The role of multienzyme complexes in integration of cellular metabolism

The notion of the "primary block" of cellular metabolism designated as "metabolic system" is introduced. Metabolic system is defined as a metabolic pathway which corresponds to the structurally ordered multienzyme complex. The complex of glycolytic enzymes which catalyzes the anaerobic reduction of glucose-6-phosphate with production of ATP may serve as an example of metabolic system (this complex does not contain hexokinase). The complex is formed on thin filaments of I-band of the muscle fibres or on the dimers of band 3 protein embedded in the erythrocyte membrane. The fixation of the multienzyme complex to the support of the biological nature provides the material basis for regulation of the metabolic system by chemical signals produced by the higher levels of metabolic control. Owing to interaction with anchor protein of the support the chemical signals exert the general control of functioning of the multienzyme complex (switching on-switching off the metabolic system). It is assumed that glycolytic system in skeletal muscles is stimulated by Ca2+ ions which interact with the anchor protein of the support (troponin C).     

The role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in cellular iron metabolism

The catalytic role of iron in the Haber-Weiss chemistry, which results in propagation of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS), is well established. In this review, we attempt to summarize the recent evidence showing the reverse: That reactive oxygen and nitrogen species can significantly affect iron metabolism. Their interaction with iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs) seems to be one of the essential mechanisms of influencing iron homeostasis. Iron depletion is known to provoke normal iron uptake via IRPs, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide are supposed to cause unnecessary iron uptake by similar mechanism. Furthermore, ROS are able to release iron from iron-containing molecules. On the contrary, nitric oxide (NO) appears to be involved in cellular defense against the iron-mediated ROS generation probably mainly by inducing iron removal from cells. In addition, NO may attenuate the effect of superoxide by mutual reaction, although the reaction product—peroxynitrite—is capable to produce highly reactive hydroxyl radicals.     

Using non-enzymatic chemistry to influence microbial metabolism

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Overview of coenzyme A metabolism and its role in cellular toxicity

Coenzyme A (CoASH) has a clearly defined role as a cofactor for a number of oxidative and biosynthetic reactions in intermediary metabolism. Formation of acyl-CoA thioesters from organic carboxylic acids activates the acid for further biotransformation reactions and facilitates enzyme recognition. Xenobiotic carboxylic acids can also form CoA-thioesters, and the resulting acyl-CoA may contribute to the compound's toxicity. Generation of an unusual or poorly-metabolized acyl-CoA from a xenobiotic may lead to cellular metabolic dysfunction through several types of mechanisms including: (1) inhibition of key metabolic enzymes by the acyl-CoA; (2) sequestration of the total cellular CoA pool as the unusual acyl-CoA; (3) physical-chemical effects of the acyl-CoA; and (4) sequestration and depletion of carnitine as the acyl group is transformed from the acyl-CoA to form the corresponding acylcarnitine. Many of these toxicities are similar to sequelae observed in the inherited organic acidurias in which endogenously-generated acyl-CoAs accumulate secondary to an enzymopathy. Insights into the cellular mechanisms of xenobiotic acyl-CoA accumulation have been derived from model systems developed to understand organic acidemias, such as the methylmalonyl-CoA accumulation of the methylmalonic acidurias. The relevance of acyl-CoA accretion to human pathophysiology has now been well established, and identification of the relevant mechanism of toxicity can allow implementation of strategies to minimize the metabolic injury. Additionally, recognition of the potential for acyl-CoA mediated xenobiotic injury should result in improved rational drug design and earlier recognition of such toxicity when it develops.     

The role of dicarbonyl compounds in non-enzymatic crosslinking: a structure-activity study

The Maillard reaction is a complex network of reactions that has been shown to result in the non-enzymatic crosslinking of proteins. Recent attention has focussed on the role of alpha-dicarbonyl compounds as important in vivo contributors to protein crosslinking but, despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms of the crosslinking reaction remain open to conjecture. In particular, no relationship between the structure of the carbonyl-containing compounds and their activity as crosslinking agents has been established. In an effort to elucidate a structure-reactivity relationship, a wide range of dicarbonyl compounds, including linear, cyclic, di-aldehyde and di-ketone compounds, were reacted with the model protein ribonuclease A and their crosslinking activity assessed. Methylglyoxal and glutaraldehyde were found to be the most efficient crosslinkers, whilst closely related molecules effected crosslinking at a much lower rate. Cyclopentan-1,2-dione was also shown to be a reactive crosslinking agent. The efficiency of methylglyoxal and glutaraldehyde at crosslinking is thought to be related to their ability to form stable heterocyclic compounds that are the basis of protein crosslinks. The reasons for the striking reactivity of these two compounds, compared to closely related structures is explained by subtle balances between competing pathways in a complex reaction network.     

Impaired reactive oxygen metabolism of phagocytic leukocytes in NIDDM patients. A role for non-enzymatic glycosylation of collagen

Non-enzymatic glycosylation (NEG) of collagen has been previously shown to significantly influence the reactive oxygen metabolism (ROM) of phagocytic cells in healthy subjects. Considering the role of NEG in the pathophysiology of diabetes, we have further analysed the oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and monocytes in 23 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in order to better elucidate a possible pathogenic role of NEG of the extracellular matrix in long-term complications of diabetes. Experiments were performed in triplicate on native-collagen and glycated-collagen coated vials, using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Results show that PMNs from diabetic patients display a significant increased basal and zymosan-induced CL activity with respect to controls that are not related to the glycation state of the substrate. Conversely, the CL activity of monocytes induced by zymosan shows a decrease in diabetic patients with respect to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Moreover, monocyte CL was reduced by the glycated matrix, both in healthy volunteers and in diabetic subjects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). These data highlight a complex role of phagocytic leukocytes in the pathophysiology of extracellular matrix alterations secondary to NEG that are typically present in clinical conditions such as diabetes or ageing. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The non-enzymatic hydrolysis of oligoribonucleotides VI. The role of biogenic polyamines.

Single-stranded oligoribonucleotides containing UA and CA phosphodiester bonds can be hydrolyzed specifically under non-enzymatic conditions in the presence of spermidine, a biogenic amine found in a wide variety of organisms. In the present study, the rate of oligonucleotide and tRNA(i)(Met)hydrolysis was measured in the presence of spermidine and other biogenic amines. It was found that spermine [H(3)N(+)(CH(2))(3)(+)NH(2)(CH(2))(4)(+)NH(2)(CH(2))(3)(+)NH(3)] and putrescine [H(3)N(+)(CH(2))(4)(+)NH(3)] can replace spermidine [H(3)N(+)-(CH(2))(4)(+)NH(2)(CH(2))(3)(+)NH(3)] to induce the hydrolysis. For all three polyamines, a bell-shaped cleavage rate versus concentration relationship was observed. The maximum rate of hydrolysis was achieved at 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mM spermine, spermidine and putrescine, respectively. Moreover, we found that the hydrolysis requires at least two linked amino groups since two aminoalcohols, 2-aminoethanol and 3-aminopropanol, were not able to induce the cleavage of the phospho-diester bond. The optimal cleavage rate of the oligo-ribonucleotides was observed when amino groups were separated by tri- or tetramethylene linkers. The methylation of the amino groups reduced the ability of diamines to induce oligoribonucleotide hydrolysis. Non-enzymatic cleavage of tRNA(i)(Met)from Lupinus luteus and tRNA(i)(Met)from Escherichia coli demonstrate that both RNAs hydrolyze as expected from principles derived from oligoribonucleotide models.     

Organocatalysis with endogenous compounds: Towards novel non-enzymatic reactions

The aldol reaction of the endogeneous compounds acetone and methylglyoxal has been studied using organocatalysis in relation to biologically relevant non-enzymatic reactions. Under preparative conditions, 3-hydroxy-2,5-hexadione, known as Henze’s ketol, is formed in high yield and with enantioselectivities up to 88% ee. Furthermore, Henze’s ketol is also formed under simulated physiological conditions at micromolar scale, indicating that this reaction might take place in living organisms.     

Molecular and cellular insights into the role of SND1 in lipid metabolism

Staphylococcal nuclease and Tudor domain containing 1 (SND1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein present in eukaryotic cells from protozoa to mammals. SND1 has gained importance because it is overexpressed in aggressive cancer cells and diverse primary tumors. Indeed, it is regarded as a marker of cancer malignity. A broad range of molecular functions and the participation in many cellular processes have been attributed to SND1, mostly related to the regulation of gene expression. An increasing body of evidence points to a relevant relationship between SND1 and lipid metabolism. In this review, we summarize the knowledge about SND1 and its molecular and functional relationship with lipid metabolism. We highlight that SND1 plays a direct role in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism by affecting the activation of sterol response element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and we propose that that might have implications in the response of lipid homeostasis to stress situations.