Ascorbic acid conversion to erythroascorbic acid, mediated by ubiquitin

We recently identified a microbial conversion of l-ascorbic acid (AsA) to l-erythroascorbic acid (eAsA), a five-carbon analog of AsA. In this paper, we show that ubiquitin plays a crucial role in this process. Based on an assay that determined AsA decomposition, we purified proteins that had N-terminal amino acid sequences identical to that of yeast ubiquitin. Purified ubiquitin facilitated decompositions of AsA and dehydro-AsA, accompanying a partial conversion to eAsA through C1-elimination. Acetylation or limited hydrolysis of ubiquitin abolished its activity. A mutant ubiquitin, with Lys⁶ replaced by Arg, completely lost activity, whereas a mutant, with six other Lys residues (positions at 11, 27, 29, 33, 48 and 63) substituted by Arg, retained activity. Thus, Lys⁶, which locates in close proximity to His⁶⁸, is crucial for ubiquitin activity in the AsA conversion to eAsA.     

Ascorbic acid status in high-mountain charr,Salvelinus alpinus,in relation to the reproductive cycle

Synopsis Concentrations of total and dehydroascorbic acids and of glutathione were determined in tissues of male and female Arctic charr at different stages of the reproductive cycle. In fish inhabiting an Alpine lake (2344 m above sea level) the ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly higher in the ovary (344 g g^–1 in August) than in the testis (62.6 g g^–1). The ascorbate concentration was significantly higher in liver and kidney of males than in females in the period prior to spawning. This suggests that there was an intensive investment of body ascorbate reserves in the ovary and the results indicated that females deposited approximately 10 times the amount of vitamin C in ovaries than males deposited in testes. However, the endogenous stores cannot account for all ascorbate deposited in ovaries and the remainder must come from food consumed in summer. Since the resident charr of the high-mountain lake had the ascorbate concentration in ovary by one order of magnitude higher than in cultured salmonids it is plausible to speculate that the change in ascorbic acid metabolism reflects the adaptation to the harsh environmental conditions.     

Stimulation of thiamine diphosphate activity by ascorbic acid in rat brain microsomes

The effect of ascorbic acid on microsomal thiamine diphosphate activity in rat brain was examined. Ascorbic acid at 0.02–0.1 mM increased the thiamine diphosphate activity by 20–600% and produced a significant amount of lipid peroxide, which was measured with thiobarbiturate under the same conditions as the enzyme. A lag period of about 10 min was observed in the process of stimulation of enzyme activity by ascorbic acid. The stimulation of enzyme activity and the lipid peroxidation induced by ascorbic acid were blocked by metal-binding compounds (EDTA, α,α′-dipyridyl, o-phenanthroline) and an antioxidant (N,N′-diphenyl p-phenylenediamine). GSH significantly enhanced the stimulation of enzyme activity and formation of lipid peroxide by 0.02–0.05 mM ascorbic acid. The effect of GSH was due in part to maintenance of the concentration of ascorbic acid in the medium, since GSH could convert dehydroascorbic acid, an oxidized form of ascorbic acid, to ascorbic acid.     

激光联合氨甲环酸、谷胱甘肽及维生素C 治疗黄褐斑的临床观察

目的：探讨黄褐斑应用激光联合氨甲环酸、谷胱甘肽及维生素C 治疗的临床效果。方法：选择2012 年6 月~2014 年6 月期间我院皮肤科门诊收治的黄褐斑女性患者117 例,根据随机数字表将其平均分为三组,即激光组、药物组、联合治疗组各39 例。激光组单纯应用激光治疗,药物组应用氨甲环酸、谷胱甘肽及维生素C治疗,联合治疗组应用激光联合氨甲环酸、谷胱甘肽及维生素C 治疗。对比三组治疗前后黄褐斑面积及黄褐斑颜色评分、临床疗效及治疗后不良反应。结果：联合组治疗后黄褐斑面积及黄褐斑颜色评分显著低于激光组、药物组及治疗前（P<0.05）。联合组治疗的总有效率显著高于激光组及药物组（P<0.05）。药物组不良反应发生率为2.56%,其他两组未见明显不良反应。结论：激光联合氨甲环酸、谷胱甘肽及维生素C 治疗黄褐斑的疗效确切,可以有效改善黄褐斑面积及颜色,安全性佳,适于临床应用。     

Histidine Residues in the Na+-coupled Ascorbic Acid Transporter-2 (SVCT2) Are Central Regulators of SVCT2 Function,Modulating pH Sensitivity,Transporter Kinetics,Na+ Cooperativity,Conformational Stability,and Subcellular Localization

Na⁺-coupled ascorbic acid transporter-2 (SVCT2) activity is impaired at acid pH, but little is known about the molecular determinants that define the transporter pH sensitivity. SVCT2 contains six histidine residues in its primary sequence, three of which are exofacial in the transporter secondary structure model. We used site-directed mutagenesis and treatment with diethylpyrocarbonate to identify histidine residues responsible for SVCT2 pH sensitivity. We conclude that five histidine residues, His¹⁰⁹, His²⁰³, His²⁰⁶, His²⁶⁹, and His⁴¹³, are central regulators of SVCT2 function, participating to different degrees in modulating pH sensitivity, transporter kinetics, Na⁺ cooperativity, conformational stability, and subcellular localization. Our results are compatible with a model in which (i) a single exofacial histidine residue, His⁴¹³, localized in the exofacial loop IV that connects transmembrane helices VII-VIII defines the pH sensitivity of SVCT2 through a mechanism involving a marked attenuation of the activation by Na⁺ and loss of Na⁺ cooperativity, which leads to a decreased V_max without altering the transport K_m; (ii) exofacial histidine residues His²⁰³, His²⁰⁶, and His⁴¹³ may be involved in maintaining a functional interaction between exofacial loops II and IV and influence the general folding of the transporter; (iii) histidines 203, 206, 269, and 413 affect the transporter kinetics by modulating the apparent transport K_m; and (iv) histidine 109, localized at the center of transmembrane helix I, might be fundamental for the interaction of SVCT2 with the transported substrate ascorbic acid. Thus, histidine residues are central regulators of SVCT2 function.     

Tenoxicam Modulates Antioxidant Redox System and Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Brain

We investigated effects of two doses of Tenoxicam, a type 2 cyclooxygenase inhibitor, administration on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant redox system in cortex of the brain in rats. Twenty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. First group was used as control. 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight Tenoxicam were intramuscularly administrated to rats constituting the second and third groups for 10 days, respectively. Both dose of Tenoxicam administration resulted in significant increase in the glutathione peroxidase activity, reduced glutathione and vitamins C and E of cortex of the brain. The lipid peroxidation levels in the cortex of the brain were significantly decreased by the administration. Vitamin A and β-carotene concentration was not affected by the administration. There was no statistical difference in all values between 10 and 20 mg Tenoxicam administrated groups. In conclusion, treatment of brain with 10 and 20 mg Tenoxicam has protective effects on the oxidative stress by inhibiting free radical and supporting antioxidant redox system.     

Biocatalytic synthesis of ascorbyl esters and their biotechnological applications

Ascorbyl fatty acid esters act both as antioxidants and surfactants. These esters are obtained by acylation of vitamin C using different acyl donors in presence of chemical catalysts or lipases. Lipases have been used for this reaction as they show high regioselectivity and can be used under mild reaction conditions. Insolubility of hydrophilic ascorbic acid in non-polar solvents is the major obstacle during ascorbic acid esters synthesis. Different strategies have been invoked to address this problem viz. use of polar organic solvents, ionic liquids, and solid-phase condensation. Furthermore, to improve the yield of ascorbyl fatty acid esters, reactions were performed by (1) controlling water content in the reaction medium, (2) using vacuum to remove formed volatile side product, and (3) employing activated acyl donors (methyl, ethyl or vinyl esters of fatty acids). This mini-review offers a brief overview on lipase-catalyzed syntheses of vitamin C esters and their biotechnological applications. Also, wherever possible, technical viability, scope, and limitations of different methods are discussed.     

维生素C多聚磷酸酯对小鼠肝脏抗氧化物酶基因转录的影响

为研究维生素C多聚磷酸酯对小鼠肝脏脂质抗氧化物酶基因转录的影响,将24只3-4周龄、体重为16-22g的健康雄性小鼠随机分为4组,分别在饵料中添加0、500、2500和5000mg/kg的35%维生素C多聚磷酸酯,喂食4周后取其肝脏,用Trizol法抽提总RNA,利用RT-PCR方法对小鼠肝脏超氧化物歧化酶基因、过氧化氢酶基因和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因的mRNA进行分析。结果表明,维生素C多聚磷酸酯对小鼠肝脏抗氧化物酶基因的转录有显著性影响(P<0·05)。维生素C多聚磷酸酯添加量为2500和5000mg/kg的两组,过氧化氢酶基因的mRNA水平明显高于对照组;维生素C多聚磷酸酯添加量为2500和5000mg/kg的两组超氧化物歧化酶基因的mRNA水平明显高于对照组,其中5000mg/kg组的mRNA水平明显高于其它三组;维生素C多聚磷酸酯添加量为5000mg/kg组,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因的转录活性明显高于其它三组(P<0·05)。研究结果表明:高剂量的维生素C多聚磷酸酯能促进小鼠抗氧化物酶基因的转录活性,但促进不同抗氧化物酶基因转录所需的维生素C多聚磷酸酯的量不同。     

牛奶和维生素C对肝脏影响的实验性研究

目的　为了观察牛奶和维生素C饮料对肝脏的影响。方法　用健康小白鼠 30只 ,分为 3组 ,A组 (正常对照组 )、B组 (牛奶组 )、C组 (维生素C组 )各 10只。经 14天喂养后 ,断头处死 ,取肝右叶用组织化学和酶组织化学方法 ,观察PAS反应、SDH、ATPase、ChE以及ACP的变化。结果　结果为A组PAS反应、SDH为强阳性 ( ) ,ChE为中等阳性 ( )。B组ChE、ATPase为阳性 ( )。C组SDH、PAS反应以及ATPase为中等阳性 ( )。 3个组的ACP均为弱阳性 (± )。结论　提示高糖、高蛋白可明显提高肝的功能活动 ,而标准食物佐以维生素C有益于肝脏的功能活动。     

Seasonality of sulfate reduction and pore water solutes in a marine fish farm sediment: the importance of temperature and sedimentary organic matter

Sulfate reduction and pore water solutes related to sulfur cycling and anaerobic processes (short chain fatty acids (SCFA), SO₄ ^2–, TCO₂, NH₄ ⁺, dissolved sulfides (H₂S) and CH₄) were examined during one year at a marine fish farm. Mineralization of fish farm waste products was rapid in this non-bioturbated, organic rich sediment. Stimulation of sulfate reduction rates (SRR) occurred primarily in the surface layers where the organic matter was deposited. Acetate was the most important (<99%) of the measured SCFA attaining high concentrations during summer months (up to 4.7 mM). The acetate profiles exhibited distinct seasonal cycles, where periods with high concentrations in the pore waters were found coincident with a high pool of particulate organic matter in the surface sediments and a low activity of the sulfate reducing bacteria (early spring and late summer). Periods with low acetate pools occurred when sulfate reduction rates were high in early summer and in winter were pools of particulate organic matter were decreasing. Methane production was observed concurrent with sulfate reduction in the microbial active surface layers in late summer. Subsurface peaks of SO₄ ^2–, TCO₂, NH₄ ⁺ and H₂S were evident in July and August due to rapid mineralization in these surface layers. With decreasing autumn water temperatures mineralization rates declined and subsurface peaks of these solutes disappeared. A strong relationship was found between pore water TCO₂, and NH₄ ⁺. Ratios between TCO₂, and NH₄ ⁺ were low compared to a control site, attaining minimum values in mid-summer. This indicated rapid nitrogen mineralization of nitrogen rich labile substrates in the fish farm sediment during the entire season.