Hyrtioreticulins A-E, indole alkaloids inhibiting the ubiquitin-activating enzyme, from the marine sponge Hyrtios reticulatus

Hyrtioreticulins A-E (1-5) were isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios reticulatus, along with a known alkaloid, hyrtioerectine B (6). Structural elucidation on the basis of spectral data showed that 1, 2, and 5 are new tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids, while 3 and 4 are new azepinoindole-type alkaloids. Hyrtioreticulins A and B (1 and 2) inhibited ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) with IC(50) values of 0.75 and 11μg/mL, respectively, measured by their inhibitory abilities against the formation of an E1-ubiquitin intermediate. So far, only five E1 inhibitors, panapophenanthrine, himeic acid A, largazole, and hyrtioreticulins A and B (1 and 2), have been isolated from natural sources and, among them, 1 is the most potent E1 inhibitor.     

pH-dependent production of himeic acid A and its non-enzymatic conversions to himeic acids B and C

The fungus Aspergillus japonicus MF275 produces himeic acid A (1), containing a 4-pyrone ring, along with its congeners, himeic acids B (2) and C (3). During culture, 1 was gradually converted to 3, the corresponding 4-pyridone derivative. A study of the relationship between the culture pH and the fungal metabolites showed that a decrease from pH 6.5 to pH 2 is essential for production of 1, while a subsequent increase to pH 5 is necessary for production of 3. In addition, we revealed that 1 was non-enzymatically converted to 3 by the incorporation of an ammonium nitrogen atom in a pH 5 buffer, and that 1 was converted to 2 at a conversion ratio of 50% during incubation in MeOH for five days.     

Effects of fatty acids on activity of cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from calf liver

Effects of fatty acids, prostaglandins, and phospholipids on the activity of purified cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from calf liver were investigated. Prostaglandins A2, E1, E2, F1 alpha, and F2 alpha, thromboxane B2, and most phospholipids were without effect; lysophosphatidylcholine was a potent inhibitor. Several saturated fatty acids (carbon chain length 14-24), at concentrations up to 1 mM, had little or no effect on hydrolysis of 0.5 microM [3H]cGMP or 0.5 microM [3H]cAMP with or without 1 microM cGMP. In general, unsaturated fatty acids were inhibitory, except for myristoleic and palmitoleic acids which increased hydrolysis of 0.5 microM [3H]cAMP. The extent of inhibition by cis-isomers correlated with the number of double bonds. Increasing concentrations of palmitoleic acid from 10 to 100 microM increased hydrolysis of [3H]cAMP with maximal activation (60%) at 100 microM; higher concentrations were inhibitory. Palmitoleic acid inhibited cGMP hydrolysis and cGMP-stimulated cAMP hydrolysis with IC50 values of 110 and 75 microM, respectively. Inhibitory effects of palmitoleic acid were completely or partially prevented by equimolar alpha-tocopherol. Palmitelaidic acid, the trans isomer, had only slightly inhibitory effects. The effects of palmitoleic acid (100 microM) were dependent on substrate concentration. Activation was maximal with 1 microM [3H]cAMP and was reduced with increasing substrate; with greater than 10 microM cAMP, palmitoleic had no effect. Inhibition of cGMP hydrolysis was maximal at 2.5 microM cGMP and was reduced with increasing cGMP; at greater than 100 microM cGMP palmitoleic acid increased hydrolysis slightly. Palmitoleic acid did not affect apparent Km or Vmax for cAMP hydrolysis, but increased the apparent Km (from 17 to 60 microM) and Vmax for cGMP hydrolysis with little or no effect on the Hill coefficient for either substrate. These results suggest that certain hydrophobic domains play an important role in modifying the catalytic specificity of the cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase for cAMP and cGMP.     

Inhibition of prostaglandin E2 synthesis by a blocker of epithelial chloride channels

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) elicits a variety of responses in cultured rat mesangial cells, among them stimulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis and activation of Cl- channels. AVP produced an 11-fold increase over basal levels in prostaglandin E2 release from cultured mesangial cells. This response was completely inhibited by 25 microM indomethacin and 82 +/- 5% inhibited by 25 microM 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB) which is a potent blocker of epithelial Cl- channels. The IC50 for NPPB inhibition of prostaglandin E2 release was 8 microM. Indomethacin and NPPB at 25 microM also inhibited AVP-stimulated cellular accumulation of prostaglandin E2 by 98% and 79 +/- 7% respectively. The inhibitory effect of NPPB was not due to interference with the cellular response to AVP since at 50 microM it did not block AVP-stimulated release of arachidonate metabolites from cells metabolically labeled with [3H]-arachidonic acid. It is suggested that NPPB inhibition of prostaglandin E2 synthesis is at the cyclooxygenase level on the basis of its structural similarity to the fenamic acid type of cyclooxygenase inhibitors.     

Purification and characterization of NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase from porcine kidney

A NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-OH-PGDH) from porcine kidney was purified to homogeneity by acid precipitation, blue agarose affinity chromatography, hydroxyapatite-ultrogel adsorption chromatography, DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography and NAD(+)-agarose affinity chromatography. The specific activity of the homogeneous enzyme was 31.2 U/mg. The molecular mass of the native enzyme was estimated to be 55,000 Da, whereas that of SDS-treated enzyme was 29,000 Da indicating that the native enzyme was dimeric. Compared to human placental 15-OH-PGDH, porcine kidney enzyme gave a similar general amino acid residue distribution. Chemical modification of the enzyme with N-ethyl maleimide (3 microM), N-chlorosuccinimide (20 microM) or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (2.5 microM) followed pseudo-first-order inactivation kinetics, and inactivation could be prevented by the presence of NAD+ (1 mM) but not of prostaglandin E1 (140 microM) indicating the involvement of cysteine, methionine and lysine residues in the coenzyme binding site. Inactivation by diethyl pyrocarbonate (1.25 mM) or phenylglyoxal (10 mM) also showed pseudo-first-order kinetics suggesting that histidine and arginine residues were catalytically or structurally important in the native enzyme. These studies provide new insights into the structure and function of 15-OH-PGDH.     

Stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis in WI-38 human lung fibroblasts following inhibition of phospholipid acylation by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate

The release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites, prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2, from WI-38 human lung fibroblasts was modulated by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Exposure to the inhibitor resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in [1-14C]arachidonic acid uptake and incorporation into phospholipids and neutral lipid pools. Activities of lung fibroblast arachidonyl-CoA synthetase and lysolecithin acyltransferase were inhibited by 100 microM p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. [14C]Arachidonic acid labelled fibroblasts exhibited an increased release of [14C]arachidonate and [14C]prostaglandin E2 of 54% and 112%, respectively, when exposed to 100 microM of inhibitor. The stimulatory effects of 8.0 microM delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol on arachidonate release and prostaglandin E synthesis (Burstein, S., Hunter, S.A., Sedor, C. and Shulman, S. (1982) Biochem. Pharmacol. 31, 2361-2365) were modified by the inclusion of inhibiting agent, resulting in a 608% stimulation in arachidonic acid release, while prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2 synthesis increased 894% and 390%, respectively, over levels obtained by untreated cells. The levels of arachidonate metabolites were altered by inhibitor when compared to cells treated with cannabinoid alone. No significant inhibition by delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol was found on arachidonic uptake in these cells. In unlabelled studies, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate resulted in a profound, dose-dependent stimulation of prostaglandin E synthesis of 1490% at 150 microM inhibitor concentration. These results provide evidence that free arachidonate is reincorporated via acylation, thereby implicating this pathway as a possible control mechanism for the synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites.     

Assimilatory nitrate reductase: lysine 741 participates in pyridine nucleotide binding via charge complementarity

The effects of benzyl (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on the activity of a P450 2E1 mutant where the conserved threonine at position 303 was replaced with an alanine residue (P450 2E1 T303A) were examined. PEITC inactivated the mutant enzyme with a K(I) of 1.6 microM. PEITC also inactivated the wild-type P450 2E1 as efficiently with a K(I) of 2.7 microM. The inactivation was entirely dependent on NADPH and followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Previously we reported the mechanism-based inactivation of wild-type P450 2E1 by BITC with a K(I) of 13 microM. In contrast to the wild-type enzyme, the P450 2E1 T303A mutant was not inactivated by BITC but it was inhibited in a competitive manner with a K(i) of 3 microM. The binding constants determined by spectral binding studies were similar for both enzymes. The binding of BITC produced characteristic Type I spectral changes in the wild-type and mutant enzyme. A radiolabeled BITC metabolite bound to P450 2E1 and to P450 2E1 T303A when both enzymes were incubated with [(14)C]BITC and NADPH. Whole protein electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry indicated that a mass consistent with one molecule of benzylisocyanate and oxygen was adducted to the wild-type enzyme. The mass adducted to the T303A mutant was consistent with the addition of one hydroxylated BITC or of one benzylisocyanate moiety and one sulfur molecule. Analysis of the metabolites of BITC indicated that each enzyme produced similar metabolites but that the mutant enzyme generated significantly higher amounts of benzaldehyde and benzoic acid when compared to the wild-type enzyme.     

The inhibitory effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on human CYP enzymes

The inhibitory effect of saturated fatty acids (SFAs): palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): linoleic acid (LA), linolenic acid (LN), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on six human drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 and 3A4) was studied. Supersomes from baculovirus-expressing single isoforms were used as the enzyme source. Phenacetin O-deethylation (CYP1A2), diclofenac 4-hydroxylation (CYP2C9), mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation (CYP2E1) and midazolam 1-hydroxylation (CYP3A4) were used as the probes. Results show that all the five examined PUFAs competitively inhibited CYP2C9- and CYP2C19-catalyzed metabolic reactions, with Ki values ranging from 1.7 to 4.7 microM and 2.3 to 7.4 microM, respectively. Among these, AA, EPA and DHA tended to have greater inhibitory potencies (lower IC(50) and Ki values) than LA and LN. In addition, these five PUFAs also competitively inhibited the metabolic reactions catalyzed by CYP1A2, 2E1 and 3A4 to a lesser extent (Ki values>10 microM). On the other hand, palmitic and stearic acids, the saturated fatty acids, had no inhibitory effect on the activities of six human CYP isozymes at concentrations up to 200 microM. Incubation of PUFAs with CYP2C9 or CYP2C19 in the presence of NADPH resulted in the decrease of PUFA concentrations in the incubation mixtures. These results indicate that the PUFAs are potent inhibitors as well as the substrates of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19.     

Effect of natural phenols on the catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 2E1

The effect of protocatechuic acid, tannic acid and trans-resveratrol on the activity of p-nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH), an enzymatic marker of CYP2E1, was examined in liver microsomes from acetone induced mice. trans-Resveratrol was found to be the most potent inhibitor (IC(50) = 18.5 +/- 0.4 microM) of PNPH, while protocatechuic acid had no effect on the enzyme activity. Tannic acid with IC(50) = 29.6 +/- 3.3 microM showed mixed- and trans-resveratrol competitive inhibition kinetics (K(i) = 1 microM and 2.1 microM, respectively). Moreover, trans-resveratrol produced a NADPH-dependent loss of PNPH activity, suggesting mechanism-based CYP2E1 inactivation. These results indicate that trans-resveratrol and tannic acid may modulate cytochrome P450 2E1 and influence the metabolic activation of xenobiotics mediated by this P450 isoform.     

Esterification of vertebrate-type steroids in the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

Characteristics of acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA):steroid acyltransferase from the digestive gland of the oyster Crassostrea virginica were determined by using estradiol (E2) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as substrates. The apparent Km and Vmax values for esterification of E2 with the six fatty acid acyl-CoAs tested (C20:4, C18:2, C18:1, C16:1, C18:0, and C16:0) were in the range of 9-17 microM E2 and 35-74 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Kinetic parameters for esterification of DHEA (Km: 45-120 microM; Vmax: 30-182 pmol/min/mg protein) showed a lower affinity of the enzyme for this steroid. Formation of endogenous fatty acid esters of steroids by microsomes of digestive gland and gonads incubated in the presence of ATP and CoA was assessed, and at least seven E2 fatty acid esters and five DHEA fatty acid esters were observed. Some peaks eluted at the same retention times as palmitoleoyl-, linoleoyl-, oleoyl/palmitoyl-, and stearoyl-E2; and palmitoleoyl-, oleoyl/palmitoyl-, and stearoyl-DHEA. The same endogenous esters, although in different proportions, were produced by gonadal microsomes. The kinetic parameters for both E2 (Km: 10 microM; Vmax: 38 pmol/min/mg protein) and DHEA (Km: 61 microM; Vmax: 60 pmol/min/mg protein) were similar to those obtained in the digestive gland. Kinetic parameters obtained are similar to those observed in mammals; thus, fatty acid esterification of sex steroids appears to be a well-conserved conjugation pathway during evolution.     

Kinetics of ATP synthesis catalyzed by the H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts (CF0F1) reconstituted into liposomes and coreconstituted with bacteriorhodopsin.

The H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts (CF0F1) was isolated, purified and reconstituted into liposomes from phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidic acid. A transmembrane pH difference, delta pH, and a transmembrane electric potential difference, delta psi, were generated by an acid/base transition. The rate of ATP synthesis was measured at constant delta pH and constant delta psi as a function of temperature between 5 degrees C and 45 degrees C. The activation energy was 55 kJ mol-1. CF0F1 was coreconstituted with bacteriorhodopsin at a molar ratio of approximately 1:170 in the same type of liposomes. Illumination of the proteoliposomes leads to proton transport into the vesicles generating a constant delta pH = 1.8. The dependence of the rate of ATP synthesis on ADP concentration was measured with CF0F1 in the oxidized state, E(ox), and in the reduced state, E(red). The results can be described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics with the following parameters: Vmax = 0.5 s-1, Km = 8 microM for E(ox) and Vmax = 2.0 s-1, Km = 8 microM for E(red).     

5-Carboxymethyl-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenases of Escherichia coli C and Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1 show very high N-terminal sequence homology

5-Carboxymethyl-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (CHMS) dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli C and Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1 have been purified and some of their properties studied. The apparent Km values for NAD and CHMS were 11.7 +/- 1.5 microM and 5.2 +/- 1.9 microM, respectively, for the K. pneumoniae enzyme, and 19.5 +/- 2.7 microM and 9.2 +/- 1.4 microM, respectively, for the E. coli enzyme. Both enzymes were optimally active at pH 7.5 in sodium phosphate buffer. They had subunit molecular weights of 52,000 (+/- 1000) and the native enzymes appeared to be dimers of identical subunits. The first 20 residues of their N-terminal amino acid sequences were 90% homologous. A degenerate oligonucleotide probe constructed to a six amino acid sequence common to both enzymes gave strong hybridization with DNA from E. coli strains B and W as well as with E. coli C and K. pneumoniae but little or no hybridization to DNA from E. coli K12 or Pseudomonas putida.     

蛇足石杉内生真菌无柄盘菌Pezicula sp. JR14中抑制乙酰胆碱酯酶的次级代谢产物分离

采用形态学及ITS-rDNA序列分析法,对具有抑制乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的蛇足石杉内生菌株JR14进行鉴定,确定为无柄盘菌Pezicula sp.。开展了乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制活性化合物的分离,从Pezicula sp. JR14乙酸乙酯提取物中分离到4个化合物,利用核磁共振及质谱技术将其鉴定为behenic acid (1)、himeic acid B (2)、secalonic acid A (3)和palmitic acid (4)。采用改进的Ellman比色法对分离的化合物进行活性检测,结果表明,himeic acid B (2)具有较强的乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制活性,其IC₅₀为205μg/mL（0.64mmol/L）。     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of the symmetric dimeric form of Temporin A based on 3-N,N-di(3-aminopropyl)amino propanoic acid as the branching unit.

Dimeric derivative of antimicrobial peptide amide Temporin A (TA) was synthesized by using a new branching unit 3-N,N-di(3-aminopropyl)amino propanoic acid (DAPPA), which allows building of the parallelly symmetric alpha-helical structures. Antimicrobial effect of the original peptide amide, its monomeric carboxy (TAc) and novel dimeric (TAd) analogues were tested against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative). Both TA and TAd completely inhibited the growth of S. aureus at the concentrations of 5 and 10 microM, respectively, whereas TAc did not show any inhibitory activity. The activities of TAc, TA and TAd correlate directly with the net charges of the molecules, +1, +2 and +4, respectively. Interestingly, TAd displayed antibacterial effect against E. coli at a concentration of 10 microM, where as monomeric TA did not show any activity at concentration as high as 20 microM. The results indicate that the novel structural modification improves the antibacterial properties of Temporin A especially towards Gram-negative bacteria.     

Purification and characterization of a 15-ketoprostaglandin delta 13-reductase from bovine lung.

15-Ketoprostaglandin delta 13-reductase from bovine lung has been purified using affinity chromatography to apparent homogeneity, as judged from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with and without sodium dodecyl sulphate. Valine was identified as tne N-terminal aumino acid, and the isoelectric point was estimated at pH 7.8. Molecular weights of 56,000 and 39,500 were found by the use of gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. The enzyme was found to be specific for the 15-keto group, thus 15-ketoprostaglandin E4 (apparent Km = microM) is a substrate, in contrast to prostaglandin E1. The enzyme was active with both NADH (apparent Km = 88--94 microM) and NADH (apparent Km = 5--9 microM) as coenzyme, but the V max with NADH was more than twice that obtained with NADPH. The enzyme did not catalyze the reversed reaction: 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin E1 to 15-ketoprostaglandin E1. The turnover number of the enzyme was determined to be either 60 or 42 min-1. The low value of the turnover number is compensated by a high concentration (96.4 mU/g tissue) of the enzyme in lung tissue, resulting in a high metabolic capacity. Thus, 15-ketoprostaglandin delta 13-reductase together with 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase ensures an irreversible catabolism of prostaglandins.     

The initiating steps of a type II fatty acid synthase in Plasmodium falciparum are catalyzed by pfACP,pfMCAT, and pfKASIII

Malaria, a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases, claiming millions of lives and infecting hundreds of millions of people annually. The pressing need for new antimalarials has been answered by the discovery of new drug targets from the malaria genome project. One of the early findings was the discovery of two genes encoding Type II fatty acid biosynthesis proteins: ACP (acyl carrier protein) and KASIII (beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III). The initiating steps of a Type II system require a third protein: malonyl-coenzyme A:ACP transacylase (MCAT). Here we report the identification of a single gene from P. falciparum encoding pfMCAT and the functional characterization of this enzyme. Pure recombinant pfMCAT catalyzes malonyl transfer from malonyl-coenzyme A (malonyl-CoA) to pfACP. In contrast, pfACP(trans), a construct of pfACP containing an amino-terminal apicoplast transit peptide, was not a substrate for pfMCAT. The product of the pfMCAT reaction, malonyl-pfACP, is a substrate for pfKASIII, which catalyzes the decarboxylative condensation of malonyl-pfACP and various acyl-CoAs. Consistent with a role in de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, pfKASIII exhibited typical KAS (beta-ketoacyl ACP synthase) activity using acetyl-CoA as substrate (k(cat) 230 min(-1), K(M) 17.9 +/- 3.4 microM). The pfKASIII can also catalyze the condensation of malonyl-pfACP and butyryl-CoA (k(cat) 200 min(-1), K(M) 35.7 +/- 4.4 microM) with similar efficiency, whereas isobutyryl-CoA is a poor substrate and displayed 13-fold less activity than that observed for acetyl-CoA. The pfKASIII has little preference for malonyl-pfACP (k(cat)/K(M) 64.9 min(-1)microM(-1)) over E. coli malonyl-ACP (k(cat)/K(M) 44.8 min(-1)microM(-1)). The pfKASIII also catalyzes the acyl-CoA:ACP transacylase (ACAT) reaction typically exhibited by KASIII enzymes, but does so almost 700-fold slower than the KAS reaction. Thiolactomycin did not inhbit pfKASIII (IC(50) > 330 microM), but three structurally similar substituted 1,2-dithiole-3-one compounds did inhibit pfKASIII with IC(50) values between 0.53 microM and 10.4 microM. These compounds also inhibited the growth of P. falciparum in culture.     

Arachidonic acid metabolism by rabbit synovial cells in culture. Studies of non-cyclooxygenase pathways

We have investigated arachidonic acid (20:4) metabolism by rabbit synovial cells in culture. The lipoxygenase products 5-HETE, 12-HETE and 15-HETE were not detected, despite the presence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor sodium meclofenamate (20 microM), nor after incubation with ionophore A23187 (1 microM), 20:4 (10 microM), prostaglandin E2, (1 microM), N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (0.01 microM), or murine spleen cell-conditioned medium. [3H]20:4 (10 microM) was incorporated into phospholipids, triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols. A majority of the 3H content of phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylserine and of diacylglycerols was already present at 1 min, in contrast to the slower accumulation of 3H in triacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The diacylglycerol fraction contained sn-glycerol-1-acyl-2-20:4. These observations are consistent with phospholipase C activity in synovial cells under those culture conditions. The products generated by these enzymes may play important roles in the physiological processes of synovium.     

Synthesis of a new vanadyl(IV) complex with trehalose (TreVO): insulin-mimetic activities in osteoblast-like cells in culture

Vanadium compounds show interesting biological and pharmacological properties. Some of them display insulin-mimetic effects and others produce anti-tumor actions. The bioactivity of vanadium is present in inorganic species like the vanadyl(IV) cation or vanadate(V) anion. Nevertheless, the development of new vanadium derivatives with organic ligands which improve the beneficial actions and decrease the toxic effects is of great interest. On the other hand, the mechanisms involved in vanadium bioactivity are still poorly understood. A new vanadium complex of the vanadyl(IV) cation with the disaccharide trehalose (TreVO), Na(6)[VO(Tre)(2)].4H(2)O, here reported, shows interesting insulin-mimetic properties in two osteoblast cell lines, a normal one (MC3T3E1) and a tumoral one (UMR106). The complex affected the proliferation of both cell lines in a different manner. On tumoral cells, TreVO caused a weak stimulation of growth at 5 microM but it inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-response manner between 50 and 100 microM. TreVO significantly inhibited UMR106 differentiation (15-25% of basal) in the range 5-100 microM. On normal osteoblasts, TreVO behaved as a mitogen at 5-25 microM. Different inhibitors of the MAPK pathway blocked this effect. At higher concentrations (75-100 microM), the complex was a weak inhibitor of the MC3T3E1 proliferation. Besides, TreVO enhanced glucose consumption by a mechanism independent of the PI3-kinase activation. In both cell lines, TreVO stimulated the ERK phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Different inhibitors (PD98059, wortmannin, vitamins C and E) partially decreased this effect, which was totally inhibited by their combination. These results suggest that TreVO could be a potential candidate for therapeutic treatments.     

Mechanism of inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase by citral, a retinoid antagonist.

Low concentrations of citral (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal), an inhibitor of retinoic acid biosynthesis, inhibited E1, E2 and E3 isozymes of human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC1.2.1.3). The inhibition was reversible on dilution and upon long incubation in the presence of NAD+; it occurred with simultaneous formation of NADH and of geranic acid. Thus, citral is an inhibitor and also a substrate. Km values for citral were 4 microM for E1, 1 microM for E2 and 0.1 microM for E3; Vmax values were highest for E1 (73 nmol x min-1 x mg-1), intermediate for E2 (17 nmol x min-1 x mg-1) and lowest (0.07 nmol x min-1 x mg-1) for the E3 isozyme. Citral is a 1 : 2 mixture of isomers: cis isomer neral and trans isomer, geranial; the latter structurally resembles physiologically important retinoids. Both were utilized by all three isozymes; a preference for the trans isomer, geranial, was observed by HPLC and by enzyme kinetics. With the E1 isozyme, both geranial and neral, and with the E2 isozyme, only neral obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. With the E2 isozyme and geranial sigmoidal saturation curves were observed with S0.5 of approximately 50 nM; the n-values of 2-2.5 indicated positive cooperativity. Geranial was a better substrate and a better inhibitor than neral. The low Vmax, which appeared to be controlled by either the slow formation, or decomposition via the hydride transfer, of the thiohemiacetal reaction intermediate, makes citral an excellent inhibitor whose selectivity is enhanced by low Km values. The Vmax for citral with the E1 isozyme was higher than those of the E2 and E3 isozymes which explains its fast recovery following inhibition by citral and suggests that E1 may be the enzyme involved in vivo citral metabolism.     

Biochemical characterization of human 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase and its role in leucine metabolism

The metabolic disease 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type I (MGA1) is characterized by an abnormal organic acid profile in which there is excessive urinary excretion of 3-methylglutaconic acid, 3-methylglutaric acid and 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid. Affected individuals display variable clinical manifestations ranging from mildly delayed speech development to severe psychomotor retardation with neurological handicap. MGA1 is caused by reduced or absent 3-methylglutaconyl-coenzyme A (3-MG-CoA) hydratase activity within the leucine degradation pathway. The human AUH gene has been reported to encode for a bifunctional enzyme with both RNA-binding and enoyl-CoA-hydratase activity. In addition, it was shown that mutations in the AUH gene are linked to MGA1. Here we present kinetic data of the purified gene product of AUH using different CoA-substrates. The best substrates were (E)-3-MG-CoA (V(max) = 3.9 U.mg(-1), K(m) = 8.3 microM, k(cat) = 5.1 s(-1)) and (E)-glutaconyl-CoA (V(max) = 1.1 U.mg(-1), K(m) = 2.4 microM, k(cat) = 1.4 s(-1)) giving strong evidence that the AUH gene encodes for the major human 3-MG-CoA hydratase in leucine degradation. Based on these results, a new assay for AUH activity in fibroblast homogenates was developed. The only missense mutation found in MGA1 phenotypes, c.719C>T, leading to the amino acid exchange A240V, produces an enzyme with only 9% of the wild-type 3-MG-CoA hydratase activity.