Interaction of bovine skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase with liposomes. Comparison with the data for the heart enzyme

The effects of pH, salt concentration and the presence of oxidized and reduced forms of coenzyme on the interaction of skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase with the liposomes derived from the total fraction of bovine erythrocyte lipids were investigated by ultracentrifugation and were compared with those results obtained using the heart-rate isoenzyme which we have previously studied. Liposomes are good adsorptive systems for both types of isoenzyme. In the presence of erythrocyte lipid liposomes, bovine muscle and heart lactate dehydrogenases form two kinds of complex: lactate dehydrogenase adsorbed to liposomes and soluble lactate dehydrogenase-phospholipid complexes. Soluble protein-phospholipid complexes reveal different dependences of their stabilities on pH values and it seems that the nature of the binding site in either isozyme is different. In addition, absorption of the isoenzymes on the liposomes also reveals in difference in the effects of NAD and NADH. While the presence of NAD dissociates LDH-H4 from the liposomes and NADH does not influence its adsorption, NAD promotes the binding of LDH-M4, and NADH favors the dissociation.     

Interaction of bovine skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase with liposomes. Comparison with the data for the heart enzyme

The effects of pH, salt concentration and the presence of oxidized and reduced forms of coenzyme on the interaction of skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase with the liposomes derived from the total fraction of bovine erythrocyte lipids were investigated by ultracentrifugation and were compared with those results obtained using the heart-rate isoenzyme which we have previously studied. Liposomes are good adsorptive systems for both types of isoenzyme. In the presence of erythrocyte lipid liposomes, bovine muscle and heart lactate dehydrogenases form two kinds of complex: lactate dehydrogenase adsorbed to liposomes and soluble lactate dehydrogenase-phospholipid complexes. Soluble protein-phospholipid complexes reveal different dependences of their stabilities on pH values and it seems that the nature of the binding site in either isozyme is different. In addition, absorption of the isoenzymes on the liposomes also reveals in difference in the effects of NAD and NADH. While the presence of NAD dissociates LDH-H₄ from the liposomes and NADH does not influence its adsorption, NAD promotes the binding of LDH-M₄, and NADH favors the dissociation.     

Equilibrium binding of nicotinamide nucleotides to lactate dehydrogenases

1. No discontinuities were observed during the continuous titration with NADH of the lactate dehydrogenases of ox muscle, pig heart, pig muscle, rabbit muscle, dogfish muscle or lobster tail muscle. The binding was monitored by either the enhanced fluorescence of bound NADH or the quenched fluorescence of the protein. A single macroscopic dissociation constant, independent of protein concentration, could be used to describe the binding to each enzyme, and there was no need to postulate the involvement of molecular relaxation effects. 2. The affinity for NADH decreases only threefold between pH6 and 8.5. Above pH9 the affinity decreases more rapidly with increasing pH and is consistent with a group of about pK9.5 facilitating binding. Muscle enzymes bind NADH more weakly than does the pig heart enzyme. 3. Increasing temperature and increasing concentrations of ethanol both weaken NADH binding. 4. NADH binding is weakened by increasing ionic strength. NaCl is more effective than similar ionic strengths derived from sodium phosphate or sodium pyrophosphate. 5. Commercial NAD(+) quenches the protein fluorescence of the heart and muscle isoenzymes. Highly purified NAD(+) does not, and its binding was monitored by competition for the NADH-binding sites. A single macroscopic dissociation constant is sufficient to describe NAD(+) binding at the concentrations tested. The dissociation constant is about 0.3mm and is not sensitive to changed ionic strength and to changed pH in the range pH6-8.5.     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes of human semen

1. A lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme present in human spermatozoa and semen was isolated and characterized biochemically in term of its pH for optimum activity and by means of K(m) values for lactate, NAD(+) and NAD analogues. The results were compared with those obtained with the human heart-type and the liver-type lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. 2. The enzyme was characterized by its resistance to digestion with different proteolytic enzymes. The time for 50% digestion in terms of residual dehydrogenase activity was compared with times obtained for the H(4)- and M(4)-types.     

Compartmentation of glycolytic enzymes in nerve endings as determined by glutaraldehyde fixation

Considerable amounts of five glycolytic enzymes glucosephosphate isomerase, glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase, became fixed when intact synaptosomes were incubated with glutaraldehyde. Other glycolytic enzymes were immobilized much less by this procedure. The lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes showed a variable response to glutaraldehyde fixation. The isoenzymes enriched in muscle subunits were rapidly immobilized by glutaraldehyde, while the isoenzymes enriched in heart subunits, especially H4, were not. It is suggested that the enzymes which were immobilized are located near the synaptosomal membrane, perhaps in association with actin, which is found at this site. The enzymes that showed a much smaller degree of fixation were either randomly distributed in the synaptoplasm or less susceptible to fixation.     

Ultracentrifugation studies of the location of the site involved in the interaction of pig heart lactate dehydrogenase with acidic phospholipids at low pH. A comparison with the muscle form of the enzyme

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the pig heart interacts with liposomes made of acidic phospholipids most effectively at low pH, close to the isoelectric point of the protein (pH = 5.5). This binding is not observed at neutral pH or high ionic strength. LDH-liposome complex formation requires an absence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides and adenine nucleotides in the interaction environment. Their presence limits the interaction of LDH with liposomes in a concentration-dependent manner. This phenomenon is not observed for pig skeletal muscle LDH. The heart LDH-liposome complexes formed in the absence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides and adenine nucleotides are stable after the addition of these substances even in millimolar concentrations. The LDH substrates and studied nucleotides that inhibit the interaction of pig heart LDH with acidic liposomes can be ordered according to their effectiveness as follows: NADH > NAD > ATP = ADP > AMP > pyruvate. The phosphorylated form of NAD (NADP), nonadenine nucleotides (GTP, CTP, UTP) and lactate are ineffective. Chemically cross-linked pig heart LDH, with a tetrameric structure stable at low pH, behaves analogously to the unmodified enzyme, which excludes the participation of the interfacing parts of subunits in the interaction with acidic phospholipids. The presented results indicate that in lowered pH conditions, the NADH-cofactor binding site of pig heart LDH is strongly involved in the interaction of the enzyme with acidic phospholipids. The contribution of the ATP/ADP binding site to this process can also be considered. In the case of pig skeletal muscle LDH, neither the cofactor binding site nor the subunit interfacing areas seem to be involved in the interaction.     

Affinity chromatography of nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide-linked dehydrogenases on immobilized derivatives of the dinucleotide

1. Three established methods for immobilization of ligands through primary amino groups promoted little or no attachment of NAD(+) through the 6-amino group of the adenine residue. Two of these methods (coupling to CNBr-activated agarose and to carbodi-imide-activated carboxylated agarose derivatives) resulted instead in attachment predominantly through the ribosyl residues. Other immobilized derivatives were prepared by azolinkage of NAD(+) (probably through the 8 position of the adenine residue) to a number of different spacer-arm-agarose derivatives. 2. The effectiveness of these derivatives in the affinity chromatography of a variety of NAD-linked dehydrogenases was investigated, applying rigorous criteria to distinguish general or non-specific adsorption effects from truly NAD-specific affinity (bio-affinity). The ribosyl-attached NAD(+) derivatives displayed negligible bio-affinity for any of the NAD-linked dehydrogenases tested. The most effective azo-linked derivative displayed strong bio-affinity for glycer-aldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, weaker bio-affinity for lactate dehydrogenase and none at all for malate dehydrogenase, although these three enzymes have very similar affinities for soluble NAD(+). Alcohol dehydrogenase and xanthine dehydrogenase were subject to such strong non-specific interactions with the hydrocarbon spacer-arm assembly that any specific affinity was completely eclipsed. 3. It is concluded that, in practice, the general effectiveness of a general ligand may be considerably distorted and attenuated by the nature of the immobilization linkage. However, this attenuation can result in an increase in specific effectiveness, allowing dehydrogenases to be separated from one another in a manner unlikely to be feasible if the general effectiveness of the ligand remained intact. 4. The bio-affinity of the various derivatives for lactate dehydrogenase is correlated with the known structure of the NAD(+)-binding site of this enzyme. Problems associated with the use of immobilized derivatives for enzyme binding and mechanistic studies are briefly discussed.     

Synthesis of a highly substituted N(6)-linked immobilized NAD(+) derivative using a rapid solid-phase modular approach: suitability for use with the kinetic locking-on tactic for bioaffinity purification of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases

This study is concerned with further development of the kinetic locking-on strategy for bioaffinity purification of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases. Specifically, the synthesis of highly substituted N(6)-linked immobilized NAD(+) derivatives is described using a rapid solid-phase modular approach. Other modifications of the N(6)-linked immobilized NAD(+) derivative include substitution of the hydrophobic diaminohexane spacer arm with polar spacer arms (9 and 19.5 A) in an attempt to minimize nonbiospecific interactions. Analysis of the N(6)-linked NAD(+) derivatives confirm (i) retention of cofactor activity upon immobilization (up to 97%); (ii) high total substitution levels and high percentage accessibility levels when compared to S(6)-linked immobilized NAD(+) derivatives (also synthesized with polar spacer arms); (iii) short production times when compared to the preassembly approach to synthesis. Model locking-on bioaffinity chromatographic studies were carried out with bovine heart l-lactate dehydrogenase (l-LDH, EC 1.1.1.27), bakers yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH, EC 1.1.1.1) and Sporosarcinia sp. l-phenylalanine dehydrogenase (l-PheDH, EC 1.4.1.20), using oxalate, hydroxylamine, and d-phenylalanine, respectively, as locking-on ligands. Surprisingly, two of these test NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases (lactate and alcohol dehydrogenase) were found to have a greater affinity for the more lowly substituted S(6)-linked immobilized cofactor derivatives than for the new N(6)-linked derivatives. In contrast, the NAD(+)-dependent phenylalanine dehydrogenase showed no affinity for the S(6)-linked immobilized NAD(+) derivative, but was locked-on strongly to the N(6)-linked immobilized derivative. That this locking-on is biospecific is confirmed by the observation that the enzyme failed to lock-on to an analogous N(6)-linked immobilized NADP(+) derivative in the presence of d-phenylalanine. This differential locking-on of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases to N(6)-linked and S(6)-linked immobilized NAD(+) derivatives cannot be explained in terms of final accessible substitutions levels, but suggests fundamental differences in affinity of the three test enzymes for NAD(+) immobilized via N(6)-linkage as compared to thiol-linkage.     

Mouse intracellular immunoglobulin M. Structure and identification of a free thiol group

1. The formation of the non-enzymic adduct of NAD(+) and sulphite was investigated. In agreement with others we conclude that the dianion of sulphite adds to NAD(+). 2. The formation of ternary complexes of either lactate dehydrogenase or malate dehydrogenase with NAD(+) and sulphite was investigated. The u.v. spectrum of the NAD-sulphite adduct was the same whether free or enzyme-bound at either pH6 or pH8. This suggests that the free and enzyme-bound adducts have a similar electronic structure. 3. The effect of pH on the concentration of NAD-sulphite bound to both enzymes was measured in a new titration apparatus. Unlike the non-enzymic adduct (where the stability change with pH simply reflects HSO(3) (-)=SO(3) (2-)+H(+)), the enzyme-bound adduct showed a bell-shaped pH-stability curve, which indicated that an enzyme side chain of pK=6.2 must be protonated for the complex to form. Since the adduct does not bind to the enzyme when histidine-195 of lactate dehydrogenase is ethoxycarbonylated we conclude that the protein group involved is histidine-195. 4. The pH-dependence of the formation of a ternary complex of lactate dehydrogenase, NAD(+) and oxalate suggested that an enzyme group is protonated when this complex forms. 5. The rate at which NAD(+) binds to lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase was measured by trapping the enzyme-bound NAD(+) by rapid reaction with sulphite. The rate of NAD(+) dissociation from the enzymes was calculated from the bimolecular association kinetic constant and from the equilibrium binding constant and was in both cases much faster than the forward V(max.). No kinetic evidence was found that suggested that there were interactions between protein subunits on binding NAD(+).     

NAD recycling in the collagen membrane.

NAD recycling in the collagen membrane was investigated as follows: (1) Alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were co-immobilized in the collagen membrane and the rate of lactate production by immobilized enzymes was compared with that of free enzymes by using free NAD. An increased rate was observed in the case of immobilized enzyme. (2) The soluble high molecular weight derivatives of NAD (dextran-NAD) were immobilized in the collagen membrane with the two dehydrogenases and recycling of dextran-NAD in the membrane was examined. Lactate was produced by the membrane without adding free NAD. The interaction between the high molecular weight NAD derivatives and enzymes are also discussed.     

Effect of accessible immobilized NAD(+) concentration on the bioaffinity chromatographic behavior of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases using the kinetic locking-on strategy.

In preparation for studies aimed at establishing the relationship between immobilized NAD(+) concentration and the concentration of soluble locking-on ligand required to promote biospecific adsorption of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases to immobilized NAD(+) derivatives (the "locking-on" strategy), two approaches were evaluated for varying substitution levels: (i) suitable dilution of the affinity matrix with unsubstituted Sepharose 4B and (ii) direct coupling of the required ligand concentration to the inert matrix. The latter approach was found to be the preferable strategy for evaluation of the locking-on tactic because it produced a more homogeneous distribution of immobilized NAD(+) concentration. Affinity chromatographic studies using S(6)-linked NAD(+) derivatives synthesized to various substitution levels showed that the total accessible immobilized NAD(+) concentration has a direct effect on the locking-on behavior of pyridine nucleotide-dependent dehydrogenases. The one-chromatographic-step bioaffinity purification of l-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH, EC 1.1.1.27) from bovine heart illustrates the potential of the locking-on strategy for protein purification applications.     

Immobilization of lactate dehydrogenase on polyacrylamide beads

Pig muscle lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) was covalently immobilized on polyacrylamide beads containing carboxylic functional groups activated by water-soluble carbodiimide. The effects of immobilization on the catalytic properties and stability of the lactate dehydrogenase were studied. There was no shift in the pH optimum of the immobilized enzyme compared to that of the soluble one. The apparent optimum temperature of the soluble enzyme was 65 degrees C, while that of the immobilized enzyme was between 50 and 65 degrees C. The apparent Km values of the immobilized enzyme with pyruvate and NADH substrates were higher than those of the soluble enzyme. As a result of immobilization, enhanced stabilities were found against heat treatment, changes in pH, and urea denaturation.     

Properties of water-insoluble matrix-bound lactate dehydrogenase.

Lactate dehydrogenase enzyme was immobilized by binding to a cyanogen bromideactivated Sepharose 4B-200 in 0.1 m phosphate buffer, pH 8.5. The immobilized enzyme was found to have lower K_m values for its substrates. K_m values for pyruvate and lactate were 8 × 10 ^?5m and 4 × 10^?3m, respectively, an order of magnitude less than the value for the native (free) enzyme. Chicken heart (H₄) lactate dehydrogenase was found to lose nearly all its substrate inhibition characteristics as a result of immobilization. The covalently bound muscle-type subunits of lactate dehydrogenase showed more favorable interaction with the muscle type than with the heart type subunits. An increase in thermal and acid stability of the dogfish muscle (M₄) lactate dehydrogenase as well as a decrease in the percentage of inhibition of enzyme activity by rabbit antisera and in the complement fixation was observed as a result of immobilization. The changes in the properties of the enzyme as a result of immobilization may be attributable to hindrance produced by the insoluble matrix as well as conformational changes in the enzyme molecules.     

Parallel evolution of pairs of dehydrogenase isoenzymes

Summary Lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase are metabolically coupled by the anaerobic dismutation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and by the NAD redox state. This causes the concentrations of lactate and glycerol 3-phosphate to accumulate proportionally during anaerobic muscle contraction; these concentrations are high relative to those in aerobic tissues such as liver. We show that the isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from chicken breast muscle haveKm values for lactate and glycerol 3-phosphate, respectively, that are 10-fold higher than theKm values measured for the lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase isoenzymes from chicken liver. The association of proportionally higherKm values with the potential for proportionally higher accumulation of substrates suggests that the isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from chicken muscle have evolved in parallel as a coupled metabolic unit distinct from the coupled isoenzymes in liver. The parallelism observed for the reduced substrates extends to the oxidized substrates, and to the coenzymes, NAD⁺ and NADH.     

Limited proteolysis of bovine muscle and heart lactate dehydrogenase is inhibited by phospholipid liposome interaction

Limited proteolysis of phospholipid complexes of heart and muscle bovine lactate dehydrogenase by trypsin and chymotrypsin has been studied under nondenaturing condition at pH 7.5. Chymotrypsin cleaves the polypeptide chain of heart and muscle lactate dehydrogenase into two principal fragments and LDH subunits were protected by lipids towards the proteinase attack. Enzymatic activity of heart and muscle lactate dehydrogenase was abolished by limited proteolytic cleavage. In complexes, both isoenzymes were protected against proteinases attack by lipids.     

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore causes depletion of mitochondrial and cytosolic NAD+ and is a causative event in the death of myocytes in postischemic reperfusion of the heart

The opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) has been suggested to play a key role in various forms of cell death, but direct evidence in intact tissues is still lacking. We found that in the rat heart, 92% of NAD(+) glycohydrolase activity is associated with mitochondria. This activity was not modified by the addition of Triton X-100, although it was abolished by mild treatment with the protease Nagarse, a condition that did not affect the energy-linked properties of mitochondria. The addition of Ca(2+) to isolated rat heart mitochondria resulted in a profound decrease in their NAD(+) content, which followed mitochondrial swelling. Cyclosporin A(CsA), a PTP inhibitor, completely prevented NAD(+) depletion but had no effect on the glycohydrolase activity. Thus, in isolated mitochondria PTP opening makes NAD(+) available for its enzymatic hydrolysis. Perfused rat hearts subjected to global ischemia for 30 min displayed a 30% decrease in tissue NAD(+) content, which was not modified by extending the duration of ischemia. Reperfusion resulted in a more severe reduction of both total and mitochondrial contents of NAD(+), which could be measured in the coronary effluent together with lactate dehydrogenase. The addition of 0.2 microm CsA or of its analogue MeVal-4-Cs (which does not inhibit calcineurin) maintained higher NAD(+) contents, especially in mitochondria, and significantly protected the heart from reperfusion damage, as shown by the reduction in lactate dehydrogenase release. Thus, upon reperfusion after prolonged ischemia, PTP opening in the heart can be documented as a CsA-sensitive release of NAD(+), which is then partly degraded by glycohydrolase and partly released when sarcolemmal integrity is compromised. These results demonstrate that PTP opening is a causative event in reperfusion damage of the heart.     

Selective inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase of rat tissues by sodium deoxycholate.

Soluble lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) extracted from brain, skeletal and cardiac muscle and liver of rats, and purified isoenzymes LDH-1 and LDH-5, were incubated with sodium deoxycholate. Deoxycholate almost totally inactivated isoenzyme LDH-5 (A4), whereas it left isoenzyme LDH-1 (B4) unaffected. Tissue lactate dehydrogenase was inactivated to different degrees depending on the origin of the enzyme. Electrophoretic isoenzyme studies of tissue lactate dehydrogenase showed the loss of activity to be quantitatively related to the overall percentage of subunit A distributed among the homotetramer LDH-5 and the heterotetramers LDH-2, LDH-3 and LDH-4. It was concluded that subunit A of lactate dehydrogenase interacts selectively with deoxycholate, irrespective of its association with subunit B. Distinct changes in electrophoretic mobilities of deoxycholate-treated isoenzymes strongly indicated an indiscriminate binding of deoxycholate by all LDH isoenzymes, probably through hydrophobic interactions. The results suggest that the inactivation of the enzyme is non-competitive, but the basis of the selectivity of deoxycholate towards subunit A is not known at present.     

The effect of exercise and restraint on pectoral muscle metabolism in pigeons

The effect of various activity regimes on metabolism of pigeon pectoralis was examined by measurement of blood lactate following exercise, total lactate dehydrogenase activity of pectoral muscle, and proportions of specific isoenzymes of pectoral muscle lactate dehydrogenase. Sprint-trained birds had the highest pectoral muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity (1409 IU · g⁻¹ wet tissue), while endurance-trained birds had the highest peak lactate levels (287 mg · dl⁻¹, extrapolated from decay curves) and fastest half-time of the lactate response (4.8 min) following exercise, but the lowest lactate dehydrogenase activity (115 IU · g⁻¹ wet tissue). Immobilization of one wing for 3 weeks following endurance training produced a marked increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity of the immobilized muscle, compared to that in the contralateral pectoralis and endurance-trained muscle. Aerobic forms of the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (that favor conversion of lactate to pyruvate) predominated in pectoral muscle of endurance-trained birds, while cage-confined birds exhibited primarily the anaerobic isoenzymes. These results demonstrate that conversion of pectoral muscle lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, total lactate dehydrogenase activity, and half-time of lactate response after exercise is dependent on activity regime in pigeons. In this respect, pigeon pectoral muscle responds to training and disuse in a manner similar to that of mammalian skeletal muscle. Accepted: 10 September 1996     

Covalent fixation of NAD+ to dehydrogenases and properties of the modified enzymes

Starting from 6-chloropurine riboside and NAD+, different reactive analogues of NAD+ have been obtained by introducing diazoniumaryl or aromatic imidoester groups via flexible spacers into the nonfunctional adenine moiety of the coenzyme. The analogues react with different amino-acid residues of dehydrogenases and form stable amidine or azobridges, respectively. After the formation of a ternary complex by the coenzyme, the enzyme and a pseudosubstrate, the reactive spacer is anchored in the vicinity of the active site. Thus, the coenzyme remains covalently attached to the protein even after decomposition of the complex. On addition of substrates the covalently bound coenzyme is converted to the dihydro-form. In enzymatic tests the modified dehydrogenases show 80-90% of the specific activity of the native enzymes, but they need remarkably higher concentrations of free NAD+ to achieve these values. The dihydro-coenzymes can be reoxidized by oxidizing agents like phenazine methosulfate or by a second enzyme system. Various systems for coenzyme regeneration were investigated; the modified enzymes were lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart and alcohol dehydrogenase from horse liver; the auxiliary enzymes were alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast and liver, lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart, glutamate dehydrogenase and alanine dehydrogenase. Lactate dehydrogenase from heart muscle is inhibited by pyruvate. With alanine dehydrogenase as the auxiliary enzyme, the coenzyme is regenerated and the reaction product, pyruvate, is removed. This system succeeds to convert lactate quantitatively to L-alanine. The thermostability of the binary enzyme systems indicates an interaction of covalently bound coenzymes with both dehydrogenases; both binding sites seem to compete for the coenzyme. The comparison of dehydrogenases with different degrees of modifications shows that product formation mainly depends on the amount of incorporated coenzyme.     

Ethanol exposure modulates hepatic S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine levels in the isolated perfused rat liver through changes in the redox state of the NADH/NAD(+) system

Methionine metabolism is disrupted in patients with alcoholic liver disease, resulting in altered hepatic concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and other metabolites. The present study tested the hypothesis that reductive stress mediates the effects of ethanol on liver methionine metabolism. Isolated rat livers were perfused with ethanol or propanol to induce a reductive stress by increasing the NADH/NAD(+) ratio, and the concentrations of SAM and SAH in the liver tissue were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The increase in the NADH/NAD(+) ratio induced by ethanol or propanol was associated with a marked decrease in SAM and an increase in SAH liver content. 4-Methylpyrazole, an inhibitor the NAD(+)-dependent enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, blocked the increase in the NADH/NAD(+) ratio and prevented the alterations in SAM and SAH. Similarly, co-infusion of pyruvate, which is metabolized by the NADH-dependent enzyme lactate dehydrogenase, restored the NADH/NAD(+) ratio and normalized SAM and SAH levels. The data establish an initial link between the effects of ethanol on the NADH/NAD(+) redox couple and the effects of ethanol on methionine metabolism in the liver.