Hyaluronic Acid Degradation by Ascorbic Acid and Influence of Iron

The effects of ascorbic acid, iron and ADP on hyaluronic acid, a compound present in inflamed joints, were investigated in an in vitro system. Ascorbic acid induces degradation of hyaluronic acid which increased in the presence of FeCl, and which is additionally stimulated by ADP chelated ferric ions. The hyaluronic acid degrading reactions induced by the Fe-III/ADP/ascorbic acid system were inhibited by catalase and formate to various extents whereas the presence of superoxide dismutase did not exert any inhibitory effect. Desferrioxamine, a specific iron chelator, completely inhibited hyaluronic acid depolymerisation by ascorbic acid as well as in combination with FeCl₃ or FeCl₃/ADP, respectively. We suggest that the ultimate hyaluronic acid degrading species is OH', generated via the Fe-III/ADP catalysed Haber Weiss reaction. There is also an indication for the involvement of perferryl or/and ferryl species in the degradation process.     

Ascorbic Acid Inhibits Lipid Peroxidation but Enhances DNA Damage in Rat Liver Nuclei Incubated with Iron Ions

In this report we studied DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in rat liver nuclei incubated with iron ions for up to 2 hrs in order to examine whether nuclear DNA damage was dependent on membrane lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation was measured as thio-barbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and DNA damage was measured as 8-OH-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG). We showed that Fe(II) induced nuclear lipid peroxidation dose-dependently but only the highest concentration (1.0 mM) used induced appreciable 8-OH-dG. Fe(II1) up to 1 mM induced minimal lipid peroxidation and negligible amounts of 8-OH-dG. Ascorbic acid enhanced Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation at a ratio to Fe(II) of 1:l but strongly inhibited peroxidation at ratios of 2.5:l and 5:l. By contrast, ascorbate markedly enhanced DNA damage at all ratios tested and in a concentration-dependent manner. The nuclear DNA damage induced by 1 niM FeSO₄/5 mM ascorbic acid was largely inhibited by iron chelators and by dimethylsulphoxide and manni-tol, indicating the involvement of OH. Hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions were also involved, as DNA damage was partially inhibited by catalase and, to a lesser extent, by superoxide dismutase. The chain-breaking antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene and diphenylamine (an alkoxyl radical scavenger) did not inhibit DNA damage. Hence, this study demonstrated that ascorbic acid enhanced Fe(II)-induced DNA base modification which was not dependent on lipid peroxidation in rat liver nuclei.     

Regulation of Water Deficit-Induced Abscisic Acid Accumulation by Apoplastic Ascorbic Acid in Maize Seedlings

Water deficit-induced abscisic acid （ABA） accumulation is one of the most important stress signaling pathways in plant cells. Redox regulation of cellular signaling has currently attracted particular attention, but much less is known about its roles and mechanisms in plant signaling. Herein, we report that water deficit-induced ABA accumulation could be regulated by ascorbic acid （AA）-controlled redox status in leave apoplast. The AA content in non-stressed leaves was approximately 3 umol/g FW, corresponding to a mean concentration of 3 mmol/L in a whole cell. Because AA is mainly localized in the cytosol and chloroplasts, the volume of which is much smaller than that of the whole cell, AA content in cytosolic and chloroplast compartments should be much higher than 3 mmol/L. Water deficit-induced ABA accumulation in both leaf and root tissues of maize seedlings was significantly inhibited by AA and reduced glutathione （GSH） at concentrations of 500 umol/L and was completely blocked by 50 mmol/L AA and GSH. These results suggest that the AA-induced inhibition of ABA accumulation should not occur at sites where AA exists in high concentrations. Although water deficit led to a small increase in the dehydroascorbic acid （DHA） content, no significant changes in AA content were observed in either leaf or root tissues. When compared with the whole leaf cell, the AA content in the apoplastic compartment was much lower （i.e. approximately 70 nmol/g FW, corresponding to 0.7 mmol/L）. Water deficit induced a significant decrease （approximately 2.5-fold） in the AA content and an increase （approximately 3.4-fold） in the DHA content in the apoplastic compartment, thus leading to a considerably decreased redox status there, which may have contributed to the relief of AA-induced inhibition of ABA accumulation, alternatively, promoting water deficit-induced ABA accumulation. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） could not mimic water deficit in inducing ABA accumulation, suggesting that the inhibition of ABA accumulation by AA or GSH was not related to their ROS-scavenging ability. The results of the present study suggest that the redox status in the apoplastic compartment, as determined by AA and DHA, may play a vital role in the regulation of the signaling process for water deficit-induced ABA accumulation.     

The Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Iron Co-Supplementation on the Proliferation of 3T3 Fibroblasts

Exposure of 3T3 fibroblasts to Fe reveals a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation compared to control cells, the apparent threshold for this iron-mediated effect being 5 μM Fe^II. The inhibition of cell proliferation was accompanied by an enhancement of total malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (as detected directly by hplc) in the cells at higher iron concentrations. The co-supplementation of Fe with varying concentrations of ascorbic acid over the range 5 μM to 240 μM had no significant effect on the threshold for iron toxicity or lipid peroxidation. These results show that there is neither a significant exacerbation of the pro-oxidant effect of Fe^II nor any protective effect of ascorbate when cultures of 3T3 mouse fibroblasts are exposed to co-supplementation regimes of iron with ascorbic acid.     

The Effects of Hyaluronic Acid on Macrophage FC Receptor Binding and Phagocytosis Are Independent of the Mode of Depolymerization

In order to determine whether exposure of hyaluronic acid to oxygen radicals caused an alteration in its properties. independent of the change in molecular weight induced. we examined its effect upon macro-phage Fc receptor binding. High molecular weight hyaluronic acid (Healon-Pharmacia) caused a dose dependent inhibition of binding between the concentrations of 0.2–1 mg/ml. At a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml both oxygen radical depolymerized and enzymatically degraded hyaluronic acid caused an inhibition of Fc receptor binding at molecular weights of 1 × 10⁶. 1.5 × 10⁶ and 2 × 10⁶. Oxygen radical degraded hyaluronic acid caused a stimulation of Fc receptor binding at molecular weights of 2 × 10⁵ and 3.5 × 10⁵. and enzyme degraded hyaluronic acid causes stimulation at a molecular weight of 2.5 × 10⁶. Thus this “biological property” of hyaluronic acid is dependent upon molecular weight solely and not upon the mode of depolymerization.     

Iron (II) Ions Induced Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid and Glucose

Lipid peroxidation (LPO) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is suspected to be involved in the generation of chronic diseases. A model reaction for LPO is the air oxidation of PUFAs initiated by Fe²⁺ and ascorbic acid. In the course of such model reactions glycolaldehyde (GLA) was detected as main aldehydic product. Since it is difficult to explain the generation of GLA by oxidation of PUFAs, it was suspected that GLA might be derived by oxidation of ascorbic acid. This assumption was verified by treatment of ascorbic acid with Fe²⁺.

Produced aldehydic compounds were trapped by addition of pentafluorobenzylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA-HCl), trimethylsilylated and finally identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Oxidation of ascorbic acid with O₂ in presence of iron ions produced not only glycolaldehyde (GLA), but also glyceraldehyde (GA), dihydroxyacetone (DA) and formaldehyde. Glyoxal (GO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected as trace compounds.

The yield of the aldehydic compounds was increased by addition of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) or H₂O₂. The buffer influenced the reaction considerably: Iron ions react with Tris buffer by producing dihydroxyace-tone (DA). Since ascorbic acid is present in biological systems and Fe²⁺ ions are obviously generated by cell damaging processes, the production of GLA and other aldehydic components might add to the damaging effects of LPO.

Glucose suffers also oxidation to short-chain aldehydic compounds in aqueous solution, but this reaction requires addition of equimolar amounts of Fe²⁺ together with equimolar amounts of H₂O₂ or 13-hydroperoxy-9-cis-11-trans-octadecadienoic acid (13-HPODE). Therefore this reaction, also influenced by the buffer system, seems to be not of biological relevance.     

Ascorbic Acid Oxidation and DNA Scission Catalyzed by Iron and Copper Chelates

The asorbic acid (AH^-) auto-oxidation rates catalyzed by copper chelates of 1,10-phenanthroline (OP) or by iron chelates of bleomycin (BLM) are only slightly higher than the oxidation rates catalyzed by the metal ions. AH^- oxidation in the presence of DNA is accompanied by degradation of the DNA. The rates of DNA scission by the metal chelates are markedly higher than the rates induced by the free metal ions. AH^- oxidation is slowed down in the presence of DNA which forms ternary complexes with the chelates. The ternary complexes react slowly with AH^- but induce DNA double strand breaks more efficiently than the free metal chelates. With OP, DNA is degraded by the reaction of the ternary complex, DNA-(OP)₂Cu(I), withH₂O₂

AH^- oxidation in the presence of DNA was biphasic, showing a marked rate increase after DNA was cleaved. We suggest that this sigmoidal pattern of the oxidation curves reflects the low initial oxidative activity of the ternary complexes, accelerating as DNA is degraded.

Using O₂^-produced by pulse radiolysis as a reductant, we found that AH^- oxidation with (OP)₂Cu(II) induced more DNA double strand breaks per single strand break than bipyridine-copper.

The site specific DNA damaging reactions indicated by these results are relevant to the mechanism of cytotoxic activities of bleomycin and similar antibiotics or cytotoxic agents.     

Degradation of Hyaluronic Acid, Poly- and Mono-Saccharides, and Model Compounds by Hypochlorite: Evidence for Radical Intermediates and Fragmentation

Degradation of hyaluronic acid by oxidants such as HO^· and HOCl/ClO⁻ is believed to be important in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. While reaction of hyaluronic acid with HO^· has been investigated extensively, reaction with HOCl/ClO⁻ is less well defined. Thus, little is known about the site(s) of HOCl/ClO⁻ attack, the intermediates formed, or the mechanism(s) of polymer degradation. In this study reaction of HOCl/ClO⁻ with amides, sugars, polysaccharides, and hyaluronic acid has been monitored by UV-visible (220–340 nm) and EPR spectroscopy. UV-visible experiments have shown that HOCl/ClO⁻ reacts preferentially with N-acetyl groups. This reaction is believed to give rise to transient chloramide (R—NCl—C(O)—R′) species, which decompose rapidly to give radicals via either homolysis (to produce N· and Cl·) or heterolysis (one-electron reduction, to give N· and Cl⁻) of the N—Cl bond. The nature of the radicals formed has been investigated by EPR spin trapping. Reaction of HOCl/ClO⁻ with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphates A and C, N-acetyl sugars, and amides gave novel, carbon-centered, spin adducts, the formation of which is consistent with selective initial attack at the N-acetyl group. Thus, reaction with hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate A, appears to be localized at the N-acetylglucosamine sugar rings. These carbon-centered radicals are suggested to arise from rapid rearrangement of initial nitrogen-centered radicals, formed from the N-acetyl chloramide, by reactions analogous to those observed with alkoxyl radicals. The detection of increasing yields of low-molecular-weight radical adducts from hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate A with increasing HOCl/ClO⁻ concentrations suggests that formation of the initial nitrogen-centered species on the N-acetylglucosamine rings, and the carbon-centered radicals derived from them, brings about polymer fragmentation.     

在兽疫链球菌中表达vgb基因和HA合成基因提高透明质酸产量

透明质酸(HA)是一种在医药及化妆品领域具有广泛应用的天然粘多糖。兽疫链球菌(Streptococcuszooepidemicus)是工业上生产透明质酸的菌种之一。透明颤菌血红蛋白(VHb)具有增强细胞摄氧的作用。对生产透明质酸的兽疫链球菌进行了基因改造:将兽疫链球菌HA的合成基因hasABC以及合成透明颤菌血红蛋白的vgb基因(Vitreoscillahemoglobingene,vgb)分别或同时插入阳性菌表达质粒pEU308中,通过电转化导入兽疫链球菌中。通过一氧化碳(CO)差光谱检测到了VHb的表达。在摇瓶实验中,同时带有hasABC和vgb基因的重组菌比野生菌的透明质酸产量提高了30％。而在发酵罐中,带有这2个基因的重组菌的透明质酸产量达到了6．9g／L,高于重组菌5．5g／L的产量。实验结果表明,vgb基因的存在促进了细胞的生长,hasABC操纵子的过表达增强了透明质酸的合成。首次将VHb导入兽疫链球菌中,获得了表达,并证明其对菌体生长及透明质酸合成有促进作用。通过研究,VHb将可以在阳性菌中获得更广泛的应用。     

复合透明质酸微针制剂的制备及优化

目的:考察透明质酸复合微针的制备方法,并选择形态粘度适宜的高分子溶液制备透明质酸微针。方法:测定不同浓度透明质酸溶液的粘度,确定适宜制备微针的溶液浓度。利用聚乙烯醇反复冷冻-解冻的物理交联方法制备透明质酸复合微针,并加入其他辅料考察微针针形的优劣。利用高效液相色谱法考察优化后透明质酸微针的体外释放行为。结果:10%透明质酸溶液适宜用抽真空法制备微针,聚乙烯醇优化后的透明质酸微针柔韧性更佳,刚性减小,易于揭膜。微针针形良好,不易断裂。体外释放实验中显示有缓释效果,8小时内可释放40%的理论载药量。结论:通过加入聚乙烯醇等生物相容性良好的辅料制备透明质酸微针,既具有良好的物理性能,又有较好的释放行为,优于目前文献报道的纯透明质酸微针的性能,可继续优化处方,具有更进一步研究的价值。     

基因工程技术优化透明质酸生产的研究进展

透明质酸是由葡萄糖醛酸和N-乙酰葡萄糖胺组成的双糖单位聚合而成的直链酸性粘多糖,在医药、化妆品、食品等领域拥有庞大的市场。传统研究通过优化发酵参数改善透明质酸的生产虽然取得了显著成效,但也趋于上限,加之天然生产菌株固有的发酵培养基成本高、具有一定致病性等等的劣势也日益显著。随着分子生物学技术的迅速发展以及对透明质酸合成相关基因研究的不断深入,研究重点逐渐转向利用基因工程技术构建高产、安全、具有特定分子量的透明质酸工程菌株。以下就有关透明质酸生产菌株基因工程改造的策略及研究进展进行概述和展望。     

Ascorbic Acid Oxidase: An Enzyme in Search of a Role

Ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) has been fully characterized at molecular level, yet its functional role is unclear. The properties of the enzyme and the main hypotheses on its function are discussed. Recent data and reappraisal of previous observations suggest that AAO could be part of a dynamic mechanism operating whenever plant cells have to control oxygen availability. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Degradation of Hyaluronic Acid by Photosensitized Riboflavin In Vitro. Modulation of the Effect by Transition Metals, Radical Quenchers, and Metal Chelators

The effect of photoexcited riboflavin (RF) on the viscosity of hyaluronic acid (HA) solutions has been investigated. UV irradiation of RF causes under aerobic conditions fragmentation of HA and a decrease in the viscosity of its solutions. A decrease of HA viscosity occurs in PO₄-buffered solutions and is accelerated by high pH, Fe²⁺ (but much less so by Fe³⁺), certain metal chelators, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP); it is partially inhibited by catalase and less so by superoxide dismutase (SOD). The reactivity of the system was completely blocked by Tris, ethanol, aspirin, d-manitol, dimethylthiourea (DMTU), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and sodium azide. These results indicate that the most likely chemical species involved in the reaction is the hydroxyl radical. Singlet oxygen (¹0₂) generation is suggested by the ability of NaN₃ and DMSO to completely inhibit the reactivity of the system. These two agents, however, may also interact with OH^√ radical, as well and suppress the reactivity of the system. H₂O₂ and seem also to be produced in significant amounts, because catalase and SOD partially block the reactivity of the system. The effect of HRP may be due to hydrogen subtraction from HA and H₂O₂ reduction to water. Photoexcitation of RF may potentially occur in vitro and in vivo in the organs and tissues that are permeable to light, such as the eye or skin, and damage HA and other cell-matrix components causing inflammation and accelerating aging.  © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.     

高效测定发酵液中透明质酸含量的改良CTAB浊度法

透明质酸（HA）在保健品、化妆品及临床医疗等领域都具有重要应用,发酵法是HA生产的主要方法。发酵液中HA含量的快速、准确测定对于HA的生产具有重要意义。在原始十六烷基三甲基溴化铵（CTAB）浊度法测量HA浓度的基础上,提出了去除HA与乙酸缓冲液混合后的水浴步骤、降低CTAB试剂浓度（2.5 g/L）以及确定HA-CTAB络合反应时间（5 min）的改良CTAB法。进一步研究了发酵液各成分对改良CTAB方法的干扰,结果表明,葡萄糖、阿拉伯糖、D 葡萄糖酸前体等对CTAB浊度法没有干扰,但Mg2+等具有较为明显的干扰。通过冰乙醇沉淀与改良CTAB浊度法的耦合,实现了发酵液中HA含量的高效测定。     

微生物发酵法生产高分子量透明质酸的研究进展

透明质酸是一种线性大分子黏多糖,分子量定义其流变性能,影响生理反应,并决定合适的用途。传统研究通过优化发酵提高透明质酸的产量已取得显著成效,近年来,研究重点逐渐转向如何提高透明质酸产品的分子量。目前,高分子量透明质酸具有良好的黏弹性、保湿性、黏附性,在医药中的应用是中、低分子量透明质酸不可替代的。概述了透明质酸分子量的调控机制,以及利用微生物发酵法生产高分子量透明质酸的研究进展,并对其发展方向进行了展望。     

Rocket fuel for the quantification of S-nitrosothiols. Highly specific reduction of S-nitrosothiols to thiols by methylhydrazine

Abstract

Reduction of S-nitrosothiols to the corresponding thiol function is the key step in analyzing S-nitrosocysteinyl residues in proteins. Though it has been shown to give low yields, ascorbate-dependent reduction is commonly performed in the frequently used biotin-switch technique. We demonstrate that the compound methylhydrazine can act as a specific and efficient reducing agent for S-nitrosothiols. The corresponding thiol function is exclusively generated from low molecular weight and proteinaceous S-nitrosothiols while methylhydrazine failed to reduce disulfides. It was possible to optimize the experimental conditions so that thiol autoxidation is excluded, and high reaction yields (> 90%) are obtained for the thiol function. The biotin-switch technique performed with methylhydrazine-dependent reduction shows remarkably improved sensitivity compared to the ascorbate-dependent procedure.     

Interaction of Hyaluronectin with Hyaluronic Acid Oligosaccharides

Hyaluronic acid was digested by bovine testicular hyaluronidase, and oligomers were fractionated by gel permeation using AcA 202 Ultrogel, an acrylamide-agarose matrix. Oligosaccharides composed of from two to six disaccharide repeating units were isolated. Two nonasaccharides were prepared by enzymatic or chemical modification of the decasaccharide. Oligosaccharides were compared by a competitive inhibition in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for their ability to inhibit the interaction of hyaluronectin (a hyaluronic acid-binding brain glycoprotein) with hyaluronic acid. Among these oligosaccharides, decasaccharides were the smallest fragments that strongly inhibited the interaction. Octasaccharides inhibited with 700-fold lower affinity than decasaccharides. Dodecasaccharides had the same effect as decasaccharides. Nonasaccharides obtained by beta-glucuronidase splitting of decasaccharides inhibited the interaction more than nonasaccharides prepared by an alkaline treatment.     

根系抗坏血酸在小麦幼苗铝耐性中的作用

以3个铝耐性不同的小麦品种为材料,研究了Al胁迫下小麦幼苗根系质外体和共质体抗坏血酸含量以及抗坏血酸氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性的变化。结果显示,Al耐性品种‘Atlas 66’质外体中抗坏血酸总含量随着处理 Al浓度的增加显著升高,而在Al敏感品种‘Scout 66’和‘扬麦9号’中显著降低。同时,‘Atlas 66’质外体中还原型抗坏血酸含量在高浓度Al处理下显著升高,2个敏感品种则在低浓度Al处理下还原型抗坏血酸含量略有升高。耐性品种‘Atlas 66’根系共质体还原型抗坏血酸和抗坏血酸总量在5～40μmol·L-1AlCl3处理下无显著变化,而在 2个敏感品种中则随处理Al浓度的增加显著下降。80μmol·L-1AlCl3处理下‘Atlas 66’根系质外体和共质体抗坏血酸氧化酶以及抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性与对照相比均无显著变化,而在‘Scout 66’和‘扬麦9号’中则均显著降低。因此Al胁迫下‘Atlas 66’根系质外体抗坏血酸含量的升高和共质体抗坏血酸含量的维持以及Al毒害下抗坏血酸利用率较高可能是其Al耐性的一个重要机制。     

Ascorbic Acid Oxidation and DNA Scission Catalyzed by Iron and Copper Chelates

The asorbic acid (AH^?) auto-oxidation rates catalyzed by copper chelates of 1,10-phenanthroline (OP) or by iron chelates of bleomycin (BLM) are only slightly higher than the oxidation rates catalyzed by the metal ions. AH^? oxidation in the presence of DNA is accompanied by degradation of the DNA. The rates of DNA scission by the metal chelates are markedly higher than the rates induced by the free metal ions. AH^? oxidation is slowed down in the presence of DNA which forms ternary complexes with the chelates. The ternary complexes react slowly with AH^? but induce DNA double strand breaks more efficiently than the free metal chelates. With OP, DNA is degraded by the reaction of the ternary complex, DNA-(OP)₂Cu(I), withH₂O₂

AH^? oxidation in the presence of DNA was biphasic, showing a marked rate increase after DNA was cleaved. We suggest that this sigmoidal pattern of the oxidation curves reflects the low initial oxidative activity of the ternary complexes, accelerating as DNA is degraded.

Using O₂^?produced by pulse radiolysis as a reductant, we found that AH^? oxidation with (OP)₂Cu(II) induced more DNA double strand breaks per single strand break than bipyridine-copper.

The site specific DNA damaging reactions indicated by these results are relevant to the mechanism of cytotoxic activities of bleomycin and similar antibiotics or cytotoxic agents.     

Gene-specific oxidative lesions in aged rat brain detected by polymerase chain reaction inhibition assay

An exposure of isolated rat brain genomic DNA to oxidative stress in the form of iron salts (Fe²⁺) and ascorbate results in gene-specific DNA lesions detectable by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assay in which PCR amplification efficiency of the affected genes (e.g. β-actin and p53) is grossly impaired. Such oxidative DNA lesions are prevented by hydroxyl radical scavengers like mannitol (20 mM) and sodium benzoate (20 mM) or by the antioxidant enzyme catalase (50 μg/ml) present in the incubation mixture during exposure to Fe²⁺ and ascorbate. When brain DNA isolated from young (4-6 months of age) and aged (20-24 months of age) rats are analyzed similarly by the PCR based method, the amplification levels of β-actin and p53 genes are noticeably decreased in the case of aged rat indicating an accumulation of gene-specific DNA lesions during brain aging.