Detoxification Pathways (detoxification + pathway)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Kinetics of electron transfer from NADH to the Escherichia coli nitric oxide reductase flavorubredoxin

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007
João B. Vicente
Escherichia coli flavorubredoxin (FlRd) belongs to the family of flavodiiron proteins (FDPs), microbial enzymes that are expressed to scavenge nitric oxide (NO) under anaerobic conditions. To degrade NO, FlRd has to be reduced by NADH via the FAD-binding protein flavorubredoxin reductase, thus the kinetics of electron transfer along this pathway was investigated by stopped-flow absorption spectroscopy. We found that NADH, but not NADPH, quickly reduces the FlRd-reductase (k = 5.5 ± 2.2 × 106 m,1·s,1 at 5 °C), with a limiting rate of 255 ± 17 s,1. The reductase in turn quickly reduces the rubredoxin (Rd) center of FlRd, as assessed at 5 °C working with the native FlRd enzyme (k = 2.4 ± 0.1 × 106 m,1·s,1) and with its isolated Rd-domain (k , 1 × 107 m,1·s,1); in both cases the reaction was found to be dependent on pH and ionic strength. In FlRd the fast reduction of the Rd center occurs synchronously with the formation of flavin mononucleotide semiquinone. Our data provide evidence that (a) FlRd-reductase rapidly shuttles electrons between NADH and FlRd, a prerequisite for NO reduction in this detoxification pathway, and (b) the electron accepting site in FlRd, the Rd center, is in very fast redox equilibrium with the flavin mononucleotide. [source]


Mitochondrial oxidation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in rat cerebral cortex

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2003
Tonya C. Murphy
Abstract 4-Hydroxy- trans -2-nonenal (HNE) is a neurotoxic product of lipid peroxidation whose levels are elevated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases and CNS trauma. The detoxification of HNE may take the route of glutathione conjugation to the C3 carbon and the oxidation or reduction of the C1 aldehyde. In this work, we examined whether the oxidation of HNE to its corresponding carboxylic acid, 4-hydroxy- trans -2-nonenoate (HNEAcid) was detoxifying event, if it occurred in rat cerebral cortex, and in which subcellular compartments. Our results show that HNEAcid did not form protein adducts and was non-toxic to Neuro 2A cells. HNEAcid formation occurred in rat cerebral cortex slices following exposure to HNE in a time-dependent and dose-dependent fashion. Homogenate studies indicated that HNEAcid formation was NAD+ dependent. Subcellular fractionation demonstrated that mitochondria had the highest specific activity for HNEAcid formation with a KM of 21 µm HNE. These data indicate that oxidation of HNE to its corresponding acid is a major detoxification pathway of HNE in the CNS and that mitochondria play a role in this process. [source]


Impact of nitrate supply in C and N assimilation in the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth (Scrophulariaceae) and its host Sorghum bicolor L.

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 4 2006
P. SIMIER
ABSTRACT The threshold of tolerance for nitrate of the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth and the host plant Sorghum bicolor L. was determined by estimating the impact of increasing nitrate loads on plant growth and various parameters of C and N assimilation. Nitrate supply improved chlorophyll (Chl) content and photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry of infected S. bicolor that, in comparison to S. hermonthica, displayed a low imbalance between C and N assimilation when nitrate was supplied up to 1500 mg N per plant. Indeed, nitrate supplies increased strongly the leaf N:C ratio of the parasite. The higher nitrate load induced strong accumulation of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium, and consequently the death of S. hermonthica. Nevertheless, lower nitrate loads (up to 500 mg N per S. bicolor in this study) promoted leaf expansion, PSII photochemistry and N metabolism of S. hermonthica mature (M) plants, as attested by the significant rise in soluble protein and free amino-acid contents. Following these N supplies, the nitrate tolerance of S. hermonthica was correlated with an increase in PSII activity and a high incorporation of N excess into asparagine. This confirmed the central role of asparagine in the N metabolism of S. hermonthica, although this detoxification pathway was insufficient to limit ammonium accumulation under higher nitrate loads. [source]


Alterations in gene expression profiles and the DNA-damage response in ionizing radiation-exposed TK6 cells,,

ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 2-3 2005
Gregory S. Akerman
Abstract Identifying genes that are differentially expressed in response to DNA damage may help elucidate markers for genetic damage and provide insight into the cellular responses to specific genotoxic agents. We utilized cDNA microarrays to develop gene expression profiles for ionizing radiation-exposed human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells. In order to relate changes in the expression profiles to biological responses, the effects of ionizing radiation on cell viability, cloning efficiency, and micronucleus formation were measured. TK6 cells were exposed to 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20 Gy ionizing radiation and cultured for 4 or 24 hr. A significant (P < 0.0001) decrease in cloning efficiency was observed at all doses at 4 and 24 hr after exposure. Flow cytometry revealed significant decreases in cell viability at 24 hr in cells exposed to 5 (P < 0.001), 10 (P < 0.0001), and 20 Gy (P < 0.0001). An increase in micronucleus frequency occurred at both 4 and 24 hr at 0.5 and 1 Gy; however, insufficient binucleated cells were present for analysis at the higher doses. Gene expression profiles were developed from mRNA isolated from cells exposed to 5, 10, and 20 Gy using a 350 gene human cDNA array platform. Overall, more genes were differentially expressed at 24-hr than at the 4-hr time point. The genes upregulated (> 1.5-fold) or downregulated (< 0.67-fold) at 4 hr were those primarily involved in the cessation of the cell cycle, cellular detoxification pathways, DNA repair, and apoptosis. At 24 hr, glutathione-associated genes were induced in addition to genes involved in apoptosis. Genes involved in cell cycle progression and mitosis were downregulated at 24 hr. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to confirm the microarray results and to evaluate expression levels of selected genes at the low doses (0.5 and 1.0 Gy). The expression profiles reflect the cellular and molecular responses to ionizing radiation related to the recognition of DNA damage, a halt in progression through the cell cycle, activation of DNA-repair pathways, and the promotion of apoptosis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2005. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) ligand, TCPOBOP, attenuates Fas-induced murine liver injury by altering Bcl-2 proteins,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Edwina S. Baskin-Bey
The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) modulates xeno- and endobiotic hepatotoxicity by regulating detoxification pathways. Whether activation of CAR may also protect against liver injury by directly blocking apoptosis is unknown. To address this question, CAR wild-type (CAR+/+) and CAR knockout (CAR,/,) mice were treated with the CAR agonist 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)] benzene (TCPOBOP) and then with the Fas agonist Jo2 or with concanavalin A (ConA). Following the administration of Jo2, hepatocyte apoptosis, liver injury, and animal fatalities were abated in TCPOBOP-treated CAR+/+ but not in CAR,/, mice. Likewise, acute and chronic ConA-mediated liver injury and fibrosis were also reduced in wild-type versus CAR,/, TCPOBOP-treated mice. The proapoptotic proteins Bak (Bcl-2 antagonistic killer) and Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein) were depleted in livers from TCPOBOP-treated CAR+/+ mice. In contrast, mRNA expression of the antiapoptotic effector myeloid cell leukemia factor-1 (Mcl-1) was increased fourfold. Mcl-1 promoter activity was increased by transfection with CAR and administration of TCPOBOP in hepatoma cells, consistent with a direct CAR effect on Mcl-1 transcription. Indeed, site-directed mutagenesis of a putative CAR consensus binding sequence on the Mcl-1 promoter decreased Mcl-1 promoter activity. Mcl-1 transgenic animals demonstrated little to no acute liver injury after administration of Jo2, signifying Mcl-1 cytoprotection. In conclusion, these observations support a prominent role for CAR cytoprotection against Fas-mediated hepatocyte injury via a mechanism involving upregulation of Mcl-1 and, likely, downregulation of Bax and Bak. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:252,262.) [source]


Detoxification of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in Arabidopsis: discovery of bifunctional O - and C -glucosyltransferases

THE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008
Fernando Gandia-Herrero
Summary Plants, as predominantly sessile organisms, have evolved complex detoxification pathways to deal with a diverse range of toxic chemicals. The elasticity of this stress response system additionally enables them to tackle relatively recently produced, novel, synthetic pollutants. One such compound is the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Large areas of soil and groundwater are contaminated with TNT, which is both highly toxic and recalcitrant to degradation, and persists in the environment for decades. Although TNT is phytotoxic, plants are able to tolerate low levels of the compound. To identify the genes involved in this detoxification process, we used microarray analysis and then subsequently characterized seven uridine diphosphate (UDP) glycosyltransferases (UGTs) from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). Six of the recombinantly expressed UGTs conjugated the TNT-transformation products 2- and 4-hydroxylaminodinitrotoulene, exhibiting individual bias for either the 2- or the 4-isomer. For both 2- and 4-hydroxylaminodinitrotoulene substrates, two monoglucose conjugate products, confirmed by HPLC-MS-MS, were observed. Further analysis indicated that these were conjugated by either an O - or C -glucosidic bond. The other major compounds in TNT metabolism, aminodinitrotoluenes, were also conjugated by the UGTs, but to a lesser extent. These conjugates were also identified in extracts and media from Arabidopsis plants grown in liquid culture containing TNT. Overexpression of two of these UGTs, 743B4 and 73C1, in Arabidopsis resulted in increases in conjugate production, and enhanced root growth in 74B4 overexpression seedlings. Our results show that UGTs play an integral role in the biochemical mechanism of TNT detoxification by plants. [source]


Diversity of detoxification pathways of ingested ecdysteroids among phytophagous insects

ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2007
Kacem Rharrabe
Abstract The metabolic pathways of ingested ecdysteroids have been investigated in three insect species, the aphid Myzus persicae and two Lepidoptera, Plodia interpunctella and Ostrinia nubilalis. M. persicae produces mainly a 22-glucoside conjugate, whereas P. interpunctella eliminates a mixture of 20E and its 3-oxo and 3-epi derivatives, both in free form and as conjugates with various fatty acids. O. nubilalis only produces fatty acyl ester conjugates. These data point out the great diversity of detoxification mechanisms used by phytophagous insects in order to overcome the potential harmful effects of ecdysteroids present in their food. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 65:65,73, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]