Inhibition of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase by nitric oxide-mediated S-nitrosylation

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is responsible for the metabolism of acetaldehyde and other toxic lipid aldehydes. Despite many reports about the inhibition of ALDH2 by toxic chemicals, it is unknown whether nitric oxide (NO) can alter the ALDH2 activity in intact cells or in vivo animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NO on ALDH2 activity in H4IIE-C3 rat hepatoma cells. NO donors such as S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and 3-morpholinosydnonimine significantly increased the nitrite concentration while they inhibited the ALDH2 activity. Addition of GSH-ethylester (GSH-EE) completely blocked the GSNO-mediated ALDH2 inhibition and increased nitrite concentration. To directly demonstrate the NO-mediated S-nitrosylation and inactivation, ALDH2 was immunopurified from control or GSNO-treated cells and subjected to immunoblot analysis. The anti-nitrosocysteine antibody recognized the immunopurified ALDH2 only from the GSNO-treated samples. All these results indicate that S-nitrosylation of ALDH2 in intact cells leads to reversible inhibition of ALDH2 activity.     

Mitochondrial NAD dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase either from yeast or human replaces yeast cytoplasmic NADP dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase for the aerobic growth of yeast on ethanol

Background

In a previous study, we deleted three aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes, involved in ethanol metabolism, from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and found that the triple deleted yeast strain did not grow on ethanol as sole carbon source. The ALDHs were NADP dependent cytosolic ALDH1, NAD dependent mitochondrial ALDH2 and NAD/NADP dependent mitochondrial ALDH5. Double deleted strain ΔALDH2+ΔALDH5 or ΔALDH1+ΔALDH5 could grow on ethanol. However, the double deleted strain ΔALDH1+ΔALDH2 did not grow in ethanol.

Methods

Triple deleted yeast strain was used. Mitochondrial NAD dependent ALDH from yeast or human was placed in yeast cytosol.

Results

In the present study we found that a mutant form of cytoplasmic ALDH1 with very low activity barely supported the growth of the triple deleted strain (ΔALDH1+ΔALDH2+ΔALDH5) on ethanol. Finding the importance of NADP dependent ALDH1 on the growth of the strain on ethanol we examined if NAD dependent mitochondrial ALDH2 either from yeast or human would be able to support the growth of the triple deleted strain on ethanol if the mitochondrial form was placed in cytosol. We found that the NAD dependent mitochondrial ALDH2 from yeast or human was active in cytosol and supported the growth of the triple deleted strain on ethanol.

Conclusion

This study showed that coenzyme preference of ALDH is not critical in cytosol of yeast for the growth on ethanol.

General significance

The present study provides a basis to understand the coenzyme preference of ALDH in ethanol metabolism in yeast.     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (ALDH1B1) is a potential biomarker for human colon cancer

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) belong to a superfamily of NAD(P)⁺-dependent enzymes, which catalyze the oxidation of endogenous and exogenous aldehydes to their corresponding acids. Increased expression and/or activity of ALDHs, particularly ALDH1A1, have been reported to occur in human cancers. It is proposed that the metabolic function of ALDH1A1 confers the “stemness” properties to normal and cancer stem cells. Nevertheless, the identity of ALDH isozymes that contribute to the enhanced ALDH activity in specific types of human cancers remains to be elucidated. ALDH1B1 is a mitochondrial ALDH that metabolizes a wide range of aldehyde substrates including acetaldehyde and products of lipid peroxidation (LPO). In this study, we immunohistochemically examined the expression profile of ALDH1A1 and ALDH1B1 in human adenocarcinomas of colon (N = 40), lung (N = 30), breast (N = 33) and ovary (N = 33) using an NIH tissue array. The immunohistochemical expression of ALDH1A1 or ALDH1B1 in tumor tissues was scored by their intensity (scale = 1–3) and extensiveness (% of total cancer cells). Herein we report a 5.6-fold higher expression score for ALDH1B1 in cancerous tissues than that for ALDH1A1. Remarkably, 39 out of 40 colonic cancer specimens were positive for ALDH1B1 with a staining intensity of 2.8 ± 0.5. Our study demonstrates that ALDH1B1 is more profoundly expressed in the adenocarcinomas examined in this study relative to ALDH1A1 and that ALDH1B1 is dramatically upregulated in human colonic adenocarcinoma, making it a potential biomarker for human colon cancer.     

From a computational point of view: deciphering the molecular synergism between oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation products and metabolic dysfunctionality of human liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase-2

Accumulation of oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation products; 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE) and 4-oxononenal (4ONE), inactivates the metabolic activity of human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), an enzyme that converts acetaldehyde to carboxylic acids during alcohol metabolism. Previous reports showed that 4HNE and 4ONE covalently target the catalytic Cys302 residue and inactivate ALDH2, thereby preventing the metabolism of acetaldehyde (ACE), its primary substrate. However, the molecular basis of these reactions remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the inactivation mechanism of 4HNE and 4ONE on ALDH2 using advanced computational tools. Interestingly, our findings revealed that both inhibitors significantly distorted ALDH2 oligomerization and co-enzyme binding domains, which are crucial to its metabolic activity. The resulting structural alterations could disrupt co-factor binding and enzymatic oligomerization mechanisms. In contrast to the acetaldehyde, 4HNE and 4ONE were bound to ALDH2 with high affinity, coupled with high energy contributions by catalytic site residues and could indicate the possible mechanism by which acetaldehyde is displaced from ALDH2 binding by 4HNE and 4ONE. These findings will be useful in the design of novel compounds that either mop up or block the binding of these endogenous compounds to ALDH2 thereby preventing the development of associated cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.     

一株乙醇降解菌株的分离和鉴定

从湖北农田土壤中筛选得到一株ALDH活性较高的菌株,该菌株在含0．64％乙醇的培养基中生长较佳,且耐受0．9％的乙醛。经菌种形态学和生理生化特征,以及16S rRNA基因序列分析,鉴定该菌株为不动杆（Acinetobacter sp．）。该菌株在乙醇和乙醛解毒研究中有重要价值。     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme ALDH3H1 from Arabidopsis thaliana: Identification of amino acid residues critical for cofactor specificity

The cofactor-binding site of the NAD⁺-dependent Arabidopsis thaliana aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH3H1 was analyzed to understand structural features determining cofactor-specificity. Homology modeling and mutant analysis elucidated important amino acid residues. Glu149 occupies a central position in the cofactor-binding cleft, and its carboxylate group coordinates the 2′- and 3′-hydroxyl groups of the adenosyl ribose ring of NAD⁺ and repels the 2′-phosphate moiety of NADP⁺. If Glu149 is mutated to Gln, Asp, Asn or Thr the binding of NAD⁺ is altered and rendered the enzyme capable of using NADP⁺. This change is attributed to a weaker steric hindrance and elimination of the electrostatic repulsion force of the 2′-phosphate of NADP⁺. Simultaneous mutations of Glu149 and Ile200, which is situated opposite of the cofactor binding cleft, improved the enzyme efficiency with NADP⁺. The double mutant ALDH3H1_{Glu149Thr/Ile200Val} showed a good catalysis with NADP⁺. Subsequently a triple mutation was generated by replacing Val178 by Arg in order to create a “closed” cofactor binding site. The cofactor specificity was shifted even further in favor of NADP⁺, as the mutant ALDH3H1_{E149T/V178R/I200V} uses NADP⁺ with almost 7-fold higher catalytic efficiency compared to NAD⁺. Our experiments suggest that residues occupying positions equivalent to 149, 178 and 200 constitute a group of amino acids in the ALDH3H1 protein determining cofactor affinity.     

Further evidence that rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase 1 is not a cellular protein target for S-nitrosylation

By adopting biotin switch method, we recently reported that liver microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) might not be a protein target for S-nitrosylation in rat microsomes or in vivo. However, alternative analytic methods are needed to confirm this observation, as a single biotin switch method in judging specific protein S-nitrosylation in biological samples is increasingly recognized as insufficient, or even unreliable. Besides, only MGST1 localized on endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but not mitochondria which favors protein S-nitrosylation was examined in the previous report. Present study was therefore carried out to address these issues. Primary cultured hepatocytes were used. A physiological existing nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was adopted to trigger protein S-nitrosylation. MGST1 was immunoprecipitated and its S-nitrosothiol content was measured by the NO probe 2,3-diaminonaphthalene. In parallel, S-nitrosylated proteins were immunoprecipitated by a monoclonal anti-S-nitrosocysteine antibody and probed with an anti-MGST1 antibody. In hepatocytes, neither ER nor mitochondria were found to contain S-nitrosylated MGST1 after GSNO treatment, showing that differently distributed MGST1 was consistently un-nitrosylable in the cellular environment. But under broken cell conditions, when samples were incubated directly with GSNO, MGST1 S-nitrosylation was indeed detectable in both the microsomal and mitochondrial proteins, indicating that previous failure in detecting MGST1 S-nitrosylation in microsomes is due to the limitations of biotin switch method. These results clearly, if not definitely, demonstrate that MGST1 is not a ready candidate for S-nitrosylation in the cellular content, despite its susceptibility to S-nitrosylation under broken cell conditions.     

Kinetic evidence for human liver and stomach aldehyde dehydrogenase-3 representing an unique class of isozymes

Substrate and coenzyme specificities of human liver and stomach aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozymes were compared by staining with various aldehydes including propionaldehyde, heptaldehyde, decaldehyde, 2-furaldehyde, succinic semialdehyde, and glutamic -semialdehyde and with NAD⁺ or NADP⁺ on agarose isoelectric focusing gels. ALDH3 isozyme was isolated from a liver via carboxymethyl-Sephadex and blue Sepharose chromatographies and its kinetic constants for various substrates and coenzymes were determined. Consistent with the previously proposed genetic model for human ALDH3 isozymes (Yinet al., Biochem. Genet. 26:343, 1988), a single liver form and multiple stomach forms exhibited similar kinetic properties, which were strikingly distinct from those of ALDH1, ALDH2, and ALDH4 (glutamic -semialdehyde dehydrogenase). A set of activity assays using various substrates, coenzymes, and an inhibitor to distinguish ALDH1, ALDH2, ALDH3, and ALDH4 is presented. As previously reported in ALDH1 and ALDH2, a higher catalytic efficiency (V _max/K _m) for oxidation of long-chain aliphatic aldehydes was found in ALDH3, suggesting that these enzymes have a hydrophobic barrel-shape substrate binding pocket. Since theK _m value for acetaldehyde for liver ALDH3, 83 mM, is very much higher than those of ALDH1 and ALDH2, ALDH3 thus represents an unique class of human ALDH isozymes and it appears not to be involved in ethanol metabolism.This work was supported by grants from the National Science Council and the Academia Sinica, Republic of China.     

Aldehyde Dehydrogenases in Rat Brain. Subcellular Distribution and Properties

Abstract: Kinetic studies suggested the presence of several forms of NAD-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in rat brain. A subcellular distribution study showed that low- and high- K _m activities with acetaldehyde as well as the substrate-specific enzyme succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase were located mainly in the mitochondrial compartment. The low- K _m activity was also present in the cytosol (<20%). The low- K _m activity in the homogenate was only 10–15% of the total activity with acetaldehyde as the substrate. Two K _m values were obtained with both acetaldehyde (0.2 and 2000 μ m ) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) (0.3 and 31 μ m ), and one K _m value with succinate semialdehyde (5 μ m ). The main part of the aldehyde dehydrogenase activities with acetaldehyde, DOPAL, and succinate semialdehyde, but only little activity of the marker enzyme for the outer membrane (monoamine oxidase, MAO), was released from a purified mitochondrial fraction subjected to sonication. Only small amounts of the ALDH activities were released from mitochondria subjected to swelling in a hypotonic buffer, whereas the main part of the marker enzyme for the intermembrane space (adenylate kinase) was released. These results indicate that the ALDH activities with acetaldehyde, DOPAL and succinate semialdehyde are located in the matrix compartment. The low- K _m activity with acetaldehyde and DOPAL, but not the high- K _m activities and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, was markedly stimulated by Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ in phosphate buffer. The low- and high- K _m activities with acetaldehyde showed different pH optima in pyrophosphate buffer.     

Age-Related Changes in Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity of Rat Brain, Liver, and Heart

Abstract: Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was measured in brains, livers, and hearts of 23–26-month-old and 3-month-old rats. A significant increase of ALDH activity was found in whole brain of old rats with both acetaldehyde (39%) and propionylaldehyde (15%) used as substrates. In different brain areas of old rats, with acetaldehyde used as substrate, a significant increase of ALDH activity was found in striatum (30–50%) and cerebral cortex (37%). However, no significant difference in ALDH activity was found in livers and hearts of young and old rats. Preliminary experiments showed a significant increase of aldehyde reductase activity (52%) with p -nitrobenzaldehyde used as substrate in whole brain of old rats compared with young rats. The present work indicates that an increase of ALDH activity in brain of old rats may be an adaptive phenomenon.     

原核表达的人乙醛脱氢酶2(ALDH2)的活性及稳定性研究

对由原核载体表达的人乙醛脱氢酶2(Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2,简称ALDH2)纯化工艺、酶活性改善、稳定性以及保存条件分别进行了参数的优化,以期为ALDH2商品化剂型开发提供理论依据。通过NAD(P)+酶活测定法,检测不同纯化工艺、金属离子以及不同保存条件对ALDH2的酶活性的影响。通过SDS-PAGE检测ALDH2在模拟胃液和胰液中的稳定性。结果显示,低离子磷酸盐缓冲液透析有利于ALDH2酶活性的恢复,且真空冷冻干燥处理可导致ALDH2酶活性下降。K+、Zn2+、Mg2+、Mn2+、Ca2+均能提高ALDH2酶活性。ALDH2在模拟胃液中稳定性良好,但在模拟胰液中迅速被降解。与此同时,ALDH2酶液在-20℃下能良好地保持其稳定性及酶活,但在4℃和30℃下保存一个月酶活急剧下降。以上结果表明,低离子磷酸盐缓冲液透析法、K+均能提高ALDH2的酶活性,同时该酶可耐受模拟胃液的降解作用,且添加山梨酸钾的ALDH2于-20℃可良好地保持其稳定性及酶活。     

乙醛脱氢酶2（ALDH2）基因研究进展及其与饮酒行为的关系

亚洲人群中普遍存在突变型的乙醛脱氢酶2（ALDH2*2）。此酶突变后活性缺失,导致乙醛在肝脏内大量累积使突变携带者在喝酒后会有脸红等不适反应,因此这可能影响他们的饮酒行为。由于ALDH2*2等位基因与饮酒行为相关,它也可能与酒精引起的肝脏损伤及某些癌症密切相关,而且,它在不同的亚洲人群中有不同的频率分布。近年来对ALDH2*2等位基因的序列结构、表达及其重要功能等有了更深入的了解,对ALDH2的多态性在研究方法、研究群体分布范围等都有很大进展。本文还讨论了不同地理分布、不同年龄结构、性别差异条件下,中国人群中ALDH2基因型频率与饮酒行为的关系。 Abstract: An atypical allele （ALDH2*2） in low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), which is highly prevalent in Asian, may influence drinking behavior because of higher production of acetaldehyde in the liver. High alcohol sensitivity such as flushing after drinking has been shown to be mainly due to the atypical ALDH2 genotypes. The atypical allele is associated with alcohol-induced liver injury and some cancers. Recently, the researches on the polymorphisms not only in the gene itself but also its frequencies in different Asian populations have been made great progress. Three factors, including different sex, age and geography, were also analyzed with the genotypes of ALDH2 in Chinese populations.     

利用甘油发酵耦联生产3-羟基丙酸及1,3-丙二醇重组菌的构建及筛选

在肺炎克雷伯杆菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae)代谢甘油生产1,3-丙二醇(1,3-PD)的过程中,为了减少有毒中间产物3-羟基丙醛(3-HPA)的积累,可将其转化为3-羟基丙酸(3-HP),从而实现1,3-丙二醇和3-羟基丙酸的联产。克隆来自于酿酒酵母的NAD+依赖型的乙醛脱氢酶(ALDH)的基因aldh4,构建了表达载体pKP-aldh,转化K.pneumoniae,得到了有效表达乙醛脱氢酶的重组肺炎克雷伯杆菌(K.pneumoniae A+)。在此基础上,使用紫外诱变联合菌种驯化的方法对K.pneumoniae A+进行筛选,获得了可耐受较高3-HP浓度(≥35 g/L)的重组肺炎克雷伯杆菌K.pneumoniae A+5-3。发酵实验结果表明,K.pneumoniae A+5-3可将3-HPA转化为3-HP,能够同时利用甘油耦联生产3-HP和1,3-PD,产量分别达到5.0 g/L和74.5 g/L。     

OsBADH1 is possibly involved in acetaldehyde oxidation in rice plant peroxisomes

Although rice (Oryza sativa L.) produces little glycine betaine (GB), it has two betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH; EC 1.2.1.8) gene homologs (OsBADH1 and OsBADH2). We found that OsBADH1 catalyzes the oxidation of acetaldehyde efficiently, while the activity of OsBADH2 is extremely low. The accumulation of OsBADH1 mRNA decreases following submergence treatment, but quickly recovers after re-aeration. We confirmed that OsBADH1 localizes in peroxisomes. In this paper, a possible physiological function of OsBADH1 in the oxidation of acetaldehyde produced by catalase in rice plant peroxisomes is discussed.     

Deficiency in a mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase increases vulnerability to oxidative stress in PC12 cells

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) plays a major role in acetaldehyde detoxification. The alcohol sensitivity is associated with a genetic deficiency of ALDH2. We have previously reported that this deficiency influences the risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. However, the biological effects of the deficiency on neuronal cells are poorly understood. Thus, we obtained ALDH2-deficient cell lines by introducing mouse mutant Aldh2 cDNA into PC12 cells. The mutant ALDH2 repressed mitochondrial ALDH activity in a dominant negative fashion, but not cytosolic activity. The resultant ALDH2-deficient transfectants were highly vulnerable to exogenous 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, an aldehyde derivative generated by the reaction of superoxide with unsaturated fatty acid. In addition, the ALDH2-deficient transfectants were sensitive to oxidative insult induced by antimycin A, accompanied by an accumulation of proteins modified with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. Thus, these findings suggest that mitochondrial ALDH2 functions as a protector against oxidative stress.     

Alda-1, an ALDH2 activator,protects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via inhibition of oxidative stress

Previous studies have proved that activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase two (ALDH2) can attenuate oxidative stress through clearance of cytotoxic aldehydes, and can protect against cardiac, cerebral, and lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. In this study, we investigated the effects of the ALDH2 activator Alda-1 on hepatic I/R injury. Partial warm ischemia was performed in the left and middle hepatic lobes of Sprague-Dawley rats for 1?h, followed by 6?h of reperfusion. Rats received either Alda-1 or vehicle by intravenous injection 30?min before ischemia. Blood and tissue samples of the rats were collected after 6-h reperfusion. Histological injury, proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular apoptosis, ALDH2 expression and activity, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. BRL-3A hepatocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Cell viability, ROS, and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined. Pretreatment with Alda-1 significantly alleviated I/R-induced elevations of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase, and significantly blunted the pathological injury of the liver. Moreover, Alda-1 significantly inhibited ROS and proinflammatory cytokines production, 4-HNE and MDA accumulation, and apoptosis. Increased ALDH2 activity was found after Alda-1 administration. No significant changes in ALDH2 expression were observed after I/R. ROS was also higher in H/R cells than in control cells, which was aggravated upon treatment with 4-HNE, and reduced by Alda-1 treatment. Cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential were inhibited in H/R cells, which was attenuated upon Alda-1 treatment. Activation of ALDH2 by Alda-1 attenuates hepatic I/R injury via clearance of cytotoxic aldehydes.     

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy in Tunisia is caused by a founder missense mutation of the ALDH7A1 gene

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by seizures and therapeutic response to pharmacological dose of pyridoxine. Mutations in the ALDH7A1 gene, encoding α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (α-AASA) dehydrogenase (antiquitin), have been reported to cause PDE in most patients. In this study molecular analysis of seven PDE Tunisian patients revealed a common missense c.1364T > C mutation in the ALDH7A1 gene. The identification of a cluster of PDE pedigrees carrying the c.1364T > C mutation in a specific area raises the question of the origin of this mutation from a common ancestor. We carried out a genotype-based analysis by way of genotyping a new generated microsatellite marker within the ALDH7A1 gene. Genotype reconstruction of all affected pedigree members indicate that all c.1364T > C mutation carriers harbored the same allele, indicating a common ancestor. The finding of a founder effect in a rare disease is essential for the genetic diagnosis and the genetic counseling of affected PDE pedigrees in Tunisia.     

Genetic polymorphism and activities of human lung alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases: Implications for ethanol metabolism and cytotoxicity

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) exhibit genetic polymorphism and tissue specificity. ADH and ALDH isozyme phenotypes from 39 surgical Chinese lung specimens were identified by agarose isoelectric focusing. The identity of the lung β-ADHs was further demonstrated by their characteristic pH-activity profiles for ethanol oxidation,K _m values for NAD and ethanol, and inhibition by 4-methylpyrazole or 1,10-phenanthroline. The β₂ allele, coding for β₂ polypeptide, was found to be predominant in the lung specimens studied. The ADH activities in the lungs with the homozygous phenotype ADH₂ 2-2 (exhibiting β₂β₂) and ADH₂ 1-1 (exhibiting β₁β₁) and the heterozygous phenotype ADH₂ 2-1 (exhibiting β₂β₂, β₂β₁, and β₁β₁) were determined to be 999±77, 48±17, and 494±61 nmol/min/g tissue, respectively. Fifty-one percent of the specimens studied lacked the ALDH2 activity band on the isoelectric focusing gels. The activities in the lung tissues with the ALDH2-active phenotype and the inactive phenotype were determined to be 30±3 and 17±1 nmol/min/g tissue, respectively. These findings indicate that human pulmonary ethanol-metabolizing activities differ significantly with respect to genetic polymorphism at both theADH ₂ and theALDH ₂ loci. The results suggest that individuals with highV _max β₂-ADH and deficient in low-K _m mitochondrial ALDH2, accounting for approximately 45% of the Chinese population, may end up with acetaldehyde accumulation during alcohol consumption, rendering them vulnerable to tissue injury caused by this highly reactive and toxic metabolite. This work was supported by Grants NSC 77-0412-B016-58 and NSC 80-0412-B016-21 from the National Science Council, Republic of China.     

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 3B1 (ALDH3B1): Immunohistochemical Tissue Distribution and Cellular-specific Localization in Normal and Cancerous Human Tissues

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes are critical in the detoxification of endogenous and exogenous aldehydes. Our previous findings indicate that the ALDH3B1 enzyme is expressed in several mouse tissues and is catalytically active toward aldehydes derived from lipid peroxidation, suggesting a potential role against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to elucidate by immunohistochemistry the tissue, cellular, and subcellular distribution of ALDH3B1 in normal human tissues and in tumors of human lung, colon, breast, and ovary. Our results indicate that ALDH3B1 is expressed in a tissue-specific manner and in a limited number of cell types, including hepatocytes, proximal convoluted tubule cells, cerebellar astrocytes, bronchiole ciliated cells, testis efferent ductule ciliated cells, and histiocytes. ALDH3B1 expression was upregulated in a high percentage of human tumors (lung > breast = ovarian > colon). Increased ALDH3B1 expression in tumor cells may confer a growth advantage or be the result of an induction mechanism mediated by increased oxidative stress. Subcellular localization of ALDH3B1 was predominantly cytosolic in tissues, with the exception of normal human lung and testis, in which localization appeared membrane-bound or membrane-associated. The specificity of ALDH3B1 distribution may prove to be directly related to the functional role of this enzyme in human tissues. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:765–783, 2010)     

An RNA interference based study for the role of ALDH1 in keratinocytes: DNA microarray,antibody–chip array and bioinformatics approaches

The role of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been probed in several diseases, especially in various types of cancers. However, the role of ALDH1 in skin cells has not been well elucidated. In this study, we aimed to identify critical factors associated with ALDH1 in keratinocytes through gene and protein expression profiling approaches. To this end, we conducted serial OMICS studies, including DNA microarray analysis, integrated antibody–chip arrays, and the implementation of bioinformatics algorithms designed to integrate siRNA data upon ALDH1 silencing. Cumulatively, these approaches identified several novel genes and proteins in keratinocytes associated with the downregulation of ALDH1. These novel genes and proteins included CYP1A1, a member of the cytochrome family of enzymes; extracellular matrix genes; and cytokines and chemokines, which are believed to play important roles in ALDH1-associated skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. By integrating the datasets obtained from these complementary high-throughput OMICS studies and utilizing the strengths of each method, we obtained new insights into the functional role of ALDH1 in skin cells. The approach used here could help contribute to our clinical understanding of ALDH1-associated diseases, and may also be broadly applicable to a wider range of diseases.