The mechanism of action of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline

Purified pig liver monoamine oxidase, which has been shown to contain one mole of covalently bound FAD per mole of enzyme, was inhibited by [¹⁴C] Pargyline (N-methyl-N-2-(propynyl)-benzylamine) and then extensively degraded by pronase. The Pargyline-containing fragment was purified by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The equimolar ratio between Pargyline and flavin was retained after the purification. Thin-layer chromatography in several systems showed that Pargyline was bound to the flavo-peptide. Amino acid analyses of the peptide yielded cysteic acid, aspartic acid, serine and glycine in a molar ratio of 1:1:1:2.     

Stress-induced synthesis of melatonin: possible involvement of the endogenous monoamine oxidase inhibitor (tribulin)

Cold-restrained stress increased rat pineal melatonin and N-acetylserotonin content. This effect was partially prevented by lorazepam. Serotonergic turnover (ratio of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid to serotonin) was significantly decreased in stressed but not in stressed rats pretreated with lorazepam, suggesting stress-induced inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO). Literature data indicate that the same type of stress increases the production of the endogenous MAO inhibitor. The implication of stress-induced MAO inhibition on melatonin synthesis in anxiety and drug withdrawal is discussed.     

Release of some endogenous trace amines from rat striatal slices in the presence and absence of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor

The basal and 50 mM K+-stimulated release of m-tyramine (mTA), p-tyramine (pTA), tryptamine (TR) and phenylethylamine (PE) from striatal slices obtained from rats pretreated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) was investigated. A K+-stimulated release of mTA and pTA was observed, but K+ did not stimulate either TR or PE release. The latter two amines, therefore, are unlikely to be conventional neurotransmitters in the rat striatum. The release of endogenous striatal pTA from control rats was also investigated. Veratridine stimulated endogenous pTA release, but 50 mM K+ did not. It is possible, therefore, that endogenous pTA can be released in a transmitter-like fashion.     

Cycloheximide is not a specific inhibitor of protein synthesis in vivo

Cycloheximide is frequently presumed to inhibit specifically the cytoplasmic protein synthesis of eukaryotes. Although previous investigators have shown that it had other effects on the cells of a variety of organisms, these results were frequently presumed to be secondary effects of the inhibition of protein synthesis. This paper shows that a wide range of deleterious effects are produced by cycloheximide on a single organism, Chlamydomonas reinhardi Dangeard. If, protein synthesis is inhibited by nonpermissive conditions in temperature-sensitive mutants or with other treatments these “secondary” effects are not produced. Instead, cycloheximide appears to have two or three independent inhibitory effects on the cell. Moreover, in contrast to a number of previous investigations, these results show that protein synthesis is not required for RNA synthesis. Instead the rate of RNA synthesis is actually increased by interference with protein synthesis.     

Pyruvate decarboxylating action of L-cycloserine. The significance of this in understanding its metabolic inhibitory action

We present evidence which demonstrates that L-cycloserine, structural analog of L-alanine, which is known to be an effective aminotransferase inhibitor, is also a potent inhibitor of cellular pyruvate metabolism. This effect was found to be related to its almost instantaneous action in decreasing pyruvate concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies clearly demonstrate that the irreversible removal of pyruvate induced by L-cycloserine is caused by the decarboxylating action of the latter. Pyruvate disappearance induced by L-cycloserine can be stoichiometrically accounted for as acetate. The process does not involve any chemically detected transformation of L-cycloserine. These observations lead to two main considerations regarding the known action of L-cycloserine. First, its inhibitory effect on gluconeogenesis from lactate could be explained only on the basis of its ability to reduce pyruvate availability with no apparent need for transaminase inhibition. Second, its ability as a transaminase inhibitor should be reconsidered in view of its potent decarboxylating action on pyruvate and probably other oxoacids.     

The fate of norleucine as a replacement for methionine in protein synthesis.

In vivo synthesised protein with norleucine occupying one half of the normal methionine loci was prepared using a methionine auxotroph of Escherichia coli K12. The extent of charging of the analogue onto both tRNA_met species and subsequent incorporation into soluble protein was monitored with a double-labelling system comprising [G-³H]norleucine and [³⁵S]methionine. Further experiments established that norleucine can be formylated in vivo once charged onto the initiator tRNA^f_met. An N-terminal analysis of the crude soluble protein revealed that formylnorleucyl-tRNA^f_met can initiate protein synthesis and that the formyl group is then removed from the nascent polypeptide. We were also led to conclude that the N-terminal methionine-amino peptidase does not recognise the analogue in this position. Slow growth rates on the methionine analogue have been partly attributed to limiting levels of charged tRNA^m_met, resulting in turn from the inefficiency of norleucine charging by methionyl-tRNA synthetase. Finally no evidence has been found for the production of aberrant protein as a result of norleucine incorporation, implying that limited growth on the analogue is due to its inability to replace methionine as the precursor of S-adenosyl methionine.     

Potent in vivo but not in vitro inhibition of monoamine oxidase by 3-chloro-alpha-phenylpyrazinemethanol.

3-Chloro-alpha-phenylpyrazinemethanol (3-CPM) inhibited monoamine oxidase (MAO) types A and B in vivo in mouse brain, heart and liver. The inhibition was dose-dependent at doses of 0.3-32 mg/kg i.p. and occurred within 1 h after the compound was injected. 3-CPM was a very weak inhibitor of mouse brain mitochondrial MAO activity in vitro, even when preincubated with the enzyme; MAO-A was inhibited only about 50% at a high concentration of 3-CPM (1 mM), and MAO-B was inhibited even less. After a 10 mg/kg i.p. dose of 3-CPM in mice, both MAO-A and MAO-B were inhibited at day 1, but activity had largely recovered within a few days in brain, liver and heart. 3-CPM at doses of 1, 3, 10 and 32 mg/kg i.p. caused dose-dependent antagonism of the depletion of striatal dopamine and of cortical norepinephrine by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. 3-CPM is therefore a potent inhibitor of MAO-A and of MAO-B in mice in vivo despite its weak effect on the enzyme in vitro. A metabolite of the drug may be involved in the in vivo effects.     

Stimulation of a vascular smooth muscle cell NAD(P)H oxidase by thrombin. Evidence that p47(phox) may participate in forming this oxidase in vitro and in vivo.

Thrombin is a potent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) mitogen. Because recent evidence implicates reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in VSMC proliferation in general and atherogenesis in particular, we investigated whether ROI generation is necessary for thrombin-induced mitogenesis. Treatment of human aortic smooth muscle cells with thrombin increased DNA synthesis, an effect that was antagonized by diphenyleneiodonium but not by other inhibitors of cellular oxidase systems. This effect of thrombin was accompanied by increased O-2 and H2O2 generation and NADH/NADPH consumption. ROI generation in response to thrombin pretreatment could also be blocked by diphenyleneiodonium, suggesting that the NAD(P)H oxidase was necessary for ROI generation and thrombin-induced mitogenesis. Because of observed differences between the VSMC and neutrophil oxidase, we examined whether the cytosolic components of the phagocytic NAD(P)H oxidase were present in VSMC. p47(phox) and Rac2 were present in VSMC. Furthermore, thrombin increased expression of p47(phox) and Rac2 and stimulated their translocation to the cell membrane. We examined whether p47(phox) might be similarly regulated in vivo in a rat aorta balloon injury model and found that p47(phox) protein was increased after injury. Immunocytochemistry localized expression of p47(phox) to the neointima and media of injured arteries. Our data demonstrate that generation of O-2 and H2O2 is required for thrombin-mediated mitogenesis in VSMC and that p47(phox) is regulated by thrombin in vitro and is associated with vascular lesion formation in vivo.     

The presence of an inhibitor of benzylamine oxidase in human blood plasma.

The presence of an inhibitor of benzylamine oxidase in human blood plasma was observed. It may be removed by use of either a DEAE-cellulose column or a Sephadex G-200 column.     

Liver monoamine oxidase in the obese-hyperglycaemic (ob/ob) mouse.

1. The specific activity of monoamine oxidase was found to be greater in liver mitochondria from ob/ob mice than from lean mice. The activities of marker enzymes were similar in both tissues. 2. Experiments with various substrates (5-hydroxytryptamine, benzylamine and tyramine) and inhibitors (clorgyline and deprenyl) indicated that, unlike rat liver mitochondria, mouse liver mitochondria contain a predominance of the B-form of monoamine oxidase. 3. The Km values for lean and ob/ob mice were the same for any given substrate and were in the increasing order 5-hydroxytryptamine less than tyramine less than benzylamine. Vmax. was approximately 50% greater in obese than in lean mice. 4. Extraction of liver mitochondria with acetone/water or acetone/water/NH3 to remove lipids decreased the enzyme activity relatively more in obese- than in lean-mice preparations, but residual activity was the same in both preparations.     

Binding of retinoic acid by the inhibitory serpin protein C inhibitor.

The serpin superfamily includes inhibitors of serine proteases and noninhibitory members with other functions (e.g. the hormone precursor angiotensinogen and the hormone carriers corticosteroid-binding globulin and thyroxine-binding globulin). It is not known whether inhibitory serpins have additional, noninhibitory functions. We studied binding of (3)H-labeled hydrophobic hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, and all-trans-retinoic acid) to the inhibitory serpins antithrombin III, heparin cofactor II, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and protein C inhibitor (PCI). All-trans-[(3)H]retinoic acid bound in a specific dose-dependent and time-dependent way to PCI (apparent K(d) = 2.43 microm, 0.8 binding sites per molecule of PCI). We did not observe binding of other hormones to serpins. Intact and protease-cleaved PCI bound retinoic acid equally well, and retinoic acid did not influence inhibition of tissue kallikrein by PCI. Gel filtration confirmed binding of retinoic acid to PCI in purified systems and suggested that PCI may also function as a retinoic acid-binding protein in seminal plasma. Therefore, our present data, together with the fact that PCI is abundantly expressed in tissues requiring retinoic acid for differentiation processes (e.g. the male reproductive tract, epithelia in various organs), suggest an additional biological role for PCI as a retinoic acid-binding and/or delivering serpin.     

Activation of platelet monoamine oxidase by plasma in the human.

A pronounced activation of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) by human plasma has been observed. The activation was substrate selective, since serotonin, $\text{p}$-tyramine, dopamine and benzylamine were much more effective than β-phenylethylamine or tryptamine. The activator(s) in the plasma was heat stable but labile to acid hydrolysis and treatment with lipase and protease. The plasma was also found to be capable of activating partially purified MAO obtained from rat liver mitochondria. Phospholipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine were shown to activate MAO.     

Biogenic aldehyde(s) derived from the action of monoamine oxidase may mediate the antidipsotropic effect of daidzin

Daidzin, a major active principle of an ancient herbal treatment for 'alcohol addiction', was first shown to suppress ethanol intake in Syrian golden hamsters. Since then this activity has been confirmed in Wistar rats, Fawn hooded rats, genetically bred alcohol preferring P rats and African green moneys under various experimental conditions, including two-level operant, two-bottle free-choice, limited access, and alcohol-deprivation paradigms. In vitro, daidzin is a potent and selective inhibitor of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2). However, in vivo, it does not affect overall acetaldehyde metabolism in golden hamsters. Using isolated hamster liver mitochondria and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) as the substrates, we demonstrated that daidzin inhibits the second but not the first step of the MAO/ALDH-2 pathway, the major pathway that catalyzes monoamine metabolism in mitochondria. Correlation studies using structural analogs of daidzin led to the hypothesis that the mitochondrial MAO/ALDH-2 pathway may be the site of action of daidzin and that one or more biogenic aldehydes such as 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetaldehyde (5-HIAL) and/or DOPAL derived from the action of monoamine oxidase (MAO) may be mediators of its antidipsotropic action.     

Biogenic aldehyde(s) derived from the action of monoamine oxidase may mediate the antidipsotropic effect of daidzin

Daidzin, a major active principle of an ancient herbal treatment for ‘alcohol addiction’, was first shown to suppress ethanol intake in Syrian golden hamsters. Since then this activity has been confirmed in Wistar rats, Fawn hooded rats, genetically bred alcohol preferring P rats and African green moneys under various experimental conditions, including two-level operant, two-bottle free-choice, limited access, and alcohol-deprivation paradigms. In vitro, daidzin is a potent and selective inhibitor of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2). However, in vivo, it does not affect overall acetaldehyde metabolism in golden hamsters. Using isolated hamster liver mitochondria and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) as the substrates, we demonstrated that daidzin inhibits the second but not the first step of the MAO/ALDH-2 pathway, the major pathway that catalyzes monoamine metabolism in mitochondria. Correlation studies using structural analogs of daidzin led to the hypothesis that the mitochondrial MAO/ALDH-2 pathway may be the site of action of daidzin and that one or more biogenic aldehydes such as 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetaldehyde (5-HIAL) and/or DOPAL derived from the action of monoamine oxidase (MAO) may be mediators of its antidipsotropic action.