Generation of excited species catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase or hemin in the presence of reduced glutathione and H2O2

Biological autoluminescence as a perturbance-free method for monitoring oxidation in biosystems

Biological oxidation processes are in the core of life energetics, play an important role in cellular biophysics, physiological cell signaling or cellular pathophysiology. Understanding of biooxidation processes is also crucial for biotechnological applications. Therefore, a plethora of methods has been developed for monitoring oxidation so far, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. We review here the available methods for monitoring oxidation and their basic characteristics and capabilities. Then we focus on a unique method - the only one that does not require input of additional external energy or chemicals - which employs detection of biological autoluminescence (BAL). We highlight the pros and cons of this method and provide an overview of how BAL can be used to report on various aspects of cellular oxidation processes starting from oxygen consumption to the generation of oxidation products such as carbonyls. This review highlights the application potential of this completely non-invasive and label-free biophotonic diagnostic method.

α1-Microglobulin (A1M) Protects Human Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells from Heme-Induced Damage In Vitro

Oxidative stress is associated with many renal disorders, both acute and chronic, and has also been described to contribute to the disease progression. Therefore, oxidative stress is a potential therapeutic target. The human antioxidant α₁-microglobulin (A1M) is a plasma and tissue protein with heme-binding, radical-scavenging and reductase activities. A1M can be internalized by cells, localized to the mitochondria and protect mitochondrial function. Due to its small size, A1M is filtered from the blood into the glomeruli, and taken up by the renal tubular epithelial cells. A1M has previously been described to reduce renal damage in animal models of preeclampsia, radiotherapy and rhabdomyolysis, and is proposed as a pharmacological agent for the treatment of kidney damage. In this paper, we examined the in vitro protective effects of recombinant human A1M (rA1M) in human proximal tubule epithelial cells. Moreover, rA1M was found to protect against heme-induced cell-death both in primary cells (RPTEC) and in a cell-line (HK-2). Expression of stress-related genes was upregulated in both cell cultures in response to heme exposure, as measured by qPCR and confirmed with in situ hybridization in HK-2 cells, whereas co-treatment with rA1M counteracted the upregulation. Mitochondrial respiration, analyzed with the Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer, was compromised following exposure to heme, but preserved by co-treatment with rA1M. Finally, heme addition to RPTE cells induced an upregulation of the endogenous cellular expression of A1M, via activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-pathway. Overall, data suggest that A1M/rA1M protects against stress-induced damage to tubule epithelial cells that, at least partly, can be attributed to maintaining mitochondrial function.

Polyphenols in Liubao Tea Can Prevent CCl₄-Induced Hepatic Damage in Mice through Its Antioxidant Capacities

The present study investigated the preventive effect of polyphenols in Liubao tea (PLT) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury in mice. The mice were initially treated with PLT, followed by induction of liver injury using 10 mL/kg CCl₄. Then liver and serum indices, as well as the expression levels of related messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and proteins in liver tissues were measured. The results showed that PLT reduces the liver quality and indices of mice with liver injury. PLT also downregulates aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides (TGs), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and upregulates superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the sera of mice with liver injury. PLT also reduces serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) cytokines in mice with liver injury. Pathological morphological observation also shows that PLT reduces CCl₄-induced central venous differentiation of liver tissues and liver cell damage. Furthermore, qPCR and Western blot also confirm that PLT upregulates the mRNA and protein expressions of Gu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, catalase (CAT), GSH-Px, and nuclear factor of κ-light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-α (IκB-α) in liver tissues, and downregulates the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Meanwhile, PLT also raised the phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65 and cytochrome P450 reductase protein expression in liver injury mice. The components of PLT include gallic acid, catechin, caffeine, epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin gallate (GCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG), which possibly have a wide range of biological activities. Thus, PLT imparts preventive effects against CCl₄-induced liver injury, which is similar to silymarin.

Hemin toxicity: a preventable source of brain damage following hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhagic stroke is a common cause of permanent brain damage, with a significant amount of the damage occurring in the weeks following a stroke. This secondary damage is partly due to the toxic effects of hemin, a breakdown product of hemoglobin. The serum proteins hemopexin and albumin can bind hemin, but these natural defenses are insufficient to cope with the extremely high amounts of hemin (10 mM) that can potentially be liberated from hemoglobin in a hematoma. The present review discusses how hemin gets into brain cells, and examines the multiple routes through which hemin can be toxic. These include the release of redox-active iron, the depletion of cellular stores of NADPH and glutathione, the production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and the peroxidation of membrane lipids. Important gaps are revealed in contemporary knowledge about the metabolism of hemin by brain cells, particularly regarding how hemin interacts with hydrogen peroxide. Strategies currently being developed for the reduction of hemin toxicity after hemorrhagic stroke include chelation therapy, antioxidant therapy and the modulation of heme oxygenase activity. Future strategies may be directed at preventing the uptake of hemin into brain cells to limit the opportunity for toxic interactions.

Neural Network‐Based Analysis of Thiol Proteomics Data in Identifying Potential Selenium Targets

Generation of a monomethylated selenium metabolite is critical for the anticancer activity of selenium. Because of its strong nucleophilicity, the metabolite can react directly with protein thiols to cause redox modification. Here, we report a neural network-based analysis to identify potential selenium targets. A reactive thiol specific reagent, BIAM, was used to monitor thiol proteome changes on 2D gel. We constructed a dynamic model and evaluated the relative importance of proteins mediating the cellular responses to selenium. Information from this study will provide new clues to unravel mechanisms of anticancer action of selenium. High impact selenium targets could also serve as biomarkers to gauge the efficacy of selenium chemoprevention.

The peroxidase/oxidase activity of soybean lipoxygenase--II. Triplet carbonyls and red photoemission during polyunsaturated fatty acid and glutathione oxidation

During the aerobic reaction of soybean lipoxygenase with polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acid) oxygen uptake is followed by excited carbonyl photoemission. The chemiluminescence yield of phi cl = 10(-10) photons/O2 molecule consumed is enhanced 2-3 orders of magnitude by the carbonyl sensitizers 9,10-dibromo-anthracene-2-sulfonate (kET tau 0 = 10(4) M-1; phi cl = 10(-8) photons/O2) and chlorophyll-a (kET tau 0 = 10(6) M-1; phi cl = 10(-7) photons/O2), respectively. alpha,beta-Saturated triplet excited carbonyls as from 1,2-dioxetane cleavage are discussed to arise from a secondary peroxidase/oxidase reaction with aldehydes formed in the course of enzymic lipid peroxidation. When 1 mM glutathione is added to the aerobic lipoxygenase/arachidonate reaction, carbonyl emission (375-455 nm) is replaced by intense red bands (630-645 nm and 695-715 nm) resembling the characteristic spectrum of (1 delta g)O2-singlet oxygen dimol-emission. The quantum yield (phi cl = 10(-8) photons/O2) remains unaffected by chlorophyll indicating that the red emission is independent of excited carbonyls. The effect of GSH is attributed to dioxetane interception and subsequent glutathione peroxidation generating 1O2 by electron transfer from the superoxide anion radical to a peroxysulfenyl radical.

The peroxidase/oxidase activity of soybean lipoxygenase--I. Triplet excited carbonyls from the reaction with isobutanal and the effect of glutathione

Soybean lipoxygenase shows a secondary peroxidase/oxidase activity: The aerobic reaction with isobutanal, enhanced by hydrogen peroxide as a cosubstrate, yields acetone, exhibits chemiluminescence and consumes oxygen (phi cl = 1.3 x 10(-9) photons/O2 molecule consumed). 9,10-Dibromoanthracene-2-sulfonate increases the photoemission (kET tau 0 = 2 x 10(4) M-1; phi cl = 0.9 x 10(-7) photons/O2), whereas it is diminished by sorbate, tryptophan, 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide the lipoxygenase reaction with glutathione yields yet another excited state. From the well-known reactions promoted by horseradish-peroxidase, these features are concluded to indicate the novel activity of soybean lipoxygenase. With isobutanal as a substrate lipoxygenase acts as an oxidase and as a peroxidase. The mechanism suggested leads to photoemissive triplet excited acetone as expected from the cleavage of an intermediate dioxetane.

Singlet oxygen production from the peroxidase catalyzed formation of styrene glutathione adducts

Recently, Stock et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 261, 15915-15922 [1986]) described a model enzyme system composed of horseradish peroxidase, hydrogen peroxide, phenol, glutathione and styrene. This system forms glutathione-styrene conjugates. Glutathione radicals and carbon-centered radicals are intermediates in this process. In the present study, this model enzyme system was also shown to generate singlet oxygen, probably via a Russell mechanism. No singlet oxygen was generated in the absence of styrene. Thus, contrary to prior suggestions, the reaction of glutathione radical with oxygen to produce a thiyl peroxyl radical is not a significant source of singlet oxygen.

Chemiluminescent oxidation of ribose catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase in presence of hydrogen peroxide

The reaction of ribose with horseradish peroxidase in the presence of H2O2 is accompanied by light emission. The detection of horseradish peroxidase Compound II (FeO2+) indicates that the enzyme participates in a normal peroxidatic cycle. Hydrogen peroxide converts horseradish peroxidase into Compound 1 (FeO2+) which in turn is converted into Compound II by abstracting a hydrogen atom from ribose forming a ribosyl radical. In aerated solutions oxygen rapidly adds to the ribosyl radical. Based on the spectral characteristics and the enhancement of the chemiluminescence by chlorophyll-a, xanthene dyes, D2O and DABCO, it is suggested that the excited species, apparently triplet carbonyls and 1O2, are formed from the biomolecular decay of the peroxyl radicals via the Russell mechanism.

Synergism between substrate and non-substrate thiols in peroxidase-oxidase reactions

Cysteamine and reduced glutathione were shown to act synergistically as peroxidase-oxidase substrates as measured by oxygen consumption and Nitro Blue Tetrazolium reduction. Cysteine methyl ester could be substituted for cysteamine and N-acetylcysteine and penicillamine could be substituted for glutathione. The involvement of reduced oxygen species and the effects of pH and chloride were studied. A possible mechanism of peroxidase-oxidase oxidation of cysteamine and glutathione is proposed. These studies show that peroxidase oxidase reactions can occur with close to physiological concentrations of peroxidase and thiols.

A simultaneous visualization of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and catalase on polyacrylamide gels

A simple and sensitive method for the simultaneous visualization of glutathione peroxidase and catalase on polyacrylamide gels is described. The procedure included: (1) running samples on a 7.5% polyacrylamide gel, (2) soaking the gel in a certain concentration of reduced glutathione (0.25-2.0 mM), (3) soaking the gel in GSH plus H2O2 or cumene hydroperoxide, (4) finally staining with a 1% ferric chloride 1% potassium ferricyanide solution. The best concentration of glutathione for simultaneous visualization of glutathione peroxidase in mouse liver homogenates and also it is specific for glutathione peroxidase since other peroxidases such as lactoperoxidase, horseradish peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase cannot be visualized. Using this method, it was found that unlike catalase, glutathione peroxidase is heat resistant (68 degrees C, 1 min), but sensitive to 10 mM sodium iodoacetate.