Biochemical studies of embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus of Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

Some physiological and biochemical changes were measured between embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus obtained from Cardiospermum halicacabum. Combination of auxin with cytokinin was more favourable for high amount of callus formation. 2,4-D played a key role in triggering somatic embryo formation. Embryogenic callus had more total carbohydrate and starch contents, total free amino acids, nucleic acids, phenols and ascorbic acid. Non-embryogenic callus exhibited high chlorophyll content, total soluble sugar, protein, ammonia and enzymes like peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Thus, the present study indicated that the process of somatic embryogenesis was characterized by some biochemical and physiological changes induced by plant growth regulators.

Inactivación de la lipoamida deshidrogenasa de miocardio por catecolaminas: protección por captopril y otros tioles / Inactivation of the myocardial lipoamide dehydrogenase by catecholamines: prevention by captopril and other thiol compounds

Inactivation of lipoamide dehydrogenase (LipDH) by the Cu(II)/H2O2 Fenton system (SF-Cu(II): (5.0 microM Cu(II), 3.0 mM H2O2) was enhanced by catecholamines (CAs), namely, epinephrine, levoDOPA (DOPA), DOPAMINE, 6-hydroxyDOPAMINE (OH-DOPAMINE) and related compounds (DOPAC, CATECHOL, etc.). After 5 min incubation with the Cu(II)/H2O2/CA system (0,4 mM CA), the enzyme activity decayed as indicated by the following percentage values (mean +/- S.D.; in parenthesis, number of determinations): SF-Cu(II) alone, 43 +/- 10 (18); SF-Cu(II) + epinephrine, 80 +/- 9 (5); SF-Cu(II)'+ DOPA, 78 +/- 2 (4); SF + Cu(II) + DOPAMINE, 88 +/- 7 (5); SF-Cu(II) + OH-DOPAMINE 87 +/- 6 (7); SF-Cu(II) + DOPAC, 88 +/- 3 (6); SF-Cu(II) + catechol, 85 +/- 6 (5). In all cases P < 0,05, with respect to the SF-Cu(II) control sample. CAs effect was concentration-dependent and at the 0-100 microM concentration range, it varied with the CA structure. Above the 100 MicroM concentration, CAs were equally effective and produced 90-100 percent enzyme, inactivation (Figure 2). In the absence of oxy-radical generation, the enzyme specific activity (mean + S.D.) was 149 +/- 10 (24) micromol NADH/min/mg protein. Assay of HO. production by the Cu(II)/H2O2/CA system in the presence of deoxyribose (TBA assay) yielded values much greater than those obtained omitting CA. Hydroxyl radical production depended on the presence of Cu(II) and H2O2, and significant HO. values were obtained with OH-DOPAMINE, DOPAC, epinephrine, DOPAMINE, DOPA and catecol supplemented systems (Table 2). LipDH (1.0 microM) inhibited 50-80 percent deoxyribose oxidation, the inhibition depending on the CA structure (Table 2). Native catalase (20 microg/ml) and bovine serum albumin (40 microg/ml) effectively prevented LipDH inactivation by the Cu(II)/H2O2/CA system, denaturated catalase, SOD, 0,3 M mannitol, 6,0 mM ethanol and 0,2 M benzoate were less effective or did not protect LipDH (Table 3). Incubation of CAs with the Cu(II)H2O2 system produced a time and Cu(II)-dependent destruction of CAs, the corresponding o-quinone, production as illustrated with epinephrine (figures 6 and 7), as illustrated with epinephrine and DOPAMINE (Table 4). These results support LipDH inactivation by (a) reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by CAs followed by Cu-catalyzed production of HO. from H2O2; (b) CA oxidation followed by the corresponding o-quinone interaction with LipDH. CAPTOPRIL, N-acetylcysteine, mercaptopropionylglycine and penicillamine prevented to various degree LipDH inactivation by the Cu(II)/H2O2/CA systems (Table 1). The former was the most effective and 0,4 mM CAPTOPRIL prevented about 95-100 percent the effect of Cu(II)/H2O2/CA systems supplemented with epinephrine, DOPAMINE and OH-DOPAMINE (Figures 3 and Table 1). LipDH increased and CAPTOPRIL inhibited epinephrine oxidation by Cu(II)/H2O2 (Figures 4 and 5). Since un-physiological concentrations of CAs and Cu(II) may be released in the myocardium after ischemia-reperfusion, the summarized observations may contribute to explain myocardial damage in that condition.