Reduction and S-nitrosation of the neuropeptide oxytocin: implications for its biological function.

Oxytocin (OT; Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-leu-Gly), a posterior pituitary peptide hormone, is characterized by a Cys1-Cys6 disulfide bond in its stable, isolated state. This paper describes a simple, one-step method for the production of OT in its reduced, dithiol form (OT dithiol), free of reducing agent. The effects of temperature, pH, and metal-ion chelators on the autoxidation of OT dithiol were examined to establish if this form is likely to persist under biological conditions. It was found that OT dithiol has a half-life of 1.8h with respect to reformation of OT disulfide at 37 degrees C and pH 6.9 in the presence of the copper chelators, DTPA and neocuproine. S-Nitrosation of OT dithiol by acidified nitrite at pH 3.0 was examined by absorption spectroscopy and HPLC-UV-MS, which revealed that both singly and doubly S-nitrosated OT are formed. These results suggest novel chemical aspects to OT signaling, the biological implications of which are discussed here.     

S-nitrosation of mitochondrial complex I depends on its structural conformation

Nitric oxide is known to cause persistent inhibition of mitochondrial respiration as a result of S-nitrosation of NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) (Clementi, E., Brown, G. C., Feelisch, M., and Moncada, S. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 7631-7636). Little is known about whether such nitrosation occurs in physiological conditions and, if so, what are the possible cellular mechanisms. We have now found that the conformational state (active/deactive transition (Vinogradov, A. D. (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1364, 169-185)) of mitochondrial complex I is an important factor for the interaction of the enzyme with nitrosothiols and peroxynitrite. Only the deactivated, idle form of complex I was susceptible to inhibition by nitrosothiols and peroxynitrite. In contrast, the active form of the enzyme was insensitive to such treatment. Neither form of complex I was inhibited by nitric oxide itself. Our data suggest that the process of active/deactive transition plays an important role in the regulation of complex I activity and cellular respiration by nitric oxide. The implications of this finding for hypoxic or pathophysiological conditions in vivo are discussed.     

Mechanisms common to biological macromolecules and gels

Functional Biological macromolecules arising from folding, cross-connection and solvation of long chain biopolymers forming three-dimensional networks may be regarded as Gels. Both involve identical internal competitive forces that are selectively influenced by external conditions and conspire to adjust conformations and modulate activities. In spite of important differences in size, chemical composition, polymer bonding, density and configuration, biological macromolecules indeed manifest some of the essential physical-chemical properties of gels when involved in equilibria and rate processes. This result represents a presumptive evidence for common underlying mechanisms in functional molecules and gels. Thus, the present and highly perfectible model explains why and how, depending on initial conditions, a system may respond differently to an external parameter, and similarly to different parameters. Moreover, the fact that any localized change in one of the competitive forces gives to a pressure in the system as a whole provides an explanation for the mechanism of the transmission of information.     

Mechanisms of formation and biological role of protein carbamates

Experimental data are presented evidencing for the fact that tissue proteins under conditions in vivo are subjected to enzymic carboxylation with formation of carbaminic groups. In this case a charge variation in definite sites of protein molecule is observed, which specifies variation of the protein conformation and biological properties. Basic regularities of protein carbamate formation reactions are revealed with factors affecting their intensity enumerated. The reactions are shown to be of great biological significance for the respiration processes, realization of hormonal effects of peptide and protein hormones as well as for regulation of tissue homeostasis under conditions of acidic-alkaline state variation in the organism.     

Reversible S-nitrosation and inhibition of HIV-1 protease.

Nitric oxide (*NO) is a short-lived free radical with many functions including vasoregulation, synaptic plasticity, and immune modulation and has recently been associated with AIDS pathology. Various pathophysiological conditions, such as viral infection, trigger inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to synthesize NO in the cell. NO-derived species can react with thiols of proteins and form nitrosothiol adducts. HIV-1 protease (HIV-PR) contains two cysteine residues, Cys67 and Cys95, which are believed to serve a regulatory function. We have found that HIV-PR is inactivated by nitric oxide produced in vitro by NO donors and by iNOS. Sodium nitroprusside inhibited HIV-PR by 70%, and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine completely inhibited the enzyme. Furthermore, iNOS generated sufficient NO to inhibit HIV-PR activity by almost 90%. This inactivation was reversed by the addition of reducing agents. Treatment of HIV-PR with NO donors and ritonavir (a competitive peptide inhibitor) indicates that NO exerts its effect through a site independent of the active site of HIV-PR. Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, we found that NO forms S-nitrosothiols on Cys67 and Cys95 of HIV-PR which directly correlate with a loss of activity. These data indicate that NO may suppress HIV-1 replication by directly inhibiting HIV-PR.     

衰老机制及其学说

不同物种,同一个体的不同组织和细胞,它们的衰老速度并不相同。究其原因,遗传与环境都能影响衰老的进程。个体的平均寿命和物种的最高寿限可以从不同侧面反映衰老的进程。目前认为平均寿命主要与环境相关,而物种最高寿限与遗传相关。从两者的关系看,不良环境影响是通过对遗传物质或其产物的作用而影响衰老的进程。从遗传因素看,衰老并非由单一基因或单一作用所决定,而是一连串基因激活和阻抑及其通过各自产物相互作用的结果。DNA（特别是线粒体DNA）并不像原先设想的那样稳定,目前业已证明,包括基因在内的遗传控制体系可受内、外环境,特别是氧自由基等损伤因素的影响,从而加速衰老的进程。     

蛋白质巯基亚硝基化———一种典型氧化还原依赖的蛋白质翻译后修饰

综述了蛋白质巯基亚硝基化修饰的特点、检测方法、功能研究、相关疾病和发展态势.蛋白质巯基亚硝基化(S-nitrosation)是指一氧化氮(nitricoxide,NO)及其衍生物修饰蛋白质半胱氨酸(cysteine,Cys)巯基—SH生成—SNO,其是一种典型的氧化还原依赖的蛋白质翻译后修饰,也是一氧化氮发挥其广泛信号转导作用的新的重要途径.     

Fluorometric measurement of tin-protoporphyrin in biological samples

Sn-protoporphyrin is a potent competitive inhibitor of heme oxygenase, can suppress neonatal and other forms of hyperbilirubinemia in laboratory animals, and represents a potential new approach to the treatment of neonatal jaundice in humans. In order to study the disposition of Sn-protoporphyrin in vivo we have developed a sensitive fluorometric method for the quantitation of this metalloporphyrin in biological samples. The method is sensitive to concentrations as low as 0.01 nmol/ml, and is specific for Sn-protoporphyrin even in the presence of other porphyrins such as protoporphyrin.     

Decreased S-nitrosation of peptide thiols in the membrane interior

It has been proposed that autoxidation of nitric oxide (NO) stimulates S-nitrosation of thiols located in the hydrophobic milieu. We tested whether thiols located in hydrophobic membranes undergo enhanced S-nitrosation in the presence of NO/O₂. The transmembrane cysteinyl peptides C₄ (AcNH-KKACALA(LA)₆KK-CONH₂) and C₈ (AcNH-KKALALACALA(LA)₃KK-CONH₂) were incorporated into dilauroylphosphatidylcholine bilayers; their location in the membrane was determined by EPR spin labeling. The peptides, C₈ and C₄, and glutathione (GSH; 300 μM) were treated with a NO donor, DEA-NONOate, and nitrosothiol formation was determined under various O₂ levels. Surprisingly, the more hydrophobic cysteinyl peptide, C₈, did not yield any S-nitrosated product compared to GSH in the aqueous phase or C₄ peptide in the liposomes in the presence of NO/O₂. These data suggest that thiols located deeply in the hydrophobic core of the membrane may be less likely to undergo S-nitrosation in the presence of NO/O₂.     

Apelin及其生物学效应

Apelin是Tatemoto等利用反向药理学方法从牛胃分泌物中提取并纯化出的孤儿G蛋白偶联受体——血管紧张素受体AT1相关的受体蛋白(putativereceptorproteinrelatedtotheangiotensinreceptorAT1,APJ)的天然配体。Apelin及其受体APJ在体内分布广泛,以内分泌、旁/自分泌的方式调节心血管系统稳态、水盐平衡等,是一种重要的生理调节肽。有意义的是,Apelin还是一种免疫调节肽,可通过与其受体APJ结合抵抗病毒的入侵,抑制淋巴细胞胆碱能活性,参与免疫缺陷疾病和获得性免疫缺陷综合征(acquiredimmunedeficiencysyndrome,AIDS)免疫反应,调节免疫炎症因子生成,在调节免疫反应中起一定作用。作为心血管活性肽Apelin具有扩张血管、降低血压和增强心肌收缩力的效应;心血管疾病中,Apelin及其受体APJ均有不同程度的变化,在心力衰竭及心肌重塑中具有重要调节意义。