Comparison of lignin peroxidase, horseradish peroxidase and laccase in the oxidation of methoxybenzenes.

Lignin peroxidase oxidizes non-phenolic substrates by one electron to give aryl-cation-radical intermediates, which react further to give a variety of products. The present study investigated the possibility that other peroxidative and oxidative enzymes known to catalyse one-electron oxidations may also oxidize non-phenolics to cation-radical intermediates and that this ability is related to the redox potential of the substrate. Lignin peroxidase from the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor were chosen for investigation with methoxybenzenes as a homologous series of substrates. The twelve methoxybenzene congeners have known half-wave potentials that differ by as much as approximately 1 V. Lignin peroxidase oxidized the ten with the lowest half-wave potentials, whereas HRP oxidized the four lowest and laccase oxidized only 1,2,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene, the lowest. E.s.r. spectroscopy showed that this congener is oxidized to its cation radical by all three enzymes. Oxidation in each case gave the same products: 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone and 4,5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone, in a 4:1 ratio, plus 2 mol of methanol for each 1 mol of substrate. Using HRP-catalysed oxidation, we showed that the quinone oxygen atoms are derived from water. We conclude that the three enzymes affect their substrates similarly, and that whether an aromatic compound is a substrate depends in large part on its redox potential. Furthermore, oxidized lignin peroxidase is clearly a stronger oxidant than oxidized HRP or laccase. Determination of the enzyme kinetic parameters for the methoxybenzene oxidations demonstrated further differences among the enzymes.     

Re-evaluating lipotoxic triggers in skeletal muscle: relating intramyocellular lipid metabolism to insulin sensitivity

Ectopic fat accumulation has been linked to lipotoxic events, including the development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Indeed, intramyocellular lipid storage is strongly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. Research during the last two decades has provided evidence for a role of lipid intermediates like diacylglycerol and ceramide in the induction of lipid-induced insulin resistance. However, recently novel data has been gathered that suggest that the relation between lipid intermediates and insulin resistance is less straightforward than has been previously suggested, and that there are several routes towards lipid-induced insulin resistance. For example, research in this field has shifted towards imbalances in lipid metabolism and lipid droplet dynamics. Next to imbalances in key lipogenic and lipolytic proteins, lipid droplet coat proteins appear to be essential for proper intramyocellular lipid storage, turnover and protection against lipid-induced insulin resistance.Here, we discuss the current knowledge on lipid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle with a focus on the evidence from human studies. Furthermore, we discuss the available data that provides supporting mechanistic information.     

Queuine in plants and plant tRNAs: Differences between embryonic tissue and mature leaves

In eubacterial and eukaryotic tRNAs specific for Asn, Asp, His and Tyr the modified deazaguanosinederivative queuosine occurs in position 34, the first position of the anticodon. Analysis of unfractionated tRNAs from wheat and from tobacco leaves shows that these tRNAs contain high amounts of guanosine (G) in place of queuosine (Q). This was measured by the exchange of G34 for [³H]guanine catalysed by the specific tRNA guanine transglycosylase from E. coli. Upon gel electrophoretic separation of the labeled tRNAs, seven Q-deficient tRNA species including isoacceptors are detectable. Two are identified as cytoplasmic tRNAs^Tyr and tRNA^Asp and two represent chloroplast tRNA^Tyr isoacceptors. In contrast to leaf cytoplasm and chloroplasts, wheat germ has low amounts of tRNAs with G34 in place of Q.A new enzymatic assay is described for quantitation of free queuine in cells and tissues. Analysis of queuine in plant tissues shows that wheat germ contains about 200 ng queuine per g wet weight. In wheat and tobacco leaves queuine is present, if at all, in amounts lower than 10 ng/g wet weight. The absence of Q in tRNAs from plant leaves is therefore caused by a deficiency of queuine. Tobacco cells cultivated in a synthetic medium without added queuine do not contain Q in tRNA, indicating that these rapidly growing cells do not synthesize queuine de novo.     

Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of drosophilid species

The phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of 39 drosophilid species were studied by using the coding region of the Adh gene. Four genera--Scaptodrosophila, Zaprionus, Drosophila, and Scaptomyza (from Hawaii)--and three Drosophila subgenera--Drosophila, Engiscaptomyza, and Sophophora--were included. After conducting statistical analyses of the nucleotide sequences of the Adh, Adhr (Adh-related gene), and nuclear rRNA genes and a 905-bp segment of mitochondrial DNA, we used Scaptodrosophila as the outgroup. The phylogenetic tree obtained showed that the first major division of drosophilid species occurs between subgenus Sophophora (genus Drosophila) and the group including subgenera Drosophila and Engiscaptomyza plus the genera Zaprionus and Scaptomyza. Subgenus Sophophora is then divided into D. willistoni and the clade of D. obscura and D. melanogaster species groups. In the other major drosophilid group, Zaprionus first separates from the other species, and then D. immigrans leaves the remaining group of species. This remaining group then splits into the D. repleta group and the Hawaiian drosophilid cluster (Hawaiian Drosophila, Engiscaptomyza, and Scaptomyza). Engiscaptomyza and Scaptomyza are tightly clustered. Each of the D. repleta, D. obscura, and D. melanogaster groups is monophyletic. The splitting of subgenera Drosophila and Sophophora apparently occurred about 40 Mya, whereas the D. repleta group and the Hawaiian drosophilid cluster separated about 32 Mya. By contrast, the splitting of Engiscaptomyza and Scaptomyza occurred only about 11 Mya, suggesting that Scaptomyza experienced a rapid morphological evolution. The D. obscura and D. melanogaster groups apparently diverged about 25 Mya. Many of the D. repleta group species studied here have two functional Adh genes (Adh-1 and Adh-2), and these duplicated genes can be explained by two duplication events.      

Cloning and characterization of the breakpoint regions of a chromosome 11;18 translocation in a patient with hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium

Mutations of various tumor suppressor genes, e.g., PTEN, TSC1, and TSC2, are known to be responsible for different inherited diseases presenting with multiple hamartomas, a benign tumor resembling neoplasia that results from faulty organ development. Combined hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina is a rare, congenital, focal malformation of the fundus. So far, no disease gene has been associated with this disorder. By molecular analysis of an apparently balanced and reciprocal translocation between the short arms of chromosomes 11 and 18, t(11;18)(p13;p11.31), in a patient with hamartoma of the RPE and retina, we selected PAC clones crossing the breakpoints on both derivative chromosomes 11 and 18. For the overlapping chromosome 11 clone, two EST clusters were identified, suggesting the existence of at least two genes in the breakpoint region. We constructed a PAC contig and showed that at least three exons of a novel gene map to the breakpoint region on chromosome 18. Based on the results of FISH analysis with the PAC clones of this contig, we suggest the occurrence of a complex rearrangement.     

Determination of T-2 toxin,HT-2 toxin,and three other type A trichothecenes in layer feed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)—comparison of two sample preparation methods

A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, neosolaniol, T-2 triol, and T-2 tetraol in layer feed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in the positive ionization mode (LC-ESI-MS/MS) is described. Two fast and easy clean-up methods—with BondElut Mycotoxin and MycoSep 227 columns, respectively—were tested. The separation of the toxins was conducted on a Pursuit XRs Ultra 2.8 HPLC column using 0.13 mM ammonium acetate as eluent A and methanol as eluent B. Detection of the mycotoxins was carried out in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using ammonium adducts as precursor ions. Quantification of all analytes was performed with d₃-T-2 toxin as an internal standard. The clean-up method with MycoSep 227 columns gave slightly better results for layer feed compared to the method using BondElut Mycotoxin columns (MycoSep 227: recovery between 50 and 63 %, BondElut Mycotoxin: recovery between 32 and 67 %) and was therefore chosen as the final method. The limits of detection ranged between 0.9 and 7.5 ng/g depending on the mycotoxin. The method was developed for the analysis of layer feed used at carry-over experiments with T-2 toxin in laying hens. For carry-over experiments, it is necessary that the method includes not only T-2 toxin but also the potential metabolites in animal tissues HT-2 toxin, neosolaniol, T-2 triol, and T-2 tetraol which could naturally occur in cereals used as feed stuff as well.     

Impairment of Endothelial-Myocardial Interaction Increases the Susceptibility of Cardiomyocytes to Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Endothelial-myocardial interactions may be critically important for ischemia/reperfusion injury. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH₄) is a required cofactor for nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Hyperglycemia (HG) leads to significant increases in oxidative stress, oxidizing BH₄ to enzymatically incompetent dihydrobiopterin. How alterations in endothelial BH₄ content impact myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury remains elusive. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of endothelial-myocardial interaction on ischemia/reperfusion injury, with an emphasis on the role of endothelial BH₄ content. Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts were treated by triton X-100 to produce endothelial dysfunction and subsequently subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The recovery of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function during reperfusion was impaired in triton X-100 treated hearts compared with vehicle-treated hearts. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) were co-cultured with endothelial cells (ECs) and subsequently subjected to 2 h of hypoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation. Addition of ECs to CMs at a ratio of 1∶3 significantly increased NO production and decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity compared with CMs alone. This EC-derived protection was abolished by HG. The addition of 100 µM sepiapterin (a BH₄ precursor) or overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (the rate-limiting enzyme for BH₄ biosynthesis) in ECs by gene trasfer enhanced endothelial BH₄ levels, the ratio of eNOS dimer/monomer, eNOS phosphorylation, and NO production and decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity in the presence of HG. These results demonstrate that increased BH₄ content in ECs by either pharmacological or genetic approaches reduces myocardial damage during hypoxia/reoxygenation in the presence of HG. Maintaining sufficient endothelial BH₄ is crucial for cardioprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.     

Deoxynivalenol affects the composition of the basement membrane proteins and influences en route the migration of CD16+ cells into the intestinal epithelium

The numerous pores in the basement membrane (BM) of the intestinal villi are essential for the communication of enterocytes with cells in the lamina propria, an important mechanism for the induction of intestinal immune responses. The intestinal epithelial barrier is affected by the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) from both the apical (luminal) and basolateral (serosal) side. The pig is the most susceptible species to the anorectic and immune-modulating effects of DON, which is most prevalent in crops. We analysed in pigs the effect of DON-contaminated feed on the composition and perforation of the BM and the presence of CD16⁺ cells or their dendrites in the epithelium. In addition to in vivo experiments, in vitro studies were carried out. Using microarray analyses, the effects of DON on IPEC-J2 cells were studied with the focus on the BM. Our in vivo results showed in the control pigs: (1) a significant increased pore number (p?≤?0.001) in the jejunum in comparison to ileum, (2) no difference in the pore size, and (3) comparable frequency of intraepithelial CD16⁺ cells/dendrites in the jejunum and ileum. There was a marked trend that DON feeding increases: (1) the pore number in jejunum, and (2) the number of CD16⁺ cells/dendrites in the epithelium (Tukey–Kramer; p?=?0.055 and p?=?0.067, respectively). The in vivo results were extended with microarray analyses of epithelial cell (IPEC-J2 cells). The down-regulation of genes like syndecan, fibulin 6 and BM-40 was observed. These proteins are important factors in the BM composition and in formation of pores. Our results provide evidence that already low basolateral concentrations of DON (50 ng/mL) influence the production of the BM protein laminin by epithelial cells. Thus, DON affects the composition of the BM.