Diaphorase P: a new fetal isozyme identified in human placenta

Human placenta contains a thermostable, cytosolic NADH-diaphorase which is different from the other diaphorases and which we designate as diaphorase P. It is specific for NADH and reduces artificial substrates such as dichlorophenol and tetrazolium derivatives, but not natural substrates such as methemoglobin, cytochrome b5 or lipoate. It is antigenically distinct from the ubiquitous red-cell type NADH-diaphorase (soluble cytochrome b5 reductase) specified by the DIA1 locus. Using electrophoretic and immunologic methods, it was possible to detect diaphorase P in various fetal tissues (brain, liver, kidney, muscle), whereas was not found in adult tissues with the exception of the brain. This enzyme, the physiological role of which remains unknown, appears to belong, therefore, to the category of fetal proteins. Its resurgance in primary liver cancer was demonstrated in three cases.     

CYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF TWO GLYCOLYTIC DEHYDROGENASES IN WHITE SKELETAL MUSCLE

The cytochemical localization, by conventional methods, of lactate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases is limited, firstly, by the solubility of these enzymes in aqueous media and, secondly, by the dependence of the final electron flow from reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to the tetrazolium on tissue diaphorase activity: localization is therefore that of the diaphorase, which in rabbit adductor magnus is mitochondrial. NADH has been found to have great affinity to bind in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and, therefore, if it is generated freely in the incubation media containing 2,2',5,5'-tetra-p-nitrophenyl-3,3'-(3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-phenylene)-ditetrazolium chloride (TNBT) and N-methyl phenazonium methyl sulfate (PMS), it can bind there and cause a false staining. Since such a production of NADH can readily occur in the incubation media for glycolytic dehydrogenases due to diffusion of these soluble enzymes from tissue sections, the prevention of enzyme solubilization is extremely important. Fixation in formaldehyde prevented such enzyme diffusion, while at the same time sufficient activity persisted to allow for adequate staining. The incubation media contained PMS, so that the staining system was largely independent of tissue diaphorase activity. Application of these methods to adductor magnus of rabbit revealed by light microscopy, for both enzymes, a fine network which was shown by electron microscopy to represent staining of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Mitochondria also reacted. These findings add further support for the notion that the sarcoplasmic reticulum is probably involved in glycolytic activity.     

Electron transferase activity of diaphorase (NADH: acceptor oxidoreductase) from Bacillus stearothermophilus

Electrochemical kinetic measurements were carried out for electron-transfer between NADH and the oxidized forms of mediators (ferrocenylmethanol (FMA), ferrocenyl-1-ethanol (FEA), N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD), Co(Phen)2+(3) and Fe(CN)4-(6)) catalyzed by diaphorase (NADH: acceptor oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.-) purified from Bacillus stearothermophilus. Cyclic voltammograms for the mediators with excess NADH in the presence of diaphorase gave steady-state currents. The quantitative analysis of the dependence of the current on the mediator concentration yielded a Michaelis constant (Km) and molecular activity (ko), which are difficult to determine by the conventional spectrophotometric method. Small Km and large ko values were observed for the oxidized forms of FMA, FEA and TMPD compared to those for Co(Phen)3+(3) and Fe(CN)3-(6). It is suggested that the reaction pocket of the present diaphorase is hydrophobic. The present electrochemical procedure for the determination of the kinetic parameters is applicable widely to similar enzyme reactions.     

Characterization of NAD(P)H diaphorase from boar spermatozoa using specific monoclonal antibodies.

1. After immunization of BALB/c mouse, four monoclonal antibodies against soluble NADH diaphorase from ejaculated boar spermatozoa were produced and characterized. The monoclonal antibodies were designated as follows Mab 1F2, Mab 4E2, Mab 5B8, Mab 5D8. 2. These monoclonal antibodies react with other enzyme forms-sedimentary NADH and NADPH and soluble NADPH and inhibit (although not completely) their activity. It is supposed that different forms of the enzyme share some common epitopes. 3. Treatment of ejaculated boar semen with 2O-methylcholanthrene causes an increase of the activity of the soluble diaphorase form only. 4. These results lead to the assumption that the sperm diaphorase is a dynamic enzyme system consisting of four immunologically similar isoenzymes although their functions are different.     

A histochemical study of the circumtesticular Leydig cells of a teiid lizard, Cnemidophorus tigris

Several oxidative enzymes in the testis of the teiid lizard Cnemidophorus tigris were studied histochemically. The cells of the circumtesticular sheath (Leydig cell tunic) are functionally equivalent to Leydig cells of the interstitium on the basis of similar histochemical reactions for the five enzyme systems studied. Both groups of cells were positive for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. These results support the hypothesis that the circumtesticular sheath has endocrine function as indicated by its vascularity and its ability to catalyze histochemical reactions involving steroid biosynthesis.     

Nitrate reductase from Chlorella vulgaris. Reaction with manganese (III) pyrophosphate and with ferric o-phenanthroline.

Millimolar concentrations of tervalent manganese pyrophosphate can partially activate nitrate reductase which has been inactivated with NADH and HCN. The tervalent manganese complex is nevertheless not reduced by NADH in the presence of the enzyme, that is, it is not a substrate for the diaphorase moiety of the nitrate reductase. Ferric o-phenanthroline, on the other hand, is a good diaphorase substrate, but fails to activate the inactive enzyme.     

Localization of alkaline phosphatase and NADH diaphorase in the principal cells of the guinea pig epididymis

The activities of alkaline phosphatase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) diaphorase in the principal cells of the guinea pig epididymis were studied histochemically. Alkaline phosphatase activity was absent from the principal cells but was present in the basement membrane of the epididymal epithelium. NADH diaphorase activity was distributed throughout the cytoplasm of the principal cells in each epididymal segment. There was a gradual increase in NADH diaphorase activity from segments 1 through 7. Possible functions of alkaline phosphatase and NADH diaphorase in the epididymis are discussed.     

Reduced pyridine nucleotide oxidases of Eugena gracilis var. bacillaris.

Cell-free extracts of a streptomycin-bleached strain of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris have been examined for enzyme systems primarily responsible for the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucelotides. NADH lipoyl dehydrogenase, NADH and NADPH oxidase, NADH and NADPH diaphorase, and NADH and NADPH cytochrome c reductase have been demonstrated. The NADPH-linked enzymes had lower activity rates and were less sensitive to N-ethyl maleimide and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate than their NADH-linked counterparts. NADH cytochrome c reductase was the most sensitive to antimycin A. Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) determined were as follows: NADH diaphorase, 350 muM; NADPH oxidase 150 muM ; NADH lipoyl dehydrogenase, 0.35 muM. Enzyme activities after storage at -5 C indicate that the diaphorases are less labile than the other tested enzymes, and the differential activities of the NADH and NADPH linked enzymes suggest that functionally they may have different roles.     

Isolation and characterization of a FAD-dependent NADH diaphorase from Methanospirillum hungatei strain GP1

Crude extracts of Methanospirillum hungatei strain GP1 contained NADH and NADPH diaphorase activities. After a 483-fold purification of the NADH diaphorase the enzyme was further separated from contaminating proteins by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Two distinct activity bands were extracted from the acrylamide, each one having oxygen, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, and cytochrome c linked activities. In these preparations NADPH could not replace NADH as electron donor. During the initial purification steps all activity was lost due to the removal of a readily released cofactor. Enzyme activity was restored by either FAD or a FAD fraction isolated from M. hungatei. Oxidase activity exhibited a broad pH optimum from 7.0 to 8.5 and apparent Km values of 26 microM for NADH and 0.2 microM for FAD. Superoxide anion, formed in the presence of oxygen, accounted for all of the NADH consumed in the reaction. The molecular weight of the diaphorase was about 117 500 by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Sulfhydryl reagents and chelating agents were inhibitory. Inactivation, which occurred during storage in phosphate buffer at 4 degrees C, was delayed by dithiothreitol. The isolated NADH diaphorase lacked NADPH:NAD transhydrogenase and NAD reductase activities.     

Biological features of the skin of the pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens: histological structure and enzymatic histochemical reactivity

To examine the usefulness of the pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens, as an experimental animal for skin irritability tests, the histological structure and enzymatic histochemical reactivity of pika skin were investigated. The pika had a hair cycle similar to that of the rabbit. The skin and epidermis of the pika trunk were 1.16mm and 29.5 microns thick, on the average, respectively. Both of them were the thickest in the dorsal region followed by the interscapular area, while they were the thinnest in the abdominal region. In the epidermis of the pika, the strata corneum, granulosum, spinosum and basale were rather clearly distinguished. The cell arrangement in the stratum basale was more compact than that in the rabbit. Dermal mast cells, which are distributed in the stratum reticulare in rabbits and guinea pigs, were distributed in the stratum papillare right beneath the epidermis. The mast cell of the pika in the TEM images had granules of low electron density and with relatively long microvilli and rather large mitochondria. The activities of the enzymes, SDH, MDH, LDH, beta HBDH, alpha GPDH, ALD, G6PDH and GPR, in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the pika were similar to those of the rabbit.     

Enzymhistochemische Untersuchungen an der Zirbeldrüse normaler und trächtiger Meerschweinchen

Zusammenfassung In den Pinealzellen des Meerschweinchens lassen sich histochemisch NADH-, NADPH-Diaphorase, Glucose-6-phosphatdehydrogenase, unspezifische Esterase, alkalische und saure Phosphatase sowie Succinatdehydrogenase nachweisen. Bei den 4 erstgenannten Enzymnachweisen zeichnen sich gruppen oder kettenförmig angeordnete Pinealzellen durch eine besonders starke Enzymaktivität aus. Dieses Hervortreten von Pinealzellgruppen ist bereits bei Feten vorhanden. In der Zirbeldrüse trächtiger Meerschweinchen findet sich in der 2. Hälfte der Gravidität eine starke Aktivitätszunahme der NADH- und NADPH-Diaphorase, die sich etwa am 2. Tag post partum bzw. 2 Tage nach Ovarektomie oder Hysterektomie zurückbildet. Fetektomie allein bleibt wirkungslos. Die für trächtige Tiere typischen Enzymveränderungen lassen sich bei normalen Meerschweinchen weder durch 14tägige Verabreichung von Choriongonadotropin, Östradiol, Progesteron oder Placentahomogenat noch durch Kastration erzeugen.

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Enzyme histochemical investigations on the pineal gland of normal and pregnant guinea-pigs

Summary In the pinealocytes of guinea-pigs NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, nonspecific esterase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and succinate dehydrogenase could be demonstrated histochemically. When stained for NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, or nonspecific esterase groups of neighbouring pinealocytes show a stronger staining reaction than the rest of the pinealocytes. These differences in stainability are already present in fetal guinea-pigs. In the pineal gland of pregnant guinea-pigs a strong increase of NADH diaphorase and NADPH diaphorase activity is found in the second half of gestation. 2 days after birth or 2 days after oophorectomy or hysterectomy the enzyme activities reverse to normal. Fetectomy alone does not affect the enzyme pattern. In normal guinea-pigs, neither the administration of chorion gonadotrophins, estradiol, progesteron and homogenized placental tissue for 2 weeks nor gonadectomy induce histochemically detectable enzyme changes.

     

Purification and resolution of NADH diaphorase activity from NADPH diaphorase-linked: O2 oxidoreductase activity of human neutrophils

Intrinsic NADPH diaphorase activity is a component of the membrane-bound NAD(P)H:O2 oxidoreductase of human neutrophils. NADH-specific diaphorase activity is also present in membrane fractions rich in oxidoreductase activity. Studies were undertaken to determine whether the NADH diaphorase might also be intrinsic to the oxidoreductase. The latter diaphorase was freed from the membrane by detergent extraction and partially purified approximately 80-fold. Its apparent molecular weight following solubilization in deoxycholate and Tween-20 was 204 000 +/- 10 000. The specific activity of the partially purified diaphorase with ferricyanide as electron acceptor was 7.6 X 10(3) mU/mg protein, its pH optimum was 7.0, and its Km for NADH was 13 microM. It is completely devoid of NADPH diaphorase activity, lacks the capacity to reduce molecular oxygen, yet readily reduces ferricyanide, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and ferricytochrome c. Whereas the NADH diaphorase was freed from the particulate fraction of cell lysates by extraction in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.6) made up in 15% glycerol and 0.5% Tween-20, NADPH-dependent diaphorase and superoxide-generating activities also present in the membrane were not. These observations make it unlikely that the principal membrane-bound NADH diaphorase found in human neutrophils is a component of the NAD(P)H:O2 oxidoreductase, despite its common association in the same particulate fraction of cell lysates.     

A new flavin enzyme catalyzing the reduction of dihydrodipicolinate in sporulating Bacillus subtilis I. Purification and properties.

A dihydrodipicolinate reductase containing flavin was purified from sporulating Bacillus subtilis PCI 219. The purified enzyme appeared homogeneous by dise gel electrophoresis. Its molecular weight was estimated as 74,000 by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, and as 18,500 by electrophoresis on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamid gel. These results suggest that the enzyme is composed of four subunits. The prosthetic group was identified as FMN, and one mole of the enzyme contained two moles of FMN. Both NADPH and NADH acted as coenzyme, though NADH was less effective. The enzyme also exhibited diaphorase activity. The pH optimum was 6.1. The enzyme was inhibited by dipicolinate but not by lysine or alpha, epsilon-diaminopimelate.     

Purification and characterization of ferredoxin-NAD(P)(+) reductase from the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum

Ferredoxin-NAD(P)(+) reductase [EC 1.18.1.3, 1.18.1.2] was isolated from the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum and purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass of the subunit is 42 kDa, as deduced by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular mass of the native enzyme is approximately 90 kDa, estimated by gel-permeation chromatography, and is thus a homodimer. The enzyme contains one FAD per subunit and has absorption maxima at about 272, 385, and 466 nm. In the presence of ferredoxin (Fd) and reaction center (RC) complex from C. tepidum, it efficiently catalyzes photoreduction of both NADP(+) and NAD(+). When concentrations of NADP(+) exceeded 10 microM, NADP(+) photoreduction rates decreased with increased concentration. The inhibition by high concentrations of substrate was not observed with NAD(+). It also reduces 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DPIP) and molecular oxygen with either NADPH or NADH as efficient electron donors. It showed NADPH diaphorase activity about two times higher than NADH diaphorase activity in DPIP reduction assays at NAD(P)H concentrations less than 0.1 mM. At 0.5 mM NAD(P)H, the two activities were about the same, and at 1 mM, the former activity was slightly lower than the latter.     

Multifunctionality of lipoamide dehydrogenase: activities of chemically trapped monomeric and dimeric enzymes

Lipoamide dehydrogenase from pig heart exists in monomer-dimer equilibrium. The effect of the state of subunit aggregation on the multifunctionality of lipoamide dehydrogenase was investigated by the use of chemically trapped monomeric and dimeric enzymes. Reductive carboxymethylation with 2-mercaptoethanol-iodoacetate yields the stable monomeric enzyme which has been isolated for structural and kinetic studies. The chemically induced monomerization is accompanied by conformational changes resulting in an increased mobility of flavin-adenine dinucleotide. The chemically trapped monomer shows an enhanced diaphorase activity, a reduced electron transferase activity, and a complete loss in dehydrogenase as well as transhydrogenase activities. The enhanced diaphorase activity is associated with increased catalytic efficiencies and the reversal of an inhibitory NADH effect at high concentrations. Treatment of lipoamide dehydrogenase with dimethyl suberimidate gives amidinated samples containing crosslinked dimer. The crosslinked enzyme exhibits a higher dehydrogenase catalytic efficiency than the noncrosslinked enzyme with different kinetic mechanisms without significantly affecting the kinetic parameters of diaphorase reaction. Although the dimeric structure is intimately associated with the dehydrogenase activity, it does not preclude the diaphorase activity. An altered flavin-adenine dinucleotide environment accompanying monomerization is likely responsible for the enhanced diaphorase activity.     

Stereo-specificity for pro-(R) hydrogen of NAD(P)H during enzyme-catalyzed hydride transfer to CL-20

A dehydrogenase from Clostridium sp. EDB2 and a diaphorase from Clostridium kluyveri were reacted with CL-20 to gain insights into the enzyme-catalyzed hydride transfer to CL-20, and the enzyme's stereo-specificity for either pro-R or pro-S hydrogens of NAD(P)H. Both enzymes biotransformed CL-20 at rates of 18.5 and 24nmol/h/mg protein, using NADH and NADPH as hydride-source, respectively, to produce a N-denitrohydrogenated product with a molecular weight of 393Da. In enzyme kinetics studies using reduced deuterated pyridine nucleotides, we found a kinetic deuterium isotopic effect of 2-fold on CL-20 biotransformation rate using dehydrogenase enzyme against (R)NADD as a hydride-source compared to either (S)NADD or NADH. Whereas, in case of diaphorase, the kinetic deuterium isotopic effect of about 1.5-fold was observed on CL-20 biotransformation rate using (R)NADPD as hydride-source. In a comparative study with LC-MS, using deuterated and non-deuterated NAD(P)H, we found a positive mass-shift of 1Da in the N-denitrohydrogenated product suggesting the involvement of a deuteride (D(-)) transfer from NAD(P)D. The present study thus revealed that both dehydrogenase and diaphorase enzymes from the two Clostridium species catalyzed a hydride transfer to CL-20 and showed stereo-specificity for pro-R hydrogen of NAD(P)H.     

Morphine metabolism in the naturally morphine-tolerant afghan pika: a preliminary study

The afghan pika (Ochotona rufescens), a lagomorph which is naturally tolerant to the analgesic action of morphine, metabolizes morphine into morphine 3-glucuronide apparently faster than does the rabbit, another lagomorph which is however normally responsive to morphine. In the two species, following morphine administration, another unidentified component appears very soon (5 min) in pika blood plasma and much later (60 min) in rabbit blood plasma. This unknown component which appears not to be morphine derived might be involved in the natural resistance of the Afghan pika to morphine.     

Multifunctional activities of yeast glutathione reductase

Yeast glutathione reductase exists in a single molecular form which exhibits preferred NADPH and weak NADH linked multifunctional activities. Kinetic parameters for the NADPH and NADH linked reductase, transhydrogenase, electron transferase and diaphorase reactions have been determined. The functional preference for the NADPH linked reductase reaction is kinetically related to the high catalytic efficiency and low dissociation constants for substrates. NADP+ and NAD+ may interact with two different sites or different kinetic forms of the enzyme. The active site disulfide and histidine are required for the reductase activity but are not essential to the transhydrogenase, electron transferase and diaphorase activities. Amidation of carboxyl groups and Co(II) chelation of glutathione reductase facilitate the electron transferase reaction presumably by encouraging the formation of an anionic flavosemiquinone.