Expression and localization of augmenter of liver regeneration in human muscle tissue.

Mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) disorders and abnormal regulation of nuclear-derived proteins devoted to the cross-talk between the two cellular genomes have recently interested researchers in the field of neuromuscular diseases. We have identified, isolated and sequenced a new gene, augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) that stimulates in vivo hepatocyte proliferation and up-regulates mt-DNA expression and ATP production. ALR protein (Alrp) is mainly located, in rat, in the mitochondrial inter-membrane space and its mRNA is particularly abundant in brain, muscle, testis and liver, tissues whose activity is mostly dependent on mitochondrial metabolism. Studies on rat Alrp sequence revealed the presence of homologous amino-acid sections into proteins derived from mouse, human, Drosophyla, plants and even DNA viruses. In this article, we evaluated ALR expression in normal human muscular tissues, both as protein and as mRNA. The data, obtained by molecular biology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, demonstrated that: (i) Alrp and ALR mRNA are present in human muscular tissue; (ii) Alrp is particularly expressed in muscular fibres rich in mitochondria; (iii) Alrp is localized in the mitochondrial inter-membrane space or associated to mitochondrial cristae; and (iv) in subjects younger then 35 years of age, ALR mRNA expression is different between male and female subjects. In conclusion, the present data set Alrp, as a factor associated with mitochondria also in human tissue, call for future studies aimed at establishing Alrp as an important factor involved in the molecular events that trigger neuromuscular diseases.

A case of Kearns-Sayre syndrome with the 4,977-bp common deletion associated with a novel 7,704-bp deletion.

Mitochondria from a patient diagnosed with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) exhibited severely diminished cytochrome c oxidase activity and at least four mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) species: 9%-11% of the fulllength mtDNA (16.6 kb), 70%-75% of a 11.7-kb population (harboring the 4,977-bp common deletion), 2%-3% of a 10.5-kb population, and 12%-17% of a 8.9-kb population. The 8.9-kb mtDNA exhibited a secondary deletion that extended 7,704 bp from nucleotide 7,979 in the cox2 gene to nucleotide 15,683 in the cytb gene. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the presence of at least two large-scale deletions of mtDNA in KSS.

Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections in areas with high nitrate concentrations in drinking water.

A review of the literature indicated an association among high nitrate ingestion, methemoglobinemia, and pathologic changes in bronchi and lung parenchyma. The present study examined a possible correlation among drinking water nitrate concentration, methemoglobin levels, cytochrome b(5) reductase activity, and acute respiratory tract infection with a history of recurrence (RRTI). Our study was conducted in five village units in the state of Rajasthan, India, with nitrate concentrations of 26, 45, 95, 222, and 459 mg NO(3) ion/L. We randomly selected 88 children. The children were up to 8 years of age, age matched, and represented 10% of the total population of these areas. We obtained detailed RRTI histories and conducted medical examinations. Methemoglobin levels and cytochrome b(5) reductase activity were estimated biochemically. The data collected were statistically analyzed using spreadsheet software on a personal computer. We observed strong interdependence between methemoglobin levels and RRTI in children up to 8 years of age. Methemoglobin levels alone explained 80% of the variation in the RRTI cases. This study indicates that methemoglobinemia, secondary to high nitrate ingestion in drinking water, causes RRTI. Increased production of methemoglobin and free radicals of nitric oxide and oxygen due to nitrate metabolism in the body lead to alveolar damage and mismatching of ventilation and perfusion, which may be the reason for high mortality in children due to RRTI.

Adaptation of cytochrome-b5 reductase activity and methaemoglobinaemia in areas with a high nitrate concentration in drinking-water.

An epidemiological investigation was undertaken in India to assess the prevalence of methaemoglobinaemia in areas with high nitrate concentration in drinking-water and the possible association with an adaptation of cytochrome-b5 reductase. Five areas were selected, with average nitrate ion concentrations in drinking-water of 26, 45, 95, 222 and 459 mg/l. These areas were visited and house schedules were prepared in accordance with a statistically designed protocol. A sample of 10% of the total population was selected in each of the areas, matched for age and weight, giving a total of 178 persons in five age groups. For each subject, a detailed history was documented, a medical examination was conducted and blood samples were taken to determine methaemoglobin level and cytochrome-b5 reductase activity. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis to test for a possible relationship between nitrate concentration, cytochrome-b5 reductase activity and methaemoglobinaemia. High nitrate concentrations caused methaemoglobinaemia in infants and adults. The reserve of cytochrome-b5 reductase activity (i.e. the enzyme activity not currently being used, but which is available when needed; for example, under conditions of increased nitrate ingestion) and its adaptation with increasing water nitrate concentration to reduce methaemoglobin were more pronounced in children and adolescents.

Vitamin E and selenium deficiency induces expression of the ubiquinone-dependent antioxidant system at the plasma membrane.

We have used a model of dietary deficiency that leads to a chronic oxidative stress to evaluate responses that are adaptations invoked to boost cellular defense systems. Long-Evans hooded rats were fed with a diet lacking vitamin E (E) and selenium (Se) for 7 wk from weaning leading to animals deficient in both nutrients (-E -Se). In the absence of an electron donor, liver plasma membranes from these rats were more sensitive to lipid peroxidation, although they contained 40% greater amounts of ubiquinone than the plasma membranes from rats consuming diets with sufficient vitamin E and Se (+E +Se). The incubation of plasma membranes with NAD(P)H resulted in protection against peroxidation, and this effect was more pronounced in -E -Se membranes. Deficiency was accompanied by a twofold increase in redox activities associated with trans plasma membrane electron transport such as ubiquinone reductase and ascorbate free radical reductase. Staining with a polyclonal antibody against pig liver cytochrome b5 reductase, which acts as one ubiquinone reductase in the plasma membrane, showed an increased expression of the enzyme in membranes from -E -Se rats. Little DT-diaphorase activity was measured in +E +Se plasma membranes, but this activity was dramatically increased in -E -Se plasma membranes. No such increase was found in liver cytosols, which contained elevated activity of calcium-independent phospholipase A2. Thus, ubiquinone-dependent antioxidant protection in +E +Se plasma membranes is based primarily on NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, whereas additional protection needed in -E -Se plasma membranes is supported by the increase of ubiquinone levels, increased expression of the cytochrome b5 reductase, and translocation of soluble DT-diaphorase to the plasma membrane. Our results indicate that, in the absence of vitamin E and Se, enhancement of ubiquinone-dependent reductase systems can fulfill the membrane antioxidant protection.

Determination of concentration of cytosolic NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase in erythrocytes from normal Chinese adults, neonates and patients with hereditary methemoglobinemia by double-antibody sandwich ELISA.

NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R), present in various tissues of the body, is a redox enzyme of multiple functions. The deficiency of the enzyme leads to hereditary methemoglobinemia. With rabbit anti-b5R antibody for plate coating and enzyme-labeled anti-b5R monoclonal antibody as reporter, we have developed a sandwich ELISA procedure for the determination of b5R concentration. This procedure is sensitive to a wide range of linearity, and convenient in coping with large numbers of samples. Using this novel method, cytosolic b5R concentration in the erythrocytes of 30 normal Chinese adults was estimated to be 25.63+/-8.54 ng/mg Hb. It was found that the concentration of red cell soluble b5R of five newborns was significantly lower than that of normal adults and soluble b5R was undetectable in the erythrocytes of 4 patients with type I hereditary methemoglobinemia. Our results demonstrated that the reduced b5R activity in red cell cytosol of both neonates and type I hereditary methemoglobinemic patients results largely or mainly from the lowered b5R concentration. Our novel method might be further exploited for in-depth investigation of the relationship between the qualitative and quantitative changes of b5R with regard to physiological and pathological conditions.

Effect of eugenol on drug-metabolizing enzymes of carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rat liver.

The chemoprotection extended by eugenol against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication was established by studies on drug-metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes. An overall decrease in drug-metabolizing enzymes, namely NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADH-cytochrome reductase, coumarin hydroxylase, 7-ethoxy coumarin-O-deethylase, UDP-glucuronyltransferase and glutathione-S-transferase, was observed with CCl4 intoxication, with a subsequent decrease in cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 content. CCl4 caused a significant decrease in microsomal phospholipids and the marker enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase, and an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Simultaneous administration of eugenol with CCl4 inhibited the accumulation of TBARS and the decrease in the microsomal phospholipids and marker enzymes. Further, the chemical onslaught imposed by CCl4 on the drug-metabolizing system was removed successfully by eugenol. Eugenol appears to act as an in vivo antioxidant and as a better inducer of phase II enzymes than phase I enzymes. It is therefore suggested that eugenol could be an interesting basic structure for drug design.

Isolation and complete sequence of CBR, a gene encoding a putative cytochrome b reductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have isolated and characterised a novel yeast gene, CBR (cytochrome b reductase), encoding a 35-kDa yeast novobiocin-binding protein. The predicted protein sequence of CBR displays considerable similarity to both plant nitrate reductases and mammalian cytochrome b5 reductases indicating that it is a putative member of the flavoprotein pyridine-nucleotide-cytochrome-reductase family. Disruption of CBR is not lethal under various growth conditions, suggesting the presence of some functional overlap with other reductases, possibly with the cytochrome P-450 reductase.

Rate of alteration of hepatic mixed-function oxidase system in rats fed different dietary fats.

Studies were carried out to evaluate and relate the rate of alteration in mixed-function oxidase system with the changes of the fatty acid composition of rat microsomes induced by different dietary lipids. Male weanling rats were fed from day 21 to 120 with a commercial rat diet or a semisynthetic diet containing no fat or 10% fat consisting of peanut-rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or salmon oil. In rats fed a fat-free diet, the cytochrome P-450 concentration and aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, and NADPH-cytochrome-c reductase activities of liver microsomes at 120 days were, respectively, 26, 16, 10, and 24% lesser than those of rats fed the control diet. However, cytochrome b5 concentration and NADH-cytochrome-b5 reductase activity were, respectively, 33 and 43% higher than those of the control group at the same time. When rats were fed the sunflower oil diet, the cytochrome P-450 concentration and NADH-cytochrome-b5 reductase activity at 120 days were, respectively, 11 and 23% lesser than those of control group. But the cytochrome b5 concentration was 10% higher than that of the control group. In rats fed the fish oil diet, the cytochrome P-450 concentration and NADPH-cytochrome-c reductase, aniline hydroxylase, and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities at 120 days were, respectively, 30, 48, 41, and 31% higher than those of rats fed the control diet. These enzymes were correlated very well (0.84 < r < 0.93), P < 0.05 with dietary sigma polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

New variant of cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency (b5RKurashiki) in red cells, platelets, lymphocytes, and cultured fibroblasts with congenital methemoglobinemia, mental and neurological retardation, and skeletal anomalies.

A Japanese man with cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency in various blood cell lineages (red cells, platelets, and lymphocytes) and in cultured fibroblasts demonstrated congenital methemoglobinemia associated with mental and neurological retardation, and various skeletal anomalies, such as spondylosis deformans and finger joint deformations, which have never been described in association with this enzyme deficiency. Cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency was most severe in red cells (0.3-4%) and less marked in platelets (13-27%), lymphocytes (18-31%), and fibroblasts (50%). The present case appears to be a new variant of cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency (b5RKurashiki).

Mediated, anaerobic voltammetry of sulfite oxidase.

The anaerobic voltammetry of the Mo/Fe enzyme, sulfite oxidase (SO), is described for the mediators cytochrome c, [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+, TMPD+/0, and [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+. Theory derived for steady-state voltammetric catalysis correctly predicts the observed concentration and scan-rate dependencies of the catalytic waves. The instances for which existing ECcat theories may be applied to two catalytic reactions coupled to an interfacial charge transfer are considered. The biomolecular rate constant for the reaction of [Co(bpy)3]3+ with reduced SO is calculated and determined to be approximately 5 X 10(4) L.mol-1.s-1. The appearance of catalytic prepeaks at low sulfite concentrations is noted and the shape of corresponding i/t curves from chronoamperometry is examined. The analytical implications of the novel time dependence of the catalytic current under these conditions are discussed.

Both the outer mitochondrial membrane and the microsomal forms of cytochrome b5 reductase contain covalently bound myristic acid. Quantitative analysis on the polyvinylidene difluoride-immobilized proteins.

NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase is known to be located on two distinct membranes, i.e. endoplasmic reticulum and outer mitochondrial membranes. The endoplasmic-reticulum-associated form of the enzyme contains myristic acid in an amide linkage to its N-terminal glycine [Ozols, Carr & Strittmatter (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13349-13354]. To investigate whether the dual subcellular localization of the reductase corresponds to a difference in fatty acylation, the enzyme was purified from well-characterized rat liver microsomal and mitochondrial fractions and analysed by a new quantitative analytical procedure. The purified reductases were run on SDS/polyacrylamide gels and blotted on to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. The reductase-containing bands were treated with hydroxylamine, and amide-linked fatty acids were then detached by acid hydrolysis. The detached fatty acids were extracted, derivatized and analysed as phenylacyl esters by reverse-phase h.p.l.c., and the protein content of the samples was determined by amino acid analysis of the acid hydrolysates. Myristic acid was found in both the microsomal and mitochondrial reductases in a molar ratio of 1:1 with protein. These results demonstrate for the first time the presence of a myristylated protein on outer mitochondrial membranes, and show that the microsomal and mitochondrial reductases are also identical in their fatty acylation.

In situ hybridization of muscle mitochondrial mRNA in mitochondrial myopathies.

To determine whether a mitochondrial mRNA deficiency exists in mitochondrial myopathies, muscle biopsies from a patient with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) and a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) were studied using in situ hybridization. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were performed along with hybridization. Hybridization reactions were widely distributed over the sarcoplasm of all muscle fibers in the patient with MELAS. In the patient with CPEO, 80% of the fibers showed a marked decrease in density of autoradiographic grains. This marked decrease corresponded to the histochemical and immunohistochemical findings of a very weak staining of cytochrome c oxidase (CCO). The isotope-labeled cDNA probe used in in situ hybridization in this study complements a part of subunit I of CCO and a part of subunit II of complex I in the mitochondrial gene. Our results suggest a defect in the mRNA in this CPEO patient.

Tryptic digestion of NADH dehydrogenase from alkalophilic Bacillus.

The alkalophile NADH dehydrogenase (NADH: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase) [EC 1.6.99.3] consists of two identical subunits of 65 kDa, and each subunit contains the catalytic and liposome-binding regions. On treatment with trypsin, the polypeptide exhibiting the liposome-binding property in one of the subunits was digested to form an enzymatically active hetero-dimer (40 and 65 kDa), and then the polypeptide in the other subunit was digested to form an active homo-dimer (40 and 40 kDa). The hetero-dimer bound to liposomes, but the homo-dimer did not. Kinetic analysis showed that removal of one or two of the polypeptides in the enzyme slightly affects its kinetic parameters. For all the enzyme species, NAD inhibited competitively with respect to NADH and non-competitively with respect to 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol. The partially determined amino acid sequence of this alkalophile enzyme suggested that (i) a long random-coiled peptide (58 amino acid residues) or a portion of the peptide is located between the polypeptides with liposome-binding and catalytic properties, (ii) the polypeptide exhibiting liposome-binding property is in the amino terminal region of the enzyme, (iii) the amino acid sequences around the subtilisin and trypsin cleavage sites of the peptide are hydrophilic and on the surface of the protein molecule and therefore are susceptible to digestion, and (iv) the FAD-binding site is located near the amino terminal region of the catalytic region.

The NH2-terminal structures of human and rat liver microsomal NADH-cytochrome b5 reductases.

Detergent-solubilized NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase was purified from human liver microsomes. Both the purified enzyme and the membrane-binding domain isolated from the purified enzyme were determined to be modified at the NH2-terminal amino acid, glycine, by myristic acid in an amide form. Myristic acid was identified as a methyl ester by gas chromatography after the acid methanolysis of the purified enzyme and the NH2-terminal peptide. The NH2-terminal structure of the membrane-binding domain was determined to be CH3(CH2)12-CO-Gly-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Thr-Leu-Gly-His-Met-Val-Leu-Phe-Pro-Va l- Trp-Phe-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Leu-Leu-Met-Lys. The sequence from Leu-7 to Lys-24 completely coincided with that deduced from the base sequence of complementary DNA (cDNA) from human placenta (Yubisui, T. et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 84, 3609-3613). The NH2-terminal structure of the detergent-solubilized enzyme from rat liver microsomes was also analyzed for comparison with that of human liver microsomal enzyme. The NH2-terminal myristic acid and the first 7 amino acids of the membrane-binding domains of human, rat, and steer liver microsomal enzymes are completely conserved, and more than 70% homology was observed over the whole membrane-binding domains, implying the importance of the conserved structure as an anchor of the enzyme to the membrane.

Evidence for the existence of tissue specific isoenzymes of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase.

Mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase from a variety of rat tissues was isolated by immunoprecipitation with an antiserum to the bovine heart enzyme. The subunit composition of the enzyme from liver, kidney and lung differed from that present in heart, brain and skeletal muscle by the absence of an Mr 18,500 protein and the absence of an Mr 17,000 protein, suggesting the existence of tissue-specific isoenzymes.

Analysis of NADH dehydrogenases from plant [mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)] mitochondrial membranes on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels and purification of complex I by band excision.

The present paper describes the analysis of plant mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenases using a recently developed non-dissociating gradient polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis technique [Kuonen, Roberts & Cottingham (1986) Anal. Biochem. 153, 221-226]. Solubilized mung-bean (Phaseolus aureus) submitochondrial particles were analysed on 3-22% (w/v) gradient polyacrylamide gels containing 0.1% Triton X-100 and stained for multiple NADH dehydrogenase activities. A rotenone-sensitive NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I) was identified on the basis of co-migration with the purified mammalian enzyme. The polypeptide composition of the plant enzyme was further analysed by band excision and SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

Oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle fibres in racehorses: histochemical versus biochemical analysis.

The oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle fibre types was evaluated histochemically using the nicotinamide dinucleotide diaphorase (NADH-D) staining, and biochemically by measuring the activity of citrate synthase (CS) in both whole muscle samples and in pools of fibres of identified type. Duplicate determinations of the NADH-D staining pattern resulted in standard deviations (sd) between duplicates of 6 and 11 per cent for two observers. The NADH-D pattern was found to differ between observers. Duplicate determinations of CS activity in the same fibre pools resulted in an sd value of 2.9 mumol/g/min. Measurements of whole muscle CS activity did not provide information about the distribution of oxidative capacity among fibre types. The NADH-D stain and CS activity in fibre pools both showed that, in general, type I and IIA fibres had a higher oxidative capacity than type IIB fibres. Biochemical techniques also showed, however, that the CS activity in type I and IIA fibres of different horses could vary as much as twofold, whereas the NADH-D rating showed a high intensity staining for most type I and IIA fibres in all horses. Furthermore, type IIB fibres received a lower NADH-D rating than the other fibre types even when the CS activities were quite similar. For purposes of research, biochemical measurement of oxidative capacity in individual muscle fibre types provides valuable quantitative and comparative information. The ease of histochemical NADH-D staining in comparison to fibre dissections makes this technique more practical for routine estimates of the distribution of oxidative capacity among muscle fibres.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Demonstration of cytochrome reductases in rat liver peroxisomes: biochemical and immunochemical analyses.

In this study we utilized the analytical cell fractionation approach in combination with immunoblotting techniques and immunoelectron microscopy to test for the presence of NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADH cytochrome c (b5) reductase in rat liver peroxisomes. Highly purified peroxisomes from clofibrate-treated rats exhibited both NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity and NADH cytochrome c reductase activity (using cytochrome c as an electron acceptor). These activities were inhibited by the respective reductase antibodies made against the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) enzymes. Immunoblot data in combination with immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the peroxisomal NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase is localized in the matrix of the organelle and has a subunit of molecular weight similar to that of the ER enzyme, whereas the NADH cytochrome c (b5) reductase is localized in the membranes of the peroxisomes. Again, the subunit molecular weight was similar to that of the ER enzyme. The presence of these reductases in peroxisomes further supports the role of this organelle in bile acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism.

Demonstration of the existence of an organo-specific NADH dehydrogenase in heart mitochondria.

Experimental evidence is presented showing the existence of an NADH-consuming enzyme in heart mitochondria, in addition to the NADH--ubiquinone oxidase of complex I. In contrast to the latter, the novel enzyme is accessible from the extramitochondrial space. Removal of the outer membranes from intact mitochondria had no influence on exogenous NADH consumption, indicating its location at the cytosolic face of the inner membrane. The enzyme could be solubilized from this membrane and purified by sedimentation through preformed sucrose gradients. Liver mitochondria exhibited no oxidation of external NADH, suggesting that the enzyme is organo-specific. The "exogenous NADH dehydrogenase" of heart mitochondria was found to introduce reducing equivalents into the respiratory chain before the rotenone block, indicating that the enzyme is associated with complex I. The enzyme was also demonstrated to be involved in electron flow from the respiratory chain to exogenous electron acceptors, including NAD+. This permitted us to elicit the existence of an energy-dependent reversed electron flow from complex II to complex I. The redox shuttle established by the novel enzyme could be of significance for the regulation of cellular NADH and the metabolic activation of foreign compounds such as adriamycin.