Decay of hexokinase during reticulocyte maturation: is oxidative damage a signal for destruction?

Copper-specific damage in human erythrocytes exposed to oxidative stress

Ascorbate and complexes of Cu(II) and Fe(III) are capable of generating significant levels of oxygen free radicals. Exposure of erythrocytes to such oxidative stress leads to increased levels of methemoglobin and extensive changes in cell morphology. Cu(II) per mole is much more effective than Fe(III). However, isolated hemoglobin is oxidized more rapidly and completely by Fe(III)- than by Cu(II)-complexes. Both Fe(III) and Cu(II) are capable of inhibiting a number of the key enzymes of erythrocyte metabolism. The mechanism for the enhanced activity of Cu(II) has not been previously established. Using intact erythrocytes and hemolysates we demonstrate that Cu(II)-, but not Fe(III)-complexes in the presence of ascorbate block NADH-methemoglobin reductase. Complexes of Cu(II) alone are not inhibitory. The relative inability of Fe(III)-complexes and ascorbate to cause methemoglobin accumulation is not owing to Fe(III) association with the membrane, or its failure to enter the erythrocytes. The toxicity of Cu(II) and ascorbate appears to be a result of site-specific oxidative damage of erythrocyte NADH-methemoglobin reductase and the enzyme's subsequent inability to reduce the oxidized hemoglobin.

Ubiquitin and the enigma of intracellular protein degradation

Contrary to widespread belief, the regulation and mechanism of degradation for the mass of intracellular proteins (i.e. differential, selective protein turnover) in vertebrate tissues is still a major biological enigma. There is no evidence for the conclusion that ubiquitin plays any role in these processes. The primary function of the ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathway appears to lie in the removal of abnormal, misfolded, denatured or foreign proteins in some eukaryotic cells. ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis probably also plays a role in the degradation of some so-called 'short-lived' proteins. Evidence obtained from the covalent modification of such natural substrates as calmodulin, histones (H2A, H2B) and some cell membrane receptors with ubiquitin indicates that the reversible interconversion of proteins with ubiquitin followed by concomitant functional changes may be of prime importance.

The soluble but not mitochondrially bound hexokinase is a substrate for the ATP- and ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system

Intracellular protein degradation is highly selective, however, the mechanism(s) underlying this selectivity are not fully understood. We have previously shown that purified rabbit hexokinase type I, an enzyme present in mammalian brain both in soluble and mitochondrial bound form, is conjugate to ubiquitin and then degraded by a rabbit reticulocyte fraction II. In the present study we report that the mitochondrial bound hexokinase is stable for several hours in the same proteolytic system both in the presence or absence of ATP. E1, E2 and E3, the enzymes of the ubiquitin conjugating system, are able to incorporate 125I- or biotin-labelled ubiquitin in an ATP-dependent manner in soluble hexokinase as well as in a number of mitochondrial proteins. Furthermore, the mitochondria by themselves have a pronounced ATP-dependent ability to conjugate 125I-ubiquitin. However, Western blotting experiments, using a specific antibody against hexokinase, or against ubiquitin, showed that the mitochondrial bound enzyme is neither ubiquitinated nor degraded. This result has been confirmed by purification of bound hexokinase from the brain mitochondrial fraction or following the incubation of intact mitochondria with ATP, 125I-ubiquitin and E1, E2 and E3. Thus, mitochondrial bound hexokinase is not recognized by the ubiquitin conjugating system while the soluble enzyme is conjugate to ubiquitin and then degraded. Furthermore, the soluble hexokinase from rabbit brain was isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography and shown to be recognized by an anti-ubiquitin antibody. These results suggest that the intracellular distribution of protein is an important feature of a protein which determines its susceptibility to ubiquitin-dependent degradation.

Evidence indicating that the multicatalytic proteinase of rabbit reticulocytes is not incorporated as a core enzyme into a 26 S proteinase complex

We have reinvestigated the recent proposal that the multicatalytic proteinase, together with other components of reticulocyte lysate, may become incorporated into a very large, "26 S" proteinase complex via an ATP-dependent process. Different from these published results, we consistently isolate the multicatalytic proteinase as a 650,000 Da "20 S" multisubunit proteinase. Analysis on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels of reticulocyte fractions containing the putative complexed form of the multicatalytic proteinase reveal that activity against succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin is associated with two groups of protein of different molecular mass. One migrates like multicatalytic proteinase purified to homogeneity, displays, on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, a set of protein species in the range of 23,000-32,000 Da, characteristic of the multicatalytic proteinase, and is recognized by a monospecific antibody to the enzyme. In contrast, the activity associated with the higher molecular mass (26 S) proteinase complex lacks the typical multicatalytic proteinase subunits and is devoid of antigenic material, when tested with the antibody. These results confirm and extend our recent findings in mouse liver by showing that the multicatalytic proteinase is not a constituent of a 26 S proteinase complex.

Membrane fluidity, reactive oxygen species, and cell-mediated immunity: implications in nutrition and disease

Membrane-associated functions are profoundly influenced by the fluidity and physical state of the membrane. These two features are in turn determined by the membrane lipid acyl chain profile. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modify the acyl chains by lipid peroxidation of the unsaturated chains, thus affecting the fluidity and physical state of the membrane. By enhancing endogenous ROS levels, therefore, aging, and disease affect integral membrane function, such as the cell-mediated immune (CMI) reaction involving phagocyte membrane NADPH oxidase. This enzyme relies on triggering by membrane-inserted protein kinase C (PKC), for its superoxide (O2-) producing function. The molecular mechanism of the depressed immunocompetence in the aged, and in disease and malnutrition, may reside in the down-regulation of these two enzymes by excess ROS. These excess ROS arise from activated phagocytes in disease states, and from enhanced ROS from other sources in the aged, as well as from the decrease in antioxidants in the aged. Research should be intensified on PKC and NADPH oxidase function with the aim of unravelling the molecular mechanism of the depressed immunocompetence, and thence, of formulating appropriate intervention strategies against it.

High resolution of multiple forms of red blood cell enzymes using a Toyopearl DEAE 650 S

We have investigated a new anion exchange chromatographic support (Toyopearl DEAE 650 S) which simultaneously allows easily to remove hemoglobin from hemolysates and to obtain a very high resolution of enzymes present in multiple forms. The results obtained are better than those obtainable using an anion-exchange HPLC column. The data obtained at analytical level suggest a wider use of this new matrix also for preparative purposes without significant changes in the resolution.

The loss of enzyme activity from erythroid cells during maturation

Erythrocyte enzyme activities in patients with reticulocytosis or transient erythroblastopenia show that loss of age-dependent enzyme activity is not a simple exponential process occurring throughout the life-span of the cell. In vivo studies of reticulocyte maturation in rabbits indicate that there are multiple mechanisms of enzyme decay, and that proteolysis continues after the maturation of (morphologically recognisable) reticulocytes into young erythrocytes. Most reticulocyte hexokinase is degraded by lysosomal proteolysis, apparently triggered by an initial attack by lipoxygenase.

In vivo aging of red cell enzymes: study of biotinylated red blood cells in rabbits

It is generally recognized that the activities of some of the red cell enzymes decline as the cell ages. However, there is still a controversy regarding the rate at which this aging occurs. In the present study we applied newly developed technology for the specific isolation of maturing reticulocytes/erythrocytes for a more comprehensive study of in vivo aging of red cell enzymes in rabbits. Anemia was induced by repeated phlebotomy, and reticulocyte-rich erythrocytes were labeled with N-hydroxy succinimido-biotin and then transfused into a normal rabbit. These biotinylated cells were isolated at various time points by their affinity for an avidin support, and the enzymatic activity of 19 red cell enzymes was measured. We observed a biphasic pattern of decay for the activity of six age-dependent enzymes--aldolase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, and pyruvate kinase.

Metal ion-catalyzed oxidation of proteins: biochemical mechanism and biological consequences

In the presence of O2, Fe(III) or Cu(II), and an appropriate electron donor, a number of enzymic and nonenzymic oxygen free radical-generating systems are able to catalyze the oxidative modification of proteins. Whereas random, global modification of many different amino acid residues and extensive fragmentation occurs when proteins are exposed to oxygen radicals produced by high energy radiation, only one or a few amino acid residues are modified and relatively little peptide bond cleavage occurs when proteins are exposed to metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) systems. The available evidence indicates that the MCO systems catalyze the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) and of O2 to H2O2 and that these products react at metal-binding sites on the protein to produce active oxygen (free radical?) species (viz; OH, ferryl ion) which attack the side chains of amino acid residues at the metal-binding site. Among other modifications, carbonyl derivatives of some amino acid residues are formed; prolyl and arginyl residues are converted to glutamylsemialdehyde residues, lysyl residues are likely converted to 2-amino-adipylsemialdehyde residues; histidyl residues are converted to asparagine and/or aspartyl residues; prolyl residues are converted to glutamyl or pyroglutamyl residues; methionyl residues are converted to methionylsulfoxide residues; and cysteinyl residues to mixed-disulfide derivatives. The biological significance of these metal ion-catalyzed reactions is highlighted by the demonstration: (i) that oxidative modification of proteins "marks" them for degradation by most common proteases and especially by the cytosolic multicatalytic proteinase from mammalian cells; (ii) protein oxidation contributes substantially to the intracellular pool of catalytically inactive and less active, thermolabile forms of enzymes which accumulate in cells during aging, oxidative stress, and in various pathological states, including premature aging diseases (progeria, Werner's syndrome), muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, cataractogenesis, chronic alcohol toxicity, pulmonary emphysema, and during tissue injury provoked by ischemia-reperfusion. Furthermore, the metal ion-catalyzed protein oxidation is the basis of biological mechanisms for regulating changes in enzyme levels in response to shifts from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism, and probably from one nutritional state to another. It is also involved in the killing of bacteria by neutrophils and in the loss of neutrophil function following repeated cycles of respiratory burst activity.