Spectrometric evidence for the flavin-1-phenylcyclopropylamine inactivator adduct with monoamine oxidase N.

1-Phenylcyclopropylamine (1-PCPA) is shown to be an inactivator of the fungal flavoenzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) N. Inactivation results in an increase in absorbance at 410 nm and is accompanied by the concomitant loss of the flavin absorption band at 458 nm. The spectral properties of the covalent adduct formed between the flavin cofactor of MAO N and 1-PCPA are similar to those reported for the irreversible inactivation product formed with 1-PCPA and mammalian mitochondrial monoamine oxidase B [Silverman, R. B., and Zieske, P. A. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 2128-2138]. There is a hypsochromic shift of the 410 nm band upon lowering the pH to 2, indicating that an N(5)-flavin adduct formed upon inactivation. Use of the fungal enzyme, MAO N, which lacks the covalent attachment to the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor present in the mammalian forms MAO A and MAO B, has allowed for the isolation and further structural identification of the flavin-inactivator adduct. The incorporation of two (13)C labels into the inactivator, [2,3-(13)C(2)]-1-PCPA, followed by analysis using on-line liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, provided a means to explore the structure of the flavin-inactivator adduct of MAO N. The spectral evidence supports covalent attachment of the 1-PCPA inactivator to the cofactor as N(5)-3-oxo-3-phenylpropyl-FAD.

NADH-quinone oxidoreductase: PSST subunit couples electron transfer from iron-sulfur cluster N2 to quinone.

The proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.3) is the largest and least understood enzyme complex of the respiratory chain. The mammalian mitochondrial enzyme (also called complex I) contains more than 40 subunits, whereas its structurally simpler bacterial counterpart (NDH-1) in Paracoccus denitrificans and Thermus thermophilus HB-8 consists of 14 subunits. A major unsolved question is the location and mechanism of the terminal electron transfer step from iron-sulfur cluster N2 to quinone. Potent inhibitors acting at this key region are candidate photoaffinity probes to dissect NADH-quinone oxidoreductases. Complex I and NDH-1 are very sensitive to inhibition by a variety of structurally diverse toxicants, including rotenone, piericidin A, bullatacin, and pyridaben. We designed (trifluoromethyl)diazirinyl[3H]pyridaben ([3H]TDP) as our photoaffinity ligand because it combines outstanding inhibitor potency, a suitable photoreactive group, and tritium at high specific activity. Photoaffinity labeling of mitochondrial electron transport particles was specific and saturable. Isolation, protein sequencing, and immunoprecipitation identified the high-affinity specifically labeled 23-kDa subunit as PSST of complex I. Immunoprecipitation of labeled membranes of P. denitrificans and T. thermophilus established photoaffinity labeling of the equivalent bacterial NQO6. Competitive binding and enzyme inhibition studies showed that photoaffinity labeling of the specific high-affinity binding site of PSST is exceptionally sensitive to each of the high-potency inhibitors mentioned above. These findings establish that the homologous PSST of mitochondria and NQO6 of bacteria have a conserved inhibitor-binding site and that this subunit plays a key role in electron transfer by functionally coupling iron-sulfur cluster N2 to quinone.

Isolation and characterization of an evolutionary precursor of human monoamine oxidases A and B.

An interesting flavoprotein-type monoamine oxidase (MAO) was recently isolated from Aspergillus niger and cloned [Schilling, B. & Lerch, K. (1995a) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1243, 529-537; Schilling, B. & Lerch, K. (1995b) Mol. Gen. Genet. 247, 430-438]. The properties of this MAO, as well as a substantial part of its amino acid sequence, resemble those of both MAO A and B from higher animals, raising the possibility that it may be an evolutionary precursor of these mitochondrial enzymes. It differs from MAO A and B in several respects, however, including the fact that it is soluble and of peroxisomal location and that the FAD is non-covalently attached. We have overexpressed the fungal enzyme (MAO-N) in Escherichia coli and isolated it in pure form. Since several of the observations of previous workers on MAO-N could not be reproduced, we have reexamined its substrate specificity, interaction with reversible and irreversible inhibitors and other catalytic and molecular properties. MAO-N has a considerably higher turnover number on many aliphatic and aromatic amines than either form of the mammalian enzyme. Some aspects of the substrate specificity resemble those of MAO B, while others are similar to MAO A, including biphasic kinetics in double reciprocal plots. Contrary to a previous report [Schilling, B. & Lerch, K. (1995a) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1243, 529-537], however, the fungal enzyme does not oxidize serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine or other biogenic amines. MAO-N is irreversibly inhibited by stoichiometric amounts of both (-)deprenyl and clorgyline in a mechanism-based reaction, forming flavocyanine adducts with N5 of the FAD, like the mammalian enzymes, but inactivation is much faster with clorgyline than deprenyl, suggesting a closer resemblance to MAO A than B. The dissociation constants for a large number of reversible competitive inhibitors have been determined for MAO-N and comparison with similar values for MAO A and B again pointed to a greater similarity to the former than the latter.

[Isolation and characterization of an evolutionary precursor of human monoamine oxidases A and B]. / Vydelenie i kharakterizatsiia évoliutsionnogo predshestvennika monoaminoksidaz A i B cheloveka.

An interesting flavoprotein-type monoamine oxidase (MAO) was recently isolated from Aspergillus niger and cloned by Schilling and Lerch (1995a,b) The properties of this MAO, as well as a substantial part of its amino acid sequence resemble those of both MAO A and B from higher animals, raising the possibility that it may be an evolutionary precursor of these mitochondrial enzymes. It differs from MAO A and B in several respect, however, including the fact that it is soluble and of peroxisomal localization and that the FAD is non-covalently attached. We have overexpressed the fungal enzyme (MAO-N) in Escherichia coli, isolated it for the first time in pure form, and, in collaboration with Dr. Elena Sablin, crystallized it. Since several of the observations of previous workers on MAO-N could not be reproduced and seem to be erroneous, we have reexamined its, substrate specificity, interaction with reversible and irreversible inhibitors and other catalytic and molecular properties. MAO-N has a considerably higher turnover number on many aliphatic and aromatic amines than either form of the mammalian enzyme. Some aspects of the substrate specificity resemble those of MAO B, while others are similar to MAO A, including biphasic kinetics in double reciprocal plots. Contrary to the report of Schilling and Lerch (1995a), however, the fungal enzyme does not oxidize serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine or other biogenic amines. MAO-N is irreversibly inhibited by stoichiometric amounts of both (-)deprenyl and clorgyline in a mechanism-based reaction, forming flavocyanine adducts with N(5) of the FAD, like the mammalian enzymes, but inactivation is much faster with clorgyline than deprenyl, suggesting again a closer resemblance to MAO A than B. The dissociation constants for a large number of reversible competitive inhibitors have been determined for MAO-N and comparison with similar values for MAO A and B again pointed to a much greater similarity to the former than the latter. Experiments designed to change the linkage of the FAD to covalent form by site-directed mutagenesis and to dissociate.

Inhibitor probes of the quinone binding sites of mammalian complex II and Escherichia coli fumarate reductase.

The structural and catalytic properties of beef heart succinate dehydrogenase (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, complex II) and Escherichia coli fumarate reductase are remarkably similar. One exception is that whereas electron exchange between the mammalian enzyme and its quinone pool is inhibited by thenoyltrifluoroacetone and carboxanilides, the enzyme from E. coli is not sensitive to these inhibitors. The lack of good inhibitors has seriously hampered the elucidation of the mechanism of quinone oxidation/reduction in the E. coli enzyme. We have previously reported (Tan, A. K., Ramsay, R. R., Singer, T. P., and Miyoshi, H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 19328-19333) that 2-alkyl-4,6-dinitrophenols inhibit mammalian complexes I, II, and III, but with different potencies and kinetic characteristics. Based on these studies we have selected a series of 2-alkyl-4,6-dinitrophenols which proved to be very effective noncompetitive inhibitors of mammalian complex II, particularly when acting in the direction of quinone reduction, the physiological event. These compounds turned out to be even more potent inhibitors of E. coli fumarate reductase, particularly when acting in the direction of quinol oxidation, again, the physiological event. Kinetic analysis revealed that with both enzymes 2 inhibitor binding sites seem to be involved in the oxidation of succinate by quinone, but one seems to be functioning when fumarate is reduced by external quinol. Since the E. coli enzyme can be modified by site-directed mutagenesis, these studies were extended to four mutants of fumarate reductase, impaired by single amino acid substitutions at either of the putative quinone binding sites (QA or QB) of the enzyme. The results were analyzed in terms of the model of these dual sites of quinone binding in fumarate reductase, as well as the nature of the substituent in the 2-position of the dinitrophenol inhibitors.

Inhibition of NADH oxidation by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium analogs as the basis for the prediction of the inhibitory potency of novel compounds.

Inhibition of NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and its analogs results in dopaminergic cell death. In the present study, the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and of NADH oxidation in inverted inner membrane preparations by the oxidation products of N-methyl-stilbazoles (N-methyl-styrylpyridiniums) are characterized. These nonflexible MPP+ analogs were found to be considerably more potent inhibitors than the corresponding MPP+ derivatives. The IC50 values for these compounds and previously published figures for MPP+ analogs were then used to select a computer model based on structural parameters to predict the inhibitory potency of other compounds that react at the "rotenone site" in Complex I. A series of 12 novel inhibitors different in structure from the basic set were used to test the predictive capacity of the models selected. Despite major structural differences between the novel test compounds and the MPP+ and styrylpyridinium analogs on which the models were based, substantial agreement was found between the predicted and experimentally determined IC50 values. The value of this technique lies in the potential for the prediction of the inhibitory potency of other drugs and toxins which block mitochondrial respiration by interacting at the rotenone sites.

Flauoprotein structure and mechanism 2. Monoamine oxidases: old friends hold many surprises.

The two forms of monoamine oxidase (MAO), A and B, continue to be of major interest to biochemists, pharmacologists, neurologists, and gerontologists. Despite intensive study for more than half a century, unexpected and unique properties of these enzymes continue to come to light. Recent studies have centered on their kinetic mechanism, their unique predilection for substrates related to the neurotoxic tertiary amine MPTP, and their putative role in aging and in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. New and potent inhibitors of MAO A and MAO B continue to be developed because of their potential use in clinical medicine. Some are effective in the picomolar range but MAO B from different mammalian species shows remarkable differences in sensitivity to these agents.

Deficiencies of NADH and succinate dehydrogenases in degenerative diseases and myopathies.

This paper examines the experimental foundations of reports in the literature on mitochondrial diseases involving Complexes I and II of the respiratory chain. Many of the reports may be questioned on the basis of the assay conditions used which disregard established knowledge of the precautions required for valid activity measurements. In addition, some findings are open to question because of the experimental material chosen for the study, such as the measurement of NADH oxidase activity in platelets in Parkinson's disease, which affects selectively the dopamine neurons, or the use of autopsy material stored for prolonged periods during which post-mortem changes may have occurred. Deficiencies claimed to involve several components of the respiratory chain may reflect indirect effects, such as defects in the synthesis of iron-sulfur clusters or in the availability of iron, rather than mutations in the genes coding for the deficient enzymes. Nevertheless, there are a few instances reported of Complex II deficiency free from such criticisms. As to Complex I, idiopathic Parkinsonism appears to involve a documentable decline in the activity of this enzyme. Using the model system provided by N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which produces biochemical, pharmacological, and clinical syndromes closely resembling Parkinsonism, the etiology of the disease is examined.

Inhibition of complex I by hydrophobic analogues of N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and the use of an ion-selective electrode to measure their accumulation by mitochondria and electron-transport particles.

N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the neurotoxic metabolite of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, kills dopaminergic neurons after its accumulation in mitochondria where it inhibits Complex I of the respiratory chain. MPP+ inhibits respiration by binding to both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic site on Complex I and this inhibition is increased by the lipophilic tetraphenylboron anion (TPB-) which facilitates movement of MPP+ through membranes and its penetration to the hydrophobic binding site on Complex I. To investigate the inhibition of respiration by MPP(+)-like compounds, we have measured simultaneously NADH-linked mitochondrial respiration and the uptake and accumulation of the N-benzyl-4-styrylpyridinium and N-ethyl-4-styrylpyridinium cations in mitochondria using ion-selective electrodes. The data provide direct evidence that TPB- increases the inhibition not by increasing matrix concentration but by facilitating access to the inhibitory sites on Complex I. We have also compared the rates of uptake of MPP+ analogues of varied lipophilicity by the inner membrane and the development of inhibition of NADH oxidation, using an inverted mitochondrial inner membrane preparation and appropriate ion-selective electrodes. These experiments demonstrated that the amount of MPP+ analogue bound to the inner membrane greatly exceeded the quantity required for complete inhibition of NADH oxidation. Moreover, binding to the membrane occurred much more rapidly than the development of inhibition with all MPP+ analogues tested. This suggests that the attainment of a correct orientation of these compounds within the membrane and the binding site may be a rate-limiting step in the development of inhibition.

Dramatic species differences in the susceptibility of monoamine oxidase B to a group of powerful inhibitors.

Oxadiazolones and oxadiazolethiones are potent, reversible competitive inhibitors of MAO B in rat brain mitochondria. We have compared the Ki values of six of these inhibitors towards MAO B from rat, human and beef liver mitochondria, using benzylamine as substrate. Unexpectedly, their inhibitory potency varies by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude between rat and beef liver MAO B, whereas the inhibition of the rat and human liver enzymes is quite similar. Examples are 5-(4-benzyl-oxyphenyl)-3-(2-cyano-ethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-th ione, with Ki at 30 degrees of 0.5 nM for rat, 0.8 nM for human, and 1,830 nM for beef liver mitochondria and 5-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3 H)-one with Ki values of 1.2, 1.1 and 1,320 nM for MAO B from these three sources. Since solubilized and membrane-bound enzymes had similar sensitivities to the inhibitors, the differences seen must arise from differences in the amino acid sequences of the three enzymes.

Studies on the characterization of the inhibitory mechanism of 4'-alkylated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and phenylpyridine analogues in mitochondria and electron transport particles.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the toxic agent in MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity, is thought to act by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transport at complex I. This study examined this latter action further with a series of 4'-alkylated analogues of MPP+. These derivatives had IC50 values that ranged from 0.5 to 110 microM and from 1.6 to 3,300 microM in mitochondria and electron transport particles (ETPs), respectively. The IC50 values of corresponding 4'-alkylated phenylpyridine derivatives to inhibit NADH-linked oxidation ranged from 10 to 205 microM in mitochondria and from 1.7 to 142 microM in ETPs. The potencies of both classes of inhibitors directly correlated with their ability to partition between 1-octanol and water. In mitochondria, increased hydrophobicity resulted in greater inhibition of NADH dehydrogenase but a smaller dependence on the transmembrane electrochemical gradient for accumulation of the pyridiniums as evidenced by an approximately 600-fold, versus only a 36-fold, increase in the IC50 of MPP+ versus 4'-pentyl-MPP+, respectively, in the presence of uncoupler. In ETPs, the analogous increase in potencies of the more hydrophobic analogues was also consistent with an inhibitory mechanism that relied on differential partitioning into the lipid environment surrounding NADH dehydrogenase. However, the pyridinium charge must play a major role in explaining the inhibitory mechanism of the pyridiniums because their potencies are much greater than would be predicted based solely on hydrophobicity. For example, in ETPs, 4'-decyl-MPP+ was nearly 80-fold more potent than phenylpyridine although the latter compound partitions twice as much into 1-octanol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The reaction sites of rotenone and ubiquinone with mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase.

This article summarizes recent studies in the authors' and other laboratories of selective inhibitors acting at the 'rotenone' site and at the Q binding site in the NADH-Q oxidoreductase segment of the respiratory chain. A wide array of inhibitors act at the rotenone site to block electron flux from the enzyme to the Q pool. Using evidence from studies with rotenone, piericidin A, and analogs of the neurotoxic N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, we have proposed two binding sites for these inhibitors, both of which must be occupied for complete inhibition of NADH oxidation.

Oxidation products arising from the action of monoamine oxidase B on 1-methyl-4-benzyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, a nonneurotoxic analogue of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.

1-Methyl-4-benzyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MBzTP), an analogue of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, despite its rapid oxidation by monoamine oxidase B (MAO B), is not neurotoxic. The pyridinium expected to arise from the four-electron oxidation of MBzTP inhibits mitochondrial respiration and the oxidation of NADH in inner membranes and is only moderately less inhibitory than 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. It is also a competitive inhibitor of dopamine uptake by the dopamine transporter and hence likely to be taken up into neurons, despite its relatively high Ki value (Ki = 21 microM). Incubation of MBzTP with purified MAO B yields first the dihydropyridinium form, then a mixture of the pyridinium form and another unidentified product, in proportions that depend on the concentrations of MAO B and oxygen. At low MAO B concentration and moderate oxygen concentration, nonenzymatic formation of the unidentified product predominates. The lack of neurotoxicity of MBzTP appears to be due to the oxidative destruction of the dihydropyridine and consequent failure of accumulation of 1-methyl-4-benzylpyridinium.

Characterization of the inhibitory mechanism of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and 4-phenylpyridine analogs in inner membrane preparations.

We have investigated the mechanism of the inhibition of membrane-bound NADH dehydrogenase by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and a series of its 4'-alkyl-substituted analogs of increasing hydrophobicity, as well as their neutral, desmethyl congeners. Comparison of hydrophobicity, as measured by partition coefficients, with the IC50 for the inhibition of NADH oxidase activity in mitochondrial inner membrane preparations shows a negative correlation, but the cationic inhibitors are more effective than the neutral analogs with similar hydrophobicity. The presence of 10 microM tetraphenylboron (TPB-) potentiates the inhibitory power of positively charged analogs up to 4'-pentyl-MPP+, while the neutral inhibitors are unaffected by TPB-. Without TPB-, the more hydrophilic analogs give incomplete inhibition, but the inclusion of TPB- permits the attainment of complete inhibition, accompanied by the appearance of sigmoidal titration curves. These data support the hypothesis that MPP+ analogs, like rotenone, are bound at two sites on the enzyme and occupancy of both is required for complete inhibition. TPB-, by forming ion pairs with the cationic analogs, facilitates their equilibration to both sites in membrane preparations. When present in molar excess over the MPP+ analog, TPB- partially reverses the inhibition by decreasing its concentration in the more hydrophilic binding site. The effect of temperature and of pH on the IC50 values for inhibition support the concept of dual binding sites, and the pH dependence of the inhibition reveals the participation of two ionized protein groups in the binding, one of which may be a thiol group.

Interaction of tetrahydrostilbazoles with monoamine oxidase A and B.

1-Methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrostilbazole (MTHS) and its analogs are oxidized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) A at slow rates comparable to that for the structurally similar neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, but the rates of oxidation by MAO B vary over a wide range depending on the structure of the analog. MAO A oxidation of all of the analogs yielded nonhyperbolic kinetic patterns, with little difference between the cis and trans isomers. In contrast MAO B showed hyperbolic kinetics and distinct stereoselectivity for the cis isomers. The corresponding pyridinium forms of trans-MTHS and its analogs were more potent inhibitors of MAO A (Ki values between 0.3 and 5 microM) than of MAO B, for which the Ki values varied greatly. The data suggest that the stringency of the MAO A active site for the geometry of the substrate molecule is less strict than that of MAO B. With MAO B, any substitution on the phenyl ring can lead to dramatic changes in the substrate properties which may be explained by the different orientation of substrate at the active site of the enzyme. Molecular geometry but not the effects of the substituents was shown to be an important factor in determining the effectiveness of substrate oxidation by MAO B.

Reactivation of NADH dehydrogenase (complex I) inhibited by 1-methyl-4-(4'-alkylphenyl)pyridinium analogues: a clue to the nature of the inhibition site.

Expression of the neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, following oxidation to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), is believed to involve inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport from NADH dehydrogenase (complex I) to ubiquinone. MPP+ and its analogues have been shown to block electron transport at or near the same site as two powerful inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration, rotenone and piericidin A. All three types of inhibitors combine at two sites on NADH dehydrogenase, a hydrophilic and hydrophobic one, and occupancy of both sites is required for complete inhibition. Tetraphenylboron anion (TPB-) in catalytic amounts is known to increase the effectiveness of positively charged MPP+ analogues in blocking mitochondrial respiration. A part of this effect involves facilitation of the entry of MPP+ congeners into the hydrophobic site by ion pairing, as has been demonstrated in studies with submitochondrial particles (electron transport particles). This communication documents the fact that TPB-, when present in molar excess over the MPP+ analogues, reverses the inhibition. This seems to involve again strong ion pairing, removal of the inhibitory analogue from one to the two binding sites, and concentration of the inhibitor in the membrane, so that only the hydrophobic binding site remains occupied, resulting in lowering of the inhibition to 30-40%.