Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of some essential oils evaluated by wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster.

Essential oils extracted from the three medicinal plants; Helichrysum italicum, Ledum groenlandicum and Ravensara aromatica, together with their mixture were tested for their genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities against urethane, a well-known promutagen. We have adopted the somatic mutations and recombination test (SMART) in the wings of Drosophila melanogaster. Three days old larvae, trans-heterozygous for two genetic markers mwh and flr, were treated by essential oil and/or urethane. A negative control corresponding to solvent was also used. Our results do not show any significant effect of the oils tested but they reduce the mutation ratio resulting from urethane. The mixture of the three oils at equal volume seems to be the most effective. The antimutagenic effect of these oils could be explained by the interaction of their constituents with cytochrome P-450 activation system leading to a reduction of the formation of the active metabolite. The effect could also be attributed to certain molecules that are involved in these oils.

Treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with vanadate and phlorizin prevents the over-expression of the liver insulin receptor gene.

Administration of vanadate, an insulinomimetic agent, has been shown to normalize the increased number of insulin receptors in the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In the present study, the effects of vanadate on various steps of expression of the liver insulin receptor gene in diabetic rats have been analyzed and compared with those of phlorizin, a glucopenic drug devoid of insulinomimetic properties. Livers of rats killed 23 days after streptozotocin injection showed a 30-40% increase in the number of cell surface and intracellular insulin receptors, a 50-90% increase in the levels of 9.5 and 7.5 kb insulin receptor mRNA species, and a 20% decrease in the relative abundance of the A (exon 11-) insulin receptor mRNA isotype. Daily administration of vanadate or phlorizin from day 5 to day 23 prevented the increase in insulin receptor number and mRNA level, and vanadate treatment also normalized receptor mRNA isotype expression. Unlike observations in vivo, vanadate and phlorizin differentially affected the expression of the insulin receptor gene in Fao hepatoma cells. Vanadate treatment (0.5 mmol/l for 4 h) decreased the levels of the 9.5 and 7.5 kb insulin receptor transcripts by at least twofold, without affecting the relative abundance of the A insulin receptor mRNA isotype. In contrast, phlorizin treatment (5 mmol/l for 4 h) slightly increased or did not affect the levels of the 9.5 and 7.5 kb insulin receptor transcripts respectively, and increased by twofold the relative expression of the A insulin receptor mRNA isotype. It is suggested that, although mediated in part by a reversal of hyperglycemia, normalization of liver insulin receptor gene expression by vanadate treatment in diabetic rats may also involve a direct inhibitory effect of this drug on gene expression.

Generation of 3HOH from D-[6-3H]glucose by erythrocytes: role of pyruvate alanine interconversion.

Human and rat erythrocytes were found to generate 3HOH from D-[6(N)-3H]glucose. The rate of 3HOH production represented 7-10% of the glycolytic flux. The generation of 3HOH appeared attributable, in part at least, to the detritiation of [3-3H]pyruvate during the interconversion of the 2-keto acid and L-alanine in the reaction catalyzed by glutamate-pyruvate transaminase. Indeed, purified pig heart glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, as well as homogenates prepared from rat erythrocytes or pancreatic islets, catalyzed the generation of 3HOH from L-[3-3H]alanine. When the production of tritiated pyruvate from L-[3-3H]alanine was coupled to the conversion of the 2-keto acid to L-lactate, the production of 3HOH accounted for one-third of the reaction velocity, the latter failing to display isotopic discrimination. In these experiments, the production of 3HOH was abolished by amino-oxyacetate. Likewise, in intact rat erythrocytes, aminooxyacetate inhibited the generation of 3HOH and tritiated L-alanine from D-[6-3H]glucose (or D-[1-3H]glucose), as well as the generation of 3HOH from L-[3-3H]alanine. In pancreatic islets, however, aminooxyacetate failed to affect significantly the generation of 3HOH from D-[6-3H]glucose. These findings indicate that the generation of 3HOH from D-[6-3H]glucose is mainly attributable to an intermolecular tritium transfer in transaminase reaction, at least in cells devoid of mitochondria.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates. A model for D-[2-3H]glucose metabolism in human erythrocytes.

When D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate mixed with the unlabeled ester is converted to D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate and 3HOH in the phosphoglucoisomerase reaction and then to D-[1-3H]fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in the phosphofructokinase reaction, the specific radioactivity of the latter metabolite and the production of 3HOH relative to the total generation of tritiated end products are both inversely related to the concentration of phosphofructokinase. In human erythrocytes, the modeling of D-[2-3H]glucose metabolism, based on the activity of phosphoglucoisomerase in cell homogenates and on the steady-state content of D-glucose 6-phosphate and D-fructose 6-phosphate in intact cells, indicates that the back-and-forth interconversion of these esters is about five-times higher than the net glycolytic flux. Yet, the production of 3HOH from D-[2-3H]glucose is about 20% lower than the net glycolytic flux, as judged from the production of 3HOH from D-[5-3H]glucose. Thus, an incomplete detriation of D-[2-3H]glucose is not incompatible with an extensive interconversion of hexose 6-phosphates in the reaction catalyzed by phosphoglucoisomerase.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates. Study by 13C NMR of proton and deuteron exchange.

The exchange of protons and deuterons by phosphoglucoisomerase during the single passage conversion of D-[2-13C,1-2H]fructose 6-phosphate in H2O or D-[2-13C]fructose 6-phosphate in D2O to D-[2-13C]glucose 6-phosphate, as coupled with the further generation of 6-phospho-D-[2-13C]gluconate in the presence of excess glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was investigated by 13C NMR spectroscopy of the latter metabolite. In H2O, the intramolecular deuteron transfer from the C1 of D-fructose 6-phosphate to the C2 of D-glucose 6-phosphate amounted to 65%, a value only slightly lower than the 72% intramolecular proton transfer in D2O. Both percentages, especially the latter one, were lower than those previously recorded during the single passage conversion of D-[1-13C,2-2H]glucose 6-phosphate in H2O or D-[1-13C]glucose 6-phosphate in D2O to D-fructose 6-phosphate and then to D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. These differences indicate that the sequence of interactions between the hexose esters and the binding sites of phosphoglucoisomerase is not strictly in mirror image during, respectively, the conversion of the aldose phosphate to ketose phosphate and the opposite process.

Hexose metabolism in pancreatic islets. Insignificance of D-glucose futile cycling in rat islets.

When rat pancreatic islets were incubated in the presence of unlabelled D-glucose (16.7 mM) and 3HOH, the production of 3H-labelled material susceptible to be phosphorylated by yeast hexokinase and then detritiated by yeast phosphoglucoisomerase did not exceed 2.66 +/- 0.21 pmol/islet per 180 min, i.e. about 1% of the rate of exogenous D-[5-3H]glucose utilization. Such a material accounted for 43 +/- 4% of the total radioactivity, associated with tritiated hexose(s). It is proposed, therefore, that the futile cycling of D-glucose in the reactions catalyzed in the islet cells by the hexokinase isoenzymes and glucose-6-phosphatase represents a negligible fraction of the total rate of D-glucose phosphorylation.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates: a model for the interconversion of D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate and D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate.

Based on experimental data, a model is proposed for the interconversion of either unlabelled hexose phosphates or D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate and D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate in the reaction catalyzed by phosphoglucoisomerase. This model takes into account the known differences in maximal velocity and affinity for each substrate, the intramolecular transfer of tritium between C1 and C2, and the isotopic discrimination between unlabelled and tritiated esters. This model reveals that, in a close system characterized by the progressive detritiation of hexose phosphates, the concentration ratio of D-glucose 6-phosphate to D-fructose 6-phosphate is much higher with the tritiated than unlabelled esters, a paradoxical increase in the specific radioactivity of D-glucose 6-phosphate above its initial value being even observed during the initial period of exposure of D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate to phosphoglucoisomerase. The extension of this model to an open system may be essential for the correct interpretation of radioactive data collected in intact cells exposed to D-[2-3H]glucose.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates: isotopic discrimination between hydrogen and deuterium.

The discrimination between the isotopes of hydrogen in the reaction catalyzed by yeast phosphoglucoisomerase is examined by NMR, as well as by spectrofluorometric or radioisotopic methods. The monodirectional conversion of D-glucose 6-phosphate to D-fructose 6-phosphate displays a lower maximal velocity with D-[2-2H]glucose 6-phosphate than unlabelled D-glucose 6-phosphate, with little difference in the affinity of the enzyme for these two substrates. About 72% of the deuterium located on the C2 of D-[1-13C,2-2H]glucose 6-phosphate is transferred intramolecularly to the C1 of D-[1-13C,1-2H]fructose 6-phosphate. The velocity of the monodirectional conversion of D-[U-14C]glucose 6-phosphate (or D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate) to D-fructose 6-phosphate is virtually identical in H2O and D2O, respectively, but is four times lower with the tritiated than 14C-labelled ester. In the monodirectional reaction, the intramolecular transfer from the C2 of D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate is higher in the presence of D2O than H2O. Whereas prolonged exposure of D-[1-13C]glucose 6-phosphate to D2O, in the presence of phosphoglucoisomerase, leads to the formation of both D-[1-13C,2-2H]glucose 6-phosphate and D-[1-13C,1-2H]fructose 6-phosphate, no sizeable incorporation of dueterium from D2O on the C1 of D-[1-13C]fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is observed when the monodirectional conversion of D-[1-13C]glucose 6-phosphate occurs in the concomitant presence of phosphoglucoisomerase and phosphofructokinase. The latter finding contrasts with the incorporation of hydrogen from 1H2O or tritium from 3H2O in the monodirectional conversion of D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate and unlabelled D-glucose 6-phosphate, respectively, to their corresponding ketohexose esters.

Non-enzymatic glycation of phosphoglucoisomerase.

Incubation of yeast phosphoglucoisomerase for 14 days at a high concentration (100 mM) of D-glucose was found to cause the non-enzymatic glycation of the enzyme. The kinetic properties of the glycated and control enzymes were similar in terms of specific activity, affinity for D-glucose 6-phosphate, isotopic discrimination between D-(U-14C) glucose 6-phosphate and D-(2-3H) glucose 6-phosphate, intramolecular 3H transfer from the latter substrate, and anomeric specificity. It is proposed that the quantitation of glycated phosphoglucoisomerase in distinct cell types may be used as an index for the non-enzymatic glycation of cytosolic proteins.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates; diastereotopic specificity, isotopic discrimination and intramolecular hydrogen transfer.

When D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate generated from D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate is converted, in a monodirectional manner to D-glucose 6-phosphate and then 6-phospho-D-gluconate, about 42% of the radioactivity is transferred from the C1 of the ketohexose ester to the C2 of the aldohexose phosphate, whereas the remaining 58% are produced as 3H2O. The velocity of the reaction catalyzed by phosphoglucoisomerase represents, in the case of the tritiated substrate, only 43% of that recorded with D-[U-14C]fructose 6-phosphate, such an isotopic discrimination being attributable mainly to a difference in maximal velocity rather than affinity. The phenomena of both intramolecular hydrogen transfer and isotopic discrimination were less pronounced than when D-[2-3H]glucose 6-phosphate is converted, in a monodirectional manner, to D-fructose 6-phosphate and then D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. In contrast, when either D-[1-3H]glucose 6-phosphate or D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate prepared from D-[1-3H]glucose were tested, no 3H2O was formed, all radioactivity being recovered, respectively, in tritiated D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate or NADP3H. Nevertheless, phosphoglucoisomerase was also found to discriminate between D-[U-14C]glucose 6-phosphate and D-[1-3H]glucose 6-phosphate or between D-[U-14C]fructose 6-phosphate and D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate prepared from D-[1-3H]glucose. The reaction velocity with the tritiated esters averaged 78-83% of those recorded with the 14C-labelled esters. Such an isotopic discrimination was again attributable mainly to a difference in maximal velocity rather than affinity. These findings indicate that the mode of preparation of D-[1-3H]fructose cannot be ignored in considering the fate of this tritiated hexose, as ruled by the intrinsic properties, and especially the diastereotopic specificity of phosphoglucoisomerase.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates; comparison with phosphomannoisomerase.

The isotopic discrimination, diastereotopic specificity and intramolecular hydrogen transfer characterizing the reaction catalyzed by phosphomannoisomerase are examined. During the monodirectional conversion of D-[2-3H]mannose 6-phosphate to D-fructose 6-phosphate and D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, the reaction velocity is one order of magnitude lower than with D-[U-14C]mannose 6-phosphate and little tritium (less than 6%) is transferred intramolecularly. Inorganic phosphate decreases the reaction velocity but favours the intramolecular transfer of tritium. Likewise, when D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate prepared from D-[1-3H]glucose is exposed solely to phosphomannoisomerase, the generation of tritiated metabolites is virtually restricted to 3H2O and occurs at a much lower rate than the production of D-[U-14C]mannose 6-phosphate from D-[U-14C]fructose 6-phosphate. However, no 3H2O is formed when D-[1-3H]fructose 6-phosphate generated from D-[2-3H]glucose is exposed to phosphomannoisomerase, indicating that the diastereotopic specificity of the latter enzyme represents a mirror image of that of phosphoglucoisomerase. Advantage is taken of such a contrasting enzymic behaviour to assess the back-and-forth flow through the reaction catalyzed by phosphomannoisomerase in intact cells exposed to D-[1-3H]glucose, D-[5-3H]glucose or D-[6-3H]glucose. Relative to the rate of glycolysis, this back-and-forth flow amounted to approx. 4% in human erythrocytes and rat parotid cells, 9% in tumoral cells of the RINm5F line and 47% in rat pancreatic islets.

Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose-phosphates. Isotopic discrimination between hydrogen and tritium.

The rate of conversion of D-glucose 6-phosphate to D-fructose 6-phosphate as catalyzed by yeast phosphoglucoisomerase is about fourfold lower when 3H, rather than 1H, is present on the C2 of D-glucose 6-phosphate. This difference appears to be due mainly to a change in maximal velocity, rather than affinity. Phosphoglucoisomerase also distinguishes between 1H and 3H in terms of either their intramolecular transfer from C2 to C1 or their incorporation from water on the C1 of D-fructose 6-phosphate.