Spectral intermediates of prostaglandin hydroperoxidase

Microsomes from ram seminal vesicles or purified prostaglandin H synthase supplemented with either arachidonic acid or prostaglandin G2 formed an unstable spectral intermediate with maxima at 430 nm, 525 nm and 555 nm and minima at 410 nm, 490 nm and 630 nm. At -15 degrees C the band at 430 nm disappeared within 4 min whereas the trough at 410 nm increased three fold. At higher temperatures (10-37 degrees C) spectral complex formation and decay were observed in less than 1 s. An apparent KS-value of about 3 microM was determined for the titration of purified prostaglandin synthase with prostaglandin G2 at -20 degrees C. Substrates for cooxidation reactions of prostaglandin synthase such as phenol, hydroquinone and reduced glutathione as well as the peroxidase inhibitors cyanide and azide inhibited the prostaglandin G2-induced spectral complex formation. The oxene donor iodosobenzene and hydrogen peroxide formed a spectral intermediate analogous to the complex observed with prostaglandin G2 or arachidonic acid in ram seminal vesicle microsomes as well as with the purified prostaglandin synthase. These results are interpreted as the formation of a ferryl-oxo complex (FeO)3+ of the heme of prostaglandin synthase with prostaglandin G2 analogous to the formation of compound I of horseradish peroxidase.     

Prostaglandin G2 levels during reaction of prostaglandin H synthase with arachidonic acid

Prostaglandin H synthase catalyzes the formation of prostaglandin (PG) G2 from arachidonic acid (cyclooxygenase activity), and also the reduction of PGG2 to PGH2 (peroxidase activity). The ability of the pure synthase to accumulate the hydroperoxide, PGG2, under conditions allowing the concurrent function of both catalytic activities was investigated. The peroxidase velocity was continuously determined from the absorbance increases at 611 nm that accompanied oxidation of a peroxidase cosubstrate, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenylenediamine, and PGG2 concentrations were calculated from the peroxidase velocities and the peroxidase Vmax and Km values. Cyclooxygenase velocities were then calculated from the changes in PGG2. Parallel reactions monitored by the use of radiolabelled arachidonate or with a polarographic oxygen electrode were used to confirm the calculated PGG2 levels and the cyclooxygenase velocities. The concentration of PGG2 was found to follow a transient course as the reaction of the synthase progressed, rapidly rising to a maximum of 0.7 microM in the first 10 s, and then declining slowly, reaching 0.1 microM after 60 s. The maximal level of PGG2 achieved during the reaction was constant at about 0.7 microM with higher amounts of added cyclooxygenase capacity (0.3-0.6 microM PGG2/s) but was only about 0.4 microM when the added cyclooxygenase capacity was 0.1 microM PGG2/s. The peroxidase was found to lose only 30% of its activity after 90 s, a point where the cyclooxygenase was almost completely inactive. These results support the concept of a burst of catalytic action from the cyclooxygenase and a reactive, more sustained, catalytic action from the peroxidase during the reaction of the synthase with arachidonic acid.     

The formation of aminopyrine cation radical by the peroxidase activity of prostaglandin H synthase and subsequent reactions of the radical

The oxidation of aminopyrine to an aminopyrine cation radical was investigated using a solubilized microsomal preparation or prostaglandin H synthase purified from ram seminal vesicles. Aminopyrine was oxidized to an aminopyrine cation radical in the presence of arachidonic acid, hydrogen peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide or 15-hydroperoxyarachidonic acid. Highly purified prostaglandin H synthase, which processes both cyclo-oxygenase and hydroperoxidase activity, oxidized aminopyrine to the free radical. Purified prostaglandin H synthase reconstituted with Mn2+ protoporphyrin IX, which processes only cyclo-oxygenase activity, did not catalyze the formation of the aminopyrine free radical. Aminopyrine stimulated the reduction of 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid to 15-hydroxy-5,8,11-13-eicosatetraenoic acid. Approximately 1 molecule of 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid was reduced for every 2 molecules of aminopyrine free radical formed, giving a stoichiometry of 1:2. The decay of the aminopyrine radical obeyed second-order kinetics. These results support the proposed mechanism in which aminopyrine is oxidized by prostaglandin H synthase hydroperoxidase to the aminopyrine free radical, which then disproportionates to the iminium cation. The iminium cation is further hydrolyzed to the demethylated amine and formaldehyde. Glutathione reduced the aminopyrine radical to aminopyrine with the concomitant oxidation of GSH to its thiyl radical as detected by ESR of the glutathione thiyl radical adduct.     

The oxidation of arachidonic acid by the cyclooxygenase activity of purified prostaglandin H synthase: spin trapping of a carbon-centered free radical intermediate

The ESR spin trapping technique was used to study the first detectable radical intermediate in the oxidation of arachidonic acid by purified prostaglandin H synthase. The holoenzyme and the apoenzyme, reconstituted with either hematin or Mn2+ protoporphyrin IX, were investigated. Depending on the different types of enzyme activity present, arachidonic acid was oxidized to at least two free radicals. One of these radicals is thought to be the first ESR detectable radical intermediate in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G2 and was detected previously in incubations of ram seminal vesicle microsomes, which are rich in prostaglandin H synthase. The ESR findings correlated with oxygen incorporation into arachidonic acid and prostaglandin formation, where the spin trap inhibits oxygen incorporation and prostaglandin formation by apparently competing with oxygen for the carbon-centered radical. Substitution of arachidonic acid by octadeuterated (5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15)-arachidonic acid confirmed that the radical adduct contained arachidonic acid that is bound to the spin trap at one of these eight positions. An attempt was made to explain the apparent time lag between the metabolic activity observed in the oxygraph measurements and the appearance of the trapped radical signals.     

Prostaglandin synthase-catalyzed metabolic activation of some aromatic amines to genotoxic products

Cultured human fibroblasts were incubated with different aromatic amines in the presence of different activation systems and the induction of strand breaks in fibroblast DNA was studied. In the presence of ram seminal vesicle microsomes and arachidonic acid, DNA strand breaks were induced by 2-naphthylamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene and 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine. This effect was decreased when the prostaglandin synthase of the ram seminal vesicle microsomes was inhibited. The data suggest that metabolic activation catalyzed by prostaglandin synthase may be of importance in the formation of genotoxic products by certain urinary tract carcinogens.     

The formation of styrene glutathione adducts catalyzed by prostaglandin H synthase. A possible new mechanism for the formation of glutathione conjugates

The metabolism of styrene by prostaglandin hydroperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase was examined. Ram seminal vesicle microsomes in the presence of arachidonic acid or hydrogen peroxide and glutathione converted styrene to glutathione adducts. Neither styrene 7,8-oxide nor styrene glycol was detected as a product in the incubation. Also, the addition of styrene 7,8-oxide and glutathione to ram seminal vesicle microsomes did not yield styrene glutathione adducts. The peroxidase-generated styrene glutathione adducts were isolated by high pressure liquid chromatography and characterized by NMR and tandem mass spectrometry as a mixture of (2R)- and (2S)-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)glutathione. (1R)- and (1S)-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)glutathione were not formed by the peroxidase system. The addition of phenol or aminopyrine to incubations, which greatly enhances the oxidation of glutathione to a thiyl radical by peroxidases, increased the formation of styrene glutathione adducts. We propose a new mechanism for the formation of glutathione adducts that is independent of epoxide formation but dependent on the initial oxidation of glutathione to a thiyl radical by the peroxidase, and the subsequent reaction of the thiyl radical with a suitable substrate, such as styrene.     

Peroxidative oxidation of bilirubin during prostaglandin biosynthesis

The peroxidative oxidation of bilirubin has been characterized in the ram seminal vesicle microsomal system. The oxidation was monitored by following the loss in absorbance of bilirubin at 440 nm. Bilirubin behaves as a peroxidase substrate for prostaglandin H synthase. The oxidation may be initiated by the addition of arachidonic acid or peroxides to incubations containing ram seminal vesicle microsomes and bilirubin, and is sensitive to inhibition by reduced glutathione. The arachidonate-dependent oxidation, but not the peroxide-initiated case, is inhibited by indomethacin. Similar results were obtained using microsomal preparations from mouse, rat, and pig lungs. Spectral and chromatographic examination of the products of bilirubin oxidation in the ram seminal vesicle system demonstrate that biliverdin is produced in this system by the dehydrogenation of bilirubin, but that this product accounts for only about 15% of the bilirubin consumed. Biliverdin itself is not oxidized in this system. At least three highly polar, fluorescent products also are formed from bilirubin. Though not identified, these polar products differ markedly in chromatographic behavior from the major fluorescent products obtained following the singlet oxygen oxidation or the autoxidation of bilirubin.     

Peroxidative oxidation of bilirubin during prostaglandin biosynthesis

The peroxidative oxidation of bilirubin has been characterized in the ram seminal vesicle microsomal system. The oxidation was monitored by following the loss in absorbance of bilirubin at 440 nm. Bilirubin behaves as a peroxidase substrate for prostaglandin H synthase. The oxidation may be initiated by the addition of arachidonic acid or peroxides to incubations containing ram seminal vesicle microsomes and bilirubin, and is sensitive to inhibition by reduced glutathione. The arachidonate-dependent oxidation, but not the peroxide-initiated case, is inhibited by indomethacin. Similar results were obtained using microsomal preparations from mouse, rat, and pig lungs. Spectral and chromatographic examination of the products of bilirubin oxidation in the ram seminal vesicle system demonstrate that biliverdin is produced in this system by the dehydrogenation of bilirubin, but that this product accounts for only about 15% of the bilirubin consumed. Biliverdin itself is not oxidized in this system. At least three highly polar, fluorescent products also are formed from bilirubin. Though not identified, these polar products differ markedly in chromatographic behavior from the major fluorescent products obtained following the singlet oxygen oxidation or the autoxidation of bilirubin.     

Oxidation of glutathione to its thiyl free radical metabolite by prostaglandin H synthase. A potential endogenous substrate for the hydroperoxidase

The oxidation of glutathione to a thiyl radical by prostaglandin H synthase was investigated. Ram seminal vesicle microsomes, in the presence of arachidonic acid, oxidized glutathione to its thiyl-free radical metabolite, which was detected by ESR using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide. Oxidation of glutathione was dependent on arachidonic acid and inhibited by indomethacin. Peroxides also supported oxidation, indicating that the oxidation was by prostaglandin hydroperoxidase. Glutathione served as a reducingcofactor for the reduction of 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid to 15-hydroxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid at 1.5-2 times the nonenzymatic rate. Although purified prostaglandin H synthase in the presence of either H2O2 or 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid oxidized glutathione to a thiyl radical, arachidonic acid did not support glutathione oxidation. Glutathione also inhibited cyclooxygenase activity as determined by measuring oxygen incorporation into arachidonic acid. Reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the arachidonic acid metabolites indicated that the presence of glutathione in an incubation altered the metabolite profile. In the absence of the cofactor, the metabolites were PGD2, PGE2, and 15-hydroperoxy-PGE2 (where PG indicates prostaglandin), while in the presence of glutathione, the only metabolite was PGE2. These results indicate that glutathione not only serves as a cofactor for prostaglandin E isomerase but is also a reducing cofactor for prostaglandin H hydroperoxidase. Assuming that glutathione thiyl-free radical observed in the trapping experiments is involved in the enzymatic reduction of 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid to 15-hydroxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid, then a 1-electron donation from glutathione to prostaglandin hydroperoxidase is indicated.     

Detection of glutathione thiyl free radical catalyzed by prostaglandin H synthase present in keratinocytes. Study of co-oxidation in a cellular system

We report here the application of the electron spin resonance technique to detect free radicals formed by the hydroperoxidase activity of prostaglandin H synthase in cells. Studies were done using keratinocytes obtained from hairless mice. These cells can be prepared in large number and possess significant prostaglandin H synthase activity. Initial attempts to directly detect free radical metabolites of several amines in cells were unsuccessful. A technique was developed based on the ability of some free radicals formed by prostaglandin hydroperoxidase to oxidize reduced glutathione (GSH) to a thiyl radical, which was trapped by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). Phenol and aminopyrine are excellent hydroperoxidase substrates for this purpose and thus were used for all further experiments. Using this approach we detected the DMPO/GS.thiyl radical adduct catalyzed by cellular prostaglandin hydroperoxidase. The formation of the radical was dependent on the addition of substrate, inhibited by indomethacin, and supported by either exogenous arachidonic acid or endogenous arachidonic acid released from phospholipid stores by Ca2+ ionophore A-23187. The addition of GSH significantly increased the intracellular GSH concentration and concomitantly stimulated the formation of the DMPO/GS.thiyl radical adduct. Phenol, but not aminopyrine, enhanced thiyl radical adduct formation and prostaglandin formation with keratinocytes while both cofactors were equally effective in incubations containing microsomes prepared from keratinocytes. These results suggest that prostaglandin hydroperoxidase-dependent co-oxidation of chemicals can result in the intracellular formation of free radical metabolites.     

Electron spin resonance investigation of tyrosyl radicals of prostaglandin H synthase. Relation to enzyme catalysis.

We have examined, by low temperature ESR, the protein-derived radicals formed by reaction of purified ram seminal vesicle prostaglandin H synthase (PHS). Upon addition of arachidonic acid or 5-phenyl-4-pentenyl-1-hydroperoxide (PPHP) to PHS reconstituted with Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX (Fe-PHS) at -12 degrees C, an ESR spectrum was observed at -196 degrees C containing a doublet that rapidly converted into a singlet. These protein-derived radicals were identified as tyrosyl radicals. The addition of a peroxidase substrate, phenol, completely abolished the appearance of the doublet and suppressed the formation of the singlet but did not inhibit eicosanoid formation. Incubation of arachidonic acid with PHS reconstituted with Mn(III)-protoporphyrin IX (Mn-PHS) produced only a broad singlet that exhibited different power saturation behavior than the tyrosyl radicals and decayed more rapidly. This broad singlet does not appear to be a tyrosyl radical. No ESR signals were observed on incubation of PPHP with Mn-PHS, which has cyclooxygenase but not peroxidase activity. Eicosanoid synthesis occurred very rapidly after addition of arachidonic acid and was complete within 1 min. In contrast, the protein-derived radicals appeared at a slower rate and after the addition of the substrate reached maximal levels between 1 and 2 min for Fe-PHS and 4-6 min for Mn-PHS. These results suggest that the observed protein-derived radicals are not catalytically competent intermediates in cyclooxygenase catalysis by either Fe-PHS or Mn-PHS. The peroxidase activity appears to play a major role in the formation of the tyrosyl radicals with Fe-PHS.     

Stimulation of the cyclooxygenase activity of prostaglandin H synthase by salicylate-derived quinhydrones

Two novel salicylate-derived quinhydrones were evaluated for their effect on the kinetics of cyclooxygenase activity of sheep seminal vesicle prostaglandin H synthase. These quinhydrones, which form semiquinone radicals in solution, were designed to resemble oxidized intermediates of salicylic acid metabolism. Although initially investigated for their potential role in irreversible inactivation of cyclooxygenase, these derivatives were found to give three-fold stimulation of this activity. In the absence of arachidonic acid, preincubation of the enzyme with these quinhydrones did not lead to inactivation of the cyclooxygenase activity. These compounds thus resemble the phenolic antioxidants in their effects on the cyclooxygenase activity of the synthase.     

Acetaminophen and analogs as cosubstrates and inhibitors of prostaglandin H synthase

Previous studies have shown that acetaminophen (APAP) is converted by prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) to both one-electron oxidized products and the two-electron oxidized product, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). The present study further characterizes this reaction and shows that relatively low concentrations (20-200 microM) of APAP stimulate PGHS activity in ram seminal vesicle microsomes, whereas high concentrations (greater than 10 mM) inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to 15-hydroperoxy-9,11-peroxidoprosta-5,13-dienoic acid (PGG2). Stimulatory and inhibitory activities apparently involve the reduction of oxidized complexes of PGHS, and stimulatory and inhibitory activities roughly correlate with the electrochemical half-wave oxidation potentials of a series of hydroxyacetanilides. Using APAP as a probe, it was found that at low concentrations, APAP is converted in a cooxidation reaction with arachidonic acid to a dimer, 4'4"'-dihydroxy-3', 3"'-biacetanilide (bi-APAP), and other polymeric products. Moreover, an electrophilic metabolite of acetaminophen, NAPQI, was detected directly and also detected indirectly by its reaction with glutathione (GSH) to form 3'-(S-glutathionyl)acetaminophen (GS-APAP). The formation of all products was inhibited by indomethacin and the reductants, ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). However, in the presence of GSH, ascorbic acid only partially inhibited the formation of GS-APAP while almost completely inhibiting the formation of bi-APAP. The same products of APAP (bi-APAP and NAPQI) were formed by PGHS and hydrogen peroxide in reactions that were not inhibited by indomethacin. At high concentrations of APAP that inhibit PGHS, the formation of products in the presence of arachidonic acid but not H2O2 was inhibited. These findings are generally consistent with a mechanism of acetaminophen oxidation by PGHS that involves common intermediate enzyme forms for both cyclooxygenase- and hydroperoxidase-catalyzed reactions. At least one of the intermediate complexes is reduced by relatively low concentrations of APAP and stimulates PGHS, whereas another intermediate complex is reduced by APAP at higher concentrations to inhibit the enzyme.     

Functional differentiation of cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities of prostaglandin synthase by trypsin treatment. Possible location of a prosthetic heme binding site

Treatment of prostaglandin (PG)H synthase purified from ram seminal vesicle microsomes with trypsin cleaves the 70-kDa subunits into 33- and 38-kDa fragments (Chen, Y.-N. P., Bienkowski, M. J., and Marnett, L. J. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 16892-16899). In contrast to a minimal decrease in cyclooxygenase activity, peroxidase activity declines rapidly following trypsin treatment. The time course for loss of guaiacol peroxidase activity corresponds closely to the time course for protein cleavage. The ability of trypsin-treated enzyme to support catalytic reduction of 5-phenyl-4-pentenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the presence of reducing substrates is significantly reduced. The products of metabolism of 10-hydroperoxy-8,12-octadecadienoic acid indicate that trypsin-treated enzyme catalyzes homolytic scission of the hydroperoxide bond in contrast to the heterolytic scission catalyzed by intact enzyme. Spectrophotometric titrations of hematin addition to trypsin-treated PGH synthase indicate approximately a 50% reduction in heme binding. These observations suggest that trypsin treatment of PGH synthase decreases the ability of the protein to bind prosthetic heme at a site that controls peroxidase activity. Comparison of the N-terminal sequence of the 38-kDa fragment of trypsin-treated PGH synthase to the amino acid sequence of the intact protein indicates that cleavage occurs between Arg253 and Gly254. Based on literature precedents and the results of the present investigations, we propose that the heme prosthetic group that controls the peroxidase activity of PGH synthase binds to the His residue of the sequence His250-Tyr251-Pro252-Arg253 located immediately adjacent to the trypsin cleavage site.     

Alkylaryl sulfides as peroxidase reducing substrates for prostaglandin H synthase. Probes for the reactivity and environment of the ferryl-oxo complex

The peroxidase activity of prostaglandin (PGH) synthase catalyzes the reduction of PGG2 and other natural and synthetic hydroperoxides by reducing substrates. Sulfides serve as reductants by incorporating the oxo ligand from the ferryl-oxo complex which represents the higher oxidation state of the peroxidase (Compound I). A series of alkylaryl sulfides and substituted dihydrobenzo[b]thiophenes were synthesized to determine the electronic and steric requirements of PGH synthase for sulfide reducing substrates. Kinetic parameters were determined for most of the molecules by determining their ability to support reduction of 5-phenyl-4-pentenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the presence of PGH synthase purified from ram seminal vesicle microsomes. Electron-donating groups on the aryl moiety para to the sulfide enhanced reducing substrate activity (p = -0.8). As expected from previous results, the major oxidation product of p-methylthioanisole was the corresponding sulfoxide. The presence of a para-amino group increased binding to the enzyme and changed the reduction mechanism from oxygen transfer to electron transfer. The major oxidation product of p-(dimethylamino)thioanisole was identified as p-(methylamino)thioanisole; an equivalent amount of formaldehyde was produced. Increasing the size of the alkyl group attached to sulfur decreased the ability of the sulfide to act as a peroxidase reductant. The maximal turnover for reduction by p-methoxyphenylalkyl sulfides decreased 10-fold on substitution of isopropyl for ethyl. Chiral derivatives of benzo[b]thiophenes demonstrated differences in the ability of the two enantiomers to support reduction. Introduction of a carboxylic acid moiety anywhere in the molecule decreased the maximal turnover for reduction. Esterification of the carboxylate doubled the extent of reduction relative to the free acid. The results are used to develop models for the interaction of sulfides with Compound I of PGH synthase.     

A carbon-centered free radical intermediate in the prostaglandin synthetase oxidation of arachidonic acid. Spin trapping and oxygen uptake studies

The ESR spin-trapping technique has been used to identify a free radical involved in the oxygenation of arachidonic acid by ram seminal vesicle microsomes. The ESR spectrum of the radical adduct indicates that a carbon-centered arachidonic acid free radical has been observed. The formation of this species is inhibited by indomethacin, but not by phenol, and it is probably the first intermediate formed during the prostaglandin synthetase-catalyzed oxidation of arachidonic acid. The chemical identity of the trapped radical was substantiated with an independent synthesis of a closely related radical adduct.     

A free radical mechanism of prostaglandin synthase-dependent aminopyrine demethylation

The mechanism of prostaglandin synthase-dependent N-dealkylation has been investigated using an enzyme preparation derived from ram seminal vesicles. Incubation of an N-alkyl substrate, aminopyrine, with enzyme and arachidonic acid, 15-hydroperoxyarachidonic acid, or tert-butyl hydroperoxide resulted in the formation of the transient aminopyrine free radical species. Formation of this radical species, which was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and/or absorbance at 580 nm, was maximal approximately 30 s following initiation of the reaction and declined thereafter. Free radical formation corresponded closely with formaldehyde formation in this system, in terms of dependence upon substrate and cofactor concentration, as well as in terms of time course. Both aminopyrine free radical and formaldehyde formation were inhibited by indomethacin and flufenamic acid, inhibitors of prostaglandin synthase. The results suggest that the aminopyrine free radical is an intermediate in the prostaglandin synthase-dependent aminopyrine N-demethylase pathway. The aminopyrine free radical electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum revealed that this species is a one-electron oxidized cation radical of the parent compound. A reaction mechanism has been proposed in which aminopyrine undergoes two sequential one-electron oxidations to an iminium cation, which is then hydrolyzed to the demethylated amine and formaldehyde. Accordingly, the oxygen atom of the aldehyde product is derived from neither molecular nor hydroperoxide oxygen, but from water.     

Limited utilization of exogenous arachidonic acid by the prostaglandin cyclooxygenase in gastric mucosa: the role of protein binding, glutathione peroxidase, and hydrogen peroxides.

We investigated the utilization of exogenous 14C-labelled arachidonic acid by the cyclooxygenase system of the gastric mucosa and its alteration by cytosolic factors, protein binding, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hydrogen peroxides. Total prostaglandin (PG) synthesis from gastric microsomes was reduced in a dose- dependent manner to 12% and 68% of controls by increasing amounts of the 105,000g supernatant or albumin (8mg protein/ml), respectively (p less than 0.01). The inhibitory cytosolic factor was heat labile, protease sensitive, and was retained by a 300,000 Dalton ultrafiltration membrane. Thus, it was likely a protein. Other possible inhibitory mechanisms like protease- or heme-induced destabilization of the cyclooxygenase, haptoglobin-mediated inhibition, or self-inactivation by endogenous substrate were excluded. N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), an agent that alkylates sulfhydryl-groups thereby inhibiting GSH-Px, abolished the inhibitory effect of cytosol in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast to their inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, the binding of arachidonic acid by albumin or cytosolic proteins accounted to 75% and 19% under comparable conditions, respectively, however, cytosolic fatty acid binding was unaffected by NEM. Thus, it was concluded that the inhibitory effect of cytosol, in contrast to albumin, was mediated by a sulfhydryl-depending process, probably a GSH-Px. This conclusion was supported by a qualitatively comparable inhibition by a purified GSH-Px from bovine erythrocytes. The inhibitory action of cytosolic proteins was reduced significantly by increasing concentrations or repeated application of arachidonic acid; therefore, cytosolic GSH-Px was likely to affect substrate utilization by the microsomal PGH synthase through reduction of activating substrate peroxides. Similarly, the in vitro formation of cyclooxygenase products by mucosal homogenate or gastric microsomes in the absence of cytosol was limited at substrate concentrations below 80 microM, despite sufficient nonesterified arachidonic acid remaining in the incubate. This limitation was mediated only partially by self-inactivation of the prostaglandin cyclooxygenase. Neither N-ethylmaleimide nor repeated application of hydrogen peroxides increased substrate utilization by isolated microsomes, excluding contamination by GSH-Px or simply a lack of hydrogen peroxides as possible mechanisms for the limited utilization. From these results, a special role of substrate-linked lipid peroxides in the activation of mucosal prostaglandin synthesis is proposed. The reduction of these peroxides by glutathione dependent or independent peroxidases, e.g. the PGH synthase-linked hydroperoxidase activity itself, could explain the reduced utilization of nonesterified arachidonic acid by the gastric mucosa.     

Limited utilization of exogenous arachidonic acid by the prostaglandin cyclooxygenase in gastric mucosa: The role of protein binding, glutathione peroxidase, and hydrogen peroxides

We investigated the utilization of exogenous ¹⁴C-labelled arachidonic acid by the cyclooxygenase system of the gastric mucosa and its alteration by cytosolic factors, protein binding, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hydrogen peroxides.Total prostaglandin (PG) synthesis from gastric microsomes was reduced in a dose- dependent manner to 12% and 68% of controls by increasing amounts of the 105,000g supernatant or albumin (8mg protein/ml), respectively (p<0.01). The inhibitory cytosolic factor was heat labile, protease sensitive, and was retained by a 300,000 Dalton ultrafiltration membrane. Thus, it was likely a protein. Other possible inhibitory mechanisms like protease- or heme-induced destabilization of the cyclooxygenase, haptoglobin-mediated inhibition, or self-inactivation by endogenous substrate were excluded.N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), an agent that alkylates sulfhydryl-groups thereby inhibiting GSH-Px, abolished the inhibitory effect of cytosol in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast to their inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, the binding of arachidonic acid by albumin or cytosolic proteins accounted to 75% and 19% under comparable conditions, respectively, however, cytosolic fatty acid binding was unaffected by NEM. Thus, it was concluded that the inhibitory effect of cytosol, in contrast to albumin, was mediated by a sulfhydryl-depending process, probably a GSH-Px. This conclusion was supported by a qualitatively comparable inhibition by a purified GSH-Px from bovine erythrocytes.The inhibitory action of cytosolic proteins was reduced significantly by increasing concentrations or repeated application of arachidonic acid; therefore, cytosolic GSH-Px was likely to affect substrate utilization by the microsomal PGH synthase through reduction of activating substrate peroxides.Similarly, the in vitro formation of cyclooxygenase products by mucosal homogenate or gastric microsomes in the absence of cytosol was limited at substrate concentrations below 80μM, despite sufficient nonesterified arachidonic acid remaining in the incubate. This limitation was mediated only partially by self-inactivation of the prostaglandin cyclooxygenase. Neither N-ethylmaleimide nor repeated application of hydrogen peroxides increased substrate utilization by isolated microsomes, excluding contamination by GSH-Px or simply a lack of hydrogen peroxides as possible mechanisms for the limited utilization. From these results, a special role of substrate-linked lipid peroxides in the activation of mucosal prostaglandin synthesis is proposed. The reduction of these peroxides by glutathione dependent or independent peroxidases, e.g. the PGH synthase-linked hydroperoxidase activity itself, could explain the reduced utilization of nonesterified arachidonic acid by the gastric mucosa.     

Human platelet/erythroleukemia cell prostaglandin G/H synthase: cDNA cloning, expression, and gene chromosomal assignment

Platelets metabolize arachidonic acid to thromboxane A2, a potent platelet aggregator and vasoconstrictor compound. The first step of this transformation is catalyzed by prostaglandin (PG) G/H synthase, a target site for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. We have isolated the cDNA for both human platelet and human erythroleukemia cell PGG/H synthase using the polymerase chain reaction and conventional screening procedures. The cDNA encoding the full-length protein was expressed in COS-M6 cells. Microsomal fractions from transfected cells produced prostaglandin endoperoxide-derived products which were inhibited by indomethacin and aspirin. Mutagenesis of the serine residue at position 529, the putative aspirin acetylation site, to an asparagine reduced cyclooxygenase activity to barely detectable levels, an effect observed previously with the expressed sheep vesicular gland enzyme. Platelet-derived growth factor and phorbol ester differentially regulated the expression of PGG/H synthase mRNA levels in the megakaryocytic/platelet-like HEL cell line. The PGG/H synthase gene was assigned to chromosome 9 by analysis of a human--hamster somatic hybrid DNA panel. The availability of platelet PGG/H synthase cDNA should enhance our understanding of the important structure/function domains of this protein and its gene regulation.