Regulatory Properties of Glutamate Dehydrogenase from Sulfolobus solfataricus

The purified glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Sulfolobus solfataricus showed remarkable thermostability and retained 90–95% of the initial activity after incubation at –20°C, 4°C, and 25°C for up to 6 months. Unlike mammalian GDHs, the activity of GDH from Sulfolobus solfataricus was not significantly affected by the presence of various allosteric effectors such as ADP, GTP, and leucine. Incubation of GDH with increasing concentration of o-phthalaldehyde resulted in a progressive decrease in enzyme activity, suggesting that the o-phthalaldehyde-modified lysine or cysteine is directly involved in catalysis. The inhibition was competitive with respect to both 2-oxoglutarate (K_i = 30 M) and NADH (K_i = 100 M), further supporting a possibility that the o-phthalaldehyde-modified residues may be directly involved at the catalytic site. The modification of GDH by the arginine-specific dicarbonyl reagent phenylglyoxal was also examined with the view that arginine residues might play a general role in the binding of coenzyme throughout the family of pyridine nucleotide-dependent dehydro-genases. The purified GDH was inactivated in a dose-dependent manner by phenylglyoxal. Either NADH or 2-oxoglutarate did not gave any protection against the inactivation caused by a phenylglyoxal. This result indicates that GDH saturated with NADH or 2-oxoglutarate is still open to attack by phenylglyoxal. Phenylglyoxal was an uncompetitive inhibitor (K_i = 5 M) with respect to 2-oxoglutarate and a noncompetitive inhibitor (K_i = 6 M) with respect to NADH. The above results suggests that the phenylglyoxal-modified arginine residues are not located at the catalytic site and the inactivation of GDH by phenylglyoxal might be due to a steric hindrance or a conformational change affected by the interaction of the enzyme with its inhibitor.     

Role of Aldose Reductase in the Metabolism and Detoxification of Carnosine-Acrolein Conjugates

Oxidation of unsaturated lipids generates reactive aldehydes that accumulate in tissues during inflammation, ischemia, or aging. These aldehydes form covalent adducts with histidine-containing dipeptides such as carnosine and anserine, which are present in high concentration in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain. The metabolic pathways involved in the detoxification and elimination of these conjugates are, however, poorly defined, and their significance in regulating oxidative stress is unclear. Here we report that conjugates of carnosine with aldehydes such as acrolein are produced during normal metabolism and excreted in the urine of mice and adult human non-smokers as carnosine-propanols. Our studies show that the reduction of carnosine-propanals is catalyzed by the enzyme aldose reductase (AR). Carnosine-propanals were converted to carnosine-propanols in the lysates of heart, skeletal muscle, and brain tissue from wild-type (WT) but not AR-null mice. In comparison with WT mice, the urinary excretion of carnosine-propanols was decreased in AR-null mice. Carnosine-propanals formed covalent adducts with nucleophilic amino acids leading to the generation of carnosinylated proteins. Deletion of AR increased the abundance of proteins bound to carnosine in skeletal muscle, brain, and heart of aged mice and promoted the accumulation of carnosinylated proteins in hearts subjected to global ischemia ex vivo. Perfusion with carnosine promoted post-ischemic functional recovery in WT but not in AR-null mouse hearts. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously unknown metabolic pathway for the removal of carnosine-propanal conjugates and suggest a new role of AR as a critical regulator of protein carnosinylation and carnosine-mediated tissue protection.     

Induction of Complementary Function Reductase Enzymes in Colon Cancer Cells by Dithiole‐3‐thione versus Sodium Selenite

Cellular induction of reductase enzymes can alter the susceptibility of cells toward drugs and chemicals. In this study, we compared the capacity of a single dose of sodium selenite and 3H‐1,2‐dithiole‐3‐thione (D3T) to influence the drug‐relevant reducing capacity of HT29 cells over time, and defined the protein‐specific contribution to this activity on the basis of selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) protein levels and activity were inducible up to 2.2‐fold by selenium. In contrast, selenium had only a minor influence on prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activity and protein levels. D3T, a strong Nrf2 inducer, induced all the reductases and additionally increased the cytotoxicity of hydroxymethylacylfulvene, a bioreductive DNA‐alkylating drug. The data and experimental approaches allow one to define induction potency for reductase enzymes PTGR1, TrxR1, and NQO1 in HT29 cells and link these to changes in drug cytotoxicity.     

近平滑假丝酵母(R)-专一性羰基还原酶基因的克隆与表达*

根据纯化得到的（R）-专一性羰基还原酶（rCR）蛋白质测序结果推导出的核苷酸序列设计引物,以筛选得到的近平滑假丝酵母（Candida parapsilosis）CCTCC M203011基因组为模板,通过PCR扩增目的片段,克隆后测序。核苷酸序列测定结果表明rcr基因全长1011bp,共编码336个氨基酸,分子量为35．9kD。将序列递交NCBI比对,与醇脱氢酶超家族成员序列同源性达99％。在大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）JM109中表达rcr基因,重组菌可还原β-羟基苯乙酮得到（R）-苯乙二醇,光学纯度为100％e．e,摩尔产率为80．4％,在反应体系中无需外加辅酶再生系统即可完成转化。     

Purification and Characterization of Cytochrome P450 Reductase from Liver Microsomes of Feral Leaping Mullet (Liza saliens)

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from detergent-solubilized liver microsomes from the leaping mullet (Liza saliens). The purified reductase was characterized with respect to spectral, electrophoretic, and biocatalytic properties. In addition, effects of pH, ionic strength, and the substrate concentration on the NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activity of the purified fish liver cytochrome P450 reductase were studied. Cytochrome P450 reductase was purified 438-fold with a yield of 17.5% with respect to the initial amount present in the fish liver microsomes. The specific activity of the enzyme was found to be 52.6 μmol cytochrome c reduced per minute per mg protein. The monomer molecular weight of the purified enzyme was calculated to be 77,000 ± 1000 when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels under the denaturing conditions in the presence of SDS. The absorption spectrum of fish reductase showed two peaks at 378 and 455 nm. NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activity of the purified Liza saliens liver cytochrome P450 reductase was found to be maximal when pH was between 7.4 and 7.8. The apparent K_m of the purified enzyme was found to be 7.69 μM for cytochrome c when the enzyme activity was measured in 0.3 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.7, at room temperature, and the enzyme was fully saturated by its substrate, cytochrome c, when the substrate concentration was at or above the 70 μM. Furthermore, the purified enzyme was biocatalytically active in reconstituting the 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in the reconstituted system containing purified mullet liver cytochrome P4501A1 and lipid. These results suggested that the purified fish liver cytochrome P450 reductase is similar to its mammalian counterparts with respect to spectral, electrophoretic, and biocatalytic properties. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Toxicol 12: 103–113, 1998     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病兔肝组织硫化氢与一氧化氮的关系

目的观察非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）兔肝组织硫化氢（H2S）、一氧化氮（NO）浓度,探讨H2S、NO在NAFLD发病中的作用。方法 40只日本大耳白兔数字法随机分为重度NAFLD组（重度组）、轻度NAFLD组（轻度组）、空白对照组（对照组）。重度组给予高脂饲料160 g/（兔.d）,轻度组给予高脂饲料80 g/（兔.d）＋普通饲料80 g/（兔.d）,对照组给予普通饲料160 g/（兔.d）。均饲养13周。实验前后采集血浆标本,同步检测甘油三酯（TG）、胆固醇（TC）;肝组织匀浆检测NO、H2S浓度。肝组织HE染色,光镜观察肝脏病理学。结果⑴TC、TG：饲养前重度组、轻度组、对照组TC、TG比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,饲养后重度组TC、TG分别为（32.12±1.25）、（6.02±2.12）mmol/L,轻度组TC、TG分别为（18.34±2.10）、（4.39±1.93）mmol/L,均高于饲养前（P﹤0.01）,饲养后重度组TC、TG高于轻度组（P﹤0.01）。⑵肝组织NO：重度组（132.4±20.7μmol/g蛋白）和轻度组（95.4±19.8μmol/g蛋白）肝组织NO浓度显著高于对照组（74.9±34.7μmol/g蛋白,P﹤0.01）,重度组又显著高于轻度组（P﹤0.01）。⑶肝组织H2S浓度：与对照组比较,重度组和轻度组肝组织H2S明显下降（P﹤0.01）,重度组与轻度组比较下降更显著（P﹤0.05）。⑷肝脏病理学：重度组肝脏病理学改变呈重度NAFLD,轻度组呈轻度～中度NAFLD。结论 NO、H2S参与NAFLD的发生、发展,通过干预NO、H2S防治NAFLD可能是未来方向。     

海兔素对刀豆蛋白A诱导的化学性肝损伤保护作用

目的:探讨海兔素对刀豆蛋白A诱导的化学性肝损伤保护作用。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为4组。模型组与海兔素组给予15 mg/kg刀豆蛋白A尾静脉注射每周一次,制作化学性肝损伤模型,模型制作成功后,正常对照组、模型组每日给予大豆油灌胃,海兔素低、高剂量组给予100、150 mg/kg·d海兔素+大豆油灌胃。实验持续8周后,禁食12 h,处死大鼠。HE染色观察肝组织形态学改变;Masson Trichrome及天狼星红染色观察肝组织纤维化状况;全自动生化分析仪检测血清ALT、AST及LDH水平;ELISA实验测定血清TNF-α和TGF-β1水平。结果:与正常对照组相比,模型组大鼠肝小叶结构模糊紊乱,纤维组织增生明显,可见灶状坏死及炎性细胞浸润,胶原纤维明显增多,胶原指数明显升高。血清中ALT、AST、LDH及TNF-α和TGF-β1水平显著升高(P0.05)。海兔素干预后,肝小叶病变程度较模型组明显减轻,染色胶原显著减少,纤维增生明显改善,血清中ALT、AST、LDH及TNF-α和TGF-β1水平较模型组显著降低(P0.05),海兔素高剂量组与低剂量组相比,肝脏病变改善程度更为明显(P0.05)。结论:海兔素对刀豆蛋白A诱导的化学性肝损伤具有一定保护作用,其机制可能与下调TNF-α、TGF-β1水平有关。     

C-myc、p53基因和AFP在家兔诱发性肝癌及癌旁组织中的表达

目的获得家兔二乙基亚硝胺诱发肝脏肿瘤的形态学资料,探讨Cmyc、p53基因和甲胎蛋白的表达情况。方法取5例家兔多结节肝癌的肿瘤性结节25个,瘤旁肝组织每例1块,进行一般病理组织学和超微结构观察。同时,以免疫组化方法检查Cmyc、p53基因和AFP的表达情况。结果和结论25个结节中,良性增生10个,高分化肝细胞癌11个,中分化肝细胞癌4个。家兔肝细胞癌的发生与Cmyc基因、AFP的过表达和p53基因的突变有关。参照肿瘤诱发过程中,增生性肝硬化、腺瘤样增生、高分化癌、中分化癌的变化顺序,在所检测的三种标志物中,Cmyc蛋白为最早出现的肿瘤标志物,p53基因突变相对较晚出现,AFP在恶性肿瘤结节中的表达率最高(933%)。     

MicroRNA-433 Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Migration by Repressing the Protein Expression and Function of cAMP Response Element-binding Protein

We show for the first time that potent microRNA-433 (miR-433) inhibition of expression of the cAMP response element-binding protein CREB1 represses hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell migration. We identified a miR-433 seed match region in human and mouse CREB1 3′-UTRs. Overexpression of miR-433 markedly decreased human CREB1 3′-UTR reporter activity, and the inhibitory effect of miR-433 was alleviated upon mutation of its binding site. Ectopic expression of miR-433 reduced CREB1 protein levels in a variety of human and mouse cancer cells, including HeLa, Hepa1, Huh7, and HepG2. Human CREB1 protein levels in highly invasive MHCC97H cells were diminished by expression of miR-433 but were induced by miR-433 antagomir (anti-miR-433). The expression of mouse CREB1 protein negatively correlated with miR-433 levels in nuclear receptor Shp^−/− liver tissues and liver tumors compared with wild-type mice. miR-433 exhibited a significant repression of MHCC97H cell migration, which was reversed by anti-miR-433. Overexpressing miR-433 inhibited focus formation dramatically, demonstrating that miR-433 may exert a tumor suppressor function. Knockdown of CREB1 by siRNAs impeded MHCC97H cell migration and invasion and antagonized the effect of anti-miR-433. Interestingly, CREB1 siRNA decreased MHCC97H cell proliferation, which was not influenced by anti-miR-433. Overexpressing CREB1 decreased the inhibitory activity of miR-433. The CpG islands surrounding miR-433 were hypermethylated, and the DNA methylation agent 5′-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, but not the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A, drastically stimulated the expression of miR-433 and miR-127 in HCC cells. The latter is clustered with miR-433. The results reveal a critical role of miR-433 in mediating HCC cell migration via CREB1.     

四氯化碳复合法诱导家兔肝纤维化模型的建立

目的建立一组家兔肝纤维化动物模型,并总结建模过程中所得到的经验。方法选用30只普通级家兔,随机选取2～4只家兔作为实验组,5只为对照组。饲养适应1周后,四氯化碳色拉油溶液以5%的起始浓度经腹腔注射法注入实验组家兔体内,对照组给予相同剂量的生理盐水。于造模4W、7W、10W、13W、16W末分别处死24只实验组及1只对照组家兔,以观察肝纤维化的发展程度。结果造模期间实验组家兔死亡7只,对照组家兔无死亡。家兔肝脏纤维化程度随着造模时间延长而逐渐加重。结论此方法成功地建立了一种兔肝纤维化动物模型。     

鱼肝油酸钠联合普萘洛尔对肝硬化消化道出血的疗效及对应激反应的影响

摘要 目的：研究鱼肝油酸钠联合普萘洛尔对肝硬化消化道出血的疗效及对应激反应的影响。方法：选取2016年9月至2017年8月我院收治的83例肝硬化消化道出血患者,根据患者入院顺序先后分为观察组（n=43例）和对照组（n=40例）。对照组使用鱼肝油酸钠注射液,观察组联合普萘洛尔片。比较两组患者临床疗效,丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、血清胆碱酯酶水平,临床症状改善情况,止血和半年内再出血情况,不良反应。结果：治疗后,观察组临床有效率显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗前,两组患者MDA、SOD、胆碱酯酶水平比较著差异（P>0.05）,治疗后,观察组的MDA水平低于对照组（P<0.05）,SOD、胆碱酯酶水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗前,两组患者心率、静脉压比较无差异（P>0.05）,治疗后,观察组的心率低于对照组（P<0.05）,静脉压高于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组的止血时间和再出血率少于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组的不良反应率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：鱼肝油酸钠联合普萘洛尔能有效改善肝硬化消化道出血患者的应激反应和临床症状,临床疗效良好,安全性高。     

Differences in the Regulation of K-Ras and H-Ras Isoforms by Monoubiquitination

Ras GTPases are signaling switches that control critical cellular processes including gene expression, differentiation, and apoptosis. The major Ras isoforms (K, H, and N) contain a conserved core GTPase domain, but have distinct biological functions. Among the three Ras isoforms there are clear differences in post-translational regulation, which contribute to differences in localization and signaling output. Modification by ubiquitination was recently reported to activate Ras signaling in cells, but the mechanisms of activation are not well understood. Here, we show that H-Ras is activated by monoubiquitination and that ubiquitination at Lys-117 accelerates intrinsic nucleotide exchange, thereby promoting GTP loading. This mechanism of Ras activation is distinct from K-Ras monoubiquitination at Lys-147, which leads to impaired regulator-mediated GTP hydrolysis. These findings reveal that different Ras isoforms are monoubiquitinated at distinct sites, with distinct mechanisms of action, but with a common ability to chronically activate the protein in the absence of a receptor signal or oncogenic mutation.     

非肝炎病毒所致肝损害超声影像与病理关系的探讨

目的:对154例肝损害原因的超声与病理关系进行总结性分析,以提高对肝损伤的认知.方法:所有病例均行肝脏穿刺及病理检查,并结合临床相关特异性检查,明确肝损害的原因.结果:超声提示分别为肝损害、脂肪肝、肝纤维化、肝硬化,部分超声显示未见异常,病理结果提示在超声检查未见明显异常者中,部分确诊为代谢性疾病,超声提示肝损害组中,病理提示因药物、环境类生化因素所致肝损伤占有相当比例.结论:超声检查在肝损害的筛查中作用明显,而在肝损害原因中,药物性及环境类生化因素所致的肝损害占有相当比例.     

Inactivation of Yeast Glutathione Reductase by Fenton Systems: Effect of Metal Chelators, Catecholamines and Thiol Compounds

Oxygen radical generating systems, namely, Cu(II)/ H₂O₂, Cu(II)/ascorbate, Cu(II)/NAD(P)H, Cu(II)/ H₂O₂/catecholamine and Cu(II)/H₂O₂/SH-compounds irreversibly inhibited yeast glutathione reductase (GR) but Cu(II)/H₂O₂ enhanced the enzyme diaphorase activity. The time course of GR inactivation by Cu(II)/H₂O₂ depended on Cu(II) and H₂O₂ concentrations and was relatively slow, as compared with the effect of Cu(II)/ascorbate. The fluorescence of the enzyme Tyr and Trp residues was modified as a result of oxidative damage. Copper chelators, catalase, bovine serum albumin and HO^˙ scavengers prevented GR inactivation by Cu(II)/H₂O₂ and related systems. Cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, N-(2-dimercaptopropi-onylglycine and penicillamine enhanced the effect of Cu(II)/H₂O₂ in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. GSH, Captopril, dihydrolipoic acid and dithiotreitol also enhanced the Cu(II)/H₂O₂ effect, their actions involving the simultaneous operation of pro-oxidant and antioxidant reactions. GSSG and try-panothione disulfide effectively protected GR against Cu(II)/H₂O₂ inactivation. Thiol compounds prevented GR inactivation by the radical cation ABTS*⁺. GR inactivation by the systems assayed correlated with their capability for HO* radical generation. The role of amino acid residues at GR active site as targets for oxygen radicals is discussed.     

氩激光光凝建立兔视网膜静脉阻塞模型及其评价

目的制备视网膜中央静脉阻塞的动物模型,为视网膜中央静脉阻塞疾病的研究提供稳定的模型。方法采用氩激光直接光凝法封闭兔眼视网膜静脉建立视网膜静脉阻塞模型,利用HE染色法观察正常兔及造模后3周兔视网膜组织中视网膜新生血管的增生情况,利用免疫组化法观察正常兔及造模后3周兔视网膜组织中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)的表达,并检测造模前及造模后3周闪光视网膜电流图(flash electroretinogram,FERG)。结果兔视网膜静脉阻塞(retinal vein occlusion,RVO)眼可见明显的视网膜新生血管增生,缺血视网膜及新生血管组织中VEGF不同程度表达增强,FERG-b波的振幅明显下降(P<0.01)。结论采用氩激光直接光凝法建立视网膜静脉阻塞模型是成功的。     

Survival Signals of Hepatic Stellate Cells in Liver Regeneration Are Regulated by Glycosylation Changes in Rat Vitronectin,Especially Decreased Sialylation

The extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules play important roles in many biological and pathological processes. During tissue remodeling, the ECM molecules that are glycosylated are different from those of normal tissue owing to changes in the expression of many proteins that are responsible for glycan synthesis. Vitronectin (VN) is a major ECM molecule that recognizes integrin on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study attempted to elucidate how changes in VN glycans modulate the survival of HSCs, which play a critical role in liver regeneration. Plasma VN was purified from partially hepatectomized (PH) and sham-operated (SH) rats at 24 h after operation and non-operated (NO) rats. Adhesion of rat HSCs (rHSCs), together with phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, in PH-VN was decreased to one-half of that in NO- or SH-VN. Spreading of rHSCs on desialylated NO-VN was decreased to one-half of that of control VN, indicating the importance of sialylation of VN for activation of HSCs. Liquid chromatography/multiple-stage mass spectrometry analysis of Glu-C glycopeptides of each VN determined the site-specific glycosylation. In addition to the major biantennary complex-type N-glycans, hybrid-type N-glycans were site-specifically present at Asn¹⁶⁷. Highly sialylated O-glycans were found to be present in the Thr¹¹⁰–Thr¹²⁴ region. In PH-VN, the disialyl O-glycans and complex-type N-glycans were decreased while core-fucosylated N-glycans were increased. In addition, immunodetection after two-dimensional PAGE indicated the presence of hyper- and hyposialylated molecules in each VN and showed that hypersialylation was markedly attenuated in PH-VN. This study proposes that the alteration of VN glycosylation modulates the substrate adhesion to rat HSCs, which is responsible for matrix restructuring.     

Theoretical considerations and modeling of chemical inactivation of microorganisms: Inactivation of Giardia Cysts by free chlorine

Chemical inactivation of microorganisms is a common process widely employed in many fields such as in treatment of water, preservation in food industry and antimicrobial treatments in healthcare. For economy of applications and efficiency of treatment establishment the minimum dosage of breakpoint in the chemical application becomes essential. Even though experimental investigations have been extensive, theoretical understanding of such processes are demanding. Commonly employed theoretical analyses for the inactivation of microorganisms and depletion of chemicals include kinetics expressing the rates of depletion of chemical and microorganisms. The terms chemical demand (x) and specific disinfectant demand (α) are often used in theoretical modeling of inactivation. The value of specific disinfectant demand (α) has always been assumed to be a constant in these models. Intracellular concentration built up within the cells of the microorganisms during inactivation could lead to possible weakening effects of microorganisms thereby requiring lower doses as disinfection proceeds makes the assumption of constant α inaccurate. Model equations are formulated based on these observations co-relating the parameters α and x with a progressive inactivation (N/N₀). The chemical concentration (C) is also presented in terms of the inactivation time (t) and the survival ratio (N/N₀) for given pH and temperature conditions. The model is examined using experimentally verified Ct data of Giardia Cysts/chlorine system. The respective values of x for different survival ratios were evaluated from the data using MatLab software. Proposed model correlating for the disinfectant demand (x) with the survival ratio (N/N₀) fits satisfactorily with those evaluated from data. The rate constants for different pH and temperature conditions are evaluated which showed compatibility with the Arrhenius model. The dependence of frequency factors with pH indicated compatibility with accepted models. The Ct values regenerated with the kinetic data shows a very accurate fit with published data.     

Allosteric Regulation of a Protein Acetyltransferase in Micromonospora aurantiaca by the Amino Acids Cysteine and Arginine

ACT domains (amino acid-binding domains) are linked to a wide range of metabolic enzymes that are regulated by amino acid concentration. Seventy proteins with ACT-GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) domain organization were found in actinomycetales. In this study, we investigate the ACT-containing GNAT acetyltransferase, Micau_1670 (MaKat), from Micromonospora aurantiaca ATCC 27029. Arginine and cysteine were identified as ligands by monitoring the conformational changes that occur upon amino acids binding to the ACT domain in the MaKat protein using FRET assay. It was found that MaKat is an amino acid-regulated protein acetyltransferase, whereas arginine and cysteine stimulated the activity of MaKat with regard to acetylation of acetyl-CoA synthetase (Micau_0428). Our research reveals the biochemical characterization of a protein acetyltransferase that contains a fusion of a GNAT domain with an ACT domain and provides a novel signaling pathway for regulating cellular protein acetylation. These findings indicate that acetylation of proteins and acetyltransferase activity may be tightly linked to cellular concentrations of some amino acids in actinomycetales.     

Ornithine Decarboxylase Induction by Glucocorticoids in Brain and Liver of Adrenalectomized Rats

Abstract: Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines, was measured in the brain and the liver of adrenalectomized rats after an acute S.C. treatment with glucocorticoids. The effects of corticosterone and dexamethasone were compared in three brain areas, the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. These structures have similar concentrations of cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor, as measured by an in vitro exchange assay using a specific glucocorticoid ligand, [³H]RU 26988, but contain different amounts of mineralocorticoid receptor. Corticosterone and dexamethasone increased ODC activity in the liver and brain areas in a dose dependent manner, dexamethasone being more active than corticosterone in all tissues. Moreover, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were inactive. Aldosterone, at high doses, increased brain ODC activity. Glucocorticoids, selected for their weak binding, or lack of binding to the mineralocorticoid receptor, were tested and found to be highly active in inducing brain and liver ODC, thus showing that ODC induction by steroids is specific for glucocorticoids. These results are among the first to suggest biochemically a central action of glucocorticoids following an acute treatment and confirm that the brain is a glucocorticoid target organ.     

Inhibition of Aldehyde Dehydrogenases in Rat Brain and Liver by Disulfiram and Coprine

Abstract: Rats were treated with either coprine or disulfiram and the inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in liver and brain mitochondria was measured with acetaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL), and succinate semialdehyde at different concentrations. The inhibition pattern was similar for both inhibitors, but the degree of inhibition was lower with disulfiram. The ALDH activity both in the liver and the brain was inhibited at low concentrations of acetaldehyde and DOPAL, but not with succinate semialdehyde. The high- K _m enzyme activities with acetaldehyde were not inhibited in liver and brain. The activity at high concentration of DOPAL was inhibited in the liver, but only slightly affected in the brain, suggesting the presence of a brain enzyme with an intermediate K _m value for DOPAL. In contrast with the results observed in viva, it was found that the high- K _m activities with acetaldehyde and DOPAL in brain mitochondrial preparations were more sensitive to the inhibitors in vitro than the low- K _m activities. Kinetic studies on ALDH preparations from brain and liver mitochondria suggested that acetaldehyde and DOPAL are metabolized by the same low- K _m ALDH.