Studies of human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase

Mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is a key enzyme for the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Sequence alignment indicates that there are five highly conserved acidic residues, one of which might act as a proton donor. We constructed five mutant expression plasmids of human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase using site-directed mutagenesis. Mutant proteins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified with a nickel metal affinity column. Studies of these mutant proteins were carried out, and the proton donor is likely to be E276. Three substrate analogs were synthesized and characterized. Two analogs, 2-fluoro-2,4-octadienoyl-CoA and 5-methyl-2,4-hexadienoyl-CoA, were substrates of the enzyme. Another analog, 3-furan-2-yl-acrylyl-CoA, was not a substrate, but a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. These studies increased our understanding of human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase.     

Cloning, expression, and purification of the functional 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from rat liver mitochondria.

The mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase (EC 1.3.1.34) is an auxiliary enzyme for the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Import of this enzyme into the mitochondria requires a mitochondrial signal sequence at the amino terminus of the polypeptide chain which is processed/removed once inside the mitochondria. The cDNA of the full-length 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase was previously cloned as pRDR181. PCR methodologies were used to subclone the gene encoding the functional 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from pRDR181. The PCR product was inserted into a pET15b expression vector and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The soluble expressed protein can be separated into high- and low-activity fractions. The low-activity fraction can be converted to the high specific activity form by thermal annealing, suggesting it is a metastable misfolded form of the enzyme. Using ion-exchange and affinity chromatography, the enzyme has been purified to homogeneity and exhibits a single band on Coomassie blue-stained SDS-PAGE. The molecular mass of 32,413 Da determined by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry indicates that the amino-terminal methionine had been removed. The Michaelis constants for trans-2, trans-4-hexadienoyl-CoA and NADPH were determined to be 0.46 and 2.5 microM, respectively; a turnover number of 2.1 s(-1) was calculated.     

Evidence for the essential function of 2,4-dienoyl-coenzyme A reductase in the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in vivo. Isolation and characterization of an Escherichia coli mutant with a defective 2,4-dienoyl-coenzyme A reductase

For the purpose of assessing in vivo the importance of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase (EC 1.3.1.34) in the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, reductase mutants of Escherichia coli were isolated by selecting cells that were able to grow on oleate but not on petroselinic acid (6-cis-octadecenoic acid). One mutant (fadH) exhibited 12% of the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase activity present in the parental strain with other beta-oxidation enzymes being essentially unaffected. Antireductase antibodies were used to show that the mutant contains a fadH gene product at a level similar to that observed in the parental strain. Thus, the mutation seems to have resulted in the synthesis of a fadH gene product with lower specific activity. The mutation was mapped in the 71-75-min region of the E. coli chromosome where no other gene for beta-oxidation enzymes has so far been located. Complementation of the mutation by F'141, which carries the 67-75.5-min region of the E. coli genome, resulted in an increase in the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase activity to 80% of the level found in the parental strain. Measurements of respiration with petroselinic acid as the substrate showed rates to be linearly dependent on the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase activity up to levels found in wild-type E. coli. 2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase, like other enzymes of beta-oxidation, was induced when E. coli was grown on a long chain fatty acid as the sole carbon source. It is concluded that 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is required in vivo for the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids with double bonds extending from even-numbered carbon atoms.     

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli is a novel iron-sulfur flavoprotein that functions in fatty acid beta-oxidation

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase is an enzyme that is required for the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids with even-numbered double bonds. The 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli was studied to explore the catalytic and structural properties that distinguish this enzyme from the corresponding eukaryotic reductases. The E. coli reductase was found to contain 1 mol of flavin mononucleotide and 4 mol each of acid-labile iron and sulfur in addition to 1 mol of flavin adenine dinucleotide per mole of protein. Redox titrations revealed a requirement for 5 mol of electrons to completely reduce 1 mol of enzyme and provided evidence for the formation of a red semiquinone intermediate. The reductase caused a significant polarization of the substrate carbonyl group as indicated by an enzyme-induced red shift of 38 nm in the spectrum of 5-phenyl-2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA. However, suspected cis --> trans isomerase and Delta(3),Delta(2)-enoyl-CoA isomerase activities were not detected in this enzyme. It is concluded that the 2, 4-dienoyl-CoA reductases from E. coli and eukaryotic organisms are structurally and mechanistically unrelated enzymes that catalyze the same type of reaction with similar efficiencies.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of His-tagged human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase

Mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is a key enzyme for the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. The cDNA of the full-length human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase was previously cloned as pUC18::DECR. PCR methodologies were used to subclone the genes encoding various truncated human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductases from pUC18::DECR with primers that were designed to add six continuous histidine codons to the 3' or 5' primer. The PCR products were inserted into pLM1 expression vectors and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. A highly active truncated soluble protein was expressed and purified with a nickel HiTrap chelating metal affinity column to apparent homogeneity based on Coomassie blue-stained SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of the protein subunit was 34 kDa. The purified protein is highly stable at room temperature, which makes it potentially valuable for protein crystallization. KM of 26.5 +/- 3.8 microM for 2,4-hexadienoyl-CoA, KM of 6.22 +/- 2.0 microM for 2,4-decadienoyl-CoA, and KM of 60.5 +/- 19.7 microM for NADPH, as well as Vmax of 7.78 +/- 1.08 micromol/min/mg for 2,4-hexadienoyl-CoA and Vmax of 0.74 +/- 0.07 micromol/min/mg for 2,4-decadienoyl-CoA were determined on kinetic study of the purified protein. The one-step purification of the highly active human mitochondrial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase will greatly facilitate further investigation of this enzyme through site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme catalyzed reactions with substrate analogs as well as protein crystallization for solving its three-dimensional structure.     

The glyoxysomal beta-oxidation system in cucumber seedlings: identification of enzymes required for the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids

Fat-degrading cotyledons from cucumber seedlings were investigated with respect to the enzymes metabolizing cis-unsaturated fatty acids. Isolated glyoxysomes degrade linoleic acid, the dominating fatty acid in the storage tissue of the seed. Glyoxysomes were shown to be the sole intracellular site of enzymes responsible for the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids. All three auxiliary enzyme activities discussed for the degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase, enoyl-CoA isomerase, and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA epimerase were localized within the matrix of glyoxysomes. They were not found in mitochondria. Separation of glyoxysomal matrix proteins on CM-cellulose revealed that epimerase activity was attributable to the multifunctional protein and also to another protein which apparently exhibited no other beta-oxidation activity. Furthermore, on the basis of the high epimerase activity present in glyoxysomes compared to a much lower 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase activity, the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids via delta 2-cis-enoyl-CoA is considered as alternative to the reductase-dependent pathway.     

Beta-oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Mitochondrial metabolism of octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid.

The mitochondrial beta-oxidation of octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid was studied with the aim of elucidating the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid was found to be a respiratory substrate of coupled rat liver mitochondria, but not of rat heart mitochondria. Octa-2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA, the product of the inner-mitochondrial activation of the acid, was chemically synthesized and its degradation by purified enzymes of beta-oxidation was studied spectrophotometrically and by use of h.p.l.c. This compound is a substrate of NADPH-dependent 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase or 4-enoyl-CoA reductase (EC 1.3.1.34), which facilitates its further beta-oxidation. The product obtained after the NADPH-dependent reduction of octa-2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA and one round of beta-oxidation was hex-4-enoyl-CoA, which can be completely degraded via beta-oxidation. It is concluded that polyunsaturated fatty acids with two conjugated double bonds extending from even-numbered carbon atoms can be completely degraded via beta-oxidation because their presumed 2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA intermediates are substrates of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase.     

Delta3,5,7,Delta2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA isomerase, a novel enzyme that functions in the beta-oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds.

The mitochondrial metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds at odd-numbered positions, e.g. 9-cis, 11-trans-octadecadienoic acid, was investigated. These fatty acids are substrates of beta-oxidation in isolated rat liver mitochondria and hence are expected to yield 5,7-dienoyl-CoA intermediates. 5, 7-Decadienoyl-CoA was used to study the degradation of these intermediates. After introduction of a 2-trans-double bond by acyl-CoA dehydrogenase or acyl-CoA oxidase, the resultant 2,5, 7-decatrienoyl-CoA can either continue its pass through the beta-oxidation cycle or be converted by Delta3,Delta2-enoyl-CoA isomerase to 3,5,7-decatrienoyl-CoA. The latter compound was isomerized by a novel enzyme, named Delta3,5,7,Delta2,4, 6-trienoyl-CoA isomerase, to 2,4,6-decatrienoyl-CoA, which is a substrate of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase (Wang, H.-Y. and Schulz, H. (1989) Biochem. J. 264, 47-52) and hence can be completely degraded via beta-oxidation. Delta3,5,7,Delta2,4,6-Trienoyl-CoA isomerase was purified from pig heart to apparent homogeneity and found to be a component enzyme of Delta3,5,Delta2,4-dienoyl-CoA isomerase. Although the direct beta-oxidation of 2,5,7-decatrienoyl-CoA seems to be the major pathway, the degradation via 2,4,6-trienoyl-CoA makes a significant contribution to the total beta-oxidation of this intermediate.     

The crystal structure and reaction mechanism of Escherichia coli 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase

Escherichia coli 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is an iron-sulfur flavoenzyme required for the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids with double bonds at even carbon positions. The enzyme contains FMN, FAD, and a 4Fe-4S cluster and exhibits sequence homology to another iron-sulfur flavoprotein, trimethylamine dehydrogenase. It also requires NADPH as an electron source, resulting in reduction of the C4-C5 double bond of the acyl chain of the CoA thioester substrate. The structure presented here of a ternary complex of E. coli 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase with NADP+ and a fatty acyl-CoA substrate reveals a possible mechanism for substrate reduction and provides details of a plausible electron transfer mechanism involving both flavins and the iron-sulfur cluster. The reaction is initiated by hydride transfer from NADPH to FAD, which in turn transfers electrons, one at a time, to FMN via the 4Fe-4S cluster. In the final stages of the reaction, the fully reduced FMN provides a hydride ion to the C5 atom of substrate, and Tyr-166 and His-252 are proposed to form a catalytic dyad that protonates the C4 atom of the substrate and complete the reaction. Inspection of the substrate binding pocket explains the relative promiscuity of the enzyme, catalyzing reduction of both 2-trans,4-cis- and 2-trans,4-trans-dienoyl-CoA thioesters.     

The crystal structure of an aldehyde reductase Y50F mutant-NADP complex and its implications for substrate binding

In order to understand more fully the structural features of aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) that determine their substrate specificities it would be desirable to obtain crystal structures of an AKR with a substrate at the active site. Unfortunately the reaction mechanism does not allow a binary complex between enzyme and substrate and to date ternary complexes of enzyme, NADP(H) and substrate or product have not been achieved. Previous crystal structures, in conjunction with numerous kinetic and theoretical analyses, have led to the general acceptance of the active site tyrosine as the general acid–base catalytic residue in the enzyme. This view is supported by the generation of an enzymatically inactive site-directed mutant (tyrosine-48 to phenylalanine) in human aldose reductase [AKR1B1]. However, crystallization of this mutant was unsuccessful. We have attempted to generate a trapped cofactor/substrate complex in pig aldehyde reductase [AKR1A2] using a tyrosine 50 to phenylalanine site-directed mutant. We have been successful in the generation of the first high resolution binary AKR–Y50F:NADP(H) crystal structure, but we were unable to generate any ternary complexes. The binary complex was refined to 2.2A and shows a clear lack of density due to the missing hydroxyl group. Other residues in the active site are not significantly perturbed when compared to other available reductase structures. The mutant binds cofactor (both oxidized and reduced) more tightly but shows a complete lack of binding of the aldehyde reductase inhibitor barbitone as determined by fluorescence titrations. Attempts at substrate addition to the active site, either by cocrystallization or by soaking, were all unsuccessful using pyridine-3-aldehyde, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, succinic semialdehyde, methylglyoxal, and other substrates. The lack of ternary complex formation, combined with the significant differences in the binding of barbitone provides some experimental proof of the proposal that the hydroxyl group on the active site tyrosine is essential for substrate binding in addition to its major role in catalysis. We propose that the initial event in catalysis is the binding of the oxygen moiety of the carbonyl-group of the substrate through hydrogen bonding to the tyrosine hydroxyl group.     

The mechanism of dienoyl-CoA reduction by 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is stepwise: observation of a dienolate intermediate

The chemical mechanism of the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase (EC 1.3.1.34) from rat liver mitochondria has been investigated. This enzyme catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of 2,4-dienoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) thiolesters to the resulting trans-3-enoyl-CoA. Steady-state kinetic parameters for trans-2,trans-4-hexadienoyl-CoA and 5-phenyl-trans-2,trans-4-pentadienoyl-CoA were determined and demonstrated that the dienoyl-CoA and NADPH bind to the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase via a sequential kinetic mechanism. Kinetic isotope effect studies and the transient kinetics of substrate binding support a random order of nucleotide and dienoyl-CoA addition. The large normal solvent isotope effects on V/K ((D)(2)(O)V/K) and V ((D)(2)(O)V) for trans-2,trans-4-hexadienoyl-CoA reduction indicate that a proton transfer step is rate limiting for this substrate. The stability gained by conjugating the phenyl ring to the diene in PPD-CoA results in the reversal of the rate-determining step, as evidenced by the normal isotope effects on V/K(CoA) ((D)V/K(CoA)) and V/K(NADPH) ((D)V/K(NADPH)). The reversal of the rate-determining step was supported by transient kinetics where a burst was observed for the reduction of trans-2,trans-4-hexadienoyl-CoA but not for 5-phenyl-trans-2,trans-4-pentadienoyl-CoA reduction. The chemical mechanism is stepwise where hydride transfer from NADPH occurs followed by protonation of the observable dienolate intermediate, which has an absorbance maximum at 286 nm. The exchange of the C alpha protons of trans-3-decenoyl-CoA, catalyzed by the 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase, in the presence of NADP(+) suggests that formation of the dienolate is catalyzed by the enzyme active site.     

The crystal structure of an aldehyde reductase Y50F mutant-NADP complex and its implications for substrate binding

In order to understand more fully the structural features of aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) that determine their substrate specificities it would be desirable to obtain crystal structures of an AKR with a substrate at the active site. Unfortunately the reaction mechanism does not allow a binary complex between enzyme and substrate and to date ternary complexes of enzyme, NADP(H) and substrate or product have not been achieved. Previous crystal structures, in conjunction with numerous kinetic and theoretical analyses, have led to the general acceptance of the active site tyrosine as the general acid-base catalytic residue in the enzyme. This view is supported by the generation of an enzymatically inactive site-directed mutant (tyrosine-48 to phenylalanine) in human aldose reductase [AKR1B1]. However, crystallization of this mutant was unsuccessful. We have attempted to generate a trapped cofactor/substrate complex in pig aldehyde reductase [AKR1A2] using a tyrosine 50 to phenylalanine site-directed mutant. We have been successful in the generation of the first high resolution binary AKR-Y50F:NADP(H) crystal structure, but we were unable to generate any ternary complexes. The binary complex was refined to 2.2A and shows a clear lack of density due to the missing hydroxyl group. Other residues in the active site are not significantly perturbed when compared to other available reductase structures. The mutant binds cofactor (both oxidized and reduced) more tightly but shows a complete lack of binding of the aldehyde reductase inhibitor barbitone as determined by fluorescence titrations. Attempts at substrate addition to the active site, either by cocrystallization or by soaking, were all unsuccessful using pyridine-3-aldehyde, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, succinic semialdehyde, methylglyoxal, and other substrates. The lack of ternary complex formation, combined with the significant differences in the binding of barbitone provides some experimental proof of the proposal that the hydroxyl group on the active site tyrosine is essential for substrate binding in addition to its major role in catalysis. We propose that the initial event in catalysis is the binding of the oxygen moiety of the carbonyl-group of the substrate through hydrogen bonding to the tyrosine hydroxyl group.     

Peroxisomal beta-oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: isocitrate dehydrogenase provides NADPH for reduction of double bonds at even positions.

The beta-oxidation of saturated fatty acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is confined exclusively to the peroxisomal compartment of the cell. Processing of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids with the double bond at an even position requires, in addition to the basic beta-oxidation machinery, the contribution of the NADPH-dependent enzyme 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase. Here we show by biochemical cell fractionation studies that this enzyme is a typical constituent of peroxisomes. As a consequence, the beta-oxidation of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids with double bonds at even positions requires stoichiometric amounts of intraperoxisomal NADPH. We suggest that NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase isoenzymes function in an NADP redox shuttle across the peroxisomal membrane to keep intraperoxisomal NADP reduced. This is based on the finding of a third NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase isoenzyme, Idp3p, next to the already known mitochondrial and cytosolic isoenzymes, which turned out to be present in the peroxisomal matrix. Our proposal is strongly supported by the observation that peroxisomal Idp3p is essential for growth on the unsaturated fatty acids arachidonic, linoleic and petroselinic acid, which require 2, 4-dienoyl-CoA reductase activity. On the other hand, growth on oleate which does not require 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase, and NADPH is completely normal in Deltaidp3 cells.     

2,4-Dienoyl coenzyme A reductases from bovine liver and Escherichia coli. Comparison of properties

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductases, enzymes of the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids which were purified from bovine liver and oleate-induced cells of Escherichia coli, revealed very similar substrate specificities but distinctly different molecular properties. The subunit molecular weights, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 32,000 and 73,000 for the mammalian and the bacterial enzyme, respectively. The native molecular weights, calculated from sedimentation coefficients and Stokes radii yielded 124,000 for the bovine liver and 70,000 for the bacterial enzyme. Thus, bovine liver 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase is a tetramer consisting of four identical subunits. The E. coli 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase, however, possesses a monomeric structure. The latter enzyme contains 1 mol of FAD/mol of enzyme, whereas the former reductase is not a flavoprotein. The bovine liver reductase reduced 2-trans, 4-cis- and 2-trans,4-trans-decadienoyl-CoA to 3-trans-decenoyl-CoA. The E. coli reductase catalyzed the reduction of the same two substrates but in contrast yielded 2-trans-decenoyl-CoA as reaction product. Certain other properties of the two 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductases are also presented. The localization of the reductase step within the degradation pathway of 4-cis-decenoyl-CoA, a metabolite of linoleic acid, is discussed.     

Metabolic functions of the two pathways of oleate beta-oxidation double bond metabolism during the beta-oxidation of oleic acid in rat heart mitochondria

Unsaturated fatty acids with odd-numbered double bonds, e.g. oleic acid, can be degraded by beta-oxidation via the isomerase-dependent pathway or the reductase-dependent pathway that differ with respect to the metabolism of the double bond. In an attempt to elucidate the metabolic functions of the two pathways and to determine their contributions to the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, the degradation of 2-trans,5-cis-tetradecadienoyl-CoA, a metabolite of oleic acid, was studied with rat heart mitochondria. Kinetic measurements of metabolite and cofactor formation demonstrated that more than 80% of oleate beta-oxidation occurs via the classical isomerase-dependent pathway whereas the more recently discovered reductase-dependent pathway is the minor pathway. However, the reductase-dependent pathway is indispensable for the degradation of 3,5-cis-tetradecadienoyl-CoA, which is formed from 2-trans,5-cis-tetradecadienoyl-CoA by delta(3),delta(2)-enoyl-CoA isomerase, the auxiliary enzyme that is essential for the operation of the major pathway of oleate beta-oxidation. The degradation of 3,5-cis-tetradecadienoyl-CoA is limited by the capacity of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase to reduce 2-trans,4-trans-tetradecadienoyl-CoA, which is rapidly formed from its 3,5 isomer by delta(3,5),delta(2,4)-dienoyl-CoA isomerase. It is concluded that both pathways are essential for the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids with odd-numbered double bonds inasmuch as the isomerase-dependent pathway facilitates the major flux through beta-oxidation and the reductase-dependent pathway prevents the accumulation of an otherwise undegradable metabolite.     

beta-Oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by rat liver peroxisomes. A role for 2,4-dienoyl-coenzyme A reductase in peroxisomal beta-oxidation

beta-Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids was studied with isolated solubilized or nonsolubilized peroxisomes or with perfused liver isolated from rats treated with clofibrate. gamma-Linolenic acid gave the higher rate of beta-oxidation, while arachidonic acid gave the slower rate of beta-oxidation. Other polyunsaturated fatty acids (including docosahexaenoic acid) were oxidized at rates which were similar to, or higher than, that observed with oleic acid. Experiments with 1-14C-labeled polyunsaturated fatty acids demonstrated that these are chain-shortened when incubated with nonsolubilized peroxisomes. Spectrophotometric investigation of solubilized peroxisomal incubations showed that 2,4-dienoyl-CoA esters accumulated during peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids possessing double bond(s) at even-numbered carbon atoms. beta-Oxidation of [1-14C]docosahexaenoic acid by isolated peroxisomes was markedly stimulated by added NADPH or isocitrate. This fatty acid also failed to cause acyl-CoA-dependent NADH generation with conditions of assay which facilitate this using other acyl-CoA esters. These findings suggest that 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase participation is essential during peroxisomal beta-oxidation if chain shortening is to proceed beyond a delta 4 double bond. Evidence obtained using arachidionoyl-CoA, [1-14C]arachidonic acid, and [5,6,8,9,11,12,14,15-3H]arachidonic acid suggests that peroxisomal beta-oxidation also can proceed beyond a double bond positioned at an odd-numbered carbon atom. Experiments with isolated perfused livers showed that polyunsaturated fatty acids also in the intact liver are substrates for peroxisomal beta-oxidation, as judged by increased levels of the catalase-H2O2 complex on infusion of polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

Purification by affinity chromatography of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductases from bovine liver and Escherichia coli

1. Dye-ligand chromatography using immobilized Cibacron blue F3GA (blue Sepharose CL-6B) and Procion red HE3B (Matrex gel red A) as matrices and general ligand chromatography employing immobilized 2',5'-ADP (2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B) and immobilized 3',5'-ADP (3',5'-ADP-Agarose) were employed for purification of NADPH-dependent 2-enoyl-CoA reductase and 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from bovine liver (formerly called 4-enoyl-CoA reductase [Kunau, W. H. and Dommes, P. (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 91, 533-544], as well as 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli. 2. The NADPH-dependent 2-enoyl-CoA reductase from bovine liver mitochondria was separated from 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase by dye-ligand chromatography (Matrex gel red A/KCl gradient) as well as by general ligand affinity chromatography (2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B/NADP gradient). The enzyme was obtained in a highly purified form. 3. The NADPH-dependent 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from bovine liver mitochondria was purified to homogeneity using blue Sepharose CL-6B, Matrex gel red A, and 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B chromatography. 4. The bacterial 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase was completely purified by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose followed by a single affinity chromatography step employing 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B and biospecific elution from the column with a substrate, trans,trans-2,4-decadienoyl-CoA. 5. The application of dye-ligand and general ligand affinity chromatography for purification of NADPH-dependent 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductases taking part in the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids is discussed. It is concluded that making use of coenzyme specificity for binding and substrate specificity for elution is essential for obtaining homogeneous enzyme preparations.     

Effect of growth hormone on fatty acid oxidation: growth hormone increases the activity of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase in mitochondria

The effect of growth hormone on the beta-oxidation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was studied with mitochondria isolated from control rats, hypophysectomized rats, and hypophysectomized rats treated with growth hormone. Rates of respiration supported by polyunsaturated fatty acylcarnitines, in contrast to rates observed with palmitoylcarnitine or oleoylcarnitine, were slightly lower in hypophysectomized rats than in normal rats, but were higher in hypophysectomized rats treated with growth hormone. The effects were most pronounced with docosahexaenoylcarnitine, the substrate with the highest degree of unsaturation. Since uncoupling of mitochondria with 2,4-dinitrophenol resulted in lower rates of docosahexaenoylcarnitine-supported respiration, while substitution of ATP for ADP yielded higher rates, it appears that energy is required for the effective oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Growth hormone treatment of hypophysectomized rats caused a threefold increase in the activity of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase or 4-enoyl-CoA reductase (EC 1.3.1.34) in mitochondria, but not in peroxisomes. The activities of other beta-oxidation enzymes remained virtually unchanged. Rates of acetoacetate formation from linolenoylcarnitine, but not from palmitoylcarnitine, were stimulated by glutamate in mitochondria from hypophysectomized rats and hypophysectomized rats treated with growth hormone. All data together lead to the conclusion that the mitochondrial oxidation of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids is limited by the availability of NADPH and the activity of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase which is induced by growth hormone treatment.     

Studies on the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. XVI. Purification and general properties of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from Candida lipolytica

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase has been purified to homogeneity from Candida lipolytica cultivated in the presence of linoleic acid. The native enzyme had a molecular weight close to 360,000 as estimated by gel filtration on Sepharose CL-4B, whereas the subunit molecular weight estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 33,000. The purified 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from C. lipolytica gave a single precipitin line with antibodies raised against the purified enzyme from C. lipolytica. The general properties of the 2,4-dienyl-CoA reductase from C. lipolytica were examined. The enzyme had optimal pH at 6.5 and was inactivated by heat treatment at 50 degrees C for 10 min. trans-2,trans-4-Octadienoyl-CoA was the most active substrate of the dienoyl-CoA esters examined.