Cloning and characterization of Lotus japonicus formate dehydrogenase: a possible correlation with hypoxia.

Formate dehydrogenases (FDHs, EC 1.2.1.2) comprise a group of enzymes found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that catalyse the oxidation of formate to CO(2). FDH1 from the model legume Lotus japonicus (LjFDH1) was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) as soluble active protein. The enzyme was purified using affinity chromatography on Cibacron blue 3GA-Sepharose. The enzymatic properties of the recombinant enzyme were investigated and the kinetic parameters (K(m), k(cat)) for a number of substrates were determined. Molecular modelling studies were also employed to create a model of LjFDH1, based on the known structure of the Pseudomonas sp. 101 enzyme. The molecular model was used to help interpret biochemical data concerning substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. The temporal expression pattern of LjFDH1 gene was studied by real-time RT-PCR in various plant organs and during the development of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Furthermore, the spatial transcript accumulation during nodule development and in young seedpods was determined by in situ RNA-RNA hybridization. These results considered together indicate a possible role of formate oxidation by LjFDH1 in plant tissues characterized by relative hypoxia.

Sulphonamide-based bombesin prodrug analogues for glutathione transferase, useful in targeted cancer chemotherapy.

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are enzymes involved in cellular detoxification by catalysing the nucleophilic attack of glutathione (GSH) on the electrophilic centre of a number of toxic compounds and xenobiotics, including certain chemotherapeutic drugs. The encountered chemotherapeutic resistant of tumour cells, thus, has been associated with the increase of total GST expression. GSTs, in addition to GSH-conjugating activity, exhibit sulphonamidase activity, catalyzing the GSH-mediated hydrolysis of sulphonamide bonds. Such reactions are of interest as potential tumour-directed prodrug activation strategies. In the present work we report the design and synthesis of novel chimaeric sulphonamide derivatives of bombesin, able to be activated by the model human isoenzyme GSTA1-1 (hGSTA1-1). These derivatives bear a peptidyl-moiety (analogues of bombesin peptide: R-[Lue(13)]-bombesin, R-[Phe(13)]-bombesin and R-[Ser(3),Arg(10),Phe(13)]-bombesin, where R=C(6)H(5)SO(2)NH-) as molecular recognition element for targeting the drug selectively to tumour cells. The released S-alkyl-glutathione, after hGSTA1-1-mediated cleavage of the sulphonamide bond, provides an inhibitor of varied strength against GSTs from different sources. These prodrugs are envisaged as a plausible means to sensitize drug-resistant tumours that overexpress GSTs.