Bromoacetophenone as an affinity reagent for human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase

Down-regulation of glutaminase C in human hepatocarcinoma cell by diphenylarsinic acid, a degradation product of chemical warfare agents

In a poisonous incident in Kamisu, Japan, it is understood that diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) was a critical contaminant of ground water. Most patients showed dysfunction of the central nervous system. To understand the overall mechanism of DPAA toxicity and to gain some insight into the application of a remedy specific for intoxication, the molecular target must be clarified. As an approach, a high throughput analysis of cell proteins in cultured human hepatocarcinoma HpG2 exposed to DPAA was performed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Four proteins, which were up- and down-regulated by exposure of cultured HepG2 cells to DPAA, were identified. They were chaperonin containing TCP-1 (CCT) beta subunit, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), ribosomal protein P0 and glutaminase C (GAC). Of these, GAC was the only protein that was down-regulated by DPAA exposure, and cellular expression levels were reduced by DPAA in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Decrease in cellular GAC levels was accompanied by decreased activity of the enzyme, phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG). Decreased expression of GAC by DPAA was also observed in human cervical carcinoma HeLa and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. By contrast, no significant changes in GAC protein expression were observed when cells were incubated with arsenite [iAs (III)] and trivalent dimethylarsinous acid [DMA (III)]. In the central nervous system, GAC plays a role in the production of the neurotransmitter glutamic acid. Selective inhibition of GAC expression by DPAA may be a cause of dysfunction of glutamatergic neuronal transmission and the resultant neurological impairments.

Molecular recognition of aldehydes by aldehyde dehydrogenase and mechanism of nucleophile activation

Experimental structural data on the state of substrates bound to class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenases (ALDH3A1) is currently unknown. We have utilized molecular mechanics (MM) simulations, in conjunction with new force field parameters for aldehydes, to study the atomic details of benzaldehyde binding to ALDH3A1. Our results indicate that while the nucleophilic Cys243 must be in the neutral state to form what are commonly called near-attack conformers (NACs), these structures do not correlate with increased complexation energy calculated with the MM-Generalized Born Molecular Volume (GBMV) method. The negatively charged Cys243 (thiolate form) of ALDH3A1 also binds benzaldehyde in a stable conformation but in this complex the sulfur of Cys243 is oriented away from benzaldehyde yet yields the most favorable MM-GBMV complexation energy. The identity of the general base, Glu209 or Glu333, in ALDHs remains uncertain. The MM simulations reveal structural and possible functional roles for both Glu209 and Glu333. Structures from the MM simulations that would support either glutamate residue as the general base were further examined with Hybrid Quantum Mechanical (QM)/MM simulations. These simulations show that, with the PM3/OPLS potential, Glu209 must go through a step-wise mechanism to activate Cys243 through an intervening water molecule while Glu333 can go through a more favorable concerted mechanism for the same activation process.

Human aldehyde dehydrogenase catalytic activity and structural interactions with coenzyme analogs

K(m) and V(max) values for 10 coenzyme analogs never previously studied with any aldehyde dehydrogenase and NADP(+) were compared with those for NAD(+) for three human aldehyde dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.3); the cytoplasmic E1 (the product of the aldh1 gene), the mitochondrial E2 (the product of the aldh2 gene) and the cytoplasmic E3 (the product of the aldh9 gene) isozymes. Structural information on changes in coenzyme-protein interactions were obtained via molecular dynamics (MD) studies with the E2 isozyme and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations were used to study changes in charge distribution of the pyridine ring and relative free energies of solvation of the purine ring in the analogs. E1 showed the broadest substrate specificity and was the only isozyme subject to substrate inhibition, both of which are suggested to be due to the two coenzyme conformations observed previously in the sheep crystal structure. NADP(+) selectivity is indicated to be influenced by Glu195 in E1 and E2. Substitutions in the purine ring affected K(m) but not V(max), with the changes in K(m) being dominated by the hydrophobicity of the purine ring as indicted by the QM calculations. Substitutions in the pyridine ring sometimes rendered the coenzymes inactive, with no consistent pattern observed for the three coenzymes. Structural analysis of the coenzyme analog-E2 MD simulations revealed different structural perturbations of the surrounding active site, though interactions with Asn169 and Glu399 were preserved in all cases.

Effect of enzyme inhibitors on protein quaternary structure determined by on-line size exclusion chromatography-microelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) are a family of enzymes primarily involved in the oxidation of various aldehydes. Most ALDH enzymes derived from mammalian sources have been shown to exist as homotetramers, consisting of four identical subunits of approximately 54 kDa. The presence of the homotetramer appears to be necessary for enzyme activity. In this study, recombinant rat liver mitochondrial ALDH (rmALDH) was inhibited in vitro with four different inhibitors, namely, disulfiram (MW, 296.5), prunetin (MW, 284.3), benomyl (MW, 290.3), and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) (MW, 351.8). Subsequently, inhibited rmALDH was analyzed by a novel approach of on-line size exclusion chromatography-microelectrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SEC-muESI-MS) to examine the noncovalent quaternary structural stability of the inhibited enzyme. Analysis of native rmALDH by SEC-muESI-MS revealed predominantly the homotetramer (Mr = approximately 217,457 Da, +/- 0.01%) with some in-source, skimmer-induced dissociation to afford monomer (Mr = approximately 54,360 Da, +/- 0.01%). Both disulfiram and prunetin inhibited rmALDH by >70% and >90%, respectively, but did not disrupt the quaternary structure of rmALDH. Furthermore, there was no detectable change within experimental error (+/- 0.01%) of the disulfiram or the prunetin homotetramers (Mr = approximately 217,448 Da and Mr = approximately 217,446 Da). This may possibly indicate that inhibition occurred via formation of intramolecular disulfide bond at the enzyme active site, or weak affinity noncovalent binding. In contrast, benomyl-inhibited rmALDH homotetramer (>90% inhibition) exhibited a Mr = approximately 217,650 Da (+/- 0.01%) corresponding to two butylcarbamoyl adducts on two of the four enzyme subunits. The skimmer-induced monomer afforded a mixture of unmodified rmALDH (Mr = approximately 54,365 Da, +/- 0.01%) and butylcarbamoylated enzyme (Mr = approximately 54,459 Da, +/- 0.01%). Finally, TPCK (>90% inhibition) modified all four subunits of rmALDH to give Mr = approximately 218,646 Da (+/- 0.01%). In all four cases while significant enzyme inhibition occurred, no destabilization of the quaternary complex was detected.

Feedback inhibition of the retinaldehyde dehydrogenase gene ALDH1 by retinoic acid through retinoic acid receptor alpha and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) plays a major role in the biosynthesis of retinoic acid (RA), a hormone required for several essential life processes. Recent evidence, using the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-null mouse, suggests that elevated hepatic RA down-regulates ALDH1 in a unique feedback pathway to control RA biosynthesis. To determine the mechanism of suppression of the ALDH1 gene by RA, transactivation studies were carried out in Hepa-1 mouse hepatoma cells. RA decreased expression of an ALDH1-CAT construct containing -2536 base pairs of DNA upstream of the transcription start site. Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) transactivates the ALDH1 gene promoter through a complex with an RA response-like element (RARE) located at -91/-75 bp, which bound to the RARalpha/retinoid X receptor beta heterodimer. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPbeta) also transactivates the ALDH1 gene promoter through a CCAAT box located 3' and directly adjacent to the RARE, and the ALDH1 gene is down-regulated in C/EBPbeta-null mouse liver. Exposure of Hepa-1 cells to RA results in a decrease in C/EBPbeta mRNA levels; however, there was no difference in mRNA and protein levels between wild-type and AHR-null mouse liver. These data support a model in which the RARalpha and C/EBPbeta activate the ALDH1 gene promoter through the RARE and C/EBP response elements, and in Hepa-1 cells, high levels of RA inhibit this activation by decreasing cellular levels of C/EBPbeta.

Binding and incorporation of 4-trans-(N,N-dimethylamino) cinnamaldehyde by aldehyde dehydrogenase

4-trans-(N,N-Dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde (DACA) is a chromophoric substrate of aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) whose fate can be followed during catalysis. During this investigation we found that DACA also fluoresces and that this fluorescence is enhanced and blue-shifted upon binding to aldehyde dehydrogenase. Binding of DACA to aldehyde dehydrogenase also occurs in the absence of coenzyme. Benzaldehyde (a substrate), acetophenone (a substrate-competitive inhibitor), and the substrate-competitive affinity reagent bromoacetophenone interfere with DACA binding. Thus, DACA binds to the active site and can be employed for titration of active aldehyde dehydrogenase. Both E1 and E2 isozymes, which are homotetramers, bind DACA with dissociation constants of 1-4 microM with a stoichiometry of 2 mol DACA/ mol enzyme. The stoichiometry of enzyme-acyl intermediate was also found to be 2 mol DACA/ mol enzyme for both E1 and E2 isozymes. Thus, both enzymes appear to have only two substrate-binding sites which participate in catalysis. The level of enzyme-acyl intermediate remained constant at different pH values, showing that enhancement of velocity with pH was not due to altered DACA-enzyme levels. When the reaction velocity was increased even further by using 150 microM Mg2+ the intermediate level was decreased, suggesting that both increased pH and Mg2+ promote decomposition of the DACA-enzyme intermediate. Titration with DACA permits study of aldehyde substrate catalysis before central complex interconversion.

The cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (Aldh1) is developmentally expressed in Leydig cells

Cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH1, participates in the oxidation of different aldehydes including that of all-trans retinal to retinoic acid. The accumulation of mouse Aldh1 transcripts is characterized by having different patterns in different tissues. This paper reports the greatest expression of Aldh1 in testis and liver. It was demonstrated that in testis, Aldh1 is specifically expressed in Leydig cells and is under developmental regulation. In vitro studies of cultured Leydig TM3 cells confirmed these results though such gene expression was found not to be mediated by LH regulation. Previous investigations have associated androgen receptors, and hence the androgen insensitivity syndrome in man, with the presence of ALDH1 in genital skin fibroblasts. However, this relationship was not established in a functional cell type, as is reported here for Leydig cells. These results could suggest a model for a molecular pathway from androgen receptor to retinoic acid biogenesis in Leydig cells via the mediation of ALDH.

Human liver fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase: microsomal localization, purification, and biochemical characterization

To better understand the genetic disorder Sjogren-Larsson syndrome which is caused by a deficiency of fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, we determined the subcellular localization of the enzyme and investigated its biochemical properties. Using density gradient centrifugation, we found that fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was predominantly localized in the microsomal fraction in human liver. This fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase was solubilized from human liver microsomes and purified by chromatography on columns consisting of omega-aminohexyl-agarose and 5'-AMP-Sepharose 4B. The enzyme had an apparent subunit molecular weight of 54000, required NAD+ as cofactor, had optimal activity at pH 9.8, and was thermolabile at 47 degrees C. Fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase had high activity towards saturated and unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes ranging from 6 to 24 carbons in length, as well as dihydrophytal, a 20-carbon branched chain aldehyde. In contrast, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, benzaldehyde, and retinaldehyde were poor substrates. The enzyme was inhibited by disulfiram, iodoacetamide, alpha,p-dibromoacetophenone, and p-chloromercuribenzoate. These results indicate that microsomal fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase is a distinct human aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme that acts on a variety of medium- and long-chain aliphatic substrates.

Haloenol lactones as inactivators and substrates of aldehyde dehydrogenase

Human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) isozymes E1 and E2 were irreversibly inactivated by stoichiometric concentrations of the haloenol lactones 3-isopropyl-6(E)-bromomethylene tetrahydro-pyran-2-one and 3-phenyl-6(E)-bromomethylene tetrahydropyran-2-one. No inactivation occurred with the corresponding nonhalogenated enol lactones. Both the dehydrogenase and esterase activities were abolished. Activity was not regained on dialysis or treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. The inactivation was subject to substrate protection: NAD afforded protection which increased in the presence of the aldehyde-substrate competitive inhibitor chloral. Saturation kinetics gave positive gamma-axis intercepts, allowing the determination of binding constants. Inactivation stiochiometry determined with 14C-labeled 3-(1-naphthyl)-6(E)-iodomethylene tetrahydropyran-2-one was found to correspond to the active-site number. The nonhalogenated lactone, 3-(1-naphthyl)-6(E)-methylene tetrahydropyran-1-one was shown to be a substrate for aldehyde dehydrogenase via its esterase function. Inactivation and enzymatic hydrolysis occurred within a similar time frame. Opening of the lactone ring to form enzyme-acyl intermediate with active site cysteine appears to be a necessary prerequisite to inactivation, since halogen in the lactone ring is nonreactive. Thus, the inactivation of aldehyde dehydrogenase by haloenol lactones is mechanism-based. Inactivation by haloenol lactones occurs in a manner analogous to that of chymotrypsin with which aldehyde dehydrogenase shares esterase activity and binding of haloenol lactones at the active site.

Human aldehyde dehydrogenase. cDNA cloning and primary structure of the enzyme that catalyzes dehydrogenation of 4-aminobutyraldehyde

Human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase (E3 isozyme), with wide substrate specificity and low Km for 4-aminobutyraldehyde, was only recently characterized [Kurys, G., Ambroziak, W. & Pietruszko, R. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 4715-4721] and in this study we report on its primary structure. Polyclonal antibodies, specific for the E3 isozyme and three oligonucleotide probes derived from amino acid sequence of the E3 protein, were used for isolation of the first cDNA clone encoding the human enzyme (1503 bp; coding for 440 amino acid residues). Additional clones were obtained by using the first isolated clone as a probe. The largest clone of 1635 bp coded for 462 amino acid residues; it was longer at the 3'end of the cDNA non-coding region. The identity of the clone was established by DNA sequencing and by comparison with peptide sequences derived from the E3 protein, which constituted approximately 29% of the total primary structure of the E3 isozyme. The start codon was never encountered despite a variety of different approaches (500 amino acid residues were expected on the basis of SDS-gel molecular-mass determination of the E3 isozyme subunit). Despite the great catalytic similarity between the E3 and E1 isozymes [Ambroziak, W. & Pietruszko, R. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 13011-13018], the primary structure of the E3 isozyme has only approximately 40.6% of positional identity with that of the E1 isozyme. Sequence comparison with GenBank and Protein Identification Resource database sequences indicated no primary structure of aldehyde dehydrogenase more closely resembling the E3 isozyme than that of Escherichia coli betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (52.7% positional identity), a prokaryotic enzyme specific for betaine aldehyde.

Human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase substrate specificity: comparison of esterase with dehydrogenase reaction

Substrate specificity of human mitochondrial low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) E2 isozyme has been investigated employing p-nitrophenyl esters of acyl groups of two to six carbon atoms and comparing with that of aldehydes of one to eight carbon atoms. The esterase reaction was studied under three conditions: in the absence of coenzyme, in the presence of NAD (1 mM), and in the presence of NADH (160 microM). The maximal velocity of the esterase reaction with p-nitrophenyl acetate and propionate as substrates in the presence of NAD was 3.9-4.7 times faster than that of the dehydrogenase reaction. Under all other conditions the velocities of dehydrogenase and esterase reactions were similar; the lowest kcat was for p-nitrophenyl butyrate in the presence of NAD. Stimulation of esterase activity by coenzymes was confined to esters of short acyl chain length; with longer acyl chain lengths or increased bulkiness (p-nitrophenyl guanidinobenzoate) no effect or even inhibition was observed. Comparison of kinetic constants for esters demonstrates that p-nitrophenyl butyrate is the worst substrate of all esters tested, suggesting that the active site topography is uniquely unfavorable for p-nitrophenyl butyrate. This fact is, however, not reflected in kinetic constants for butyraldehyde, which is a good substrate. The substrate specificity profile as determined by comparison of kcat/Km ratios was found to be quite different for aldehydes and esters. For aldehydes kcat/Km ratios increased with the increase of chain length; with esters under all three conditions, a V-shaped curve was produced with a minimum at p-nitrophenyl butyrate.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase. Covalent intermediate in aldehyde dehydrogenation and ester hydrolysis

4-trans-(NN-Dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde (an aldehyde, DACA) and 4-trans-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamoylimidazole (an amide, DACI) have been shown to be substrates for human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) which form chromophoric covalent intermediates. The spectra of covalent intermediates from both the cytoplasmic (E1) and mitochondrial (E2) isoenzymes derived from DACA and DACI were compared. The spectra were similar when either substrate was used, and also when the two isoenzymes were compared, and resembled that obtained for 4-trnas-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamoyl-N-acetylcysteine, but differed from the spectrum of 4-trans-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamoyl ethyl ester. After extensive digestion of the covalent intermediates from both 3H-labelled DACA and DACI with Pronase and purification, the labelled amino acid was identified as cysteine. Covalent intermediates from both DACA and DACI were also digested with trypsin, and labelled peptides were purified by ion-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that the peptide comprising residues 273-307 was labelled by both DACA and DACI. The radioactive label at cysteine residues 301-303 of the primary structure could be unequivocally identified by employing the DACA derivative. Assignment of label to cysteine-302 was achieved by employing iodoacetamide-labelled E1 isoenzyme (iodoacetamide specifically labels cysteine-302), in which case there was no formation of the covalent intermediate from either DACA or DACI. In addition, cysteine-302 is the only cysteine residue conserved in all aldehyde dehydrogenases sequenced. Thus cysteine-302 is the amino acid residue that forms a covalent intermediate with both aldehyde and ester substrates.

Modification of aldehyde dehydrogenase with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide: separation of dehydrogenase from esterase activity

Dehydrogenase activity of the cytoplasmic (E1) isozyme of human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) was almost totally abolished (3% activity remaining) by preincubation with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), while esterase activity with p-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate remained intact. The esterase reaction of the modified enzyme exhibited a hysteretic burst prior to achieving steady-state velocity; addition of NAD+ abolished the burst. The Km for p-nitrophenyl acetate was increased, but physicochemical properties remained unchanged. The selective inactivation of dehydrogenase activity was the result of covalent bond formation. Protection by NAD+ and chloral, saturation kinetics, and the stoichiometry and specificity of interaction indicated that the reaction of DCC occurred at the active site of the E1 isozyme. The results suggested the some amino acid other than aspartate or glutamate, possibly a cysteine residue, located on a large tryptic peptide of the E1 enzyme, may have reacted with DCC.

Effect of cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one on human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase

A recently isolated cholesterol oxidation product, cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one, which was present at high concentrations in fatty/cirrhotic alcoholic liver was identified as a potent endogenous inhibitor of the cytosolic, E1, isozyme of aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3). The oxysterol was a less potent inhibitor of mitochondrial, E2, isozyme. The inhibition of the E1 isozyme was irreversible on the IEF gels, upon dilution and with 33 microM 2-mercaptoethanol during activity assay. The calculated 1-50% values from the inhibition curves for the E1 isozyme were 5-10 microM and approx. 180 microM for the E2 isozyme. The E3 isozyme was not sensitive to the oxysterol. Judging from the Lineweaver-Burk plot, the inhibition of the E1 isozyme with a constant concentration of cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one (52 microM) appeared to be noncompetitive.

Chemical modification of aldehyde dehydrogenase by a vinyl ketone analogue of an insect pheromone

A major component of the sex pheromone from the tobacco budworm moth Heliothis virescens is a C16 straight-chain aldehyde with a single unsaturation at the eleventh position. The sex pheromones are inactivated when metabolized to their corresponding acids by insect aldehyde dehydrogenase. During this investigation it was demonstrated that the C16 aldehyde is a good substrate for human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) isoenzymes E1 and E2 with Km and Kcat. values at pH 7.0 of 2 microM and 0.4 mumol of NADH/min per mg and of 0.6 microM and 0.24 mumol of NADH/min per mg respectively. A vinyl ketone analogue of the pheromone inhibited insect pheromone metabolism; it also inactivated human aldehyde dehydrogenase. Total inactivation of both isoenzymes was achieved at stoichiometric (equal or less than the subunit number) concentrations of vinyl ketone, incorporating 2.1-2.6 molecules/molecule of enzyme. Substrate protection was observed in the presence of the parent aldehyde and 5'-AMP. Peptide maps of tryptic digests of the E2 isoenzyme modified with 3H-labelled vinyl ketone showed that incorporation occurred into a single peptide peak. The labelled peptide of E2 isoenzyme was further purified on h.p.l.c. and sequenced. The label was incorporated into cysteine-302 in the primary structure of E2 isoenzyme, thus indicating that cysteine-302 is located in the aldehyde substrate area of the active site of aldehyde dehydrogenase. Affinity labelling of aldehyde dehydrogenase with vinyl ketones may prove to be of general utility in biochemical studies of these enzymes.

Correlation of loss of activity of human aldehyde dehydrogenase with reaction of bromoacetophenone with glutamic acid-268 and cysteine-302 residues. Partial-sites reactivity of aldehyde dehydrogenase

Bromoacetophenone (2-bromo-1-phenylethanone) has been characterized as an affinity reagent for human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) [MacKerell, MacWright & Pietruszko (1986) Biochemistry 25, 5182-5189], and has been shown to react specifically with the Glu-268 residue [Abriola, Fields, Stein, MacKerell & Pietruszko (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5679-5684] with an apparent inactivation stoichiometry of two molecules of bromoacetophenone per molecule of enzyme. The specificity of bromoacetophenone for reaction with Glu-268, however, is not absolute, owing to the extreme reactivity of this reagent. When bromo[14C]acetophenone was used to label the human cytoplasmic E1 isoenzyme radioactively and tryptic fragmentation was carried out, peptides besides that containing Glu-268 were found to have reacted with reagent. These peptides were purified by h.p.l.c. and analysed by sequencing and scintillation counting to quantify radioactive label in the material from each cycle of sequencing. Reaction of bromoacetophenone with the aldehyde dehydrogenase molecule during enzyme activity loss occurs with two residues, Glu-268 and Cys-302. The activity loss, however, appears to be proportional to incorporation of label at Glu-268. The large part of incorporation of label at Cys-302 occurs after the activity loss is essentially complete. With both Glu-268 and Cys-302, however, the incorporation of label stops after one molecule of bromoacetophenone has reacted with each residue. Reaction with other residues continues after activity loss is complete.

Active site of human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase

Bromoacetophenone (2-bromo-1-phenylethanone) functions as an affinity reagent for human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) and has been found specifically to label a unique tryptic peptide in the enzyme. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of the labeled peptide after purification by two different procedures revealed the following sequence: Val-Thr-Leu-Glu-Leu-Gly-Gly-Lys. Radioactivity was found to be associated with the glutamate residue, which was identified as Glu-268 by reference to the known amino acid sequence. This paper constitutes the first identification of an active site of aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Hydrogen peroxide-induced glutathione depletion and aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition in erythrocytes

To study relationships between lipid peroxidation and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) inhibition, the Stocks and Dormandy model of H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes was employed. Hydrogen peroxide treatment of erythrocytes and erythrocyte lysates caused a dose-dependent inhibition and depletion of ALDH and reduced glutathione (GSH) respectively. Complete ALDH inhibition and glutathione depletion occurred before significant lipid peroxidation was detected by HPLC analysis of malondialdehyde-thiobarbituric acid adducts. Hydroxyl radical scavengers did not antagonize the hydrogen peroxide-induced enzyme inhibition. Studies with the iron chelator desferrioxamine suggested that the hydrogen peroxide-induced ALDH inhibition was mediated by iron in erythrocyte lysates but not in semi-purified (and Chelex-treated) ALDH preparations. Glutathione peroxidase reduction of H2O2 exhibited an anomalous GSH dependence which was not in agreement with the accepted reaction mechanism. Reduced glutathione also antagonized the hydrogen peroxide-induced ALDH inhibition by possible complex formation with the enzyme. A hypothetical model is presented which accounts for the observed responses to hydrogen peroxide.

Chemical modification of human aldehyde dehydrogenase by physiological substrate

Employing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (dopal) as a substrate for human aldehyde dehydrogenase (aldehyde:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.3) in anaerobic conditions, inactivation of both cytoplasmic E1 and mitochondrial E2 isozymes during catalysis has been observed. Incorporation of 14C-labelled dopal has been demonstrated by retention of label following denaturation and exhaustive dialysis and by peptide mapping following tryptic digestion. Incorporation of label gave linear plots vs. activity remaining with up to two molecules incorporated per molecule of enzyme and 30% activity remaining. Further incorporation (up to 16 molecules) occurred, but was non-linear when plotted vs. activity remaining. Protection against activity loss during incorporation of the first two molecules was afforded by NAD, NADH, chloral, and by chloral and NAD together, the last being the most effective. Saturation kinetics gave y-axis intercepts, suggesting interaction at a specific point on the enzyme surface. The Ki value from saturation kinetics was the same as that from the slope replot in catalytic reaction. Peptide mapping of tryptic digests showed that a single peptide was labelled, confirming specificity of interaction. Even in the absence of complete inactivation, the results suggest that reaction with the first two molecules occurs at some point on the enzyme surface important for enzyme activity. The possibility of such a reaction occurring in vivo is discussed.