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Query: EC:1.5.1.3 (
dihydrofolate reductase
)
5,819
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Folic acid metabolism in eukaryotic cells consists of a network of enzymatic reactions in which 1-carbon (C1) units at three different oxidation states are 1) interconverted while linked to the 5- and/or 10-positions of tetrahydrofolate, or 2) added to, or taken from, tetrahydrofolate. Particularly important in the latter category are reactions involving C1-tetrahydrofolate adducts in the synthesis of inosinate, thymidylate, serine, and
methionine
. Tetrahydrofolate, a central component of the network, can be generated from: 1) folate, via the NADPH-dependent
dihydrofolate reductase
; 2) 5-methyltetrahydrofolate via the methyl B12-dependent
methionine
synthetase; or 3) 5-formyltetrahydrofolate via a sequence of reactions beginning with the ATP-dependent isomerization to 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate or via transfer of the formyl group to glutamate. Because of the close relationship of folic acid metabolism to cell replication, folate-dependent enzymes provide excellent targets for cancer chemotherapy. This potential has not yet been realized, however, except for
dihydrofolate reductase
and thymidylate synthetase, which are strongly inhibited by the anti-cancer agents methotrexate (MTX) and FUra. The following enzymes are particularly attractive as targets for future exploitation in chemotherapy: 1) the two transformylases involved in purine nucleotide synthesis, 2) serine hydroxymethyltransferase, 3)
methionine
synthetase, and 4) methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase. Suggestions are also made for the development of new agents based upon a strategy of enzyme-targeted chemotherapy.
...
PMID:Folic acid metabolism and its disruption by pharmacologic agents. 312 3
The goals of new antifolate development are: 1) improved selectivity, 2) improved penetration into pharmacologic sanctuaries, and 3) effectiveness vs. tumors either with intrinsic or acquired resistance to methotrexate (MTX). The major target for antifolate development has been
dihydrofolate reductase
(
DHFR
), but other critical folate-dependent enzymes, i.e., thymidylate synthase,
methionine
synthetase, and folylpolyglutamate synthetase are also important targets for new antifolate development. The possibility that
DHFR
from tumor tissue differs significantly from normal tissue
DHFR
now seems improbable, and the ideas of the late Bill Baker to design specific inhibitors of the tumor enzyme vs. the normal tissue
DHFR
are unlikely to succeed. However, the experience with triazinate (Baker's antifol; TZT) indicates that transport of antifols could be exploited to provide selective toxicity, as well as to provide agents effective vs. MTX-resistant cells. This work led to a second generation of "nonclassical" folate antagonists, of which trimetrexate (JB-11; TMQ) is now in clinical trial. Uptake of TMQ is via an MTX-independent membrane system, and extremely high intracellular levels of this drug are achieved in human leukemia cells.
...
PMID:Design and rationale for novel antifolates. 343 93
The cleavage of reductively alkylated rat liver dihydropteridine reductase with cyanogen bromide afforded a mixture of peptides, six of which (CB-1 to CB-6) were isolated and purified by C8 reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Portions of peptides CB-1, CB-4, and CB-6 were sequenced by automated Edman degradation and high performance liquid chromatography and the carboxyl-terminal region by conventional procedures. Further proteolytic digestion of CB-6 and isolation of the products afforded a seven-amino acid peptide. A low degeneracy probe comprising 20 nucleotides was synthesized from the sequence of this peptide and was used to screen a rat liver cDNA expression library constructed in the vector lambda gt 10. Positive clones were isolated, and detailed examination of five of these by restriction endonucleases and dideoxy sequence analyses allowed identification of the entire coding region for dihydropteridine reductase. The gene was found to code for a protein of 240 amino acids (excluding the
methionine
initiator) of Mr = 25,420. Each of the sequences corresponding to the peptides CB-1, CB-4, CB-6, and the carboxyl terminus were identified in the deduced protein sequence. The rat enzyme is highly homologous to the human dihydropteridine reductase; the two proteins differ in only 10 amino acids, and all are conservative substitutions. In contrast, the sequence shows little homology with that of mammalian
dihydrofolate reductase
: reduced pyridine nucleotide-requiring enzymes with superficial mechanistic similarities.
...
PMID:Structural studies and isolation of cDNA clones providing the complete sequence of rat liver dihydropteridine reductase. 368 Feb 58
Exposure to nitrous oxide interferes selectively with the coenzyme function of vitamin B12 and causes inactivation of
methionine
synthetase, with subsequent impairment of folate metabolism and reduction of cellular proliferation. In a rat leukemia model (BNML) we investigated the combined administration of nitrous oxide, inactivating vitamin B12, and methotrexate (MTX), a folate antagonist inhibiting the enzyme
dihydrofolate reductase
. Through different mechanisms, both agents decrease the availability of tetrahydrofolate, and subsequently of other reduced folates, with increased impairment of folate-dependent synthesis of thymidylate. Effects on leukemic growth and on hematological values in rats demonstrated enhancement of the therapeutic effect of MTX by exposure to nitrous oxide. With several treatment schedules, the results of combined treatment were seen to be better than additive when compared with the effects of single agents. In particular, pretreatment of leukemic rats with nitrous oxide for 3 days before administration of MTX appeared effective. With higher doses of MTX, concomitant exposure to nitrous oxide even resulted in toxic effects. These findings were in accordance with the results of some metabolic studies performed in leukemic rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
...
PMID:Enhanced therapeutic effect of methotrexate in experimental rat leukemia after inactivation of cobalamin (vitamin B12) by nitrous oxide. 371 92
Biologically active bovine luteinizing hormone (LH) has been obtained through expression of the alpha- and LH beta-subunit genes in stably transformed clones of DUXB11, a Chinese hamster ovary cell line deficient in
dihydrofolate reductase
(
DHFR
). Expression of alpha-and LH beta-subunit mRNAs of the expected sizes (approximately 910 and 770 nucleotides, respectively) were revealed by blot analysis after electrophoresis of total cellular RNA. Furthermore, presence or absence of the gonadotropin mRNAs in several clonal lines was directly correlated with the appearance of one or both bovine LH subunits in the culture medium. Media from three clones secreting significant immunoreactive levels of both subunits also stimulated the release of progesterone in ovine luteal cells, suggesting that the secreted LH was assembled into a biologically active and glycosylated dimer. Immunoprecipitation and NaDodSO4/PAGE of [35S]
methionine
-labeled proteins secreted from one of the clones, CHODLH20, further confirmed the presence of an alpha/beta dimer with apparent subunit molecular weights of 20,500 and 16,000, only slightly higher than those of pituitary alpha and LH beta subunits.
...
PMID:Expression of biologically active bovine luteinizing hormone in Chinese hamster ovary cells. 386 59
A strain of Escherichia coli was isolated in which
dihydrofolate reductase
was not detected by an enzyme assay or by competition for antibody. This strain requires
methionine
, glycine, a purine, and thymidine for growth in addition to the auxotrophic requirements of the parent strain. It was found to be useful as a recipient of plasmids harboring
dihydrofolate reductase
genes.
...
PMID:Isolation of a dihydrofolate reductase-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli. 390 45
Strategies that are selective for eradicating methotrexate resistant cells are described. These strategies have been developed based on knowledge of the mechanism of drug resistance encountered in experimental systems and in the clinic. Drug resistance to methotrexate in experimental tumors is commonly due to either gene amplification (
dihydrofolate reductase
) or to impaired transport of methotrexate. While no effective drugs or methods to prevent gene amplification have been described, the concept of developing "pro drugs", i.e. a drug that is selectively reduced by
dihydrofolate reductase
to an inhibitor of another critical folate enzyme (thymidylate synthase,
methionine
synthetase, folylpolyglutamate synthetase) remains worthwhile. Second generation antifolates such as trimetrexate which are effective vs methotrexate transport resistant cells have already been developed and are in clinical trial.
...
PMID:Methotrexate resistant cells as targets for selective chemotherapy. 391 86
The susceptibility of various species to methanol toxicity is inversely related to the rate of tetrahydrofolate (H4folate)-dependent formate oxidation to carbon dioxide. Thus, the levels of various folate derivatives and folate-dependent enzyme activities present in the livers of monkeys, which are sensitive to methanol, and rats, which are not, were compared in order to investigate the biochemical basis of this species difference. Hepatic H4folate levels in monkeys were 60% of those in rats, and formylated-H4folate derivatives were 2-fold higher in monkeys than in rats. No significant difference between monkeys and rats in the levels of total hepatic folate or 5-methyl-H4folate was observed. The activities of formyl-H4folate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.3) and formyl-H4folate dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.1.6) were 4- and 2-fold higher, respectively, in monkeys than in rats. There was no significant difference between monkeys and rats in
methionine
synthetase activity (EC 2.1.1.13). Dihydrofolate reductase activity (
EC 1.5.1.3
) in monkeys was 20% of that in rats. 5,10-Methylene-H4folate reductase (NADPH) activity (EC 1.1.1.171) in monkeys was 40% and 25% of that in rats when the rates of the forward and reverse reactions, respectively, were compared. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity (EC 2.1.2.1) was 2-fold higher in monkeys than in rats. The differences in the activities of methylene-H4folate reductase and serine hydroxymethyl-transferase between monkeys and rats may have contributed to the difference in hepatic H4folate levels. The 40% lower level of hepatic H4folate in monkeys, as compared to rats, relates well to the 50% lower maximal rate of formate oxidation in monkeys. Thus, the species difference in susceptibility to methanol may be explained by the difference in the level of hepatic H4folate.
...
PMID:Role of hepatic tetrahydrofolate in the species difference in methanol toxicity. 392 81
1. A study was made of the effects of injected l-
methionine
on the activity of several enzymes of folate metabolism, and on the transport of methotrexate in liver preparations from vitamin B(12)-deficient ewes and their pair-fed controls receiving vitamin B(12). 2. The activities of
dihydrofolate reductase
(
EC 1.5.1.3
) and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine transmethylase were significantly decreased in the liver of vitamin B(12)-deficient animals, but were unaffected by l-
methionine
. 3. The concentration of S-adenosyl-l-
methionine
in the liver of deficient animals was about one-half of that in normal animals, and was restored to normal by either vitamin B(12) or l-
methionine
. 4. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (EC 1.1.1.68) from sheep liver was inhibited by S-adenosyl-l-
methionine
in vitro, but not by concentrations of S-adenosyl-l-
methionine
found in the liver of vitamin B(12)-deficient animals after injection of physiological amounts of l-
methionine
. 5. Pteroylpolyglutamate synthetase activity was significantly increased in the liver of vitamin B(12)-deficient animals, and was decreased by intravenous injections of l-
methionine
. 6. l-
Methionine
injections increased the initial rate of uptake of methotrexate in liver slices from deficient animals and acted synergistically with vitamin B(12) to increase the quantity taken up in 40min. The failure of folate metabolism in vitamin B(12) deficiency can be satisfactorily explained if l-
methionine
similarly affects the membrane transport of naturally occurring folates. 7. Further details of the results have been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50028 (4 pages) at the British Library (Lending Division), (formerly the National Lending Library for Science and Technology), Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies may be obtained on the terms given in Biochem. J. (1973) 131, 5.
...
PMID:Folic acid metabolism in vitamin B12-deficient sheep. Effects of injected methionine on methotrexate transport and the activity of enzymes associated with folate metabolism in liver. 415 90
The regulation of serine transhydroxymethylase (EC 2.1.2.1.; l-serine:tetrahydrofolic-5,10-hydroxymethyltransferase) has been investigated in Salmonella typhimurium LT2. Our results indicate that limitation of a
methionine
auxotroph for
methionine
does not cause derepression of this enzyme as reported for Escherichia coli. However, a sixfold decrease in specific activity was observed when S. typhimurium cells were grown in glucose minimal medium supplemented with serine, glycine,
methionine
, adenine, guanine, and thymine. None of these compounds added to the growth medium individually produced more than a 42% reduction of wild-type enzyme activity. This enhanced repression by the combination of compounds suggests a form of cumulative repression of this enzyme. Growth of serine and thymine auxotrophs, with the respective requirement of each limiting, did not result in increased enzyme activity. However, growth of a purine auxotroph with a limiting amount of either guanine or inosine resulted in a five- to sevenfold increase in enzyme activity. A second condition causing significant derepression (fourfold increase) above the levels observed with cells grown in minimal medium was the addition of 0.5 mug of trimethoprim per ml, an inhibitor of the
dihydrofolate reductase
activity. (A partial report on this work was presented at 1974 meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.)
...
PMID:Regulation of serine transhydroxymethylase activity in Salmonella typhimurium. 437 34
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