scholarly journals Major differences exist in the function and tissue-specific expression of human aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase and the principal human aldo-keto reductase AKR1 family members

1999 ◽  
Vol 343 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania O'CONNOR ◽  
Linda S. IRELAND ◽  
David J. HARRISON ◽  
John D. HAYES
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Western Blotting ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
Aldehyde Reductase ◽  
Aliphatic Aldehydes ◽  
Kidney Liver

Complementary DNA clones encoding human aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase (AKR7A2), aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1), aldose reductase (AKR1B1), dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 1 (AKR1C1) and chlordecone reductase (AKR1C4) have been expressed in Escherichia coli. These members of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily have been purified from E. coli as recombinant proteins. The recently identified AKR7A2 was shown to differ from the AKR1 isoenzymes in being able to catalyse the reduction of 2-carboxybenzaldehyde. Also, AKR7A2 was found to exhibit a narrow substrate specificity, with activity being restricted to succinic semialdehyde (SSA), 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, pyridine-2-aldehyde, isatin, 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ) and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. In contrast, AKR1A1 reduces a broad spectrum of carbonyl-containing compounds, displaying highest specific activity for SSA, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, pyridine-3-aldehyde, pyridine-4-aldehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, phenylglyoxal, methylglyoxal, 2,3-hexanedione, 1,2-NQ, 16-ketoestrone and D-glucuronic acid. Comparison between the kinetic properties of AKR7A2 and AKR1A1 showed that both recombinant enzymes exhibited roughly similar kcat/Km values for SSA, 1,2-NQ and 16-ketoestrone. Many of the compounds which are substrates for AKR1A1 also serve as substrates for AKR1B1, though the latter enzyme was shown to display a specific activity significantly less than that of AKR1A1 for most of the aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes studied. Neither AKR1C1 nor AKR1C4 was found to possess high reductase activity towards aliphatic aldehydes, aromatic aldehydes, aldoses or dicarbonyls. However, unlike AKR1A1 and AKR1B1, both AKR1C1 and AKR1C4 were able to catalyse the oxidation of 1-acenaphthenol and, in addition, AKR1C4 could oxidize di- and tri-hydroxylated bile acids. Specific antibodies raised against AKR7A2, AKR1A1, AKR1B1, AKR1C1 and AKR1C4 have been used to show the presence of all of the reductases in human hepatic cytosol; the levels of AKR1B1 and AKR1C1 were markedly elevated in livers with alcohol-associated injury, and indeed AKR1B1 was only detectable in livers with evidence of alcoholic liver disease. Western blotting of extracts from brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, prostate, skeletal muscle, small intestine, spleen and testis showed that AKR7A2 is present in all of the organs examined, and AKR1B1 is similarly widely distributed in human tissues. These experiments revealed however, that the expression of AKR1A1 is restricted primarily to brain, kidney, liver and small intestine. The AKR1C family members proved not to be as widely expressed as the other reductases, with AKR1C1 being observed in only kidney, liver and testis, and AKR1C4 being found in liver alone. As human kidney is a rich source of AKR, the isoenzymes in this organ have been studied further. Anion-exchange chromatography of human renal cytosol on Q-Sepharose allowed resolution of AKR1A1, AKR1B1, AKR1C1 and AKR7A2, as identified by substrate specificity and Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry of human kidney demonstrated that AKR7A2 is expressed in a similar fashion to the AKR1 family members in proximal and distal convoluted renal tubules. Furthermore, both AKR7A2 and AKR1 members were expressed in renal carcinoma cells, suggesting that these groups of isoenzymes may be engaged in related physiological functions.

scholarly journals Substrate specificity of an aflatoxin-metabolizing aldehyde reductase

1995 ◽  
Vol 312 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M Ellis ◽  
J D Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
High Activity ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Succinic Semialdehyde ◽  
Aldehyde Reductase ◽  
Aliphatic Aldehydes ◽  
Alpha Beta ◽  
Low Activity

The enzyme from rat liver that reduces aflatoxin B1-dialdehyde exhibits a unique catalytic specificity distinct from that of other aldo-keto reductases. This enzyme, designated AFAR, displays high activity towards dicarbonyl-containing compounds with ketone groups on adjacent carbon atoms; 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, acenaphthenequinone and camphorquinone were found to be good substrates. Although AFAR can also reduce aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes such as succinic semialdehyde, it is inactive with glucose, galactose and xylose. The enzyme also exhibits low activity towards alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl-containing compounds. Determination of the apparent Km reveals that AFAR has highest affinity for 9,10-phenanthrenequinone and succinic semialdehyde, and low affinity for glyoxal and DL-glyceraldehyde.

scholarly journals LASS3 (longevity assurance homologue 3) is a mainly testis-specific (dihydro)ceramide synthase with relatively broad substrate specificity

2006 ◽  
Vol 398 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukiko Mizutani ◽  
Akio Kihara ◽  
Yasuyuki Igarashi
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Ceramide Synthase ◽  
Broad Substrate Specificity ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Amino Acid Protein

The LASS (longevity assurance homologue) family members are highly conserved from yeasts to mammals. Five mouse and human LASS family members, namely LASS1, LASS2, LASS4, LASS5 and LASS6, have been identified and characterized. In the present study we cloned two transcriptional variants of hitherto-uncharacterized mouse LASS3 cDNA, which encode a 384-amino-acid protein (LASS3) and a 419-amino-acid protein (LASS3-long). In vivo, [3H]dihydrosphingosine labelling and electrospray-ionization MS revealed that overproduction of either LASS3 isoform results in increases in several ceramide species, with some preference toward those having middle- to long-chain-fatty acyl-CoAs. A similar substrate preference was observed in an in vitro (dihydro)ceramide synthase assay. These results indicate that LASS3 possesses (dihydro)ceramide synthesis activity with relatively broad substrate specificity. We also found that, except for a weak display in skin, LASS3 mRNA expression is limited almost solely to testis, implying that LASS3 plays an important role in this gland.

scholarly journals The regulation of phosphate-activated glutaminase activity and glutamine metabolism in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat

1984 ◽  
Vol 224 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Watford ◽  
E M Smith ◽  
E J Erbelding
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Small Intestine ◽  
Glutamine Metabolism ◽  
Diabetic Rat ◽  
Complete Suppression ◽  
Chemically Induced ◽  
Phosphate Activated Glutaminase ◽  
Kidney Liver ◽  
Nh4cl Solution ◽  
Glutaminase Activity

The activity of phosphate-activated glutaminase was increased in the kidney, liver and small intestine of rats made diabetic for 6 days with injection of streptozotocin (75 mg/kg body wt.). Insulin prevented this increase in all three tissues. Treatment with NaHCO3, to correct the acidosis that accompanies diabetes, prevented the increase in renal glutaminase activity, but not that in liver or small intestine. Chemically induced acidosis (NH4Cl solution as drinking water) or alkalosis (NaHCO3 solution as drinking water) increased and decreased, respectively, glutaminase activity in the kidney, but were without significant effect on the activity in liver and small intestine. The increase in glutaminase activity in the small intestine during diabetes was due to an overall increase in the size of this organ, and was only detectable when activity was expressed in terms of whole organ, not mucosal scrapings or isolated enterocytes. Prolonged diabetes (40 days) resulted in an even greater increase in the size and glutaminase activity of the small intestine. Despite this marked increase in capacity for glutamine catabolism, arteriovenous-difference measurements showed a complete suppression of plasma glutamine utilization by the small intestine during diabetes, confirming the report by Brosnan, Man, Hall, Colbourne & Brosnan [(1983) Am. J. Physiol. 235, E261-E265].

scholarly journals A Spacer Sequence Inserted between the A1 and A2 Domains of Factor VIII Overcomes the Requirement for Proteolytic Cleavage at Arg 372 in the Generation of Cofactor Activity

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 21-21
Author(s):  
Manjunath Goolyam Basavaraj ◽  
Sriram Krishnaswamy
Keyword(s):  
Factor Viii ◽  
Western Blotting ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Factor X ◽  
Physiological Concentration ◽  
Proteolytic Activation ◽  
Linker Sequence ◽  
One Stage ◽  
Cofactor Activity

Factor VIII (FVIII) with a multi-domain structure (A1-a1-A2-a2-B-a3-A3-C1-C2) is a procofactor and precursor for the anti-hemophilic cofactor protein, FVIIIa. Following the intracellular processing within the B domain, secreted FVIII circulates as a heterodimer with variably sized (90K-200K) heavy chain (A1-a1-A2-a2-B) and an 80K light chain (a3-A3-C1-C2). Proteolytic activation of FVIII by thrombin that yields heterotrimeric FVIIIa (A1-a1/A2-a2/A3-C1-C2), the cofactor for intrinsic tenase, involves cleavage of three peptide bonds between Arg372-Ser373, Arg740-Ser741, and Arg1689-Ser1690. Cleavage at Arg740 removes the B-domain, and cleavage at Arg1689 removes the a3-acidic region and releases FVIII from vWF, its carrier protein, and exposes membrane binding sites within the FVIII light chain. Cleavage at Arg372 separates A1-a1 and A2-a2 domains and is implicated in the cofactor-dependent recognition and enhancement in the rate of factor X (FX) activation by intrinsic tenase. Subsequently, the separated A2-a2 domain dissociates spontaneously from the heterotrimeric FVIIIa resulting in the rapid loss of cofactor activity. We speculated that the requirement for cleavage at Arg372 might be obviated by the insertion of an optimized linker sequence between A1-a1 and A2-a2 domains on an uncleavable Gln372 backbone. To investigate this possibility, we prepared cDNA constructs of B-domain deleted FVIII variants; FVIII wild-type (FVIIIWT), FVIII372Q, and FVIII372Q followed by a rigid (Ala-Pro)5 linker sequence (FVIII372Q-AP5). All three FVIII constructs were stably transfected into BHK cells and high expressing clones were selected by one stage aPTT and western blotting of expression media. Selected stable clones were further expanded to collect 15L of expression media over 5-day period, and recombinant FVIII variants were purified using a three-step chromatographic approach. These FVIII variants were studied using SDS-PAGE, western blotting, aPTT assays, thrombin generation assay (TGA) and purified assays to assess kinetics of FX activation and spontaneous loss of cofactor activity. In contrast to FVIIIWT, FVIII372Q and FVIII372Q-AP5 were completely resistant to cleavage at Gln372 by thrombin, yielding bands corresponding to A1-a1-A2-a2 (90K) and A3-C1-C2 (73K). In one stage aPTT assays, FVIII372Q showed prolonged clotting times with specific activity in the range of 200-400 U/mg, while FVIIIWT and FVIII372Q-AP5 displayed comparable clotting times with specific activities ranging between 8000-10000 U/mg and 4500-5500 U/mg, respectively. In TGA initiated with either 0.1 pM tissue factor or 1 pM factor XIa, both FVIIIWT and FVIII372Q-AP5 displayed similar TGA profiles. In steady state kinetic studies of FX activation using limiting concentrations of factor IXa, saturating concentrations of FVIII variants pretreated with thrombin, membranes and increasing concentrations of FX, the cofactor function of thrombin-cleaved FVIII372Q was severely impaired. However, despite lack of cleavage at Gln372 in FVIII372Q-AP5, catalytic efficiency for FX activation by intrinsic tenase assembled by this variant was comparable to that seen with FVIIIaWT. At the physiological concentration of FX, the initial velocity for Xa formation (v/E) for intrinsic tenase assembled with FVIIIa372Q-AP5 was within a factor of 2 of that observed with FVIIIaWT while the rate observed with FVIIIa372Q was >10-fold lower. Following rapid activation with thrombin, loss of cofactor function was significantly slower for FVIIIa372Q-AP5(t1/2 ~ 10 min) compared to FVIIIaWT (t1/2 ~ 2 min). Our findings indicate that the requirement for cleavage at Arg372 for the development of full FVIIIa cofactor function can be overcome by modulating the A1-A2 connector with an optimized linker sequence. Failure to yield an infinitely stable cofactor in the case of FVIIIa372Q-AP5 suggests that cleavage at Arg372 does not solely explain the spontaneous loss of FVIIIa cofactor function. Disclosures Krishnaswamy: Bayer: Research Funding.

THE EFFECT OF FASTING ON DISACCHARIDASE ACTIVITY IN THE RAT SMALL INTESTINE

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
L. K. McNeill ◽  
J. R. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Lactase Activity ◽  
Childhood Diseases ◽  
Mucosal Protein ◽  
And Function ◽  
Fasted Rats

We assessed intestinal structure, mucosal epithelial kinetics, and disaccharidase activities after fasting. Rats fasted for up to 120 hours were compared with control rats fed ad libitum. All rats had free access to water and all were prevented from ingesting their own stools. Body weight, small intestinal weight and mucosal protein, and maltase and sucrase activity of the total small intestine decreased in fasted rats. Lactase activity did not decrease. Specific activity of lactase actually increased in the jejunum. Assessed after a 96-hour fast, jejunal villi were shortened with less epithelial cells along their length and the rate of migration of those cells along the villi was diminished in the fasted rats compared with control rats. We attribute the decreased total intestinal sucrase and maltase activities to a loss of total epithelial cell mass in the small bowel. An abnormality in the cells of the progenitor zone of the crypts is suggested by the decreased migration rate of mucosal epithelial cells in fasting rats. These factors do not explain our observations completely since lactase activity did not diminish. We postulate that the activity of the "acid" β-galactosidase located in the cytoplasm or lysosomes of the epithelial cells was stimulated by fasting. Our observations are relevant to clinical pediatrics. Undernutrition and fasting my be associated with many childhood diseases and with treatment of disease. In assessing clinical data and advising treatment, the pediatrician should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of starvation on intestinal structure and function.

scholarly journals The Interaction of Hemoglobin E With β Thalassemia: A Study of Hemoglobin Synthesis in a Family of Mixed Burmese and Iranian Origin

Blood ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 783-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Feldman ◽  
Ronald F. Rieder
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Hemoglobin F ◽  
Hemoglobin E ◽  
Hemoglobin Synthesis ◽  
Abnormal Hemoglobin ◽  
Thalassemia Trait ◽  
Mixed Origin

Abstract A 5-yr-old girl with hemoglobin E-β thalassemia was discovered in a family of mixed origin. The father is Iranian (β-thalassemia trait) and the mother is Burmese (hemoglobin-E trait). Hemoglobin synthesis was studied in vitro in the blood of the proposita and family members. In the subjects with hemoglobin E trait the ratio of the quantity of hemoglobin A to hemoglobin E was 3:1. However. the βA/βE synthesis ratio in reticulocytes was in the range of 1.5-2.18, and the specific activity of βE was 31%-49% greater than βA, suggesting instability of hemoglobin E with preferential destruction of abnormal hemoglobin. The blood of the proposita exhibited only hemoglobin F and hemoglobin E and reticulocytes and bone marrow showed no βA synthesis. This Iranian β-thalassemia gene is therefore of the β° type. The βE/α synthesis ratio (approximately 0.74) in blood of the proposita was similar to the βA/α ratio in mildly affected relatives with thalassemia trait. These results suggest that the severity of the hemoglobin E-β thalassemia syndrome is attributable to both instability and defective synthesis of hemoglobin E in association with absent βA synthesis due to a β° thalassemia gene.

Cloning of the human kidney PAH transporter: narrow substrate specificity and regulation by protein kinase C

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. F295-F303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Run Lu ◽  
Brenda S. Chan ◽  
Victor L. Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Proximal Tubule ◽  
Organic Anion ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Chromosome 11 ◽  
Kinase C

Conserved from fish to mammals, renal proximal tubule organic anion secretion plays an important role in drug and xenobiotic elimination. Studies with the model substrate p-aminohippurate (PAH) have suggested that a basolateral PAH/α-ketoglutarate exchanger imports diverse organic substrates into the proximal tubule prior to apical secretion. cDNAs encoding PAH transporters have been cloned recently from rat and flounder. Here we report the cloning of a highly similar human PAH transporter (hPAHT) from human kidney. By Northern blot analysis and EST database searching, hPAHT mRNA was detected in kidney and brain. PCR-based monochromosomal somatic cell hybrid mapping placed the hPAHT gene on chromosome 11. When expressed transiently in vitro, hPAHT catalyzed time-dependent and saturable [3H]PAH uptake ( K m of ∼5 μM). Preincubation with unlabeled α-ketoglutaric or with glutaric acid stimulated tracer PAH uptake, and preincubation with unlabeled PAH stimulated tracer α-ketoglutarate uptake, results that are consistent with PAH/α-ketoglutarate exchange. Several structurally diverse organic anions cis-inhibited PAH uptake. Like rat OAT1 organic anion transporter, hPAHT was inhibited by furosemide, indomethacin, probenecid, and α-ketoglutarate. Unlike OAT1, hPAHT was not inhibited by prostaglandins or methotrexate (MTX). Moreover, tracer PGE2 and MTX were not transported, indicating that the substrate specificity for transport by hPAHT is not broad. PAH uptake was inhibited by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, but not by the inactive 4α-phorbol-12,13 didecanoate. PMA-induced inhibition was blocked by staurosporine. Thus the protein kinase C-mediated inhibition of basolateral organic anion entry previously reported in intact tubules is likely due, at least in part, to direct modulation of the PAH/α-ketoglutarate exchanger.

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