Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P30044 (antioxidant enzyme)
 8,037 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is the homodimeric flavoenzyme that catalyzes reduction of thioredoxin disulfide (Trx). For Plasmodium falciparum, a causative agent of tropical malaria, TrxR is an essential protein which has been validated as a drug target. The high-throughput screening of 350000 compounds has identified Mannich bases as a new class of TrxR mechanism-based inhibitors. During catalysis, TrxR conducts reducing equivalents from the NADPH-reduced flavin to Trx via the two redox-active cysteine pairs, Cys88-Cys93 and Cys535'-Cys540', referred to as N-terminal and C-terminal cysteine pairs. The structures of unsaturated Mannich bases suggested that they could act as bisalkylating agents leading to a macrocycle that involves both C-terminal cysteines of TrxR. To confirm this hypothesis, different Mannich bases possessing one or two electrophilic centers were synthesized and first studied in detail using glutathione as a model thiol. Michael addition of glutathione to the double bond of an unsaturated Mannich base (3a) occurs readily at physiological pH. Elimination of the amino group, promoted by base-catalyzed enolization of the ketone, is followed by addition of a second nucleophile. The intermediate formed in this reaction is an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone that can react rapidly with a second thiol. When studying TrxR as a target of Mannich bases, we took advantage of the fact that the charge-transfer complex formed between the thiolate of Cys88 and the flavin in the reduced enzyme can be observed spectroscopically. The data show that it is the C-terminal Cys 535'-Cys540' pair rather than the N-terminal Cys88-Cys93 pair that is modified by the inhibitor. Although alkylated TrxR is unable to turn over its natural substrate Trx, it can reduce low M(r) electron acceptors such as methyl methanethiolsulfonate by using its unmodified N-terminal thiols. On the basis of results with chemically distinct Mannich bases, a detailed mechanism for the inactivation of TrxR is proposed.
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PMID:Mechanism-based inactivation of thioredoxin reductase from Plasmodium falciparum by Mannich bases. Implication for cytotoxicity. 1460 42

Trichomonas is an amitochondriate parasitic protozoon specialized for an anaerobic lifestyle. Nevertheless, it is exposed to oxygen and is able to cope with the resultant oxidative stress. In the absence of glutathione, cysteine has been thought to be the major antioxidant. We now report that the parasite contains thioredoxin reductase, which functions together with thioredoxin and thioredoxin peroxidase to detoxify potentially damaging oxidants. Thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin also reduce cystine and so may play a role in maintaining the cellular cysteine levels. The importance of the thioredoxin system as one of the major antioxidant defense mechanisms in Trichomonas was confirmed by showing that the parasite responds to environmental changes resulting in increased oxidative stress by up-regulating thioredoxin and thioredoxin peroxidases levels. Sequence data indicate that the thioredoxin reductase of Trichomonas differs fundamentally in structure from that of its human host and thus may represent a useful drug target. The protein is generally similar to thioredoxin reductases present in other lower eukaryotes, all of which probably originated through horizontal gene transfer from a prokaryote. The phylogenetic signal in thioredoxin peroxidase is weak, but evidence from trees suggests that this gene has been subject to repeated horizontal gene transfers from different prokaryotes to different eukaryotes. The data are thus consistent with the complexity hypothesis that predicts that the evolution of simple pathways such as the thioredoxin cascade are likely to be affected by horizontal gene transfer between species.
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PMID:The amitochondriate eukaryote Trichomonas vaginalis contains a divergent thioredoxin-linked peroxiredoxin antioxidant system. 1463 Sep 23

1-Cys peroxiredoxin (1-cysPrx), a member of the peroxiredoxin family with a single conserved cysteine, is a unique antioxidant enzyme. We have generated mice in which the 1-cysPrx gene has been inactivated; they are viable and fertile. Mice have a highly related intronless gene (1-cysPrx-P1, GenBank accession number AF085220) with the same length of open reading frame (224 aa) as 1-cysPrx but located on a different chromosome. Since the product of this gene possibly could mimic 1-cysPrx function, we compared expression of 1-cysPrx and 1-cysPrx-P1 in mouse tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. 1-cysPrx mRNA and protein were expressed in all mouse tissues that were examined with the highest expression level in lung. 1-cysPrx-P1 mRNA was expressed only in testis. In the 1-cysPrx 'knock-out' mouse, 1-cysPrx-P1 mRNA expression level was similar to the wild type but protein expression was not detected. Thus, mouse 1-cysPrx-P1 is an mRNA-expressed pseudogene that does not result in detectable protein in vivo.
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PMID:1-Cys peroxiredoxin knock-out mice express mRNA but not protein for a highly related intronless gene. 1464 14

Chloroacetonitrile (CAN) is a disinfection by-product of chlorination of drinking water. Epidemiological studies indicate that it might present a potential hazard to human health. The present work provides an evidence for CAN activation to cyanide (CN-) by myeloperoxidase (MPO)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)/chloride (Cl-) system in vitro. Optimum conditions for the oxidation of CAN to CN- were characterized with respect to pH, temperature and time of incubation as well as CAN, MPO, H2O2 and KCl concentrations in incubation mixtures. The kinetic parameters governing the reaction; maximum velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) were assessed. Oxidation of CAN to CN- by NaOCl alone was shown. Addition of the MPO inhibitors; sodium azide (NaN3), 4-amino benzoic acid hydrazine (ABAH) or indomethacin to the reaction mixtures resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of CAN oxidation. Inclusion of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) in the incubation mixtures resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of CAN oxidation and CN- formation. Addition of the sulfhydryl compounds; glutathione (GSH), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), L-cysteine or D-penicillamine significantly enhanced the rate of CN- release. In conclusion, MPO/H2O2/Cl- system has the ability of oxidizing CAN to CN-. The present results represent a novel pathway for CAN activation and might be important in explaining CAN-induced toxicity.
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PMID:Myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of chloroacetonitrile to cyanide. 1468 62

In the past decade, clinical evidence has increasingly shown that the liver is a target organ for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") toxicity. The aims of the present in vitro study were: (1) to evaluate and compare the hepatotoxic effects of MDMA and one of its main metabolites, N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine (N-Me-alpha-MeDA) and (2) to investigate the ability of antioxidants, namely ascorbic acid and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), to prevent N-Me-alpha-MeDA-induced toxic injury, using freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Cell suspensions were incubated with MDMA or N-Me-alpha-MeDA in the final concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mM for 3 h. To evaluate the potential protective effects of antioxidants, cells were preincubated with ascorbic acid in the final concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mM, or NAC in the final concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM for 15 min before treatment with 1.6 mM N-Me-alpha-MeDA for 3 h (throughout this incubation period the cells were exposed to both compounds). The toxic effects were evaluated by measuring the cell viability, glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), ATP, and the cellular activities of GSH peroxidase (GPX), GSSG reductase (GR), and GSH S-transferase (GST). MDMA induced a concentration- and time-dependent GSH depletion, but had a negligible effect on cell viability, ATP levels, or on the activities of GR, GPX, and GST. In contrast, N-Me-alpha-MeDA was shown to induce not only a concentration- and time-dependent depletion of GSH, but also a depletion of ATP levels accompanied by a loss in cell viability, and decreases in the antioxidant enzyme activities. For both compounds, GSH depletion was not accompanied by increases in GSSG levels, which seems to indicate GSH depletion by adduct formation. Importantly, the presence of ascorbic acid (0.5 mM) or NAC (1 mM) prevented cell death and GSH depletion induced by N-Me-alpha-MeDA. The results provide evidence that MDMA and its metabolite N-Me-alpha-MeDA induce toxicity to freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Oxidative stress may play a major role in N-Me-alpha-MeDA-induced hepatic toxicity since antioxidant defense systems are impaired and administration of antioxidants prevented N-Me-alpha-MeDA toxicity.
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PMID:The toxicity of N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine to freshly isolated rat hepatocytes is prevented by ascorbic acid and N-acetylcysteine. 1521 15

Although oxidative stress has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD), the identities of specific protein targets of oxidative damage remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a key antioxidant enzyme whose mutations have been linked to autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a major target of oxidative damage in AD and PD brains. By using a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblot analysis, and mass spectrometry, we have identified four human brain SOD1 isoforms with pI values of 6.3, 6.0, 5.7, and 5.0, respectively. Of these, the SOD1 pI 6.0 isoform is oxidatively modified by carbonylation, and the pI 5.0 isoform is selectively accumulated in AD and PD. Moreover, Cys-146, a cysteine residue of SOD1 that is mutated in familial ALS, is oxidized to cysteic acid in AD and PD brains. Quantitative Western blot analyses demonstrate that the total level of SOD1 isoforms is significantly increased in both AD and PD. Furthermore, immunohistochemical and double fluorescence labeling studies reveal that SOD1 forms proteinaceous aggregates that are associated with amyloid senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in AD brains. These findings implicate, for the first time, the involvement of oxidative damage to SOD1 in the pathogenesis of sporadic AD and PD. This work suggests that AD, PD, and ALS may share a common or overlapping pathogenic mechanism(s) that could potentially be targeted by similar therapeutic strategies.
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PMID:Oxidative modifications and aggregation of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase associated with Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. 1565 87

We report the cloning, expression and characterization of a cDNA encoding the antioxidant enzyme peroxiredoxin (Prx) from the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa orientalis. The G. orientalis Prx (GoPrx) cDNA contains an open reading frame of 660 bp encoding 220 amino acid residues and possesses one cysteine residue that is characteristic of the 1-Cys subgroup of the peroxiredoxin family. The deduced amino acid sequence of the GoPrx cDNA showed 69% identity to Drosophila melanogaster DPx-2540, 50% to D. melanogaster DPx-6005, and 47% to Glossina morsitans morsitans Prx. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed a closer relationship of the deduced amino acid sequences of the GoPrx gene to the DPx-2540 within the 1-Cys Prx cluster. The cDNA encoding GoPrx was expressed as a 27-kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells. The purified recombinant GoPrx was shown to reduce H(2)O(2) in the presence of electrons donated by dithiothreitol, but did not show the activity in the presence of thioredoxin as electron donor. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of GoPrx transcripts in all tissues examined. When H(2)O(2) was injected into the body cavity of G. orientalis adult, GoPrx mRNA expression was up-regulated in the fat body tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of GoPrx mRNA in the fat body were particularly high when G. orientalis adult was exposed at low (4 degrees C) and high (37 degrees C) temperatures, suggesting that the GoPrx seems to play a protective role against oxidative stress caused by temperature shock.
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PMID:Molecular cloning and characterization of a peroxiredoxin gene from the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa orientalis. 1576 13

Oxidative stress due to enhanced production of free radicals has been incriminated as one of the several mechanisms involved in arsenic-induced toxic effects in different organs. In the present study, ameliorative potential of certain amino acids like cysteine, methionine and vitamins like ascorbic acid and thiamine on some of the parameters indicative of oxidative stress in liver, kidney and blood and of hepatic and renal infliction was investigated in arsenic exposed rats. Rats were given 0 ppm (group I healthy controls) or 10 ppm arsenic in drinking water ad lib for a period of 12 weeks. During oral exposure to arsenic rats of different groups received daily oral dose of placebo, cysteine, methionine, ascorbic acid or thiamine at 25mg/kg body weight. After the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed under light anesthesia and blood, liver and kidney were collected. Samples were processed for estimation of arsenic, biochemical parameters indicative of oxidative stress and hepatic and renal function. Arsenic exposure resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher accumulation of arsenic in blood, liver and kidney. It was associated with significant (P<0.05) rise in lipid peroxide level and decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in liver and kidneys. However, alterations in biochemical parameters did not reach statistical (P>0.05) significance. Treatment with vitamins and amino acids resulted in reversal of oxidative stress with significant (P<0.05) decline in tissue arsenic burden. All the treatment produced tissue specific changes in lipid peroxide level, antioxidant enzyme activities and tissue arsenic burden.
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PMID:Effect of cysteine, methionine, ascorbic acid and thiamine on arsenic-induced oxidative stress and biochemical alterations in rats. 1586 45

The observation that purified yeast glutamine synthetase is rapidly inactivated in a thiol-containing buffer yet retains activity in crude extracts containing the same thiol led to our discovery of an enzyme that protects against oxidation in a thiol-containing system. This novel antioxidant enzyme was shown to reduce hydroperoxides and, more recently, peroxynitrite with the use of electrons provided by a physiological thiol like thioredoxin. It defined a family of proteins, present in organisms from all kingdoms, that was named peroxiredoxin (Prx). All Prx enzymes contain a conserved Cys residue that undergoes a cycle of peroxide-dependent oxidation and thiol-dependent reduction during catalysis. Mammalian cells express six isoforms of Prx (Prx I to VI), which are classified into three subgroups (2-Cys, atypical 2-Cys, and 1-Cys) based on the number and position of Cys residues that participate in catalysis. The relative abundance of Prx enzymes in mammalian cells appears to protect cellular components by removing the low levels of peroxides produced as a result of normal cellular metabolism. During catalysis, the active site cysteine is occasionally overoxidized to cysteine sulfinic acid. Contrary to the general belief that oxidation to the sulfinic state is an irreversible process in cells, studies on the fate of the overoxidized Prx species revealed a mechanism by which the catalytically active thiol form is recovered. This sulfinic reduction is a slow, ATP-dependent process that is specific to 2-Cys Prx isoforms. This reversible overoxidation may represent an adaptation unique to eukaryotic cells that accommodates the intracellular messenger function of H(2)O(2), but experimental validation of such speculation is yet to come.
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PMID:Peroxiredoxins: a historical overview and speculative preview of novel mechanisms and emerging concepts in cell signaling. 1591 83

Aging alters cellular responses to both heat and oxidative stress. Thiol-mediated metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to be important in aging. To begin to determine the role of thiols in aging and heat stress, we depleted liver glutathione (GSH) by administering l-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) in young (6 mo) and old (24 mo) Fisher 344 rats before heat stress. Animals were given BSO (4 mmol/kg ip) or saline (1 ml ip) 2 h before heat stress and subsequently heated to a core temperature of 41 degrees C over a 90-min period. Liver tissue was collected before and 0, 30, and 60 min after heat stress. BSO inhibited glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL, the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis) catalytic activity and resulted in a decline in liver GSH and GSSG that was more pronounced in young compared with old animals. Catalase activity did not change between groups until 60 min after heat stress in young BSO-treated rats. Young animals experienced a substantial and persistent reduction in Cu,Zn-SOD activity with BSO treatment. Mn-SOD activity increased with BSO but declined after heat stress. The differences in thiol depletion observed between young and old animals with BSO treatment may be indicative of age-related differences in GSH compartmentalization that could have an impact on maintenance of redox homeostasis and antioxidant balance immediately after a physiologically relevant stress. The significant changes in antioxidant enzyme activity after GSH depletion suggest that thiol status can influence the regulation of other antioxidant enzymes.
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PMID:Aging reduces responsiveness to BSO- and heat stress-induced perturbations of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes. 1594 71


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