Kinetics of oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic thiols by myeloperoxidase compounds I and II.
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Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is the most abundant protein in neutrophils and plays a central role in microbial killing and inflammatory tissue damage. Because most of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs contain a thiol group, it is necessary to understand how these substrates are oxidized by MPO. We have performed transient kinetic measurements to study the oxidation of 14 aliphatic and aromatic mono- and dithiols by the MPO intermediates, Compound I (k3) and Compound II (k4), using sequential mixing stopped-flow techniques. The one-electron reduction of Compound I by aromatic thiols (e.g. methimidazole, 2-mercaptopurine and 6-mercaptopurine) varied by less than a factor of seven (between 1.39 +/- 0.12 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and 9.16 +/- 1.63 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), whereas reduction by aliphatic thiols was demonstrated to depend on their overall net charge and hydrophobic character and not on the percentage of thiol deprotonation or redox potential. Cysteamine, cysteine methyl ester, cysteine ethyl ester and alpha-lipoic acid showed k3 values comparable to aromatic thiols, whereas a free carboxy group (e.g. cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione) diminished k3 dramatically. The one-electron reduction of Compound II was far more constrained by the nature of the substrate. Reduction by methimidazole, 2-mercaptopurine and 6-mercaptopurine showed second-order rate constants (k4) of 1.33 +/- 0.08 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1), 5.25 +/- 0.07 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and 3.03 +/- 0.07 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). Even at high concentrations cysteine, penicillamine and glutathione could not reduce Compound II, whereas cysteamine (4.27 +/- 0.05 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)), cysteine methyl ester (8.14 +/- 0.08 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)), cysteine ethyl ester (3.76 +/- 0.17 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)) and alpha-lipoic acid (4.78 +/- 0.07 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)) were demonstrated to reduce Compound II and thus could be expected to be oxidized by MPO without co-substrates. (+info)
Photosystem I, an improved model of the stromal subunits PsaC, PsaD, and PsaE.
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An improved electron density map of photosystem I (PSI) calculated at 4-A resolution yields a more detailed structural model of the stromal subunits PsaC, PsaD, and PsaE than previously reported. The NMR structure of the subunit PsaE of PSI from Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 (Falzone, C. J., Kao, Y.-H., Zhao, J., Bryant, D. A., and Lecomte, J. T. J. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 6052-6062) has been used as a model to interpret the region of the electron density map corresponding to this subunit. The spatial orientation with respect to other subunits is described as well as the possible interactions between the stromal subunits. A first model of PsaD consisting of a four-stranded beta-sheet and an alpha-helix is suggested, indicating that this subunit partly shields PsaC from the stromal side. In addition to the improvements on the stromal subunits, the structural model of the membrane-integral region of PSI is also extended. The current electron density map allows the identification of the N and C termini of the subunits PsaA and PsaB. The 11-transmembrane alpha-helices of these subunits can now be assigned uniquely to the hydrophobic segments identified by hydrophobicity analyses. (+info)
Localization of two phylloquinones, QK and QK', in an improved electron density map of photosystem I at 4-A resolution.
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An improved electron density map of photosystem I from Synechococcus elongatus calculated at 4-A resolution for the first time reveals a second phylloquinone molecule and thereby completes the set of cofactors constituting the electron transfer system of this iron-sulfur type photosynthetic reaction center: six chlorophyll a, two phylloquinones, and three Fe4S4 clusters. The location of the newly identified phylloquinone pair, the individual plane orientations of these molecules, and the resulting distances to other cofactors of the electron transfer system are discussed and compared with those determined by magnetic resonance techniques. (+info)
Structural basis for paramyxovirus-mediated membrane fusion.
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Paramyxoviruses are responsible for significant human mortality and disease worldwide, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their entry into host cells remain poorly understood. We have solved the crystal structure of a fragment of the simian parainfluenza virus 5 fusion protein (SV5 F), revealing a 96 A long coiled coil surrounded by three antiparallel helices. This structure places the fusion and transmembrane anchor of SV5 F in close proximity with a large intervening domain at the opposite end of the coiled coil. Six amino acids, potentially part of the fusion peptide, form a segment of the central coiled coil, suggesting that this structure extends into the membrane. Deletion mutants of SV5 F indicate that putative flexible tethers between the coiled coil and the viral membrane are dispensable for fusion. The lack of flexible tethers may couple a final conformational change in the F protein directly to the fusion of two bilayers. (+info)
Secondary radicals derived from chloramines of apolipoprotein B-100 contribute to HOCl-induced lipid peroxidation of low-density lipoproteins.
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Oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is thought to contribute to atherogenesis. Although there is increasing evidence for a role of myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants such as hypochlorite (HOCl), the mechanism by which HOCl modifies LDL remains controversial. Some studies report the protein component to be the major site of attack, whereas others describe extensive lipid peroxidation. The present study addresses this controversy. The results obtained are consistent with the hypothesis that radical-induced oxidation of LDL's lipids by HOCl is a secondary reaction, with most HOCl consumed via rapid, non-radical reaction with apolipoprotein B-100. Subsequent incubation of HOCl-treated LDL gives rise to lipid peroxidation and antioxidant consumption in a time-dependent manner. Similarly, with myeloperoxidase/H2O2/Cl- (the source of HOCl in vivo), protein oxidation is rapid and followed by an extended period of lipid peroxidation during which further protein oxidation does not occur. The secondary lipid peroxidation process involves EPR-detectable radicals, is attenuated by a radical trap or treatment of HOCl-oxidized LDL with methionine, and occurs less rapidly when the lipoprotein was depleted of alpha-tocopherol. The initial reaction of low concentrations of HOCl (400-fold or 800-fold molar excess) with LDL therefore seems to occur primarily by two-electron reactions with side-chain sites on apolipoprotein B-100. Some of the initial reaction products, identified as lysine-residue-derived chloramines, subsequently undergo homolytic (one-electron) reactions to give radicals that initiate antioxidant consumption and lipid oxidation via tocopherol-mediated peroxidation. The identification of these chloramines, and the radicals derived from them, as initiating agents in LDL lipid peroxidation offers potential new targets for antioxidative therapy in atherogenesis. (+info)
MgATP-independent hydrogen evolution catalysed by nitrogenase: an explanation for the missing electron(s) in the MgADP-AlF4 transition-state complex.
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When the MoFe (Kp1) and Fe (Kp2) component proteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase are incubated with MgADP and AlF4(-) in the presence of dithionite as a reducing agent, a stable putative transition-state complex is produced [Yousafzai and Eady (1997) Biochem. J. 326, 637-640]. Surprisingly, the EPR signal associated with reduced Kp2 is not detectable, but Kp1 retains the S=3/2 EPR signal arising from the dithionite reduced state of the MoFe cofactor centre of the protein. This is consistent with the [Fe4S4] centre of the Fe protein in the complex being oxidized, and similar observations have been made with the complex of Azotobacter vinelandii [Spee, Arendsen, Wassink, Marritt, Hagen and Haaker (1998) FEBS Lett. 432, 55-58]. No satisfactory explanation for the fate of the electrons lost by Kp2 has been forthcoming. However, we report here that during the preparation of the MgADP-AlF4 K. pneumoniae complex under argon, H2 was evolved in amounts corresponding to one half of the FeMoco content of the Kp1 (FeMoco is the likely catalytic site of nitrogenase with a composition Mo:Fe7:S9:homocitrate). This is surprising, since activity is observed during incubation in the absence of MgATP, normally regarded as being essential for nitrogenase function, and in the presence of MgADP, a strong competitive inhibitor of nitrogenase. The formation of H2 by nitrogenase in the absence of AlF4(-) was also observed in reaction mixtures containing MgADP but not MgATP. The reaction showed saturation kinetics when Kp1 was titrated with increasing amounts of Kp2 and, at saturation, the amount of H2 formed was stoichiometric with the FeMoco content of Kp1. The dependence of the rate of formation of H2 on [MgADP] was inconsistent with the activity arising from MgATP contamination. We conclude that MgATP is not obligatory for H+ reduction by nitrogenase since MgADP supports a very low rate of hydrogen evolution. (+info)
Molecular ion fragmentation and its effects on mass isotopomer abundances of fatty acid methyl esters ionized by electron impact.
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We have analyzed the isotopomer abundance ratios of an equimolar mixture of nine fatty acid methyl esters (decanoate, undecanoate, laurate, tridecanoate, myristate, pentadecanoate, palmitate, heptadecanoate, and stearate) by selected-ion monitoring gas chromatography/electron impact/mass spectrometry (GC/EI/MS). The abundance of the second lowest m/z isotopomer (IM1) increased disproportionately compared with the abundance of the lowest m/z isotopomer (IM0) as a function of: (1) increasing sample size; (2) decreasing repeller voltage; and (3) decreasing alkyl chain length. We also compared the abundance of the third lowest m/z isotopomer (IM2) and the abundance of the second lowest m/z isotopomer (IM1) of methyl palmitate and [4,4-2H2]methyl palmitate. We observed that the IM2/IM1 for methyl palmitate was significantly lower than IM2/IM1 for [4,4-2H2]methyl palmitate. From these results, as well as a consideration of basic principles of ion chemistry and ion physics, we conclude that gas-phase chemistry, specifically proton (or deuteron) transfer from fragment ions to molecules, is a major contributor to the sample size dependence observed in mass isotopomer abundance measurements of fatty acid methyl esters ionized by EI. Our results and analysis do not support hydrogen abstraction as the reaction mechanism. In addition, we calculate that rearranged molecular ions are unlikely to contribute significantly to intermolecular proton transfer because of their relatively brief lifetime. We also discuss alternative analytical techniques which might improve the precision and accuracy of isotopomer measurements by reducing molecular ion fragmentation. (+info)
Kinetic evidence for the formation of a Michaelis-Menten-like complex between horseradish peroxidase compound II and di-(N-acetyl-L-tyrosine).
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The formation of a reversible adsorption complex between a dimer of N-acetyl-L-tyrosine [di-(N-acetyl-L-tyrosine), (NAT)2] and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) compound II (CII) was demonstrated using a kinetic approach. A specific KIIm value (0.58 mM) was deduced for this step from stopped-flow measurements. The dimerization of the dipeptide Gly-Tyr was analysed at the steady state and compared with (NAT)2 dimerization [(NAT)2-->(NAT)4]. A saturation of the enzyme was observed for both substrates within their range of solubility. In each case the rate of dimerization reflected the rate-limiting step of compound II reduction to the native HRP (E) (kappcat/Kappm approximately kII-->E). The kappcat values for (Gly-Tyr)2 and (NAT)4 formation were 254 s-1 and 3.6 s-1 respectively. The KappM value of Gly-Tyr was 24 mM. It was observed that the value (0.7 mM) for (NAT)2 was close both to its specific KIIm value for the second step of reduction (CII-->E) and to its thermodynamic dissociation constant (Kd=0.7 mM) with the resting form of the enzyme. As (NAT)2 was a tighter ligand but a poorer substrate than Gly-Tyr, a steady-state kinetic study was performed in the presence of both substrates. A kinetic model which includes an enzyme-substrate adsorption prior to each of the two steps of reduction was derived. This one agreed reasonably well with the experimental data. (+info)