L-ascorbic acid 2-sulphate. A substrate for mammalian arylsulphatases.

Ascorbic acid 2-sulphate has a stability in acid comparable to that of phenyl sulphate and is rather more acid-labile than simple carbohydrate sulphates. At its optimum pH of 4.8 sulphatase A(aryl-sulphate sulphohydrolase EC 3.1.6.1.) hydrolyses ascorbic acid sulphate with a specific activity of 90 mumol/mg per min (150 mumol/mg per min with nitrocatechol sulphate at pH 5.6). At pH 4.8 the kinetics are non-Michaelis. At pH 5.6 Michaelis kinetics are obeyed and Km 12 21 mM ascorbic acid 2-sulphate. K2SO4 is a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 0.2 and 0.6 mM at pH 4.8 and 5.6, respectively. Sulphatase A is converted into a substrate-modified form during its hydrolysis of ascorbic acid sulphate. Sulphatase B also hydrolyses ascorbic acid 2-sulphate. At pH 4.8 and in the presence of 0.15 M NaCl the specific activity is 0.92 mumol/mg per min (90 mumol/mg per min for nitrocatechol sulphate at pH 5.6). In the absence of NaCl the activity is greatly decreased. Km is 8 mM. K2SO4 is a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 0.1 mM. Ascorbic acid is not hydrolysed at a detectable rate by the arylsulphatases of the mollusc Dicathais orbita or of Aerobacter aerogenes.?     

Effect of large doses of ascorbic acid on the hepatic and extra-hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in guinea pig

Water solubility and non-toxic properties of ascorbic acid are taken as criteria for beneficial effects of large doses of the vitamin. In the present study, male guinea pigs, dosed daily with 15, 30 or 50 mg/100g body weight for 10 weeks, demonstrated no differences in effect on liver and lung weights, body growth and microsomal protein contents of liver and lung when compared with controls. When guinea pigs were fed excessive ascorbic acid, there was a small non-significant increase (p less than 0.05) in hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450, and significant increase (p less than 0.05) in hepatic cytochrome b5 which was accompanied with a significant increase in arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in the two organs. Activity of NADPH-dependent cytochrome c-reductase was decreased in liver and remained unaffected in lung and colon. Drug detoxifying enzymes responded in different ways to increased intake of ascorbic acid. Activity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase remained unchanged on feeding excessive ascorbic acid, whereas glutathione S-transferase was decreased significantly in liver and was unaltered in lung and colon. Reduced glutathione was decreased only in the lung. The observed changes in drug activating and detoxifying enzymes appear to be important from drug pharmacokinetics and carcinogenesis point of view.     

Sulpholipid metabolism in developing chicken retina.

Glycolipid analysis of chicken retina and brain indicated the presence of cerebroside, cerebroside 3-sulphate and sulphogalactosylglycerolipid In retina, the ratio of cerebroside to cerebroside 3-sulphate was approximately half compared to brain. During chicken retina ontogenesis the ratio of cerebroside 3-sulphate to sulphogalactosylglycerolipid increased rapidly and in the adult animal, the amount of cerebroside 3-sulphate was 14 times higher than that of sulphogalactosylglycerolipid. The activity of PAPS: cerebroside sulphotransferase and arylsulphatase A in developing chicken retina indicated that the general ontogenic profiles of retinal PAPS: cerebroside sulphotransferase and arylsulphatase A were similar to those obtained for the brain. Both the enzymes showed the highest activity just before hatching. The significance of occurrence of sulpholipids in retina is discussed.     

Effect of exogenous ascorbic acid intake on biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in mice

The effect of exogenous ascorbic acid intake on biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in mice has been studied. After the mice were on diets containing added ascorbic acid for two months, the activities of ascorbic acid synthesizing enzymes in the mouse liver homogenates were measured using L-gulono-gamma-lactone as a substrate. Exogenous ascorbic acid intake (0.5, 1 or 5% in the diet) was able to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the blood and to decrease the activities of ascorbic acid synthesizing enzymes in mouse liver. The results suggest that ascorbic acid synthesis was controlled by local regulatory mechanism or by the concentration of ascorbic acid in the hepatic portal blood. Ingestion of dietary erythorbic acid, a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid, had no effect on the activities of ascorbic acid synthesizing enzymes.     

Influence of some environmental variables on the ascorbic acid status of mullet, Mugil cephalus L., tissues

The seasonal fluctuations in the ascorbic acid (AsA) and ascorbic acid 2-sulphate (AsA 2-sulphate) content of mullet, Mugil cephalus , tissues were examined. Ascorbic acid concentrations in brain, gill and hepatic tissues showed seasonal changes, but the pattern of AsA fluctuations in each tissue differed. The AsA content of mullet brains decreased during the summer, whereas hepatic AsA concentrations increased during this period and were maximal by the end of June. Hepatic AsA reserves declined after environmental water temperatures dropped below 18°C and reached a minimum (20 μg g⁻¹) by the end of January. Greatest fluctuations in AsA content occurred in gill tissues, which had a four-fold range of tissue concentrations. There were also seasonal changes in the AsA 2-sulphate content of brain and hepatic tissues. These differences among mullet tissues in the seasonal patterns of AsA content may be due to diverse effects of environmental variables on tissue AsA reserves. The ability of hepatic and renal tissues of mullet and several other teleost species to synthesize AsA was also investigated. L-gulonolactone oxidase activity was detected in all the species examined, but in all cases the biosynthetic capacity was less than a seventh that in goldfish, Carassius auratus , livers. Mullet appear to have only a limited capacity to synthesize AsA.     

Extracellular ascorbic acid in lung

Fifty percent of the ascorbic acid content of sliced rat lung was released from tissue to the media within a few minutes by either washing or incubating the slices with Kreb-phosphate solution. Measurement of the lactate dehydrogenase and potassium content of the medium after incubating lung slices for 5 min showed that about 20% of the cells were damaged by slicing.Sephadex chromatography of tissue extracts prepared from washed lung slices showed that none of the ascorbic acid in these slices was bound to protein. Also, metabolic poisons were shown to deplete the ascorbic acid content of washed lung slices.Approx. 57% of the lung ascorbic acid of guinea pigs that had been supplemented with ascorbic acid and 78% of the lung ascorbic acid of ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pigs were found in the medium when lung slices from these animals were incubated with Krebs-phosphate solution.These results were taken to indicate the presence of an extracellular pool of ascorbic acid in lung which is maintained even during scurvy.     

Activity of microsomal heme oxygenase in liver and spleen of ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pigs

Hepatic heme oxygenase activity was significantly altered in vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs. It was increased two-fold after 14 days and was decreased by 20% after 21 days of deprivation of the vitamin (always in comparison with the control value). The apparent Km of the enzyme was also altered in the course of ascorbic acid deficiency. The data of hepatic heme oxygenase activity correspond to previous results on the metabolism of hepatic cytochrome P-450 in different stages of ascorbic acid deprivation. Splenic heme oxygenase activity decreased progressively arriving at 50% of the control value after 21 days of vitamin C omission, its apparent Km remained unaltered.     

Effect of different doses of ascorbic acid on thyroid activity in rats at different levels of dietary protein intake.

Rats, which can synthesize vitamin C, react similarly to graded doses of ascorbic acid as guinea pigs. Low doses of ascorbic acid stimulate and high doses inhibit the thyroid activity of rats which are supplied with normal and high percentages of protein. The stimulatory effect of low doses of ascorbic acid on hyperactive thyroid of high protein fed animals is additive. Ascorbic acid has no significant effect on the thyroid of low protein fed animals (deficient diet supplied for 21 days). In the initial stages of protein deficiency (deficient diet supplied for 11 days) the effectiveness of vitamin C on thyroid of rats was still significant. Deiodinase enzyme activity of peripheral tissues is markedly reduced in animals supplied with 2% of protein for 21 days, but this effect is less intense in animals supplied with 2% of protein for 11 days.     

Effect of magnesium deficiency on the metabolism of glycosamino-glycans in rats

Magnesium deficiency in rats has significant effect on the concentration of different glycosaminoglycans in the tissues, the nature of the change being different in different tissues. Total glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin-4-sulphate + chondroitin-6-sulphate and dermatan sulphate increased in the aorta while hyaluronic acid, heparan sulphate and heparin decreased. In the liver, total glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin-4-sulphate + 6-sulphate and heparin decreased while total glycosamino-glycans and all the glycosaminoglycan fractions increased in the heart. In the kidney, total glycosaminoglycans showed no significant alteration, hyaluronic acid and heparin decreased while chondroitin-4-sulphate + 6-sulphate increased. Activity of biosynthetic enzymesviz. glucosamine-o-phosphate isomerase and UDPG-dehydrogenase showed decrease in the liver. The concentration of 3’-phosphoadenosine 5’-phosphosulphate, activity of sulphate activating system and sulphotransferase were also similarly altered in the liver in magnesium deficiency.     

The sulphation of chondroitin sulphate in embryonic chicken cartilage

1. Whole tissue preparations and subcellular fractions from embryonic chicken cartilage were used to measure the rate of incorporation of inorganic sulphate into chondroitin sulphate in vitro. 2. In cartilage from 14-day-old embryos, [(35)S]sulphate is incorporated to an equal extent into chondroitin 4-sulphate and chondroitin 6-sulphate at a rate of 1.5nmoles of sulphate/hr./mg. dry wt. of cartilage. 3. Microsomal and soluble enzyme preparations from embryonic cartilage catalyse the transfer of sulphate from adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-sulphatophosphate into both chondroitin 4-sulphate and chondroitin 6-sulphate. 4. The effects of pH, ionic strength, adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-sulphatophosphate concentration and acceptor chondroitin sulphate concentration on the soluble sulphotransferase activity were examined. These factors all influence the activity of the sulphotransferase, and pH and incubation time also influence the percentage of chondroitin 4-sulphate formed.     

Oestrone sulphate sulphohydrolase activity in nuclear envelopes from human placenta cell nuclei.

Procedures for isolation, from human term placenta, of highly purified nuclei and nuclear envelopes with a low content of DNA are described. Both fractions contain oestrone sulphate sulphohydrolase activity. The enzyme from nuclear envelopes can be solubilized with Triton X-100 and, partially, with proteolytic enzymes. It does not require Ca2+ and is insensitive to Ag+ and agents reacting with SH groups. It is strongly inhibited by millimolar concentrations of sulphites and to a much smaller extent by phosphates. Oxidized forms of ascorbic acid, glutathione and NAD+ revealed a pronounced inhibitory effect, whereas reduced forms of these compounds produced a slight activation. It is proposed that oestrone sulphate sulphohydrolase activity in nuclear envelopes from human placenta is not exerted by arylsulphatase but represents a specific enzyme.     

Cytochrome oxidase and ascorbic acid oxidase activities in cereal plants

Cytochrome oxidase and ascorbic acid oxidase activities were investigated in rye, wheat, barley and oat plants. The variations in the activity of both enzymes was followed in the course of the initial 28 days of growth, as well as at the phase of milk ripeness, namely in the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial cell fractions of roots, leaves and spikes. Both enzymes were active in all measurements. Cytochrome oxidase mostly exhibited a higher activity than ascorbio acid oxidase. The activity of the former enzyme was substantially higher in the mitochondrial fraction of leaves, roots and spikes of the four experimental plants in comparison with the cytoplasmic fraction. On the contrary, the ascorbic acid oxidase activity varied in both cell fractions according to the plant species, organ and growth phase. The variations in the activity of both enzymes exhibited on the whole a course similar to that of the respiration rate. During the first 14 to 21 days of growth the enzyme activities increased up to the maximum. This was thon followed at first by a rapid, later on by a slow decrease. The course of variations in the enzyme activities was, with certain exceptions, alike in all the four plant species investigated.     

The sulphatase of ox liver. XXIV. The glycosulphatase activity of sulphatase a

The rhodizonic acid method for the determination of SO2-4 has been used to investigate the glycosulphatase activity of the sulphatase A (aryl-sulphate sulphohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.1) of ox liver. Sulphatase A hydrolyses D-glucopyranose and D-galactopyranose 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-sulphates: glucose sulphates are hydrolysed more rapidly than galactose sulphates and the 3-sulphates more rapidly than the other isomers. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxyglucopyranose 6-sulphate is not hydrolysed, nor is 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranose 1-sulphate. Sulphate is a competitive inhibitor of the glycosulphatase activity. Hydrolysis proceeds through fission of the O-S bond. Evidence is given that the hydrolysis of glucose 3-sulphate is accompanied by the formation of substrate-modified sulphatase A, although this has not been isolated. Sulphatase A has no detectable alkylsulphatase activity.     

Studies on the mutagenic activity of ascorbic acid in vitro and in vivo

In vitro data are presented to show that ascorbic acid does not have intrinsic mutagenicity towards strain TA100 of S. typhimurium if deionized water is used to prepare the incubation medium. The addition of Cu2+ ions to the bacterial medium that contains ascorbic acid, or the use of tap water and ascorbic acid alone, causes a mutagenic and cytotoxic response that is blocked by EDTA. Additional in vitro data demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide is mutagenic to S. typhimurium strain TA100 and it is suggested that ascorbic acid may be mutagenic and cytotoxic through the generation of hydrogen peroxide. In vivo studies using a sensitive intrahepatic host-mediated mutagenicity assay indicate that ascorbic acid is not genotoxic in guinea pigs even when the dietary intake of vitamin C is above the level required for tissue saturation (5000 mg/kg body weight/day).     

Effect of ascorbic acid and green tea on endogenous formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine and N-nitrosopiperidine in humans.

Many constituents present in the human diet may inhibit endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC). Studies with human volunteers showed inhibiting effects of intake of ascorbic acid and green tea consumption on nitrosation using the N-nitrosoproline test. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ascorbic acid and green tea on urinary excretion of carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) in humans. Twenty-five healthy female volunteers consumed a fish meal rich in amines as nitrosatable precursors in combination with intake of nitrate-containing drinking water at the Acceptable Daily Intake level during 7 consecutive days. During 1 week before and after nitrate intake a diet low in nitrate was consumed. Using the same protocol, the effect of two different doses of ascorbic acid (250 mg and 1 g/day) and two different doses of green tea (2 g and 4 g/day) on formation of NDMA and NPIP was studied. Mean nitrate excretion in urine significantly increased from control (76+/-24) to 167+/-25 mg/24 h. Intake of nitrate and fish resulted in a significant increase in mean urinary excretion of NDMA compared with the control weeks: 871+/-430 and 640+/-277 ng/24 h during days 1-3 and 4-7, respectively, compared with 385+/-196 ng/24 h (p<0.0002). Excretion of NPIP in urine was not related to nitrate intake and composition of the diet. Intake of 250 mg and 1 g of ascorbic acid per day resulted in a significant decrease in urinary NDMA excretion during days 4-7 (p=0.0001), but not during days 1-3. Also, consumption of four cups of green tea per day (2 g) significantly decreased excretion of NDMA during days 4-7 (p=0.0035), but not during days 1-3. Surprisingly, consumption of eight cups of green tea per day (4 g) significantly increased NDMA excretion during days 4-7 (p=0.0001), again not during days 1-3. This increase is probably a result of catalytic effects of tea polyphenols on nitrosation, or of another, yet unknown, mechanism. These results suggest that intake of ascorbic acid and moderate consumption of green tea can reduce endogenous NDMA formation.     

Inhibition of key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in regenerating mouse liver by ascorbic acid.

The effect of ascorbic acid on the key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism e.g. hexokinases, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme was determined in regenerating mouse liver. All the enzymes showed a significant increase in the activity during regeneration. Ascorbic acid reduced the activities of the enzymes in regenerating liver. A decrease in liver weight in ascorbic acid treated animals may be correlated with its effect on these enzymes as glycolytic pathway is the main source of energy required by the dividing cells.     

Correction of biochemical and immunological indices in colonic cancer using optimal doses of retinyl acetate and ascorbic acid

Blood plasma retinol level in normal donors and patients with colonic carcinoma was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography and the concentration of p-hydroxyphenyl lactic and homogentizine acids by Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer MAT-311A using 2H4-p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid as internal reference. The functional activity of lymphocytes was estimated from the proliferative response to alloantigens in a one-way mixed lymphocyte culture and in blast transformation reaction to Con A and pokeweed mitogen. After systematic intake of retinyl acetate and ascorbic acid in optimally high doses, the patients manifested an increase in vitamin C level in plasma and lymphocytes and a lowering of p-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid excretion. Blood plasma retinol remained unchanged. Daily intake of retinyl acetate and ascorbic acid for 8-12 days produced a significant increase of lymphocyte proliferation in response to alloantigens in mixed lymphocyte culture and blast transformation reaction to suboptimal mitogen doses.     

THE NATURE OF SULPHATION OF URONIC ACID-CONTAINING GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS CATALYSED BY BRAIN SULPHOTRANSFERASE

—A sulphotransferase system of rat brain catalyses the transfer of sulphate from 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulphate to the low-sulphated glycosaminoglycans isolated from normal adult human brain. These were shown to be precursors of higher-sulphated glycosaminoglycans by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography and paper electrophoresis. Nitrous acid degradation and mild acid hydrolysis of enzymically-sulphated fractions further confirmed the presence of heparan sulphate in human brain. A partially purified sulphotransferase preparation was obtained from neonatal human brain using chondroitin-4-sulphate as sulphate acceptor. This sulphotransferase catalyses the transfer of sulphate to the various uronic acid containing glycosaminoglycans. Heparan sulphate was the best sulphate acceptor followed by dermatan sulphate, N-desulphoheparin, chondroitin-4-sulphate and chondroitin-6-sulphate in decreasing order. Sulphotransferase obtained from 1-day-old rat, rabbit and guinea pig brain also had the same pattern of specificity towards various sulphate acceptors. This sulphotransferase catalyses both N-sulphation and O-sulphation. Studies on the sulphotransferase obtained from both rat and human brain of various age groups indicate that the ratio of N-sulphation: O-sulphation decreases as the brain matures.     

The effect of molybdenum on ascorbic acid metabolism in rats

1. The effect of dietary molybdenum on the growth rate and also on ascorbic acid metabolism in rats was studied. An excess of dietary molybdenum resulted in growth retardation and loss of weight. Tolerance to molybdenum was affected by the nature of the molybdenum salt administered. 2. Molybdenum ingestion altered certain aspects of ascorbic acid metabolism in rats. The conversion of d-glucuronolactone into l-ascorbic acid in vitro and the oxidative breakdown of l-ascorbic acid by liver enzymes decreased with high molybdenum intakes. The activity of liver uronolactonase was slightly inhibited. The activities of l-gulonate dehydrogenase and l-gulonate decarboxylase were not affected appreciably. 3. Molybdenum supplementation of the control diet resulted in an increase in ascorbic acid content of spleen and adrenal gland, and in a marked decrease in the urinary excretion of ascorbic acid and glucuronic acid. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

维生素C对凡纳滨对虾生长及抗病力的影响

以不同水平维生素C 2 磷酸酯 (添加量分别为 0、75、15 0、30 0和 6 0 0mg/kg)的饲料喂养凡纳滨对虾 10周 ,研究维生素C 2 磷酸酯对凡纳滨对虾生长及抗病力的影响。结果显示 :在养殖前 4周 ,饲料中添加维生素C 2 磷酸酯显著促进凡纳滨对虾的生长 ,然而对对虾的成活以及饲料利用不产生影响 (P >0 0 5 ) ;而到实验后期添加维生素C 2 磷酸酯不能促进凡纳滨对虾的生长 ,却显著提高凡纳滨对虾的成活率 (P <0 0 5 )。维生素C 2 磷酸酯对对虾体水分、脂肪、蛋白质和维生素C在肝胰脏中的积累量的影响显著 (P <0 0 5 ) ,对对虾体灰分影响不显著 (P >0 0 5 )。维生素C 2 磷酸酯对对虾血清中超氧化物歧化酶活力无显著影响 ,饲料中未添加维生素C或过量添加 (超过 30 0mg/kg饲料 )均导致血清中酚氧化酶活力、血细胞总数和溶菌酶活力的显著下降。以生长、成活和酚氧化酶活力为指标 ,饲料中维生素C 2 磷酸酯的适宜添加量为 15 0mg/kg。