Ilicicolin Inhibition and Binding at Center N of the Dimeric Cytochrome bc1 Complex Reveal Electron Transfer and Regulatory Interactions between Monomers.

We have determined the kinetics of ilicicolin binding and dissociation at center N of the yeast bc(1) complex and its effect on the reduction of cytochrome b with center P blocked. The addition of ilicicolin to the oxidized complex resulted in a non-linear inhibition of the extent of cytochrome b reduction by quinol together with a shift of the reduced b(H) heme spectrum, indicating electron transfer between monomers. The possibility of a fast exchange of ilicicolin between center N sites was excluded in two ways. First, kinetic modeling showed that fast movement of an inhibitor between monomers would result in a linear inhibition of the extent of cytochrome b reduction through center N. Second, we determined a very slow dissociation rate for ilicicolin (k = 1.2 x 10(-3) s(-1)) as calculated from its displacement by antimycin. Ilicicolin binding to the reduced bc(1) complex occurred in a single phase (k(on) = 1.5-1.7 x 10(5) m(-1) s(-1)) except in the presence of stigmatellin, where a second slower binding phase comprising approximately 50% of the spectral change was observed. This second kinetic event was weakly dependent on ilicicolin concentration, which suggests that binding of ilicicolin to one center N in the dimer transmits a slow (k = 2-3 s(-1)) conformational change that allows binding of the inhibitor in the other monomer. These results, together with the evidence for intermonomeric electron transfer, provide further support for a dimeric model of regulatory interactions between center P and center N sites in the bc(1) complex.

Metabolism of isovanillin by aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and liver slices.

Aromatic aldehydes are good substrates of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity but are relatively poor substrates of aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase. However, the oxidation of xenobiotic-derived aromatic aldehydes by the latter enzymes has not been studied to any great extent. The present investigation compares the relative contribution of aldehyde dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase activities in the oxidation of isovanillin in separate preparations and also in freshly prepared and cryopreserved liver slices. The oxidation of isovanillin was also examined in the presence of specific inhibitors of each oxidizing enzyme. Minimal transformation of isovanillin to isovanillic acid was observed in partially purified aldehyde oxidase, which is thought to be due to residual xanthine oxidase activity. Isovanillin was rapidly metabolized to isovanillic acid by high amounts of purified xanthine oxidase, but only low amounts are present in guinea pig liver fraction. Thus the contribution of xanthine oxidase to isovanillin oxidation in guinea pig is very low. In contrast, isovanillin was rapidly catalyzed to isovanillic acid by guinea pig liver aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. The inhibitor studies revealed that isovanillin was predominantly metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. The oxidation of xenobiotic-derived aromatic aldehydes with freshly prepared or cryopreserved liver slices has not been previously reported. In freshly prepared liver slices, isovanillin was rapidly converted to isovanillic acid, whereas the conversion was very slow in cryopreserved liver slices due to low aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. The formation of isovanillic acid was not altered by allopurinol, but considerably inhibited by disulfiram. It is therefore concluded that isovanillin is predominantly metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, with minimal contribution from either aldehyde oxidase or xanthine oxidase.

QSAR and kinetics of the inhibition of benzaldehyde derivatives against Sacrophaga neobelliaria phenoloxidase.

A group of 18 benzaldehyde derivatives was characterized as a family of mixed type inhibitors on the oxidation of l-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) catalyzed by Sacrophaga neobelliaria phenoloxidase (PO), presumably by forming a Schiff base with a primary amino group of the enzyme. Inhibition constants and IC(50) were determined. Cuminaldehyde was the most active inhibitor with an IC(50) of 0.0067 mM. Vanillin was the least active inhibitor with an IC(50) of 38 mM. Four physicochemical descriptors were identified by stepwise multiple regressions as significant predictors on the inhibition activity, which were further rotated by principle component analysis yielding two significant principle properties. It was shown that hydrophobicity of the substituent at the para position of the aldehyde group played major role on inhibition activity: one unit increase in Hansch-Fujita pi value of the substituent led to about 4.5 [95% confidence interval is (7.9, 2.6)] fold increase on IC(50). Electron-donating effect of the substituent at the para position of the aldehyde group was less important than hydrophobicity. Hydroxyl group at the ortho position of the aldehyde group contributed to higher inhibition activity, presumably by forming a quasi-six-membered ring with the unshared pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom of the amino group through intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

Stimulation of aryl metabolite production in the basidiomycete Bjerkandera sp. strain BOS55 with biosynthetic precursors and lignin degradation products.

Aryl metabolites are known to have an important role in the ligninolytic system of white rot fungi. The addition of known precursors and aromatic acids representing lignin degradation products stimulated the production of aryl metabolites (veratryl alcohol, veratraldehyde, p-anisaldehyde, and 3-chloro-p-anisaldehyde) in the white rot fungus Bjerkandera sp. strain BOS55. The presence of manganese (Mn) is known to inhibit the biosynthesis of veratryl alcohol (T. Mester, E. de Jong, and J.A. Field, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:1881-1887, 1995). A new finding of this study was that the production of the other aryl metabolites, p-anisaldehyde and 3-chloro-p-anisaldehyde, was also inhibited by Mn. We attempted to bypass the Mn-inhibited step in the biosynthesis of aryl metabolites by the addition of known and suspected precursors. Most of these compounds were not able to bypass the inhibiting effect of Mn. Only the fully methylated precursors (veratrate, p-anisate, and 3-chloro-p-anisate) provided similar concentrations of aryl metabolites in the presence and absence of Mn, indicating that Mn does not influence the reduction of the benzylic acid group. The addition of deuterated benzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate resulted in the formation of deuterated aryl metabolites, indicating that these aromatic acids entered into the biosynthetic pathway and were common intermediates to all aryl metabolites. Only deuterated chlorinated anisyl metabolites were produced when the cultures were supplemented with deuterated 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzoate. This observation combined with the fact that 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzoate is a natural product of Bjerkandera spp. (H. J. Swarts, F. J. M. Verhagen, J. A. Field, and J. B. P. A. Wijnberg, Phytochemistry 42:1699-1701, 1996) suggest that it is a possible intermediate in chlorinated anisyl metabolite biosynthesis.

Xantina oxidasa hepática: experiencias con inhibidores / Liver xanthine oxidase: experiences with inhibitors

Los grupos amino de la XOD (Xantina oxidasa) del hígado de rata son inhibidos por reactivos como el benzaldehído y el 2,4-dinitrofluorbenceno. Esta inhibición ocurre más rápidamente a elevados pH y es progresiva e irreveersible. Estos reactivos atacan grupos amino de la XOD, pero no se excluye que haya otros grupos que puedan ser bloqueados. Si se representa la inhibición en función de la unión con el benaldehído o 2,4-dinitrofluorbenceno, se observa que una fracción relativamente pequeña del total de grupos amino de la XOD es más reactiva a esta inhibició y que estos grupos amino se modifican por estos inhibidores. Los estudios de unión del benzaldehído sugieren dos clases de actividad enzimática, presentes en igual proporción, pero difieren en su sensibilidad frente al benzaldehído. Los parámetros cinéticos de la actividad residual de la XOD tratada con benzaldehído se asemejan a los de la enzima nativa, excepto el comprotamiento inhibitorio frente a altas concentraciones de sustrato

Xantina oxidasa hepática: experiencias con inhibidores / Liver xanthine oxidase: experiences with inhibitors

Los grupos amino de la XOD (Xantina oxidasa) del hígado de rata son inhibidos por reactivos como el benzaldehído y el 2,4-dinitrofluorbenceno. Esta inhibición ocurre más rápidamente a elevados pH y es progresiva e irreveersible. Estos reactivos atacan grupos amino de la XOD, pero no se excluye que haya otros grupos que puedan ser bloqueados. Si se representa la inhibición en función de la unión con el benaldehído o 2,4-dinitrofluorbenceno, se observa que una fracción relativamente pequeña del total de grupos amino de la XOD es más reactiva a esta inhibició y que estos grupos amino se modifican por estos inhibidores. Los estudios de unión del benzaldehído sugieren dos clases de actividad enzimática, presentes en igual proporción, pero difieren en su sensibilidad frente al benzaldehído. Los parámetros cinéticos de la actividad residual de la XOD tratada con benzaldehído se asemejan a los de la enzima nativa, excepto el comprotamiento inhibitorio frente a altas concentraciones de sustrato (AU)