Kinetics of L-[14C]leucine transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: effect of energy coupling inhibitors.

1. L-[14C]Leucine transport into Saccharomyces cerevisiae involves a high-affinity, low-velocity system (system 1) and a low-affinity, high-velocity system (system 2). These systems are characterized by the different values of the kinetic parameters KT and Jmax, and are both capable of concentrative transport. The general amino acid permease is assumed to be a part of the high-affinity system. 2. The kinetics of L-[14C]leucine entrance show and initial rapid phase (the 'very early uptake') before reaching the steady-state rate. The contribution of the very early uptake to total entrance values affects the values of KT and Jmax, especially when the steady-state rate is relatively slow, as with starved yeast, and then negative KT and Jmax values may result. The very early uptake is increased by pretreatment of starved yeast and D-glucose, this latter effect being counteracted by iodoacetate. 3. After energization of starved yeast by pretreatment with D-glucose or propionaldehyde, the apparent KT,2 value greatly decreases whilst the KT,1 value decreases to a much more limited extent, or does not vary. With the energized yeast, KT,2 decreases throughout incubation whilst KT,1 variation is insignificant. Energization increases Jmax,1 and Jmax,2 several-fold and with the energized yeast at the steady-state phase, Jmax,2 greater than or equal to 4Jmax,1. Variation of KT and Jmax values as a function of the metabolic state of yeast cells may be explained in terms of variation of rate constants k-1, k+1 and k+2 for each transport system. 4. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, quercetin and diethylstilbestrol inhibit tranport at 0.05 mM L-[14C]leucine, in good agreement with a function of the plasmalemma ATPase for the operation of system 1. Dio-9, propionic and isobutyric acids, pentachlorophenol, carbonylcyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone and carbonylcyanide 4-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, which affect the proton gradient and/or the membrane potential inhibit L-[14C]leucine uptake at all the assayed amino acid concentrations. 5. The polyene antibiotic, nystatin, which forms channels in membranes permeable to K+ and H+, inhibits systems 1 and 2 activity but enniatin (also a K+ ionophore) does not.

Structural requirements for the action of steroids as quenchers of albumin fluorescence.

1. Androgens, corticoids, gestagens, estrogens and related steroids are effective quenchers of the intrinsic fluorescence of bovine serum albumin. The quenching effect involves the formation of a steroid albumin complex which formation constant (Kf) and free energy of formation (delta G 0) can be determined by fluorescence titration. The fluorimetrically determined delta G 0 values range from -6.5 to -7.5 kcal/mol. 2. 5 alpha-Androstane and 5 alpha-pregnane are effective quenchers of albumin fluorescence, in accord with the essentially hydrophobic nature of the steroid-albumin interaction. Introduction of hydroxy or oxo groups in 5 alpha-androstane decreases the fluorescence quenching action, but the effect of each group declines when other polar groups are present in the steroid molecule. Similar effects occur with 5 alpha-pregnane except that 20-hydroxy (or oxo) duo-polar derivatives are more effective than the parent hydrocarbon. 3. Comparison of delta G 0 values for steroids differing in a single grouping shows that the steroid-albumin interaction is increased by (a) the benzenoid A-ring; (b) sulfate or carboxylate ions in the vicinity of C-3; (c) the 3-oxo group in place of the 3 alpha-hydroxyl (with 5 beta-pregnane derivatives; not with 5 alpha-androstane derivatives); (d) 17 beta-acetyl or 17 beta-hydroxyethyl residues; (e) acetylated or propionated 17 beta-hydroxy groups; (f) acetylated or methylated hydroxy groups at the C-3 of estrogens; (g) delta 5 and delta 6 double bonds; and (h) the 19 beta-methyl group. The maximal variation of delta G 0 determined by affinity-enhancing groups is -0.8 kcal/mol. Conversely, the steroid-albumin interaction is decreased by introduction of (i) oxygen atoms at C-3, C-6, C-11, C-16, and C-17; (j) 17 alpha-ethynyl and 17 alpha-acetoxyl residues; (k) benzoylated or hexahydro-benzoylated beta-hydroxy groups at C-17; (l) acetylated and benzoylated hydroxy groups at C-3; and delta 1 (conjugated) double bond. Oxo groups at C-3, C-6, C-16 and the 16 alpha, 17 alpha-epoxy group are more effective than the corresponding alpha-hydroxyl in decreasing affinity, while at C-11 and C-17, the alpha-hydroxyl is more effective than the beta-hydroxyl and the oxo group. The effect of substituents is influenced by the whole molecular structure, particularly, by the stereostructure at the A/B juncture, and the presence of an oxo group at C-17. 4. The stereospecific effect of substituents at different positions in the steroid molecule suggests that with non-aromatic, A/B trans (planar) steroids, binding to albumin primarily involves the (alpha) rear surface of the B-, C- and D-ring, and possibly, the 17 beta-side chain. With estrogens and A/B cis (dihedral) steroids, the benzenoid A-ring and electron attracting groups at C-3, respectively, may participate in binding.

Structural requirements for steroid binding and quenching of albumin fluorescence in bovine plasma albumin.

1. Steroids interact with bovine plasma albumin at a binding region that involves tryptophanyl, tyrosyl, arginyl and lysyl residues. The function of the tryptophanyl residues is demonstrated by: (a) the decrease of albumin binding affinity after modification of one tryptophanyl with 2-nitrophenylsulfenyl chloride; (b) steroid quenching of albumin tryptophanyl fluorescence; and (c) steroid quenching of 1-anilinonaphth-alene-8-sulfonate fluorescence, when it is excited by energy transfer from excited tryptophanyls. The function of tyrosyl residues is demonstrated by the decrease of albumin binding affinity after nitration of 30% tyrosyls with tetranitromethane, or deprotonation of tyrosyls by variation of pH. The function of arginyl and lysyl residues is demonstrated by the decrease of binding affinity after modification of these residues with glyoxal, formaldehyde or acetic anhydride. The presence of both apolar (Trp, Tyr and Lys (deprotonated)) and polar (Arg and Lys(protonated)) residues at the steroid binding site fits in well with the site relative apolarity, when expressed on the Kosower scale (Kosower, E.M. (1958) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80, 3253-3260). 2. The contribution of specific amino acid residues to steroid binding depends to some extent on the steroid structure, as exemplified by the quantitatively different role of arginyl (or lysyl) residues in albumin interaction with testosterone acetate and epitestosterone, respectively, or that of tyrosyl residues in albumin interaction with 11-deoxycorticosterone and epitestosterone, respectively. 3. The concerted action of polar and apolar amino acid residues is an essential requirement for steroid binding, since unfolding of albumin polypeptide chain by guanidine-HC1, urea, or by reduction of disulfide bridges with 2-mercaptoethanol, strongly decreases steroid binding to albumin while, conversely, reoxidation and refolding of the unfolded polypeptide chain restore albumin affinity for steroids. 4. Parallel determinations of steroid binding constants by equilibrium dialysis and fluorimetric titration, as well as the general pattern of the pH and temperature effects on steroid quenching of albumin fluorescence, confirm the validity of the fluorescence quenching titration as an effective method for measuring albumin-steroid molecular interactions.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous mini-circle subpopulations in Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA.

The small circular components (mini-circles) from Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) were cloned in the plasmid vector pBR325. These clones have been used before to demonstrate the rapid evolution of mini-circle subpopulations (S anchez , D.O., Frasch , A.C.C., Carrasco , A.E., Gonzalez Cappa , S.M., Isola , E. and Stoppani , A.O.M. (1984) Mol. Biochem. Parasitol ., in the press). We have now analyzed the cloned molecules and used them to study some structural characteristics of T. cruzi mini-circles and their distribution in total kDNA restriction endonuclease digests. Most molecules partially conserved TaqI, HaeIII and HapII site clusters (constant regions) separated by one-quarter of the total mini-circle length, also detected in total kDNA digests. In addition, in one of the cloned mini-circles, the constant region was present only once, instead of four times as expected. Outside the conserved regions, the mini-circles diverged enough so that no cross-hybridization took place even under relaxed conditions. The recombinant molecules were used to probe total kDNA digests from T. cruzi. Some of them hybridized with most restriction endonuclease kDNA fragments, while one cloned mini-circle ( pTck -14) detected only its homologous subpopulation. The mini-circles detected with the latter probe proved to be nearly homogeneous, and were present in the proportion of 1/20 molecules. These results suggest that some of the generated molecules might have acquired a higher replication rate, giving rise to the homogeneous subpopulation detected. Further mutations, insertions and/or deletions, together with recombination between molecules, would bring this process to an end.

Energy requirements for the uptake of L-leucine by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

(1) Substrates capable of activating mitochondrial electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation, namely, pyruvate, acetate, propionaldehyde and butanol, stimulated the concentrative uptake (transport and accumulation) of L-[14-C]leucine by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (wild type strain 207, starved cells). Under adequate experimental conditions, the L-[14-C]leucine uptake versus the oxygen uptake ratio was almost the same with either pyruvate, acetate or D-glucose as energy sources. Substrate oxidation also increased L-[14-C]leucine incorporation into the cell protein. (2) With S. cerevisiae D261 and D247-2 and propionaldehyde as an energy source, or with strain 207 and glucose as energy source, 2,4-dinitrophenol (50 muM) inhibited L-[14-C]leucine uptake, the inhibition being accompanied by stimulation of respiration. With S. cerevisiae 207 and propionaldehyde as energy source, 2,4-dinitrophenol inhibited both respiration and L-[14-C]leucine uptake, but with respiration being less affected than uptake. Displacement of accumulated L-[14-C]leucine was also inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol. (3) In the presence of glucose, and for relatively brief incubation periods, anaerobically grown cells of S. cerevisiae 207 and of a p-minus "petite" mutant of this strain incorporated L-[14-C]leucine with less efficiency than the original wild type strain 207, grown aerobically. With D-glucose as energy source, 2,4-dinitrophenol and iodoacetate inhibited alike L-[14-C]leucine uptake by the respiration competent cells. (4) It is postulated that in respiration-competent yeasts, the mitochondrion contributes to 6-[14-C]leucine uptake by supplying high-energy compounds required for amino acid transport and accumulation. Conversely, the promitochondrion in the anaerobically grown yeast, or the modified mitochondrion in the respiratory deficient mutant, competes for high energy compounds generated by glycolysis in the cytosol.

Amino acid uptake by yeasts. IV. Effect of thiol reagents on L-leucine transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

(1) N-Ethylmaleimide (a penetrating SH- reagent) inactivated L-[14C]leucine entrance (binding and translocation) into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the extent of inhibition depending on the time of preincubation with N-ethylmaleimide, N-ethylmaleimide concentration, the amino acid external and internal concentration, and the energization state of the yeast cells. With D-glucose-energized yeast, N-ethylmaleimide inhibited L-[14C]leucine entrance in all the assayed experimental conditions, but with starved yeast and low (0.1 mM) amino acid concentration, it did not inhibit L-[14C]leucine binding, except when the cells were preincubated with L-leucine. With the rho- respiratory-deficient mutant (energized cells), N-ethylmaleimide inhibited L-[14C]leucine entrance as with the energized wild-type, though to a lesser extent. (2) Analysis of the N-ethylmaleimide effect as a function of L-[14C]leucine concentration showed a significant decrease of Jmax values of the high- (S1) and low- (S2) affinity amino acid transport systems, but KT values were not significantly modified. (3) When assayed in the presence of D-glucose, N-ethylmaleimide inhibition of D-glucose uptake and respiration contributed significantly to inactivation of L-[14C]leucine entrance. Pretreatment of yeast cells with 2,4-dinitrophenol enhanced the effect of L-[14C]leucine binding and translocation. (4) Bromoacetylsulfanilic acid and bromoacetylaminoisophthalic acid, two non-penetrating SH- reagents, did not inactivate L-[14C]leucine entrance, while p-chloromercuribenzoate, a slowly penetrating SH-reagent, inactivated it to a limited extent. When compared with the effect of N-ethylmaleimide, these negative results indicate that thiol groups of the L-[14C]leucine carrier were not exposed on the outer surface of the yeast cell permeability barrier.

The chemotherapy of chagas' disease: an overview.

The review presents: a) a brief description of the disease; b) a summary of the most important metabolic targets so far identified in Trypanosome cruzi (T. cruzi) along with corresponding inhibitor compounds; c) the current state of knowledge on the trypanothione reductase system of trypanosomatids with reference to oxidative stress defenses; d) detailed discussions on T. cruzi trypanothione reductase inhibitors such as nitrofuranes, naphthoquinones and phenothiazines. As yet, the chemotherapy of Chagas' disease remains an unsolved problem. Further search for new drugs must continue by means of nucleating existing chemotherapy efforts.

Nitrofuran inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation.

Two nitrofuran compounds, nifurtimox and nitrofurantoin, inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the NADPH-, iron-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, as shown by the decreased rate of MDA accumulation. Other nitro compounds (benznidazole and chloramphenicol) were relatively inactive. Nifurtimox inhibition affected polyenoic fatty acids and cytochrome P-450 degradation that follows lipid peroxidation. The ascorbate- or tert-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidations were much less inhibited than the NADPH-dependent one. Nifurtimox and nitrofurantoin, but not benznidazole and chloramphenicol, strongly stimulated the microsomal NADPH-oxidase activity, thus supporting electron diversion, as the main cause of the inhibition of peroxidation initiation.

Influence of efrapeptin, aurovertin and citreoviridin on the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase from Trypanosoma cruzi.

Steady-state velocity studies using a substrate regenerating system showed that efrapeptin, citreoviridin and aurovertin inhibit both membrane-bound and soluble mitochondrial ATPase (coupling factor F1) from Trypanosoma cruzi. Maximal inhibitions of ATP hydrolysis produced by efrapeptin and citreoviridin were 100-93%, while the maximal inhibition produced by aurovertin was 40%. Half-maximal inhibitory concentrations decreased in the order citreoviridin greater than aurovertin greater than efrapeptin. Dissociation constants (KD) for the inhibitor-F1 complex were 81 nM (efrapeptin), 6.6 muM (aurovertin) and 40 muM (citreoviridin); KD values for the membrane-bound F1 were 2-4 fold higher than for soluble F1. Representation of efrapeptin inhibition data in the Hill form yielded straight lines (n = 1) while the same representation of citreoviridin inhibition yielded concave down plots. In contrast to the immediate effect of citreoviridin and aurovertin, efrapeptin inhibition was time-dependent. The onset of inhibition, which was pseudo-first-order with respect to efrapeptin, indicated that ATP may promote the binding of efrapeptin to the enzyme. The kinetics of ATP hydrolysis by T. cruzi ATPase as a function MgATP concentration could be explained by the presence of two substrate sites on the enzyme, interacting in such a way that the binding and catalytic events at one site were conformationally linked to the events at the other site, as with the mammalian ATPase. When the antibiotics were assayed at increasing substrate concentrations, efrapeptin produced a linear, mixed-type inhibition whereas citreoviridin produced a parabolic noncompetitive-type inhibition. The aurovertin effect was unusual since the extent of inhibition was greater at high substrate concentrations. Maximal concentrations of all the assayed antibiotics linearized the biphasic double reciprocal plot of control ATPase activity. Comparison of T. cruzi and mammalian F1 responses to the assayed antibiotics revealed the operation of similar inhibition mechanisms but the T. cruzi enzyme was significantly less sensitive to inhibitors than its mammalian counterpart.

Phenylglyoxal inactivation of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase from Trypanosoma cruzi.

The reaction of Trypanosoma cruzi Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase, coupling factor 1, or F1) with phenylglyoxal, a dicarbonylic compound, resulted in a rapid loss of its enzymatic activity. The inactivation showed pseudo-first-order kinetics with both membrane-bound and soluble F1-ATPase, the rate of the enzyme inactivation being faster in bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.9) than in borate buffer (pH 8.0). The log (pseudo-first-order rate constant) vs. log(phenylglyoxal concentration) plots obtained with the membrane-bound and soluble F1-ATPase in bicarbonate buffer, and also with F1 in borate buffer, had slopes of near 1.0 while the plot for the membrane-bound ATPase in borate buffer had a slope of 1.6. Second-order rate constants (in mM-1 X min-1) were 55 (for both ATPase preparations in bicarbonate buffer) and 34 (for the membrane-bound ATPase in borate buffer). When the reaction was performed in the presence of ATP, the rate of inactivation was significantly decreased. It is concluded that, as in the mammalian F1-ATPase, arginyl residues play an essential role in T. cruzi mitochondrial ATPase, probably at the hydrolytic site.

Respiratory control in mitochondria from Trypanosoma cruzi.

Phosphorylating mitochondrial membranes were obtained from Trypanosoma cruzi culture (epimastigote) forms. Using ADP as phosphate acceptor and succinate, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate, L-malate or ascorbate plus tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) as oxidizable substrates, energy coupling sites II and III were detected, with respiratory control values in the range of 2.8-2.0. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and sonication uncoupled the respiratory control mechanism. Antimycin and cyanide partially inhibited succinate, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and L-malate oxidation, while cyanide totally inhibited ascorbate + TMPD oxidation by the mitochondrial preparation. Succinate oxidation was inhibited by malonate and oxalacetate, but this latter was only effective with sonicated mitochondria. At variance with other substrates, NADH oxidation was not controlled by ADP concentration or inhibited by antimycin or cyanide. Rotenone failed to inhibit electron transfer in T. cruzi mitochondria.

Effect of inhibitors of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation on Trypanosoma cruzi respiration and growth.

Antimycin A and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, two specific inhibitors of the b-c1 segment of the respiratory chain, affected the respiration of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. The half-maximum inhibitory concentrations were about 0.05 and 4.0 micrograms/mg cells (dry wt.), respectively. The maximum effect of antimycin (about 80% inhibition of respiration) was at about 0.1 microgram antimycin/mg cells. Differential spectrophotometry of T. cruzi epimastigotes in the presence of antimycin, cyanide (or sulfide) and uncouplers, revealed the presence of functional cytochromes aa3, b and c558. In the stationary growth phase respiration by T. cruzi was completely inhibited by cyanide and effectively inhibited by sulfide, but in the exponential growth phase respiration was about 20% insensitive to 5 mM cyanide. Cyanide- and antimycin-insensitive respiration was completely inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid (2 mM). Antimycin inhibited the operation of the tricarboxylic acids cycle in T. cruzi, as shown by the lesser production of 14CO2 and by the modification of 14C distribution in epimastigotes incubated with [1-14C]glucose, [2-14C]acetate or NaH14CO3. The inhibition of electron transport by antimycin increased the rate of the fumarate reductase reaction, an alternative electron pathway for the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides. Addition of carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone to epimastigotes increased the rate of respiration and promoted the oxidation of reduced cytochrome b components, thus showing that these components are subject to respiratory (acceptor) control. Pentachlorophenol similarly affected the cytochrome b redox level but did not modify the rate of respiration. The uncouplers released N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibition of respiration, and uncouplers and cyanide significantly decreased the ATP level in epimastigotes. The combined effects of the assay inhibitors on respiration, cytochrome b redox level, ATP content and energy charge confirmed the operation of oxidative phosphorylation in T. cruzi epimastigotes. Antimycin, uncouplers and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibited growth of T. cruzi, thus proving the essential role of oxidative phosphorylation for the parasite.

Biochemical and ultrastructural alterations produced by miconazole and econazole in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Miconazole and econazole, two fungicide imidazole derivatives, completely inhibited growth of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen strain) at concentrations of about 20 muM. Culturing of T. cruzi in the presence of lower doses of imidazole derivatives produced: decrease of 5,7-diene sterol content in epimastigotes (including ergosterol); disappearance of the nuclear chromatin, vacuolization and decrease in the electron density of the cytoplasm; selective surface alterations as revealed by an increased response to wheat-germ- and phytohemagglutinin. At variance with the effect of miconazole on Candida (De Nollin et al. (1977) Antimicrobial. Agents Chemother. 11, 500-513), miconazole and econazole, under the experimental conditions used, did not increase the rate of hydrogen peroxide generation by T. cruzi.

Aerobic glucose fermentation by Trypanosoma cruzi axenic culture amastigote-like forms during growth and differentiation to epimastigotes.

Axenic culture amastigote-like forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, grown at 28 degrees C, reach a stationary phase after two generations, and differentiate to epimastigotes, which then resume growth. Axenic culture amastigotes readily ferment glucose to succinate and acetate, and do not excrete NH3; they have high activities of hexokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and very low citrate synthase activity; cytochrome o is absent, and cytochrome b-like is present at a very low level. Epimastigotes catabolize glucose and produce succinate and acetate at a considerably lower rate; they exhibit lower levels of hexokinase and carboxykinase, and much higher levels of citrate synthase and cytochromes o and b-like. They catabolize amino acids, as shown by excretion of NH3 to the medium. The results suggest that axenic culture amastigotes have an essentially glycolytic metabolism, and they acquire the ability to oxidize substrates such as amino acids only after differentiation to epimastigotes.

Rapid evolution of kinetoplast DNA mini-circle subpopulations in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Nine Trypanosoma cruzi isolates not examined previously for kDNA structure were characterized by (a) endonuclease restriction analysis of mini-circles, followed by agarose gel-electrophoresis of digests, and (b) hybridization of mini- and maxi-circle fragments with four 32P-labeled cloned mini-circles from T. cruzi (pTck-1, 12, 13 and 14) or with 32P-labeled maxi-circles from T. brucei, respectively. The gel electrophoresis patterns demonstrated significant differences between isolates, which were confirmed and extended by the hybridization assay. When using pTck-1 and pTck-12 as probes, widely distributed heterogeneous mini-circle subpopulations were demonstrated in all the examined isolates, despite the occurrence of extensive homologies. pTck-14, assayed under high stringent conditions, detected an almost homogeneous mini-circle subpopulation in only three isolates, although under relaxed conditions, pTck-14 shared sequence homologies with most of the mini-circle subpopulations from all isolates. Rapidly evolving mini-circle regions were also detected using as probe pTck-13, a small mini-circle fragment. Preliminary maxi-circle characterization revealed polymorphic restriction endonuclease sites in the different T. cruzi isolates. These results were consistent with those obtained with mini-circles subjected to the same treatment.

Effects of nitroheterocyclic drugs on macromolecule synthesis and degradation in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Nifurtimox and benznidazole, two nitroheterocyclic drugs, inhibited DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, stimulated macromolecular degradation, and stimulated unscheduled DNA synthesis in Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen strain). Significant differences in the mode of action of these drugs could be established and, in every case, nifurtimox was more active than benznidazole. The inhibition of macromolecular synthesis varied with drug concentration, precursor and incubation time. Nifurtimox effect was time dependent and irreversible. When assayed on macromolecular degradation, nifurtimox was more effective on DNA and protein than on RNA, while benznidazole displayed almost the same activity on DNA, RNA and protein. Labeling of RNA with [3H]uridine in the presence of nifurtimox followed atypical kinetics since, depending on incubation time and concentration, RNA degradation prevailed over RNA synthesis.

Redox cycling of beta-lapachone and related o-naphthoquinones in the presence of dihydrolipoamide and oxygen.

Lipophilic o-naphthoquinones (beta-lapachone, CG 8-935, CG 9-442, CG 10-248, and mansonones A, C, E, and F), catalyze the oxidation of dihydrolipoamide (DHLA) by oxygen, whereas p-naphthoquinones (alpha-lapachone and menadione) are scarcely active. The greatest effects corresponded to beta-lapachone and its analogues. Quinol production was demonstrated by (a) the absorption spectrum of the reduced quinone, and (b) the effect of pH variation on the rate of quinone-catalyzed DHLA oxidation. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited the rate of cytochrome c reduction and decreased the apparent rate of oxygen consumption by several DHLA/o-naphthoquinone systems. SOD also inhibited the rate of quinol oxidation by oxygen, after quinone reduction by a stoichiometric amount of DHLA. Catalase enhanced the effect of SOD, but in its absence catalase was inactive. It is concluded that quinone-catalyzed oxidation of DHLA implies a free-radical mechanism in which the quinol and superoxide radicals play an essential role.

Catalysis of nitrofuran redox-cycling and superoxide anion production by heart lipoamide dehydrogenase.

Heart lipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH) catalyzed redox-cycling and O2-. production by (5-nitro-2-furfurylidene)amino derivatives using NADH as electron donor. NADH was a much more effective electron donor than NADPH for the nitroreductase activity. O2-. production was demonstrated by cytochrome c reduction, adrenochrome formation and the effect of superoxide dismutase. Under optimum conditions, nitroreductase activity was about 1% of LADH activity. One electron oxygen reduction and NADH oxidation correlated in 2:1 stoichiometry. The nitroreductase kinetics was in accordance with an ordered bi-bi mechanism. Nitrofuran derivatives bearing unsaturated five- or six-membered nitrogen heterocycles were more effective substrates than those bearing other groups, namely nifurtimox, nitrofurazone, nitrofurantoin and 5-nitro-2-furoic acid. Other nitro compounds (chloramphenicol, benznidazole, 2-nitroimidazole and 5-nitroindole) were ineffective. With the triazole, traizine and imidazole nitrofuran derivatives, the nitroreductase pH curve showed a maximum at pH 8.8, different from the pH optimum for the lipoamide reductase and diaphorase activities. Spectroscopic observations demonstrated pH-dependent structural changes in the triazole(I) and triazine derivatives which would affect their behavior as nitroreductase substrates. The nitroreductase activity was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and enhanced by cadmium and arsenite, whereas the NADH-induced LADH inactivation failed to affect the nitroreductase activity. In the absence of oxygen. LADH catalyzed nitrofuran reduction to products more reduced than the nitroanion, which were not reoxidized by oxygen. The anaerobic nitrofuran reduction was inhibited by cadmium and arsenite. The assayed nitrofuran compounds did not inhibit LADH lipoamide reductase activity, at variance with their action on glutathione reductase (Grinblat et al., Biochem Pharmacol 38: 767-772, 1989).

Nitrofuran inhibition of yeast and rat tissue glutathione reductases. Structure-activity relationships.

Nitrofuran derivatives bearing unsaturated five- or six-membered nitrogen heterocycles or related substituents were more effective inhibitors of yeast and rat tissue glutathione reductases than those bearing other groups, such as nifurtimox, nitrofurazone and 5-nitro-2-furoic acid. The inhibitory action proved independent of electron withdrawal from the reduced enzyme, as a consequence of redoxcycling of the nitro group. Uncompetitive kinetics was obtained with nitrofurantoin and nifurtimox. Most of the assayed nitrofurans inhibited the yeast enzyme Coenzyme A glutathione disulfide reductase activity, though less than oxidized glutathione reduction. The transhydrogenase activity was not inhibited to a significant degree. Benznidazole (a 2-nitroimidazole derivative), 2-nitroimidazole, 5-nitroindole and chloramphenicol did not inhibit glutathione reductase. Under the same experimental conditions, liver glutathione peroxidase was not affected by the nitro compounds.

Effect of nitroheterocyclic drugs on lipid peroxidation and glutathione content in rat liver extracts.

Incubation of rat liver cell-free extracts with an NADPH-generating system and with nifurtimox or benznidazole (two nitroheterocyclic drugs used in the treatment of Chagas' disease) produced oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) and increased lipid peroxidation, as shown by the generation of thiobarbituric-acid-reacting intermediates. Nifurtimox and benznidazole inhibited GSSG-reductase, but not GSH-peroxidase, the former inhibition contributing to GSH depletion. In every case, nifurtimox was more effective than benznidazole. Addition of GSH or free-radical scavengers (catalase, superoxide dismutase, mannitol, sodium benzoate or L-histidine) prevented the effect of nifurtimox on lipid peroxidation reactions. These results support the assumption [M. Dubin, S. N. J. Moreno, E. E. Martino, R. Docampo and A. O. M. Dubin, Biochem. Pharmac. 32, 483 (1983)] that, in the rat liver, GSH exerts a protective action against oxygen radicals generated by the nitroheterocyclic drugs.