Metabolism of levulinate in perfused rat livers and live rats: conversion to the drug of abuse 4-hydroxypentanoate

ACAD10 and ACAD11 enable mammalian 4-hydroxy acid lipid catabolism

Fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is a central catabolic pathway with broad implications for organismal health. However, various fatty acids are largely incompatible with standard FAO machinery until they are modified by other enzymes. Included among these are the 4-hydroxy acids (4-HAs)-fatty acids hydroxylated at the 4 (γ) position-which can be provided from dietary intake, lipid peroxidation, and certain drugs of abuse. Here, we reveal that two atypical and poorly characterized acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (ACADs), ACAD10 and ACAD11, drive 4-HA catabolism in mice. Unlike other ACADs, ACAD10 and ACAD11 feature kinase domains N-terminal to their ACAD domains that phosphorylate the 4-OH position as a requisite step in the conversion of 4-hydroxyacyl-CoAs into 2-enoyl-CoAs-conventional FAO intermediates. Our ACAD11 cryo-EM structure and molecular modeling reveal a unique binding pocket capable of accommodating this phosphorylated intermediate. We further show that ACAD10 is mitochondrial and necessary for catabolizing shorter-chain 4-HAs, whereas ACAD11 is peroxisomal and enables longer-chain 4-HA catabolism. Mice lacking ACAD11 accumulate 4-HAs in their plasma while comparable 3- and 5-hydroxy acids remain unchanged. Collectively, this work defines ACAD10 and ACAD11 as the primary gatekeepers of mammalian 4-HA catabolism and sets the stage for broader investigations into the ramifications of aberrant 4-HA metabolism in human health and disease.

Circulating blood metabolite trajectories and risk of rheumatoid arthritis among military personnel in the Department of Defense Biorepository

OBJECTIVES

We sought to identify metabolic changes potentially related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis occurring in the blood prior to its diagnosis.

METHODS

In a US military biorepository, serum samples collected at two timepoints prior to a diagnosis of RA were identified. These were matched to controls who did not develop RA by subject age, race and time between sample collections and RA diagnosis time to stored serum samples. Relative abundances of 380 metabolites were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We determined whether pre-RA case versus control status predicted metabolite concentration differences and differences over time (trajectories) using linear mixed models, assessing for interactions between time, pre-RA status and metabolite concentrations. We separately examined pre-RA and pre-seropositive RA cases versus matched controls and adjusted for smoking. Multiple comparison adjustment set the false discovery rate to 0.05.

RESULTS

291 pre-RA cases (80.8% pre seropositive RA) were matched to 292 controls, all with two serum samples (2.7±1.6 years; 1.0±0.9 years before RA/matched date). 52.0% were women; 52.8% were White, 26.8% Black and 20.4% other race. Mean age was 31.2 (±8.1) years at earliest blood draw. Fourteen metabolites had statistically significant trajectory differences among pre-RA subjects versus controls, including sex steroids, amino acid/lipid metabolism and xenobiotics. Results were similar when limited to pre seropositive RA and after adjusting for smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

In this military case-control study, metabolite concentration trajectory differences in pre-RA cases versus controls implicated steroidogenesis, lipid/amino acid metabolism and xenobiotics in RA pathogenesis. Metabolites may have potential as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets preceding RA diagnosis.

Microbial and enzymatic conversion of levulinic acid, an alternative building block to fermentable sugars from cellulosic biomass

Levulinic acid (LA) is an important chemical building block listed among the top 12 value-added chemicals by the United States Department of Energy, and can be obtained through the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Using the same approach as in the catalytic production of LA from biomass, catalytic methods to upgrade LA to higher value chemicals have been investigated. Since the discovery of the catabolic genes and enzymes in the LA metabolic pathway, bioconversion of LA into useful chemicals has attracted attention, and can potentially broaden the range of biochemical products derived from cellulosic biomass. With a brief introduction to the LA catabolic pathway in Pseudomonas spp., this review summarizes the current studies on the microbial conversion of LA into bioproducts, including the recent developments to achieve higher yields through genetic engineering of Escherichia coli cells. Three different types of reactions during the enzymatic conversion of LA are also discussed. KEY POINTS: • Levulinic acid is an alternative building block to sugars from cellulosic biomass. • Introduction of levulinic acid bioconversion with natural and engineered microbes. • Initial enzymatic conversion of levulinic acid proceeds via three different pathways. • 4-Hydroxyvalerate is one of the target chemicals for levulinic acid bioconversion.

Identification and characterization of levulinyl-CoA synthetase from Pseudomonas citronellolis, which differs phylogenetically from LvaE of Pseudomonas putida

Levulinic acid (LA) is a building block alternative to fermentable sugars derived from cellulosic biomass. Among LA catabolic processes in Pseudomonas putida KT2440, ligation of coenzyme A (CoA) to LA by levulinyl-CoA synthetase (LvaE) is known to be an initial enzymatic step in LA metabolism. To identify the genes involved in the first step of LA metabolism in Pseudomonas citronellolis LA18T, RNA-seq-based comparative transcriptome analysis was carried out for LA18T cells during growth on LA and pyruvic acid. The two most highly upregulated genes with LA exhibited amino acid sequence homologies to cation acetate symporter and 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase from Pseudomonas spp. Potential LA metabolic genes (lva genes) in LA18T that clustered with these two genes and were homologous to lva genes in KT2440 were identified, including lvaE2 of LA18T, which exhibited 35% identity with lvaE of KT2440. Using Escherichia coli cells with the pCold™ expression system, LvaE2 was produced and investigated for its activity toward LA. High performance liquid chromatography analysis confirmed that crude extracts of E. coli cells expressing the lvaE2 gene could convert LA to levulinyl-CoA in the presence of both HS-CoA and ATP. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LvaE2 and LvaE formed a cluster with medium-chain fatty acid CoA synthetase, but they fell on different branches. Superimposition of LvaE2 and LvaE homology-based model structures suggested that LvaE2 had a larger tunnel for accepting fatty acid substrates than LvaE. These results indicate that LvaE2 is a novel levulinyl-CoA synthetase.

A metabolic pathway for catabolizing levulinic acid in bacteria

Microorganisms can catabolize a wide range of organic compounds and therefore have the potential to perform many industrially relevant bioconversions. One barrier to realizing the potential of biorefining strategies lies in our incomplete knowledge of metabolic pathways, including those that can be used to assimilate naturally abundant or easily generated feedstocks. For instance, levulinic acid (LA) is a carbon source that is readily obtainable as a dehydration product of lignocellulosic biomass and can serve as the sole carbon source for some bacteria. Yet, the genetics and structure of LA catabolism have remained unknown. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a seven-gene operon that enables LA catabolism in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. When the pathway was reconstituted with purified proteins, we observed the formation of four acyl-CoA intermediates, including a unique 4-phosphovaleryl-CoA and the previously observed 3-hydroxyvaleryl-CoA product. Using adaptive evolution, we obtained a mutant of Escherichia coli LS5218 with functional deletions of fadE and atoC that was capable of robust growth on LA when it expressed the five enzymes from the P. putida operon. This discovery will enable more efficient use of biomass hydrolysates and metabolic engineering to develop bioconversions using LA as a feedstock.

DNA Damage Response and Autophagy: A Meaningful Partnership

Autophagy and the DNA damage response (DDR) are biological processes essential for cellular and organismal homeostasis. Herein, we summarize and discuss emerging evidence linking DDR to autophagy. We highlight published data suggesting that autophagy is activated by DNA damage and is required for several functional outcomes of DDR signaling, including repair of DNA lesions, senescence, cell death, and cytokine secretion. Uncovering the mechanisms by which autophagy and DDR are intertwined provides novel insight into the pathobiology of conditions associated with accumulation of DNA damage, including cancer and aging, and novel concepts for the development of improved therapeutic strategies against these pathologies.

Compartmentation of Metabolism of the C12-, C9-, and C5-n-dicarboxylates in Rat Liver, Investigated by Mass Isotopomer Analysis: ANAPLEROSIS FROM DODECANEDIOATE

We investigated the compartmentation of the catabolism of dodecanedioate (DODA), azelate, and glutarate in perfused rat livers, using a combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analyses. Livers were perfused with recirculating or nonrecirculating buffer containing one fully (13)C-labeled dicarboxylate. Information on the peroxisomal versus mitochondrial catabolism was gathered from the labeling patterns of acetyl-CoA proxies, i.e. total acetyl-CoA, the acetyl moiety of citrate, C-1 + 2 of β-hydroxybutyrate, malonyl-CoA, and acetylcarnitine. Additional information was obtained from the labeling patterns of citric acid cycle intermediates and related compounds. The data characterize the partial oxidation of DODA and azelate in peroxisomes, with terminal oxidation in mitochondria. We did not find evidence of peroxisomal oxidation of glutarate. Unexpectedly, DODA contributes a substantial fraction to anaplerosis of the citric acid cycle. This opens the possibility to use water-soluble DODA in nutritional or pharmacological anaplerotic therapy when other anaplerotic substrates are impractical or contraindicated, e.g. in propionic acidemia and methylmalonic acidemia.

Catabolism of (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal via ω- and ω-1-oxidation stimulated by ketogenic diet

Oxidative stress triggers the peroxidation of ω-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids to reactive lipid fragments, including (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). We previously reported two parallel catabolic pathways of HNE. In this study, we report a novel metabolite that accumulates in rat liver perfused with HNE or 4-hydroxynonanoic acid (HNA), identified as 3-(5-oxotetrahydro-2-furanyl)propanoyl-CoA. In experiments using a combination of isotopic analysis and metabolomics studies, three catabolic pathways of HNE were delineated following HNE conversion to HNA. (i) HNA is ω-hydroxylated to 4,9-dihydroxynonanoic acid, which is subsequently oxidized to 4-hydroxynonanedioic acid. This is followed by the degradation of 4-hydroxynonanedioic acid via β-oxidation originating from C-9 of HNA breaking down to 4-hydroxynonanedioyl-CoA, 4-hydroxyheptanedioyl-CoA, or its lactone, 2-hydroxyglutaryl-CoA, and 2-ketoglutaric acid entering the citric acid cycle. (ii) ω-1-hydroxylation of HNA leads to 4,8-dihydroxynonanoic acid (4,8-DHNA), which is subsequently catabolized via two parallel pathways we previously reported. In catabolic pathway A, 4,8-DHNA is catabolized to 4-phospho-8-hydroxynonanoyl-CoA, 3,8-dihydroxynonanoyl-CoA, 6-hydroxyheptanoyl-CoA, 4-hydroxypentanoyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA, and acetyl-CoA. (iii) The catabolic pathway B of 4,8-DHNA leads to 2,6-dihydroxyheptanoyl-CoA, 5-hydroxyhexanoyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and acetyl-CoA. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that HNE can be catabolically disposed via ω- and ω-1-oxidation in rat liver and kidney, with little activity in brain and heart. Dietary experiments showed that ω- and ω-1-hydroxylation of HNA in rat liver were dramatically up-regulated by a ketogenic diet, which lowered HNE basal level. HET0016 inhibition and mRNA expression level suggested that the cytochrome P450 4A are main enzymes responsible for the NADPH-dependent ω- and ω-1-hydroxylation of HNA/HNE.

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is required to regulate glycogen synthesis and gluconeogenic gene expression in mouse liver

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a key transcription factor that regulates genes in the de novo lipogenesis and glycolysis pathways. The levels of SREBP-1 are significantly elevated in obese patients and in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and a vast number of studies have implicated this transcription factor as a contributor to hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance. However, its role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism is poorly understood. Here we have addressed whether SREBP-1 is needed for regulating glucose homeostasis. Using RNAi and a new generation of adenoviral vector, we have silenced hepatic SREBP-1 in normal and obese mice. In normal animals, SREBP-1 deficiency increased Pck1 and reduced glycogen deposition during fed conditions, providing evidence that SREBP-1 is necessary to regulate carbohydrate metabolism during the fed state. Knocking SREBP-1 down in db/db mice resulted in a significant reduction in triglyceride accumulation, as anticipated. However, mice remained hyperglycemic, which was associated with up-regulation of gluconeogenesis gene expression as well as decreased glycolysis and glycogen synthesis gene expression. Furthermore, glycogen synthase activity and glycogen accumulation were significantly reduced. In conclusion, silencing both isoforms of SREBP-1 leads to significant changes in carbohydrate metabolism and does not improve insulin resistance despite reducing steatosis in an animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Novel approach in LC-MS/MS using MRM to generate a full profile of acyl-CoAs: discovery of acyl-dephospho-CoAs

A metabolomic approach to selectively profile all acyl-CoAs was developed using a programmed multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method in LC-MS/MS and was employed in the analysis of various rat organs. The programmed MRM method possessed 300 mass ion transitions with the mass difference of 507 between precursor ion (Q1) and product ion (Q3), and the precursor ion started from m/z 768 and progressively increased one mass unit at each step. Acyl-dephospho-CoAs resulting from the dephosphorylation of acyl-CoAs were identified by accurate MS and fragmentation. Acyl-dephospho-CoAs were also quantitatively scanned by the MRM method with the mass difference of 427 between Q1 and Q3 mass ions. Acyl-CoAs and dephospho-CoAs were assayed with limits of detection ranging from 2 to 133 nM. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by assaying a range of concentrations of spiked acyl-CoAs with the results of 80-114%. The distribution of acyl-CoAs reflects the metabolic status of each organ. The physiological role of dephosphorylation of acyl-CoAs remains to be further characterized. The methodology described herein provides a novel strategy in metabolomic studies to quantitatively and qualitatively profile all potential acyl-CoAs and acyl-dephospho-CoAs.

A liver-specific defect of Acyl-CoA degradation produces hyperammonemia, hypoglycemia and a distinct hepatic Acyl-CoA pattern

Most conditions detected by expanded newborn screening result from deficiency of one of the enzymes that degrade acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) esters in mitochondria. The role of acyl-CoAs in the pathophysiology of these disorders is poorly understood, in part because CoA esters are intracellular and samples are not generally available from human patients. We created a mouse model of one such condition, deficiency of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase (HL), in liver (HLLKO mice). HL catalyses a reaction of ketone body synthesis and of leucine degradation. Chronic HL deficiency and acute crises each produced distinct abnormal liver acyl-CoA patterns, which would not be predictable from levels of urine organic acids and plasma acylcarnitines. In HLLKO hepatocytes, ketogenesis was undetectable. Carboxylation of [2-(14)C] pyruvate diminished following incubation of HLLKO hepatocytes with the leucine metabolite 2-ketoisocaproate (KIC). HLLKO mice also had suppression of the normal hyperglycemic response to a systemic pyruvate load, a measure of gluconeogenesis. Hyperammonemia and hypoglycemia, cardinal features of many inborn errors of acyl-CoA metabolism, occurred spontaneously in some HLLKO mice and were inducible by administering KIC. KIC loading also increased levels of several leucine-related acyl-CoAs and reduced acetyl-CoA levels. Ultrastructurally, hepatocyte mitochondria of KIC-treated HLLKO mice show marked swelling. KIC-induced hyperammonemia improved following administration of carglumate (N-carbamyl-L-glutamic acid), which substitutes for the product of an acetyl-CoA-dependent reaction essential for urea cycle function, demonstrating an acyl-CoA-related mechanism for this complication.

4-Hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (HNE) catabolism and formation of HNE adducts are modulated by β oxidation of fatty acids in the isolated rat heart

We previously reported that a novel metabolic pathway functionally catabolizes 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (HNE) via two parallel pathways, which rely heavily on β-oxidation pathways. The hypothesis driving this report is that perturbations of β oxidation will alter the catabolic disposal of HNE, favoring an increase in the concentrations of HNE and HNE-modified proteins that may further exacerbate pathology. This study employed Langendorff perfused hearts to investigate the impact of cardiac injury modeled by ischemia/reperfusion and, in a separate set of perfusions, the effects of elevated lipid (typically observed in obesity and type II diabetes) by perfusing with increased fatty acid concentrations (1mM octanoate). During ischemia, HNE concentrations doubled and the glutathione-HNE adduct and 4-hydroxynonanoyl-CoA were increased by 7- and 10-fold, respectively. Under conditions of increased fatty acid, oxidation to 4-hydroxynonenoic acid was sustained; however, further catabolism through β oxidation was nearly abolished. The inhibition of HNE catabolism was not compensated for by other disposal pathways of HNE, rather an increase in HNE-modified proteins was observed. Taken together, this study presents a mechanistic rationale for the accumulation of HNE and HNE-modified proteins in pathological conditions that involve alterations to β oxidation, such as myocardial ischemia, obesity, and high-fat diet-induced diseases.

Metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis as a strategy for pathway discovery: pyrrolyl and cyclopentenyl derivatives of the pro-drug of abuse, levulinate

We recently reported that levulinate (4-ketopentanoate) is converted in the liver to 4-hydroxypentanoate, a drug of abuse, and that the formation of 4-hydroxypentanoate is stimulated by ethanol oxidation. We also identified 3 parallel β-oxidation pathways by which levulinate and 4-hydroxypentanoate are catabolized to propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA. We now report that levulinate forms three seven-carbon cyclical CoA esters by processes starting with the elongation of levulinyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA to 3,6-diketoheptanoyl-CoA. The latter γ-diketo CoA ester undergoes two parallel cyclization processes. One process yields a mixture of tautomers, i.e., cyclopentenyl- and cyclopentadienyl-acyl-CoAs. The second cyclization process yields a methyl-pyrrolyl-acetyl-CoA containing a nitrogen atom derived from the ε-nitrogen of lysine but without carbons from lysine. The cyclic CoA esters were identified in rat livers perfused with levulinate and in livers and brains from rats gavaged with calcium levulinate ± ethanol. Lastly, 3,6-diketoheptanoyl-CoA, like 2,5-diketohexane, pyrrolates free lysine and, presumably, lysine residues from proteins. This may represent a new pathway for protein pyrrolation. The cyclic CoA esters and related pyrrolation processes may play a role in the toxic effects of 4-hydroxypentanoate.

Metabolism of γ-hydroxybutyrate in perfused rat livers

GHB (γ-hydroxybutyrate) is both a neurotransmitter and a drug of abuse (date-rape drug). We investigated the catabolism of this compound in perfused rat livers. Using a combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis, we showed that GHB is metabolized by multiple processes, in addition to its previously reported metabolism in the citric acid cycle via oxidation to succinate. A substrate cycle operates between GHB and γ-aminobutyrate via succinic semialdehyde. Also, GHB undergoes (i) β-oxidation to glycolyl-CoA+acetyl-CoA, (ii) two parallel processes which remove C-1 or C-4 of GHB and form 3-hydroxypropionate from C-2+C-3+C-4 or from C-1+C-2+C-3 of GHB, and (iii) degradation to acetyl-CoA via 4-phosphobutyryl-CoA. The present study illustrates the potential of the combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis for pathway discovery.

Identification of n-hydroxy acid metabolites in electron impact ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

The catabolism of 4-hydroxy acid (drugs of abuse and lipid peroxidation products) generates a series of hydroxy acids with different carbon chain lengths and hydroxyl group at different locations. The identification of these hydroxy acid metabolites is important to uncover the catabolic pathways of drugs of abuse and lipid peroxidation products.

METHODS

We characterized the fragmentation of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of hydroxy acids by electron impact ionization (EI) mass spectrometry (MS) with the aid of an isotope-labeled compound. The metabolites (hydroxy acids) of 4-hydroxy acid in isolated rat livers were identified by their characterized fragmentation patterns in gas chromatography (GC)/EI-MS.

RESULTS

TMS migration to both ester and ether groups was found in the fragmentation of 2-hydroxy acid- and 3-hydroxy acid-TMS derivatives, but only migration to the ester group was observed in the fragmentation of n-hydroxy acid-TMS (n ≥4) derivatives. TMS migration to the ester group generates the following fragments from different hydroxy acids: (i) the characteristic fragment at m/z 190 from 2-hydroxy acid; (ii) the fragment at m/z 204 from both 3-hydroxy acid and 4-hydroxy acid; and (iii) a characteristic fragment at m/z 218 from 4-hydroxy acid containing more than four carbons in the carbon skeleton. TMS migration to the ether group in 2-hydroxy acid and 3-hydroxy acid yields variant fragments depending on the carbon skeleton length. The identified metabolites of 4-hydroxy acid confirmed the catabolic pathways of 4-hydroxy acid in the isolated rat livers.

CONCLUSIONS

With the characterized fragmentation patterns of each hydroxy acid in EI-MS, we successfully identified the various hydroxy acid metabolites of 4-hydroxyoctanoic acid (and other 4-hydroxy acids from C(5) to C(11)) in the rat livers.

Targeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling through multiple reaction monitoring of liver and other biological matrices

In a systemic viewpoint, relevant biological information on living systems can be grasped from the study of small, albeit pivotal molecules which constitute the fundamental bricks of metabolic pathways. This holds true for liver which plays, among its unique functions, a key role in metabolism. The nonbiased analysis of all this small-molecule complement in its entirety is known as metabolomics. However, no practical approach currently exists to investigate all metabolic species simultaneously without including a technical bias towards acidic or basic compounds, especially when performing mass spectrometry-based investigations. Technical aspects of rapid resolution reversed phase HPLC online with mass spectrometry are hereby described. Such an approach allows to discriminate and quantify a wide array of metabolites with extreme specificity and sensitivity, thus enabling to perform complex investigations even on extremely low quantities of biological material. The advantages also include the possibility to perform targeted investigations on a single (or a handful of) metabolite(s) simoultaneously through single (multiple) reaction monitoring, which further improves the dynamic range of concentrations to be monitored.Such an approach has already proven to represent a valid tool in the direct (on the liver) or indirect (on human red blood cell metabolism which is hereby presented as a representative model, but also on blood plasma or other biological fluids) assessment of metabolic poise modulation and pharmacokinetics for drug development.