Enzymatic Improvement of Food Flavor IV. Oxidation of Aldehydes in Soybean Extracts by Aldehyde Oxidase

Aldehyde oxidase (aldehyde: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.3.1) was partially purified from bovine liver. The enzyme irreversibly oxidized various aldehydes to the corresponding acids by using dissolved oxygen as an electron acceptor. Although the Km value for n-hexanal was low (6 µm), that for acetaldehyde was high (20 mm).

Medium-chain aldehydes such as hexanal and pentanal appear to be mainly responsible for green beany odor of soybean products. A great reduction in the beany odor was observed after the soybean extract was incubated with aldehyde oxidase under aerobic conditions. Dissolved oxygen was utilized as the electron acceptor throughout the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of aldehydes and none of other cofactors were found to be required.

It has been shown that bovine liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase oxidizes the soybean protein-bound aldehyde with a rate comparable to that for free n-hexanal (Agric. Biol. Chem., 43, in press). Comparative studies of aldehyde oxidase and aldehyde dehydrogenase with respect to oxidation-rates of free aldehydes and the soybean protein-bound aldehydes indicated that aldehyde oxidase acted on the bound aldehyde with a much slower rate.     

Chemiluminescence in the crude extracts of soybean seedlings. Postulated mechanism on the formation of hydroperoxide intermediates.

It has been reported that weak chemiluminescence (CL) from crude extracts of soybean seedlings is remarkably enhanced with the addition of various aldehydes (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1058, 209-216). The reactivity of certain emitter(s) with oxygen species was examined in the autoclaved extracts of seedlings. When samples were reduced by the addition of hydrosulfite, two different types of reactivities in CL were defined. One type showed an initial rapid increase and a subsequent fast decay in CL upon mixing with oxygen. This rapid increase in CL intensity was independent of the presence of aldehydes, and was significantly suppressed by SOD. However, the subsequent slow decay phase in CL was dependent on the presence of aldehydes. In the sample reduced more moderately by borohydride, the same slow decay of CL appeared upon mixing with acetaldehyde and oxygen. This second type of CL was not inhibited by active oxygen scavengers. Hydrogen peroxide added to unreduced (oxidized) samples also elicited CL. Three types of primary emitters may be oxidized to form transient hydroperoxide, and excited for light emission by slightly different ways: two of them are excited by abstraction of one atomic oxygen from the hydroperoxy intermediate with aldehyde or hydrogen peroxide, leading to formation of an excited hydroxide intermediate. The third is excited directly on the binding of superoxide anion to the reduced primary emitter.     

Lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence of the animal tissues

Lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (LcCL) allows one to investigate the reactions of superoxide anion radical (*O2-) generated by mitochondria and is applied to study the superoxide production in enzymatic and membrane systems by isolated mitochondria and cells, and in whole organs. The application of lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence to estimate the respiration of human tissues involves the use of small tissue pieces, which can be obtained, for instance, by biopsia; however, no systematic investigations have been performed on these objects. In the present paper, a comparative study of lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence of tissues isolated from different organs of the rat was carried out to elucidate its dependence on the extent of tissue defragmentation, storage time, and access for oxygen. It was shown that the addition of lucigenin to a piece of tissue, a suspension of fine tissue fragments, and homogenates greatly enhanced chemiluminescence, and a whole piece of tissue possessed a much lesser (by 1-1.5 order of magnitude) intensity of chemiluminescence than homogenate or gruel. In the absence of stirring of the surrounding solution, the lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence of tissue quickly decreased, apparently due to a decrease in the level of oxygen in the tissue, as the result of its consumption. The chemiluminescence consisted of two components: a lucigenin-dependent and lucigenin-independent one (intrinsic chemiluminescence). Thus, the tissue was a source of lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence, and this luminescence was observed only at a sufficient access for oxygen. The lucigenin-independent component did not practically depend on oxygen and was determined by the components coming out of the tissue into the surrounding solution. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibited chemiluminescence as its concentration increased and did not affect considerably the rate of oxygen consumption by the tissue. The results obtained allow one to conclude that lucigenin can be used as a rather effective chemiluminescent probe for the production of superoxide radicals by tissue pieces.     

A New Rapid and Sensitive Bioluminescence Assay for Monoamine Oxidase Activity

The in vivo luminescence of an aldehyde-requiring mutant of the luminous bacteria Vibrio harveyi (M42) increases dramatically upon the addition of long-chain aliphatic aldehydes (C8-C16). The intensity of this luminescence is linearly related to aldehyde concentration. This property was utilized for the determination of monoamine oxidase activity using n-octylamine and n-decylamine as substrates, which are converted by monoamine oxidase to n-octylaldehyde and n-decylaldehyde, respectively. The addition of the amine to a suspension containing rat liver mitochondria and M42 cells initiated a luminescence that was directly proportional to monoamine oxidase activity according to two parameters: (1) the rate of the initial increase in luminescence and (2) the final "steady-state" level of luminescence. The new assay has advantages of high sensitivity, rapidity, the possibility to perform discontinuous as well as continuous monitoring of monoamine oxidase activity, and applicability to turbid preparations.     

Characteristics of luminol chemiluminescence induced by the catalytic action of myeloperoxidase

The effects of pH, luminol myeloperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide concentrations on the intensity of luminol chemiluminescence induced by myeloperoxidase catalysis were investigated. It was found that the intensity of luminescence is proportional to the enzyme concentration (up to 8.10(-8) M) and reaches the saturation level at higher enzyme concentrations. The dependence of chemiluminescence intensity on [H2O2] is bell-shaped: at H2O2 concentrations above 1.10(-4) M the luminescence is inhibited with a maximum at neutral values of pH. Luminol at concentrations above 5.10(-5) M inhibits this process. It was demonstrated that the effects of singlet oxygen, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals on the chemiluminescence reaction are insignificant. Luminol oxidation in the course of the myeloperoxidase reaction is induced by hypochlorite.     

Effect of thymic peptides on the functional activity of phagocytic cells of donor peripheral blood

The direct action of synthetic peptide preparations, analogous to thymic hormones, on the functions of phagocytic cells was studied. The preparations Thymogen, Neogen and Thymodepressin in a dose of 10 mM produced a stimulating effect on the ingestive activity of the neutrophil, but not monocytic, population. All three preparations also enhanced the formation of oxygen metabolites registered in the luminol-dependent chemiluminescent analysis. The characteristics of spontaneous chemiluminescence (CL) reflecting the basal level of the synthesis of the active forms of oxygen and CL induced by opsomized zymosan significantly increased also in those cases when the preparations were used in a dose of 10 mM. The level of the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in individual cells could be appraised by the intensity of the luminescence of dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), evaluated with the use of flow cytometry. All preparations produced a stimulating effect on the formation of hydrogen peroxide in monocytes. The reaction of neutrophils was even more active: Neogen (10 mM) produced the twofold change in the intensity of the luminescence of DCF-DA) in neutrophils, Thymogen and Thynodepressin increased the average intensity of the luminescence of DCF-DA by 80% and 60%, respectively.     

Characterization of superoxide production from aldehyde oxidase: an important source of oxidants in biological tissues

Aldehyde oxidase, a molybdoflavoenzyme that plays an important role in aldehyde biotransformation, requires oxygen as substrate and produces reduced oxygen species. However, little information is available regarding its importance in cellular redox stress. Therefore, studies were undertaken to characterize its superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production. Aldehyde oxidase was purified to >98% purity and exhibited a single band at approximately 290 kDa on native polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Superoxide generation was measured and quantitated by cytochrome c reduction and EPR spin trapping with p-dimethyl aminocinnamaldehyde as reducing substrate. Prominent superoxide generation was observed with an initial rate of 295 nmol min(-1) mg(-1). Electrochemical measurements of oxygen consumption and hydrogen peroxide formation yielded values of 650 and 355 nmol min(-1) mg(-1). In view of the ubiquitous distribution of aldehydes in tissues, aldehyde oxidase can be an important basal source of superoxide that would be enhanced in disease settings where cellular aldehyde levels are increased.     

Determination of the release rate of aldehyde pheromones from insect lures by cold trapping and direct bioluminescence analysis

A rapid and sensitive procedure for measuring the release rate of aldehyde pheromones from insect lures has been developed. Using cold traps to condense aldehydes released into an airstream, the amount of pheromone in the aqueous condensate could be directly analyzed using a luminescence assay based on the response of bacterial luciferase to long chain aldehydes. A high recovery (approximately 70%) of aldehyde pheromone in the cold trap was obtained even when amounts as low as 10 ng were released into the airstream. Trapping times as low as 5 min can be used and analysis requires only a few seconds after temperature equilibration of the sample. This approach was applied to measure the release rate of 11-tetradecenal from different spruce budworm lures as well as to demonstrate that the release of aldehyde from a lure containing [14C]-cis-9-hexadecenal correlated closely to the release rate of radioactive material.     

微弱发光分析技术应用实例(六)——发光分析与肿瘤研究

微弱发光分析技术已经用于肿瘤学研究,骨肿瘤病人和正常人的血液和尿液的发光强度使用BPCL型微弱发光测量仪进行了测量.结果指出,骨肿瘤病人血液和尿液的发光强度高于正常人（P＜0.05）.骨肿瘤病人尿液的发光强度在手术之后明显降低（P＜0.05）.裸鼠血液和各种脏器的微弱发光测量结果表明,荷瘤之后,各个脏器的发光强度显著增加.     

The involvement of singlet oxygen in copper-phenanthroline/H2O2-induced DNA base damage: a chemiluminescent study

Copper in the presence of excess 1,10-phenanthroline, a reducing agent, and H2O2 causes DNA base damage as well as strand breakage. We have reported in previous work that a strong chemiluminescence was followed by DNA base damage in this system, which is characteristic of guanine. In the present work, the mechanism of the chemiluminescence was studied. Results show that the luminescence was inhibited by all three classes of reactive oxygen species (*OH, O2-, (1)O2) scavengers to different degrees. Singlet oxygen scavengers showed the most powerful inhibition while the other two classes of scavengers were relatively weaker. The emission intensity in D2O was 3-fold that in H2O. Comparing the effect of scavengers on the luminescence of DNA with that of dGMP, the ratio of inhibition was similar. On the other hand, DNA breakage analysis showed that inhibition by the singlet oxygen scavenger NaN3 of strand breakage was strong and comparable to that of the scavengers of the two oxygen radicals. The results suggest that singlet oxygen may be a major factor for the chemiluminescence of guanine, while DNA strand breakage may be caused by many active species.     

Differences in the respiratory burst of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by virulent and avirulent Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1

Two strains of Legionella pneumophila of different virulence were examined for their influence on the metabolic oxidative activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The leukocytes exhibited decreased rates of oxygen consumption and diminished chemiluminescence activity following phagocytosis of a virulent strain of L. pneumophila serogroup 1. In contrast, phagocytosis of its multipassaged derivative rendered avirulent, was accompanied by increased rates of both oxygen consumption and chemiluminescence activity. Although no differences were observed in oxygen uptake induced by the virulent legionellae compared to leukocytes at rest, statistically significant differences were observed in the chemiluminescence responses. These observations were not unexpected, since the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay, is more sensitive than the oxygen uptake assay. In spite of decreased metabolic activity of PMN in the presence of virulent legionellae, electron microscope studies showed higher numbers of intracellular L. pneumophila than the avirulent subtype. Thus, virulent and avirulent L. pneumophila can be differentiated on the basis of oxygen consumption and chemiluminescence assays.     

Peroxidase activity of the influenza virus

The appearance of chemiluminescence has been detected in influenza virus-luminol-hydrogen peroxide system. An effective decrease of its intensity in the presence of oxygen radical scavengers (sodium azide, superoxide dismutase, mannitol, ethanol) is indicative of activated oxygen taking part in the reaction. Increased luminescence in the presence of o-phenanthroline and its suppression by antimycin A suggest that peroxidase-like activity of influenza virus is due to the presence in it of Fe-S-protein.     

Study of oxygen photoreduction in chloroplasts by the method of luminol and chlorophyll chemiluminescence]

The reduction of oxygen by irradiated chloroplasts was studied for elucidation of oxygen action site in the electron transport chain of photosynthesis. Chemiluminescence system, consisted of luminol and peroxidase, was used for registration of oxygen reduction products. In the first case chemiluminescence system was added to supernatant fraction after centrifugation of suspension of irradiated chloroplasts in order to determine H2O2 which was found to be the final product of oxygen photoreduction. In the second case when chloroplasts were illuminated in the presence of chemiluminescence system and oxygen the fact delayed luminescence of luminol was observed. This photoluminescence related also with the oxygen reduction in chloroplasts caused a possible formation of radicals HO2 (or -O2). The formation of this radicals and H2O2 was inhibited by DCMU, heating of chloroplasts at 45 degrees C for 5 min and by washing with EDTA and NH2OH. The rate of HO2 dissappearance was increased by methylviologen. The kinetics of photoluminescence of luminol and afterglow of chlorophyll in chloroplasts was identical in the interval from 20 msec to several seconds. It is suggested that oxygen reaction site is located near the reaction centre of chloroplasts.     

Reversible steps in the reaction of aldehydes with bacterial luciferase intermediates.

Aliphatic aldehydes of different chain lengths were found to differ in their reaction at 22 °C with the B. harveyi luciferase peroxyflavin intermediate. Although similar quantum yields were obtained in the luciferase reaction with the different chain-length aldehydes, the catalytic turnover rates differed. The kinetics of a reaction utilizing two aldehydes of different chain lengths can thus indicate the degree to which the aldehyde reaction is reversible. By such criteria the reactions of octanal and decanal were found to be readily reversible, while that of dodecanal was not. This conclusion was supported both by the effects of long-chain alcohols, which are competitive inhibitors, and by the secondary addition of hydroxylamine, an aldehyde trapping agent. The results are consistent with a model in which there are many intermediates along the reaction path. Since the reactions are monitored by decay of luminescence intensity, it is difficult to determine the position of the rate-determining step. For octanal and decanal the rate-limiting step could be at an early reversible stage of the reaction, but later for dodecanal, subsequent to a less reversible step, but still prior to the final irreversible step which populates the excited state.     

Chemiluminescence probe with Cypridina luciferin analog, 2-methyl-6-phenyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one, for estimating the ability of human granulocytes to generate O2-

The Cypridina luciferin analog, 2-methyl-6-phenyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one (CLA), in Hanks' balanced salt solution, emitted a weak luminescence which was not affected by superoxide dismutase or catalase and was not augmented by resting human granulocytes. In contrast, activated granulocytes caused a dramatic increase in the luminescence of CLA. The light emission by CLA in the presence of activated granulocytes was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, but not by catalase or benzoate. Azide at 0.5 mM did not inhibit light emission significantly. These results indicate that O2-, rather than H2O2, HO., singlet oxygen, or HOCl, was the agent responsible for eliciting the chemiluminescence of CLA. Moreover, the intensity of light emission by CLA correlated with the rate of production of O2- either by activated neutrophils or by the xanthine oxidase reaction.     

Chemiluminescence activated by rhodamine G in plasma in the presence of divalent iron ions

Rhodamine G was found to activate blood plasma chemiluminescence induced by ferrous ions. The dye in concentrations 300-500 mole/l increased chemiluminescence by an order of magnitude. The luminescence was inhibited by histidine and SOD. A conclusion may be drawn that the mechanism of the activated ferrous chemiluminescence with rhodamine G was related to superoxide anion-radicals and singlet oxygen.     

Reductions of 2-enals, dehydrogenation of saturated aldehydes and their racemisation

Enoate reductase or clostridia containing this enzyme (Clostridium tyrobutyricum or C. kluyveri) catalyse the reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes (enals). The enantiomeric purity of the saturated aldehydes obtained from alpha-substituted enals is usually rather low and depends heavily on the reaction conditions. The reduction of the corresponding allyl alcohols to the saturated alcohols leads to much higher enantiomeric purities, though the reduction of the enal corresponding to the allyl alcohol to the saturated aldehyde is an intermediary step in the reaction sequence allyl alcohol----saturated alcohol. The explanation seems to be the racemisation of saturated aldehydes caused by enoate reductase. This is illustrated by the reduction of (E)-2-methylcinnamyl aldehyde to (R)-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanal or (R)-2-methyl-3-phenylpropanol under different conditions and measuring the racemisation of the aldehyde as well as the hydrogen-deuterium exchange of 3-phenylpropanal. In contrast to saturated carboxylates saturated aldehydes can be dehydrogenated to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) by enoate reductase in the presence of electron acceptors such as oxygen or dichlorophenol indophenol. Under these conditions enoate reductase shows in the presence of oxygen a surprisingly high half life (greater than 20 h) as compared to that which is observed when the enzyme was used as a reductase with NADH in the presence of oxygen. In this case the enzyme is inactivated within a few minutes.     

The role of luxCDE genes in bioluminescence of bacteria

It is revealed that in the bacterial lacking luxCDE genes responsible in the standard scheme for synthesis of aliphatic aldehydes—the substrate for the bacterial bioluminescence—there is an aldehyde factor at sufficient concentration for bright luminescence of these bacteria.     

Catalysis of singlet oxygen production in the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid by 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO)

The kinetics of the singlet oxygen production in the hydrogen peroxide plus hypochlorous acid reaction were studied by measuring the time course of the singlet oxygen emission at 1268 nm. The addition of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) increased the peak intensity of the chemiluminescence, but decreased its duration. The increased rate of singlet oxygen production likely accounts for the enhancement of singlet oxygen dimol emission reported in 1976 by Deneke and Krinsky (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 98, 3041-3042). This phenomenon was not seen when singlet oxygen was generated with the reaction of hypobromous acid and hydrogen peroxide. Thus, the enhancement of red chemiluminescence by DABCO should not be regarded as a general test for the production of singlet oxygen in complex biochemical systems.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHOTOSYNTHETIC OXYGEN CYCLING AND CARBON ASSIMILATION IN SYNECHOCOCCUS WH7803 (CYANOPHYTA)1

Mass spectrometric analysis of oxygen uptake and evolution in the light by marine Synechococcus WH7803 indicated that the respiration rate was near zero at low irradiance levels but increased significantly at high irradiances. The light intensity (I_r) at which oxygen uptake began to increase with increasing light intensity depended on the growth irradiance of the culture. In each case, I_r coincided with the minimum light intensity for saturation of carbon assimilation (I_k). At irradiances >I_r, net oxygen evolution rates paralleled carbon assimilation rates. Oxygen uptake at high light intensities was inhibited by DCMU, indicating that oxygen uptake was due to Mehler reaction activity. The onset of Mehler activity at I_k supports the idea that oxygen becomes an alternative sink for electrons from photosystem I when NADPH turnover is limited by the capacity of the dark reactions to utilize reductant.