Species variability in the stereoselective N-oxidation of pargyline

The monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline (N-benzyl-N-methyl-2-propynylamine) is known to undergo extensive in vitro microsomal N-oxidation, thought to be mediated predominantly by the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) enzyme system. Formation of the pargyline N-oxide (PNO) metabolite creates a chiral nitrogen centre and thus asymmetric oxidation is possible. This study describes a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitation of PNO and a chiral-phase HPLC method for the determination of the enantiomeric ratio of PNO. In vitro microsomal N-oxidation of pargyline was found to be highly steroselective in a number of species, with the (+)-enantiomer being formed preferentially. This metabolic transformation was stereospecific when purified porcine hepatic FMO was used as the enzyme source. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Species differences in the stereoselectivity of N-oxygenation of N-ethyl-N-methylaniline in vitro

The prochiral tertiary amine N-ethyl-N-methylaniline (EMA) is known to be stereoselectively N-oxygenated in the presence of hepatic microsomal preparations. This biotransformation is thought to be mediated predominantly by the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) enzyme system. In order to characterise this reaction further, the in vitro metabolism of EMA in the presence of hepatic microsomal preparations derived from a number of laboratory species has been examined. EMA N-oxide formation was stereoselective with respect to the (−)-S-enantiomer in the presence of microsomal preparations from all species examined, with the degree of selectivity decreasing in the order of rabbit > rat ∼ LACA mouse ∼ DBA/2Ha mouse > guinea-pig > dog. The enantiomeric composition of the metabolically derived EMA N-oxide appeared to be determined solely by the differential rate of formation of the two enantiomers as opposed to any differences in affinities for the substrate in its pro-R and pro-S conformations. The use of enzyme inhibitors, activators and inducers indicated that EMA N-oxide formation was predominantly mediated by FMO in the presence of rabbit hepatic microsomes and that these agents did not generally affect the stereochemical outcome of the biotransformation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Entrapment of human flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 in the presence of gold nanoparticles: TEM,FTIR and electrocatalysis

Background

Nanosized particles of gold are widely used as advanced materials for enzyme catalysis investigations. In some bioanalytical methods these nanoparticles can be exploited to increase the sensitivity by enhancing electron transfer to the biological component i.e. redox enzymes such as drug metabolizing enzymes.

Methods

In this work, we describe the characterization of human flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (hFMO3) in a nanoelectrode system based on AuNPs stabilized with didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) on glassy carbon electrodes. Once confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy that in the presence of DDAB-AuNPs the structural integrity of hFMO3 is preserved, the influence of AuNPs on the electrochemistry of the enzyme was studied by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry.

Results

Our results show that AuNPs improve the electrochemical performance of hFMO3 on glassy carbon electrodes by enhancing the electron transfer rate and the current signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, the electrocatalytic activity of hFMO3-DDAB-AuNP electrodes which was investigated in the presence of two well known substrates, benzydamine and sulindac sulfide, resulted in K_M values of 52 μM and 27 μM, with V_max of 8 nmol min^− 1 mg^− 1 and 4 nmol min^− 1 mg^− 1, respectively, which are in agreement with data obtained with the microsomal enzyme.

Conclusions

The immobilization of hFMO3 protein in DDAB stabilized AuNP electrodes improves the bioelectrochemical performance of this important phase I drug metabolizing enzyme.

General significance

This bio-analytical method can be considered as a promising advance in the development of new techniques suitable for the screening of novel hFMO3 metabolized pharmaceuticals.     

Oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics during pregnancy: Significance of microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase

Pregnancy related changes in oxidative metabolism of model substrates were examined in CD₁ mice. As compared to nonpregnant females, a significant decrease in the hepatic microsomal aminopyrine-but not in dimethylaniline-N-demethylase activity was observed in pregnant mice. The rates of microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase-catalyzed N-oxidation of dimethylaniline remained relatively unchanged during pregnancy in the liver, lung, kidney, and uterus. In contrast to this, N-oxidase activity of placental microsomes was increased nearly 5-fold when measured at day 12 and 18 of gestation.     

Characterization of the purified microsomal FAD-containing monooxygenase from mouse and pig liver

The FAD-containing monooxygenase (FMO) has been purified from both mouse and pig liver microsomes by similar purification procedures. Characterization of the enzyme from these two sources has revealed significant differences in catalytic and immunological properties. The pH optimum of mouse FMO is slightly higher than that of pig FMO (9.2 vs. 8.7) and, while pig FMO is activated 2-fold by n-octylamine, mouse FMO is activated less than 20%. Compounds, including primary, secondary and tertiary amines, sulfides, sulfoxides, thiols, thioureas and mercaptoimidazoles were tested as substrates for both the mouse and pig liver FMO. Km- and Vmax-values were determined for substrates representative of each of these groups. In general, the mouse FMO had higher Km-values for all of the amines and disulfides tested. Mouse FMO had Km-values similar to those of pig FMO for sulfides, mercaptoimidazoles, thioureas, thiobenzamide and cysteamine. Vmax-values for mouse FMO with most substrates was approximately equal, indicating that as with pig FMO, breakdown of the hydroxyflavin is the rate limiting step in the reaction mechanism. Either NADPH or NADH will serve as an electron donor for FMO, however, NADPH is the preferred donor. Pig and mouse FMOs have similar affinity for NADPH (Km = 0.97 and 1.1 microM, respectively) and for NADH (Km = 48 and 73 microM, respectively). An antibody, prepared by immunizing rabbits with purified pig liver FMO, reacts with purified pig liver FMO but not with mouse liver FMO, indicating structural differences between these two enzymes. This antibody inhibited pig FMO activity up to 60%.     

Purification of component A of the soluble methane monooxygenase of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) by high-pressure gel permeation chromatography

A major improvement in the purification of the oxygenase protein (component A) of the methane monooxygenase has been effected. By employing high-pressure gel permeation chromatography several purification steps may be omitted from the previously published scheme. Furthermore the yield of the protein is enhanced and more importantly the recovered protein displays an increased specific activity, unlike that purified by other techniques.     

Determination of d- and l-aspartate in amino acid mixtures by high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with a chiral adduct of o-phthaldialdehyde

A sensitive and convenient method for the simultaneous determination of d- and l-aspartic acid in amino acid mixtures is described. The method involves derivatization of the mixture with a chiral fluorogen, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography on a reverse-phase column. The fluorogen used is an adduct of o-phthaldialdehyde with an optically active thiol, N-acetyl-l-cysteine. The sensitivity and accuracy of this method is similar to that using adducts of o-pthaldialdehyde with the achiral thiol, 2-mercaptoethanol. Five picomoles of d-aspartate can be accurately detected in the presence of a 100-fold excess of l-aspartate with a total analysis time (including derivatization) of 10 min.     

Enantiomeric separation of 2-(phenoxy)propionate derivatives by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography

2-(Phenoxy)propionate derivatives were separated on three chiral columns, OD, OK, and chiral-2 columns. The chlorine substitution in the phenyl ring and the alcohol moiety of the ester groups of the derivatives had great influence for separation on the OD and OK columns, but little effect on the chiral-2 column.     

Enantioselective separation of enantiomeric amides on three amylose-based chiral stationary phases: Effects of backbone and carbamate side chain chiralities

A series of enantiomeric amides have been chromatographed on three amylose-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs): amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (AD-CSP), amylose tris (S-phenylethylcarbamate) (AS-CSP), and amylose tris(R-phenylethyl-carbamate) (AR-CSP). The relative retentions and enantioselectives of the solutes on the three CSPs were compared and basic structure-retention relationships developed to describe the chromatographic results. The data indicate that for these solutes the observed elution order was a function of the chirality of the amylose backbone, while the magnitude of the enantioselective separations was affected by the chirality of the carbamate side chain. Chirality 9:173–177, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Technical advance: application of high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection to the metabolic profiling of plant isoprenoids

The application of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C30 reverse-phase stationary matrix has enabled the simultaneous separation of carotenes, xanthophylls, ubiquinones, tocopherols and plastoquinones in a single chromatogram. Continuous photodiode array (PDA) detection ensured identification and quantification of compounds upon elution. Applications of the method to the characterization of transgenic and mutant tomato varieties with altered isoprenoid content, biochemical screening of Arabidopsis thaliana, and elucidation of the modes of action of bleaching herbicides are described to illustrate the versatility of the procedure.     

Superior resolution of gamma-crystallins from microdissected eye lens by cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel procedure is presented for the rapid quantitative analysis of eye lens gamma-crystallins and beta s-crystallin by ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography on Synchropak CM300. At least six different gamma-crystallin gene products can be resolved from the soluble fraction of calf lens extract. This method is applicable to the analysis of microsections from individual lenses, and can be used to rapidly characterize spatial variations in gamma-crystallin composition which occur with aging and cataractogenesis.     

Measurement of stable isotopic enrichment and concentration of long-chain fatty acyl-carnitines in tissue by HPLC-MS

We have developed a new method for the simultaneous measurements of stable isotopic tracer enrichments and concentrations of individual long-chain fatty acyl-carnitines in muscle tissue using ion-pairing high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Long-chain fatty acyl-carnitines were extracted from frozen muscle tissue samples by acetonitrile/methanol. Baseline separation was achieved by reverse-phase HPLC in the presence of the volatile ion-pairing reagent heptafluorobutyric acid. The SIM capability of a single quadrupole mass analyzer allows further separation of the ions of interest from the sample matrixes, providing very clean total and selected ion chromatograms that can be used to calculate the stable isotopic tracer enrichment and concentration of long-chain fatty acyl-carnitines in a single analysis. The combination of these two separation techniques greatly simplifies the sample preparation procedure and increases the detection sensitivity. Applying this protocol to biological muscle samples proves it to be a very sensitive, accurate, and precise analytical tool.     

Critical role of histidine residues in cyclohexanone monooxygenase expression, cofactor binding and catalysis

Cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CMO) is a member of the flavin monooxygenase superfamily of enzymes that catalyze both nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions involving a common C4a hydroperoxide intermediate. To begin to probe structure-function relationships for these enzymes, we investigated the roles of histidine residues in CMO derived from Acinetobacter NCIB 9871, with particular emphasis on the wholly conserved residue, His163 (H163). CMO activity was readily inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC), a selective chemical modifier of histidine residues. Each of the seven histidines in CMO was then individually mutated to glutamine and the mutants expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. Only the H59Q mutant failed to express at significant levels. The H96Q enzyme was found to have a greatly reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) content, indicative of compromised cofactor retention. The only significant effect on kcat occurred with the H163Q mutant, which exhibited an approximately 10-fold lower turnover of the prototypical substrate, cyclohexanone. This was accompanied by a doubling in the Km [NADPH] compared to the wild-type enzyme, suggesting that the functional decrement in H163Q is probably not solely a reflection of impaired NADPH binding. These data establish a critical role for H163 in CMO catalysis and prompt the hypothesis that this conserved residue plays a similarly important functional role across the flavin monooxygenase family of enzymes.     

Intermediary purine-metabolizing enzymes from the cytosol of Dictyostelium discoideum monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography

The use of high-performance liquid chromatography to identify and quantitate five purine-metabolizing enzymes from a partially purified subcellular fraction of the eucaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum is described. All HPLC separations were carried out in an isocratic manner using reverse-phase C18 as the stationary phase. The mobile phase consisted of a phosphate buffer with either methanol or acetonitrile as cosolvent, and optimal separation conditions were attained by varying the organic concentration or the pH of the buffer or by employing paired-ion chromatographic techniques. Substrates and products were detected at either 254 nm for the purines or 295 nm for the formycin analogs. An adenosine kinase activity was identified, and it was demonstrated that formycin A (FoA) could be substituted for adenosine as the phosphate acceptor, yielding FoAMP as the product. With FoA as the substrate an apparent Km of 18.2 microM and an apparent Vmax of 32.4 mmol min-1 mg-1 were observed for the activity. A purine-nucleoside phosphorylase activity was found to cleave adenosine to adenine and ribosylphosphate. FoA was not found to be a substrate for this activity due to the unusual formycin C-glycosyl bond which was not hydrolyzed by enzymes or chemically with either HCl or NaOH. An adenylate deaminase activity was found to be present in the cytosolic S-100 of cells harvested during the onset of development, and this deaminase activity was greatly stimulated by ATP. With FoAMP as the substrate, an apparent Km of 236 microM and Vmax of 2.78 mumol min-1 mg-1 were observed. The deamination of FoAMP could be inhibited by the addition of the natural substrate AMP. An apparent Ki value of 136 microM was determined from initial rate data. An adenylosuccinate synthetase activity was observed to have a Km value for GTP, IMP, and aspartic acid of 23, 34, and 714 microM, respectively. The formycin analog FoIMP was not a substrate with this activity but was a competitive inhibitor of IMP. Finally hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase was found to have Km and Vmax values for hypoxanthine of 55.5 microM and 34.3 nmol-1 min-1 mg-1. When guanine was used as the substrate, the rate of nucleotide formation was 50% that with hypoxanthine as the substrate. The advantages of using HPLC to examine the interconnecting activities of a multienzyme complex in subcellular fractions are discussed, including the increased sensitivity obtained by using formycin analogs in the assay procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Separation of asymmetrical hybrid hemoglobins by anaerobic cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography

Asymmetrical hybrid hemoglobins formed from mixtures of two structurally different hemoglobins were found to be readily separated by cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography under anaerobic conditions. When oxyhemoglobins A and S were mixed and deoxygenated, the resulting HPLC chromatogram showed three peaks. The distribution of the three components follow the binomial expansion a² + 2 ab + b² = 1, where a and b are the initial fractions of parent hemoglobins. The middle peak was collected in a test tube saturated with CO gas and reanalyzed under the same experimental conditions. This middle component gave two peaks of equal areas with retention times identical to those of the CO-form of the parent hemoglobins without the appearance of the hybrid hemoglobin band. No intermediate peak was observed in solutions of mixtures of liganded hemoglobins under aerobic conditions. Hybrid hemoglobins AC and SC were also formed when oxyhemoglobins A and C, S and C were mixed, respectively. The separation and the identification of hemoglobins and hybrid hemoglobin employing cation-exchange HPLC can be achieved within 30 min by gradient elution. In addition, the ability to isolate hybrid hemoglobins may be a valuable tool for the study of physical and chemical properties of hybrid hemoglobins.     

Species difference in the metabolic activation of phenacetin by rat and hamster liver microsomes

Phenacetin is mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 when liver 9,000 X g supernatant fractions from PCB-treated hamsters instead of rats are used. A mechanism of the species difference in phenacetin mutagenicity was investigated. By high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, it was found that phenacetin is activated to direct-acting mutagens through N-hydroxylation and deacetylation by hamster liver microsomes. Although no significant species difference was observed in N-hydroxylation, rates of deacetylation were 9 to 150 times higher in hamsters than in rats. The results indicate that the marked species difference in phenacetin mutagenicity is due to the difference in deacetylation activity between rat and hamster liver microsomes.     

Degradation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone by serum and plasma in vitro

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) is degraded in vitro by serum and plasma from several species (human, rat, guinea-pig and cattle). Separation of the degradation products by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) followed by amino acid analysis and radioimmunoassay showed that the main sites of cleavage are the Trp₃-Ser₄ and Tyr₅-Gly₆ bonds. Two peptidases are responsible since the cleavage at Trp₃-Ser₄ can be selectively inhibited by EDTA. In human plasma, the peptidase responsible for Trp₃-Ser₄ hydrolyssishas a K_m of 2.9 · 10^?4 M and V of 30 nmol/h per ml plasma. The half-life in vitro of LH-RH in serum and plasma from various species ranges from 3 h (guinea-pig) to 9.8 h (human). The peptidase cleaving LH-RH at Tyr₅-Gly₆ is present as an impurity in some commercial bovine serum and plasma albumins. Such contamination may have important practical implications for work involving peptide assays where albumins are used as carrier proteins.     

Investigations into the chirality of the metabolic sulfoxidation of cimetidine

The individual enantiomers of cimetidine sulfoxide were resolved by preparative chromatography using a Chiralcel OC stationary phase and were characterized by the determination of optical rotation and circular dichroism spectra. Cimetidine sulfoxide was isolated from the urine of two healthy male volunteers following oral administration of cimetidine (400 mg). Urine was collected every 2 h for 12 h postdosing, after which time HPLC analysis indicated negligible recovery of the drug as the sulfoxide. Some 7% of the dose was recovered as cimetidine sulfoxide over this period. The enantiomeric composition of cimetidine sulfoxide was determined by sequential achiral—chiral chromatography using the OC phase. Over the collection period the enantiomeric ratio was found to be constant in all samples at (+/?) of 71 ± 2.5:29 ± 2.5. The enantiomeric composition of cimetidine sulfoxide was also determined in rat urine (24 h) following the administration of cimetidine (30 mg/kg po) to male Wistar rats (n = 7). The enantiomeric ratio in this case was found to be (+/?) 57 ± 2.3:43 ± 2.3. These preliminary data indicate that sulfoxidation of cimetidine is stereoselective with respect to the (+)-enantiomer and that species variation in enantiomeric composition occurs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Direct resolution of ergot alkaloid enantiomers on a novel chiral silica-based stationary phase

A new covalently-bonded, silica-based stationary phase, using as the chiral selector the 1-(3-aminopropyl) derivative of (+)-(5R,8S,10R)-terguride, has been developed to resolve optically active isomers by HPLC. Good resolution of structurally related racemic ergot alkaloids were obtained using water-methanol mixtures as the eluent. Analysis of the influence of the type and concentration of the organic modifier, and the pH of the buffer in the mobile phase allowed the enantioseparation of these compounds to be optimized. Determination of the optical purity of a lisuride-containig drug is reported. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Structure of the quinoline N-hydroxylating cytochrome P450 RauA,an essential enzyme that confers antibiotic activity on aurachin alkaloids

The cytochrome P450 RauA from Rhodococcus erythropolis JCM 6824 catalyzes the hydroxylation of a nitrogen atom in the quinolone ring of aurachin, thereby conferring strong antibiotic activity on the aurachin alkaloid. Here, we report the crystal structure of RauA in complex with its substrate, a biosynthetic intermediate of aurachin RE. Clear electron density showed that the quinolone ring is oriented parallel to the porphyrin plane of the heme cofactor, while the farnesyl chain curls into a U-shape topology and is buried inside the solvent-inaccessible hydrophobic interior of RauA. The nearest atom from the heme iron is the quinolone nitrogen (4.3 Å), which is consistent with RauA catalyzing the N-hydroxylation of the quinolone ring to produce mature aurachin RE.