The moonlighting activities of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase: Biotechnological and biomedical applications.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) is a homodimeric flavin-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the NAD+ -dependent oxidation of dihydrolipoamide. The enzyme is part of several multi-enzyme complexes such as the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase system that transforms pyruvate into acetyl-co-A. Concomitantly with its redox activity, DLDH produces Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are involved in cellular apoptotic processes. DLDH possesses several moonlighting functions. One of these is the capacity to adhere to metal-oxides surfaces. This was first exemplified by the presence of an exocellular form of the enzyme on the cell-wall surface of Rhodococcus ruber. This capability was evolutionarily conserved and identified in the human, mitochondrial, DLDH. The enzyme was modified with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) groups, which enabled its interaction with integrin-rich cancer cells followed by "integrin-assisted-endocytosis." This allowed harnessing the enzyme for cancer therapy. Combining the TiO2 -binding property with DLDH's ROS-production, enabled us to develop several medical applications including improving oesseointegration of TiO2 -based implants and photodynamic treatment for melanoma. The TiO2 -binding sites of both the bacterial and human DLDH's were identified on the proteins' molecules at regions that overlap with the binding site of E3-binding protein (E3BP). This protein is essential in forming the multiunit structure of PDC. Another moonlighting activity of DLDH, which is described in this Review, is its DNA-binding capacity that may affect DNA chelation and shredding leading to apoptotic processes in living cells. The typical ROS-generation by DLDH, which occurs in association with its enzymatic activity and its implications in cancer and apoptotic cell death are also discussed.

Targeting the Achilles' heel of cancer cells via integrin-mediated delivery of ROS-generating dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase.

Cancer cells frequently exhibit higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than normal cells and when ROS levels increase beyond a cellular tolerability threshold, cancer cell death is enhanced. The mitochondrial dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) is an enzyme which produces ROS in association with its oxidoreductive activity and may be thus utilized as an exogenous anticancer agent. As cancer cells often overexpress integrins that recognize RGD-containing proteins, we have bioengineered the human DLDH with RGD motifs (DLDHRGD) for integrin-mediated drug delivery. The modified protein fully retained its enzyme activity and ROS-production capability. DLDHRGD uptake by cells was shown to depend on the presence of cell-associated integrin αvß3, as comparatively demonstrated with normal kidney cells (HEK293) transfected with either ß1 (αvß1 positive) or ß3 integrins (αvß3 positive). The interaction with ß3 integrins was shown to be competitively inhibited by an RGD peptide. In mice melanoma cells (B16F10), which highly express an endogenous αvß3 integrin, fast cellular uptake of DLDHRGD which resulted in cell number reduction, apoptosis induction, and a parallel intracellular ROS production was shown. Similar results were obtained with additional human melanoma cell models (A375, WM3314, and WM3682). In contrast, HEK293ß3 cells remained intact following DLDHRGD uptake. The high pharmacological safety profile of DLDHRGD has been observed by several modes of administrations in BALB/C or C57Bl/6 mouse strains. Treatments with DLDHRGD in a subcutaneous melanoma mice model resulted in significant tumor inhibition. Our study demonstrated, in vitro and in vivo, the development of a unique platform, which targets cancer cells via integrin-mediated drug delivery of an exogenous ROS-generating drug.

Improved performance Air bio-battery based on efficient oxygen supply with a gas/liquid highly-porous diaphragm cell.

Performance of a glucose-driven bio-battery was improved by enhancing electrode characteristics and oxygen supply efficiency to a cathode. The bio-battery generates electric power from glucose through three enzymatic reactions using glucose dehydrogenase, diaphorase and bilirubin oxidase. A flexible and thin Pt electrode was employed instead of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode on which enzymes, a coenzyme, and mediators were immobilized by layer-by-layer method. The maximum current and power densities of the constructed bio-battery were 257 ±â€¯22 µA/cm2 and 86 ±â€¯3 µW/cm2, respectively, in 5 mM glucose solution. In addition, a newly designed compact gas/liquid diaphragm cell, which allowed to reduce the internal resistance by shortening the anode-cathode distance and enhance oxygen supply to a cathode using a highly-porous cotton mesh diaphragm, was implemented to the bio-battery to develop a high-performance Air bio-battery. As a result, improved Air bio-battery showed the maximum current and power densities of 451 ±â€¯27 µA/cm2 and 162 ±â€¯7 µW/cm2, which was 3.6-fold improvement from the previous GC electrode-based bio-battery. In addition, continuous operation for 210 min revealed high stability of power generation as it decreased by 3.3% at the end of operation. Additional supply of oxygen to a cathode exhibited proportional increase of the power density to the oxygen concentration, which demonstrates a promising potential of Air bio-battery for a high-performance and continuous powering device.

Why are the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes so large? Generation of an active trimeric complex.

The four-component polypeptides of the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complex from the thermophilic archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum assemble to give an active multienzyme complex possessing activity with the branched-chain 2-oxoacids derived from leucine, isoleucine and valine, and with pyruvate. The dihydrolipoyl acyl-transferase (E2) core of the complex is composed of identical trimer-forming units that assemble into a novel 42-mer structure comprising octahedral and icosahedral geometric aspects. From our previously determined structure of this catalytic core, the inter-trimer interactions involve a tyrosine residue near the C-terminus secured in a hydrophobic pocket of an adjacent trimer like a ball-and-socket joint. In the present study, we have deleted the five C-terminal amino acids of the E2 polypeptide (IIYEI) and shown by equilibrium centrifugation that it now only assembles into a trimeric enzyme. This was confirmed by SAXS analysis, although this technique showed the presence of approximately 20% hexamers. The crystal structure of the trimeric truncated E2 core has been determined and shown to be virtually identical with the ones observed in the 42-mer, demonstrating that removal of the C-terminal anchor does not significantly affect the individual monomer or trimer structures. The truncated E2 is still able to bind both 2-oxoacid decarboxylase (E1) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) components to give an active complex with catalytic activity similar to the native multienzyme complex. This is the first report of an active mini-complex for this enzyme, and raises the question of why all 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes assemble into such large structures.

On the mechanism underlying tellurite reduction by Aeromonas caviae ST dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase.

The dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LpdA) from the tellurite-resistant bacterium Aeromonas caviae ST reduces tellurite to elemental tellurium. To characterize this NADH-dependent activity, the A. caviae lpdA gene was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis and genes containing C45A, H322Y and E354K substitutions were individually transformed into Escherichia coli Δlpd. Cells expressing the modified genes exhibited decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase and TR activity regarding that observed with the wild type A. caviae lpdA gene. In addition, cells expressing the altered lpdA genes showed increased oxidative stress levels and tellurite sensitivity than those carrying the wild type counterpart. The involvement of Cys residues in LpdA's TR activity was analyzed using specific inhibitors that interact with catalytic cysteines and/or disulfide bridges such as aurothiomalate, zinc or nickel. TR activity of purified LpdA was drastically affected by these compounds. Since LpdA belongs to the flavoprotein family, the involvement of the FAD/NAD(P)(+)-binding domain in TR activity was determined. FAD removal from purified LpdA results in loss of TR activity, which was restored with exogenously added FAD. Substitutions in E354, involved in FAD/NADH binding, resulted in low TR activity because of flavin loss. Finally, changing H322 (involved in NAD(+)/NADH binding) by tyrosine also resulted in altered TR activity.

A core metabolic enzyme mediates resistance to phosphine gas.

Phosphine is a small redox-active gas that is used to protect global grain reserves, which are threatened by the emergence of phosphine resistance in pest insects. We find that polymorphisms responsible for genetic resistance cluster around the redox-active catalytic disulfide or the dimerization interface of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) in insects (Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum) and nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans). DLD is a core metabolic enzyme representing a new class of resistance factor for a redox-active metabolic toxin. It participates in four key steps of core metabolism, and metabolite profiles indicate that phosphine exposure in mutant and wild-type animals affects these steps differently. Mutation of DLD in C. elegans increases arsenite sensitivity. This specific vulnerability may be exploited to control phosphine-resistant insects and safeguard food security.

Detection and characterisation of NAD(P)H-diaphorase activity in Dictyostelium discoideum cells (Protozoa).

In Dictyostelium discoideum (D. discoideum), compounds generating nitric oxide (NO) inhibit its aggregation and differentiation without altering cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production. They do it by preventing initiation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pulses. Furthermore, these compounds stimulate adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation of a 41 kDa cytosolic protein and regulate the glyceraldehyde-3-phospate dehydrogenase activity. Yet, although D. discoideum cells produce NO at a relatively constant rate at the onset of their developmental cycle, there is still no evidence of the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes. In this work, we detect the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity in D. discoideum and we characterise it by specific inhibitors and physical-chemical conditions that allegedly distinguish between NOS-related and -unrelated NADPH-d activity.

Nongradient blue native gel analysis of serum proteins and in-gel detection of serum esterase activities.

The objective of the present study was to analyze serum protein complexes and detect serum esterase activities using nongradient blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE). For analysis of potential protein complexes, serum from rat was used. Results demonstrate that a total of 8 gel bands could be clearly distinguished after Coomassie blue staining, and serum albumin could be isolated nearly as a pure protein. Moreover, proteins in these bands were identified by electrospray mass spectrometry and low-energy collision induced dissociation (CID)-MS/MS peptide sequencing and the existence of serum dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) was confirmed. For studies of in-gel detection of esterase activities, serum from rat, mouse, and human was used. In-gel staining of esterase activity was achieved by the use of either α-naphthylacetate or ß-naphthylacetate in the presence of Fast blue BB salt. There were three bands exhibiting esterase activities in the serum of both rat and mouse. In contrast, there was only one band showing esterase activity staining in the human serum. When serum samples were treated with varying concentrations of urea, esterase activity staining was abolished for all the bands except the one containing esterase 1 (Es1) protein that is known to be a single polypeptide enzyme, indicating that majority of these esterases were protein complexes or multimeric proteins. We also identified the human serum esterase as butyrylcholinesterase following isolation and partial purification using ammonium sulfate fractioning and ion exchange column chromatographies. Where applicable, demonstrations of the gel-based method for measuring serum esterase activities under physiological or pathophysiological conditions were illustrated. Results of the present study demonstrate that nongradient BN-PAGE can serve as a feasible analytical tool for proteomic and enzymatic analysis of serum proteins.

Triazaspirodimethoxybenzoyls as selective inhibitors of mycobacterial lipoamide dehydrogenase .

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains the leading single cause of death from bacterial infection. Here we explored the possibility of species-selective inhibition of lipoamide dehydrogenase (Lpd), an enzyme central to Mtb's intermediary metabolism and antioxidant defense. High-throughput screening of combinatorial chemical libraries identified triazaspirodimethoxybenzoyls as high-nanomolar inhibitors of Mtb's Lpd that were noncompetitive versus NADH, NAD(+), and lipoamide and >100-fold selective compared to human Lpd. Efficacy required the dimethoxy and dichlorophenyl groups. The structure of an Lpd-inhibitor complex was resolved to 2.42 A by X-ray crystallography, revealing that the inhibitor occupied a pocket adjacent to the Lpd NADH/NAD(+) binding site. The inhibitor did not overlap with the adenosine moiety of NADH/NAD(+) but did overlap with positions predicted to bind the nicotinamide rings in NADH and NAD(+) complexes. The dimethoxy ring occupied a deep pocket adjacent to the FAD flavin ring where it would block coordination of the NADH nicotinamide ring, while the dichlorophenyl group occupied a more exposed pocket predicted to coordinate the NAD(+) nicotinamide. Several residues that are not conserved between the bacterial enzyme and its human homologue were predicted to contribute both to inhibitor binding and to species selectivity, as confirmed for three residues by analysis of the corresponding mutant Mtb Lpd proteins. Thus, nonconservation of residues lining the electron-transfer tunnel in Mtb Lpd can be exploited for development of species-selective Lpd inhibitors.

Moonlighting protein in Starkeyomyces koorchalomoides: characterization of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase as a protein acetyltransferase utilizing acetoxycoumarin as the acetyl group donor.

In this report we have identified for the first time a transacetylase (TAase) in a mesophilic fungi Starkeyomyces koorchalomoides catalyzing the transfer of acetyl group from polyphenolic acetate (PA) to a receptor protein glutathione S-transferase (GST). An elegant assay procedure was established for TAase based on its ability to mediate inhibition of GST by 7,8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC), a model PA. Utilizing this assay procedure, S. koorchalomoides TAase was purified to homogeneity. TAase was found to have MW of 50 kDa. The purified enzyme exhibited maximum activity at 45 degrees C at pH 6.8. The N-terminal sequence of purified fungal TAase (ANDASTVED) showed identity with corresponding N-terminal sequence of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH), a mitochondrial matrix enzyme and an E3 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC). TAase was found to have all the properties of LADH and avidly interacted with the anti-LADH antibody. TAase catalyzed acetylation of GST by DAMC was identified by LC-MS/MS and a single lysine residue (Lys-113) was found to be acetylated. Further, recombinant LADH from Streptococcus pneumoniae lacking lipoyl domain was found to exhibit little TAase activity, suggesting the role of lipoyl domain in the TAase activity of LADH. These observations bear evidence for the protein acetyltransferase activity of LADH. Such an activity of LADH can be attributed as a moonlighting function of the enzyme.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase mediates retention of coronin-1 on BCG vacuoles, leading to arrest in phagosome maturation.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades the innate antimicrobial defenses of macrophages by inhibiting the maturation of its phagosome to a bactericidal phagolysosome. Despite intense studies of the mycobacterial phagosome, the mechanism of mycobacterial persistence dependent on prolonged phagosomal retention of the coat protein coronin-1 is still unclear. The present study demonstrated that several mycobacterial proteins traffic intracellularly in M. bovis BCG-infected cells and that one of them, with an apparent subunit size of M(r) 50,000, actively retains coronin-1 on the phagosomal membrane. This protein was initially termed coronin-interacting protein (CIP)50 and was shown to be also expressed by M. tuberculosis but not by the non-pathogenic species M. smegmatis. Cell-free system experiments using a GST-coronin-1 construct showed that binding of CIP50 to coronin-1 required cholesterol. Thereafter, mass spectrometry sequencing identified mycobacterial lipoamide dehydrogenase C (LpdC) as a coronin-1 binding protein. M. smegmatis over-expressing Mtb LpdC protein acquired the capacity to maintain coronin-1 on the phagosomal membrane and this prolonged its survival within the macrophage. Importantly, IFNgamma-induced phagolysosome fusion in cells infected with BCG resulted in the dissociation of the LpdC-coronin-1 complex by a mechanism dependent, at least in part, on IFNgamma-induced LRG-47 expression. These findings provide further support for the relevance of the LpdC-coronin-1 interaction in phagosome maturation arrest.

Thermal unfolding process of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase studied by fluorescence spectroscopy.

The thermal unfolding pathway for dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LipDH) isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus was investigated focusing on the transient intermediate state characterized through time-resolved fluorescence studies. The decrease in ellipticity in the far UV region in the CD spectrum, the fluorescence spectral change of Trp-91 and FAD, and the thermal enzymatic inactivation curve consistently demonstrated that LipDH unfolded irreversibly on heat treatment at higher than 65 degrees C. LipDH took a transient intermediate state during the thermal unfolding process which could refold back into the native state. In this state, the internal rotation of FAD was activated in the polypeptide cage and correspondingly LipDH showed a peculiar conformation. The transient intermediate state of LipDH characterized in time-resolved fluorescence depolarization studies showed very similar properties to the molten-globule state, which has been confirmed in many studies on protein folding.

How dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding protein binds dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase in the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

The dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding protein (E3BP) and the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) component enzyme form the structural core of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex by providing the binding sites for two other component proteins, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), as well as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases and phosphatases. Despite a high similarity between the primary structures of E3BP and E2, the E3-binding domain of human E3BP is highly specific to human E3, whereas the E1-binding domain of human E2 is highly specific to human E1. In this study, we characterized binding of human E3 to the E3-binding domain of E3BP by x-ray crystallography at 2.6-angstroms resolution, and we used this structural information to interpret the specificity for selective binding. Two subunits of E3 form a single recognition site for the E3-binding domain of E3BP through their hydrophobic interface. The hydrophobic residues Pro133, Pro154, and Ile157 in the E3-binding domain of E3BP insert themselves into the surface of both E3 polypeptide chains. Numerous ionic and hydrogen bonds between the residues of three interacting polypeptide chains adjacent to the central hydrophobic patch add to the stability of the subcomplex. The specificity of pairing for human E3BP with E3 is interpreted from its subcomplex structure to be most likely due to conformational rigidity of the binding fragment of the E3-binding domain of E3BP and its exquisite amino acid match with the E3 target interface.

Characterization of a new member of the flavoprotein disulfide reductase family of enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The lpdA (Rv3303c) gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis encoding a new member of the flavoprotein disulfide reductases was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant LpdA protein was purified to homogeneity. LpdA is a homotetramer and co-purifies with one molecule of tightly but noncovalently bound FAD and NADP+ per monomer. Although annotated as a probable lipoamide dehydrogenase in M. tuberculosis, LpdA cannot catalyze reduction of lipoyl substrates, because it lacks one of two cysteine residues involved in dithiol-disulfide interchange with lipoyl substrates and a His-Glu pair involved in general acid catalysis. The crystal structure of LpdA was solved by multiple isomorphous replacement with anomalous scattering, which confirmed the absence of these catalytic residues from the active site. Although LpdA cannot catalyze reduction of disulfide-bonded substrates, it catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of alternative electron acceptors such as 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthaquinone. Significant primary deuterium kinetic isotope effects were observed with [4S-2H]NADH establishing that the enzyme promotes transfer of the C4-proS hydride of NADH. The absence of an isotope effect with [4S-2H]NADPH, the low Km value of 0.5 microm for NADPH, and the potent inhibition of the NADH-dependent reduction of 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone by NADP+ (Ki approximately 6 nm) and 2'-phospho-ADP-ribose (Ki approximately 800 nm), demonstrate the high affinity of LpdA for 2'-phosphorylated nucleotides and that the physiological substrate/product pair is NADPH/NADP+ rather than NADH/NAD+. Modeling of NADP+ in the active site revealed that LpdA achieves the high specificity for NADP+ through interactions involving the 2'-phosphate of NADP+ and amino acid residues that are different from those in glutathione reductase.

Organization of the cores of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex formed by E2 and E2 plus the E3-binding protein and their capacities to bind the E1 and E3 components.

The subunits of the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) component of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex can form a 60-mer via association of the C-terminal I domain of E2 at the vertices of a dodecahedron. Exterior to this inner core structure, E2 has a pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1)-binding domain followed by two lipoyl domains, all connected by mobile linker regions. The assembled core structure of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex also includes the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3)-binding protein (E3BP) that binds the I domain of E2 by its C-terminal I' domain. E3BP similarly has linker regions connecting an E3-binding domain and a lipoyl domain. The composition of E2.E3BP was thought to be 60 E2 plus approximately 12 E3BP. We have prepared homogenous human components. E2 and E2.E3BP have s(20,w) values of 36 S and 31.8 S, respectively. Equilibrium sedimentation and small angle x-ray scattering studies indicate that E2.E3BP has lower total mass than E2, and small angle x-ray scattering showed that E3 binds to E2.E3BP outside the central dodecahedron. In the presence of saturating levels of E1, E2 bound approximately 60 E1 and maximally sedimented 64.4 +/- 1.5 S faster than E2, whereas E1-saturated E2.E3BP maximally sedimented 49.5 +/- 1.4 S faster than E2.E3BP. Based on the impact on sedimentation rates by bound E1, we estimate fewer E1 (approximately 12) were bound by E2.E3BP than by E2. The findings of a smaller E2.E3BP mass and a lower capacity to bind E1 support the smaller E3BP substituting for E2 subunits rather than adding to the 60-mer. We describe a substitution model in which 12 I' domains of E3BP replace 12 I domains of E2 by forming 6 dimer edges that are symmetrically located in the dodecahedron structure. Twelve E3 dimers were bound per E248.E3BP12 mass, which is consistent with this model.

Reduction of Fe(III) ions complexed to physiological ligands by lipoyl dehydrogenase and other flavoenzymes in vitro: implications for an enzymatic reduction of Fe(III) ions of the labile iron pool.

Enzymatic reduction of physiological Fe(III) complexes of the "labile iron pool" has not been studied so far. By use of spectrophotometric assays based on the oxidation of NAD(P)H and formation of [Fe(II) (1,10-phenanthroline)3]2+ as well as by utilizing electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry, it was demonstrated that the NAD(P)H-dependent flavoenzyme lipoyl dehydrogenase (diaphorase, EC 1.8.1.4) effectively catalyzes the one-electron reduction of Fe(III) complexes of citrate, ATP, and ADP at the expense of the co-enzymes NAD(P)H. Deactivated or inhibited lipoyl dehydrogenase did not reduce the Fe(III) complexes. Likewise, in the absence of NAD(P)H or in the presence of NAD(P)+, Fe(III) reduction could not be detected. The fact that reduction also occurred in the absence of molecular oxygen as well as in the presence of superoxide dismutase proved that the Fe(III) reduction was directly linked to the enzymatic activity of lipoyl dehydrogenase and not mediated by O2. Kinetic studies revealed different affinities of lipoyl dehydrogenase for the reduction of the low molecular weight Fe(III) complexes in the relative order Fe(III)-citrate > Fe(III)-ATP > Fe(III)-ADP (half-maximal velocities at 346-485 microm). These Fe(III) complexes were enzymatically reduced also by other flavoenzymes, namely glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2), cytochrome c reductase (EC 1.6.99.3), and cytochrome P450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4) with somewhat lower efficacy. The present data suggest a (patho)physiological role for lipoyl dehydrogenase and other flavoenzymes in intracellular iron metabolism.

Phenothiazine radicals inactivate Trypanosoma cruzi dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase: enzyme protection by radical scavengers.

Phenothiazine cation radicals (PTZ+*) irreversibly inactivated Trypanosoma cruzi dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH). These radicals were obtained by phenothiazine (PTZ) peroxidation with myeloperoxidase (MPO) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP/H2O2) systems. LADH inactivation depended on PTZ structure and incubation time. After 10 min incubation of LADH with the MPO-dependent systems, promazine, trimeprazine and thioridazine were the most effective; after 30 min incubation, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine and promethazine were similarly effective. HRP-dependent systems were equally or more effective than the corresponding MPO-dependent ones. Chloro, trifluoro, propionyl and nitrile groups at position 2 of the PTZ ring significantly decreased molecular activity, specially with the MPO/H2O2 systems. Comparison of inactivation values for LADH and T. cruzi trypanothione reductase demonstrated a greater sensitivity of LADH to chlorpromazine and perphenazine and a 10-fold lower sensitivity to promazine, thioridazine and trimeprazine. Alkylamino, alkyl-piperidinyl or alkyl-piperazinyl groups at position 10 modulated PTZ activity to a limited degree. Production of PTZ+* radicals was demonstrated by optical and ESR spectroscopy methods. PTZ+* radicals stability depended on their structure as demonstrated by promazine and thioridazine radicals. Thiol compounds such as GSH and N-acetylcysteine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, the corresponding peptides, ascorbate and Trolox, prevented LADH inactivation by the MPO/H2O2/thioridazine system, in close agreement with their action as PTZ+* scavengers. NADH (not NAD+) produced transient protection of LADH against thioridazine and promazine radicals, the protection kinetics being affected by the relatively fast rate of NADH oxidation by these radicals. The role of the observed effects of PTZ radicals for PTZ cytotoxicity is discussed.

Isozymes in Aegilops kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis x Secale cereale hybrids and Ae. kotschyi x S. cereale amphiploids in relation to their parents.

Seven enzymatic systems in F1 Aegilops kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis x Secale cereale hybrids, Aegilops kotschyi x S. cereale amphiploids and their parental species (Ae. kotschyi, Ae. biuncialis and S. cereale) were analysed by starch and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Five of them (phosphoglucose isomerase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, esterase, acid phosphatase, and diaphorase) were polymorphic and two (malic dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase) were monomorphic. Several isophorms of phosphoclucose isomerase, esterase, acid phosphatase, and diaphorase were detected in some hybrids and amphiploids, but absent in the parents. The role of regulators, translocations and recombination is discussed in relation to the origin of these new isophorms. Some parental isozymes were absent both in hybrids and amphiploids, probably as a result of the suppression of structural genes in new combinations of the three genomes.

Activity of human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is reduced by mutation at threonine-44 of FAD-binding region to valine.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) is a member of the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase family. Thr residues are highly conserved. They are at the active site disulfide-bond regions of most E3s and other oxidoreductases. The crystal structure of Azotobacter vinelandii E3 suggests that the hydroxyl group of Thr that are involved in the FAD binding interact with the adenosine phosphate of FAD. However, several prokaryotic E3s have Val instead of Thr. To investigate the meaning and importance of the Thr conservation in many E3s, the corresponding residue, Thr-44, in human E3 was substituted to Val by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant's E3 activity showed about a 2.2-fold decrease. Its UV-visible and fluorescence spectra indicated that the mutant might have a slightly different microenvironment at the FAD-binding region.

Tissue-specific and developmental-specific expression of an Arabidopsis thaliana gene encoding the lipoamide dehydrogenase component of the plastid pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

We describe an Arabidopsis thaliana gene, ptlpd2, which codes for a protein with high amino acid similarity to lipoamide dehydrogenases (LPDs) from diverse species. Ptlpd2 codes for a precursor protein possessing an N-terminal extension predicted to be a plastid-targeting signal. Expression of the ptlpd2 cDNA in Escherichia coli showed the encoded protein possessed the predicted LPD activity. PTLPD2 protein, synthesized in vitro, was efficiently imported into isolated chloroplasts of Pisum sativum and shown to be located in the stroma. In addition, fusion proteins containing the predicted transit peptide of PTLPD2 or the entire protein fused at the N-terminus with the green fluorescent protein (GFP), showed accumulation in vivo in chloroplasts but not in mitochondria of A. thaliana. Expression of ptlpd2 was investigated by introducing ptlpd2 promoter-beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene fusions into Nicotiana tabacum. GUS expression was observed in seeds, flowers, root tips and young leaves. GUS activity was highest in mature seeds, decreased on germination and increased again in young leaves. Expression was also found to be temporally regulated in pollen grains where it was highest in mature grains at dehiscence. Database searches on ptlpd2 sequences identified a second A. thaliana gene encoding a putative plastidial LPD and two genes encoding proteins with high similarity to the mitochondrial LPD of P. sativum.