Coordination abilities of N-terminal fragments of alpha-synuclein towards copper(II) ions: a combined potentiometric and spectroscopic study

Copper(II) complexes of the 1-17 (MDVFMKGLSKAKEGVVA-NH(2)), 1-28 (MDVFMKGLSKAKEGVVAAAEKTKQGVAE-NH(2)), 1-39 (MDVFMKGLSKAKEGVVAAAEKTKQGVAEAPGKTKEGVLY-NH(2)) and 1-39 (A30P) fragments of alpha-synuclein were studied by potentiometric, UV-Vis (UV-visible), CD (circular dichroism) and EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopic methods to determine the stoichiometry, stability constants and coordination modes of the complexes formed. The beta-carboxylate group of Asp residue in second position of the peptide chain coordinates strongly to Cu(II) ion over the pH range 4-9.5 to give unusually stable 2N complex with {NH(2), N(-), beta-COO(-), H(2)O} coordination mode. At pH above 7 the results suggest the formation of 2N, 3N, 4N complexes (in equatorial plane) and the involvement of the lateral NH(2) group of Lys residue in the axial coordination of Cu(II) ion. In CD spectra sigma (epsilon-NH(2)-Lys)-->Cu(II) charge transfer transition is observed. Addition of the 18-28 and 18-39 fragments to the 1-17 peptide does not change the coordination mode and the 1-39 fragment forms the Cu(II) complexes with higher stabilities compared to those of the 1-17, 1-28 and 1-39(A30P) fragments of alpha-synuclein.     

Products of Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide of the 1-10, 1-16 fragments of human and mouse beta-amyloid peptide

The interactions of proteins with reactive oxygen species (ROS) may result in covalent modifications of amino acid residues in proteins, formation of protein-protein cross-linkages, and oxidation of the protein backbone resulting in protein fragmentation. In an attempt to elucidate the products of the metal-catalyzed oxidation of the human (H) and mouse (M) (1-10H), (1-10M), (1-16H) and (1-16M) fragments of beta-amyloid peptide, the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) methods and Cu(II)/H(2)O(2) as a model oxidizing system were employed. Peptide solution (0.50 mM) was incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 h with metal:peptide:H(2)O(2) molar ratio 1:1:1 for the (1-16H), (1-16M) fragments, and 1:1:2 for the (1-10H), (1-10M) peptides in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Oxidation targets for all peptide studied are the histidine residues coordinated to the metal ions. For the (1-16H) peptide are likely His(13) and/or His(14), and for the (1-16M) fragment His(6) and/or His(14), which are converted to 2-oxo-His. Metal-binding residue, the aspartic acid (D(1)) undergoes the oxidative decarboxylation and deamination to pyruvate. The cleavages of the peptide bonds by either the diamide or alpha-amidation pathways were also observed.     

Methionine oxidation, alpha-synuclein and Parkinson's disease

The aggregation of normally soluble alpha-synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Oxidative stress is believed to be a contributing factor in this disorder. Because it lacks Trp and Cys residues, mild oxidation of alpha-synuclein in vitro with hydrogen peroxide selectively converts all four methionine residues to the corresponding sulfoxides. Both oxidized and non-oxidized alpha-synucleins have similar unfolded conformations; however, the fibrillation of alpha-synuclein at physiological pH is completely inhibited by methionine oxidation. The inhibition results from stabilization of soluble oligomers of Met-oxidized alpha-synuclein. Furthermore, the Met-oxidized protein also inhibits fibrillation of unmodified alpha-synuclein. The degree of inhibition of fibrillation by Met-oxidized alpha-synuclein is proportional to the number of oxidized methionines. However, the presence of metals can completely overcome the inhibition of fibrillation of the Met-oxidized alpha-synuclein. Since oligomers of aggregated alpha-synuclein may be cytotoxic, these findings indicate that both oxidative stress and environmental metal pollution could play an important role in the aggregation of alpha-synuclein, and hence possibly Parkinson's disease. In addition, if the level of Met-oxidized alpha-synuclein was under the control of methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr), then this could also be factor in the disease.     

Oxidation of Phe454 in the Gating Segment Inactivates Trametes multicolor Pyranose Oxidase during Substrate Turnover

The flavin-dependent enzyme pyranose oxidase catalyses the oxidation of several pyranose sugars at position C-2. In a second reaction step, oxygen is reduced to hydrogen peroxide. POx is of interest for biocatalytic carbohydrate oxidations, yet it was found that the enzyme is rapidly inactivated under turnover conditions. We studied pyranose oxidase from Trametes multicolor (TmPOx) inactivated either during glucose oxidation or by exogenous hydrogen peroxide using mass spectrometry. MALDI-MS experiments of proteolytic fragments of inactivated TmPOx showed several peptides with a mass increase of 16 or 32 Da indicating oxidation of certain amino acids. Most of these fragments contain at least one methionine residue, which most likely is oxidised by hydrogen peroxide. One peptide fragment that did not contain any amino acid residue that is likely to be oxidised by hydrogen peroxide (DAFSYGAVQQSIDSR) was studied in detail by LC-ESI-MS/MS, which showed a +16 Da mass increase for Phe454. We propose that oxidation of Phe454, which is located at the flexible active-site loop of TmPOx, is the first and main step in the inactivation of TmPOx by hydrogen peroxide. Oxidation of methionine residues might then further contribute to the complete inactivation of the enzyme.     

Formation of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals from A(beta) and alpha-synuclein as a possible mechanism of cell death in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease

The formation of extracellular or intracellular deposits of amyloid-like protein fibrils is a prominent pathological feature of many different neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In AD, the beta-amyloid peptide (A(beta)) accumulates mainly extracellularly at the center of senile plaques, whereas, in PD, the alpha-synuclein protein accumulates within neurons inside the Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. We have shown recently that solutions of A(beta) 1-40, A(beta) 1-42, A(beta) 25-35, alpha-synuclein and non-A(beta) component (NAC; residues 61-95 of alpha-synuclein) all liberate hydroxyl radicals upon incubation in vitro followed by the addition of small amounts of Fe(II). These hydroxyl radicals were readily detected by means of electron spin resonance spectroscopy, employing 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trapping agent. Hydroxyl radical formation was inhibited by the inclusion of catalase or metal-chelators during A(beta) or alpha-synuclein incubation. Our results suggest that hydrogen peroxide accumulates during the incubation of A(beta) or alpha-synuclein, by a metal-dependent mechanism, and that this is subsequently converted to hydroxyl radicals, on addition of Fe (II), by Fenton's reaction. Consequently, one of the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cell death in AD and PD, and possibly other neurodegenerative or amyloid diseases, could be the direct production of hydrogen peroxide during formation of the abnormal protein aggregates.     

Methionine oxidation by peroxymonocarbonate, a reactive oxygen species formed from CO2/bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide

Kinetic and thermodynamic evidence is reported for the role of the peroxymonocarbonate ion, HCO4-, as a reactive oxygen species in biology. Peroxymonocarbonate results from the equilibrium reaction of hydrogen peroxide with bicarbonate via the perhydration of CO2. The kinetic parameters for HCO4- oxidation of free methionine have been obtained (k1 = 0.48 +/- 0.08 M(-1)s(-1) by a spectrophotometric initial rate method). At the physiological concentration of bicarbonate in blood ( approximately 25 mM), it is estimated that peroxymonocarbonate formed in equilibrium with hydrogen peroxide will oxidize methionine approximately 2-fold more rapidly than plasma H2O2 itself. As an example of methionine oxidation in proteins, the bicarbonate-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide oxidation of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI) has been investigated via its inhibitory effect on porcine pancreatic elastase activity. The second-order rate constant for HCO4- oxidation of alpha1-PI (0.36 +/- 0.06 M(-1)s(-1)) is comparable to that of free methionine, suggesting that methionine oxidation is occurring. Further evidence for methionine oxidation, specifically involving Met358 and Met351 of the alpha1-PI reactive center loop, has been obtained through amino acid analyses and mass spectroscopic analyses of proteolytic digests of the oxidized alpha1-PI. These results strongly suggest that HCO4- should be considered a reactive oxygen species in aerobic metabolism.     

Metal-catalyzed oxidation of alpha-synuclein in the presence of Copper(II) and hydrogen peroxide

alpha-Synuclein is a component of abnormal protein depositions of Lewy bodies and senile plaques found in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, respectively. By using chemical coupling reagents such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-ethoxy-1, 2-dihydroquinoline, the protein was shown to experience self-oligomerization in the presence of either copper(II) or Abeta25-35. The oligomers which appeared as a ladder on a 10-20% Tricine/SDS-PAGE have been suggested to participate in the formation of protein aggregations by possibly providing a nucleation center. Since oxidatively modified protein could increase its own tendency toward protein aggregation, metal-catalyzed oxidation of alpha-synuclein has been examined with copper(II) and hydrogen peroxide in the absence of the coupling reagent. Intriguingly, the protein was also self-oligomerized into an SDS-resistant ladder on the gel. This biochemically specific copper-mediated oxidative oligomerization was shown to be dependent upon the acidic C-terminus of alpha-synuclein because the C-terminally truncated proteins such as alpha-syn114 and alpha-syn97 were not affected by the metal and hydrogen peroxide. More importantly, the oxidative oligomerization was synergistically enhanced by the presence of Abeta25-35, indicating that the peptide interaction with alpha-synuclein facilitated the copper(II) binding to the acidic C-terminus and subsequent oxidative crosslinking. It has been, therefore, suggested that abnormalities in copper and H(2)O(2) homeostasis and certain pathological factors functionally similar to the Abeta25-35 could play critical roles in the metal-catalyzed oxidative oligomerization of alpha-synuclein, which may lead to possible protein aggregation and neurodegenerations.     

Coordination abilities of the 1-16 and 1-28 fragments of beta-amyloid peptide towards copper(II) ions: a combined potentiometric and spectroscopic study

Stoichiometry, stability constants and solution structures of the copper(II) complexes of the (1-16H), (1-28H), (1-16M), (1-28M), (Ac-1-16H) and (Ac-1-16M) fragments of human (H) and mouse (M) beta-amyloid peptide were determined in aqueous solution in the pH range 2.5-10.5. The potentiometric and spectroscopic data (UV-Vis, CD, EPR) show that acetylation of the amino terminal group induces significant changes in the coordination properties of the (Ac-1-16H) and (Ac-1-16M) peptides compared to the (1-16H) and (1-16M) fragments, respectively. The (Ac-1-16H) peptide forms the 3N [N(Im)(6), N(Im)(13), N(Im)(14)] complex in a wide pH range (5-8), while for the (Ac-1-16M) fragment the 2N [N(Im)(6), N(Im)(14)] complex in the pH range 5-7 is suggested. At higher pH values sequential amide nitrogens are deprotonated and coordinated to copper(II) ions. The N-terminal amino group of the (1-16) and (1-28) fragments of human and mouse beta-amyloid peptide takes part in the coordination of the metal ion, although, at pH above 9 the complexes with the 4N [N(Im), 3N(-)] coordination mode are formed. The phenolate -OH group of the Tyr(10) residue of the human fragments does not coordinate to the metal ion.     

Relationship between protein structure and methionine oxidation in recombinant human alpha 1-antitrypsin

alpha 1-Antitrypsin is a metastable and conformationally flexible protein that belongs to the serpin family of protease inhibitors. Although it is known that methionine oxidation in the protein's active site results in a loss of biological activity, there is little specific knowledge regarding the reactivity of each of the protein's methionine residues. In this study, we have used peptide mapping to study the oxidation kinetics of each of alpha 1-antitrypsin's methionines in alpha 1-AT((C232S)) as well as M351L and M358V mutants. These kinetic studies establish that Met1, Met226, Met242, Met351, and Met358 are reactive with hydrogen peroxide at neutral pH and that each reactive methionine is oxidized in a bimolecular, rather than coupled, mechanism. Analysis of Met226, Met351, and Met358 oxidation provides insights regarding the structure of alpha 1-antitrypsin's active site that allow us to relate conformation to experimentally observed reactivity. The relationship between solution pH and methionine oxidation was also examined to evaluate methionine reactivity under conditions that perturb the native structure. Methionine oxidation data show that at pH 5, global conformational changes occur that alter the oxidation susceptibility of each of alpha 1-antitrypsin's 10 methionine residues. Between pH 6 and 9, however, more localized conformational changes occur that affect primarily the reactivity of Met242. In sum, this work provides a detailed analysis of methionine oxidation in alpha 1-antitrypsin and offers new insights into the protein's solution structure.     

Comparative oxidation studies of methionine residues reflect a structural effect on chemical kinetics in rhG-CSF

The effect of protein conformation on the rate of chemical degradation is poorly understood. To address the role of structure on chemical degradation kinetics, comparative oxidation studies of methionine residues in recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) were performed. The kinetics of oxidation of methionine residues by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in rhG-CSF and corresponding chemically synthesized peptides thereof was measured at different temperatures. To assess structural effects, equilibrium denaturation experiments also were conducted on rhG-CSF, yielding the free energy of unfolding as a function of temperature. A comparison of the relative rates of oxidation of methionine residues in short peptides with those of corresponding methionine residues in rhG-CSF yields an understanding of how protein tertiary structure affects oxidation reactions. For the temperature range that was studied, 4-45 degrees C, the oxidation rate constants followed an Arrhenius equation quite well, suggesting the lack of temperature-induced local structural perturbations that affect chemical degradation rates. One of the four methionine residues, Met 122, exhibited an activation energy significantly different from that of the corresponding peptide. Extrapolation of kinetic data predicts non-Arrhenius behavior around the melting temperature. Three phenomenological models based on different mechanisms are discussed, and an application to shelf life prediction of pharmaceuticals is presented.     

Methionine oxidation in human growth hormone and human chorionic somatomammotropin. Effects on receptor binding and biological activities

The oxidation of the methionine residues of human growth hormone (hGH) and human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) to methionine sulfoxide by hydrogen peroxide has been studied. The kinetics of oxidation of individual methionine residues has been measured by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography tryptic peptide mapping. Met-170 is completely resistant to oxidation in both hormones. The other 3 methionine residues in hCS (Met-64, Met-96, and Met-179) have markedly different reaction rates. Oxidation of the methionine residues does not appear to cause gross conformational changes in either hGH or hCS, as judged by CD and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Oxidation of Met-14 and Met-125 in hGH has little effect on affinity of the hormone for lactogenic receptors or on its potency in the Nb2 rat lymphoma in vitro bioassay for lactogenic hormones. The oxidation of Met-64 and/or Met-179 in hCS reduces profoundly both its affinity for lactogenic receptors and its in vitro biological potency. It is inferred by induction that residues 64 and/or 179 are critical for the binding of both hGH and hCS to lactogenic receptors and the expression of lactogenic biological activity.     

alpha-Synuclein implicated in Parkinson's disease catalyses the formation of hydrogen peroxide in vitro

Some rare inherited forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are due to mutations in the gene encoding a 140-amino acid presynaptic protein called alpha-synuclein. In PD, and some other related disorders such as dementia with Lewy bodies, alpha-synuclein accumulates in the brain in the form of fibrillar aggregates, which are found inside the neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions known as Lewy bodies. By means of an electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping method, we show here that solutions of full-length alpha-synuclein, and a synthetic peptide fragment of alpha-synuclein corresponding to residues 61-95 (the so-called non-Abeta component or NAC), both liberate hydroxyl radicals upon incubation in vitro followed by the addition of Fe(II). We did not observe this property for the related beta- and gamma-synucleins, which are not found in Lewy bodies, and are not linked genetically to any neurodegenerative disorder. There is abundant evidence for the involvement of free radicals and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of nigral damage in PD. Our new data suggest that the fundamental molecular mechanism underlying this pathological process could be the production of hydrogen peroxide by alpha-synuclein.     

Inactivation of porcine kidney betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase by hydrogen peroxide

Concentrated urine formation in the kidney is accompanied by conditions that favor the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under hyperosmotic conditions, medulla cells accumulate glycine betaine, which is an osmolyte synthesized by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH, EC 1.2.1.8). All BADHs identified to date have a highly reactive cysteine residue at the active site, and this cysteine is susceptible to oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. Porcine kidney BADH incubated with H(2)O(2) (0-500 μM) lost 25% of its activity. However, pkBADH inactivation by hydrogen peroxide was limited, even after 120 min of incubation. The presence of coenzyme NAD(+) (10-50 μM) increased the extent of inactivation (60%) at 120 min of reaction, but the ligands betaine aldehyde (50 and 500 μM) and glycine betaine (100 mM) did not change the rate or extent of inactivation as compared to the reaction without ligand. 2-Mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol, but not reduced glutathione, were able to restore enzyme activity. Mass spectrometry analysis of hydrogen peroxide inactivated BADH revealed oxidation of M278, M243, M241 and H335 in the absence and oxidation of M94, M327 and M278 in the presence of NAD(+). Molecular modeling of BADH revealed that the oxidized methionine and histidine residues are near the NAD(+) binding site. In the presence of the coenzyme, these oxidized residues are proximal to the betaine aldehyde binding site. None of the oxidized amino acid residues participates directly in catalysis. We suggest that pkBADH inactivation by hydrogen peroxide occurs via disulfide bond formation between vicinal catalytic cysteines (C288 and C289).     

Oxidation of methionine residues in recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: implications of conformational stability on protein oxidation kinetics

Oxidation of methionine residues is involved in several biochemical processes and in degradation of therapeutic proteins. The relationship between conformational stability and methionine oxidation in recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra) was investigated to document how thermodynamics of unfolding affect methionine oxidation in proteins. Conformational stability of rhIL-1ra was monitored by equilibrium urea denaturation, and thermodynamic parameters of unfolding (DeltaGH2O, m, and Cm) were estimated at different temperatures. Methionine oxidation induced by hydrogen peroxide at varying temperatures was monitored during "coincubation" of rhIL-1ra with peptides mimicking specific regions of the reactive methionine residues in the protein. The coincubation study allowed estimation of oxidation rates in protein and peptide at each temperature from which normalized oxidation rate constants and activation energies were calculated. The rate constants for buried Met-11 in the protein were lower than for methionine in the peptide with an associated increase in activation energy. The rate constants and activation energy of solvent exposed methionines in protein and peptide were similar. The results showed that conformational stability, monitored using the Cm value, has an effect on oxidation rates of buried methionines. The rate constant of buried Met-11 correlated well with the Cm value but not DeltaGH2O. No correlation was observed for the oxidation rates of solvent-exposed methionines with any thermodynamic parameters of unfolding. The findings presented have implications in protein engineering, in design of accelerated stability studies for protein formulation development, and in understanding disease conditions involving protein oxidation.     

Effect of oxidation on the properties of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II

Purified apolipoprotein A-I has been separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into multiple peaks and these peaks have been characterized. One peak, apoA-Ib had a relatively longer retention time on HPLC but its retention time could be shortened by treatment by hydrogen peroxide. CNBr cleavage studies indicated that the differences in apoA-Ib and in its oxidation product, apoA-Ia, were due to the different oxidation states of methionine. This phenomenon was also observed in apoA-II, where methionine oxidation produced two more forms of this apolipoprotein in addition to the native form. These isomers were found to have different secondary structures and affinities for lipid. Model peptide analogs of the amphipathic helix with the same sequence but with methionine and methionine sulfoxide at the nonpolar face of the amphipathic helix were synthesized and studied. It was found that the lipid affinities of these synthetic peptide isomers were very different. They also differed in their secondary structures as studied by circular dichroism (CD). We propose that methionine oxidation introduces hydrophilic residues at the nonpolar face of the amphipathic helical domains of these apolipoproteins and, therefore, alters their secondary structure and lipid affinity.     

Radical production from free and peptide-bound methionine sulfoxide oxidation by peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide/iron(II)

Methionine sulfoxide is a post-translational protein modification that has been receiving increasing attention in the literature. Here we used electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping techniques to show that free and peptide-bound methionine sulfoxide is oxidized by hydrogen peroxide/iron(II)-EDTA and peroxynitrite through the intermediacy of the hydroxyl radical to produce both *CH3 and *CH2CH2CH radicals. The results indicate that methionine sulfoxide residues are important targets of reactive oxygen- and nitrogen-derived species in proteins. Since the produced protein-derived radicals can propagate oxidative damage, the results add a new antioxidant route for the action of the enzyme peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase.     

Oxidation of either methionine 351 or methionine 358 in alpha 1-antitrypsin causes loss of anti-neutrophil elastase activity

Hydrogen peroxide is a component of cigarette smoke known to be essential for inactivation of alpha(1)-antitrypsin, the primary inhibitor of neutrophil elastase. To establish the molecular basis of the inactivation of alpha(1)-antitrypsin, we determined the sites oxidized by hydrogen peroxide. Two of the nine methionines were particularly susceptible to oxidation. One was methionine 358, whose oxidation was known to cause loss of anti-elastase activity. The other, methionine 351, was as susceptible to oxidation as methionine 358. Its oxidation also resulted in loss of anti-elastase activity, an effect not previously recognized. The equal susceptibility of methionine 358 and methionine 351 to oxidation was confirmed by mass spectrometry. To verify this finding, we produced recombinant alpha(1)-antitrypsins in which one or both of the susceptible methionines were mutated to valine. M351V and M358V were not as rapidly inactivated as wild-type alpha1-antitrypsin, but only the double mutant M351V/M358V was markedly resistant to oxidative inactivation. We suggest that inactivation of alpha(1)-antitrypsin by oxidation of either methionine 351 or 358 provides a mechanism for regulation of its activity at sites of inflammation.     

Role of individual methionines in the fibrillation of methionine-oxidized alpha-synuclein

The aggregation of normally soluble alpha-synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Oxidative stress is believed to be a contributing factor in this disorder. We have previously established that oxidation of all four methionine residues in alpha-synuclein (to the sulfoxide, MetO) inhibits fibrillation of this protein in vitro and that the MetO protein also inhibits fibrillation of unmodified alpha-synuclein. Here we show that the degree of inhibition of fibrillation by MetO alpha-synuclein is proportional to the number of oxidized methionines. This was accomplished be selectively converting Met residues into Leu, prior to Met oxidation. The results showed that with one oxidized Met the kinetics of fibrillation were comparable to those for the control (nonoxidized), and with increasing numbers of methionine sulfoxides the kinetics of fibrillation became progressively slower. Electron microscope images showed that the fibril morphology was similar for all species examined, although fewer fibrils were observed with the oxidized forms. The presence of zinc was shown to overcome the Met oxidation-induced inhibition. Interestingly, substitution of Met by Leu led to increased propensity for aggregation (soluble oligomers) but slower formation of fibrils.     

Functional characterization of the Aspergillus nidulans methionine sulfoxide reductases (msrA and msrB)

Proteins are subject to modification by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidation of specific amino acid residues can impair their biological function, leading to an alteration in cellular homeostasis. Sulfur-containing amino acids as methionine are the most vulnerable to oxidation by ROS, resulting in the formation of methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)] residues. This modification can be repaired by methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr). Two distinct classes of these enzymes, MsrA and MsrB, which selectively reduce the two methionine sulfoxide epimers, methionine-S-sulfoxide and methionine-R-sulfoxide, respectively, are found in virtually all organisms. Here, we describe the homologs of methionine sulfoxide reductases, msrA and msrB, in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Both single and double inactivation mutants were viable, but more sensitive to oxidative stress agents as hydrogen peroxide, paraquat, and ultraviolet light. These strains also accumulated more carbonylated proteins when exposed to hydrogen peroxide indicating that MsrA and MsrB are active players in the protection of the cellular proteins from oxidative stress damage.     

Oxidation of methionine residues in coagulation factor VIIa

The oxidation of the activated form of recombinant coagulation factor VII (FVIIa) by hydrogen peroxide has been studied. The three predominant oxidation products observed at pH 7.5 have been characterized as methionine sulfoxide derivatives of the parent protein involving two of the four methionine residues of the protein, Met298 and Met306. We conclude that oxidation of FVIIa with hydrogen peroxide only affects methionine residues and selectively oxidizes those which are readily accessible to the solvent. The oxidation process has been studied in the pH range 3.5-9.5. The total rate of oxidation of FVIIa as well as the formation of the three oxidation products is consistent over the pH interval 7.5-9.5. However, under acidic conditions, significant variations have been observed indicating a conformational change of FVIIa. Oxidized FVIIa had the same amidolytic activity as the native protein. The binding to soluble tissue factor (TF) was weaker after oxidation as manifested by a threefold increase in dissociation constant and the amidolytic activity in complex with soluble TF was 80% compared to that of native FVIIa. In complex with lipid surface TF, the rate of factor X activation catalyzed by oxidized FVIIa was also reduced by approximately 20% compared to that of native FVIIa. However, native and oxidized FVIIa appeared to bind lipidated TF with indistinguishable affinities.