AN OXIDASE FOR REDUCED DIPHOSPHOPYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDE

Selective NADH communication from α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase to mitochondrial transhydrogenase prevents reactive oxygen species formation under reducing conditions in the heart

In heart failure, a functional block of complex I of the respiratory chain provokes superoxide generation, which is transformed to H₂O₂ by dismutation. The Krebs cycle produces NADH, which delivers electrons to complex I, and NADPH for H₂O₂ elimination via isocitrate dehydrogenase and nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT). At high NADH levels, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) is a major source of superoxide in skeletal muscle mitochondria with low NNT activity. Here, we analyzed how α-KGDH and NNT control H₂O₂ emission in cardiac mitochondria. In cardiac mitochondria from NNT-competent BL/6N mice, H₂O₂ emission is equally low with pyruvate/malate (P/M) or α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) as substrates. Complex I inhibition with rotenone increases H₂O₂ emission from P/M, but not α-KG respiring mitochondria, which is potentiated by depleting H₂O₂-eliminating capacity. Conversely, in NNT-deficient BL/6J mitochondria, H₂O₂ emission is higher with α-KG than with P/M as substrate, and further potentiated by complex I blockade. Prior depletion of H₂O₂-eliminating capacity increases H₂O₂ emission from P/M, but not α-KG respiring mitochondria. In cardiac myocytes, downregulation of α-KGDH activity impaired dynamic mitochondrial redox adaptation during workload transitions, without increasing H₂O₂ emission. In conclusion, NADH from α-KGDH selectively shuttles to NNT for NADPH formation rather than to complex I of the respiratory chain for ATP production. Therefore, α-KGDH plays a key role for H₂O₂ elimination, but is not a relevant source of superoxide in heart. In heart failure, α-KGDH/NNT-dependent NADPH formation ameliorates oxidative stress imposed by complex I blockade. Downregulation of α-KGDH may, therefore, predispose to oxidative stress in heart failure.

Bio-Fenton reaction involved in the cleavage of the ethoxylate chain of nonionic surfactants by dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas nitroreducens TX1

Bacteria in the environment play a major role in the degradation of widely used man-made recalcitrant organic compounds. Pseudomonas nitroreducens TX1 is of special interest because of its high efficiency to remove nonionic ethoxylated surfactants. In this study, a novel approach was demonstrated by a bacterial enzyme involved in the formation of radicals to attack ethoxylated surfactants. The dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase was purified from the crude extract of strain TX1 by using octylphenol polyethoxylate (OPEO_n) as substrate. The extent of removal of OPEOs during the degradation process was conducted by purified recombinant enzyme from E. coli BL21 (DE3) in the presence of the excess of metal mixtures (Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺). The metabolites and the degradation rates were analyzed and determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The enzyme was demonstrated to form Fenton reagent in the presence of an excess of metals. Under this in vitro condition, it was shown to be able to shorten the ethoxylate chains of OPEO_n. After 2 hours of reaction, the products obtained from the degradation experiment revealed a prominent ion peak at m/z = 493.3, namely the ethoxylate chain unit is 6 (OPEO₆) compared to OPEO₉ (m/z = 625.3), the main undegraded surfactant in the no enzyme control. It revealed that the concentration of OPEO₁₅ and OPEO₉ decreased by 90% and 40% after 4 hours, respectively. The disappearance rates for the OPEO_n homologs correlated to the length of the exothylate chains, suggesting it is not a specific enzymatic reaction which cleaves one unit by unit from the end of the ethoxylate chain. The results indicate the diverse and novel strategy by bacteria to catabolize organic compounds by using existing housekeeping enzyme(s).

An Updated View on the Molecular Pathomechanisms of Human Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Light of Novel Crystallographic Evidence

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH, E3) deficiency is a rare (autosomal, recessive) genetic disorder generally presenting with an onset in the neonatal age and early death; the highest carrier rate has been found among Ashkenazi Jews. Acute clinical episodes usually involve severe metabolic decompensation and lactate acidosis that result in neurological, cardiological, and/or hepatological manifestations. Clinical severity is due to the fact that LADH is a common E3 subunit to the alpha-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, alpha-ketoadipate, and branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes, and is also a constituent in the glycine cleavage system, thus a loss in LADH function adversely affects multiple key metabolic routes. However, the severe clinical pictures frequently still do not parallel the LADH activity loss, which implies the involvement of auxiliary biochemical mechanisms; enhanced reactive oxygen species generation as well as affinity loss for multienzyme complexes proved to be key auxiliary exacerbating pathomechanisms. This review provides an overview and an up-to-date molecular insight into the pathomechanisms of this disease in light of the structural conclusions drawn from the first crystal structure of a disease-causing hE3 variant determined recently in our laboratory.

Human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) deficiency: Novel insights into the structural basis and molecular pathomechanism

This review summarizes our present view on the molecular pathogenesis of human (h) E3-deficiency caused by a variety of genetic alterations with a special emphasis on the moonlighting biochemical phenomena related to the affected (dihydro)lipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH, E3, gene: dld), in particular the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). E3-deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder frequently presenting with a neonatal onset and premature death; the highest carrier rate of a single pathogenic dld mutation (1:94-1:110) was found among Ashkenazi Jews. Patients usually die during acute episodes that generally involve severe metabolic decompensation and lactic acidosis leading to neurological, cardiological, and/or hepatological manifestations. The disease owes its severity to the fact that LADH is the common E3 subunit of the alpha-ketoglutarate (KGDHc), pyruvate (PDHc), and branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes and is also part of the glycine cleavage system, hence the malfunctioning of LADH simultaneously incapacitates several central metabolic pathways. Nevertheless, the clinical pictures are usually not unequivocally portrayed through the loss of LADH activities and imply auxiliary mechanisms that exacerbate the symptoms and outcomes of this disorder. Enhanced ROS generation by disease-causing hE3 variants as well as by the E1-E2 subcomplex of the hKGDHc likely contributes to selected pathogeneses of E3-deficiency, which could be targeted by specific drugs or antioxidants; lipoic acid was demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of ROS generation by hE3 in vitro. Flavin supplementation might prove to be beneficial for those mutations triggering FAD loss in the hE3 component. Selected pathogenic hE3 variants lose their affinity for the E2 component of the hPDHc, a mechanism which warrants scrutiny also for other E3-haboring complexes.

Formation of reactive oxygen species by human and bacterial pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes reconstituted from recombinant components

Individual recombinant components of pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes (PDHc, OGDHc) of human and Escherichia coli (E. coli) origin were expressed and purified from E. coli with optimized protocols. The four multienzyme complexes were each reconstituted under optimal conditions at different stoichiometric ratios. Binding stoichiometries for the highest catalytic efficiency were determined from the rate of NADH generation by the complexes at physiological pH. Since some of these complexes were shown to possess 'moonlighting' activities under pathological conditions often accompanied by acidosis, activities were also determined at pH 6.3. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the E3 component of hOGDHc is a pathologically relevant feature, superoxide generation by the complexes with optimal stoichiometry was measured by the acetylated cytochrome c reduction method in both the forward and the reverse catalytic directions. Various known affectors of physiological activity and ROS production, including Ca(2+), ADP, lipoylation status or pH, were investigated. The human complexes were also reconstituted with the most prevalent human pathological mutant of the E3 component, G194C and characterized; isolated human E3 with the G194C substitution was previously reported to have an enhanced ROS generating capacity. It is demonstrated that: i. PDHc, similarly to OGDHc, is able to generate ROS and this feature is displayed by both the E. coli and human complexes, ii. Reconstituted hPDHc generates ROS at a significantly higher rate as compared to hOGDHc in both the forward and the reverse reactions when ROS generation is calculated for unit mass of their common E3 component, iii. The E1 component or E1-E2 subcomplex generates significant amount of ROS only in hOGDHc; iv. Incorporation of the G194C variant of hE3, the result of a disease-causing mutation, into reconstituted hOGDHc and hPDHc indeed leads to a decreased activity of both complexes and higher ROS generation by only hOGDHc and only in its reverse reaction.

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species

Numerous biochemical studies are aimed at elucidating the sources and mechanisms of formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) because they are involved in cellular, organ-, and tissue-specific physiology. Mitochondria along with other cellular organelles of eukaryotes contribute significantly to ROS formation and utilization. This review is a critical account of the mitochondrial ROS production and methods for their registration. The physiological and pathophysiological significance of the mitochondrially produced ROS are discussed.

Molecular dynamics study of the structural basis of dysfunction and the modulation of reactive oxygen species generation by pathogenic mutants of human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2013;538:145-155. [PMID: 24012808 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2013.08.015]

Human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH, E3) is a component in the pyruvate-, alpha-ketoglutarate- and branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and in the glycine cleavage system. The pathogenic mutations of LADH cause severe metabolic disturbances, called E3 deficiency that often involve cardiological and neurological symptoms and premature death. Our laboratory has recently shown that some of the known pathogenic mutations augment the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capacity of LADH, which may contribute to the clinical presentations. A recent report concluded that elevated oxidative stress generated by the above mutants turns the lipoic acid cofactor on the E2 subunits dysfunctional. In the present contribution we generated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation the conformation of LADH that is proposed to be compatible with ROS generation. We propose here for the first time the structural changes, which are likely to turn the physiological LADH conformation to its ROS-generating conformation. We also created nine of the pathogenic mutants of the ROS-generating conformation and again used MD simulation to detect structural changes that the mutations induced in this LADH conformation. We propose the structural changes that may lead to the modulation in ROS generation of LADH by the pathogenic mutations.

Inhibitors of succinate: quinone reductase/Complex II regulate production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and protect normal cells from ischemic damage but induce specific cancer cell death

Succinate:quinone reductase (SQR) of Complex II occupies a unique central point in the mitochondrial respiratory system as a major source of electrons driving reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. It is an ideal pharmaceutical target for modulating ROS levels in normal cells to prevent oxidative stress-induced damage or alternatively,increase ROS in cancer cells, inducing cell death.The value of drugs like diazoxide to prevent ROS production,protecting normal cells, whereas vitamin E analogues promote ROS in cancer cells to kill them is highlighted. As pharmaceuticals these agents may prevent degenerative disease and their modes of action are presently being fully explored. The evidence that SDH/Complex II is tightly coupled to the NADH/NAD+ ratio in all cells,impacted by the available supplies of Krebs cycle intermediates as essential NAD-linked substrates, and the NAD+-dependent regulation of SDH/Complex II are reviewed, as are links to the NAD+-dependent dehydrogenases, Complex I and the E3 dihiydrolipoamide dehydrogenase to produce ROS. This review collates and discusses diverse sources of information relating to ROS production in different biological systems, focussing on evidence for SQR as the main source of ROS production in mitochondria, particularly its relevance to protection from oxidative stress and to the mitochondrial-targeted anti cancer drugs (mitocans) as novel cancer therapies [corrected].

Ammonium-dependent hydrogen peroxide production by mitochondria

NADH-supported generation of H2O2 by permeabilized rat heart mitochondria was partially prevented by the specific complex I-directed inhibitor, NADH-OH, and was significantly stimulated by ammonium. Ammonium did not affect H2O2 production by complex I in coupled submitochondrial particles. The soluble mitochondrial matrix protein fraction catalyzed NADH-dependent H2O2 production, which was greatly (approximately 10-fold) stimulated by ammonium. We conclude that complex I is not the major contributor to mitochondrial superoxide (hydrogen peroxide) generation and that there are specific ammonium-sensitive NADH:oxygen oxidoreductase(s) in the mitochondrial matrix which are responsible for mitochondrial H2O2 production.

Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase: a target and generator of oxidative stress

Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KGDH) is a highly regulated enzyme, which could determine the metabolic flux through the Krebs cycle. It catalyses the conversion of alpha-ketoglutarate to succinyl-CoA and produces NADH directly providing electrons for the respiratory chain. alpha-KGDH is sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of this enzyme could be critical in the metabolic deficiency induced by oxidative stress. Aconitase in the Krebs cycle is more vulnerable than alpha-KGDH to ROS but as long as alpha-KGDH is functional NADH generation in the Krebs cycle is maintained. NADH supply to the respiratory chain is limited only when alpha-KGDH is also inhibited by ROS. In addition being a key target, alpha-KGDH is able to generate ROS during its catalytic function, which is regulated by the NADH/NAD+ ratio. The pathological relevance of these two features of alpha-KGDH is discussed in this review, particularly in relation to neurodegeneration, as an impaired function of this enzyme has been found to be characteristic for several neurodegenerative diseases.

Calcium, mitochondria and oxidative stress in neuronal pathology. Novel aspects of an enduring theme

The interplay among reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, elevated intracellular calcium concentration and mitochondrial demise is a recurring theme in research focusing on brain pathology, both for acute and chronic neurodegenerative states. However, causality, extent of contribution or the sequence of these events prior to cell death is not yet firmly established. Here we review the role of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex as a newly identified source of mitochondrial ROS production. Furthermore, based on contemporary reports we examine novel concepts as potential mediators of neuronal injury connecting mitochondria, increased [Ca2+]c and ROS/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) formation; specifically: (a) the possibility that plasmalemmal nonselective cationic channels contribute to the latent [Ca2+]c rise in the context of glutamate-induced delayed calcium deregulation; (b) the likelihood of the involvement of the channels in the phenomenon of 'Ca2+ paradox' that might be implicated in ischemia/reperfusion injury; and (c) how ROS/RNS and mitochondrial status could influence the activity of these channels leading to loss of ionic homeostasis and cell death.

Zinc is a potent inhibitor of thiol oxidoreductase activity and stimulates reactive oxygen species production by lipoamide dehydrogenase

Submicromolar zinc inhibits alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent mitochondrial respiration. This was attributed to inhibition of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (Brown, A. M., Kristal, B. S., Effron, M. S., Shestopalov, A. I., Ullucci, P. A., Sheu, K.-F. R., Blass, J. P., and Cooper, A. J. L. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13441-13447). Lipoamide dehydrogenase, a component of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex and two other mitochondrial complexes, catalyzes the transfer of reducing equivalents from the bound dihydrolipoate of the neighboring dihydrolipoamide acyltransferase subunit to NAD(+). This reversible reaction involves two reaction centers: a thiol pair, which accepts electrons from dihydrolipoate, and a non-covalently bound FAD moiety, which transfers electrons to NAD(+). The lipoamide dehydrogenase reaction catalyzed by the purified pig heart enzyme is strongly inhibited by Zn(2+) (K(i) approximately 0.15 microm) in both directions. Steady-state kinetic studies revealed that Zn(2+) competes with oxidized lipoamide for the two-electron-reduced enzyme. Interaction of Zn(2+) with the two-electron-reduced enzyme was directly detected in anaerobic stopped-flow experiments. Lipoamide dehydrogenase also catalyzes NADH oxidation by oxygen, yielding hydrogen peroxide as the major product and superoxide radical as a minor product. Zn(2+) accelerates the oxidase reaction up to 5-fold with an activation constant of 0.09 +/- 0.02 microm. Activation is a consequence of Zn(2+) binding to the reduced catalytic thiols, which prevents delocalization of the reducing equivalents between catalytic disulfide and FAD. A kinetic scheme that satisfactorily describes the observed effects has been developed and applied to determine a number of enzyme kinetic parameters in the oxidase reaction. The distinct effects of Zn(2+) on different LADH activities represent a novel example of a reversible switch in enzyme specificity that is modulated by metal ion binding. These results suggest that Zn(2+) can interfere with mitochondrial antioxidant production and may also stimulate production of reactive oxygen species by a novel mechanism.