Activation of the L voltage-sensitive calcium channel by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase following exposure of neuronal cells to beta-amyloid. MAP kinase mediates beta-amyloid-induced neurodegeneration.

Neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been variously attributed to increases in cytosolic calcium, reactive oxygen species, and phosphorylated forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau. beta-Amyloid (betaA), which accumulates extracellularly in AD brain, induces calcium influx in culture via the L voltage-sensitive calcium channel. Since this channel is normally activated by protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation, we examined kinase activities recruited following betaA treatment of cortical neurons and SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma. betaA increased channel phosphorylation; this increase was unaffected by the protein kinase A inhibitor H89 but was reduced by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor PD98059. Pharmacological and antisense oligonucleotide-mediated reduction of MAP kinase activity also reduced betaA-induced accumulation of calcium, reactive oxygen species, phospho-tau immunoreactivity, and apoptosis. These findings indicate that MAP kinase mediates multiple aspects of betaA-induced neurotoxicity and indicates that calcium influx initiates neurodegeneration in AD. betaA increased MAP kinase-mediated phosphorylation of membrane-associated proteins and reduced phosphorylation of cytosolic proteins without increasing overall MAP kinase activity. Increasing MAP kinase activity with epidermal growth factor did not increase channel phosphorylation. These findings indicate that redirection, rather than increased activation, of MAP kinase activity mediates betaA-induced neurotoxicity.     

Characterization and inhibition studies of carbonic anhydrase from gill of Russian Sturgeon Fish (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

An α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) was purified and characterized kinetically from gill of Acipenser gueldenstaedtii as an endangered sturgeon species. The carbonic anhydrase was purified 66-folds with yield 20.7% by Sepharose-4B-l-tyrosine-sulfanilamide affinity column and the specific activity was determined as 222.2?EU/mg protein. K_m and V_max kinetic values for gill carbonic anhydrase were calculated by a Lineweaver–Burk graph using p-nitrophenol acetate (p-NPA) as a substrate, and was defined as 2.5?mM and 5?×?10^6?μM/min, respectively. It was observed that CA from the sturgeon gill in the presence of the sulfanilamide and acetazolamide as an inhibitor had very low IC₅₀ values such as 13.0 and 0.1?μM, respectively. In addition, it was determined that the enzyme was inhibited by Fe^2+, Co^2+, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺–Ba²⁺ with the IC₅₀ values of 0.2, 1.7, 1.2, and 1.1?mM, respectively.     

Effect of chemotherapy exposure prior to pregnancy on fetal brain tissue and the potential protective role of quercetin

Cyclophosphamide (CYC) and doxorubicin (DOX) are among the most effective and widely used anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic functions have recently been attributed to flavonoids. We hypothesized that Quercetin (QR) would protect against the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents applied prior to pregnancy. Rats were treated with the chemotherapeutic drugs CYC (27 mg/kg) and DOX (1.8 mg/kg) applied in a single intraperitoneal dose once every 3 weeks for 10 weeks. QR was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day by oral gavage. 48 h following the experimental chemotherapy exposure, female rats were transferred to cages containing male rat for mating. Fetal brain tissues were removed from fetuses extracted by cesarean section on the 20th day of gestation for evaluation of antioxidant parameters. A significant increase in superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde activity was observed in CYC and DOX treatment groups relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Similarly, carnitine acylcarnitine translocase and Glutathione activity was significantly reduced in the CYC and DOX groups relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that the use of chemotherapeutic drugs before pregnancy can result in oxidative damage to fetal brain tissue. Therefore, women who have been exposed to chemotherapy and may become pregnant should be treated with antioxidant compounds such as QR to reduce the risk of damage to fetal brain tissues.     

Purification of PON1 from Human Serum and Assessment of Enzyme Kinetics Against Metal Toxicity

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an organophosphate hydrolyser enzyme which has also antioxidant properties in metabolism. Due to its crucial functions, inhibition of the enzyme is undesirable and very dangerous. PON1 enzyme activity should not be altered in any case. Inhibitory investigations of this enzyme are therefore important and useful. Metal toxicology of enzymes has become popular in the recent years. Here, we report the in vitro inhibitory effects of some metal ions, including Pb⁺², Cr⁺², Fe⁺², and Zn⁺², on the activity of human serum PON1 (hPON1; EC 3.1.8.1.). For this purpose, we purified the enzyme from human serum and analyzed the alterations in the enzyme activity in the presence of metal ions. The results show that metal ions exhibit inhibitory effects on hPON1 at low concentrations with IC ₅₀ values ranging from 0.838 to 7.410 mM. Metal ions showed different inhibition mechanisms: lead and iron were competitive, chrome was noncompetitive, and zinc was uncompetitive. Lead was determined to be the most effective inhibitor.     

Expression of fungal cellulase gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus lactis</Emphasis> to construct novel recombinant silage inoculants

The facultative anaerobic bacterium Lactococcus lactis has been used as a host for expression of a gene isolated from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix sp. The coding region of the cellulase gene was obtained from the fungus with the aid of polymerase chain reaction amplification. The gene was then transformed into pCT vector system and the constructed recombinant plasmid was introduced into two L. lactis strains (IL403 and MG1363) by electroporation. The gene encoding the fungal originated cellulase was expressed in both strains successfully although the expression level was relatively lower in comparison with the original enzyme activity. Genetically modified L. lactis strains were used as silage inoculants for pre-biodegradation of the plant biomass during ensiling. That treatment resulted in a notable reduction of the acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents of the plant biomass used as silage material. Inoculation with recombinant strain IL1043 resulted in 4.8 and 9.7 % decrease in NDF and ADF contents, respectively while the inoculation of silage with strain MG1363 decreased the ADF content by >5 %.     

NO-releasing esters show carbonic anhydrase inhibitory action against human isoforms I and II

Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors (CAIs) are a class of pharmaceuticals used as antiglaucoma agents, diuretics, antiepileptics, in the management of mountain sickness, gastric and duodenal ulcers, neurological disorders, or osteoporosis. We report here the inhibitory capacities of some organic nitrates against two human (hCA) isozymes, hCA I and hCA II. The IC₅₀ values of compounds 1–12 against hCA I ranged between 7.13 mM and 124 mM, and against hCA II between 65.1 μM and 0.79 mM. Nitrate esters are thus interesting hCA I and II inhibitors, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors eventually targeting other isoforms which have not been assayed yet for their interactions with such agents.     

Synthesis of 1,4-bis(indolin-1-ylmethyl)benzene derivatives and their structure–activity relationships for the interaction of human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I and II

Several 1,4-bis(indolin-1-ylmethyl)benzene-based compounds containing substituents such as five, six and seven cyclic derivatives on indeno part (9a–c) were prepared and tested against two members of the pH regulatory enzyme family, carbonic anhydrase (CA). The inhibitory potencies of the compounds at the human isoforms hCA I and hCA II targets were analyzed and K_I values were calculated. K_I values of compounds for hCA I and hCA II human isozymes were measured in the range of 39.3–42.6 μM and 0.17–0.29 μM, respectively. The structurally related compound indole was also tested in order to understand the structure–activity relationship. Most of the compounds showed good CA inhibitory efficacy. In silico docking studies of these derivatives within hCA I and II were also carried out and results are supported the kinetic assays.     

Inhibition of human carbonic anhydrase isozymes I, II and VI with a series of bisphenol, methoxy and bromophenol compounds

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI) are valuable molecules as they have several therapeutic applications, including anti-glaucoma activity. In this study, inhibition of three human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes I, II and VI with a series of bisphenol and bromophenol derivatives was investigated. Molecular docking studies of a set of such inhibitors within CA I and II were also performed. K(I) values of the molecules 2-9 were in the range of 10.025-892.109 μM for hCA I, 1.437-59.107 μM for hCA II and 11.143-919.182 μM for hCA VI, respectively. Reported inhibitory activities of molecules 2-9 will assist in better understanding of structure-activity relationship studies of CAI.     

Efficacy of vitamin E,phosphatidyl choline,and pyruvate on buffering neuronal degeneration and oxidative stress in cultured cortical neurons and in central nervous tissue of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Oxidative stress is a pivotal factor in neuronal degeneration. However, vitamin E was only marginally effective in clinical trials. We examined whether or not a mixture of vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol), sodium pyruvate and phosphatidyl choline (PC), a mixture that promotes wound healing in non-neuronal systems, would provide neuroprotection beyond that observed with vitamin E alone. Combined treatment with these agents improved survival and neuritic spouting of murine embryonic cortical neurons in culture, and provided neuroprotection against oxidative damage following treatment with hydrogen peroxide. Dietary treatment with these three agents also compensated for the diminished oxidative buffering capacity of brains of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, while vitamin E alone failed to do so. These data underscore the possibility that critical nutritional deficiencies may modulate the impact of genetic compromise on neurodegeneration.