Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: region-specific analysis of organic acids and acylcarnitines in post mortem brain predicts vulnerability of the putamen.

The neurometabolic disorder glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) deficiency is biochemically characterised by an accumulation of the marker metabolites 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, glutaric acid, and glutarylcarnitine. If untreated, the disease is complicated by acute encephalopathic crises, resulting in neurodegeneration of vulnerable brain regions, in particular the putamen. 3-hydroxyglutaric acid is considered the major neurotoxin in this disease. There are only preliminary data concerning glutaric acid concentrations in the brains of affected children and the distribution of 3-hydroxyglutaric acid and glutarylcarnitine has not been described. In the present study, we investigated post mortem the distribution of 3-hydroxyglutaric and glutaric acids as well as glutarylcarnitine in 14 different brain regions, internal organs, and body fluids (urine, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid) in a 14-year-old boy. 3-Hydroxyglutaric acid showed the highest concentration (62 nmol/g protein) in the putamen among all brain areas investigated. The glutarylcarnitine concentration was also highest in the putamen (7.1 nmol/g protein). We suggest that the regional-specific differences in the relative concentrations of 3-hydroxyglutaric acid contribute to the pattern of neuronal damage in this disease. These results provide an explanatory basis for the high vulnerability of the putamen in this disease, adding to the strong corticostriatal glutamatergic input into the putamen and the high excitotoxic susceptibility of neostriatal medium spiny neurons.

Changes in the ornithine cycle following ionising radiation cause a cytotoxic conditioning of the culture medium of H35 hepatoma cells.

Cultured H35 hepatoma cells release a cytotoxic factor in response to irradiation with X-rays. When the conditioned medium from irradiated cells is given to nonirradiated cells, growth is inhibited and followed by cell death, possibly apoptosis, Analysis of the conditioned medium reveals a dramatic change in the ornithine (urea) cycle components after the irradiation. A strong decrease in medium arginine is accompanied with parallel increases in ornithine, citrulline and ammonia. The high level of ammonia appears to be largely responsible for the observed cytotoxicity. The development of hyperammonia by irradiated cells and the related toxicity depend on the radiation dose and the number of cells seeded thereafter for the medium conditioning. Development of cytotoxicity by irradiated cells is completely prevented with the arginase inhibitor L-norvaline, in arginine-deficient medium or when citrulline replaces arginine. These preventive measures result in subtoxic ammonia levels.

Quantification of 3-hydroxyglutaric acid in urine, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and amniotic fluid by stable-isotope dilution negative chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

This paper describes a stable isotope dilution method for quantification of 3-hydroxyglutaric acid (3-HGA) in body fluids. The method comprises a solid-phase extraction procedure, followed by gas chromatographic separation and negative chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection. This method is selective and sensitive, and enables measurement of 3-HGA concentrations in urine-, plasma-, and CSF- samples of controls. The control ranges for 3-HGA were: urine 0.88-4.5 mmol/mol creatinine (n=12); plasma 0.018-0.10 micro mol/l (n=10), CSF 0.022-0.067 micro mol/l (n=10). We applied this method to measure 3-HGA in body fluids of three patients with glutaric aciduria type I. We also quantified 3-HGA in amniotic fluid of controls (range 0.056-0.11 micro mol/l; n=12) and in two samples from fetuses affected with glutaric aciduria type I.

Focal neurometabolic alterations in mice deficient for succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Metabolite profiling in succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH; Aldh5a1-/-) deficient mice previously revealed elevated gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and total GABA in urine and total brain and liver extracts. In this study, we extend our metabolic characterization of these mutant mice by documenting elevated GHB and total GABA in homogenates of mutant kidney, pancreas and heart. We quantified beta-alanine (a GABA homolog and putative neurotransmitter) to address its potential role in pathophysiology. We found normal levels of beta-alanine in urine and total homogenates of mutant brain, heart and pancreas, but elevated concentrations in mutant kidney and liver extracts. Amino acid analysis in mutant total brain homogenates revealed no abnormalities except for significantly decreased glutamine, which was normal in mutant liver and kidney extracts. Regional amino acid analysis (frontal cortex, parietal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum) in mutant mice confirmed glutamine results. Glutamine synthetase protein and mRNA levels in homogenates of mutant mouse brain were normal. We profiled organic acid patterns in mutant brain homogenates to assess brain oxidative metabolism and found normal concentrations of Kreb's cycle intermediates but increased 4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid (a postulated derivative of succinic semialdehyde) levels. We conclude that SSADH-deficient mice represent a valid metabolic model of human SSADH deficiency, manifesting focal neurometabolic abnormalities which could provide key insights into pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Development of a stable-isotope dilution assay for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase in isolated leukocytes and evidence that GABA and beta-alanine transaminases are identical.

BACKGROUND: Several methods have been published for measuring gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) activity, but these methods are either impracticable because of the use of radioisotopes or insufficiently sensitive to determine small enzyme activities in leukocyte extracts. We developed a direct and sensitive enzyme method. METHODS: We developed a stable-isotope dilution method for the measurement of [15N]glutamic acid derived from [15N]GABA and alpha-ketoglutaric acid, catalyzed by GABA-T. The method for analysis of [15N]glutamic acid comprised a solid-phase extraction procedure to isolate this analyte from incubation samples. After derivatization, [15N]glutamic acid was quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry relative to its 2H5-labeled internal standard. In addition to [15N]GABA, [15N]beta-alanine was a cosubstrate. RESULTS: GABA-T-deficient lymphoblasts showed diminished enzyme activity, with both [15N]GABA and [15N]beta-alanine as substrate. Vigabatrin inhibited the enzyme activity for both substrates. CONCLUSIONS: The activity of GABA-T can be accurately determined by our procedure using 15N-labeled substrate, measuring the formation of [15N]glutamic acid. Our results with [15N]beta-alanine indicate that GABA and beta-alanine transaminases are identical.

Analysis of pristanic acid beta-oxidation intermediates in plasma from healthy controls and patients affected with peroxisomal disorders by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

In this paper we report the development of highly sensitive, selective, and accurate stable isotope dilution gas chromatography negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS) methods for quantification of peroxisomal beta-oxidation intermediates of pristanic acid in human plasma: 2,3-pristenic acid, 3-hydroxypristanic acid, and 3-ketopristanic acid. The carboxylic groups of the intermediates were converted into pentafluorobenzyl esters, whereas hydroxyl groups were acetylated and ketogroups were methoximized. Hereafter, the samples were subjected to clean-up by high performance liquid chromatography. Analyses were performed by selected monitoring of the carboxylate anions of the derivatives. Control values of all three metabolites were established (2,3-pristenic acid: 2-48 nm, 3-hydroxypristanic acid: 0.02-0.81 nm, 3-ketopristanic acid: 0.07-1.45 nm). A correlation between the concentrations of pristanic acid and its intermediates in plasma was found. The diagnostic value of the methods is illustrated by measurements of the intermediates in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorders. It is shown that in generalized peroxisomal disorders, the absolute concentrations of 2,3-pristenic acid, 3-hydroxypristanic acid, and 3-ketopristanic acid were comparable to those in the controls, whereas relative to the pristanic acid concentrations these intermediates were significantly decreased. In bifunctional protein deficiency, elevated levels of 2,3-pristenic acid and 3-hydroxypristanic acid were found. 3-Ketopristanic acid, although within the normal range, was relatively low when compared to the high pristanic acid levels in these patients.-Verhoeven, N. M., D. S. M. Schor, E. A. Struys, E. E. W. Jansen, H. J. ten Brink, R. J. A. Wanders, and C. Jakobs. Analysis of pristanic acid beta-oxidation intermediates in plasma from healthy controls and patients affected with peroxisomal disorders by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Pristanic acid beta-oxidation in peroxisomal disorders: studies in cultured human fibroblasts.

To investigate the individual steps of peroxisomal beta-oxidation, human fibroblasts from controls and patients affected by different peroxisomal disorders were incubated for 96 h with pristanic acid. Hereafter, 2,3-pristenic acid and 3-hydroxypristanic acid in the incubation medium were quantified by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In control fibroblasts, both intermediates were formed and excreted into the medium in significant amounts. In cells from patients affected with different types of generalized peroxisomal disorders, the formation of both intermediates was absent or low, depending on the clinical severity of the disorder. In fibroblasts from patients affected with bifunctional protein deficiency, the concentrations of 2,3-pristenic acid and 3-hydroxypristanic acid in the medium were higher than in control cell lines.

Phytanic acid alpha-oxidation in peroxisomal disorders: studies in cultured human fibroblasts.

We studied the alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid in human fibroblasts of controls and patients affected with classical Refsum disease, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, generalized peroxisomal disorders and peroxisomal bifunctional protein deficiency. Cultured fibroblasts were incubated with phytanic acid, after which medium and cells were collected separately. 2-Hydroxyphytanic acid and pristanic acid were measured in the medium and cells by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry. In controls, 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and pristanic acid could be detected in the medium after incubation with phytanic acid, proving that alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid via 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA to pristanic acid was active and intermediates were excreted into the medium. In cells from patients with a defective alpha-oxidation (Refsum disease, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata and generalized peroxisomal disorders) 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and pristanic acid were low or not detectable, showing that in these disorders the hydroxylation of phytanoyl-CoA to 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA is deficient. In cells with a peroxisomal beta-oxidation defect, 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and pristanic acid were formed in amounts comparable to those in the controls.

Phytanic acid alpha-oxidation: decarboxylation of 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA to pristanic acid in human liver.

The degradation of the first intermediate in the alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid, 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA, was investigated. Human liver homogenates were incubated with 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA or 2-hydroxyphytanic acid, after which formation of 2-ketophytanic acid and pristanic acid were studied. 2-Hydroxyphytanic acid was converted into 2-ketophytanic acid and pristanic acid. When ATP, Mg2+, and coenzyme A were added to the incubation medium, higher amounts of pristanic acid were formed, whereas the formation of 2-ketophytanic acid strongly decreased. When 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA was used as substrate, there was virtually no 2-ketophytanic acid formation. However, pristanic acid was formed in higher amounts than with 2-hydroxyphytanic acid as substrate. This reaction was stimulated by NAD+ and NADP+. Pristanic acid, and not pristanoyl-CoA was found to be the product of the reaction. These results suggest the existence of two pathways for decarboxylation of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid. The first one, starting from 2-hydroxyphytanic acid, involves the formation of 2-ketophytanic acid with only a small amount of pristanic acid being formed. The second pathway, which starts from 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA, does not involve 2-ketophytanic acid and generates higher amounts of pristanic acid. The first pathway, which is peroxisomally localized, was found to be deficient in Zellweger syndrome, whereas the second pathway, localized in microsomes, was normally active. We conclude that the second pathway is predominant under in vivo conditions.

Resolution of the phytanic acid alpha-oxidation pathway: identification of pristanal as product of the decarboxylation of 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA.

The structure and enzymology of the phytanic acid alpha-oxidation pathway have long remained an enigma. Recent studies have shown that phytanic acid first undergoes activation to its coenzyme A ester, followed by hydroxylation to 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA. In this paper we have studied the mechanism of decarboxylation of 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA in human liver. To this end, human liver homogenates were incubated with 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA in the presence or absence of NAD+. Hereafter, the medium was analyzed for the presence of pristanal and pristanic acid by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Our results show that pristanal is formed from 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA. Pristanal is subsequently oxidized to pristanic acid in a NAD+ dependent reaction. These results finally resolve the mechanism of the phytanic acid alpha-oxidation process in human liver.

Stable isotope studies of phytanic acid alpha-oxidation: in vivo production of formic acid.

The aim of this study was to test whether formate is formed during alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid in humans. To a healthy volunteer, [1-13C]phytanic acid was given as an oral substrate in a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight, after which plasma, urine and breath air samples were collected during 35 h. The plasma concentrations of [1-13C]-phytanic acid, 2-hydroxy[1-13C]phytanic acid, pristanic acid and [13C]formate were analysed. The [1-13C]phytanic acid concentration increased within 5-7 h to 105 mumol/l, then decreased. Formation of 2-hydroxy[1-13C]phytanic acid increased during the first 11 h after which it decreased during the next 20 h. Pristanic acid increased slightly during the test. In breath air, 13CO2 enrichment was measured, showing a cumulative output of ca. 30% of the ingested dose after 35 h. In both urine and plasma, enrichment of [13C]formate, higher than that of 13CO2 was demonstrated. These findings show that formate is a decarboxylation product in the alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid in vivo.

2-Hydroxyphytanic acid oxidase activity in rat and human liver and its deficiency in the Zellweger syndrome.

Phytanic acid is a saturated, branched-chain fatty acid which as a consequence of the presence of a methyl group at the 3-position cannot be degraded by beta-oxidation. Instead, phytanic acid first undergoes alpha-oxidation to yield pristanic acid which can be degraded by beta-oxidation. The structure of the alpha-oxidation pathway and its subcellular localization has remained an enigma although there is convincing evidence that 2-hydroxyphytanic acid is an obligatory intermediate. We have now studied the degradation of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid in both rat and human liver. The results show that 2-hydroxyphytanic acid is converted to 2-ketophytanic acid in homogenates of rat as well as human liver. Detailed studies in rat liver showed that the enzyme involved is localized in peroxisomes accepting molecular oxygen as second substrate and producing H2O2. 2-Ketophytanic acid formation from 2-hydroxyphytanic acid was found to be strongly deficient in liver samples from Zellweger patients which lack morphologically distinguishable peroxisomes. The latter results not only provide an explanation for the elevated levels of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid in Zellweger patients but also suggest that the subcellular localization of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid dehydrogenation is identical in rat and man, i.e., in peroxisomes.

Stable-isotope dilution analysis of D- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid: application to the detection and prenatal diagnosis of D- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric acidemias.

A stable-isotope dilution assay has been developed for quantitation of D- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric acids in physiologic fluids. D- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric acids are separated as the O-acetyl-di-(D)-2-butyl esters. The method uses D,L-[3,3,4,4-2H4]-2-hydroxyglutaric acid as internal standard with ammonia chemical ionization, selected ion monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For 13 patients with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, the concentrations of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid were urine, 1283 +/- 676 mmol/mol creatinine (range, 332-2742; n = 12 patients); plasma, 47 +/- 13 mumol/L (range, 27-62; n = 8); cerebrospinal fluid, 62 +/- 30 mumol/L (range, 34-100; n = 6). In a child with D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, the levels of D-2-hydroxyglutaric acid were urine, 1565 +/- 847 mmol/mol creatinine (range, 729-2668; n = 4); plasma, 61 +/- 14 mumol/L (range, 46-73; n = 3); cerebrospinal fluid, 15 and 25 mumol/L (n = 2). Control concentrations of D- and L-2-hydroxyglutaric acids were (D:L): urine (n = 18), 6.0 +/- 3.6 mmol/mol creatinine (range, 2.8-17): 6.0 +/- 5.4 (range, 1.3-19); plasma (n = 10), 0.7 +/- 0.2 mumol/L (range, 0.3-0.9): 0.6 +/- 0.2 (range, 0.5-1.0); cerebrospinal fluid (n = 10), 0.1 +/- 0.1 mumol/L (range, 0.07-0.3): 0.7 +/- 0.6 (range, 0.3-2.3). Investigation of control amniotic fluid (n = 10) revealed the following values (D:L): 1.2 +/- 0.4 mumol/L (range, 0.6-1.8): 4.0 +/- 0.7 (range, 3.1-5.2), suggesting the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis in families at risk.

In vivo study of phytanic acid alpha-oxidation in classic Refsum's disease and chondrodysplasia punctata.

A series of in vivo experiments is described in which [1-13C]phytanic acid was given as an oral substrate to a healthy subject and two patients showing an impairment in phytanic acid degradation, one with Refsum's disease and one with chondrodysplasia punctata. After intake of the substrate by the control in a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, the production of 13CO2 was measured in exhaled breath air and the concomitant formation of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and of pristanic acid was demonstrated by plasma analysis. After application of a substrate dose of 1 mg/kg body weight to the control, no substantial amounts of 13CO2 were measured, whereas time-dependent analysis of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid in plasma yielded a concentration curve superimposed upon the baseline value (0.2 mumol/L) of the unlabeled substance. Phytanic acid accumulated in plasma from the Refsum's disease patient [649 mumol/L, controls > 1 y (n = 100): < 10 mumol/L], whereas the pristanic acid concentration was within the control range [1.4 mumol/L, controls > 1 y (n = 100): < 3 mumol/L]. Low amounts of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid were found normally present [0.04 mumol/L, controls > 1 y (n = 11): < 0.2 mumol/L], and formation of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid could not be demonstrated after ingestion of [1-13C]phytanic acid in a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight. In addition to phytanic acid accumulation (232 mumol/L), the chondrodysplasia punctata patient showed an elevated 2-hydroxyphytanic acid plasma concentration (0.4 mumol/L), whereas the plasma pristanic acid level was in the control range (0.7 mumol/L).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phytanic acid alpha-oxidation: accumulation of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and absence of 2-oxophytanic acid in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorders.

A stable isotope dilution method was developed for the measurement of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and 2-oxophytanic acid in plasma. In plasma from healthy individuals and from patients with Refsum's disease, 2-hydroxyphytanic acid was found at levels less than 0.2 mumol/l, whereas the acid accumulated in plasma from patients with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, generalized peroxisomal dysfunction, and a single peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzyme deficiency. In plasma from both healthy controls and patients with peroxisomal disorders, 2-oxophytanic acid was undetectable. Four different groups of diseases were characterized with a defective phytanic acid alpha-oxidation and/or pristanic acid beta-oxidation: 1) Refsum's disease, with a defect at phytanic acid alpha-hydroxylation; 2) rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, with a defect at 2-hydroxyphytanic acid decarboxylation; 3) generalized peroxisomal disorders, with defects at 2-hydroxyphytanic acid decarboxylation and at pristanic acid beta-oxidation; 4) single peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzyme deficiencies, with a defect at pristanic acid beta-oxidation, resulting in an impaired phytanic acid alpha-oxidation by inhibition. The results indicate that 2-hydroxyphytanic acid decarboxylation and pristanic acid beta-oxidation take place in peroxisomes.

Pristanic acid and phytanic acid in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorders: stable isotope dilution analysis with electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography.

A sensitive and selective stable isotope dilution method was developed for the accurate quantitation of pristanic acid and phytanic acid using electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography on pentafluorobenzyl derivatives. This technique allows detection of 1 pg of each compound and was applied to plasma from healthy controls and patients suffering from various peroxisomal disorders. The age-dependency of phytanic and pristanic acid levels in plasma from healthy controls was demonstrated. The involvement of peroxisomes in the beta-oxidation of pristanic acid was concluded from its accumulation in plasma from patients with peroxisomal deficiencies. Pristanic acid/phytanic acid ratios were markedly increased in bifunctional protein and/or 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase deficiency, indicating their role in the (differential) diagnosis of disorders of peroxisomal beta-oxidation.