Ionization dependence of camphor binding and spin conversion of the complex between cytochrome P-450 and camphor. Kinetic and static studies at sub-zero temperatures.

The kinetic rate constants of formation and dissociation of the cytochrome-P-450 - camphor complex (Fe3+-RH) have been obtained by low-temperature (+ 5 degrees C to -20 degrees C) stopped-flow experiments. Simiarly the high-spin/low-spin equilibrium of this complex has been studied as a function of temperature and protonic activity. Both the camphor-binding mechanism and the high-spin/low-spin thermodynamic parameters of Fe3+-RH depend on the protonic activity of the medium in the physiological pH range. The binding rate constants are shown to depend on the ionization of a residue of the protein, probably a histidine. Linear enthalpy-entropy compensation is observed for the camphor binding as well as for the spin-state transition. A camphor-binding-induced change of the electrostatic potential is discussed.     

Hydroxylation of camphor and pericyclocamphanone. Evidence against substrate binding through enol linkages.

Hydroxylation of camphor-3,3-d₂ in $\text{P. Putida}$ occurs without loss of deuterium. Furthermore, pericyclocamphanone, a compound incapable of enolization is also hydroxylated by the same bacterial strain. These results indicate that enolization is not required for substrate binding.     

The effect of camphor on bacterial bioluminescence

Summary The inhibitory effect of camphor on bioluminescence of both bacteria and bacterial luciferase has been examined. The camphor has been shown to be a substrate of cytochrome P-450 of the luminous bacteria Photobacterium fischeri. The inhibition of the luminescence reaction provided evidence for the competitive nature of the interaction of camphor and aliphatic aldehyde at the binding site for luciferase. Camphor is also supposed to interact with P-450. The findings indicate that the hydroxylation process of camphor affects the kinetics of the luminescence.     

Heme-pocket-hydration change during the inactivation of cytochrome P-450camphor by hydrostatic pressure.

Hydrostatic pressure has been used to convert cytochrome P-450camphor to cytochrome P-420. The latter is an inactivated but soluble and undenaturated form of cytochrome P-450camphor. Using camphor analogues as probes of the active site we show that the inactivation volume change is directly correlated to the initial degree of hydration of the heme pocket. The values range between -73 ml/mol and -197 ml/mol [Di Primo, C., Hui Bon Hoa, G., Douzou, P. & Sligar, S. G. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 193, 383-386] for a totally hydrated (substrate-free, low-spin, six coordinated heme iron) and a non-hydrated (camphor-bound, high-spin, five coordinated heme iron) heme pocket. These results suggest that the larger value, -197 ml/mol, for the inactivation volume change is due to a hydration change of the heme pocket resulting from the displacement of the substrate during the compression and the subsequent entrance of water molecules. Similarly, the stability of the protein against compression is correlated with water accessibility to the active site. Increase in substrate mobility by loss of specific interactions with both regions of well defined secondary structure of cytochrome P-450camphor results in an increase of water accessibility and decrease of stability. Thus for camphor and adamantanone which strongly interact with the protein and exclude water from the active site [Poulos, T. L., Finzel, B. C. & Howard, A. J. (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 195, 687-700; Raag, R. & Poulos, T. L. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 917-922] the increase in stability compared to the free protein is roughly 30 kJ/mol at 20 degrees C. With smaller substrates such as norcamphor, which loosely fits into the active site and does not completely exclude water [Raag, R. & Poulos, T. L. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 917-922], the increase in stability is only 7 kJ/mol. Finally these results suggest that cytochrome P-420 induced by hydrostatic pressure is a unique form where the active site is hydrated and camphor is displaced from its binding site.     

Micropropagation of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)

Multiple shoots were induced from shoot tips and nodal segments of a 12-year-old tree of Cinnamomum camphora on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with BA and kinetin. The nodal segments from the in vitro developed plantlets could be induced again to produce a large number of harvestable shoots. Harvested shoots were rooted in vitro in WPM supplemented with activated charcoal (AC) and IBA. The plantlets were transferred to thermocol cups after which they were replanted into polybags and then to field. These plants survived with over 90% success under field conditions and exhibited vigorous growth. This system could be utilized for large-scale multiplication of C. camphora by tissue culture.     

Chirality of camphor derivatives by density functional theory

Infrared (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of chiral camphor, camphorquinone and camphor-10-sulfonic acid (CSA), known as standard compounds for electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy, are measured and their vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and rotational strengths are calculated using density functional theory (DFT). The observed IR and VCD spectra of chiral camphor and camphorquinone in carbon tetrachloride solution are reproduced by the DFT calculations, but those of CSA are not. DFT calculations of hydration models, where an anionic CSA specifically binds a few water molecules, are carried out. The average of the simulated VCD spectra in the hydration models is more consistent with the observed spectra. In addition, the wavelengths and dipole and rotational strengths for chiral camphor, camphorquinone, anionic CSA, and the hydration models were calculated by time-dependent DFT. In the region of 280-300 nm, the calculated wavelengths of the ECD bands for chiral camphor and camphorquinone coincide with the observed wavelengths that have been reported, and the calculated wavelengths for the hydration models are closer to the observed wavelengths reported than are those calculated for chiral anionic CSA. Consequently, the analysis combined with VCD and ECD spectroscopy using DFT calculations can elucidate the chirality of optically active molecules, even in an aqueous solution.     

Molecular mechanisms of olfactory reception. IV. Some biochemical characteristics of the camphor receptor from rat olfactory epithelium.

Some parameters of the receptor element from the rat olfactory epithelium are evaluated; it is characterized by high affinity for camphor (KD = 1.5. x 10(-9) M). Triton X-100 has no marked effect on the binding of [3H]camphor. Neither RNAase nor phospholipase C affected [3H]camphor-binding activity. Pronase and trypsin abolished [3H]camphor binding activity by 65 and 40%, respectively. Sulfhydryl reagents decrease the binding of [3H]camphor by a factor of 5--8. The isoelectric point of the receptor solubilized with Triton X-100 is 4.8, as determined by isoelectric focusing. The molecular weight of the receptor as determined by gel electrophoresis is about 120 000. It is proposed that the camphor receptor is a membrane protein containing sulfhydryl groups and playing a key role in olfactory reception.     

樟树人工林生态系统碳素贮量与分布研究

对 1 8年生樟树人工林生物量、碳素含量、贮量及其空间分布进行测定。结果表明 ,樟树各器官的碳素含量为 4 2 1 2 %～ 5 5 4 2 % ,排列顺序为树叶 >树枝 >树根 >树干 >树皮。林冠上层与下层叶的碳素含量比中层叶的碳素含量低 ,但差别不大 ;下层枝条碳素含量明显比上、中层枝条高。灌木层植物的碳素含量平均为 5 1 30 % ,草本植物为 4 8 90 % ,死地被物层为4 0 89%。土壤的碳素含量为 1 2 5 % ,随土层深度的增加 ,各层次土壤碳素含量逐渐减少。樟树林生态系统总的碳贮量为 2 0 0 4 4× 1 0 3 kgC·hm-2 ,其中乔木层为 4 5 0 1× 1 0 3 kgC·hm-2 ,占整个生态系统总贮量的 2 2 4 5 % ,灌木层为 2 2 9× 1 0 3 kgC·hm-2 ,占 1 1 4 % ,草本层为 1 0 9×1 0 3 kg·C·hm-2 ,占 0 5 5 % ,死地被物层为 5 0 8× 1 0 3 kg·C·hm-2 ,占 2 5 4 % ,林地土壤 (0～ 1m)的碳贮量为 1 4 6 97× 1 0 3 kg·C·hm-2 ,占 73 32 %。樟树各器官的碳素贮量与其生物量成正比例关系 ,树干的生物量最大 ,其碳贮量也最高 ,占乔木层碳贮量的 4 0 0 6 %。樟树碳贮量的垂直分布随高度的增加而减少 ,在 8～ 1 0m区段出现明显增加的现象。樟树林年净生产力为9 5 5× 1 0 3 kg·hm-2 ·a-1 ,碳的年净固定量为 4 98×     

Molecular mechanisms of olfactory reception. VI. Kinetic characteristics of camphor interaction with binding sites of rat olfactory epithelium

Camphor binding to a possible receptor of rat olfactory epithelium has been studied within the ligand concentration range 10(-11)-10(-6) M. At these concentrations camphor is bound by a set of receptors. They are distinguished by both the affinity to the ligand (K1 = 5 X 10(-10) M, K2 = 3.5 X 10(-8) M, K3 approximately equal to 10(-6) M) and their amount in the epithelium. The differences in the affinities are due to different values of the association rate constant of camphor (k1), which varies from 10(6) M-1 X s-1 for the receptors with high affinity up to 2 X 10(2) M-1 X s-1 for those with low affinity. These data are discussed in terms of equilibrium and kinetic models of the receptor-stimulus interaction.     

A critical role of protein-bound water in the catalytic cycle of cytochrome P-450 camphor.

The rates of NADH oxidation during the hydroxylation of camphor by cytochrome P-450cam were followed in the presence of co-solvents used to increase the osmotic pressure surrounding the protein-bound water. As a result, the measured Vmax decreases independently of the perturbant tested. Roughly 28 molecules of water, involved during the catalytic cycle, are deduced from the variation of Vmax as a function of osmotic pressure. These molecules, in part, could be those present in the cytochrome P-450cam-putidaredoxin interface.     

Anticonvulsant properties of spirohydantoins derived from optical isomers of camphor

Natural camphor exists as thed(+) form but thel(–) form has been synthesized. Replacement of the keto group on carbon 2 of each form with a hydantoin moiety led to only one spirohydantoin derivative. Bothd andl derivatives were synthesized. Both forms and their racemic mixture were tested in vivo for toxicity and behavioral effects in mice. A dose of 100 mg/kg of thed form was not toxic: mice showed normal grooming and exploratory behavior; thel form induced hunched posture, body jerks and myoclonic manifestations followed by quiescence. Thedl form showed intermediate effects. Challenge with the convulsant pentylenetetrazol (Metrazol) 2 hr after treatment with placebo or the camphor spirohydantoins produced seizure manifestations in all controls, in half of the subjects pretreated with thed-camphor derivative, in none of those pretreated with thel derivative and an intermediate response in those pretreated with racemic mixture. Thus, a spirohydantoin moiety added to camphor conferred strong anticonvulsive properties on thel form and modest ones on thed form; thed form did not seem to antagonize thel form.     

Microwave effect on camphor binding to rat olfactory epithelium

Microwave radiation decreased specific camphor binding to a membrane fraction of rat epithelium but not to a Triton X-100 extract of this fraction. Inhibition of the ligand binding did not depend on the modulation frequency of the microwave field in the region 1-100 Hz and was not a linear function of specific absorption rate (SAR). The decreased ligand binding was due to a shedding or release of the specific camphor-binding protein from the membrane into solution. It is highly probable that several other membrane proteins may be shed into solution during microwave exposure.