Efeito da adição de antioxidantes sobre a viabilidade do sêmen bovino / Addition of antioxidants on the feasibility of bovine semen / Efecto de la adición de antioxidantes bajo la viabilidad del semen bovino

Os antioxidantes atuam no combate aos efeitos nocivos provocados pelos radicais livres, proporcionando melhor qualidade do sêmen fresco e criopreservado. As mudanças de temperatura provocadas durante os processos de congelação e descongelação são responsáveis pelos danos aos espermatozoides, alterando sua viabilidade e fertilidade. O estudo dos antioxidantes, os quais constituem a primeira linha de combate às espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), para a melhora da qualidade do sêmen criopreservado, torna-se de fundamental importância, para desenvolvimento de protocolos padrões e aplicáveis, uma vez que existem muitas controvérsias em relação ao tipo de molécula antioxidante e às doses, o momento adequado para ser acrescentado e possíveis alterações destes aos meios de criopreservação. Assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar o efeito dos antioxidantes: catalase, α-tocoferol e piruvato de sódio adicionados em meio diluidor comercial para melhorar a viabilidade do sêmen bovino criopreservado. Inicialmente foram utilizados três touros, da raça Brahman, selecionados de acordo com o escore de condição corporal e exame andrológico. Oito ejaculados foram colhidos por eletroejaculação e imediatamente avaliados a motilidade e o vigor espermático. Em seguida, foram diluídos conforme os grupos experimentais em meio Botubov® (Botupharma Biotecnologia Animal) com adição do antioxidante piruvato de sódio nas concentrações de 1,5 µM, 3 µM e 5 µM e em seguida, as amostras foram congeladas. Numa segunda etapa, serão utilizados outros antioxidantes e concentrações, conforme descrito: 1) Diluidor BotuBov®; 2) Diluidor BotuBov® contendo 7% de crioprotetor e catalase nas concentrações de 20, 80 e 200 UI; 3) Diluidor BotuBov® contendo 7% de crioprotetor e α-tocoferol nas concentrações de 50 µM, 100 µM e 150 µM; 4) Diluidor BotuBov® contendo 7% de crioprotetor e piruvato de sódio nas concentrações de 1,5 µM; 3,5 µM e 5 µM. Após a descongelação do sêmen com a utilização do piruvato, as amostras foram analisadas quanto à motilidade total e progressiva e vigor espermático. Verificou-se que a adição de piruvato de sódio na concentração de 1,5 µM proporcionou uma melhora nos parâmetros de motilidade total e vigor espermático, demonstrando os benefícios de seu uso.(AU)

Antioxidants act in fighting the harmful effects caused by free radicals, providing better quality of both fresh and cryopreserved semen. Changes in temperature caused during the freezing and thawing processes are responsible for damages to the sperm, changing their viability and fertility. The study of antioxidants, which constitute the first line of combat against reactive oxygen species (ROS) to improve the quality of cryopreserved semen, is of utmost importance for the development of standard and applicable protocols, since there are many controversies regarding the type and the doses of antioxidant molecules, the timing for its addition and likely changes to the cryopreservation media. This paper aims at studying the effects of catalase, α-tocopherol, and sodium pyruvate when added to commercial diluent medium to improve the viability of cryopreserved bovine semen. Initially, three Brahman bulls were selected according to the body condition score and andrological examination. Eight ejaculates were collected by electroejaculation, with motility and spermatic vigor being immediately assessed. Subsequently, the samples were diluted according to the experimental groups in Botubov® (Botupharma Animal Biotechnology) medium with the addition of sodium pyruvate at concentrations of 1.5 µM, 3 µM and 5 µM and were subsequently frozen. In a second step, other antioxidants and concentrations will be used, as follows: 1) BotuBov® Diluent; 2) BotuBov® diluent containing 7% cryoprotectant and catalase at concentrations of 20, 80 and 200 IU; 3) BotuBov® diluent containing 7% cryoprotectant and α-tocopherol at concentrations of 50 µM, 100 µM and 150 µM; 4) BotuBov® diluent containing 7% cryoprotectant and sodium pyruvate at concentrations of 1.5 µM; 3.5 µM and 5 µM. After thawing the semen with pyruvate, the samples were analyzed for total and progressive motility and spermatic vigor. It was found that the addition of 1.5 µM sodium pyruvate provided an improvement in total motility and sperm vigor parameters, demonstrating the benefits of its use.(AU)

Los antioxidantes actúan en el combate a los efectos nocivos provocados por los radicales libres, proporcionando mejor calidad del semen fresco y criopreservado. Los cambios de temperatura provocados durante los procesos de congelación y descongelación son responsables por los daños a los espermatozoides, alterando su viabilidad y fertilidad. El estudio de los antioxidantes, que constituyen la primera línea de combate a las especies reactivas de oxígeno (ERO), para la mejora de la calidad del semen criopreservado, se hace de fundamental importancia para el desarrollo de protocolos estándares y aplicables, ya que existen muchas controversias en relación al tipo de molécula antioxidante y a las dosis, el momento adecuado para ser añadido y posibles alteraciones de éstos a los medios de criopreservación. Así, este estudio ha tenido como objetivo estudiar el efecto de los antioxidantes: catalasa, α-tocoferol y piruvato de sodio añadidos en medio diluidor comercial para mejorar la viabilidad del semen bovino criopreservado. Inicialmente se utilizaron tres toros, de la raza Brahman, seleccionados de acuerdo con la puntuación de condición corporal y examen andrológico. Ocho eyaculados fueron recogidos por electroejaculación e inmediatamente evaluados la motilidad y el vigor espermático. A continuación, se diluyeron de acuerdo con los grupos experimentales en medio Botubov (Botupharma Biotecnología Animal) con adición de antioxidante piruvato de sodio a concentraciones de 1,5 µM, 3 µM y 5 µM, y luego las muestras se congelaron. En una segunda etapa, se utilizarán otros antioxidantes y concentraciones, según se describe: 1) Diluidor BotuBov®; 2) Diluidor BotuBov® conteniendo 7% de crioprotector y catalasa en las concentraciones de 20, 80 y 200 UI; 3) Diluidor BotuBov® que contiene 7% de crioprotector y α-tocoferol en las concentraciones de 50 µM, 100 µM y 150 µM; 4) Diluidor BotuBov® conteniendo 7% de crioprotector y piruvato de sodio en las concentraciones de 1,5 µM; 3,5 µM y 5 µM. Después de la descongelación del semen con la utilización del piruvato, las muestras fueron analizadas en cuanto a la motilidad total y progresiva y vigor espermático. Se comprobó que la adición de piruvato de sodio en la concentración de 1,5 µM proporcionó una mejora en los parámetros de motilidad total y vigor espermático, demostrando los beneficios de su uso.(AU)

Detection and formation scenario of citric acid, pyruvic acid, and other possible metabolism precursors in carbonaceous meteorites.

Carbonaceous meteorites deliver a variety of organic compounds to Earth that may have played a role in the origin and/or evolution of biochemical pathways. Some apparently ancient and critical metabolic processes require several compounds, some of which are relatively labile such as keto acids. Therefore, a prebiotic setting for any such individual process would have required either a continuous distant source for the entire suite of intact precursor molecules and/or an energetic and compact local synthesis, particularly of the more fragile members. To date, compounds such as pyruvic acid, oxaloacetic acid, citric acid, isocitric acid, and α-ketoglutaric acid (all members of the citric acid cycle) have not been identified in extraterrestrial sources or, as a group, as part of a "one pot" suite of compounds synthesized under plausibly prebiotic conditions. We have identified these compounds and others in carbonaceous meteorites and/or as low temperature (laboratory) reaction products of pyruvic acid. In meteorites, we observe many as part of three newly reported classes of compounds: keto acids (pyruvic acid and homologs), hydroxy tricarboxylic acids (citric acid and homologs), and tricarboxylic acids. Laboratory syntheses using (13)C-labeled reactants demonstrate that one compound alone, pyruvic acid, can produce several (nonenzymatic) members of the citric acid cycle including oxaloacetic acid. The isotopic composition of some of the meteoritic keto acids points to interstellar or presolar origins, indicating that such compounds might also exist in other planetary systems.

Diversity oriented heterocyclizations of pyruvic acids, aldehydes and 5-amino-N-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides: catalytic and temperature control of chemoselectivity.

Heterocyclization reactions of pyruvic acids, aromatic aldehydes and 5-amino-N-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides yielding four different types of final compounds are described. The reactions involving arylidenpyruvic acids lead with high degree of selectivity to either 4,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids or 5-[(2-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)amino]-1H-pyrazoles, depending on the catalyst type or temperature regime. The interactions based on arylpyruvic acids can take place under kinetic or thermodynamic control producing 7-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-carboxylic acids or 3-hydroxy-1-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones, respectively.

Kinetic mechanism and structural requirements of the amine-catalyzed decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid.

The kinetic and chemical mechanism of amine-catalyzed decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid at pH 8.0 has been reevaluated using a new and versatile assay. Amine-catalyzed decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid proceeds via the formation of an imine intermediate, followed by decarboxylation of the intermediate and hydrolysis to yield pyruvate. The decrease in oxaloacetic acid was coupled to NADH formation by malate dehydrogenase, which allowed the rates of both initial carbinolamine formation (as part of the imination step) and decarboxylation to be determined. By comparing the rates observed for a variety of amines and, in particular, diamines, the structural and electronic requirements for diamine-catalyzed decarboxylation at pH 8.0 were identified. At pH 8.0, monoamines were found to be very poor catalysts, whereas some diamines, most notably ethylenediamine, were excellent catalysts. The results indicate that the second amino group of diamines enhances the rate of imine formation by acting as a proton shuttle during the carbinolamine formation step, which enables diamines to overcome high levels of solvation that would otherwise inhibit carbinolamine, and thus imine, formation. The presence of the second amino group may also enhance the rate of the carbinolamine dehydration step. In contrast to the findings of previous reports, the second amino group participates in the reaction by enhancing the rate of decarboxylation via hydrogen-bonding to the imine nitrogen to either stabilize the negative charge that develops on the imine during decarboxylation or preferentially stabilize the reactive imine over the unreactive enamine tautomer. These results provide insight into the precise catalytic mechanism of several enzymes whose reactions are known to proceed via an imine intermediate.

Probing the role of dynamics in hydride transfer catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase.

The dynamic nature of the interconversion of pyruvate to lactate as catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is characterized by laser-induced temperature jump relaxation spectroscopy with a resolution of 20 ns. An equilibrium system of LDH.NADH plus pyruvate and LDH.NAD+ plus lactate is perturbed by a sudden T-jump, and the relaxation of the system is monitored by NADH emission and absorption changes. The substrate binding pathway is observed to be similar, although not identical, to previous work on substrate mimics: an encounter complex is formed between LDH.NADH and pyruvate, which collapses to the active Michaelis complex. The previously unresolved hydride transfer event is characterized and separated from other unimolecular isomerizations of the protein important for the catalytic mechanism, such as loop closure, a slower step, and faster events on the nanosecond-microsecond timescales whose structural basis is not understood. The results of this study show that this approach can be applied quite generally to enzyme systems and report on the dynamic nature of proteins over a very wide time range.

Synthesis and antituberculosis action of some new pyruvic acid derivatives.

UNLABELLED: The present paper studies the synthesis and activity of 12 new azoic derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In order to obtain new antituberculosis substances, we studied 6 thiadiazolic derivatives and 6 triazolic derivatives of pyruvic acid and we observed the influence of the different radical groups inserted in the molecule on their antituberculosis activity. For this study we developed a simple method to obtain the new derivatives. The first stage of the experiment was the synthesis of the thyosemicarbazide derivatives. In order to obtain the thiadiazolic derivatives we treated the thyosemicarbazides with concentrated sulfuric acid. The triazolic derivatives were obtained after treating the thiosemicarbazide derivatives with a diluted NaOH solution at boiling. RESULTS: The structure of the substances was furthermore confirmed by IR and quantitative elemental analysis. The newly obtained substances were tested on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, 6 concentrations for each substance. Early tests on Mycobacterium tuberculosis indicate that 2 of the tested substances have clear antituberculosis activity in vitro for the tested concentrations. For the other tested substances further research is needed since the CMI hasn't been reached in their cas. CONCLUSIONS: We synthesised 12 new thiadiazolic and triazolic derivatives in order to obtain new possible antituberculosis agents. Early tests on Mycobacterium tuberculosis indicate that 2 of the tested substances have clear antituberculosis activity in vitro for the tested concentrations.

Synthesis and characterization of a pH-sensitive hydrogel made of pyruvic-acid-modified chitosan.

Pyruvic-acid-type chitosan (PA-CS) was prepared by the reaction of an amine group on chitosan with a carbonyl group on pyruvic acid. Then, a novel hydrogel film was obtained via cross-linking of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) with PA-CS. 1H-NMR and FT-IR spectrometry were applied for the verification of the CS and PA-CS structure. The degree of swelling was studied by changing the molar ratio of PEGDE and PA-CS. Moreover, the swelling ratio of cross-linked membrane in different pH buffer solutions was measured. The result showed that the swelling of hydrogel exhibited obvious pH-sensitivity. The swelling ratio was higher at pH 1-4 and pH 7-12, but lower at pH 5-6.

The catalytic cycle of a thiamin diphosphate enzyme examined by cryocrystallography.

Enzymes that use the cofactor thiamin diphosphate (ThDP, 1), the biologically active form of vitamin B(1), are involved in numerous metabolic pathways in all organisms. Although a theory of the cofactor's underlying reaction mechanism has been established over the last five decades, the three-dimensional structures of most major reaction intermediates of ThDP enzymes have remained elusive. Here, we report the X-ray structures of key intermediates in the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, a central reaction in carbon metabolism catalyzed by the ThDP- and flavin-dependent enzyme pyruvate oxidase (POX)3 from Lactobacillus plantarum. The structures of 2-lactyl-ThDP (LThDP, 2) and its stable phosphonate analog, of 2-hydroxyethyl-ThDP (HEThDP, 3) enamine and of 2-acetyl-ThDP (AcThDP, 4; all shown bound to the enzyme's active site) provide profound insights into the chemical mechanisms and the stereochemical course of thiamin catalysis. These snapshots also suggest a mechanism for a phosphate-linked acyl transfer coupled to electron transfer in a radical reaction of pyruvate oxidase.

White biotechnology for green chemistry: fermentative 2-oxocarboxylic acids as novel building blocks for subsequent chemical syntheses.

Functionalized compounds, which are difficult to produce by classical chemical synthesis, are of special interest as biotechnologically available targets. They represent useful building blocks for subsequent organic syntheses, wherein they can undergo stereoselective or regioselective reactions. "White Biotechnology" (as defined by the European Chemical Industry [ http://www.europabio.org/white_biotech.htm ], as part of a sustainable "Green Chemistry,") supports new applications of chemicals produced via biotechnology. Environmental aspects of this interdisciplinary combination include: Use of renewable feedstock Optimization of biotechnological processes by means of: New "high performance" microorganisms On-line measurement of substrates and products in bioreactors Alternative product isolation, resulting in higher yields, and lower energy demand In this overview we describe biotechnologically produced pyruvic, 2-oxopentaric and 2-oxohexaric acids as promising new building blocks for synthetic chemistry. In the first part, the microbial formation of 2-oxocarboxylic acids (2-OCAs) in general, and optimization of the fermentation steps required to form pyruvic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, and 2-oxo-D-gluconic acid are described, highlighting the fundamental advantages in comparison to chemical syntheses. In the second part, a set of chemical formula schemes demonstrate that 2-OCAs are applicable as building blocks in the chemical synthesis of, e.g., hydrophilic triazines, spiro-connected heterocycles, benzotriazines, and pyranoic amino acids. Finally, some perspectives are discussed.

Rational design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of novel factor Xa inhibitors: (2-substituted-4-amidinophenyl)pyruvic and -propionic acids.

An inhibitor of factor Xa (fXa), the m-substituted benzamidine AXC1578 (1a), was structurally modified with the aim of increasing its potency. In particular, pyruvic acid and propionic acid substituents were incorporated into the P1 benzamidine moiety to introduce a favorable interaction with the oxy-anion hole in the catalytic triad region of fXa. This strategy was based on computational docking studies using the extracted active site of fXa. The validity of the computational model was supported by the acquisition of X-ray crystal structures of the 1a-trypsin and 3b-trypsin complexes (the homology around the active sites of fXa and trypsin is high). The above modifications significantly increased the inhibitory activity toward fXa, whereas the high selectivity for fXa versus thrombin was maintained or enhanced. Compounds 3b, 3c, 3e, and 4b are considered to be potential lead compounds for the development of orally active anticoagulant drugs because they demonstrated potent activity when administered orally to cynomolgus monkeys.