angiotensin II-infused rat kidneys (24 +/- 4.6 vs. 11 +/- 5.2 U/mg) without a change in protein expression. Immunohistochemical staining showed 3-nitrotyrosine predominantly in distal tubules and collecting duct cells in the angiotensin II-infused rat kidneys. By two-photon microscopy, 3-nitrotyrosine colocalized with MnSOD. Total 3-nitrotyrosine content in kidney homogenates was increased in angiotensin II-infused rat kidney [3.2 +/- 1.9 (sham treated) vs. 9.5 +/- 2.3 ng/mg protein by HPLC-UV detection]. With tracer amounts of tyrosine-nitrated recombinant MnSOD, the most sensitive technique to detect tyrosine nitration of MnSOD was immunoprecipitation from tissue with anti-MnSOD antibody, followed by detection of 3-nitrotyrosine by Western blotting or HPLC. By HPLC, 3-nitrotyrosine content of kidney MnSOD increased 13-fold after angiotensin II infusion, representing an increase from approximately one-twentieth to one-fifth of the total 3-nitrotyrosine content in sham-treated and angiotensin II-infused rat kidney, respectively. Angiotensin II-induced hypertension is accompanied by increased tyrosine nitration of MnSOD, which, because it inactivates the enzyme, may contribute to increased oxidant stress in the kidney.     

A critical reevaluation of some assay methods for superoxide dismutase activity

We have compared the direct method of pulse radiolysis to the indirect methods of cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium for assaying the superoxide dismutase activity of a compound. We have shown that with pulse radiolysis, where high concentrations of O2- are generated, the "turnover" rate constant, kcat, can be determined directly, while with the indirect methods, where relatively low steady state concentrations of O2- are formed, the value of kcat determined by these methods, can be orders of magnitude lower than that determined directly. The main reason for the lower values obtained with the indirect methods is due to the fast reoxidation of the reduced compound by molecular oxygen. Additional problems which arise with the use of indirect methods for determining superoxide dismutase catalytic activity are discussed.     

An improved spectrophotometric assay for superoxide dismutase based on epinephrine autoxidation

Superoxide dismutase activity was assayed in terms of its ability to inhibit the radical-mediated chain-propagating autoxidation of epinephrine. The enzyme assay based on adrenochrome absorption at 480 nm has been improved by measuring the absorption change at 320 nm. This alternative procedure was found to be 6 to 10 times more sensitive and more consistent than that measured at 480 nm.     

A flash-photometric method for determination of reactivity of superoxide: application to superoxide dismutase assay

Pulse-generation of O2- by a flash was used to determine the reactivity of O2-, O2- was produced within 10 ms by a flash of light through the excitation of FMN in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and oxygen. Kinetic analysis of cytochrome c reduction by O2- generated by flash yielded the reaction rate constant between cytochrome c and O2- and the spontaneous disproportionation rate constant of O2-. We applied it for superoxide dismutase assay using a linear relation between superoxide dismutase concentration and the apparent rate constant of cytochrome c reduction by O2-. The catalytic rate constant and activation energy at pH 7.3 of bovine liver Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase were found to be 1.75 x 10(9) M-1 . s-1 at 25 degrees C and 26.9 kJ . M-1, respectively. The kinetics of O2- decay can be also monitored at 240 nm in this flash-photometric system and gave the spontaneous disproportionation rate constant of O2- and the catalytic rate constant of superoxide dismutase.     

Copper activation of superoxide dismutase in rat erythrocytes

Several lines of evidence suggested that copper can activate a preexisting pool of superoxide dismutase (SOD) apoprotein in erythrocytes from copper-deficient rats. First, feeding adequate copper to copper-deficient rats raised initially low erythrocyte SOD activities to normal values in under one-third the time needed to replace the entire red cell population. Moreover, copper injection (1 mg Cu/kg, sc) doubled erythrocyte SOD activity levels in 16 h. Since protein synthesis is restricted in mature erythrocytes, these results imply that copper activated apoSOD in vivo. Furthermore, injected copper raised SOD activity contents of both young and old erythrocytes. Neither dietary copper status nor copper injection influenced red cell SOD immunoreactive protein levels. In contrast, copper injection increased the amount of copper associated with the SOD activity peak region resulting from gel filtration of hemoglobin-free erythrocyte proteins on Sephadex G-75. Copper ions (3 microM) elevated SOD activity levels in vitro by 63% in 4 h in intact red cells from copper-deficient rats. No activation took place in lysed red cells from the same rats or in intact cells from copper-adequate rats. These results all suggest that copper can activate SOD apoprotein in erythrocytes by a specific, saturable process.     

Copper increases superoxide dismutase activity in rat liver

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat liver cytosol and submitochondrial fractions was characterized as enzymatic and nonenzymatic (due to the SOD-like activity of copper) by four approaches: (i) aerobic NBT²⁺ (nitroblue tetrazolium) photoreduction in the absence of EDTA; (ii) aerobic NBT²⁺ photoreduction in the presence of 10^?4m EDTA; (iii) anaerobic NBT²⁺ photoreduction; and (iv) o-dianisidine photooxidation. Under normal conditions nonenzymatic SOD activity has been observed only in the intermembrane space. The single subcutaneous injection of rats with CuSO₄ solution (5 mg Cu/kg body wt) led to (i) an elevation of the copper level in all submitochondrial fractions; (ii) an increase in enzymatic SOD activity in only cytosol and intermembrane spaces; (iii) the appearance of a new electrophoretic SOD activity band in the intermembrane space preparations; and (iv) the appearance of nonenzymatic SOD-like activity in the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes, and a twofold increase in lipid hydroperoxides. This suggests that the increased nonenzymatic copper in vivo has a prooxidant effect, and does not catalyze the dismutation of O₂^? as it has been shown in in vitro experiments [E. M. Russanov S. G. Ljutakova, and S. I. Leutcher (1982) Arch. Biochem. Biophys.215, 220–229]. The peculiarities of the SOD activity in the intermembrane space are explained by the lysosomal localization of the granular CuZnSOD.     

An assay for the detection of superoxide dismutase in individual Escherichia coli colonies

A method for detecting superoxide dismutase activity in individual colonies of Escherichia coli was developed. The assay involves the lysis of individual cells in colonies on filter papers by a series of lysozyme, chloroform, and freeze-thaw treatments. Filters are placed on agar plates to allow diffusion of cellular enzymes into a solid matrix. A nitroblue tetrazolium overlay is applied to detect superoxide dismutase activity. Colonies possessing activity produce achromatic zones against a dark Formazan background. The assay can detect the presence of superoxide dismutase and the relative amount of enzyme as well. This assay provides a method for screening a population of cells for mutants deficient in or overproducing superoxide dismutase.