The effects of aestivation on the catalytic and regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase from Helix aspersa.

1. Pyruvate kinase was partially purified from the foot, mantle, and digestive gland of active and aestivating snails. 2. At pH 7.0 the apparent Km values for phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) were 0.064 mmol/l for the enzyme from foot and 0.071 mmol/l for the enzyme from mantle; those for ADP were 0.35 mmol/l for the foot enzyme and 0.33 mmol/l for the mantle enzyme. 3. Both enzymes were inhibited by alanine, and this could be reversed by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), although FBP alone was a weak activator. 4. Decreasing the pH to 6.5 markedly increased the inhibition by alanine and reduced the response to FBP. 5. The enzymes from these tissues of aestivating snails showed a small decrease in their affinity for PEP and a small increase in the effectiveness of alanine as an inhibitor. 6. These changes are indicative of a down-regulation of this enzyme which is consistent with the observations in other species during metabolic depression. 7. In contrast the enzyme from the digestive gland of active animals showed sigmoidal saturation kinetics for PEP with a S0.5 of 1.2 mmol/l, but had a markedly higher affinity for PEP, S0.5 = 0.20 mmol/l during aestivation. This may be indicative of other metabolic changes occurring in the digestive gland.     

Tonometric biosensor with a differential pressure sensor for chemo-mechanical measurement of glucose

A tonometric biosensor for glucose was constructed using a chemo-mechanical reaction unit and a differential pressure sensor. The reaction unit was fabricated by using both liquid and gas cells separated by an enzyme diaphragm membrane, in which glucose oxidase was immobilized onto the single (gas cell) side of the dialysis membrane. By applying glucose solution (0, 25.0, 50.0, 100, 150 and 200 mmol/l) into the liquid cell of the chemo-mechanical reaction unit, the pressure in the gas cell decreased continuously with a steady de-pressure slope because the oxygen consumption in the gas cell was induced by the glucose oxidase (GOD) enzyme reaction at the enzyme side of the porous diaphragm membrane. The steady de-pressure slope in the gas cell showed the linear relationship with the glucose concentration in the liquid cell between 25.0 and 200.0 mmol/l (correlation coefficient of 0.998). A substrate regeneration cycle coupling GOD with l-ascorbic acid (AsA: 0, 1.0, 3.0, 10.0 and 50.0 mmol/l; as reducing reagent system) was applied to the chemo-mechanical reaction unit in order to amplify the output signal of the tonometric biosensor. 3.0 mmol/l concentration of AsA could optimally amplify the sensor signal more than 2.5 times in comparison with that of non-AsA reagent.     

The oxidation of cyclothionine by D-aspartate oxidase

Cyclothionine was found to be a substrate for bovine kidney D-Aspartate oxidase. The substrate, prepared chemically as a mixture of the possible stereoisomers, exhibits an inhibition at elevated concentrations. Compounds structurally related to cyclothionine, like TMDA and alpha-alpha'-iminodipropionic acid, have also been assayed with the enzyme.     

D-aspartate oxidase in rat, bovine and sheep kidney cortex is localized in peroxisomes.

D-Aspartate oxidase (EC 1.4.3.1) was assayed in subcellular fractions and in highly purified peroxisomes from rat, bovine and sheep kidney cortex as well as from rat liver. During all steps of subcellular-fractionation procedures, D-aspartate oxidase co-fractionated with peroxisomal marker enzymes. In highly purified preparations of peroxisomes, the enrichment of D-aspartate oxidase activity over the homogenate is about 32-fold, being comparable with that of the peroxisomal marker enzymes catalase and D-amino acid oxidase. Disruption of the peroxisomes by freezing and thawing released more than 90% of the enzyme activity, which is typical for soluble peroxisomal-matrix proteins. Our findings provide strong evidence that in these tissues D-aspartate oxidase is a peroxisomal-matrix protein and should be added as an additional flavoprotein oxidase to the known set of peroxisomal oxidases.     

Inhibition of thyroid monoamineoxidase by thyroxine and some specific inhibitors.

Rat thyroid monoamine oxidase (MAO) was inhibited by the non-hydrazine derivatives paragyline and tranylcypromine to a higher degree than the hydrazine derivative iproniazide. MAO was also inhibited by monoiodotyrosine and thyroxine. These results indicate that MAO may be an important enzyme in the metabolism of biogenic amines, iodotyrosines and tyronines in the thyroid gland.     

D-Aspartate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase are localised in the peroxisomes of terrestrial gastropods

D-Aspartate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase were found in high activity in the tissues of representative species of terrestrial gastropods. Analytical subcellular fractionation demonstrated that both of these oxidases co-localised with the peroxisome markers, acyl-CoA oxidase and catalase, in the digestive gland homogenate. Electron microscopy of peak peroxisome fractions showed particles of uniform size with generally well preserved variably electron-dense matrices bounded by an apparently single limiting membrane. Many of the particles exhibited a core region of enhanced electron density. Catalase cytochemistry of peak fractions confirmed the peroxisome identity of the organelles. Peroxisome-enriched subcellular fractions were used to investigate the properties of gastropod D-aspartate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase activities. The substrate and inhibitor specificities of the two activities demonstrated that two distinct enzymes were present analogous to, but not identical to, the equivalent mammalian peroxisomal enzymes.     

豇豆初生叶多胺氧化酶的催化特性

从豇豆幼苗 (6d苗龄 )初生叶提纯得到的多胺氧化酶 (EC 1 .4.3 .6 )属于二胺氧化酶 ,最有效的底物是 1 ,4 二胺丁烷 (腐胺 )、1 ,5 二胺戊烷 (尸胺 )、1 ,6 二胺己烷、1 ,1 0 二胺癸烷等α 二胺 ,其催化活性随二胺类底物碳链的增长而相应减弱。豇豆多胺氧化酶对亚精胺和精胺也具有较高的催化活性。另外 ,底物腐胺和尸胺的浓度超过 2mmol/L或亚精胺和精胺浓度超过 3mmol/L时会对酶活性有抑制效应。以腐胺和尸胺为底物时 ,酶的最适 pH约为7.0 ,而以亚精胺和精胺为底物时其最适pH为 6 .5。该酶的催化活性还随反应介质的离子强度增加而降低。K ,Ca2 和Mg2 (皆为 1 0mmol/L)对酶活性无明显抑制作用 ,而同样浓度的Mn2 ,Zn2 ,Fe2 ,Co2 和Cd2 则对酶活性有不同程度的抑制作用。金属螯合剂EDTA(1 0mmol/L)和腺苷蛋氨酸脱羧酶抑制剂甲基乙二醛 双脒腙 (0 .1mmol/L)可抑制酶活性约 80 % ,而铜结合剂KCN(1 .0mmol/L)、羰基试剂羟胺 (0 .1mmol/L)和氨基胍 (0 .1mmol/L)可导致该酶完全失活     

Daily variation in antioxidant enzymes lipid peroxidation in thyroid and plasma level thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels of a tropical bird Perdicula asiatica during reproductively active and inactive phases

The aim of this work was to study the variations in the interference of neuroendocrine pineal gland and metabolically active thyroid gland in a tropical bird, Perdicula asiatica. Maximum pineal gland activity (pineal weight and melatonin level), minimum thyroid gland activity (weight, T3/T4 and thymidine kinase activity) along with less oxidative load (MDA level, SOD, CAT and ABTS activity) were observed during reproductively inactive phase (RIP) was observed. Further, a robust and significant rhythmicity was noted in melatonin levels during RIP and RAP, but no significant rhythmicity was noted in T4/T3 level by cosinor analysis. Overall, melatonin and thyroid circadian profile suggested that melatonin might be acting as an antioxidant molecule with time of the day effect in rescuing thyroid gland from free radical load in birds.     

Release of intestinal diamine oxidase by histamine in rats

Diamine oxidase activity was measured in the intestinal mucosa, lymph, and in the serum of rats, to determine whether histamine, a substrate of diamine oxidase, liberates this enzyme from its mucosal storage site(s). Histamine induced a sharp rise in intestinal lymph flow, lymph protein, and lymph diamine oxidase, lasting less than 1 h after the histamine injection. The rise in lymph diamine oxidase activity was dose dependent over a narrow concentration range (0.05-0.2 mmol/kg, i.v. and 0.15-0.6 mmol/kg i.d.). It did not correlate with the dose dependent increase in lymph flow or lymph protein. A single maximal intraduodenal dose of histamine caused a 41.6-fold increase in the lymph diamine oxidase activity and a 2.4-fold increase in the serum enzyme level temporarily. A second injection of histamine, 2 h after the first, resulted in a comparatively smaller increase in the lymph enzyme. The extent of the reduction was dependent on the magnitude of the first injection. The results suggest that histamine causes a limited liberation of diamine oxidase from the intestinal mucosa. The function of this enzyme release may be a protective response by the mucosa to reduce toxic levels of free histamine, either liberated by the mucosal tissue or absorbed from the intestinal lumen.     

Reactivity of a functional carbonyl moiety in bovine aortic lysyl oxidase. Evidence against pyridoxal 5''-phosphate.

Previous studies have pointed towards a cofactor role for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in lysyl oxidase, the enzyme that generates the peptidyl aldehyde precursor to the lysine-derived cross-linkages in elastin and collagen. The nature of a carbonyl moiety in purified bovine aortic lysyl oxidase was explored in the present study. A PLP dinitrophenylhydrazone could not be isolated from lysyl oxidase, although corresponding preparations of aspartate aminotransferase, a PLP-dependent enzyme, yielded this derivative, as revealed by h.p.l.c. Analysis of lysyl oxidase for PLP after reduction of the enzyme by NaBH4, a procedure that converts PLP-protein aldimines into stable 5'-phosphopyridoxyl functions, also proved negative in tests using monoclonal antibody specific for this epitope. Lysyl oxidase was competitively inhibited by phenylhydrazine, and inhibition became irreversible with time at 37 degrees C, displaying a first-order inactivation rate constant of 0.4 min-1 and KI of 1 microM. [14C]Phenylhydrazine was covalently incorporated into the enzyme in a manner that was prevented by prior modification of the enzyme with beta-aminopropionitrile, a specific active-site inhibitor, and which correlated with functional active-site content. The chemical stability of the enzyme-bound phenylhydrazine exceeded that expected of linkages between PLP and proteins. The absorption spectrum of the phenylhydrazine derivative of lysyl oxidase was clearly distinct from that of the phenylhydrazone of PLP. It is concluded that lysyl oxidase contains a carbonyl cofactor that is not identical with PLP and that is bound to the enzyme by a stable chemical bond.     

Biochemical characterization of a Ca2+/NAD(P)H-dependent H2O2 generator in human thyroid tissue.

An NAD(P)H-dependent H2O2 forming activity has been evidenced in thyroid tissue from patients with Grave's disease. Its biochemical properties were compared to those of the NADPH oxidase previously described in pig thyroid gland. Both were Ca2+-dependent and activated by inorganic phosphate anions in the same range of concentrations. Both are flavoproteins using FAD as cofactor, but the human enzyme was also able to utilize FMN. The apparent Km for NADPH of the human enzyme (100 microM) was 5-10 times higher than that of porcine enzyme. Vm was 3 to 10 times higher in pig (150 nmol x h(-1) x mg(-1)) than in man (14 to 45). Total content in human tissue was 7 to 9% of that in porcine tissue. An unidentified inhibitor has been detected in the 3000 g particulate fraction from most patients, which could account for this apparently low enzyme content. An NADH-dependent H2O2 production has also been observed in porcine and human thyroid tissues. This activity was only partly Ca2+-dependent (man, 50-70%; pig, 80-90%) and presented similar apparent Km values for NADH (man, 100 microM; pig, 200 microM). In pig thyrocytes, the expression of the Ca2+-dependent part of the NADH-oxidase activity was induced by TSH and down-regulated by TGFbeta, as was the NADPH oxidase activity. Furthermore, NADPH and NADH-dependent activities were not additive. We conclude that a single, inducible, NAD(P)H-oxidase can use NADPH or NADH as substrate to catalyse H2O2 formation, and that human and porcine NAD(P)H-oxidases are highly similar. Differences observed could be attributed to minor differences in enzyme structure and/or in membrane microenvironment. The NADH-dependent Ca2+-independent activity observed in human and porcine thyroid fractions could be attributed to a distinct and constitutive enzyme.     

Characteristics of sialidase in the rat salivary glands

Using 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid (4MU-NeuAc) as substrate, we measured sialidase activity in the salivary glands and other organs of the rat. The pH optima of salivary gland sialidase were between 4.0 and 4.5, which were similar to those of the enzyme in the brain, liver and kidney. Among the salivary glands, the submandibular one showed the highest sialidase activity followed by the parotid and the sublingual glands. However, sialidase activity in these glands was lower when compared with the activity in the brain, liver and kidney. From the subcellular distribution study, salivary gland sialidase was found to be mainly localized in the lysosomes. The pH optima of the lysosomal sialidase of the salivary glands were between 4.0 and 4.5; and Km values for 4MU-NeuAc approximately 0.09 mmol/l. In the submandibular and parotid glands, a soluble sialidase with a different pH optimum (5.5) and Km value (0.25 mmol/l) was also detected.     

CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE, ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND AROMATIC l-AMINO ACID DECARBOXYLASE IN SINGLE IDENTIFIED NERVE CELL BODIES FROM SNAIL HELIX ASPERSA

—The distribution of choline acetyltransferase, aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase and acetylcholinesterase in the nervous system of Helix aspersa has been studied using homogenates of whole ganglia, microdissection from freeze-dried sections and dissection of single neurons from fresh tissue. Choline acetyltransferase was found in both the cell body and neuropil layers of all the Helix ganglia. The enzyme was not specifically localized to any ganglion or region of ganglion. Between 10 and 30 per cent of the isolated single cell bodies contained the enzyme. The enzymic activity corresponded to 50–200 mmol ACh/1 cell bodies/h. Choline acetyltransferase is probably a specific marker for cholinergic cells in this species. Aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase was more selectivity localized and its distribution corresponded well with that of monoamine containing cells as visualized by the fluorescence histochemical technique. A large proportion of cell bodies were localized in the boundary between the visceral and right parietal ganglia and in the pedal ganglion. The other ganglia contained few such cells. The activity of aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase corresponded 10–50 mmol dopamine/1 cell bodies/h. A method was developed to measure the enzyme activity towards 5-hydroxytryptophan and DOPA in single cells simultaneously. The ratio between the activity towards both substrates did not vary significantly for the different cells. The enzyme is probably a specific marker for monoamine cells, but cannot be used to differentiate between the different monoamine cells. Acetylcholinesterase was uniformly distributed in the ganglia and was probably present in all nerve cells.     

Adenosine deaminase from pig thyroid gland purification and some properties

Adenosine deaminase was isolated from the pig thyroid gland and purified over 900-fold using DEAE Sephadex A-50 column chromatography, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and DEAE Sephadex A-50 rechromatography. The enzyme was specific towards adenosine. The Michaelis constant based on the Lineweaver-Burk plot was 5 × 10^?5M. The optimum pH was about 7.0, and molecular weight 44 700.     

Two forms of 4-aminobutyrate transaminase in guinea pig brain.

4-Aminobutyrate transaminase (GABA-T, 4-aminobutyrate alpha-oxoglutrate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.19) is an enzyme that inactivates the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, but its pharmacological function is uncertain. Two forms of guiena pig brain GABA-T were isolated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and designated as GABA-T-I and II, corresponding to an anionic and a cationic form. The enzymes were inhibited by high concentrations of a cationic form. The enzymes were inhibited by high concentrations of alpha-oxoglutrate (alpha-KG). Kinetic consists for GABA, when determined at pH 7.9 adn 1 mmol/l alpha-KG, were 0.74 mmol/l. GABA-T activity was inhibited by chloride and other anions. Kinetic analysis revealed chloride ion as a conpetitive inhibitor against GABA, but the Ki values differed among GABA-T-I and II (Ki equals 120 and 60 mmol/l, respectively). Similar degrees of difference were observed with acetate and lactate ion. These results suggest that GABA-T-II may regulate the GABA level in the inhibitory neurons and may play a similar functional role as that exhibited by monoamine oxidase in other synapses.     

Human placental glutathione transferase: interactions with steroids

Glutathione transferases exhibit both isomerase and transferase activity. The acceptance of steroids as substrates for or inhibitors of these activities was studied using a 350-fold enriched preparation of the enzyme from human placenta. As an isomerase, the enzyme preparation catalyzed the conversion of pregn-5-ene-3,20-dione (Km 0.03 mmol/l) and androst-5-ene-3,17-dione (Km 0.05 mmol/l) to the respective 4-ene-3-oxosteroids (specific activity 0.8 U/mg protein). This isomerase activity strictly depended on the presence of glutathione (Km 0.04 mmol/l). As a transferase, the enzyme preparation catalyzed the conjugation of glutathione (Km 0.5 mmol/l) with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (Km 1.0 mmol/l) (specific activity 100 U/mg protein). This transferase activity was inhibited by all phenolic (KI values 0.2-1.5 mmol/l) and some of the neutral steroids (KI values 1.4-3.5 mmol/l) tested. Phenolic steroids inhibited the enzyme activity competitively to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and non-competitively to both substrates. The results indicate that steroids can interact with the placental glutathione transferase in vitro both as substrates and as inhibitors. Since, however, the observed Km and KI values of the steroids are far above the values of their concentrations in the placenta, these interactions are of only minor physiological relevance.     

N-Acetylaminoacyl-p-nitranilidase from human placenta. Purification and some properties.

An enzyme hydrolyzing N-acetylaminoacyl-p-nitroanilides has been isolated from mature human placentae by a six-step procedure comprising extraction from a placenta homogenate, ammonium sulfate fractionation, treatment with isopentyl alcohol, chromatography on CM-Sephadex, protamine sulfate precipitation and gel filtration on an Ultrogel AcA 34 column. About 2500-fold enrichement was achieved from placenta homogenate. The purified enzyme preparation showed a single band on polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. The molecular weight was estimated to be 380,000 by gel filtration. Placental extracts contain two main isoenzymes of pI 3.9 and 4.5 respectively. Activity was strongly inhibited by chloromercuribenzoate, slightly inhibited by Ca2+ and cysteine; no activation could be detected. The enzyme exhibits an exopeptidase-like activity towards acetyl-dipeptides with a certain specifity towards N-acetylalanyl-alanine; N-acetylalanine-p-nitroanilide, however, is hydrolyzed four times faster. With N-acetylalanine-p-nitroanilide as substrate the pH optimum was 8.0--8.2; Km was 2.13 mmol/l. N-Acetylleucine-p-nitroanilide and N-acetyltyrosine-p-nitroanilide were split slowly; N-acetylalanyl-alanyl-alanine-p-nitroanilide, N-butyloxycarbonyl-alanyl-alanine-p-nitroanilide, unsubstituted analogous aminoacyl-p-nitroanilides and several protein substrates were not hydrolyzed. The functions of the enzyme are still unknown.     

交联酶聚集体制备中钙离子的结构调控作用

以葡萄糖氧化酶(GOx)为研究对象,系统地研究了钙离子对交联酶聚集体(CLEA)粒子尺寸和微观结构的调控作用以及酶催化性能和实用性的影响。研究结果表明,GOx酶沉淀过程中引入钙离子可显著降低CLEA粒子尺寸并导致粒子内纳米孔道结构逐步消失。在0.1 mmol/L钙离子浓度下,GOx酶的CLEA仍保有清晰的纳米孔道结构。以葡萄糖为底物的GOx酶CLEA催化结果显示,该CLEA粒子的酶活性为对照CLEA粒子的2.69倍。即便1.0 mmol/L钙离子浓度下制备的CLEA粒子的GOx酶活性仍高出对照CLEA粒子约42%。此外,0.1 mmol/L钙离子浓度下制备的CLEA不仅具有更高的底物转化速率和很好的操作稳定性,而且CLEA中GOx酶的最大反应速度显著提高。这些实验结果明确了钙离子对CLEA粒子尺寸和微观结构的调控作用,为制备具有高效生物催化活性的CLEA粒子奠定了基础。     

Induction of histamine secretion by polycations

Poly(arginine), poly(lysine) and poly(ornithine) induce histamine secretion from human basophil leukocytes in the concentration range 1--100 nmol/l. Histamine secretion induced by poly(arginine) requires extracellular calcium at 0.1--1 mmol/l. Strontium (1--10 mmol/l) will substitute for calcium. Lanthanum (30--90 nmol/l) inhibits histamine release induced by poly(arginine). Histamine secretion induced by poly(arginine) is inhibited by 1--30 mumol/l N-ethyl-maleimide, 0.3--3 mmol/l 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 0.3--3 mmol/l dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 0.3--3 mmol/l, adenosine 3'5'-cyclicphosphorothioate. The action of poly(arginine) is inhibited by pretreatment of basophils at 47 degrees C or with neuraminidase. 10 microgram/ml heparin inhibits the response to poly(arginine). Histamine releasing potency of the polymer amino acids is dependent on chain length of the peptide. Succinylated poly(lysine) is inactive. Monomer amino acids do not release histamine and do not inhibit the action of the polymers. Histones and protamine do not release histamine, nor do the peptides eledoisin and tuftsin. Putrescine, cadaverine, spermine and spermidine do not release histamine. Poly(glutamic acid), poly(aspartic acid) and poly(tyrosine) are also inactive. The IgE-mediated release of histamine appears to be independent of that mediated by poly(arginine).     

Gulonolactone oxidase activity-dependent intravesicular glutathione oxidation in rat liver microsomes

The orientation of gulonolactone oxidase activity was investigated in rat liver microsomes. Ascorbate formation upon gulonolactone addition resulted in higher intravesicular than extravesicular ascorbate concentrations in native microsomal vesicles. The intraluminal ascorbate accumulation could be prevented or the accumulated ascorbate could be released by permeabilising the vesicles with the pore-forming alamethicin. The formation of the other product of the enzyme, hydrogen peroxide caused the preferential oxidation of intraluminal glutathione in glutathione-loaded microsomes. In conclusion, these results suggest that the orientation of the active site of gulonolactone oxidase is intraluminal and/or the enzyme releases its products towards the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.