The deacetylation of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene by rat liver microsomes and carboxyl esterase

We have demonstrated that incubation of rat liver microsomes with N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) leads to formation of a 2-nitrosofluorene-membrane lipid adduct. This adduct exists as a nitroxyl free radical, termed N-O-LAF, in its oxidized state. When microsomes were incubated with the sulfhydryl binding agent, rho-hydroxymercuribenzoate, a larger amount of N-OL-LAF formed. We interpret this as a slowdown in the rate of endogenous chemical reduction of carcinogen-membrane lipid adduct. In this paper we present evidence that N-OH-AAF is deacetylated by a microsomal enzyme to form N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene and this is then oxidized to 2-nitrosofluorene which adds covalently to membrane lipid double bonds to form N-O-LAF. Various antioxidants, peroxidase inhibitors, and P450 substrates and inhibitors were ineffective in altering the amount of N-O-LAF formed from N-OH-AAF; but two esterase inhibitors, dietyl-rho-nitrophenylphosphate and alpha-toluene-sulfonyl fluoride, prevented N-O-LAF formation. Of the following purified enzymes tested: porcine liver carboxyl esterase, pepsin, chymotrypsin, cathepsin D, ficin, papain, leucine aminopeptidase, Naja naja phospholipase, acetylcholinesterase (type I), trypsin (type I and V) and epoxide hydrase; only carboxyl esterase was effective in deacetylating N-OH-AAF.     

Carbon radicals in the metabolism of alkyl hydrazines

The metabolism of phenelzine (2-phenylethylhydrazine) by rat liver microsomes yields phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, and ethylbenzene. A carbon radical is formed during the oxidative metabolism of phenelzine that reacts with the prosthetic heme of cytochrome P-450 and irreversibly inactivates the enzyme. The radical has been spin-trapped, isolated, and shown by mass spectrometry to be the 2-phenylethyl radical. The metal-free pophyrin derived from the prosthetic heme group has been isolated and identified as N-(2-phenylethyl)protoporphyrin IX. The metabolism of phenelzine, an alkyl hydrazine, thus yields a carbon radical that inactivates cytochrome P-450, is converted to a hydrocarbon by hydrogen atom abstraction, and reacts with spin traps or (presumably) alternative cellular targets.     

Obligatory free radical intermediate in the oxidative activation of the carcinogen N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene

We have demonstrated that the nitroxyl free radical form of the carcinogen N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (OH-AAF) is an obligatory intermediate in the cumene hydroperoxide-hematin-induced oxidative activation of this carcinogen into 2-nitrosofluorene and N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene. Both the rate of N-OH-2-acetylaminofluorene oxidation and the amount of its nitroxyl free radical were experimently observed as a function of reaction time. Rate equations were derived for a model in which the nitroxyl free radical form of OH-AAF was an obligatory intermediate in the reaction. Using this theory it was possible to compute one experimental variable, the rate of OH-AAF oxidation, utilizing the other experimental variable, the amount of nitroxyl free radical present at any time during the reaction. The theory also predicts a linear relationship between the rate of OH-AAF oxidation and the square of the free radical content; and this was found to be true experimentally. The dismutation rate of constant of the nitroxyl free radical of OH-AAF was found to be 2.7 · 10⁵ M^?1 · s^?1.     

Effect of the lipophilic spin-labeled inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 on the activity of the microsomal system

It was shown that the lipophilic nitroxyl radical--2-hexyl-2,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4-(3-iodo-2-oxopropyliden)-im idazolidine- 1-oxyl, an affinity modified of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, interacts with various forms of cytochrome P-450 as substrate type I, and it inhibits the oxidation of substrates specific for these forms. During its intravenous injection with egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes the radical is partly bound to liver microsomes, which is accompanied by a decrease of the oxygenase activity of microsomal preparations (by 30-50%) as well as by prolongation of the soporific effect of hexabarbital (2-3-fold).     

Acidic pH generated by H+-ATPase pumps triggers the activity of a fusogenic protein associated with rat liver endoplasmic reticulum.

Fusogenic protein (FP) is a glycoprotein ( approximately 50 kDa), previously purified by us from rat liver endoplasmic reticulum, which explicates fusogenic activity at acidic pH in vitro. To suggest a possible role of FP in membrane fusion, the topology of the protein in the membrane and the conditions in which FP is operating in microsomes have been investigated. Anti-FP polyclonal antibodies inhibited pure FP activity, but not the protein activity in microsomes, suggesting interaction of antibodies with a part of FP concealed in intact membranes. FP activity in microsomes was lost after treatment with Pronase. Western blot analysis of Pronase-treated microsomes showed that the proteolysis removed a fragment ( approximately 5 kDa). This fragment is exposed on the outer surface of microsomes and involved in fusogenic activity, whereas the largest part of FP is embedded in microsomal vesicles. Therefore, FP can be affected by modifications on the cytosolic and luminal sides of microsomal membranes. Indeed, when microsomal lumen was acidified by H+-ATPase activity, binding and fusion of fluorescent labelled liposomes to microsomes occurred. Direct involvement of FP in the fusogenic event was observed by reconstituting pure FP in liposomes with a preformed H+ gradient. FP triggered a fusion process in response to the acidic interior of liposomes, despite an exterior 7.4 pH unable to promote fusogenic protein activity. As intracellular membrane fusion occurs at neutral pH involving the cytosolic sides of membranes, FP may participate in this event by exploiting the acidic pH formed in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum through H+-translocating ATPase activity.     

Distribution of protein-bound sugar residues in microsomal subfractions and Golgi membranes.

Liver microsomal subfractions and Golgi membranes free from adsorbed and secretory proteins have a characteristic sugar composition. The ratio of mannose to galactose is largest in rough microsomes, smaller in smooth I microsomes, still smaller in smooth II microsomes, and smallest in Golgi membranes. There is about twice as much glucosamine in Golgi membranes and 3 times as much in smooth II microsomes as in the other microsomal subfractions. Golgi membranes are rich in sialic acid in comparison to rough microsomes and it is present at even higher levels in the two smooth microsomal subfractions. Increasing concentrations of deoxycholate preferentially remove protein-bound mannose and glucosamine, while releasing significantly less galactose. About half of the microsomal mannose and galactose can be liberated from the surface of intact microsomal vesicles by treatment with trypsin. When trypsin is added to permeable vesicles where the inside surface can be also attacked, an additional 20% of the total mannose but no additional galactose is liberated.     

Effect of liposomal phospholipid composition on cholesterol transfer between microsomal and liposomal vesicles.

Preincubation of rat liver microsomal vesicles at 37 degrees C in the presence of [3H]cholesterol/phospholipid liposomes results in a net transfer of cholesterol from liposomes to microsomal vesicles. This transfer follows first-order kinetics. For similar concentrations of the donor vesicles, rates of transfer are about 6-8 times lower with cholesterol/sphingomyelin liposomes compared with cholesterol/phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Also, transfer of cholesterol from cholesterol/sphingomyelin liposomes to microsomal vesicles reveals a larger activation energy than for the process from cholesterol/phosphatidylcholine liposomes. There is a significant correlation between the amount of liposomal cholesterol transferred to microsomal vesicles during preincubation and the increase found with acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity in these microsomes over their corresponding controls. If, however, liposomes made solely of phospholipids are substituted for the cholesterol/phospholipid liposomes in the preincubation system containing microsomal vesicles, then the acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity is decreased compared with the corresponding control system. Both sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine liposomes are equally effective in decreasing the enzyme activity. These results offer direct kinetic evidence for the positive correlation between cholesterol and sphingomyelin found in vivo in biological membranes.     

Spin trapping in biological systems. Oxidation of the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide by a hydroperoxide-hematin-system.

We have used the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide to determine if primary free radicals are involved in the hematin-cumene hydroperoxide system which has been shown to oxidize N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene into the nitroxyl free radical form of this carcinogen. We have found that the spin trap was oxidized itself rather than trapping either primary free radicals or carcinogen free radicals.     

Antioxidant mechanism of Mn(II) in phospholipid peroxidation.

Antioxidant action of Mn2+ on radical-mediated lipid peroxidation without added iron in microsomal lipid liposomes and on iron-supported lipid peroxidation in phospholipid liposomes or in microsomes was investigated. High concentrations of Mn2+ above 50 microM inhibited 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) (ABAP)-supported lipid peroxidation without added iron at the early stage, while upon prolonged incubation, malondialdehyde production was rather enhanced as compared with the control in the absence of Mn2+. However, in a lipid-soluble radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethyl-valeronitrile) (AMVN)-supported lipid peroxidation of methyl linoleate in methanol Mn2+ apparently did not scavenge lipid radicals and lipid peroxyl radicals, contrary to a previous report. At concentrations lower than 5 microM, Mn2+ competitively inhibited Fe(2+)-pyrophosphate-supported lipid peroxidation in liposomes consisting of phosphatidylcholine with arachidonic acid at the beta-position and phosphatidylserine dipalmitoyl, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-supported lipid peroxidation in the presence of iron complex in microsomes. Iron reduction responsible for lipid peroxidation in microsomes was not influenced by Mn2+.     

Distribution of protein-bound sugar residues in microsomal subfractions and Golgi membranes

Liver microsomal subfractions and Golgi membranes free from adsorbed and secretory proteins have a characteristic sugar composition. The ratio of mannose to galactose is largest in rough microsomes, smaller in smooth I microsomes, still smaller in smooth II microsomes, and smallest in Golgi membranes. There is about twice as much glucosamine in Golgi membranes and 3 times as much in smooth II microsomes as in the other microsomal subfractions. Golgi membranes are rich in sialic acid in comparison to rough microsomes and it is present at even higher levels in the two smooth microsomal subfractions. Increasing concentrations of deoxycholate preferentially remove protein-bound mannose and glucosamine, while releasing significantly less galactose. About half of the microsomal mannose and galactose can be liberated from the surface of intact microsomal vesicles by treatment with trypsin. When trypsin is added to permeable vesicles where the inside surface can be also attacked, an additional 20% of the total mannose but no additional galactose is liberated.     

The role of cytochrome b5 in adrenal microsomal steroidogenesis.

The role of cytochrome b5 in adrenal microsomal steroidogenesis was studied in guinea pig adrenal microsomes and also in the liposomal system containing purified cytochrome P-450s and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Preincubation of the microsomes with anti-cytochrome b5 immunoglobulin decreased both 17 alpha- and 21-hydroxylase activity in the microsomes. In liposomes containing NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and P-450C21 or P-450(17) alpha,lyase, addition of a small amount of cytochrome b5 stimulated the hydroxylase activity while a large amount of cytochrome b5 suppressed the hydroxylase activity. The effect of cytochrome b5 on the rates of the first electron transfer to P-450C21 in liposome membranes was determined from stopped flow measurements and that of the second electron transfer was estimated from the oxygenated difference spectra in the steady state. It was indicated that a small amount of cytochrome b5 activated the hydroxylase activity by supplying additional second electrons to oxygenated P-450C21 in the liposomes while a large amount of cytochrome b5 might suppress the activity through the interferences in the interaction between the reductase and P-450C21.     

Simulation of dehydration injury to membranes from soybean axes by free radicals

Smooth microsomal membranes were isolated from axes of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seeds at the dehydration-tolerant (6 hours of imbibition) and dehydration-susceptible (36 hours of imbibition) stages of development and were exposed to free radicals in vitro using xanthine-xanthine oxidase as a free radical source. Wide angle x-ray diffraction studies indicated that the lipid phase transition temperature of the microsomal membranes from the dehydration-tolerant axes increased from 7 to 14°C after exposure to free radicals, whereas those from the dehydration-susceptible axes increased from 9 to 40°C by the same free radical dose. The increased phase transition temperature was associated with a decrease in the phospholipid:sterol ratio, and an increase in the free fatty acid:phospholipid ratio. There was no significant change in total fatty acid saturation, which indicated that free radical treatment induced deesterification of membrane phospholipid, and not a change in fatty acid saturation. Similar compositional and structural changes have been previously observed in dehydration-injured soybean axes suggesting that dehydration may induce free radical injury to cellular membranes. Further, these membranes differ in their susceptibility to free radical injury, presumably reflecting compositional differences in the membrane since these membranes were exposed to free radicals in the absence of cytosol.     

Generation and recycling of radicals from phenolic antioxidants

Hindered phenols are widely used food preservatives. Their pharmacological properties are usually attributed to high antioxidant activity due to efficient scavenging of free radicals. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) also cause tissue damage. Their toxic effects could be due to the production of phenoxyl radicals. If phenoxyl radicals can be recycled by reductants or electron transport, their potentially harmful side reactions would be minimized. A simple and convenient method to follow phenoxyl radical reactions in liposomes and rat liver microsomes based on an enzymatic (lipoxygenase + linolenic acid) oxidation system was used to generate phenoxyl radicals from BHT and its homologues with substitutents in m- and p-positions. Different BHT-homologues display characteristic ESR signals of their radical species. In a few instances the absence of phenoxyl radical ESR signals was found to be due to inhibition of lipoxygenase by BHT-homologues. In liposome or microsome suspensions addition of ascorbyl palmitate resulted in disappearance of the ESR signal of phenoxyl radicals with concomittant appearance of the ascorbyl radical signal. After exhaustion of ascorbate, the phenoxyl radical signal reappears. Comparison of the rates of ascorbyl radical decay in the presence or absence of BHT-homologues showed that temporary elimination of the phenoxyl radical ESR signal was due to their reduction by ascorbate. Similarly, NADPH or NADH caused temporary elimination of ESR signals as a result of reduction of phenoxyl radicals in microsomes. Since ascorbate and NADPH might generate superoxide in the incubation system used, SOD was tested. SOD shortened the period, during which the phenoxyl radicals ESR signal could not be observed. Both ascorbyl palmitate and NADPH exerted sparing effects on the loss of BHT-homologues during oxidation. These effects were partly diminished by SOD. These data indicate that reduction of phenoxyl radicals was partly superoxide-dependent. It is concluded that redox recycling of phenoxyl radicals can occur by intracellular reductants like ascorbate and microsomal electron transport.     

The spin-trapping of enzymatically and chemically catalyzed free radicals from indolic compounds

A nitrogen-centered free radical was spin-trapped from superoxide-catalyzed oxidation of indolic compounds, using the spin-trap phenyl-t-butyl-nitrone. The hyperfine splitting constants observed were aN = 13.9 G, a beta N = 3.6 G and a beta H = 2.3 G. Incubation of various indolic compounds with goat lung microsomes showed that only 3-methylindole was able to generate a free radical in the NADPH-dependent microsomal system, as tested by spin-trapping. The splitting constants were the same as those seen with superoxide incubations with 3-methylindole. The study demonstrates the generality of formation of a nitrogen-centered free radical from various indolic compounds. Enzymatic radical formation from 3-methylindole suggests a microsomal-activated free radical mechanism for the specificity of 3-methylindole-induced pulmonary toxicity.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance decay constant and oxidative stresses in liver microsomes of the selenium-deficient rat

The free radical-reducing activity and the membrane fluidity of liver microsomes from selenium-deficient (SeD) rats were examined by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin label method using nitroxyl-labeled stearic acids. Our findings show that the membrane fluidity and lipid peroxidation levels in SeD rat liver microsome were relatively unchanged compared with normal rat. In contrast, SeD caused the induction of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 activity. The nitroxyl spin probes are substrates for reduction-relating cytochrome P-450. Previous in vivo studies suggested that the total liver free radical reduction activity in SeD rat was decreased. In contrast, SeD caused the induction of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 activity, and the reduction rate of nitroxyl radical existing at shallow depth in membrane was increased. Selenium-deficient rats experienced an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) due to a pronounced loss of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. This masked the overall reduction rate of the nitroxyl spin probe by reoxidation of the hydroxylamine form. Although the SeD condition caused induction of liver cytochrome P-450 and chronic increased H2O2, this did not result in oxidative liver damage. An increased level of glutathione in SeD liver was also evident, likely due to the absence of GSH-Px activity. Using the EPR spin label method, we have shown that SeD causes complicated redox changes in the liver, notably, alterations in the levels of cytochrome P-450 and GSH-Px systems.     

Flavonoids can replace alpha-tocopherol as an antioxidant

Endogenous antioxidants such as the lipid-soluble vitamin E protect the cell membranes from oxidative damage. Glutathione seems to be able to regenerate alpha-tocopherol via a so-called free radical reductase. The transient protection by reduced glutathione (GSH) against lipid peroxidation in control liver microsomes is not observed in microsomes deficient in alpha-tocopherol. Introduction of antioxidant flavonoids, such as 7-monohydroxyethylrutoside, fisetin or naringenin, into the deficient microsomes restored the GSH-dependent protection, suggesting that flavonoids can take over the role of alpha-tocopherol as a chain-breaking antioxidant in liver microsomal membranes.     

Regulation by Lipids of Plant Microsomal Enzymes: III. Phospholipid Dependence of the Cytidine-Diphospho-Choline Phosphotransferase of Potato Microsomes

Cytidine-diphospho-choline diacyl-glycerol phosphorylcholine phosphotransferase activity was demonstrated in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) microsomes and the incorporation of cytidine-diphospho[¹⁴C]choline into phosphatidylcholine was characterized by the time course of ¹⁴C incorporation and the effect of microsomal protein concentration on choline incorporation.

Potato microsomes were progressively delipidated by treatments (2 min at 0°C) with increasing amounts of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. A decrease in choline phosphotransferase activity was observed in parallel with the progressive hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. A 70% (or more) phospholipid hydrolysis provoked the total inactivation of the enzyme.

Adding back exogenous phospholipids (in the form of liposomes) to phospholipase C-treated membranes restored the enzymic activity. Restoration could be obtained with egg yolk phospholipids as well as with potato phospholipids. Restoration was time dependent and completed after 10 minutes; restoration was also dependent on the quantity of liposomes added to lipid-depleted membranes: the best restorations were obtained with 1 to 2.5 milligrams of phospholipid per mg of microsomal protein; higher phospholipid to protein ratios were less efficient or inhibitory.

These results clearly demonstrate the phospholipid dependence of the cytidine-diphospho-choline phosphotransferase from potato microsomes.

     

Diaminotoluenes induce intrachromosomal recombination and free radicals in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The carcinogenicity of aniline-based aromatic amines is poorly reflected by their activity in short-term mutagenicity assays such as the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation (Ames) assay. More information about the mechanism of action of such carcinogens is needed. Here we report the effects on DEL recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of the carcinogen 2,4-diaminotoluene and its structural isomer 2,6-diaminotoluene, which is reported to be non-carcinogenic. Both compounds are detected as equally mutagenic in the Salmonella assay. In the absence of any external metabolizing system both compounds were recombinagenic in the DEL assay, with the carcinogen being a more potent inducer of deletions than the non-carcinogen. In the presence of Aroclor-induced rat liver S9, however, the carcinogen 2,4-diaminotoluene became a 2-fold more potent inducer of deletions, and the non-carcinogen 2,6-diaminotoluene was rendered less toxic and no induced recombination was observed. 2,4-Diaminotoluene is distinguished from its non-carcinogen analog in the DEL assay, therefore, on the basis of a preferential activation of the carcinogen in the presence of a rat liver microsomal metabolizing system. Free radical species are produced by several carcinogens and have been implicated in carcinogenesis. We further investigated whether exposure of yeast to either 2,4-diaminotoluene or 2,6-diaminotoluene resulted in a rise in intracellular free radical species. The effects of the free radical scavenger N-acetylcysteine on toxicity and recombination induced by the two compounds and intracellular oxidation of the free radical-sensitive reporter compound dichlorofluorescin diacetate were studied. Both 2,4- and 2,6-diaminotoluene produced free radical species in yeast, indicating that the reason for the differential activity of the compounds for induced deletions is not reflected in any difference in the production of free radical species.     

In vitro modification of cholesterol content of rat liver microsomes. Effects upon membrane 'fluidity' and activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fatty acid desaturation systems

The cholesterol content of rat liver microsomal membranes was modified in vitro by incubating microsomes and cytosol with liposomes prepared by sonication of microsomal lipids and cholesterol. In this way, the cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio was increased from 0.11-0.13 in untreated microsomes to a maximal of 0.8 in treated ones. Cholesterol incorporation in microsomes produced an increase in the diphenyl-hexatriene steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and a decrease in the efficiency of pyrene-excimer formation which indicated a decrease in the rotational and translational mobility, respectively, of these probes in the membranes lipid phase. Cholesterol incorporation in microsomes did not affect significantly the glucose-6-phosphatase activity in 0.1% Triton X-100 totally disrupted microsomes, but diminished the glucose-6-phosphatase activity of 'intact' microsomes. This indicates that possibly the glucose 6-phosphate translocation across the microsomal membrane is impeded by an increase in the membrane apparent 'microviscosity'. Cholesterol incorporation in microsomes decreased NADH-cytochrome c reductase without affecting NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity. The delta 9 desaturation reaction rate was enhanced by cholesterol incorporation at low but not at high palmitic acid substrate concentration. delta 5 and delta 6 desaturase reaction-rates were increased both at low and high fatty acid substrate concentrations. These results suggest that a mechanism involving fatty acid desaturase enzymes, might exist to self-regulate the microsomal membrane lipid phase 'fluidity' in the rat liver.     

Ascorbyl free radical and dehydroascorbate formation in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum

The mechanism of ascorbate oxidation was studied in rat liver microsomes. A continuous consumption of the added ascorbate was observed, which was accompanied with a prompt appearance of ascorbyl free radical and dehydroascorbate. Microsomes sustained steady-state level of ascorbyl free radical and dehydroascorbate till ascorbate was present in the medium. Ascorbyl free radical formation was diminished when microsomes had been pretreated with heat or trypsine. It was also decreased by addition of quercetin, econazole or metal chelators, including the copper specific neocuproine. Enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and nonenzymatic (dimethyl sulfoxide, mannitol) antioxidants did not modify the microsomal production of ascorbyl free radical. Investigation of the subcellular distribution of ascorbate oxidation showed that the microsomal fraction of liver had the highest activity. The decrease of ascorbate oxidation after protease treatment and the negligible increase upon permeabilization of microsomal vesicles showed that a membrane protein is responsible for the activity, which is exposed to the outer surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. The results indicate the presence of a primary enzymatic ascorbate oxidation in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum which is able to generate dehydroascorbate, an important source of the oxidizing environment in the endoplasmic reticulum.