Stimulatory and Inhibitory Actions of Proteins and Amino Acids On Copper-Catalysed Free Radical Generation in the Bulk Phase

The effect of a variety of proteins and amino acids was investigated on oxygen free radical activity as assessed by copper/hydrogen peroxide induced benzoate hydroxylation as well as copper-catalysed ascor-bate autoxidation. Serum albumins from a variety of species (human, bovine and dog) had both inhibitory and stimulatory effects depending on the molar copper to protein ratio; low ratios were inhibitory and high stimulatory. Some other proteins tested (lysozyme, soybean trypsin inhibitor and conalbumin) also had dual (inhibitory and stimulatory) effects, as did both histidine and polyhistidine, but all effects occurred at different molar ratios presumably dependent on the relative affinities for the copper ions. In contrast, metallolhioncin and cacruloplasmin, proteins specialised to bind copper in vivo had no stimulatory effects. In this paper we show that in addition to their fairly well documented inhibitory effects, under certain conditions some proteins also stimulate radical reactions. The possible role of this phenomenon in vivo is discussed.     

盐穗木金属硫蛋白HcMT的体外自由基清除活性及抗氧化能力*

目的: 原核表达盐穗木(Halostachys caspica C. A. Mey.)金属硫蛋白HcMT并探究其抗氧化活性。方法: 构建原核表达载体pET-32a-HcMT,转化至大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21,加入Zn²⁺胁迫培养(终浓度为200 μmol/L),分离纯化得到Zn-HcMT,测定Zn-HcMT自由基清除活性和总抗氧化能力,制备复合物Zn-HcMT/TiO₂并做FTIR表征。结果: 通过原核表达获得融合蛋白Zn-HcMT,对·OH、O₂·^-、DPPH自由基具有较强的清除活性,对·OH、O₂·^-的IC₅₀分别为0.386 mg/mL、0.038 mg/mL。融合蛋白浓度为0.01 mg/mL时,对DPPH清除率达(37.43 ± 0.006 8)%,浓度为0.3mg/mL时TEAC(trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity)值为(1.023 ± 0.01)mmol/L,融合蛋白还原力A₇₀₀为0.142 ± 0.055,FTIR图谱同时表现了Zn-HcMT和TiO₂吸收特性。结论: Zn-HcMT具有良好的清除ROS活性及较强的抗氧化能力,在化妆品领域有潜在应用前景。     

Changes in Plasma and Tissue Free Amino Acids of Rats Fed Excess Glycine Diets

In order to discover more potent pyrethrum synergists, dihydrodillapiole and furapiole, two dillapiole-based compounds having considerable synergistic activity, were converted into various acyl and ?,β-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives. The synthesis, factor of synergism, spectroscopic data and structure activity relationships of these derivatives are reported.     

Lipid Free Radical Generation and Brain Cell Membrane Alteration Following Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition During Cerebral Hypoxia in the Newborn Piglet

Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is reported to cause neuronal damage through various mechanisms. The present study tests the hypothesis that NO synthase inhibition by N ^ω-nitro- l -arginine (NNLA) will result in decreased oxygen-derived free radical production leading to the preservation of cell membrane structure and function during cerebral hypoxia. Ten newborn piglets were pretreated with NNLA (40 mg/kg); five were subjected to hypoxia, whereas the other five were maintained with normoxia. An additional 10 piglets without NNLA treatment underwent the same conditions. Hypoxia was induced with a lowered FiO₂ and documented biochemically by decreased cerebral ATP and phosphocreatine levels. Free radicals were detected by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy with a spin trapping technique. Results demonstrated that free radicals, corresponding to alkoxyl radicals, were induced by hypoxia but were inhibited by pretreatment with NNLA before inducing hypoxia. NNLA also inhibited hypoxia-induced generation of conjugated dienes, products of lipid peroxidation. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity, an index of cellular membrane function, decreased following hypoxia but was preserved by pretreatment with NNLA. These data demonstrate that during hypoxia NO generates free radicals via peroxynitrite production, presumably causing lipid peroxidation and membrane dysfunction. These results suggest that NO is a potentially limiting factor in the peroxynitrite-mediated lipid peroxidation resulting in membrane injury.     

The Association between Angiotensin II-Induced Free Radical Generation and Membrane Fluidity in Neutrophils of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is able to induce free radical generation in neutrophils, which is more elevated in neutrophils of patients with hypercholesterolemia (HC). In addition, the signal processing through angiotensin I (Ang I) receptors is altered. In present study, we compared the Ang II-triggered free radical generation of neutrophils obtained from patients with relatively isolated forms of metabolic syndrome (MS) with membrane-bound cholesterol content and membrane fluidity. We determined the enhancement of Ang II-induced superoxide anion and leukotriene C₄ (LTC₄) generation, membrane fluidity and cell-bound cholesterol content of neutrophils obtained from 12 control subjects, 11 patients with obesity (Ob), 10 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2-DM) and 12 patients with HC. The alteration of signal processing was studied after preincubation with different inhibiting drugs. Superoxide anion, LTC₄ production and membrane rigidity were increased in the following order: control < Ob < t2-DM < HC. Both Ang II-induced superoxide anion and LTC₄ generation were decreased in control cells by pertussis toxin and fluvastatin (Flu), whereas in each patient group, mepacrin, verapamil and Flu were effective, suggesting alterations in signal pathways, which may be attributed to isoprenylation. The enhancement of superoxide anion and LTC₄ generation correlated significantly with membrane rigidity, independently from the experimental groups and membrane-bound cholesterol content. Membrane rigidity of neutrophils, obtained from patients with MS, plays a role in Ang II-induced free radical generation independent of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.     

Ca~(2 )对叶绿体中超氧物自由基产生以及由ACC形成乙烯的影响

高浓度Ca~(2 )(0.1 mol/L)使叶绿体产生O_2~ 的能力下降,旋转相关时间(τ_c)增大34.3％,即膜的流动性降低,并抑制ACC形成乙烯;衰老时细胞内的Ca~(2 )作用却与此相反;O_2~ 的生成与乙烯的产量成正相关(r=0.941)。EGTA,吩噻嗪和W_7等加入到叶绿体反应体系中,可使O_2~ 的产量下降,ACC形成乙烯减少;相反,亚油酸作为Ca~(2 )载体,却使之明显升高,但亚油酸本身产生乙烯的量比ACC少得多。因此推测:高浓度Ca~(2 )可能影响叶绿体膜的状态,从而影响EFE的构象或者减少O_2~ 的生成,抑制ACC的转化,衰老时细胞内的Ca~(2 )可启动钙信使系统,使O_2~ 的产量升高,而其中膜脂过氧化是衰老的中心环节,因此O_2~ 的升高可能是诱发衰老启动的重要因素。     

Free Radicals and the Ischemia-Evoked Extracellular Accumulation of Amino Acids in Rat Cerebral Cortex

The effects of free radical generating systems on basal and ischemia/reperfusion-evoked release of amino acids into cortical superfusates was examined in the rat using the cortical cup technique. Xanthine oxidase plus xanthine significantly enhanced GABA levels 358 fold over controls during 20 min of four vessel occlusion. Glutamate and phosphoethanolamine release following reperfusion were also elevated. Prostaglandin synthase plus arachidonic acid significantly enhanced the ischemia-evoked release of all amino acids (aspartate 360 fold; glutamate 433 fold; glycine 6 fold; GABA 689 fold; phosphoethanolamine 69 fold) and increased the pre-ischemic levels of glutamate, glycine and phosphoethanolamine. Administration of H₂O₂ plus ferrous sulfate significantly elevated both pre-ischemic amino acid release and ischemia-evoked release. A role for free radical generating systems in the development of ischemic injury is supported by the ability of superoxide dismutase plus catalase to reduce ischemia-evoked amino acid efflux into cortical superfusates. Thus, the species of free radical produced, as well as the amount generated, may alter the pattern of amino acid release under both ischemic and non-ischemic conditions.     

Clarification of the Relationship Between Free Radical Spin Trapping and Carbon Tetrachloride Metabolism in Microsomal Systems

It has been proposed that the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone/trichloromethyl radical adduct (PBN/^•CCl₃) is metabolized to either the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone/carbon dioxide anion radical adduct (PBN/^•CO₂⁻) or the glutathione (GSH) and CCl₄-dependent PBN radical adduct (PBN/[GSH-^•CCl₃]). Inclusion of PBN/^•CCl₃ in microsomal incubations containing GSH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), or GSH plus NADPH produced no electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral data indicative of the formation of either the PBN/[GSH-^•CCl₃] or PBN/^•CO₂⁻ radical adducts. Microsomes alone or with GSH had no effect on the PBN/^•CCl₃ radical adduct. Addition of NADPH to a microsomal system containing PBN/^•CCl₃ presumably reduced the radical adduct to its ESR-silent hydroxylamine because no ESR signal was observed. The Folch extract of this system produced an ESR spectrum that was a composite of two radicals, one of which had hyperfine coupling constants identical to those of PBN/^•CCl₃. We conclude that PBN/^•CCl₃ is not metabolized into either PBN/[GSH-^•CCl₃] or PBN/^•CO₂⁻ in microsomal systems.     

改良乳腺癌根治术联合表柔比星治疗乳腺癌的疗效及对血清抵抗素、脂联素水平的影响

目的:探究改良乳腺癌根治术联合表柔比星治疗乳腺癌的疗效及对血清抵抗素、脂联素水平的影响.方法:收集2019年1月～2020年1月我院确诊为乳腺癌的60例患者资料,使用随机数字法将患者分为对照组、观察组,每组30例.两组患者均接受改良乳腺癌根治术,对照组患者在此基础上接受阿霉素、环磷酰胺、5-氟尿嘧啶治疗,观察组接受表;...     

光质对水稻幼苗蛋白质、氨基酸含量的影响

蓝光对水稻幼苗可溶性蛋白积累的促进效应,在幼苗生长的初期比较明显;第５天,幼苗的可溶性蛋白质、蛋白氮、非蛋白氮以及Ａｓｐ、Ａｓｎ、Ｇｌｕ、Ｇｌｎ等游离氨基酸含量都远远高于白光或红光的处理。随着苗龄的增加,蓝光的促进作用减弱,到第１７天,各项指标都低于白光处理的幼苗。红光处理的幼苗可溶性蛋白始终低于白光或蓝光的处理,其Ａｓｎ、Ｇｌｎ两种酰胺含量在第１０天以后明显高于同期的白光或蓝光的处理。     

光质对水稻幼苗蛋白质、氨基酸含量的影响

蓝光对水稻幼苗可溶性蛋白积累的促进效应,在幼苗生长的初期比较明显;第5天,幼苗的可溶性蛋白质、蛋白氮、非蛋白氮以及Asp、Asn、Glu、Gln等游离氨基酸含量都远远高于白光或红光的处理。随着苗龄的增加,蓝光的促进作用减弱,到第17天,各项指标都低于白光处理的幼苗。红光处理的幼苗可溶性蛋白始终低于白光或蓝光的处理,其 Asn、Gln 两种酰胺含量在第10天以后明显高于同期的白光或蓝光的处理。     

Generation of superoxide radicals in alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide and the effect of superoxide dismutase on this system

Superoxide radicals in high concentrations were generated from alkaline H₂O₂ without using catalysts or irradiation. The dependence of the intensity and parameters of the superoxide radical EPR spectrum on pH, temperature, viscosity and H₂O₂ concentration were studied. The observed changes are explained on the base of matrix effects. The addition of superoxide dismutase to alkaline H₂O₂ led initially to a drop in the EPR spectrum intensity, followed by an increase in the concentration of superoxide radicals.     

Studies on the Effects of Antioxidants and Inhibitors of Radical Generation on Free Radical Production in the Reperfused Rat Heart Using Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy

Reperfusion of the heart after a period of ischaemia can precipitate ventricular arrhythmias and lead to an exacerbation of tissue injury. Direct evidence to suggest the involvement of free radicals has been obtained using electron spin resonance (esr) spectroscopy and the spin trap N-tert. butyl-α-phenyl nitrone (PBN). In the present study, we have used esr spectroscopy and PBN to examine the individual effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase. allopurinol or desferal on radical production in the isolated. reperfused rat heart. A burst of radical production was observed in the control group during the first 5 minutes of reperfusion; the peak occurred during the first minute, when signal intensity had increased by almost 300%. but returned to the baseline by 15 minutes of reperfusion. The esr signals were consistent with the trapping of either alkoxyl or carbon-centered radicals (a_N = 13.6 and a_H = 1.56G). In the desferal-treated group, a burst of radical production was observed during the first five minutes of reperfusion; this was maximal during the second minute, when signal intensity had increased by almost 200%, but had returned to the baseline value by 30 minutes of reperfusion. In the SOD-treated group, a burst of radical production was observed during the first 10 minutes of reperfusion; signal intensity was maximal during the tenth minute of reperfusion, when signal intensity had increased by almost 200%. but had returned to the baseline value by 30 minutes of reperfusion. In the allopurinol- and catalase-treated groups, no significant burst of radical production could be detected. These data further support the concept that cytotoxic, oxygen-derived species are formed upon reperfusion and that hydrogen peroxide and/or hy-droxyl radicals, are likely to be involved.     

Effect of Short-Term Caloric Restriction on H2O2 Production and Oxidative DNA Damage in Rat Liver Mitochondria and Location of the Free Radical Source

Oxygen free radicals (ROS) of mitochondrial origin seem to be involved in aging. Whereas in other tissues complexes I or III of the respiratory chain contain the ROS generators, in this study we find that rat liver mitochondria generate oxygen radicals at complexes I, II, and III. Short-term (6 weeks) caloric restriction significantly decreased H₂O₂ production in rat liver mitochondria. This decrease in ROS production was located at complex I because it occurred with complex I-linked substrates (pyruvate/malate), but did not reach statistical significance with the complex II-linked substrate succinate. The mechanism responsible for the lowered ROS production was not a decrease in oxygen consumption. Instead, the mitochondria of caloric-restricted animals released less ROS per unit electron flow. This was due to a decrease in the degree of reduction of the complex I generator. Furthermore, oxidative damage to mitochondrial and nuclear DNA was also decreased in the liver by short-term caloric restriction. The results agree with the idea that caloric restriction delays aging, at least in part, by decreasing the rate of mitochondrial ROS generation and thus the rate of attack to molecules, like DNA, highly relevant for the accumulation of age-dependent changes.     

Involvement of Both Inhibitory and Stimulatory Guanine Nucleotide Binding Proteins in the Expression of Chronic Opiate Regulation of Adenylate Cyclase Activity in NG108-15 Cells

Abstract: Chronic etorphine treatment of neuroblastoma × glioma NG108-15 cells results in both an increase in adenylate cyclase activity (upon addition of the opiate antagonist naloxone) as well as an homologous desensitization of the opiate receptor. The continued ability of opiate agonists to regulate adenylate cyclase activity following opiate receptor desensitization can be understood by proposing that the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase in NG108-15 cells is under tonic regulation by both guanine nucleotide regulatory (N_i) and stimulatory (N_s) components. Inactivation of N_i by pertussis toxin (PT) treatment resulted in elevated adenylate cyclase activities comparable to those observed in control cells following chronic opiate treatment. This increased enzymatic activity could not be further induced by PT treatment of cells exposed to opiate previously. In addition, procedures that prevented receptor-mediated activation of N_s, i.e., treatment with NaF or desensitization of the stimulatory receptors (prostaglandin E₁, adenosine) eliminated the increase in adenylate cyclase activity induced by naloxone following chronic opiate exposure. Hence, the increase in enzymatic activity observed following chronic opiate treatment may be due to a loss in tonic inhibitory regulation of adenylate cyclase mediated through N_i resulting in the unimpeded expression of N_s activity. This tonic inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity is one of the multiple mechanisms by which N_i regulates adenylate cyclase in this cell line.     

Analyses of Soluble Protein,Total and Free Amino Acids in Leaves of Different Ecotypes of Phragmites communis Growing in the Hexi Corridor

The difference of total and free amino acids and protein extracted from the leaves of four different reed ecotypes growing in Hexi corridor of Gansu Province were investigated. In all of the different reed ecotypes, the content of Asp, Glu, Gly, Leu and Ala in total amino acids were high, while the contents of Ala, Phe, Met and Thr, Pro in total amino acids varied among different reed ecotypes. Albeit Ala, Glu, Asp, Gly and Ser were the chief composition of free amino acids in leaves of all reed ecotypes, but temarkble difference was found in the content of each free amino acid from different reed ecotypes. The content of free Pro in leaves of salt meadow and salt meadow-sand dune transitional zone reed were 3.5 and 1.6 times respectively as much as in leaves of swamp reed. Swamp reed had 11 soluble proteins whereas other three reed ecotypes show that each has 13 soluble proteins. Three “salt adaptation proteins” (66 kD, 40.3 kD, 16.5 kD) were found in leaves of three reed ecotypes with varying degree of salt stress, however, the contents of 3 “salt adaptation protens” showed a negative correlation with the degree of salt stress. There was a large amount of “special protein” (11.7 kD) in leaves of sand dune reeds. These results suggest that the difference in cytogene expression takes a priority basis of adaptation of reed plants to different habitats, while a closer relationship of reeds tolerance to salt or drought stress with Pro accumulation in cells is seen than with the of accumulation stress adaptation protein.     

On the Structural Regularity in Nucleobases and Amino Acids and Relationship to the Origin and Evolution of the Genetic Code

To explore how chemical structures of both nucleobases and amino acids may have played a role in shaping the genetic code, numbers of sp² hybrid nitrogen atoms in nucleobases were taken as a determinative measure for empirical stereo-electronic property to analyze the genetic code. Results revealed that amino acid hydropathy correlates strongly with the sp² nitrogen atom numbers in nucleobases rather than with the overall electronic property such as redox potentials of the bases, reflecting that stereo-electronic property of bases may play a role. In the rearranged code, five simple but stereo-structurally distinctive amino acids (Gly, Pro, Val, Thr and Ala) and their codon quartets form a crossed intersection “core”. Secondly, a re-categorization of the amino acids according to their β-carbon stereochemistry, verified by charge density (at β-carbon) calculation, results in five groups of stereo-structurally distinctive amino acids, the group leaders of which are Gly, Pro, Val, Thr and Ala, remarkably overlapping the above “core”. These two lines of independent observations provide empirical arguments for a contention that a seemingly “frozen” “core” could have formed at a certain evolutionary stage. The possible existence of this codon “core” is in conformity with a previous evolutionary model whereby stereochemical interactions may have shaped the code. Moreover, the genetic code listed in UCGA succession together with this codon “core” has recently facilitated an identification of the unprecedented icosikaioctagon symmetry and bi-pyramidal nature of the genetic code.     

Administration of Vigabatrin (γ-Vinyl-γ-Aminobutyric Acid) Affects the Levels of Both Inhibitory and Excitatory Amino Acids in Rat Cerebrospinal Fluid

The effect of vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid), a new anticonvulsant drug, on the transmitter amino acids in rat cisternal CSF was studied. CSF was collected through a permanently implanted polyethylene cannula from freely moving rats at 5, 24, 48, and 96 h after administration of 1,000 mg/kg of vigabatrin. The free gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level was elevated maximally (13.5-fold; p less than 0.01) at 24 h after injection. The homocarnosine (GABA-histidine) level also was increased (123%; p less than 0.01) at 24 h after injection, and its concentration remained at the same level for the next 3 days. Glycine and taurine concentrations had increased [31% (p less than 0.05) and 63% (p less than 0.01), respectively] at 5 h after injection. It is interesting that the levels of glutamate and aspartate increased [330% (p less than 0.05) and 421% (p less than 0.01), respectively] at 96 h after injection, the time when the free GABA level had returned to the baseline concentration and the vigabatrin level was 3% of the maximal concentration. The present study indicates that a single dose of vigabatrin in rats elevates levels of both the inhibitory and excitatory amino acids in CSF. However, the temporal profile of observed changes in relation to vigabatrin injection shows that neither the long-lasting elevation of GABA content nor the increase in glutamate and aspartate levels correlates with the level of vigabatrin in CSF. These findings suggest that the excitatory mechanisms are also augmented following acute administration of vigabatrin, especially when the content of GABA had decreased to the baseline level and the level of vigabatrin was low.     

On the Relative Content of G,C Bases in Codons of Amino Acids Corresponding to Class I and II Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases

We have analyzed the relative G,C content from protein coding regions of 530 organisms and found that the ratio of the G,C content of the codons of the amino acids correspondingto Class II and Class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases decreases in a statistically significant way from prokaryotes to animals.This can be interpreted assuming that an initial asymmetry between the G,C content of codons of Class I and II amino acids existed and has decreased in the course of evolution.