Proteomic analysis of banana fruit reveals proteins that are differentially accumulated during ripening

Bananas (Musa spp.) are highly perishable fruit of notable economic and nutritional relevance. Because the identification of proteins involved in metabolic pathways could help to extend green-life and improve the quality of the fruit, this study aimed to compare the proteins of banana pulp at the pre-climacteric and climacteric stages. The use of two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) revealed 50 differentially expressed proteins, and comparing those proteins to the Mass Spectrometry Protein Sequence Database (MSDB) identified 26 known proteins. Chitinases were the most abundant types of proteins in unripe bananas, and two isoforms in the ripe fruit have been implicated in the stress/defense response. In this regard, three heat shock proteins and isoflavone reductase were also abundant at the climacteric stage. Concerning fruit quality, pectate lyase, malate dehydrogenase, and starch phosphorylase accumulated during ripening. In addition to the ethylene formation enzyme amino cyclo carboxylic acid oxidase, the accumulation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase was needed because of the increased ethylene synthesis and DNA methylation that occurred in ripening bananas. Differential analysis provided information on the ripening-associated changes that occurred in proteins involved in banana flavor, texture, defense, synthesis of ethylene, regulation of expression, and protein folding, and this analysis validated previous data on the transcripts during ripening. In this regard, the differential proteomics of fruit pulp enlarged our understanding of the process of banana ripening. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Conformation analysis of a surface loop that controls active site access in the GH11 xylanase A from Bacillus subtilis

Xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8 endo-1,4-glycosyl hydrolase) catalyze the hydrolysis of xylan, an abundant hemicellulose of plant cell walls. Access to the catalytic site of GH11 xylanases is regulated by movement of a short beta-hairpin, the so-called thumb region, which can adopt open or closed conformations. A crystallographic study has shown that the D11F/R122D mutant of the GH11 xylanase A from Bacillus subtilis (BsXA) displays a stable "open" conformation, and here we report a molecular dynamics simulation study comparing this mutant with the native enzyme over a range of temperatures. The mutant open conformation was stable at 300 and 328 K, however it showed a transition to the closed state at 338 K. Analysis of dihedral angles identified thumb region residues Y113 and T123 as key hinge points which determine the open-closed transition at 338 K. Although the D11F/R122D mutations result in a reduction in local inter-intramolecular hydrogen bonding, the global energies of the open and closed conformations in the native enzyme are equivalent, suggesting that the two conformations are equally accessible. These results indicate that the thumb region shows a broader degree of energetically permissible conformations which regulate the access to the active site region. The R122D mutation contributes to the stability of the open conformation, but is not essential for thumb dynamics, i.e., the wild type enzyme can also adapt to the open conformation.

Characterization of a thermostable extracellular tannase produced under submerged fermentation by Aspergillus ochraceus

Background: Tannases are enzymes that may be used in different industrial sectors as, for example, food and pharmaceutical. They are obtained mainly from microorganisms, as filamentous fungi. However, the diversity of fungi stays poorly explored for tannase production. In this article, Aspergillus ochraceus is presented as a new source of tannase with interesting features for biotechnological applications. Results: Extracellular tannase production was induced when the fungus was cultured in Khanna medium with tannic acid as carbon source. The extracellular tannase was purified 9-fold with 2% recovery and a single band corresponding to 85 kDa was observed in SDS-PAGE. The native apparent molecular mass was estimated as 112 kDa. Optima of temperature and pH were 40 degrees C and 5.0, respectively. The enzyme was fully stable from 40 degrees C to 60 degrees C during 1 hr. The activity was enhanced by Mn2+ (33-39%) and NH4+ (15%). The purified tannase hydrolyzed tannic acid and methyl gallate with Km of 0.76 mM and 0.72 mM, respectively, and Vmax of 0.92 U/mg protein and 0.68 U/mg protein, respectively. The analysis of a partial sequence of the tannase encoding gene showed an open read frame of 567 bp and a sequence of 199 amino acids were predicted. TLC analysis revealed the presence of gallic acid as a tannic acid hydrolysis product. Conclusion: The extracellular tannase produced by A. ochraceus showed distinctive characteristics such as monomeric structure and activation by Mn2+, suggesting a new kind of fungal tannases with biotechnological potential. Further, it was the first time that a partial gene sequence for A. ochraceus tannase was described.

Aminoacylase 1-catalysed deacetylation of bioactives epoxides mycotoxin-derived mercapturates; 3,4-epoxyprecocenes as models of cytotoxic epoxides

The mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a carcinogenic food contaminant which is metabolically activated by epoxydation. The metabolism of mycotoxins via the mercapturate metabolic pathway was shown, in general, to lead to their detoxication. Mercapturic acids thus formed (S-substitued-N-acetyl-L-cysteines) may be accumulated in the kidney and either excreted in the urine or desacetylated by Acylase 1 (ACY1) to yield cysteine S-conjugates. To be toxic, the N-acetyl-L-cysteine-S-conjugates first have to undergo deacetylation by ACY 1. The specificity and rate of mercapturic acid deacetylation may determine the toxicity, however the exact deacetylation processes involved are not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ACY1 in the toxicity of some bioactive epoxides from Aflatoxin B1. We characterized the kinetic parameters of porcine kidney and human recombinant aminoacylase-1 towards some aromatic and aliphatic-derived mercapturates analogue of mycotoxin mercapturic acids and 3,4-epoxyprecocene, a bioactive epoxide derivated from aflatoxin. The deacetylation of mercapturated substrates was followed both by reverse phase HPLC and by TNBS method. Catalytic activity was discussed in a structure function relationship. Ours results indicate for the first time that aminoacylase-1 could play an important role in deacetylating mercapturate metabolites of aflatoxin analogues and this process may be in relation with their cyto- and nephrotoxicity in human. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Differential role of CB1 and TRPV1 receptors on anandamide modulation of defensive responses induced by nitric oxide in the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray

CB1, TRPV1 and NO can regulate glutamate release and modify defensive behaviors in regions related to defensive behavior such as the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dIPAG). A possible interaction between the endocannabinoid and nitrergic systems in this area, however, has not been investigated yet. The objective of the present work was to verify if activation of CB1 or TRPV1 receptors could interfere in the flight responses induced in rats by the injection of SIN-1, an NO donor, into the dIPAG. The results showed that local administration of a low dose (5 pmol) of anandamide (AEA) attenuated the flight responses, measured by the total distance moved and maximum speed in an open arena, induced by intra-dIPAG microinjection of SIN-1 (150 nmol). URB597 (0.1 nmol), an inhibitor of anandamide metabolism, produced similar effects. When animals were locally treated with the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 the effective AEA dose (5 pmol) increased, rather than decreased, the flight reactions induced by SIN1-1. Higher (50-200 nmol) doses of AEA were ineffective and even tended to potentiate the SIN-1 effect. The TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine (CPZ, 30 nmol) prevented SIN-1 effects and attenuated the potentiation of its effect by the higher (200 nmol) AEA dose. The results indicate that AEA can modulate in a dual way the pro-aversive effects of NO in the dIPAG by activating CB1 or TRPV1 receptors. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Functional characterisation of the non-essential protein kinases and phosphatases regulating Aspergillus nidulans hydrolytic enzyme production

Abstract Background Despite recent advances in the understanding of lignocellulolytic enzyme regulation, less is known about how different carbon sources are sensed and the signaling cascades that result in the adaptation of cellular metabolism and hydrolase secretion. Therefore, the role played by non-essential protein kinases (NPK) and phosphatases (NPP) in the sensing of carbon and/or energetic status was investigated in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Results Eleven NPKs and seven NPPs were identified as being involved in cellulase, and in some cases also hemicellulase, production in A. nidulans. The regulation of CreA-mediated carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in the parental strain was determined by fluorescence microscopy, utilising a CreA: GFP fusion protein. The sensing of phosphorylated glucose, via the RAS signalling pathway induced CreA repression, while carbon starvation resulted in derepression. Growth on cellulose represented carbon starvation and derepressing conditions. The involvement of the identified NPKs in the regulation of cellulose-induced responses and CreA derepression was assessed by genome-wide transcriptomics (GEO accession 47810). CreA:GFP localisation and the restoration of endocellulase activity via the introduction of the ∆creA mutation, was assessed in the NPK-deficient backgrounds. The absence of either the schA or snfA kinase dramatically reduced cellulose-induced transcriptional responses, including the expression of hydrolytic enzymes and transporters. The mechanism by which these two NPKs controlled gene transcription was identified, as the NPK-deficient mutants were not able to unlock CreA-mediated carbon catabolite repression under derepressing conditions, such as carbon starvation or growth on cellulose. Conclusions Collectively, this study identified multiple kinases and phosphatases involved in the sensing of carbon and/or energetic status, while demonstrating the overlapping, synergistic roles of schA and snfA in the regulation of CreA derepression and hydrolytic enzyme production in A. nidulans. The importance of a carbon starvation-induced signal for CreA derepression, permitting transcriptional activator binding, appeared paramount for hydrolase secretion.

Reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation to anandamide in mesenteric arteries from young obese Zucker rats

Impaired vascular function, manifested by an altered ability of the endothelium to release endothelium-derived relaxing factors and endothelium-derived contracting factors, is consistently reported in obesity. Considering that the endothelium plays a major role in the relaxant response to the cannabinoid agonist anandamide, the present study tested the hypothesis that vascular relaxation to anandamide is decreased in obese rats. Mechanisms contributing to decreased anandamide-induced vasodilation were determined. Resistance mesenteric arteries from young obese Zucker rats (OZRs) and their lean counterparts (LZRs) were used. Vascular reactivity was evaluated in a myograph for isometric tension recording. Protein expression and localization were analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. Vasorelaxation to anandamide, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside, as well as to CB1, CB2, and TRPV1 agonists was decreased in endothelium-intact mesenteric arteries from OZRs. Incubation with an AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) activator or a fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor restored anandamide-induced vascular relaxation in OZRs. CB1 and CB2 receptors protein expression was decreased in arteries from OZRs. Incubation of mesenteric arteries with anandamide evoked endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), AMPK and acetyl CoA carboxylase phosphorylation in LZRs, whereas it decreased phosphorylation of these proteins in OZRs. In conclusion, obesity decreases anandamide-induced relaxation in resistance arteries. Decreased cannabinoid receptors expression, increased anandamide degradation, decreased AMPK/eNOS activity as well as impairment of the response mediated by TRPV1 activation seem to contribute to reduce responses to cannabinoid agonists in obesity.

Organismi acquatici e ambiente: meccanismi biochimici di interazione, risposta e adattamento

The research is focused on the relationship between some Mg2+-dependent ATPase activities of plasma- and mitochondrial membranes from tissues of cultured marine bivalve molluscs and potentially stressful environmental conditions, such as the exposure to contaminants both of natural origin (ammonia nitrogen, the main contaminant of aquaculture plants) and of anthropic source (alkyltins). The two filter-feeding bivalve species selected colonize different habitats: the common mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis binds to hard substrates and the Philippine clam Tapes philippinarum burrows into sea bottom sandy beds. The choice of typical species of coastal waters, extremely suitable for environmental studies due to their features of poor motility, resistance to transport and great filtering efficiency, may constitute a model to evaluate responses to contaminants of membrane-bound enzyme activities involved in key biochemical mechanisms, namely cell ionic regulation and mitochondrial energy production. In vitro and in vitro approaches have been pursued. In vitro assays were carried out by adding the contaminants (NH4Cl and alkyltins) directly to the ATPase reaction media. In vivo experiments were carried out by exposing mussels to various tributyl tin (TBT) concentrations under controlled conditions in aquaria. ATPase activities were determined spectrophotometrically according to the principles of the method of Fiske and Subbarow (1925). The main results obtained are detailed below. In Tapes philippinarum the interaction of NH4 +, the main form of ammonia nitrogen at physiological and seawater pHs, with the Na,K-ATPase and the ouabaininsensitive Na-ATPase was investigated in vitro on gill and mantle microsomal membranes. The proven replacement by NH4 +of K+ in the activation of the Na,KATPase and of Na+ in the activation of the ouabain-insensitive ATPase displayed similar enzyme affinity for the substituted cation. on the one hand this finding may represent one of the possible mechanisms of ammonia toxicity and, on the other, it supports the hypothesis that NH4 + can be transported across the plasma membrane through the two ATPases. In this case both microsomal ATPases may be involved and co-operate, at least under peculiar circumstances, to nitrogen excretion and ammonia detoxification mechanisms in bivalve molluscs. The two ATPase activities stimulated by NH4 + maintained their typical response to the glycoside ouabain, specific inhibitor of the Na,K-ATPase, being the Na++ NH4 +-activated ATPase even more susceptive to the inhibitor and the ouabain-insensitive ATPase activity activated indifferently by Na+ or NH4 + unaffected by up to 10-2 M ouabain. In vitro assays were carried out to evaluate the response of the two Na-dependent ATPases to organotins in clams and mussels and to investigate the interaction of TBT with mussel mitochondrial oligomycin-sensitive Mg-ATPase. Since no literature data were available, the optimal assay conditions and oligomycin sensitivity of mussel mitochondrial MgATPase were determined. In T. philippinarum the ouabain-insensitive Na-ATPase was found to be refractory to TBT both in the gills and in the mantle, whereas the Na,K-ATPase was progressively inhibited by increasing TBT doses; the enzyme inhibition was more pronounced in the gills than in the mantle. In both tissues of M. galloprovincialis the Na,K-ATPase inhibition by alkyltins decreased in the order TBT>DBT(dibutyltin)>>MBT(monobutyltin)=TeET(tetraethyltin) (no effect). Mussel Na-ATPase confirmed its refractorimess to TBT and derivatives both in the gills and in the mantle. These results indicate that the Na,K-ATPase inhibition decreases as the number of alkyl chains bound to tin decreases; however a certain polarity of the organotin molecule is required to yield Na,K-ATPase inhibition, since no enzyme inhibition occurred in the presence of tetraalkyl-substituted derivatives such as TeET . Assays carried out in the presence of the dithioerythritol (DTE) pointed out that the sulphhydrylic agent is capable to prevent the Na,K-ATPase inhibition by TBT, thus suggesting that the inhibitor may link to -SH groups of the enzyme complex.. Finally, the different effect of alkyltins on the two Na-dependent ATPases may constitute a further tool to differentiate between the two enzyme activities. These results add to the wealth of literature data describing different responses of the two enzyme activities to endogenous and exogenous modulators . Mussel mitochondrial Mg-ATPase was also found to be in vitro inhibited by TBT both in the gills and in the mantle: the enzyme inhibition followed non competitive kinetics. The failed effect of DTE pointed out that in this case the interaction of TBT with the enzyme complex is probably different from that with the Na,K-ATPase. The results are consistent with literature data showing that alkyltin may interact with enzyme structures with different mechanisms. Mussel exposure to different TBT sublethal doses in aquaria was carried out for 120 hours. Two samplings (after 24 and 120 hrs) were performed in order to evaluate a short-term response of gill and mantle Na,K-ATPase, ouabain-insensitive Na-ATPase and Mg-ATPase activities. The in vivo response to the contaminants of the enzyme activities under study was shown to be partially different from that pointed out in the in vitro assays. Mitochondrial Mg-ATPase activity appeared to be activated in TBTexposed mussels with respect to control ones, thus confirming the complexity of evaluating in vivo responses of the enzyme activities to contaminants, due to possible interactions of toxicants with molluscan metabolism. Concluding, the whole of data point out that microsomal and mitochondrial ATPase activities of bivalve molluscs are generally responsive to environmental contaminants and suggest that in some cases membrane-bound enzyme activities may represent the molecular target of their toxicity. Since the Na,K-ATPase, the Na-ATPase and the Mg-ATPase activities are poorly studied in marine bivalves, this research may contribute to enlarge knowledge in this quite unexplored field.

Metabolismo di oligosaccaridi prebiotici in Bifidobacterium per il potenziale sviluppo di nuovi prodotti alimentari funzionali

The growth and the metabolism of Bifidobacterium adolescentis MB 239 fermenting GOS, lactose, galactose, and glucose were investigated. An unstructerd unsegregated model for growth of B. adolescentis MB 239 in batch cultures was developed and kinetic parameters were calculated with a Matlab algorithm. Galactose was the best carbon source; lactose and GOS led to lower growth rate and cellular yield, but glucose was the poorest carbon source. Lactate, acetate and ethanol yields allowed calculation of the carbon fluxes toward fermentation products. Similar distribution between 3- and 2-carbon products was observed on all the carbohydrates (45 and 55%, respectively), but ethanol production was higher on glucose than on GOS, lactose and galactose, in decreasing order. Based on the stoichiometry of the fructose 6-phosphate shunt and on the carbon distribution among the products, ATP yield was calculated on the different carbohydrates. ATP yield was the highest on galactose, while it was 5, 8, and 25% lower on lactose, GOS, and glucose, respectively. Therefore, a correspondance among ethanol production, low ATP yields, and low biomass production was established demonstrating that carbohydrate preferences may result from different sorting of carbon fluxes through the fermentative pathway. During GOS fermentation, stringent selectivity based on the degree of polymerization was exhibited, since lactose and the trisaccharide were first to be consumed, and a delay was observed until longer oligosaccharides were utilized. Throughout the growth on both lactose and GOS, galactose accumulated in the cultural broth, suggesting that β-(1-4) galactosides can be hydrolysed before they are taken up. The physiology of Bifidobacterium adolescentis MB 239 toward xylooligosaccharides (XOS) was also studied and our attention was focused on an extracellular glycosyl-hydrolase (β-Xylosidase) expressed by a culture of B. adolescentis grown on XOS as sole carbon source. The extracellular enzyme was purified from the the supernatant, which was dialyzed and concentrated by ultrafiltration. A two steps purification protocol was developed: the sample was loaded on a Mono-Q anion exchange chromatography and then, the active fractions were pooled and β-Xylosidase was purified by gel filtration chromatography on a Superdex-75. The enzyme was characterized in many aspects. β- Xylosidase was an homo-tetramer of 160 kDa as native molecular mass; it was a termostable enzyme with an optimum of temperature at 53 °C and an optimum of pH of 6.0. The kinetics parameter were calculated: km = 4.36 mM, Vmax = 0.93 mM/min. The substrate specificity with different di-, oligo- and polysaccharides was tested. The reactions were carried out overnight at pH 7 and at the optimum of temperature and the carbohydrates hydrolysis were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Only glycosyl-hydrolase activities on XOS and on xylan were detected, whereas sucrose, lactose, cellobiose, maltose and raffinose were not hydrolyzed. It’s clearly shown that β-Xylosidase activity was higher than the Xylanase one. These studies on the carbohydrate preference of a strain of Bifidobacterium underlined the importance of the affinity between probiotics and prebiotics. On the basis of this concept, together with Barilla G&R f.lli SpA, we studied the possibility to develop a functional food containing a synbiotic. Three probiotic strains Lactobacillus plantarum BAR 10, Streptococcus thermophilus BAR 20, and Bifidobacterium lactis BAR 30 were studied to assess their suitability for utilization in synbiotic products on the basis of antioxidative activity, glutathione production, acid and bile tolerance, carbohydrates fermentation and viability in food matrices. Bile and human gastric juice resistance was tested in vitro to estimate the transit tolerance in the upper gastrointestinal tract. B. lactis and L. plantarum were more acid tolerant than S. thermophilus. All the strains resisted to bile. The growth kinetics on 13 prebiotic carbohydrates were determined. Galactooligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides were successfully utilized by all the strains and could be considered the most appropriate prebiotics to be used in effective synbiotic formulations. The vitality of the three strains inoculated in different food matrices and maintained at room temperature was studied. The best survival of Lactobacillus plantarum BAR 10, Streptococcus thermophilus BAR 20, and Bifidobacterium lactis BAR 30 was found in food chocolate matrices. Then an in vivo clinical trial was carried out for 20 healthy volunteers. The increase in faecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli populations and the efficacy of the pre-prototype was promising for the future develop of potential commercial products.

Strukturelle und molekulare Charakterisierung des Asialoglykoprotein-Rezeptors aus humaner Leber

Der Asialoglykoprotein-Rezeptor (ASGPR) vermittelt als integraler Bestandteil der Leberzellmembran die Endozytose von zirkulierenden Asialoglykoproteinen. Ziele dieser Arbeit waren proteinchemische Untersuchungen von funktionellem ASGPR aus humaner Leber aufgrund einer verbesserten Präparationsmethode und die rekombinante Darstellung der beiden Untereinheiten H1 und H2. In der denaturierenden SDS-PAGE erschienen H1 und H2 überwiegend als Monomere bei 46 und 50kD; nach Deglykosylierung ergaben sich Banden bei 34 und 32kD, wonach der Glykosidanteil etwa 28% beträgt. In der nicht-denaturierenden Größenausschluß-Chromatographie wurden im nativen ASGPR ausschließlich Trimere und Dimere gefunden. In Gegenwart von 2-Mercaptoethanol konnten funktionell eine aktive von einer nicht-aktiven Fraktion getrennt werden, wobei H2 in der nicht-aktiven Fraktion angereichert war, während sich H1 zu etwa gleichen Teilen in beiden Fraktionen befand. Durch zweidimensionale Auftrennung des deglykosylierten Rezeptors wurden auf Proteinebene vier Isoformen von H1 und zwei von H2 mit unterschiedlichen pI-Werten identifiziert. Der Vergleich von funktionellem ASGPR aus normaler Leber und den hepatischen Tumorzellinien HepG2 und Huh7 in der SDS-PAGE brachte Größenunterschiede von etwa sechs und vier Kilodalton hervor. Bei H1 konnte dies auf einen höheren Glykosylierungsgrad zurückgeführt werden, während H2 auch nach Behandlung mit N-GlykosidaseF ein größeres Molekulargewicht aufwies. Ein Antikörper gegen das Insertionspeptid im cytoplasmatischen Bereich einer Splice-Variante von H2 zeigte eine deutlich erhöhte Expression von H2 mit Insertion in Huh7-Zellen gegenüber natürlichem ASGPR. Da bisherige Kenntnisse über den humanen ASGPR vorwiegend aus kultivierten Hepatomzelllinien stammen, scheinen sie nicht ohne weiteres auf die Situation in normaler Leber übertragbar. Die Präparation von funktionellem H1 aus transfizierten cos7- und 293-Zellen führte zum gleichen Bandenmuster wie beim natürlichen ASGPR. Mit einem Enzymimmunoassay wurde die Eignung von rekombinantem H1 zur Detektion von Antikörpern gegen ASGPR in 177 von 178 Patientenseren gezeigt. Da durch Präinkubation mit rekombinantem Antigen die Reaktivität mit natürlichem Rezeptor inhibiert werden konnte, trägt H1 hauptsächlich die antigenen Stellen des ASGPR.

Mikrosomale Biotransformation von Benzo[ghi]perylen, einem mutagenen polyaromatischen Kohlenwasserstoff ohne das Strukturelement der Bay-Region des kanzerogenen Benzo[a]pyrens

Kanzerogene polyaromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAKs), wie Benzo[a]pyren, besitzen eine Bay-Region mit ortho-kondensiertem Benzoring. Dadurch ist die enzymatische Bildung von Bay-Region-Dihydrodiolepoxiden (Oxiranylring in der sterisch abgeschirmten Molekülbucht) möglich, die als ultimal kanzerogene Metaboliten der PAKs gelten. Diese lösen durch DNA-Modifikation Primärläsionen aus, die, sofern sie nicht enzymatisch repariert werden, bei der DNA-Replikation Fehler verursachen (Mu-tationen). Der Mehrstufenprozeß der Kanzerogenese (Promotion und Progression) führt schließlich zur neoplastischen Entartung der Zelle. Benzo[ghi]perylen (BghiP) repräsentiert eine Gruppe von PAKs, die keine „klassische“ Bay-Region besitzen und daher keine vicinalen Dihydrodiolepoxiden bilden können. Trotzdem ist BghiP mutagen, z. B. in den Stämmen TA98 und TA100 von Salmonella typhimurium (1,3- bzw. 4,3 his+-Revertanten/nmol) nach metabolischer Aktivierung mit der postmitochondrialen Fraktion von Ratten nach Behandlung mit 3-Methylcholanthren. Hemmung der mikrosomalen Epoxidhydrolase (mEH) mit 1,1,1-Trichlor-2-propenoxid (TCPO) steigert die bakterielle Mutagenität von BghiP im Stamm TA98 um das 4-fache, was Arenoxide als ultimale Mutagene wahrscheinlich macht. Dieses Ergebnis wird au-ßerdem durch Untersuchung der DNA-Bindung mit dem Verfahren des 32P-Postlabelings bestätigt (Dr. Fickler, Institut für Toxikologie, Universität Mainz). Danach bildete mikrosomal aktiviertes BghiP drei Addukte (ein Hauptaddukt, zwei Nebenaddukte), die durch Hemmung der mEH mit TCPO verstärkt wurden (das Hauptaddukt um 29%). Um den für die bakterielle Mutagenität von BghiP verantwortlichen Metaboliten zu identifizieren, wurde die mikrosomale Biotransformaton von BghiP aufgeklärt. Umsetzung von BghiP mit Lebermikrosomen von Ratten nach Behandlung mit Aroclor 1254 lieferte 17 mit Ethylacetat extrahierbare Metaboliten. Zwölf dieser Metaboliten konnten durch eine Kombination von chromatographischen, spektroskopi-schen und biochemischen Methoden identifiziert werden. Daraus ergeben sich zwei Biotransformati-onswege: Weg I beginnt mit einem Angriff von Cytochrom P450-abhängigen Monooxygenasen an Position 7 und der Bildung des 7-Phenols. Dieses wird dann in das 7,8- bzw. 7,10-Diphenol überführt, die schließlich zu den mehrkernigen Chinonen an der 7,8- bzw. 7,10-Position oxidiert werden. Im Bio-transformationsweg II werden die K-Regionen von BghiP durch Cytochrom P450 funktionalisiert. Zu-nächst entstehen das auf indirektem Weg identifizierte 3,4-Oxid und das 3,4,11,12-Bisoxid, die in mikrosomalen Umsetzungen von BghiP nur nach Hemmung der mEH gebildet werden. Enzymatische Hydrolyse des 3,4-Oxides ergibt das trans-3,4-Dihydrodiol, das zum 3,4-Chinon oxidiert wird. Ebenso entsteht aus dem 3,4,11,12-Bisoxid das trans-3,4-trans-11,12-Bisdihydrodiol, aus dem durch Oxidati-on das trans-3,4-Dihydrodiol-11,12-Chinon hervorgeht. Untersuchung der stereoselektiven enzymati-schen Bildung der K-Region-trans-Di¬hydrodiole ergaben eine präferentielle Entstehung der 3R,4R- bzw. 3R,4R,11R,12R-Enantiomere. Untersuchungen der bakteriellen Mutagenität der Hauptmetaboliten 3,4-Dihydrodiol und dem 7-Phenol machte deutlich, dass beide Biotransformationswege I und II von BghiP zur bakteriellen Mutagenität beitragen. Das 7-Phenol aus Weg I ist ein proximales Mutagen, was auch von Phenolen anderer PAKs bekannt ist. Das 3,4-Dihydrodiol aus Weg II wird so schwach zu Mutagenen aktiviert, dass dem vermutlich gebildete 3,4-Dihydrodiol-11,12-oxid keine große Bedeutung als ultimales Mutagen von BghiP zukommt. Die Bestimmung der direkten mutagenen Aktivität (ohne metabolische Aktivierung) der mutmaßlich ultimal mutagenen Arenoxide von BghiP ergab, dass die des 3,4,11,12-Bisarenoxides sehr gering war (1,3 his+-Revertanten/nmol im Stamm TA98). Das 3,4-Oxid hingegen bewirkte einen deutlichen gentoxischen Effekt in den Stämmen TA98 und TA100 (5,5 bzw. 10 his+-Revertanten/nmol). Dies wurde durch die Bestimmung der DNA-Bindung mit dem 32P-Postlabeling, in dem das 3,4-Oxid für das Hauptaddukt von BghiP verantwortlich gemacht werden konnte, bestätigt. Daher kommt dem 3,4-Oxid als ultimales Mutagen die größte Bedeutung für die Gentoxizität von BghiP zu. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit lassen bei PAKs ohne Bay-Region auf Arenoxide schließen, die eine notwendige Voraussetzung für DNA-Bindung und Mutagenität sind.

Kristallisation der Arbutin-Synthase und der Strictosidin Glukosidase - zwei Enzyme aus dem sekundären Glykosidstoffwechsel von Rauvolfia serpentina

Kristallisation der Arbutin-Synthase und der Strictosidin Glukosidase - zwei Enzyme aus dem sekundären Glykosidstoffwechsel von Rauvolfia serpentina Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Kristallisation und der strukturellen Auswertung der Arbutin-Synthase (AS) und der Strictosidin Glukosidase (SG). Beide Enzyme stammen aus der Medizinalpflanze Rauvolfia serpentina. Für die Kristallisation der Arbutin-Synthase wurden ca. 2500 verschiedene Beding-ungen experimentell untersucht. Für einige dieser Experimente wurde das Enzym molekularbiologisch und chemisch verändert. Trotzdem konnten keine Kristalle erhalten werden. Die bei diesen Veränderungen erhaltenen Ergebnisse wurden anhand von Vergleichen mit Strukturen anderer Glykosyltransferasen der gleichen Familie analysiert. Bei der Reinigung der AS konnte mit verschiedenen Trennsystemen nie eine homogene Lösung produziert werden. Der wahrscheinliche Grund für diese schlechte Isolierbarkeit, und damit der wahrscheinliche Grund für die schwierige Kris-tallisation, liegt in der überdurchschnittlich hohen Anzahl an Cysteinen in der Proteinsequenz. Mit den Aminosäuren Cys171, Cys253 und Cys461 wurden drei Cysteine gefunden, die einem Strukturvergleich nach an der Proteinoberfläche liegen und möglicherweise durch Quervernetzungen mit anderen Proteinmolekülen ein heterogenes Gemisch bilden, das nicht geordnet kristallisieren kann. Durch gezielte Mutationen dieser drei Aminosäuren könnte die Kristallisation zukünftig ermöglicht werden. Für die SG waren bereits Bedingungen bekannt bei denen nicht vermessbare Enzymkristalle (Nadeln) wuchsen. In weit gefächerten Versuchen konnten diese Kristalle jedoch nicht zu 3D-Wachstum angeregt werden. Es wurden mit einem HTS-Screening neue Bedingungen zur Kristallisation gefunden. Anschließend konnten die native Struktur und der Strictosidin/Enzym-Komplex vermessen und aufgeklärt werden. Die SG gehört zur Familie 1 der Glukosidasen (GH-1) und besitzt die in dieser Familie konservierte (beta/alpha)8-Barrel-Faltung. Im Vergleich mit 16 bekannten Glykosidasen der Familie GH-1 wurde die Substratbindung untersucht. Dabei wurde die in der Familie konservierte Zuckerbindung vorgefunden, jedoch große Unterschiede in der Aglykonbindung entdeckt. Es wurden Bedingungen für die Konformationsänderung des Trp388 erkannt. Diese Konformationsänderung dirigiert den Aglykonteil des Substrates auf verschiedene Seiten der Substratbindungstasche und teilt so die Familie GH-1 in zwei Gruppen.

Charakterisierung zentraler Enzyme des Ajmalin-Biosynthesewegs aus Rauvolfia serpentina

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden verschiedene Enzyme des Ajmalin-Biosynthesewegs aus der Arzneipflanze Rauvolfia serpentina charakterisiert. Dabei handelt es sich einerseits um die Vomilenin-Reduktase und die 2β-(R)-1.2-Dihydrovomilenin-Reduktase. Es wurden Versuche unternommen, diese Enzyme heterolog zu exprimieren. Eine aktive Expression konnte nicht durchgeführt werden, was mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit auf Modifikationen in der Ursprungspflanze zurückzuführen ist. Allerdings bestehen auch Zweifel, ob es sich bei den Volllängenklonen um die cDNAs der Reduktasen handelte. Zum anderen sollte eine Strukturaufklärung der Vinorin-Synthase im Komplex mit Liganden vorgenommen werden. Die erhaltenen Proteinkristalle stellten sich als derart empfindlich gegenüber Schwankungen ihrer Umgebung und dem Eindringen von Liganden in den Kristall dar, dass eine erfolgreiche Komplexierung und strukturelle Beschreibung durch Röntgenstrukturanalyse nicht möglich war. Weiterhin wurden Mutagenesestudien mit der Vinorin-Synthase durchgeführt. Eine Asparaginsäure bildet eine Salzbrücke mit einem Arginin. Alle durchgeführten Mutationen dieser Asparaginsäure führten zu einem absoluten Aktivitätsverlust. Eine Funktion des Asparagins 277, als mitverantwortliche Aminosäure zur Bindung des Co-Substrats Acetyl-CoA, konnte anhand der Mutagenesestudien ausgeschlossen werden. Weiterhin ist es erstmals gelungen die Polyneuridinaldehyd-Esterase aus Rauvolfia serpentina zu kristallisieren. Schließlich konnte die dreidimensionale Struktur der Polyneuridinaldehyd-Esterase aufgeklärt werden. Es folgte eine Beschreibung struktureller Eigenschaften der Polyneuridinaldehyd-Esterase im Vergleich zu einem Modell, welches durch ein „Molecular Modelling“ erstellt wurde.

CYP17A1 polymorphisms and clinical outcome of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone

Background. Abiraterone acetate is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 17 α-hydrolase (CYP17A1) that causes a reduction in the synthesis of testosterone in the adrenal glands, testes and tumor microenvironment. Blocking androgen production, abiraterone has been shown to prolong progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) previously submitted to chemotherapy. The aim of our study was to verify the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in predicting clinical outcome in CRPC patients treated with abiraterone after chemotherapy. Methods. We analyzed 48 CRPC consecutive patients treated with abiraterone after at least one chemotherapeutic regimen with docetaxel. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped for four polymorphisms in the CYP17A1 gene (rs743572, rs10883783, rs17115100, rs284849). PFS and OS survival curves were used to identify statistical associations between haplotypes and clinical outcome. Results. Forty-eight Caucasian patients with metastatic CRPC treated with abiraterone were genotyped for polymorphisms in the CYP17A1 gene. All samples were evaluable for both sequencing and TaqMan Genotyping assay. The CRPC patients treated with abiraterone had a median PFS and OS of 7.6 months (95% CI: 4.3-10.5) and 17.6 months (95% CI: 10.5-19.0), respectively Statistical analyses highlighted a difference approaching statistical significance (log-rank test p = 0.0534) between rs10883783 and PFS. Other polymorphisms were not associated with a benefit from treatment with abiraterone. Conclusions. In our case series of 48 treated patients, rs10883783 only was identified as a possible predictive marker, results showing a trend toward statistical significance. Further analysis of this polymorphism is needed in larger series of patients to confirm our findings.

Synthese von Sialyl-Lewis-X-Mimetika durch stereoselektive ortho-C-Glycosylierung von Phenolen

Ziel der Arbeit war es, Sialyl-LewisX-Mimetika auf Basis ortho-C-glycosylierter Phenole als Inhibitoren für die Selektin-Ligand-Wechselwirkungen zu synthetisieren. Dazu wurde zunächst die Stereoselektivität der ortho-C-Mannosylierung untersucht. Dabei wurde gezeigt, dass bei der Umsetzung von Phenolen mit dem benzylgeschützten Mannosyl-trichloracetimidat in Gegenwart von TMSOTf selektiv das β-C-Mannosid erhalten wurde. Gleichzeitig konnte anhand der NMR-spektroskopischen Untersuchungen nachgewiesen werden, dass die in der Literatur beschriebenen α-C-Mannoside von Phenolen tatsächlich β-konfiguriert sind. Wenn Naphthole als Glycosylakzeptoren verwendet wurden, konnten durch Modifikation des Promotors auch die für die Synthese der Mimetika benötigten α-C-Mannoside erhalten werden, wobei ZnCl2 als Promotor die besten Ergebnisse lieferte. Allerdings zeigten die synthetisierten α-C-Mannoside und α-C-Galactoside eine Inversion des Pyranoseringes und lagen in der ungewöhnlichen 1C4-Konformation vor.rnAnschließend konnte auf diese Weise das durch Docking-Studien gefundene Mimetikum (2S)-3-Cyclohexyl-2-[7-hydroxy-8-(α-D-mannosyl)naphthalin-2-yloxy]propionsäure syntheti-siert werden. Es besaß jedoch in Zelladhäsionstests keine ausreichende Aktivität bei der Inhibierung der Selektin-Ligand-Wechselwirkung. Bei den ursprünglichen Dockingstudien war allerdings von der gewohnten 4C1-Konformation ausgegangen worden. Spätere NMR-Experimente und DFT-Berechnungen zeigten, dass das Mimetikum tatsächlich in der 1C4-Konformation vorlag und es deshalb nicht aktiv war. Die synthetisierten Stereo- und Regioisomere zeigten in Zelladhäsionstests ebenfalls keine Aktivität.rnVersuche, die α-1-C-Mannosylnaphthole zu den benötigten 1-C-2-O-Diglycosyl-naphthalinen umzusetzen waren nicht erfolgreich, da die phenolische OH-Gruppe sterisch zu sehr abgeschirmt war, um unter milden Reaktionsbedingungen glycosyliert zu werden, bzw. die α-1-C-Mannosylnaphthaline unter drastischeren Reaktionsbedingungen nicht stabil waren. Daher wurde 1-(2′,3′,4′,6′-Tetra-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-2-naphthol mit 2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl-trichloracetimidat in Gegenwart von TMSOTf zum ersten synthetischen 1-C-2-O-Diglycosyl-phenol umgesetzt. Nach Abspaltung der Schutzgruppen sollte das erhaltene 1-Galactosyl-2-O-mannosyl-naphthalin enzymatisch zum Sialyl-LewisX-Mimetikum verlängert werden. Es wurde vom Enzym jedoch nicht als Substrat erkannt. Versuche zur chemischen Anbindung des Säurebausteins stehen noch aus.rn