THBS1-producing tumor-infiltrating monocyte-like cells contribute to immunosuppression and metastasis in colorectal cancer

Mesenchymal activation, characterized by dense stromal infiltration of immune and mesenchymal cells, fuels the aggressiveness of colorectal cancers (CRC), driving progression and metastasis. Targetable molecules in the tumor microenvironment (TME) need to be identified to improve the outcome in CRC patients with this aggressive phenotype. This study reports a positive link between high thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) expression and mesenchymal characteristics, immunosuppression, and unfavorable CRC prognosis. Bone marrow-derived monocyte-like cells recruited by CXCL12 are the primary source of THBS1, which contributes to the development of metastasis by inducing cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion and impairing vascularization. Furthermore, in orthotopically generated CRC models in male mice, THBS1 loss in the TME renders tumors partially sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-cancer drugs. Our study establishes THBS1 as a potential biomarker for identifying mesenchymal CRC and as a critical suppressor of antitumor immunity that contributes to the progression of this malignancy with a poor prognosis.

Pancreatic RECK inactivation promotes cancer formation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis

RECK is downregulated in various human cancers; however, how RECK inactivation affects carcinogenesis remains unclear. We addressed this issue in a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) mouse model and found that pancreatic Reck deletion dramatically augmented the spontaneous development of PDAC with a mesenchymal phenotype, which was accompanied by increased liver metastases and decreased survival. Lineage tracing revealed that pancreatic Reck deletion induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC cells, giving rise to inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast-like cells in mice. Splenic transplantation of Reck-null PDAC cells resulted in numerous liver metastases with a mesenchymal phenotype, whereas reexpression of RECK markedly reduced metastases and changed the PDAC tumor phenotype into an epithelial one. Consistently, low RECK expression correlated with low E-cadherin expression, poor differentiation, metastasis, and poor prognosis in human PDAC. RECK reexpression in the PDAC cells was found to downregulate MMP2 and MMP3, with a concomitant increase in E-cadherin and decrease in EMT-promoting transcription factors. An MMP inhibitor recapitulated the effects of RECK on the expression of E-cadherin and EMT-promoting transcription factors and invasive activity. These results establish the authenticity of RECK as a pancreatic tumor suppressor, provide insights into its underlying mechanisms, and support the idea that RECK could be an important therapeutic effector against human PDAC.

Simultaneous activation of Kras-Akt and Notch pathways induces extrahepatic biliary cancer via the mTORC1 pathway

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) has poor prognosis. The Notch receptor is aberrantly expressed in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA). However, the role of Notch signaling in the initiation and progression of eCCA and gallbladder (GB) cancer remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the functional role of Notch signaling during tumorigenesis of the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) and GB. Activation of Notch signaling and oncogenic Kras resulted in the development of biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilINs) in the EHBD and GB, which were premalignant lesions that progressed to adenocarcinoma in mice. The expression of genes involved in the mTORC1 pathway was increased in biliary spheroids from Hnf1b-CreERT2; Kras^LSL-G12D ; Rosa26^LSL-NotchIC mice and inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway suppressed spheroid growth. Additionally, simultaneous activation of the PI3K-AKT and Notch pathways in EHBD and GB induced biliary cancer development in mice. Consistent with this, we observed a significant correlation between activated NOTCH1 and phosphorylated Ribosomal Protein S6 (p-S6) expression in human eCCA. Furthermore, inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway suppressed the growth of Notch-activated human biliary cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the Kras/Notch-Myc axis activated mTORC1 through TSC2 phosphorylation in mutant biliary spheroids. These data indicate that inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway could be an effective treatment strategy for Notch-activated human eCCA. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Brg1 controls stemness and metastasis of pancreatic cancer through regulating hypoxia pathway

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease. We previously reported that chromatin remodeler Brg1 is essential for acinar cell-derived PDAC formation in mice. However, the functional role of Brg1 in established PDAC and its metastasis remains unknown. Here, we investigated the importance of Brg1 for established PDAC by using a mouse model with a dual recombinase system. We discovered that Brg1 was a critical player for the cell survival and growth of spontaneously developed PDAC in mice. In addition, Brg1 was essential for metastasis of PDAC cells by inhibiting apoptosis in splenic injection and peritoneal dissemination models. Moreover, cancer stem-like property was compromised in PDAC cells by Brg1 ablation. Mechanistically, the hypoxia pathway was downregulated in Brg1-deleted mouse PDAC and BRG1-low human PDAC. Brg1 was essential for HIF-1α to bind to its target genes to augment the hypoxia pathway, which was important for PDAC cells to maintain their stem-like properties and to metastasize to the liver. Human PDAC cells with high BRG1 expression were more susceptible to BRG1 suppression. In conclusion, Brg1 plays a critical role for cell survival, stem-like property and metastasis of PDAC through the regulation of hypoxia pathway, and thus could be a novel therapeutic target for PDAC.

JNK pathway plays a critical role for expansion of human colorectal cancer in the context of BRG1 suppression

Tumor stem cells (TSCs), capable of self‐renewal and continuous production of progeny cells, could be potential therapeutic targets. We have recently reported that chromatin remodeling regulator Brg1 is required for maintenance of murine intestinal TSCs and stemness feature of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by inhibiting apoptosis. However, it is still unclear how BRG1 suppression changes the underlying intracellular mechanisms of human CRC cells. We found that Brg1 suppression resulted in upregulation of the JNK signaling pathway in human CRC cells and murine intestinal TSCs. Simultaneous suppression of BRG1 and the JNK pathway, either by pharmacological inhibition or silencing of c‐JUN, resulted in even stronger inhibition of the expansion of human CRC cells compared to Brg1 suppression alone. Consistently, high c‐JUN expression correlated with worse prognosis for survival in human CRC patients with low BRG1 expression. Therefore, the JNK pathway plays a critical role for expansion and stemness of human CRC cells in the context of BRG1 suppression, and thus a combined blockade of BRG1 and the JNK pathway could be a novel therapeutic approach against human CRC.

Loss of Arid1a and Pten in Pancreatic Ductal Cells Induces Intraductal Tubulopapillary Neoplasm via the YAP/TAZ Pathway

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) arises from several types of premalignant lesions, including intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN); however, the molecular pathogenesis of ITPN remains unknown.

METHODS

We performed studies with Hnf1b-CreERT2; Ptenf/f; Arid1af/f mice to investigate the consequence of genetic deletion of Arid1a in adult pancreatic ductal cells in the context of oncogenic PI3K/Akt pathway activation.

RESULTS

Simultaneous deletion of Arid1a and Pten in pancreatic ductal cells resulted in the development of ITPN, which progressed to PDAC, in mice. Simultaneous loss of Arid1a and Pten induced dedifferentiation of pancreatic ductal cells and Yes-associated protein 1/Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) pathway activation. Consistent with the mouse data, TAZ expression was found elevated in human ITPNs and ITPN-derived PDACs but not in human intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, indicating that activation of the TAZ pathway is a distinctive feature of ITPN. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of the YAP/TAZ pathway suppressed the dedifferentiation of pancreatic ductal cells and development of ITPN in Arid1a and Pten double-knockout mice.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent loss of Arid1a and Pten in adult pancreatic ductal cells induced ITPN and ITPN-derived PDAC in mice through aberrant activation of the YAP/TAZ pathway, and inhibition of the YAP/TAZ pathway prevented the development of ITPN. These findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of ITPN-derived PDAC and highlight the YAP/TAZ pathway as a potential therapeutic target.

Concurrent Activation of Kras and Canonical Wnt Signaling Induces Premalignant Lesions That Progress to Extrahepatic Biliary Cancer in Mice

Biliary cancer has long been known to carry a poor prognosis, yet the molecular pathogenesis of carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system and its precursor lesions remains elusive. Here we investigated the role of Kras and canonical Wnt pathways in the tumorigenesis of the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) and gall bladder (GB). In mice, concurrent activation of Kras and Wnt pathways induced biliary neoplasms that resembled human intracholecystic papillary-tubular neoplasm (ICPN) and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN), putative precursors to invasive biliary cancer. At a low frequency, these lesions progressed to adenocarcinoma in a xenograft model, establishing them as precancerous lesions. Global gene expression analysis revealed increased expression of genes associated with c-Myc and TGFβ pathways in mutant biliary spheroids. Silencing or pharmacologic inhibition of c-Myc suppressed proliferation of mutant biliary spheroids, whereas silencing of Smad4/Tgfbr2 or pharmacologic inhibition of TGFβ signaling increased proliferation of mutant biliary spheroids and cancer formation in vivo. Human ICPNs displayed activated Kras and Wnt signals and c-Myc and TGFβ pathways. Thus, these data provide direct evidence that concurrent activation of the Kras and canonical Wnt pathways results in formation of ICPN and BilIN, which could develop into biliary cancer.

SIGNIFICANCE

This work shows how dysregulation of canonical cell growth pathways drives precursors to biliary cancers and identifies several molecular vulnerabilities as potential therapeutic targets in these precursors to prevent oncogenic progression.

Brg1 is required to maintain colorectal cancer stem cells

Tumor cells capable of self-renewal and continuous production of progeny cells are called tumor stem cells (TSCs) and are considered to be potential therapeutic targets. However, the mechanisms underlying the survival and function of TSCs are not fully understood. We previously reported that chromatin remodeling regulator Brg1 is essential for intestinal stem cells in mice and Dclk1 is an intestinal TSC marker. In this study, we investigated the role of Brg1 in Dclk1⁺ intestinal tumor cells for the maintenance of intestinal tumors in mice. Specific ablation of Brg1 in Dclk1⁺ intestinal tumor cells reduced intestinal tumors in Apc^Min mice, and continuous ablation of Brg1 maintained the reduction of intestinal tumors. Lineage tracing in the context of Brg1 ablation in Dclk1⁺ intestinal tumor cells revealed that Brg1-null Dclk1⁺ intestinal tumor cells did not give rise to their descendent tumor cells, indicating that Brg1 is essential for the self-renewal of Dclk1⁺ intestinal tumor cells. Five days after Brg1 ablation, we observed increased apoptosis in Dclk1⁺ tumor cells. Furthermore, Brg1 was crucial for the stemness of intestinal tumor cells in a spheroid culture system. BRG1 knockdown also impaired cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Microarray analysis revealed that apoptosis-related genes were upregulated and stem cell-related genes were downregulated in human CRC cells by BRG1 suppression. Consistently, high BRG1 expression correlated with poor disease-specific survival in human CRC patients. These data indicate that Brg1 plays a crucial role in intestinal TSCs in mice by inhibiting apoptosis and is critical for cell survival and stem cell features in human CRC cells. Thus, BRG1 represents a new therapeutic target for human CRC. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SETDB1 Inhibits p53-Mediated Apoptosis and Is Required for Formation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas in Mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS

SETDB1, a histone methyltransferase that trimethylates histone H3 on lysine 9, promotes development of several tumor types. We investigated whether SETDB1 contributes to development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

We performed studies with Ptf1a^Cre; Kras^G12D; Setdb1^f/f, Ptf1a^Cre; Kras^G12D; Trp53^f/+; Setdb1^f/f, and Ptf1a^Cre; Kras^G12D; Trp53^f/f; Setdb1^f/f mice to investigate the effects of disruption of Setdb1 in mice with activated KRAS-induced pancreatic tumorigenesis, with heterozygous or homozygous disruption of Trp53. We performed microarray analyses of whole-pancreas tissues from Ptf1a^Cre; Kras^G12D; Setdb1^f/f, and Ptf1a^Cre; Kras^G12D mice and compared their gene expression patterns. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed using acinar cells isolated from pancreata with and without disruption of Setdb1. We used human PDAC cells for SETDB1 knockdown and inhibitor experiments.

RESULTS

Loss of SETDB1 from pancreas accelerated formation of premalignant lesions in mice with pancreata that express activated KRAS. Microarray analysis revealed up-regulated expression of genes in the apoptotic pathway and genes regulated by p53 in SETDB1-deficient pancreata. Deletion of Setdb1 from pancreas prevented formation of PDACs, concomitant with increased apoptosis and up-regulated expression of Trp53 in mice heterozygous for disruption of Trp53. In contrast, pancreata of mice with homozygous disruption of Trp53 had no increased apoptosis, and PDACs developed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that SETDB1 bound to the Trp53 promoter to regulate its expression. Expression of an inactivated form of SETDB1 in human PDAC cells with wild-type TP53 resulted in TP53-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 is required for development of PDACs, induced by activated KRAS, in mice. SETDB1 inhibits apoptosis by regulating expression of p53. SETDB1 might be a therapeutic target for PDACs that retain p53 function.

Abstract C37: Setdb1 is required for formation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by inhibiting apoptosis through regulation of p53 expression

Epigenetics is one of the representative mutation signatures in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Histone modification, one group of epigenetic regulators, is known to play an important role in cancer development. Setdb1, a histone methyltransferase that trimethylates histone H3 on lysine 9, has been reported to promote tumorigenesis by altering the expression of oncogenes/ tumor suppressor genes. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the functional role of Setdb1 in pancreatic acinar regeneration and PDAC formation. Setdb1 was expressed in pancreatic ductal cells and a subset of pancreatic acinar cells in wild-type mice. In pancreatic specific Setdb1 conditional KO mice, no abnormality was observed in pancreatic development. However, pancreatic deletion of Setdb1 resulted in pancreatic atrophy concomitant with increased apoptosis and upregulated p53 expression after cerulein-induced pancreatitis. To investigate the impact of pancreatic Setdb1 deletion in the context of oncogenic Kras, we next generated Ptf1a-Cre; KrasG12D; Setdb1f/f (KCS) mice and compared to control Ptf1a-Cre; KrasG12D (KC) mice. Pancreatic deletion of Setdb1 significantly accelerated spontaneous development of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and pancreatic intraepitherial neoplasia (PanIN) in KCS mice at the age of 4 weeks. Additionally, immunostaining revealed a dramatic increase in apoptotic cells and upregulated p53 expression in KCS mice. Consistently, microarray analysis revealed upregulated expression of apoptotic signaling pathway and p53 downstream gene pathway in KCS mice compared to KC mice. Furthermore, Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments in acinar cells isolated from wild-type mice revealed that Setdb1 bound to the promoter regions of p53 to support its expression. Given that Setdb1 loss caused increased apoptosis mediated by p53, we next examined the impact of pancreatic Setdb1 deletion on PDAC formation in the context of heterozygous p53 deletion. Surprisingly, PDAC formation was suppressed in KCS mice in the context of heterozygous p53 deletion (KPheteroCS mice). Again, apoptosis was increased and p53 expression was upregulated in KPheteroCS mice compared to KPheteroC mice. Furthermore, KPheteroCS mice showed significantly better prognosis for survival compared to control KPheteroC mice. In sharp contrast, in KCS mice in the context of homozygous p53 deletion, PDAC was formed and increased apoptosis was cancelled. Additionally, suppression of Setdb1 in human p53 wild PDAC cells led to p53-induced apoptosis. These findings suggested that Setdb1 deletion protects against PDAC formation with inducing apoptosis through regulation of p53 expression. In conclusion, Setdb1 is required for normal pancreatic acinar regeneration and is required for PDAC formation by inhibiting apoptosis through regulation of p53 expression. Thus, Setdb1 could be a therapeutic target for PDAC that retains p53 function.

Citation Format: Satoshi Ogawa, Akihisa Fukuda, Makoto Sono, Yuichi Fukunaga, Tomonori Masuda, Osamu Araki, Munemasa Nagao, Takaaki Yoshikawa, Yukiko Hiramatsu, Motoyuki Tsuda, Takahisa Maruno, Yuki Nakanishi, Hiroshi Seno. Setdb1 is required for formation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by inhibiting apoptosis through regulation of p53 expression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr C37.

Comparison between a rotatable sphincterotome and a conventional sphincterotome for selective bile duct cannulation

BACKGROUND

Selective biliary cannulation (SBC) is the first challenge of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), especially for trainees, and a rotatable sphincterotome may be useful to guide the directional axis of the scope and SBC.

METHODS

We performed a prospective randomized single-center trial, enrolling 200 patients with a native papilla who required therapeutic biliary ERCP. Patients were randomly assigned to the rotatable sphincterotome group (n = 100) or the conventional sphincterotome group (n = 100). The primary endpoint was successful SBC by the trainees within 10 minutes.

RESULTS

The early and late cannulation success rates did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.46 and P > 0.99, respectively). For the patients in whom trainees failed to achieve SBC, the rotatable sphincterotome was used as a rescue cannulation technique in four patients from the conventional group; in no patients in the rotatable group was the conventional sphincterotome used for SBC. Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) occurred in 11 patients (5.5 %; 6 mild, 5 moderate); the incidence did not differ significantly between the two groups (rotatable group 3 %, conventional group 8 %; P = 0.21). The two groups were thus combined for evaluation of the factors relating to cannulation difficulty for trainees, which revealed that orientation of the papilla was a significant factor (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The type of sphincterotome used did not affect the success of SBC by trainees. However, orientation of the papilla was revealed to be a significant factor relating to cannulation difficulty for trainees overall.

Paraplegia as an initial manifestation of pancreatic cancer

Paraplegia can be an initial manifestation of pancreatic cancer, although extremely rare.

Abstract 951: Setdb1 deletion protects against formation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through inducing apoptosis and upregulating p53 expression

One group of epigenetic regulators known to be altered in cancer development is histone modification. Setdb1, a histone methyltransferase that trimethylates histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9), has been implicated in tumorigenesis by altering the expression of oncogenes/ tumor suppressor genes. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the functional role of Setdb1 in pancreatic acinar regeneration and formation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Setdb1 was expressed in pancreatic ductal cells and a small subset of pancreatic acinar cells in adult wild type mice. Upon caerulein-induced pancreatitis, Setdb1 was expressed in acinar cells and acinar to ductal metaplasia (ADM). To determine the impact of pancreatic Setdb1 deletion on acinar regeneration, we generated Ptf1a-Cre; Setdb1f/f (CS) mice and induced caerulein-pancreatitis. Pancreatic deletion of Setdb1 resulted in pancreatic atrophy concomitant with increased apoptosis of acinar cells and increased expression of p53 in CS mice after caerulein-induced pancreatitis. In addition, pancreatic acinar regeneration was delayed with persistent inflammation inCS mice.

To investigate the impact of pancreatic Setdb1 deletion on PDAC formation, we next generated Ptf1a-Cre; KrasG12D; Setdb1f/f (KCS) mice and compared to control Ptf1a-Cre; KrasG12D (KC) mice. Pancreatic deletion of Setdb1 dramatically accelerated spontaneous development of ADM and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), the most common precursor lesion of PDAC, in KCS mice compared to KC mice at the age of 4 weeks. Acinar cell culture experiments revealed that Setdb1 null acinar cells converted to ADM, at least in part, in a cell autonomous manner. Long term observation revealed massive pancreatic atrophy in KCS mice. Immunostaining revealed a dramatic increase in apoptotic cells and upregulated expression of p53 in KCS mice compared to KC mice at the age of 20 weeks. Consistently, microarray analysis revealed upregulated expression of p53 and apoptotic pathway genes in KCS mice compared to KC mice.

We next examined the impact of pancreatic Setdb1 deletion on PDAC formation in the context of p53 deletion. Surprisingly, PDAC formation was suppressed in KCS mice in the context of heterozygous p53 deletion (KPhereroCS mice). Again, apoptosis was increased and p53 expression was upregulated in KPhereroCS mice. In contrast, in the context of homozygous p53 deletion, PDAC was formed and increased apoptosis was canceled in KPhomoCS mice. These findings suggested that Setdb1 deletion protects against PDAC formation through inducing apoptosis, which is mediated by p53.

In conclusion, Setdb1 is required for normal pancreatic acinar regeneration and protects against PDAC formation though inducing apoptosis, which is mediated by p53. Thus, Setdb1 could be a therapeutic target for PDAC which retains wild p53 expression.

Citation Format: Satoshi Ogawa, Akihisa Fukuda, Motoyuki Tsuda, Tomonori Masuda, Makoto Sono, Yuichi Fukunaga, Takaaki Yoshikawa, Osamu Araki, Munemasa Nagao, Norihiro Goto, Yukiko Hiramatsu, Takahisa Maruno, Yoichi Shinkai, Hiroshi Seno. Setdb1 deletion protects against formation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through inducing apoptosis and upregulating p53 expression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 951.

Usefulness of sulfasalazine for patients with refractory-ulcerative colits

BACKGROUND

Patients with refractory-ulcerative colitis (UC) require therapy escalation. Sulfasalazine (SASP) could deliver a high concentration of 5-aminosalicylic acid to the colon. The usefulness of SASP for refractory-UC patients, however, is unclear.

AIM

The aim was to evaluate the usefulness of SASP for refractory-UC patients.

METHOD

We retrospectively analysed 36 (11.4%) of 316 patients with refractory-UC who had been treated with SASP. Clinical and endoscopic activities were evaluated with Lichtiger index and Mayo score, respectively. We analysed the induction-remission rate, predictive factors for the efficacy of SASP, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Of 36 refractory-UC patients, 14 (38.9%) were treated with concomitant mesalazine enemas, 10 (27.8%) with azathiopurine, 4 (11.1%) with tacrolimus and 6 (16.7%) with an antitumour necrosis factor-α agent. After initiating SASP treatment, 25 patients (69.4%) achieved clinical remission. In 9 (64.3%) of 14 patients with UC treated with mesalazine enemas, mesalazine enemas could be discontinued with SASP. In all patients treated with tacrolimus, tacrolimus could be discontinued with SASP. Clinical activity score upon the initiation of SASP was significantly lower (p=0.024) and the number of patients treated with thiopurine was significantly higher (p=0.016) in the clinical remission group than in the non-clinical remission group. These factors might be predictive for the efficacy of SASP, although multivariate analysis demonstrated no statistically significant effect. Adverse events occurred in 7 patients (19.4%), and reduction or discontinuation of SASP led to improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

SASP appears to be more effective for refractory-UC patients with low clinical-activity and/or thiopurine-use.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000021615; Results.

Thymol derivatives from Eupatorium fortunei

Sixteen new thymol derivatives have been isolated from Eupatorium fortunei and their structures determined based on spectroscopic data. They were classified into three groups (i-iii) depending on the oxidation levels: (i) one oxygen function at the 9-position, (ii) two oxygen functions at the 8- and 9-positions, and (iii) three oxygen functions at the 8-, 9-, and 10-positions. The hydroxyl groups are acylated with tigloyl, angeloyl, acetyl, isobutyryl, 3-methyl-2-butenoyl, or 2-methylbutyryl moieties. The compounds having chiral centers showed no specific rotation and exist as racemic mixtures.

Characterization of the coral allene oxide synthase active site with UV-visible absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: evidence for tyrosinate ligation to the ferric enzyme heme iron

Coral allene oxide synthase (AOS), a hemoprotein with weak sequence homology to catalase, is the N-terminal domain of a naturally occurring fusion protein with an 8R-lipoxygenase. AOS converts 8R-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid to the corresponding allene oxide. The UV--visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra of ferric AOS and of its cyanide and azide complexes, and the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of native AOS (high-spin, g = 6.56, 5.22, 2.00) and of its cyanide adduct (low-spin, g = 2.86, 2.24, 1.60) closely resemble the corresponding spectra of bovine liver catalase (BLC). These results provide strong evidence for tyrosinate ligation to the heme iron of AOS as has been established for catalases. On the other hand, the positive circular dichroism bands in the Soret region for all three derivatives of ferric AOS are almost the mirror image of those in catalase. In addition, the cyanide affinity of native AOS (K(d) = 10 mM at pH 7) is about 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of BLC. Thus, while these results conclusively support a common tyrosinate-ligated heme in AOS as in catalase, significant differences exist in the interaction between their respective heme prosthetic groups and protein environments, and in the access of small molecules to the heme iron.

Caffeic and coumaric acid esters from Calystegia soldanella

Esters of trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, cis-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and trans-3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid with long-chain alcohols (n=15-20), were isolated from the stems of Calystegia soldanella.

Four alkaloids, lucidine B, oxolucidine A, lucidine A, and lucidulinone from Lycopodium lucidulum

The structures of four alkaloids extracted from Lycopodium lucidulum (Lycopodiaceae) were established by X-ray and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. The dihydro-derivative of oxolucidine A, which was obtained by NaBH4 reduction of oxolucidine A, was treated with p-bromobenzoyl chloride to afford crystals, whose X-ray crystallographic analysis established the stereostructure, including the absolute configuration. The 2D NMR spectra of tetrahydrodeoxylucidine B were fully analyzed to establish the full structure of lucidine B, and the hitherto unknown stereochemistry at the C-14 position was established as beta-H. The structure of a new alkaloid, lucidulinone, was determined by spectroscopic analysis to be luciduline lactam.

Essential thiol requirement to restore pterin- or substrate-binding capability and to regenerate native enzyme-type high-spin heme spectra in the Escherichia coli-expressed tetrahydrobiopterin-free oxygenase domain of neuronal nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide (NO) synthases (NOS) are thiolate-ligated heme-, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4))-, and flavin-containing monooxygenases which catalyze the NADPH-dependent conversion of L-arginine (L-Arg) to NO AND citrulline. NOS consists of two domains: an N-terminal oxygenase (heme- and BH(4)-bound) domain and a C-terminal reductase (FMN- and FAD-bound) domain. In this study, we have spectroscopically examined the binding of L-Agr and BH(4) to the dimeric, BH(4)-free ferric neuronal NOS (NNOS) oxygenase domain expressed in Escherichia coli separately from the reductase domain. Addition of L-Arg or its analogue inhibitors (N(G)()-methyl-L-Arg, N(G)()-nitro-L-Arg) and BH(4), together with dithiothreitol (DTT), to the pterin-free ferric low-spin oxygenase domain (gamma(MAX): 419, 538, 568 NM) and incubation for 2-3 days at 4 degrees C converted the domain to a native enzyme-type, predominantly high-spin state (gamma(MAX): approximately 395, approximately 512, approximately 650 NM). 7,8-Dihydrobiopterin and other thiols (E.G., beta-mercaptoethanol, cysteine, and glutathione, with less effectiveness) can replace BH(4) and DTT, respectively. the UV-visible absorption spectrum of L-Arg-bound ferric full length NNOS, which exhibits a relatively intense band at approximately 650 NM (epsilon equals 7.5-8 MM(-)(1) CM(-)(1)) due to the presence of a neutral flavin semiquinone, can then be quantitatively reconstructed by combining the spectra of equimolar amounts of the oxygenase and reductase domains. Of particular note, the heme spin-state conversion does not occur in the absence of a thiol even after prolonged (35-48 H) incubation of the oxygenase domain with BH(4) and/or L-Arg under anaerobic conditions. Thus, DTT (or other thiols) plays a significant role(s) beyond keeping BH(4) in its reduced form, In restoring the pterin- and/or substrate-binding capability of the E. coli-expressed, BH(4) free, dimeric NNOS oxygenase domain. Our results in combination with recently available X-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis data suggest that the observed DTT effects arise from the involvement of an intersubunit disulfide bond or its rearrangement in the NOS dimer.

Influence of protein environment on magnetic circular dichroism spectral properties of ferric and ferrous ligand complexes of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase

The addition of exogenous ligands to the ferric and ferrous states of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) is investigated with magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) at 4 degrees C to determine the effect the protein environment may exercise on spectral properties. The MCD spectrum of each derivative is directly compared to those of analogous forms of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myoglobin (Mb), two well-characterized histidine-ligated heme proteins. The ferric azide adduct of CCP is a hexacoordinate, largely low-spin species with an MCD spectrum very similar to that of ferric azide HRP. This complex displays an MCD spectrum dissimilar from that of the Mb derivative, possibly because of the stabilizing interaction between the azide ligand and the distal arginine of CCP (Arg 48). For the ferric fluoride derivative all three proteins display varied MCD data, indicating that the differences in the distal pocket of each protein influences their respective MCD characteristics. The MCD data for the cyanoferric complexes are similar for all three proteins, demonstrating that a strong field ligand bound in the sixth axial position dominates the MCD characteristics of the derivative. Similarly, the ferric NO complexes of the three proteins show MCD spectra similar in feature position and shape, but vary somewhat in intensity. Reduction of CCP at neutral pH yields a typical pentacoordinate high-spin complex with an MCD spectrum similar to that of deoxyferrous HRP. Formation of the NO and cyanide complexes of ferrous CCP gives derivatives with MCD spectra similar to the analogous forms of HRP and Mb in both feature position and shape. Addition of CO to deoxyferrous CCP results in a ferrous-CO complex with MCD spectral similarity to that of ferrous-CO HRP but not Mb, indicating that interactions between the ligand and the distal residues affects the MCD characteristics. Examination of alkaline (pH 9.7) deoxyferrous CCP indicates that a pH dependent conformational change has occurred, leading to a coordination structure similar to that of ferrous cytochrome b5, a known bis-histidine complex. Exposure of this complex to CO further confirms that a conformational change has taken place in that the MCD spectral characteristics of the resulting complex are similar to those of ferrous-CO Mb but not ferrous-CO HRP.

[Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis of the right thumb]

Black fungi are a group of fungi that are characterized by the development of a pale brown to black color in the cell walls of their vegetative cells, conidia, or both. A mycotic infection caused by a member of black fungi can be subdivided into three clinical entities: phaeohyphomycosis, chromoblastomycosis, and mycetoma. Phaeohyphomycosis is distinguished from mycetoma by the absence of grain (organized, interwoven mycelial aggregates) formation, and from chromoblastomycosis by the absence of sclerotic bodies (thick-walled muriform cells). Phaeohyphomycosis is a rare disease and has been sporadically reported. In the present report, phaeohyphomycosis of the right thumb of a 72-year-old man was presented. A precipitating trauma of two months earlier at the site was recalled. A solitary mass, 10 mm in diameter, was gradually formed in the palm side of the distal right thumb and finally resected. Histological examination disclosed a solitary granulomatous lesion surrounded by an incomplete fibrous capsule. The lesion mainly involved subcutaneous tissue and was composed of multiple pyogranulomas. Pigmented branched septate hyphae and yeast-like cells were sparsely found in the periphery of the abscess and within histiocytic cells of the granulomas. No sclerotic cells were detected. When pigmentation of black fungi in tissue is as faint as in the present case, Fontana-Masson staining is useful to accentuate the presence of melanin-like pigment of fungal cell walls.

Magnetic circular dichroism studies of the active site heme coordination sphere of exogenous ligand-free ferric cytochrome c peroxidase from yeast: effects of sample history and pH

Electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopic data at 4 degrees C are reported for exogenous ligand-free ferric forms of cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) in comparison with two other histidine-ligated heme proteins, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myoglobin (Mb). In particular, we have examined the ferric states of yeast wild-type CCP (YCCP), CCP (MKT) which is the form of the enzyme that is expressed in and purified from E. coli, and contains Met-Lys-Thr (MKT) at the N-terminus, CCP (MKT) in the presence of 60% glycerol, lyophilized YCCP, and alkaline CCP (MKT). The present study demonstrates that, while having similar electronic absorption spectra, the MCD spectra of ligand-free ferric YCCP and CCP (MKT) are somewhat varied from one another. Detailed spectral analyses reveal that the ferric form of YCCP, characterized by a long wavelength charge transfer (CT) band at 645 nm, exists in a predominantly penta-coordinate state with spectral features similar to those of native ferric HRP rather than ferric Mb (His/water hexa-coordinate). The electronic absorption spectrum of ferric CCP (MKT) is similar to those of the penta-coordinate states of ferric YCCP and ferric HRP including a CT band at 645 nm. However, its MCD spectrum shows a small trough at 583 nm that is absent in the analogous spectra of YCCP and HRP. Instead, this trough is similar to that seen for ferric myoglobin at about 585 nm, and is attributed (following spectral simulations) to a minor contribution (< or = 5%) in the spectrum of CCP (MKT) from a hexa-coordinate low-spin species in the form of a hydroxide-ligated heme. The MCD data indicate that the lyophilized sample of ferric YCCP (lambda CT = 637 nm) contains considerably increased amounts of hexa-coordinate low-spin species including both His/hydroxide and bis-His species. The crystal structure of a spectroscopically similar sample of CCP (MKT) (lambda CT = 637 nm) solved at 2.0 A resolution is consistent with His/hydroxide coordination. Alkaline CCP (pH 9.7) is proposed to exist as a mixture of hexa-coordinate, predominantly low-spin complexes with distal His 52 and hydroxide acting as distal ligands based on MCD spectral comparisons.

Low-temperature stabilization and spectroscopic characterization of the dioxygen complex of the ferrous neuronal nitric oxide synthase oxygenase domain

Nitric oxide (NO), an intercellular messenger and an immuno-cytotoxic agent, is synthesized by the family of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), which are thiolate-ligated, heme-containing monooxygenases that convert L-Arg to L-citrulline and NO in a tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-dependent manner, using NADPH as the electron donor. The dioxygen complex of the ferrous enzyme has been proposed to be a key intermediate in the NOS catalytic cycle. In this study, we have generated a stable ferrous-O2 complex of the oxygenase domain of rat neuronal NOS (nNOS) by bubbling O2 through a solution of the dithionite-reduced enzyme at -30 degrees C in a cryogenic solvent containing 50% ethylene glycol. The most stable dioxygen complex is obtained using the oxygenase domain which has been preincubated for an extended length of time at 4 degrees C with BH4/dithiothreitol and NG-methyl-L-arginine, a substrate analogue inhibitor. The O2 complex of the nNOS oxygenase domain thus prepared exhibits UV-visible absorption (maxima at 419 and 553 nm, shoulder at approximately 585 nm) and magnetic circular dichroism spectra that are nearly identical to those of ferrous-O2 cytochrome P450-CAM. Our spectral data are noticeably blue-shifted from those seen at 10 degrees C for a short-lived transient species (lambdamax = 427 nm) for the nNOS oxygenase domain using stopped-flow rapid-scanning spectroscopy [Abu-Soud, H. M., Gachhui, R., Raushel, F. M., and Stuehr, D. J. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 17349], but somewhat similar to those of a relatively stable O2 adduct of L-Arg-free full-length nNOS (lambdamax = 415-416.5 nm) generated at -30 degrees C [Bec, N., Gorren, A. C. F., Voelder, C., Mayer, B., and Lange, R. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 13502]. Compared with ferrous-O2 P450-CAM, however, the ferrous-O2 adduct of the nNOS oxygenase domain is considerably more autoxidizable and the O2-CO exchange reaction is noticeably slower. The generation of a stable ferrous-O2 adduct of the nNOS oxygenase domain, as described herein, will facilitate further mechanistic and spectroscopic investigations of this important intermediate.

Assignment of the heme axial ligand(s) for the ferric myoglobin (H93G) and heme oxygenase (H25A) cavity mutants as oxygen donors using magnetic circular dichroism

UV-visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) data are reported for the cavity mutants of sperm whale H93G myoglobin and human H25A heme oxygenase in their ferric states at 4 degreesC. Detailed spectral analyses of H93G myoglobin reveal that its heme coordination structure has a single water ligand at pH 5.0, a single hydroxide ligand at pH 10.0, and a mixture of species at pH 7.0 including five-coordinate hydroxide-bound, and six-coordinate structures. The five-coordinate aquo structure at pH 5 is supported by spectral similarity to acidic horseradish peroxidase (pH 3.1), whose MCD data are reported herein for the first time, and acidic myoglobin (pH 3.4), whose structures have been previously assigned by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The five-coordinate hydroxide structure at pH 10.0 is supported by MCD and resonance Raman data obtained here and by comparison with those of other known five-coordinate oxygen donor complexes. In particular, the MCD spectrum of alkaline ferric H93G myoglobin is strikingly similar to that of ferric tyrosinate-ligated human H93Y myoglobin, whose MCD data are reported herein for the first time, and that of the methoxide adduct of ferric protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (FeIIIPPIXDME). Analysis of the spectral data for ferric H25A heme oxygenase at neutral pH in the context of the spectra of other five-coordinate ferric heme complexes with proximal oxygen donor ligands, in particular the p-nitrophenolate and acetate adducts of FeIIIPPIXDME, is most consistent with ligation by a carboxylate group of a nearby glutamyl (or aspartic) acid residue.

Identification of nitric oxide synthase as a thiolate-ligated heme protein using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Comparison with cytochrome P-450-CAM and chloroperoxidase

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been recognized as an important biomolecule playing diverse physiological roles. It is synthesized in several different tissues from L-Arg and O2, using NADPH as an electron donor, by a family of heme-containing catalytically self-sufficient monooxygenases known as nitric oxide synthases (NOS). Recently, the CO complex of reduced NOS has been shown to exhibit an absorption maximum near 450 nm, a characteristic spectral feature of cytochrome P-450 (P-450). Yet, the amino acid sequences of NOS and P-450 have no homology. To further probe the active site heme coordination structure and the heme environment of NOS, we have employed magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and CD spectroscopy in the present study. MCD spectra of several derivatives of rat brain neuronal NOS strikingly resemble those of analogous derivatives of bacterial P-450-CAM and fungal chloroperoxidase, two known thiolate-ligated heme proteins. Given the proven fingerprinting capability of MCD spectroscopy, this provides convincing evidence for endogenous thiolate (cysteinate) ligation to the heme iron of NOS. Furthermore, the heme-related Soret CD bands of NOS (positive) and P-450s (negative), as represented by P-450-CAM, are almost mirror images, whereas chloroperoxidase exhibits totally different CD band shapes. This suggests that the active sites of NOS and P-450 may share some common structural features, but significant distinctions exist between their heme environments in certain aspects such as hydrophobicity or size.

X-ray absorption near edge studies of cytochrome P-450-CAM, chloroperoxidase, and myoglobin. Direct evidence for the electron releasing character of a cysteine thiolate proximal ligand

The low spin ferric and low and high spin ferrous forms of myoglobin, bacterial cytochrome P-450-CAM, and chloroperoxidase have been examined by Fe-K x-ray absorption edge spectroscopy. The positions of the absorption edge and the shapes of preedge and edge regions of imidazole adducts of ferric P-450-CAM and chloroperoxidase are essentially the same when compared with thiolate-ligated ferric myoglobin. As these three protein derivatives all have six-coordinate, low spin, ferric hemes with axial imidazole and thiolate ligands, the superposition of x-ray absorption edge spectral properties demonstrates that the protein environment does not effect the spectra, provided one compares heme iron centers with identical coordination numbers, spin and oxidation states, and ligand sets. In contrast, a 0.96 eV difference is observed in the energy of the absorption edge for imidazole- and thiolate-ligated ferric myoglobin with the latter shifted to lower energy as observed for ferrous myoglobin states. Similarly, in the low spin ferric-imidazole and ferrous-CO states, the energies of the absorption edge for chloroperoxidase and P-450-CAM are shifted in the direction of the ferrous state (to lower energy) when compared with those for analogous myoglobin derivatives. In the deoxyferrous high spin state, comparison of the edge spectra of chloroperoxidase with analogous data for cytochrome P-450-CAM suggests that the electron density at the iron is similar for these two protein states. The shifts observed in the energies of the x-ray absorption edge for the thiolate-ligated states of these proteins relative to derivatives lacking a thiolate ligand provide a direct measure of the electron releasing character of a thiolate axial ligand. These results therefore support the suggested role of the cysteinate proximal ligand of P-450 as a strong internal electron donor to promote O-O bond cleavage in the putative ferric-peroxide intermediate to generate the proposed ferryl-oxo "active oxygen" state of the reaction cycle.

On the use of iron octa-alkylporphyrins as models for protoporphyrin IX-containing heme systems in studies employing magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) properties of numerous oxidation and ligation state derivatives of myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase reconstituted with an iron octa-alkylporphyrin (mesoheme IX) have been investigated in order to establish the utility of such porphyrins as models for protoporphyrin IX-containing systems. The MCD spectra of the mesoheme-reconstituted proteins are blue-shifted (4-12 nm) and are somewhat more intense (1.5-2.5 fold) when compared to the spectra of analogous derivatives of native myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase. However, the spectral band patterns of the mesoheme-reconstituted proteins closely resemble those of the native proteins in essentially all cases. These data demonstrate that octa-alkylporphyrins can be productively used as models for protoporphyrin IX in studies of heme proteins with MCD spectroscopy.

The active site structure of E. coli HPII catalase. Evidence favoring coordination of a tyrosinate proximal ligand to the chlorin iron

E. coli produces 2 catalases known as HPI and HPII. While the heme prosthetic group of the HPII catalase has been established to be a dihydroporphyrin or chlorin, the identity of the proximal ligand to the iron has not been addressed. The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of native ferric HPII catalase is very similar to those of a 5-coordinate phenolate-ligated ferric chlorin complex, a model for tyrosinate proximal ligation, as well as of chlorin-reconstituted ferric horseradish peroxidase, a model for 5-coordinate histidine ligation. However, further MCD comparisons of chlorin-reconstituted myoglobin with parallel ligand-bound adducts of the catalase clearly rule out histidine ligation in the latter, leaving tyrosinate as the best candidate for the proximal ligand.

Evidence that a formyl-substituted iron porphyrin is the prosthetic group of myeloperoxidase: magnetic circular dichroism similarity of the peroxidase to Spirographis heme-reconstituted myoglobin

To probe the identity of the active site heme-type prosthetic group of myeloperoxidase, whose structure has not been established unambiguously [proposed structures are (i) a chlorin (dihydroporphyrin) or (ii) a formyl-substituted porphyrin such as present in heme a], Spirographis heme (2-formyl-4-vinyldeuteroheme IX) has been incorporated into apo-myoglobin as a possible iron porphyrin model. Comparison of parallel derivatives of these two green proteins with magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals considerable similarities between several derivatives of these proteins, including the pyridine hemochromogen, the native ferric, ferrous-oxy, and ferrous-CO forms. In contrast, the magnetic circular dichroism spectra of available iron chlorin (octaethylchlorin) model complexes in analogous ligation and oxidation states do not show any significant spectral similarities to myeloperoxidase. This finding provides important evidence in favor of a formyl-substituted porphyrin as the structure of the prosthetic group macrocycle of myeloperoxidase.

1-Methyl-DL-tryptophan, beta-(3-benzofuranyl)-DL-alanine (the oxygen analog of tryptophan), and beta-[3-benzo(b)thienyl]-DL-alanine (the sulfur analog of tryptophan) are competitive inhibitors for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

1-methyl-DL-Trp, beta-(3-benzofuranyl)-DL-alanine (the oxygen analog of Trp), and beta-[3-benzo(b)thienyl]-DL-alanine (the sulfur analog of Trp), each of which has a substitution at the indole nitrogen atom, were found to be the first examples of potent substrate analog competitive inhibitors (Ki 7-70 microM) with respect to the substrates D-Trp and L-Trp for rabbit small intestinal indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Binding studies using optical absorption and CD spectroscopy demonstrated that these three inhibitors cause spectral changes upon binding to the native ferric, ferrous, ferrous-CO, and ferrous-NO enzymes. Such spectral effects of 1-methyl-DL-Trp on all of these enzyme derivatives were similar to those caused by L-Trp, while the sulfur and the oxygen analogs of Trp exhibit relatively small effects except for those observed for the sulfur analog with CD spectroscopy. Each of these three Trp analog inhibitors competes with L-Trp for the ferrous-CO enzyme, a model for the ferrous-O2 enzyme. The present findings demonstrate that, although substitution of a methyl group for the hydrogen atom on the indole nitrogen or of a more electron-inductive sulfur or oxygen atom for the indole nitrogen atom does not prevent the binding of the resulting Trp analog to indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the free form of the indole nitrogen base is an important physical and/or electronic structural requirement for Trp to be metabolized by the enzyme. The inability of 1-methyl-Trp to serve as a substrate for the dioxygenase supports a view that singlet oxygen is not the reactive oxygen species involved in the dioxygenation of Trp by the enzyme.

Effects of cyanogen bromide modification of the distal histidine on the spectroscopic and ligand binding properties of myoglobin: magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy as a probe of distal water ligation in ferric high-spin histidine-bound heme proteins

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy has been utilized to characterize the change in coordination structure in native ferric sperm whale myoglobin upon cyanogen bromide-modification. Comparison of the MCD properties of the ferric high-spin state of cyanogen bromide-modified myoglobin (BrCN-Mb) with those of native ferric horseradish peroxidase and Aplysia myoglobin suggests that ferric BrCN-Mb is a potential MCD model for the pentacoordinate state of ferric high-spin histidine-ligated heme proteins. These five-coordinate heme proteins afford a relatively weak and unsymmetric signal in the Soret region of the MCD spectrum. In contrast, native ferric myoglobin and the benzohydroxamic acid adduct of ferric horseradish peroxidase show a strong and symmetric derivative-shaped Soret MCD signal which is indicative of hexacoordination with water and histidine axial ligands. Therefore it seems that MCD spectroscopy could be used to probe the presence of water ligated to the distal side of ferric high-spin heme proteins. The MCD spectra of the ferric-azide, ferrous-deoxy and ferrous-CO forms of BrCN-Mb have also been measured and compared to those of analogous native myoglobin complexes. The present MCD study has been extended to include new ligands, NO, thiocyanate and cyanate, which bind to ferric BrCN-Mb. With exogenous ligands such as CO, NO and thiocyanate, the coordination structures of the BrCN-Mb complexes are similar to those of the respective native myoglobin adducts. In the case of ferrous-deoxy and ferric-cyanate BrCN-Mb, however, the altered MCD spectra (and EPR for the latter) reveal changes in electronic structure which likely correlate with alterations of the coordination environment of these BrCN-Mb derivatives. Data are also presented which support the proposed tetrazole-bound structure for azide-treated BrCN-Mb (Hori, H., Fujii, M., Shiro, Y., Iizuka, T., Adachi, S. and Morishima, I. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 5715-5719) and the inability of the distal histidine of BrCN-Mb to stabilize the ferric ligand-bound state.

Electron paramagnetic resonance investigations of exogenous ligand complexes of low-spin ferric chloroperoxidase: further support for endogenous thiolate ligation to the heme iron

Previous spectroscopic studies of chloroperoxidase have provided evidence for endogenous thiolate sulfur donor ligation to the central heme iron of the enzyme. This conclusion is further supported by recent DNA sequence data which revealed the existence of a third cysteine residue (in addition to a disulfide pair detected earlier) in the protein available for coordination to the heme iron. Thus, chloroperoxidase shares many spectroscopic properties with cytochrome P-450, the only other known thiolate-ligated heme protein. Surprisingly, a previous electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of low-spin ferric chloroperoxidase-ligand complexes (Hollenberg, P.F., Hager, L.P., Blumberg, W.E. and Peisach, J. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 4801-4807) was unable to provide clear support for the presence of a thiolate ligand, although sulfur coordination was implicated. This was, in part, because an insufficient number of complexes was examined. In this work, we have significantly expanded upon the previous EPR study by using an extensive variety of over twenty exogenous ligands including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur donors. Crystal field analysis, using the procedure of Blumberg and Peisach, of the present data in comparison with data for analogous complexes of cytochrome P-450-CAM, thiolate-ligated heme model systems, and myoglobin, is clearly indicative of endogenous thiolate ligation for chloroperoxidase. In addition, the UV-visible absorption and EPR spectral data suggest that a carboxylate ligand is a possible candidate for the endogenous sixth ligand to the heme iron that is responsible for the reversible conversion of ferric chloroperoxidase from high-spin to low-spin at low temperatures (less than 200 K).

Spectroscopic and equilibrium studies of ligand and organic substrate binding to indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase

The binding of a number of ligands to the heme protein indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase has been examined with UV-visible absorption and with natural and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Relatively large ligands (e.g., norharman) which do not readily form complexes with myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) can bind to the dioxygenase. Except for only a few cases (e.g., 4-phenylimidazole) for the ferric dioxygenase, a direct competition for the enzyme rarely occurs between the substrate L-tryptophan (Trp) and the ligands examined. L-Trp and small heme ligands (CN-,N3-,F-) markedly enhance the affinity of each other for the ferric enzyme in a reciprocal manner, exhibiting positive cooperativity. For the ferrous enzyme, L-Trp exerts negative cooperativity with some ligands such as imidazoles, alkyl isocyanides, and CO binding to the enzyme. This likely reflects the proximity of the Trp binding site to the heme iron. Other indolamine substrates also exert similar but smaller cooperative effects on the binding of azide or ethyl isocyanide. The pH dependence of the ligand affinity of the dioxygenase is similar to that of myoglobin rather than that of HRP. These results suggest that indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase has the active-site heme pocket whose environmental structure is similar to, but whose size is considerably larger than, that of myoglobin, a typical O2-binding heme protein. Although the L-Trp affinity of the ferric cyanide and ferrous CO enzyme varies only slightly between pH 5.5 and 9.5, the unligated ferric and ferrous enzymes have considerably higher affinity for L-Trp at alkaline pH than at acidic pH. L-Trp binding to the ferrous dioxygenase is affected by an ionizable residue with a pKa value of 7.3.

Effects of tryptophan and pH on the kinetics of superoxide radical binding to indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase studied by pulse radiolysis

The reaction of superoxide radical (O2-) with the heme protein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase has been investigated by the use of pulse radiolysis. In the absence of the substrate tryptophan (Trp), the ferric enzyme reacted quantitatively with O2- to form the oxygenated enzyme. The rate constant for the reaction (8.0 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 at pH 7.0) increased with a decrease in pH. In the presence of low concentrations of L-Trp (approximately 50 microM), under which the catalytic site of the ferric enzyme is greater than 99% Trp-free at pH 7.0, the only spectral species observed upon O2- binding was L-Trp-bound oxygenated enzyme, the ternary complex. This suggests that under the conditions employed O2- binds first to the ferric enzyme to form the oxygenated enzyme and is followed by rapid binding of L-Trp. It was also found that absorbance changes (delta A) for the enzyme after the pulse were significantly decreased when an increased L-Trp concentration was employed. A 50% decrease in delta A was caused with approximately 50 microM L-Trp at pH 7.0. Similar results were also observed with other indole derivatives with decreasing delta A values in the order of indole, 3-indoleethanol, alpha-methyl-DL-Trp, and D-Trp. These results suggest that there exists a binding site for these compounds in the dioxygenase different from the catalytic site for Trp and, most significantly, that binding of Trp to the effector binding site of the ferric enzyme markedly inhibits its reaction with O2-.

Enzyme kinetic and spectroscopic studies of inhibitor and effector interactions with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. 2. Evidence for the existence of another binding site in the enzyme for indole derivative effectors

To probe the active site of the heme protein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the effects of 3-indoleethanol (IET) (or tryptophol), one of the known indole derivative effectors, and indole (IND) on the catalytic (Vmax, Km) and spectroscopic properties (optical absorption and CD) of the enzyme were investigated. Assays were performed with the substrate L- or D-tryptophan (Trp) and an ascorbic acid-methylene blue cofactor system at 25 degrees C. This study has shown that, at millimolar concentrations, both IET and IND lower considerably the Km value for D-Trp by approximately 25% and approximately 60%, respectively, at pH 7.0, while neither affects the Km value for L-Trp. Interestingly, however, these effectors exert opposite effects with respect to each other on the Vmax values for both D-Trp and L-Trp: IET enhances the Vmax values by 40-60% while IND lowers them by 12-24%. These effects of IET and IND on the Vmax values may be attributed to the shift in the ferric (inactive) enzyme----ferrous (active) enzyme equilibrium either to the right (IET) or to the left (IND) caused by the binding of these effectors to the enzyme in the steady state of the catalytic reaction. Both effectors induce clearly detectable spectral changes, especially notable in CD spectra, upon binding (in a 1:1 molar ratio, Kd = 10(-4) to 2.5 X 10(-3) M) to the ferrous enzyme and its complexes with O2, CO, and NO, both in the presence and in the absence of L-Trp.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enzyme kinetic and spectroscopic studies of inhibitor and effector interactions with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. 1. Norharman and 4-phenylimidazole binding to the enzyme as inhibitors and heme ligands

The effects of norharman, one of the few known inhibitors of the heme protein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, and of 4-phenylimidazole (4-PheImid), a heme ligand, on the catalytic (Vmax, Km) and spectroscopic properties (optical absorption, CD, and magnetic CD) of the rabbit small intestinal dioxygenase were investigated. Assays were performed with the substrate L- or D-tryptophan (Trp) and an ascorbic acid-methylene blue cofactor system at 25 degrees C. This study has revealed that both norharman and 4-PheImid exhibit noncompetitive inhibition with respect to L-Trp and D-Trp. The binding of norharman to the enzyme results in the formation of a low-spin complex in both the ferric and ferrous enzyme with comparable dissociation constants (Kd = approximately 10 microM at pH 7.0) that are about 10 times smaller than the observed Ki value. L-Trp exerts no effect for the ferric enzyme and slight negative cooperative effects for the ferrous enzyme on norharman binding. Close spectral similarities are observed between the adducts of the enzyme with norharman and 4-PheImid in the respective oxidation states. This, together with competition experiments using cyanide, demonstrates that norharman binds directly to the heme iron of the enzyme as a nitrogen donor ligand. Thus, norharman competes with O2 for the heme iron of the ferrous (active) enzyme, resulting in the observed inhibition. L-Trp and 4-PheImid appear to compete for the heme binding site in the ferric enzyme and display slight negative cooperativity on binding to the ferrous enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The roles of superoxide anion and methylene blue in the reductive activation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by ascorbic acid or by xanthine oxidase-hypoxanthine

To clarify the roles of superoxide anion (O2.-) and methylene blue in the reductive activation of the heme protein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, effects of xanthine oxidase-hypoxanthine used at various oxidase concentration levels as an O2.- source and an electron donor on the catalytic activity of the dioxygenase have been examined in the presence and absence of either methylene blue or superoxide dismutase using L- and D-tryptophan as substrates. In the absence of methylene blue, initial rates of the product N-formylkynurenine formation are enhanced in parallel with the xanthine oxidase level up to approximately 100 and approximately 50% of the apparent maximal activity (approximately 2 s-1) for L- and D-Trp, respectively. Superoxide dismutase effectively inhibits the reactions by 80-98% for both isomers. Additions of methylene blue (25 microM) help to maintain the linearity of the product formation that would be rapidly lost a few minutes after the start of the reaction without the dye, especially for L-Trp. Additions of methylene blue also enhance the activity to the maximal level for D-Trp. In the presence of methylene blue, the inhibitory effects of superoxide dismutase are considerably decreased with the increase in xanthine oxidase concentration, and at near maximal dioxygenase activity levels superoxide dismutase is totally without effect. In separate anaerobic experiments leuco-methylene blue, generated either by photoreduction or by ascorbate reduction, is shown to be able to reduce the ferric dioxygenase up to 25-40%. Substrate Trp and heme ligands (CO, n-butyl isocyanide) help to shift a ferric form----ferrous form equilibrium to the right. Thus, under aerobic conditions leuco-methylene blue might similarly be able to reduce the dioxygenase in the presence of an electron donor with the aid of substrate and O2. These results strongly suggest that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase can be activated through different pathways either by O2.- or by an electron donor-methylene blue system. For the latter case, the dye is acting as an electron mediator from the donor to the ferric dioxygenase.

Spectroscopic and equilibrium properties of the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-tryptophan-O2 ternary complex and of analogous enzyme derivatives. Tryptophan binding to ferrous enzyme adducts with dioxygen, nitric oxide, and carbon monoxide

The dioxygen adduct of the heme protein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase has been generated at -30 degrees C in mixed solvents, and spectroscopic and equilibrium studies of its L-tryptophan (substrate) binding properties have been carried out for the first time. Comparative studies have also been performed with the NO and CO adducts of the ferrous enzyme. Under the conditions employed (-30 degrees C), both autoxidation and turnover (L-tryptophan + O2----formylkynurenine) of the ternary complex are effectively suppressed. Structural identification of the ternary complex is based on the 1:1 molar stoichiometry for the substrate-oxygenated enzyme adduct formation (Kd approximately 10(-4) M), the time-dependent linear product formation (turnover) at -20 degrees C, and the quantitative conversion of the complex to the ferrous CO derivative by bubbling with CO. Binding of L-tryptophan to the oxygenated enzyme leads to decreases in the intensities of its major absorption bands (lambda max 415, 541, 576 nm) and to a blue shift of its Soret peak. Interestingly, among the ferrous enzyme derivatives examined, only the substrate-bound oxygenated enzyme exhibits solvent-dependent Soret absorption peak positions, e.g., lambda max 411.5 and 413.5 nm in 65% (v/v) aqueous glycerol and ethylene glycol, respectively. In addition, indole binds to the oxygenated enzyme, causing a red shift of its Soret peak in these solvents only in the presence of substrate (411.5----414 nm and 413.5----414.5 nm, respectively), while similar effects of indole are independent of tryptophan for the other ferrous enzyme derivatives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the spleen green hemeprotein with magnetic and natural circular dichroism spectroscopy: positive evidence for a myeloperoxidase-type active site

The green hemeprotein purified from bovine spleen has been characterized with magnetic and natural circular dichroism (MCD and CD) spectroscopy for the first time. The enzyme derivatives studied include the native high-spin ferric form and its high-spin chloride and low-spin cyanide and nitrite complexes, the ligand-free high-spin ferrous form and its low-spin CO adduct, and Compounds II (ferryl iron species) and III (dioxygen adduct). All these enzyme states exhibit MCD spectra that are considerably different from the spectra of analogous complexes of normal heme iron. In particular, the following distinctions have been observed. The sign of the derivative-shaped MCD bands of the high-spin ferric and Compound II forms in the Soret (380-500 nm) region and of the ferrous low-spin and Compound III forms in both the Soret and visible (500-700 nm) regions are opposite to and, except for the high-spin ferric form, are less symmetric than those seen for normal heme iron systems. MCD intensities in the Soret region for the high-spin ferrous and low-spin ferric derivatives are noticeably smaller than those of normal heme proteins by a factor of up to ten. Prominent MCD bands are seen around 450 and 630 nm for the green hemeprotein derivatives; these features are considerably red-shifted (30-50 nm) relative to the analogous transitions observed for normal heme proteins. In contrast to the aforementioned spectral differences, the MCD and CD spectra of the spleen green hemeprotein derivatives are essentially identical to those previously reported for several derivatives of another spectroscopically anomalous heme-type enzyme, myeloperoxidase. This provides strong evidence that the two enzymes have identical prosthetic groups and endogenous axial ligands coordinated to the central iron. The novel MCD features of the green proteins, taken together with previously reported spectroscopic results, are most consistent with the presence of a chlorin-type prosthetic group in both proteins. In addition, the CD spectral similarities suggest that the two green proteins have nearly identical active-site environments.

Ligand and halide binding properties of chloroperoxidase: peroxidase-type active site heme environment with cytochrome P-450 type endogenous axial ligand and spectroscopic properties

Equilibrium binding studies of exogenous ligands and halides to the active site heme iron of chloroperoxidase have been carried out from pH 2 to 7. Over twenty ligands have been studied including C, N, O, P, and S donors and the four halides. As judged from changes in the optical absorption spectra, direct binding of the ligands to the heme iron of ferric or ferrous chloroperoxidase occurs in all cases; this has been ascertained for the ferric enzyme in several cases through competition experiments with cyanide. All of the ligands except for the halides, nitrate, and acetate form exclusively low-spin complexes in analogy to results obtained with the spectroscopically related protein, cytochrome P-450-CAM [Sono, M., & Dawson, J.H. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 5496-5502]. The titration results show that, for the ferric enzyme, (i) weakly acidic ligands (pKa greater than 3) bind to the enzyme in their neutral (protonated) form, followed by deprotonation upon ligation to the heme iron. In contrast, (ii) strongly acidic ligands (pKa less than 0) including SCN-, NO3-, and the halides except for F- likely bind in their anionic (deprotonated) form to the acid form of the enzyme: a single ionizable group on the protein with a pKa less than 2 is involved in this binding. For the ferrous enzyme, (iii) a single ionizable group with the pKa value of 5.5 affects ligand binding. These results reveal that chloroperoxidase, in spite of the previously established close spectroscopic and heme iron coordination structure similarities to the P-450 enzymes, clearly belongs to the hydroperoxidases in terms of its ligand binding properties and active site heme environment. Magnetic circular dichroism studies indicate that the alkaline form (pH 9.5) of ferric chloroperoxidase has an RS-ferric heme-N donor ligand coordination structure with the N donor likely derived from histidine imidazole.

Preparation and properties of ferrous chloroperoxidase complexes with dioxygen, nitric oxide, and an alkyl isocyanide. Spectroscopic dissimilarities between the oxygenated forms of chloroperoxidase and cytochrome P-450

Extensive spectroscopic investigations of chloroperoxidase and cytochrome P-450 have consistently revealed close similarities between these two functionally distinct enzymes. Although the CO-bound ferrous states were the first to display such resemblance, additional comparisons have focused on the native ferric and ferrous and the ligand-bound ferric derivatives of the enzymes. In order to test the extent to which the spectral properties of the two enzymes match each other, we have prepared the NO, alkyl isocyanide, and O2 adducts of ferrous chloroperoxidase, the latter two for the first time. As expected, the NO adducts of the two proteins have similar UV-visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra; the same behavior is observed for the alkyl isocyanide complexes. Unexpectedly, the dioxygen adduct of ferrous chloroperoxidase (i.e. Compound III), generated in cryogenic solvents at -30 degrees C by bubbling with O2, is spectrally distinct from oxy-P-450-CAM. Identification of this derivative as oxygenated chloroperoxidase is based on the following criteria: It is EPR-silent at 77 K. The bound O2 is dissociable as judged by the uniform conversion to the CO-bound form. Oxy-chloroperoxidase autoxidizes to form the native ferric enzyme without detectable intermediates at a rate comparable to that determined for oxy-P-450-CAM. Oxy-chloroperoxidase exhibits optical absorption (lambda nm (epsilon mM) = 354 (41), 430 (94), 554 (16.5), 587 (12.5)) and magnetic circular dichroism spectra that are clearly distinct from those of histidine-ligated heme proteins such as oxy-myoglobin or oxy-horseradish peroxidase. Surprisingly, several of its spectral properties, namely the red-shifted Soret peak and discrete alpha peak, are also unlike those of oxy-P-450-CAM. Since considerable evidence has accumulated supporting the ligation of an endogenous thiolate to the heme iron of chloroperoxidase, as has been established for the P-450 enzyme, the observed dissimilarities suggest that the electronic properties of the two dioxygen adducts are quite sensitive to differences in their active site heme environment. This, in turn may be related to the functional differences between the two enzymes.

The generation of a hyperporphyrin spectrum upon thiol binding to ferric chloroperoxidase. Further evidence of endogenous thiolate ligation to the ferric enzyme

In spite of numerous spectroscopic similarities between chloroperoxidase and cytochrome P-450 (P-450) which suggest endogenous cysteinate axial ligation in chloroperoxidase as has been established for P-450, assignment of the endogenous axial ligand of chloroperoxidase has remained controversial since no available free sulfhydryl groups have been detected in chemical studies of chloroperoxidase. To help clarify this problem, we have carried out extensive studies of thiol-binding properties of native ferric chloroperoxidase and have compared our new results with those previously obtained in our laboratory on thiol adducts of P-450. We have found that the ligation of exogenous thiols to the heme iron of chloroperoxidase generates hyperporphyrin (split Soret) spectra (lambda max = approximately 372 and approximately 455 nm), consistent with the formation of bisthiolate low-spin ferric heme adducts as has been established for P-450 and its heme models. However, in contrast to the results with P-450, thiols not only coordinate to the ferric heme iron of chloroperoxidase in the thiolate form in competition with cyanide but also bind, presumably in the thiol form, to a site in the heme vicinity other than the heme iron without competition with cyanide. The thiol acidity (pK alpha greater than 7) or medium pH (pH 3-7) have little effect on the spectral and equilibrium properties of the adducts. Thiol binding to the latter site, which is presumably the organic substrate-binding site, causes a red shift of the Soret peak (339 vector approximately 420 nm) of the high-spin ferric enzyme; the resulting thiol adducts are still predominantly high spin. Similar spectral changes are also observed upon binding of other neutral sulfur (sulfides and disulfide) and oxygen (alcohols and ketones) donor ligands to native ferric chloroperoxidase. In conclusion, the generation of hyperporphyrin spectra upon exogenous thiol binding to native ferric chloroperoxidase provides considerable support for the presence of an endogenous thiolate ligand to the heme of the enzyme in its ferric state.