The compartmentation of non-esterified and esterified cholesterol in the superovulated rat ovary

1. The specific radioactivities of non-esterified and esterified cholesterol, progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one were determined in slices of superovulated rat ovary after incubation with [1-(14)C]acetate in vitro for various times. The specific radioactivities of progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one were equal, and (during the fourth hour of incubation) exceeded those of the non-esterified cholesterol and the esterified cholesterol by factors of 2.8 and 7.6 respectively. 2. After separation of homogenates of superovulated rat ovary slices previously incubated with [(14)C]acetate into subcellular fractions by differential centrifugation, the specific radioactivities of non-esterified cholesterol in the cytosol, mitochondria, lipid-containing storage granules and microsomal fraction were 1220, 1510, 1420 and 4020d.p.m./mumol respectively; the corresponding values for the specific radioactivity of the esterified cholesterol were 600, 700, 730 and 760d.p.m./mumol. The specific radioactivities of progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one were equal in all fractions; the corresponding mean specific radioactivity of progesterone+20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one was 6150d.p.m./mumol. 3. By using glutamate dehydrogenase and cytochrome (a+a(3)) as mitochondrial markers, the presence of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme was demonstrated in microsomal fraction free of mitochondrial contamination. 4. The specific radioactivities of ovarian non-esterified and esterified cholesterol, progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one were determined up to 8h after the intravenous injection of [4-(14)C]cholesterol into superovulated rats. At all times the specific radioactivities of progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one were equal to the specific radioactivity of non-esterified cholesterol and exceeded, by up to 3.3-fold, that of the esterified cholesterol. 5. It is concluded that non-esterified cholesterol formed from [(14)C]acetate in the endoplasmic reticulum equilibrates slowly with non-esterified cholesterol in other subcellular fractions, and is preferentially converted into steroids. Such a mechanism presupposes the operation of a microsomal cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme using non-esterified cholesterol as its substrate. Unrelated evidence is presented in support of the existence of such an enzyme. The results are discussed in the light of other biochemical and electron-microscopic findings relating to the compartmentation of cholesterol in steroidogenic tissues.     

Immunological and kinetic properties of pyruvate kinase in rat pancreatic islets

Pyruvate kinase in rat pancreatic islets was characterized immunologically and kinetically. It is concluded that this activity is predominantly if not totally of the M₂ type.     

Purification and regulation of mevalonate kinase from rat liver

Mevalonate kinase may play a key role in regulating cholesterol biosynthesis because its activity may be regulated via feedback inhibition by intermediates in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. To study the regulation of mevalonate kinase, the enzyme was purified to homogeneity from rat liver, and monospecific antibody against mevalonate kinase was prepared. The purified mevalonate kinase had a dimeric structure composed of identical subunits, and the Mr of the enzyme determined by gel chromatography was 86,000. Based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the subunit Mr was 39,900. The pI for mevalonate kinate was 6.2. The levels of mevalonate kinase protein and enzyme activity were determined in the livers of rats treated with either cholesterol-lowering agents (cholestyramine, pravastatin, and lovastatin) or with dietary modifications. Diets containing cholestyramine alone or cholestyramine and either pravastatin or lovastatin increased mevalonate kinase activity 3-6-fold. Mevalonate kinase activity decreased approximately 50% in rats treated with diets containing either 5% cholesterol or 5% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid. Fasting did not significantly change mevalonate kinase activity. The amount of mevalonate kinase protein in the liver was quantitated using immunoblots, and the changes in the levels of kinase activity induced by either drug treatment or by cholesterol feeding were correlated with similar changes in the levels of mevalonate kinase protein. Therefore, under these experimental conditions, mevalonate kinase activity in the liver was regulated principally by changes in the rates of enzyme synthesis and degradation.     

Purification and kinetic properties of polynucleotide kinase from rat testes

Polynucleotide kinase (EC 2.7.1.78) has been purified from rat testes, and an approximately 2000-fold purification was obtained. The purified enzyme had an Mr of 38000 +/- 3800. The enzyme phosphorylated micrococcal nuclease-treated calf thymus DNA and (dT)10 while 5'-HO-tRNA was a very poor substrate. A certain degree of specificity towards purine-containing 5'-HO-nucleotides was observed. The polynucleotide kinase had an absolute requirement for a divalent cation. Both Mg2+ and Mn2+ could be used, but 10 mM MgCl2 gave optimal activity. The monovalent cations Na+, K+ and NH4+ all stimulated enzyme activity, and the optimal concentration was 0.1 M. The enzyme was inhibited by inorganic phosphate, pyrophosphate and sulphate. A 50% inhibition was obtained with 20, 0.3 and 2 mM, respectively. At 2 mM MgCl2, 1 mM spermine enhanced the enzyme activity 3-times. The apparent KATP was estimated to be 36 microM and KHO-DNA was found to be 2 microM.     

Metabolism of endogenous sterol ester by the superovulated rat ovary in vitro

Sterol, glyceride and phospholipid were found to account for more than 90% (w/w) of the lipid extracted from whole superovulated rat ovaries. These lipids, together with non-esterified fatty acids, were assayed in slices of the tissue after incubation for various times. Whereas the concentrations of triglyceride, diglyceride and phospholipid did not change significantly during incubation, that of sterol ester markedly decreased and those of free sterol, monoglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid increased. Evidence is presented that in this tissue (in contrast with other mammalian tissues) the main endogenous substrate for respiration is fatty acid derived from sterol ester.     

Inhibition of rat liver mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase and mevalonate phosphate kinase by phenyl and phenolic compounds.

1. Mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase of rat liver is inhibited by various phenyl and phenolic acids. 2. Some of the phenyl and phenolic acids also inhibited mevalonate phosphate kinase. 3. Compounds with the phenyl-vinyl structure were more effective. 4. Kinetic studies showed that some of the phenolic acids compete with the substrates, mevalonate 5-phosphate and mevalonate 5-pyrophosphate, whereas others inhibit umcompetitively. 5. Dihydroxyphenyl and trihydroxyphenyl compounds and p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, a hypocholesterolaemic drug, had no effect on these enzymes. 6. Of the three mevalonate-metabolizing enzymes, mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase has the lowest specific activity and is probably the rate-determining step in this part of the pathway.     

Cloning,expression, and purification of His-tagged rat mevalonate kinase

Mevalonate kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of mevalonic acid to form mevalonate 5-phosphate, which plays a key role in regulating cholesterol biosynthesis in animal cells. Deficiency of mevalonate kinase activity in the human body has been linked to mevalonic aciduria and hyperimmunoglobulinemia D/periodic fever syndrome (HIDS). We cloned the gene of rat mevalonate kinase into a bacterial expression vector pLM1 with six continuous histidine codons attached to the 5(') of the gene. The cloned gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the soluble protein was purified with a nickel HiTrap chelating metal affinity column in 90% yield to apparent homogeneity. The purified rat mevalonate kinase had a dimeric structure composed of identical subunits. Based on SDS-PAGE, the subunit was 42 kDa. The specific activity of the purified His-tagged rat mevalonate kinase was 32.7 micromol/min/mg and the optimal pH was found to be 7.0-8.0 in phosphate buffer. The Michaelis constant K(M) was 35 microM for (RS)-mevalonate and 953 microM for ATP, respectively. The V(max) was determined to be 38.7 micromol/min/mg. The overexpression of rat mevalonate kinase in E. coli and one-step purification of the highly active rat mevalonate kinase will facilitate further our investigation of this enzyme through site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme-catalyzed reactions with substrate analogs.     

Partial purification and properties of mevalonate kinase from neonatal chick liver

Mevalonate kinase from neonatal chick liver has been partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephadex G100 and DEAE-cellulose fractionation. The kinetic characteristics agreed with the sequential mechanism suggested for the enzyme and provided apparent Km values of 0.01 mM for mevalonic acid and 0.25 mM for ATP. Partially purified mevalonate kinase from neonatal chick liver showed an absolute specificity for ATP. Mn2+ was a better activator than Mg2+ at low concentrations (0.1-1.0 mM). Higher Mn2+ concentrations produced a clear inhibition of mevalonate kinase. Likewise, addition of EDTA, with or without metal ions, clearly inhibited the enzymatic reaction.     

The purification and properties of aldose reductase from rat ovary

Aldose reductase has been highly purified from rat ovary to apparent homogeneity, as assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme proved to be a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of about 39,900. The enzyme catalyzed the NADPH-dependent reduction of a number of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes as well as aldo-sugars. The enzyme was potently inhibited by p-chloro-mercuribenzoate and a commercially developed aldose reductase inhibitor, M79175. The result of an immunoinhibition study, using antibody against the purified enzyme, indicated that the enzyme was responsible for more than 50% of the overall catalytic activity of D-glucose reduction in rat ovarian cytosol. Western blotting analysis revealed that immunoreactive proteins to anti-ovarian aldose reductase antibody were present in adrenal gland, various reproductive tissues, brain, lung, and heart of rats. Furthermore, ovarian tissues of various species contained immunoreactive proteins, though in small amounts. The enzyme was primarily localized in the granulosa cells and oocytes of all stages of follicular development during the estrous cycle, though it was also found in the corpora lutea cells in the pregnant rats.     

Weekly oral alendronate in mevalonate kinase deficiency

Background

Mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) is caused by mutations in the MVK gene, encoding the second enzyme of mevalonate pathway, which results in subsequent shortage of downstream compounds, and starts in childhood with febrile attacks, skin, joint, and gastrointestinal symptoms, sometimes induced by vaccinations.

Methods

For a history of early-onset corticosteroid-induced reduction of bone mineral density in a 14-year-old boy with MKD, who also had presented three bone fractures, we administered weekly oral alendronate, a drug widely used in the management of osteoporosis and other high bone turnover diseases, which blocks mevalonate and halts the prenylation process.

Results

All of the patient’s MKD clinical and laboratory abnormalities were resolved after starting alendronate treatment.

Conclusions

This observation appears enigmatic, since alendronate should reinforce the metabolic block characterizing MKD, but is crucial because of the ultimate improvement shown by this patient. The anti-inflammatory properties of bisphosphonates are a new question for debate among physicians across various specialties, and requires further biochemical and clinical investigation.

     

Expression, purification, and characterization of His20 mutants of rat mevalonate kinase

Mevalonate kinase plays a key role in regulating the biosynthesis of cholesterol in animal cells. Human mevalonate kinase His20Pro has been reported as one of the three common mutations in the mevalonate kinase gene in mevalonic aciduria and hyperimmunoglobulinemia D/periodic fever syndrome patients. His20 is also a highly conserved residue among all aligned mevalonate kinase sequences. To study the role of His20 of mevalonate kinase, a variety of mutant expression plasmids of rat mevalonate kinase including pRMK(H20L), pRMK(H20Y), and pRMK(H20K) were constructed using site-directed mutagenesis, and mutant proteins were overexpressed and purified. CD spectroscopy of wild-type protein and mutants indicated that mutations H20L and H20Y did not induce significant secondary structural changes. The results from kinetic studies showed that this highly conserved histidine is an important residue for the function of the enzyme.     

Gene expression, cellular localization, and enzymatic activity of diacylglycerol kinase isozymes in rat ovary and placenta

Female reproductive organs show remarkable cyclic changes in morphology and function in response to a combination of hormones. Evidence has accumulated suggesting that phosphoinositide turnover and the consequent diacylglycerol (DG) protein kinase C (PKC) pathway are intimately involved in these mechanisms. The present study has been performed to investigate the gene expression, cellular localization, and enzymatic activity of the DG kinase (DGK) isozymes that control the DG-PKC pathway. Gene expression for DGK, -, -, and - was detected in the ovary and placenta. Intense expression signals for DGK and - were observed in the theca cells and moderate signals in the interstitium and corpora lutea of the ovary. On the other hand, signals for DGK were seen more intensely in granulosa cells. In the placenta, signals for DGK and - were observed in the junctional zone, whereas those for DGK were detected in the labyrinthine zone. At higher magnification, the signals for DGK were mainly discerned in giant cytotrophoblasts, and those for DGK were found in small cytotrophoblasts of the junctional zone. DGK signals were observed in all cellular components of the labyrinthine zone, including mesenchyme, trabecular trophoblasts, and cytotrophoblasts. DGK signals were detected in the junctional zone on day 13 and 15 of pregnancy and were diffusely distributed both in the labyrinthine and junctional zones at later stages. The present study reveals distinct patterns of mRNA localization for DGK isozymes in the rat ovary and placenta, suggesting that each isozyme plays a unique role in distinct cell types in these organs.This work was supported by Grants-in-Aids from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, the Uehara Memorial Foundation, the ONO Medical Research Foundation, the Ciba-Geigy Foundation (Japan) for the Promotion of Science, the Kato Memorial Bioscience Foundation, and the Yamagata Health Support Foundation (to K.G.).     

Physical and kinetic properties of sheep liver pyridoxine kinase

Pyridoxine kinase purified from sheep liver was found to consist of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 60,000 as determined by gel filtration, sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric pH of the enzyme was 5.1, and the pH optimum was between 5.5 and 6.0. The enzyme required divalent cations for activity. At cation concentrations of 80 μm, the enzyme activity with each cation was in the order of Zn²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Mg²⁺. At cation concentrations of 400 μm, the enzyme activity with each cation was in the order of Mn²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Mg²⁺. Excess free divalent cation inhibited the enzyme. Pyridoxine kinase also required monovalent cations. The enzyme activation was greatest with K⁺, then Rb⁺ and NH₄⁺, whereas the enzyme had very little activity with Na⁺, Li⁺, or Cs⁺. Na⁺ did not interfere with the activation by K⁺. The activation of the kinase by K⁺, NH₄⁺, and Rb⁺ followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and the apparent K_m values for the cations were 8.9, 3.7, and 5.3 mm, respectively. Increasing the potassium concentration lowered the apparent K_m value of the enzyme for pyridoxine and had little or no effect on the K_m for ZnATP^2? or the V of the kinase-catalyzed reaction.     

The purification and properties of NADPH-dependent carbonyl reductases from rat ovary

Two carbonyl reductases have been highly purified from rat ovary to apparent homogeneity. Though they have similarities in terms of molecular weight (33,000), substrate specificities, inhibitor sensitivities, amino acid composition, and immunological properties, they differed in pI values (6.0 and 5.9). Both enzymes reduced aromatic aldehydes, ketones, and quinones at higher rates, compared to prostaglandins and 3-ketosteroids, whereas they showed higher affinity for prostaglandins and 3-ketosteroids. The enzymes also catalyzed oxidation of the 9-hydroxy group of prostaglandin F2 alpha. Moreover, they showed the remarkable characteristic of catalyzing the reduction of not only the 9-keto group of prostaglandin E2 but also the 15-keto group of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha. Both enzymes were inhibited by SH-reagents, quercitrin, indomethacin, furosemide, and disulfiram. The results of immunoinhibition, using antibody against the purified enzymes, indicated that the enzymes were solely responsible for the overall catalytic activities of prostaglandin E series reduction, as well as 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha reduction and prostaglandin F2 alpha oxidation in rat ovarian cytosol. Western-blot analysis revealed that immunoreactive proteins were present in adrenal gland and various reproductive tissues except uterus of rats.     

The catalytic-centre activity and kinetic properties of bovine milk alkaline phosphatase

1. The phosphorylation of milk alkaline phosphatase was studied under various conditions: maximum incorporation occurred at pH5.0 and 50% incorporation at pH6.6-7.0. 2. The phosphorylation was shown to be specific and the results suggest that the active centre of the enzyme is involved in the process. 3. Phosphoryl-enzyme is rapidly hydrolysed at alkaline pH. at pH7.0 the results suggest that a phosphoryl-enzyme could occur as a transient intermediate in the hydrolysis of phosphate esters by the phosphatase. 4. The catalytic-centre activity of the enzyme was found to be 2700sec.(-1) at pH10.0 and 25 degrees with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate.