Sepiapterin reductase in blood of various animals and of leukemic rats

Sepiapterin reductase: Characteristics and role in diseases

Sepiapterin reductase, a homodimer composed of two subunits, plays an important role in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin. Furthermore, sepiapterin reductase exhibits a wide distribution in different tissues and is associated with many diseases, including brain dysfunction, chronic pain, cardiovascular disease and cancer. With regard to drugs targeting sepiapterin reductase, many compounds have been identified and provide potential methods to treat various diseases. However, the underlying mechanism of sepiapterin reductase in many biological processes is unclear. Therefore, this article summarized the structure, distribution and function of sepiapterin reductase, as well as the relationship between sepiapterin reductase and different diseases, with the aim of finding evidence to guide further studies on the molecular mechanisms and the potential clinical value of sepiapterin reductase. In particular, the different effects induced by the depletion of sepiapterin reductase or the inhibition of the enzyme suggest that the non-enzymatic activity of sepiapterin reductase could function in certain biological processes, which also provides a possible direction for sepiapterin reductase research.

Analysis of the tetrahydrobiopterin synthesizing system during maturation of murine reticulocytes

The enzymes of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis have been studied in murine bone marrow, in spleen, in erythrocytes, and in reticulocytes. Mice with chemically induced and with genetically conditioned reticulocytosis as found in the lactate dehydrogenase deficient strain (Ldh-1c/Ldh-1c) were used for analysis of reticulocytic enzyme activities. The activity of the biopterin synthesizing system is highest in bone marrow even though it amounts to only about 10% as compared with liver. The first enzyme of the biosynthetic pathway, GTP-cyclohydrolase, virtually disappears during the final maturation step of reticulocytes. In contrast, the activities of 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase and of sepiapterin reductase of erythrocytes are only reduced to about one half of the reticulocyte level. The absence of biopterin in erythrocytes is therefore caused by the loss of the enzyme that initiates the pterin biosynthetic pathway.

Sepiapterin reductase in human amniotic and skin fibroblasts, chorionic villi, and various blood fractions

Sepiapterin reductase activity has been measured in amniotic fibroblasts by two procedures: one photometric and the other HPLC-fluorimetric. Both can be used for quantitative measurements, but the latter has considerable advantages including smaller standard deviation, much lower detection limit, and less volume of sample required. Sepiapterin reductase activity was also assayed in skin fibroblasts, chorionic villi and various blood fractions including stimulated mononuclear blood cells. Red blood cells have a low specific activity compared to unstimulated mononuclear blood cells, although the latter have a mean value with a high standard deviation. When the mononuclear blood cells were cultured for 5 days, the mean specific activity increased and the range became tighter. Enzyme stability and N-acetylserotonin inhibition were also studied.

Sepiapterin reductase in cultured human cells

Sepiapterin reductase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (the natural cofactor for phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases), has been assayed in cultured human amniotic fibroblasts and in cultured mononuclear blood cells. In both cases, the Michaelis constants for sepiapterin and NADPH were essentially equal; 20 microM and 6 microM respectively for stimulated mononuclear blood cells and 22 microM and 5 microM respectively for amniotic fibroblasts. The inhibition by N-acetylserotonin was also similar in both cases. The concentration that produced 50% inhibition in stimulated mononuclear blood cells and in amniotic fibroblasts was 2 microM. The results strongly suggest that the same enzyme is acting in both types of cells, at least when grown in culture.

Dyspropterin, an intermediate formed from dihydroneopterin triphosphate in the biosynthetic pathway of tetrahydrobiopterin

The structure of dyspropterin, a new name given to an intermediate which is formed from dihydroneopterin triphosphate in the biosynthetic pathway of tetrahydrobiopterin, has been studied. Sepiapterin reductase (EC 1.1.1.153) was found to reduce dyspropterin to tetrahydrobiopterin in the presence of NADPH. Several lines of evidence showing the formation of tetrahydrobiopterin have been presented. Stoichiometric analysis revealed that there is a 1:2 relationship between the production of biopterin and the oxidation of NADPH during the reductase-catalyzed reduction of dyspropterin. The tetrahydrobiopterin production from dyspropterin was enhanced by dihydropteridine reductase (EC 1.6.99.7). Dyspropterin could also serve as a cofactor in phenylalanine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.1) system. These results are consistent with the view that dyspropterin is 6-(1,2-dioxopropyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin. Based on our findings, the biosynthetic pathway of tetrahydrobiopterin from dihydroneopterin triphosphate has been discussed.

Sepiapterin reductase exhibits a NADPH-dependent dicarbonyl reductase activity

We have found a new ability of sepiapterin reductase, which has been known to show a strict substrate specificity for the 6-lactyl sidechain of sepiapterin to produce 6-dihydroxypropyl sidechain of dihydrobiopterin in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, to reduce many dicarbonyl compounds with NADPH as effectively utilized substrates. By analysis of diacetyl reduction by purified sepiapterin reductase, it was observed that both of the carbonyl groups of the compound are finally sequentially reduced by the enzyme with NADPH to hydroxyl groups. And we expect that this enzyme may reduce "Compound X", which is an intermediate of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis and would be a dicarbonyl derivative of pteridine (Tanaka et. al., 1980), to dihydrobiopterin via sepiapterin.

Synthesis of biopterin from dihydroneopterin triphosphate by rat tissues

High performance liquid chromatography procedure for the analysis of pterins of biopterin synthesis from dihydroneopterin triphosphate via sepiapterin in rat tissues has been described. Sepiapterin-synthesizing enzyme 1, which catalyzes in the presence of Mg2+ the conversion of dihydroneopterin triphosphate to an intermediate designated compound X was assayed by determining pterin which is formed from compound X under acidic conditions. Sepiapterin- and biopterin-synthesizing activity were also assayed by determining sepiapterin and biopterin, respectively. Analytical results revealed the presence of these activities in most rat tissues examined and high levels were found in kidney, pineal gland and liver. Activities were also detectable in peripheral erythrocytes.

Purification and characterization of sepiapterin reductase from rat erythrocytes

Sepiapterin reductase from rat erythrocyte hemolysate was purified 2000-fold to apparent homogeneity with 30% yield. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 18 units/mg protein, and its molecular weight was 55 000. The enzyme consists of two identical subunits, each of which has a molecular weight of 27 500. The enzyme showed a single peak by isoelectric focusing with a pI of 4.9 and partial specific volume of 0.73 cm3/g. The amino acid composition was determined. pH optimum of the enzyme was 5.5. The equilibrium constant of 2.2.10(9) of the enzyme showed that the equilibrium lies much in favor of dihydrobiopterin formation from sepiapterin in rat erythrocytes. From steady-state kinetic measurements, ordered bi-bi mechanism was proposed to the reaction of sepiapterin reductase in which NADPH binds to free enzyme and sepiapterin binds next. NADP+ is released after the release of dihydrobiopterin. The Km values for sepiapterin and NADPH were 15.4 microM and 1.7 microM, respectively, and the Vmax value was 21.7 mumol/min per mg.

Pteridine-metabolizing enzymes of Macaca fascicularis

1. The crab-eating monkey (Macaca fascicularis) has been studied for enzymes which react in the biosynthesis of pteridine cofactor of phenylalanine hydroxylase: 2. Rather high activity of sepiapterin reductase (EC 1.1.1.153)(0.130 mumol) and measurable activity of dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3)(0.039 mumol), (in amount of substrate reduced/hr/mg protein at 37 degrees C) were found in the crude extract from the liver. 3. Sepiapterin reductase was observed, in blood, only in the erythrocytes while dihydrofolate reductase was observed both in erythrocytes and leucocytes. 4. Activity of pteridine cofactor of phenylalanine hydroxylase was detected in the extract of the liver. 5. Sepiapterin reductase was partially purified from the liver, and was studied in the mol. wt, coenzyme-requirement, pH optimum, KmS and inhibitors.