The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum possesses two distinct dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenases

The Plasmodium falciparum genome contains genes encoding three alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes (KADHs) that have central metabolic functions. The parasites possess two distinct genes encoding dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenases (LipDH), which are indispensable subunits of KADHs. This situation is reminiscent of that in plants, where two distinct LipDHs are found in mitochondria and chloroplasts, respectively, that are part of the organelle-specific KADHs. In this study, we show by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that the genes encoding subunits of all three KADHs, including both LipDHs, are transcribed during the erythrocytic development of P. falciparum. Protein expression of mitochondrial LipDH and mitochondrial branched chain alpha-ketoacid dihydrolipoamide transacylase in these parasite stages was confirmed by Western blotting. The localization of the two LipDHs to the parasite's apicoplast and mitochondrion, respectively, was shown by expressing the LipDH N-terminal presequences fused to green fluorescent protein in erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum and by immunofluorescent colocalization with organelle-specific markers. Biochemical characterization of recombinantly expressed mitochondrial LipDH revealed that the protein has kinetic and physicochemical characteristics typical of these flavo disulphide oxidoreductases. We propose that the mitochondrial LipDH is part of the mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and that the apicoplast LipDH is an integral part of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex which occurs only in the apicoplast in P. falciparum.

[NO-Ergic transmission and NO as a volume transmitter. Effect of NO on mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and epileptogenesis]

Nitric oxide (NO) is a universal intercellular messenger and the only molecule known so far, which satisfies all requirements of the volume (extrasynaptic) neurotransmitter. The effect of NO on target cells is so read in the four-dimensional coordinate system by combining both the spatial and the temporal components of the nervous activity. In this review, the authors, based on literature data and own studies, present a detailed analysis of properties of NO as a volume neurotransmitter at formation of phenomena of synaptic plasticity in norm and pathology. An evaluation is given of cytotoxic and neuroprotective effects of NO under conditions of the brain tissue ischemia and phenomena of hyperexcitability in foci of epileptiform activity. It is emphasized that the long-term potentiation and long-term depression, phenomena of physiological plasticity, can be transformed into pathological plasticity at disturbances of equilibrium between neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of NO.

Effect of selenium and vitamin E deficiency on differential gene expression in rat liver

To examine the molecular events associated with selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) deficiency, we applied cDNA array technology to define the transcriptional response in the liver of Se- and VE-deficient rats. VE deficiency alone did not induce any significant changes in expression profile among the genes evaluated. Se deficiency lead to a down-regulation of Se-dependent cGPx and to an induction of genes, encoding for detoxifying enzymes in liver (cytochrome P450 4B1, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1). Combined VE and Se deficiency was characterized by alterations in the expression level of genes encoding for proteins involved in inflammation (multispecific organic anion exporter, SPI-3 serine protease inhibitor) and acute phase response (alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, metallothionein 1). Additionally, a significant down-regulation in the expression level of genes important in the inhibition of apoptosis (defender against cell death 1 protein, Bcl2-L1), cell cycle (G1/S-specific cyclin D1) and antioxidant defense (gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase catalytic subunit) was demonstrated. The experimental strategy identified several novel Se and VE sensitive genes.

Differential expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase in hypothalamic areas of obese Zucker rats

Several studies have suggested that the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) may be involved in the regulation of food intake in the genetically obese Zucker rats. In the present study, we investigated the expression of NOS in various hypothalamic regions of obese and lean Zucker rats using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemistry. Obese Zucker rats showed significantly lower staining intensities of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) than lean Zucker rats did. The differences in staining intensities between obese and lean Zucker rats were large in both the PVN and LHA, but such differences were relatively small in the VMH.

Changes in protein synthesis during the adaptation of Bacillus subtilis to anaerobic growth conditions

After a shift of Bacillus subtilis from aerobic to anaerobic growth conditions, nitrate ammonification and various fermentative processes replace oxygen-dependent respiration. Cell-free extracts prepared from wild-type B. subtilis and from mutants of the regulatory loci fnr and resDE grown under aerobic and various anaerobic conditions were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins involved in the adaptation process were identified by their N-terminal sequence. Induction of cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase (LctE) synthesis under anaerobic fermentative conditions was dependent on fnr and resDE. Anaerobic nitrate repression of LctE formation required fnr-mediated expression of narGHJI, encoding respiratory nitrate reductase. Anaerobic induction of the flavohaemoglobin Hmp required resDE and nitrite. The general anaerobic induction of ywfl, encoding a protein of unknown function, was modulated by resDE and fnr. The ywfl gene shares its upstream region with the pta gene, encoding the fermentative enzyme acetyl-CoA:orthophosphate acetyltransferase. Anaerobic repression of the synthesis of a potential membrane-associated NADH dehydrogenase (YjlD, Ndh), and anaerobic induction of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FbaA) and dehydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (PhdD, Lpd) formation, did not require fnr or resDE participation. Synthesis of glycerol kinase (GlpK) was decreased under anaerobic conditions. Finally, the effect of anaerobic stress induced by the immediate shift from aerobic to strictly anaerobic conditions was analysed. The induction of various systems for the utilization of alternative carbon sources such as inositol (IoIA, IoIG, IoIH, IoII), melibiose (MeIA) and 6-phospho-alpha-glucosides (GIvA) indicated a catabolite-response-like stress reaction.

The 21-aminosteroid U-74389F attenuates hyperexpression of GAP-43 and NADPH-diaphorase in the spinal cord of wobbler mouse, a model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The wobbler mouse suffers an autosomal recessive mutation producing severe neurodegeneration and astrogliosis in spinal cord. It has been considered a model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We have studied in these animals the expression of two proteins, the growth-associated protein (GAP-43) and the NADPH-diaphorase, the nitric oxide synthesizing enzyme, employing immunocytochemistry and histochemistry. We found higher expression of GAP-43 immunoreactivity in dorsal horn, Lamina X, corticospinal tract and ventral horn motoneurons in wobbler mice compared to controls. Weak NADPH-diaphorase activity was present in control motoneurons, in contrast to intense labeling of the wobbler group. No differences in diaphorase activity was measured in the rest of the spinal cord between control and mutant mice. A group of animals received subcutaneously for 4 days a 50 mg pellet of U-74389F, a glucocorticoid-derived 21-aminosteroid with antioxidant properties but without glucocorticoid activity. U-74389F slightly attenuated GAP-43 immunostaining in dorsal regions of the spinal cord from wobblers but not in controls. However, in motoneurons of wobbler mice number of GAP-43 immunopositive neurons, cell processes and reaction intensity were reduced by U-74389F. The aminosteroid reduced by 50% motoneuron NADPH-diaphorase activity. Hyperexpression of GAP-43 immunoreactivity in wobbler mice may represent an exaggerated neuronal response to advancing degeneration or muscle denervation. It may also be linked to increased nitric oxide levels. U-74389F may stop neurodegeneration and/or increase muscle trophism and stop oxidative stress, consequently GAP-43 hyperexpression was attenuated. Wobbler mice may be important models to evaluate the use of antioxidant steroid therapy with a view to its use in human motoneuron disease.

Co-regulation of lipoamide dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase synthesis in Escherichia coli: characterisation of an ArcA binding site in the lpd promoter

The lipoamide dehydrogenase gene (lpdA) encoding the E3 subunits of both the pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes of Escherichia coli, is expressed from the upstream pdh and internal lpd promoters of the pdh operon (pdhR-aceEF-lpdA). Under aerobic conditions, the specific components of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex encoded by the sucAB genes in the sdhCDAB-sucABCD operon are expressed from the sdh promoter. The provision of lipoamide dehydrogenase subunits for assembly into the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex could thus be controlled by co-regulation of the lpd promoter with the sdh promoter. Here, the transcription start point of the lpd promoter was defined by primer extension analysis, and an ArcA binding site, TGTTAACAAT, overlapping the lpd promoter and matching the consensus at 8 out of 10 positions, was identified by in vitro footprint analysis. PdhR was not bound to the lpd promoter nor was ArcA bound specifically to the pdh promoter. These results support the view that co-regulation of the lpd and sdh promoters is mediated primarily by ArcA.

Transcription and transcript processing in the sdhCDAB-sucABCD operon of Escherichia coli

The genes encoding succinate dehydrogenase (sdhCDAB), the specific components of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (ODH, E1o and E2o; sucAB) and succinyl-CoA synthetase (sucCD) form a cluster containing two promoters at 16.3 min in the chromosome of Escherichia coli: Psdh sdhCDAB-Psuc sucAB-sucCD. The gene encoding the lipoamide dehydrogenase component of both the 2-oxoglutarate and pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes (E3; lpdA) is the distal gene of another cluster containing two promoters located at 2.7 min: Ppdh pdhR-aceEF-Plpd lpdA. The responses of the suc and lpd promoters to different environmental conditions and to regulator defects were investigated with appropriate lacZ fusions, in order to understand how expression of the sucAB genes is co-regulated with other genes in the sdhCDAB-sucABCD cluster and with lpdA expression. Expression from the suc promoter was repressed by IHF and partially activated by sigma 38 but it was not regulated by ArcA, FNR, CRP, FruR or Fis, and not repressed by glucose or anaerobiosis, indicating that the well-established catabolite and anaerobic repression of ODH synthesis is imposed elsewhere. In contrast, the lpd promoter was repressed by both glucose (via a CRP-independent mechanism) and anaerobiosis (mediated by ArcA), and activated by Fis, but it was not regulated by FNR, FruR, IHF or sigma 38. These observations support the view that transcription of the sucABCD genes is primarily initiated and regulated at the upstream sdh promoter, and that the lpd promoter is independently co-regulated with Psdh (primarily by ArcA-mediated repression) rather than with Psuc. Direct evidence for co-transcription of the entire sdhCDAB-sucABCD region from Psdh was obtained by detecting a 10 kb transcript in rnc and rne mutants, but not in the parental strains. Three RNaseIII-specific processing sites, which contribute to the extreme instability of the readthrough transcript, were identified in the sdhCDAB-sucABCD intergenic region. Other sites of endonuclease processing were located by interpreting the patterns of transcript subfragments observed in Northern blotting.

Primary structure of an invertebrate dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase with phylogenetic relationship to vertebrate and bacterial disulfide oxidoreductases

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) is a flavoprotein component of multi-enzyme complexes catalyzing oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-ketoacids in the Krebs' cycle. We have cloned a 2.4-kb E3 cDNA from an arthropod, Manduca sexta, that codes for 497 amino acids and translates to a 51-kDa protein in vitro. Sequences at and around the dinucleotide binding domains, disulfide active site and the C-terminal interface domain involved in substrate binding are highly conserved in Manduca E3. Phylogenetic analysis of protein sequences from the flavoprotein class of disulfide oxidoreductases family of enzymes suggests that in spite of the homologous nature of E3 and glutathione reductase (goR) in sequence and structure, E3 shares a common ancestor with mercuric reductase (merA), whereas goR is more related to trypanothione reductase (tryR) than to other members. All members, except goRs, seemed to be monophyletic. Plant goRs seemed to have arisen differently and are more closely related to tryRs than to bacterial and vertebrate goRs. Earlier speculation on the nature of origin of E3 in Pseudomonas is not supported by phylogenetic data. A possible structural relationship of Manduca E3 to other pyridine-binding proteins, such as the neurotransmitter transporters and channels, is proposed.

Fission yeast dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene is involved in G1/S cell cycle progression

Using functional complementation with a Schizosaccharomyces pombe genomic library, we have isolated a clone complementing a G1/S phase progression defective mutant. The newly isolated temperature-sensitive mutant, cyj150, showed elongated morphology at a restrictive temperature of 36 degrees C and DNA content analysis of the mutant indicated a defect in cell cycle progression at the G1/S phase. Sequence analysis of the genomic and cDNA clones complementing this elongated phenotype at 36 degrees C show that it encodes a protein that has 50% amino acid identity with dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and garden pea. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequence of S. pombe dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (dld1+) with glutathione reductase and mercuric reductase revealed extensive homologies throughout the primary sequence and protein structure, and contained amino acid sequences of the active site region conserved from prokaryote to higher eukaryote. Gene disruption and tetrad analysis showed that dld1+ is an essential gene for cell viability. Northern analysis indicates that transcriptional expression of this gene is not fluctuated according to the cell cycle. However, it is certain that malfunction of this Dld1 protein blocks the progression of cell cycle from G1 to S phase. The sequence of the dld1+ gene is available in EMBL/GenBank under Accession Number L40360.

Cloning, sequencing and functional expression of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi

This work presents the complete sequences of a cDNA and the two allelic genes of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LipDH) from Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis). The full-length cDNA has an ORF of 1431 bp and encodes a protein of 477 amino acid residues. LipDH is a homodimeric protein with FAD as prosthetic group. The calculated molecular mass of the subunit of the mature protein with bound FAD is 50,066. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of LipDH from T. cruzi with that of Trypanosoma brucei and man shows identities of 81% and 50%, respectively. An N-terminal nonapeptide, not present in the mature enzyme, represents a mitochondrial targeting sequence so far found only in trypanosomatids. The gene lpd1 of T. cruzi LipDH was expressed without the targeting sequence in Escherichia coli JRG1342 cells which are deficient for LipDH. For this purpose an ATG codon was introduced directly upstream the codon for Asn10 which represents the N-terminus of the mature protein. This system allowed the synthesis of 1000 U T. cruzi LipDH/1 bacterial cell culture. The recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity by (NH4)2SO4-precipitation and affinity chromatography on 5' AMP-Sepharose. The K(m) values for NAD+, NADH, lipoamide and dihydrolipoamide are identical with those of the enzyme isolated from the parasite. LipDH is present in all major developmental stages of T. cruzi as shown by northern and western blot analyses. This finding is in agreement with the citric acid cycle being active throughout the whole life cycle of the parasite. In vitro studies on a mammalian LipDH revealed the ability of the flavoenzyme to catalyze the redoxcycling and superoxide anion production of nitrofuran derivatives including the antitrypanosomal drug Nifurtimox. For that reason T. cruzi LipDH is regarded as a promising target for the structure-based development of new antiparasitic drugs. The bacterial expression system for the parasite enzyme will now allow the study of the role of T. cruzi LipDH in drug activation and the crystallization of the protein.

Nitric oxide synthase-containing magnocellular neurons of the rat hypothalamus synthesize oxytocin and vasopressin and express Fos following stress stimuli

We investigated the chemical and anatomical features of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei in the rat hypothalamus using combinations of enzyme histochemistry, in situ hybridization and immuno-histochemistry. Neurons expressing NOS mRNA completely overlapped with NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons. Topographical distribution of NOS was segregated from that of CRF-containing parvicellular neurons in the posterior paraventricular nucleus but overlapped with that of magnocellular neurons. In the paraventricular nucleus, 70% of oxytocin neurons contained NOS, which corresponded to one half of NOS neurons. About one third of vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons were NADPH-diaphorase-positive and the same proportion of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons were vasopressin-immunoreactive. In the supraoptic nucleus, 50% of oxytocin neurons were NADPH-diaphorase-positive, which corresponded to 40% of NOS neurons. About 25% of vasopressin neurons were NADPH-diaphorase-positive, and 30% of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons were vasopressin-immunoreactive. When NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was performed first, subsequent immunostaining was markedly perturbed. Using fluoro-gold as a retrograde tracer, 4% of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons were shown to contribute to the descending projection to the spinal cord. About 40%-50% of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons exhibited Fos immunoreactivity after injection of lipopolysaccharide or hypertonic saline, while only 10%-15% of these neurons expressed Fos in response to immobilization or pain. Endogenous NO may be involved in the regulation of magnocellular functions, especially when the internal environment is disturbed.

Alternative splicing and differential expression of DT-diaphorase transcripts in human colon tumors and in peripheral mononuclear cells in response to mitomycin C treatment

The two-electron bioreductive enzyme DT-diaphorase catalyzes the metabolism of quinones. The existence of several distinct sizes of DT-diaphorase mRNA transcripts has been observed in human tissues. One of these, an alternatively spliced mRNA that lacks exon 4, has been recently found to be expressed at levels comparable to those of the full-length mRNA. The protein encoded by the mRNA lacking exon 4 has minimal catalytic activity, consistent with the elimination of the quinone-binding site coded for by this exon. We have pursued a number of approaches to examine the significance of this splice variant. We identified a similar truncated transcript in a human HepG2 cDNA library. To determine the frequency of expression of this form of DT-diaphorase in the general population, we examined mRNA obtained from the peripheral mononuclear cells of 16 patients and found substantial interindividual variability in the patterns of transcript expression. Following treatment of these 16 patients with 20 mg/m2 mitomycin C (MMC), the induction of DT-diaphorase transcripts was demonstrated. In most patients, expression of the variant transcript (lacking exon 4) remained constant, while that of the full-length mRNA was elevated. The extent of induction also showed interindividual variability. In one patient, while both transcripts were present at baseline, expression of the variant transcript disappeared almost completely after MMC treatment. To analyze these events under more controlled conditions, we examined the effects of MMC treatment on two human colon tumor cell lines. MMC treatment induced expression of the full-length mRNA but did not influence the abundance of the variant transcript. We then performed single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of genomic DNA from the 16 patients to investigate the potential role of cis-acting factors in the variable splicing responses. Two patients demonstrated sequence differences in the region spanning exon 4, but in neither was the change in a region critical to splicing regulation. These data demonstrate that the expression of DT-diaphorase in hyman cells is polymorphic, and that the levels of individual transcripts can be regulated by exogenous factors. The findings support a role for alternative splicing in the control of DT-diaphorase gene expression.

Purification of an NADPH-dependent diaphorase from membrane of DMSO-induced differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells

NADPH diaphorase activity was found in membrane of DMSO-induced differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. This membrane-bound diaphorase activity increased dramatically during differentiation of HL-60 cells. A dye reductase was extracted from membrane of DMSO-induced differentiated HL-60 cells with n-octyl glucoside and sodium cholate in the presence of several protease inhibitors such as PMSF, DIFP, TLCK, antipain, chymostatin, leupeptin, pepstatin A and trypsin inhibitor. The NADPH diaphorase was highly purified by two-stage sequential column chromatographies. The purified enzyme, showing both SOD-insensitive cytochrome c and NBT reductase activities, migrated with an apparent molecular mass of 77 kDa on SDS-PAGE. When the purification of this diaphorase was carried out in the presence of only three protease inhibitors, PMSF, DIFP and TLCK, a partially proteolyzed form of the diaphorase with a molecular mass of 68 kDa was prepared. The proteolyzed diaphorase exhibited only an NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase. The NADPH diaphorase gave a positive cross-reaction to polyclonal antibodies raised against microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase from rabbit liver.

Purification, characterization and mode of action of PdhR, the transcriptional repressor of the pdhR-aceEF-lpd operon of Escherichia coli

The repressor of the pdhR-aceEF-lpd operon of Escherichia coli, PdhR, was amplified to 23% of total cell protein and purified to homogeneity by heparin-agarose and cation-exchange chromatography. The purified protein is a monomer (M(r) 29,300) which binds specifically to DNA fragments containing the pdh promoter (Ppdh) in the absence of pyruvate. The pdh operator was identified by DNase I footprinting as a region of hyphenated dyad symmetry, +11AATTGGTaagACCAATT+27, situated just downstream of the transcript start site. In vitro transcription from Ppdh was repressed > 1000-fold by PdhR and this repression was antagonized in a concentration-dependent manner by its co-effector, pyruvate. Studies on RNA polymerase binding at Ppdh showed that RNA polymerase protects the -44 to +21 region in the absence of PdhR, but no RNA polymerase binding or protection upstream of +9 could be detected in the presence of PdhR. It is concluded that PdhR represses transcription by binding to an operator site centred at +19 such that effective binding of RNA polymerase is prevented.

Expression of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity by interstitial cells of the canine proximal colon

A subpopulation of interstitial cells (ICs) are interposed between nerve terminals and smooth muscle cells in the gastrointestinal tract and may participate in neuromuscular transmission. These cells appear to be targets for NO released from enteric inhibitory nerves and respond to exogenous NO with: (i) an elevation in cGMP levels; (ii) an increase in intracellular Ca2+; (iii) and release of a diffusible substance that has tentatively been identified as NO. For the latter to be possible, ICs must express a constitutive isoform of NOS. This study characterized the expression of NOS-like immunoreactivity (NOS-LI) in ICs of the canine colon using 3 antibodies raised against the 2 known constitutive forms of NOS (i.e., neural (nNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) isoforms). Antibodies raised against cNOS and an antibody raised against rat cerebellar nNOS labeled ICs along the submucosal surface of the circular muscle layer (IC-SM), along the surface of septa that separate the circular muscle into fiber bundles (IC-SM), and in the myenteric region between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers (IC-MY). Another antibody raised against rat cerebellar nNOS failed to label ICs. Cultured IC-SM also expressed NOS-LI, suggesting that this feature of the IC phenotype survives culture conditions. Arteriolar endothelial cells in the canine colon were labeled with the same 2 antibodies that labeled ICs, suggesting there are significant structural similarities between NO synthases in ICs and endothelial cells. The data suggest that IC-SM and IC-MY express a constitutive form of NOS. Synthesis of NO by ICs may influence electrical rhythmicity and may serve to amplify and even propagate enteric inhibitory neurotransmission.

The pdhR-aceEF-lpd operon of Escherichia coli expresses the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Transcript mapping and studies with lacZ translational fusions have shown that the pdhR gene (formerly genA) is the proximal gene of the pdhR-aceE-aceF-lpd operon encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex of Escherichia coli. A pdhR-lpd read-through transcript (7.4 kb) initiating at the pyruvate-inducible pdh promoter, and a smaller lpd transcript (1.7 kb) initiating at the independent lpd promoter, were identified. Evidence showing that the pdhR gene product negatively regulates the synthesis of the PdhR protein and the PDH complex via the pdh promoter was obtained, with pyruvate (or a derivative) serving as the putative inducing coeffector. The partially purified PdhR protein was also found to specifically retard and protect DNA fragments containing the pdh promoter region. The pdh promoter was not strongly controlled by ArcA, FNR or CRP.

Identification and molecular characterization of the aco genes encoding the Pelobacter carbinolicus acetoin dehydrogenase enzyme system

Use of oligonucleotide probes, which were deduced from the N-terminal sequences of the purified enzyme components, identified the structural genes for the alpha and beta subunits of E1 (acetoin:2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase), E2 (dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase), and E3 (dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase) of the Pelobacter carbinolicus acetoin dehydrogenase enzyme system, which were designated acoA, acoB, acoC, and acoL, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of acoA (979 bp), acoB (1,014 bp), acoC (1,353 bp), and acoL (1,413 bp) as well as of acoS (933 bp), which encodes a protein with an M(r) of 34,421 exhibiting 64.7% amino acid identity to the Escherichia coli lipA gene product, were determined. These genes are clustered on a 6.1-kbp region. Heterologous expression of acoA, acoB, acoC, acoL, and acoS in E. coli was demonstrated. The amino acid sequences deduced from acoA, acoB, acoC, and acoL for E1 alpha (M(r), 34,854), E1 beta (M(r), 36,184), E2 (M(r), 47,281), and E3 (M(r), 49,394) exhibited striking similarities to the amino acid sequences of the components of the Alcaligenes eutrophus acetoin-cleaving system. Homologies of up to 48.7% amino acid identity to the primary structures of the enzyme components of various 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes also were found. In addition, the respective genes of the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes and of the acetoin dehydrogenase enzyme system were organized very similarly, indicating a close relationship of the P. carbinolicus acetoin dehydrogenase enzyme system to 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes.

An unusual profile of musk xylene-induced drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver

We have demonstrated previously that musk xylene, a non-mutagenic carcinogen, is a novel and specific inducer of CYP1A2 in rats (Iwata et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun 184: 149-153, 1992). In the present study, the effects of musk xylene (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight, i.p., for 5 consecutive days) on both Phase I and Phase II metabolizing enzymes in rat liver were investigated further and more completely. Among the mixed-function oxidases monitored, 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase and 7-pentoxyresorufin depentylase activities were increased at all dose levels from 1.6- to 1.7-fold and 2.6- to 3.1-fold, respectively. Benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity was increased significantly at only the 200 mg/kg dose level of musk xylene (1.5-fold). Regarding Phase II enzymes, activities of both cytosolic DT-diaphorase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were increased up to 2.0- to 2.4-fold by musk xylene in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that the changes in these activities were caused by increases in the amounts of DT-diaphorase and GST Ya subunit. Microsomal UDP-glucoronyltransferase (UDPGT) activity assayed with p-nitrophenol as substrate was increased 1.6- to 2.0-fold. These results show that musk xylene induces both Phase I cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase (CYP1A2 specific) and Phase II metabolizing enzyme systems (DT-diaphorase, GST Ya subunit and UDPGT) in rat liver.

NADH-dependent oxidoreductase (diaphorase) activity and isozyme pattern of sperm in infertile men

Diaphorase activities were measured in spermatozoa from 104 infertile men. The relationships between enzyme activity, sperm characteristics (density, motility, viability), and distribution of electrophoretic patterns were examined. There was a highly significant difference (p less than .001) between the sperm diaphorase activities in specimens with sperm concentration above 40 million per milliliter (0.685 +/- 0.5 mIU/10(6) sperm; n = 57) when compared with the diaphorase values of the oligospermic specimens with sperm density below 40 million per milliliter (1.53 +/- 1.5 mIU/10(6) sperm; n = 47). However, there was no evidence to support any relationship between sperm diaphorase activities, sperm motility, viability, and the distribution of three diaphorase electrophoretic patterns. This indicates that these parameters do not account for the differences between the diaphorase activity of spermatozoa of infertile men with sperm concentrations below and those above 40 million per milliliter.

Positive regulation of the LPD1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the HAP2/HAP3/HAP4 activation system

The LPD1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoding lipoamide dehydrogenase (LPDH), is subject to catabolite repression. The promoter of this gene contains a number of motifs for DNA-binding transcriptional activators, including three which show strong sequence homology to the core HAP2/HAP3/HAP4 binding motif. Here we report that transcription of LPD1 requires HAP2, HAP3 and HAP4 for release from glucose repression. In the wild-type strain, specific activity of LPDH was increased 12-fold by growth on lactate, 10-fold on glycerol and four- to five-fold on galactose or raffinose, compared to growth on glucose. In hap2, hap3 and hap4 null mutants, the specific activities of LPDH in cultures grown on galactose and raffinose showed only slight induction above the basal level on glucose medium. Similar results were obtained upon assaying for beta-galactosidase production in wild-type, or hap2, hap3 or hap4 mutant strains carrying a single copy of the LPD1 promoter fused in frame to the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli and integrated at the URA3 locus. Transcript analysis in wild-type and hap2 mutants confirmed that the HAP2 protein regulates LPD1 expression at the level of transcription in the same way as it does for the CYC1 gene. Site-directed mutagenesis of the putative HAP2/HAP3/HAP4 binding site at -204 relative to the ATG start codon showed that this element was required for full derepression of the LPD1 gene on non-fermentable substrates.

Sequence analysis of the lpdV gene for lipoamide dehydrogenase of branched-chain-oxoacid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas putida

The production of two lipoamide dehydrogenases by Pseudomonas is so far unique. One, LPD-val, is the specific E3 component of the branched-chain-oxoacid dehydrogenase and the second, LPD-glc, is the E3 component of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and the L-factor of the glycine oxidation system. The objective of the present research was to determine the nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for LPD-val in order to compare its deduced amino acid structure with that of other redox-active disulfide flavoproteins. Northern blots using mRNA isolated from P. putida grown in media with branched-chain amino acids identified a transcript of 6.2 kb which is long enough to encode all the structural genes for the complex. The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for LPD-val, lpdV, was determined and consists of 459 codons plus the stop codon. The open reading frame begins two bases after the stop codon for the E2 subunit and is composed of 66.3% G + C. Codon usage is characteristic of moderately strongly expressed genes. There is a ribosome-binding site preceding the ATG start codon and a strong candidate for a rho-independent terminator at the 3' end of the reading frame. The Mr of the protein encoded is 48,164 and when the Mr of FAD is added, the total Mr is 48,949, which is very close to the value of 49,000 obtained by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Similarity comparisons of LPD-val with sequences of three other lipoamide dehydrogenases showed that LPD-val was somewhat more distantly related. It is probable that the lipoamide dehydrogenases and the glutathione and mercuric reductases evolved from a common ancestral flavoprotein.

Induction of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase in 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation

The activity and turnover of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3), the common component of the three 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes, were measured during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The specific activity of E3 increased approx. 3-4-fold in 3T3-L1 adipocytes differentiated under a regimen of insulin, dexamethasone and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine for 48 h, followed by insulin alone thereafter. A rabbit antibody to pig heart E3 quantitatively precipitated the enzyme from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. By using immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis, a 3.3-fold increase was observed in E3 protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes as compared with 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, on a DNA basis. Pulse-labelling experiments with L-[35S]methionine revealed a 3.5-fold increase in the rate of synthesis of E3 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared with that observed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In contrast, the apparent half-lives of the E3 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (43 h) and 3T3-L1 adipocytes (33 h) were not significantly different. Therefore, the 3-4-fold increase in the specific activity of E3 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes resulted from an increased rate of synthesis of the enzyme.

Intracellular distribution and biosynthesis of lipoamide dehydrogenase in rat liver

Lipoamide dehydrogenase (LADase) was purified to homogeneity from rat liver mitochondria, and the intracellular distribution and biosynthesis of the LADase were investigated with antibody prepared against the purified enzyme. 1) LADase activity was mostly found in mitochondria; the activity in cytosol was about one-tenth of that in mitochondria. 2) LADase in the crude mitochondrial and cytosolic extracts and the purified LADase were immunologically identical as judged from the Ouchterlony double diffusion test. These LADases were indistinguishable from each other on immunochemical titration; i.e., the amount of LADase precipitated by a fixed amount of the anti-LADase antibody was the same for all the preparations. However, cytosolic LADase activity was inhibited by the antibody more strongly than mitochondrial LADase activity. 3) Two min after intravenous injection of [35S]methionine, more radioactivity was incorporated into cytosolic LADase than into the mitochondrial enzyme in the liver. This result suggests that localization of LADase in the cytosolic fraction is not an artifact due to leakage from mitochondria during homogenization of rat liver. 4) LADase was synthesized predominantly on free ribosomes, which indicates that LADase is synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes and translocated into mitochondria just as other mitochondrial proteins are. 5) After cell-free protein synthesis with post-mitochondrial supernatant, radioactivity immunoprecipitated with anti-LADase antibody was detected as a major peak with the same molecular weight as the purified LADase.

Biochemical genetics of the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes of Escherichia coli K12: genetic characterization and regulatory properties of deletion mutants

Twenty-eight spontaneous auxotrophic aroP mutants with deletions in the azi--nadC--aroP--aceE--aceF--lpd region of the Escherichia coli K12 chromosome were characterized genetically with respect to various azi, nadC, ace and lpd markers by P1-mediated transduction. One mutant (Kdelta18; aroP--lpddelta) had a deletion which extended through the aceE and aceF genes to end within the lpd gene. The polarity of the ace operon (aceE to aceF) was confirmed. It was concluded that 10 out of 15 deletions generating a strict requirement for acetate terminated in the aceE gene. Of the ten, three mutants (Kdelta22, Cdelta41 and Cdelta41) synthesized detectable dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (the aceF gene product) and seven were assumed to possess deletions generating polar effects on aceF gene expression. Five deletions appeared to extend into the aceF gene. A further five deletions, which limited the expression of the ace operon without generating an Ace- phenotype or a complete Ace- phenotype, ended closest to the aroP-proximal aceE markers. The opposite ends of all these deletions appeared to terminate before (10), within (2) or extend beyond (9) the nadC gene. There was no obvious correlation between the deletion end-points and the corresponding lipoamide dehydrogenase activities, which ranged from 30 to 95% of parental levels in different deletion strains. The remaining seven deletions simply extended between the aroP and nadC genes (nad--aroPdelta) without affecting expression of the ace operon. Regulation of the synthesis of the pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes was investigated in some of the parental and deletion strains under different physiological conditions including thiamin-deprivation. The results indicate that the syntheses of the two dehydrogenase complexes are independently regulated. Expression of the lpd gene appears to be coupled to complex synthesis but can be dissociated under some conditions. Mechanisms for regulating lpd gene expression are discussed and an autogenous mechanism involving uncomplexed lipoamide dehydrogenase functioning as a negatively acting repressor at the operator site of an independent lpd gene is proposed as the simplest mechanism which is consistent with all available information.

[Effect of coniophage decomposition products on the biological activity of fibroblasts]

Cytochemical studies showed that destroyed coinophages, which phagocytized cytoxic and fibrogenic quartz dust, activated the synthetic function of rat fibroblasts when added to the culture medium. Inert talcum dust used under similar experimental conditions failed to produce any noticable changes in comparison with control studies.

Carcinogens 3,4-benzpyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene: induction of mitochondrial oxidative enzymes

Sections of liver from rats injected with 3,4-benzpyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene, when incubated in mediums specific for the histochemical demonstration of mitochondrial oxidative enzymes, show greater activity of several of these enzymes than do sections from control rats. This observation was confirmed by comparison of the staining of mitochondria isolated from the control and from "induced" rats. The fact that an inhibitor of protein synthesis, actinomycin D, effectively diminished the stimulation provided evidence that the stimulation of activity is due to an increase in enzyme synthesis, generally called induction.