Superoxide radical scavenging by phenolic bronchodilators under aprotic and aqueous conditions.

Asthmatic airway disease is accompanied by the appearance of inflammatory cells which produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, the radical scavenging properties of the bronchodilators reproterol, fenoterol, salbutamol and terbutaline toward superoxide anion radicals and hydroperoxyl radicals were investigated in a model system by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and photometric approaches. The substances under study showed activity in superoxide radical scavenging under aprotic and protic conditions as well. The efficiency of the reaction decreased in the order: fenoterol > salbutamol > reproterol > terbutaline > oxyfedrine when DMSO was used as an aprotic solvent. In an aqueous system, the rate constants decreased in the order: fenoterol > reproterol > salbutamol. It is suggested that the antioxidant effect of these beta2-agonists is an additional advantage in treatment of asthmatic lung disease, reducing the negative consequences of airway inflammation.

Antioxidative activity of ginkgolides against superoxide in an aprotic environment.

The terpene lactones ginkgolide A, ginkgolide B, ginkgolide C, ginkgolide J and bilobalide, which are components of a standardized extract (EGb 761) from leaves of Ginkgo biloba, as well as ginkgolide M from roots of G. biloba were studied regarding their reaction against superoxide (O2-) and hydroperoxyl radicals (HO2) in dimethyl sulfoxide as an aprotic solvent. It was found that the ginkgolides B, C, J, M as well as bilobalide react with superoxide and its protonated form as demonstrated by EPR and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The initial reaction rate with these oxygen-derived radicals is in the order of 100 M-1/s and below. Ginkgolide A does not react with superoxide under these conditions. From these findings it can be suggested that the superoxide scavenging effect of the ginkgolides B, C, J, M and bilobalide contributes to the antioxidant properties of G. biloba.

Generation of free radicals in Langendorff and working hearts during normoxia, hypoxia, and reoxygenation.

The release of .OH and alkyl free radicals into the coronary flow were compared in Langendorff perfused and working rat hearts during normoxia (30 min), hypoxia (30 min) and reoxygenation (60 min) by means of spin-trapping techniques using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO). In Langendorff hearts, there was a small but steady increase in the radical concentration during the course of hypoxia and reoxygenation. At the start of reoxygenation, only small initial peaks of hydroxyl and alkyl radicals occurred. After a general decrease of free radical production during hypoxia, working hearts produced nearly double the amount of free radicals during reoxygenation as Langendorff hearts. After an initial large increase during early reoxygenation, the amount of free radicals produced fluctuated on a high level during the remaining reoxygenation period. Heart work is thus correlated with an increased production of free radicals, possibly due to an increase in oxygen consumption by the heart.

Conformational properties of streptokinase--secondary structure and localization of aromatic amino acids.

The conformational properties of streptokinase (Sk) have been assessed by several spectroscopic techniques. A solvent accessibility of about 70% of the 22 Tyr residues was found by u.v. perturbation spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectroscopy indicates also the surface localization of the single Trp 6 residue. Circular dichroism (c.d.), infrared (i.r.), and Raman spectra were analysed in order to estimate the contents of secondary structure elements of Sk. Values in the range of 14-23% alpha-helices, 38-46% beta-structures, 10-30% turns and 12-23% residual structures were found. The characteristics of the c.d. spectrum support the classification of Sk as an alpha + beta protein. Effects of temperature, pH, and denaturants were studied by c.d. spectroscopy, and on spin-labelled Sk, by e.p.r. spectroscopy. Structural effects were induced at temperatures above 40 degrees C, pH values below 3.0 and urea concentrations above 2 M. At temperatures above 70 degrees C, at pH 2.1, and at urea and Gu.HCl concentrations of 7 M and 5 M, respectively, no further structural changes are revealed in the spectra. At temperatures around 50 degrees C, at pH 3.0, and denaturant concentrations of about 1 M Gu.HCl and 1 M to 2 M urea, c.d. effects were observed in the near-u.v. region indicating an increase in the asymmetry for aromatic amino acids in comparison with the structure of Sk in low ionic strength buffers at neutral pH, 20 degrees C and in the absence of denaturants. These effects were most pronounced for the temperature dependence of the c.d. spectra. E.p.r. spectroscopy has shown that loosening of the protein surrounding of the spin label already begins at 1 M urea and that the mobility of the spin label points to a structural change in Sk at 46 degrees C.

Protection of melanoma cells against superoxide radicals by melanins.

Human melanoma cells transplanted into immunocompetent mice by the 6-day subrenal capsule technique are characterized by high resistance against immunological attack. This resistance is suggested to be the consequence of scavenging of superoxide free radicals by melanin. Scavenging of superoxide radicals by the melanoma cells was clearly demonstrated using electron spin resonance techniques. From comparison with synthetic melanins it is concluded that the scavenger effect can be attributed mainly to low-molecular-mass melanins synthesized in the melanoma cells whereas high-molecular-mass melanins are practically ineffective.

Studies on the thermal inactivation of immobilized enzymes.

The thermal inactivation of a great number of immobilized enzymes shows a biphasic kinetics, which distinctly differs from the first-order inactivation kinetics of the corresponding soluble enzymes. As shown for alpha-amylase, chymotrypsin, and trypsin covalently bound to silica, polystyrene, or polyacrylamide, the dependence of the remaining activities on the heating time can be well described by the sum of two exponential terms. To interpret this mathematical model function, the catalytic properties of immobilized enzymes (number of active sites in silica-bound trypsin, K(M) and E(a) values in silica-bound alpha-amylase and chymotrypsin) at different stages of inactivation and the influence of various factors (coupling conditions, addition of denaturants or stabilizers, etc.) on the thermal inactivation of silica-bound alpha-amylase were studied. Furthermore, conformational alterations in the thermal denaturation of spin-labeled soluble and silica-bound beta-amylase were compared by electron spin resonance (ESR) studies. The results suggest that the biphasic inactivation kinetics reflects two different pathways according to which catalytically identical enzyme molecules are predominantly inactivated.

[Thermitase--a thermostable serine protease. VIII. Kinetic and ESR investigations on the interactions of enzymes with spin labeled peptide methyl ketones]. / Thermitase--eine thermostabile Serinprotease. VIII. Kinetische und ESR-Untersuchungen der Wechsel-wirkung des Enzyms mit spinmarkierten Peptidmethylketonen.

An attempt was made to study the structure of the active center of thermitase by means of spin labeled peptide analogues. For this purpose, peptide methyl ketones SL-Alan-PheCH3 of different chain length (n = 0, 1, 2, 3; SL = 2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl-pyrrolin-1-oxyl-3-carbonyl) were synthesized. Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of these compounds are described and inhibition constants Ki for the interaction of these compounds with thermitase were measured. SL-Ala2-PheCH3 and SL-Ala3-PheCH3 are strong reversible inhibitors of thermitase with Ki values of 8.9 X 10(-6) M and 4.8 X 10(-7) M, respectively, whereas the analogous compounds with n = 0 and n = 1 represent only reduced affinity for this enzyme. ESR spectra of SL-Ala2-PheCH3 and SL-Ala3-PheCH3 in the presence of thermitase reveal that a great part of the SL residues of enzyme bound inhibitor molecules is not measurably restricted in their mobility whereas another part is hindered by unspecific interaction with the protein. The kinetic and ESR data are discussed with regard to the substrate binding region of the enzyme.

Probing of mRNA binding sites involved in interactions with rat liver ribosomes using poly(U) spin labeled at the ribose moiety.

The interaction of rat liver ribosomes with poly(U), spin labeled (SL) at the 2'OH groups of ribose residues by N-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-carbonylpyrroline-1-oxyl)-imidazole, has been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The ESR spectra demonstrate that SL-poly(U) with a modification of 1 spin label per 20 ribose residues binds to 80S ribosomes as well as to 40S subunits in a 1:1 stoichiometry at 12 mM MgCl2. The same result is found with highly modified poly(U) bearing 1 SL per 4 ribose residues. Addition of excessive amounts of unmodified poly(U) displaces bound SL-poly(U) from the ribosome which points to a competition for the same binding site at the ribosome. The biological activity of SL-poly(U) was tested with regard to trigger 80S ribosomes for binding of Phe-tRNAPhe and for poly(Phe) synthesis. SL-poly(U) bearing 1 SL group per 20 ribose residues directs the binding of only 50% of the amount of Phe-tRNAPhe bound to ribosomes in the presence of unmodified poly(U). When SL-poly(U) bearing 1 SL group per 4 ribose residues is used, this value drops to 25%. Poly(Phe) synthesis is even more impaired: In the presence of poly(U) bearing 1 SL-group per 20 ribose residues only about 30% of the amount of poly(Phe) coded by unmodified poly(U) are synthesized and in the presence of SL-poly(U) bearing 1 SL group per 4 ribose residues poly(Phe) synthesis is completely abolished. The results suggest that modification of the ribose moiety has only a relatively small influence on the binding of mRNA to ribosomes but causes substantial impairment of the mRNA function, whereas, as shown earlier (Ebert et al., Acta Biol. Med. Germ. 41, 431, 1982), modification of the base moiety of poly(U) (in a proportion of 1 SL per 30 bases) does not influence coding efficiency for poly(Phe) synthesis.

Study of H2O2-supported N-demethylations catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 and horseradish peroxidase.

H2O2-supported oxidative demethylation reactions catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 and horseradish peroxidase have been compared. In contrast to peroxidase catalyzed reactions no free substrate radicals could be detected by EPR stopped flow measurements in demethylation reactions catalyzed by highly purified cytochrome P-450 although the rate of product formation for both enzyme systems was identical. These findings cause doubts in a general peroxide dependent demethylation mechanism valid for all hemoproteins and in the hypothesis that free substrate radicals are principally formed during cytochrome P-450 catalysis.

Preparation of spin-labeled poly(U) and its activity in assays with eukaryotic ribosomes.

ESR studies on the interaction of spin-labeled polynucleotides with ribosomes require a sufficient label-to-nucleotide ratio. Using three different spin labels (SL) we have elaborated a technique to label poly(U) up to a ratio of 1 SL per 30 uridine residues. This ratio is much higher than maximal values obtained by other authors. The SL-poly(U) was shown to have the same activity as unlabeled poly(U) to direct synthesis of poly(Phe). SL-poly(U) binds to rat liver ribosomes in the presence of Mg2+ as shown by ESR. Titration with EDTA leads to a release of SL-poly(U) from ribosomes.

Thermal stability of F-actin as studied by spin labelling.

An analysis of the EPR spectra of maleimide spin-labelled actin was undertaken. We estimated a rotational correlation time of (13 +/- 2) nsec for the five-membered maleimide spin label bound to G-actin. The polarity of the environment of the bound labels indicated a strong polar character. The temperature dependence of the EPR spectral parameters of the attached label for F-actin exhibited rapid changes between 60-70 degrees C, which might be due to changes of protein structure. The conformational changes were reversible below 65 degrees C. The spin label spectra showed that the polymerization and depolymerization could be accomplished on actin thermally treated in F-form for 10 minutes at a temperature not higher than 60 degrees C. The findings suggest thermal stability of the spin-labelled sites in F-actin below 65 degrees C.

[Spectroscopic investigatons on the structural thermal stability of leucine aminopeptidase. ESR, CD and fluorescence studies]. / Spektroskopische Untersuchungen zur Thermostabilität höherer Strukturen von Leuzinaminopeptidase. ESR-, CD- und Fluoreszenzstudien

The thermal behaviour of leucine aminopeptidase (LAP, EC: 3.4.11.1) from bovine eye lens has been investigated in the temperature region 20--70 degrees C by spin-labelling of SH-groups (ESR), by CD and by fluorescence of tryptophane residues. Enzymatic activity of LAP was compared with spectroscopic data in this temperature region. From 20-60 degrees C the structural parts (alpha, beta, random coil) estimated from CD spectra remain unchanged. Within 20-55 degrees C no irreversible exposure of tryptophane residues takes place. In both types of spin-labelled LAP the strong immobilizing environment of the label retains its highly ordered structure up to 55 degrees C. Reversible changes of mobility and polarity of the environment of the label induced by temperature within 20-50 degrees C do not reduce the enzymatic activity and are regarded as local loosening of ordered structure. At 65 degrees C strong precipitation occurs. From 55 degrees C to 65 degrees C tryptophane residues are irreversibly exposed. The highly ordered environment of the label is destroyed about 55 degrees C, and a considerable amount of spin label molecules is reduced at the NO group by exposed SH groups. The above mentioned local loosening of structure becomes irreversible at 60 degrees C. The environment of both labels dominating above 60 degrees C is highly mobile and strongly polar and represents an extensively unfolded conformation. Until 60 degrees C no essential disordering of protein structure leading to a decrease of enzymatic activity occurs. Above 60 degrees C a sharp breakdown of ordered structures takes place, which is accompanied by a strong diminution of enzymatic activity.

Spin-labeling studies of urea-treated leucine aminopeptidase.

1. Leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3-4-11-1) from bovine eye lens was spin-labeled at the most reactive thiol groups with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-[2-iodoacetamido]-piperidine-1-oxyl. 2. Electron spin resonance spectra show two spectral parts corresponding to two local conformational states in the environment of bound label. One state (A) exhibits a strong immobilizing effect on the mobility of the bound label whereas the other one (B) immobilizes weakly. Independently on the degree of labeling a ratio of A:B approximately 4:1 was estimated. In B a hydrophobic environment of label was observed. 3. Treatment of leucine aminopeptidase by 6.2 M urea leads to the following structural changes. a) An additional weakly immobilizing conformational state (B') with reduced hydrophobic interactions and increased mobility representing an unfolded conformational state appears. B' shows a time-dependent increase of its extent at the expense of B and A' (half conversion time about 0.5 h). The extent of this conformational change is larger, if the enzyme is additionally complexed with Mn2+. b) Mn2+ complexed with the protein is partly released producting hydrated Mn2+. c) After withdrawal of urea the observed conformational changes in leucine aminopeptidase are fully reversible, giving the initial ratio of A:B approximately 4:1 even after long incubation. 4. 6.2 M urea is not able to destroy the strongly immobilizing conformational state A completely.