2种重组真核蛋氨酸酶原核体系表达及活性比较

目的构建2种真核L-蛋氨酸γ-裂解酶(MGL1 MGL2)的高效原核表达载体,诱导表达及纯化,比较活性差异.方法通过分子克隆技术构建2种重组表达质粒pGEX-4T-1-MGL1,pGEX-4T-1-MGL2;重组质粒转化感受态大肠杆菌Dh5α,诱导表达纯化蛋氨酸酶.结果构建了高效表达载体pGEX-4T-1-MGL1,pGEX-4T-1-MGL2;pGEX-4T-1-MGL1表达的酶纯度为82.5%,活性为0.505 2 IU/mg,pGEX-4T-1-MGL2表达的酶纯度为81.4%,活性为0.305 2 IU/mg.结论 pGEX-4T-1-MGL1,pGEX-4T-1-MGL2都能表达蛋氨酸酶;pGEX-4T-1-MGL1表达的蛋氨酸酶纯度比较高,酶活性比较高.     

Metformin Eased Cognitive Impairment Induced by Chronic L-methionine Administration: Potential Role of Oxidative Stress

Chronic administration of L-methionine leads to memory impairment, which is attributed to increase in the level of oxidative stress in the brain. On the other hand, metformin is a commonly used antidiabetic drug with strong antioxidant properties. In the current study, we tested if chronic metformin administration prevents memory impairment induced by administration of L-methionine. In addition, a number of molecules related to the action of metformin on cognitive functions were examined. Both metformin and L-methionine were administered to animals by oral gavage. Testing of spatial learning and memory was carried out using radial arm water maze (RAWM). Additionally, hippocampal levels or activities of catalase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and GSH/GSSG ratio were determined. Results showed that chronic L-methionine administration resulted in both short- and long- term memory impairment, whereas metformin treatment prevented such effect. Additionally, L-methionine treatment induced significant elevation in GSSG and TBARs, along with reduction in GSH/GSSG ratio and activities of catalase, and GPx. These effects were shown to be restored by metformin treatment. In conclusion, L-methionine induced memory impairment, and treatment with metformin prevented this impairment probably by normalizing oxidative stress in the hippocampus.     

Clay Mineral Minerals as a Strategy for Biomolecule Incorporation: Amino Acids Approach

The potential use of amino acids by ruminal microorganisms converting them into microbial protein for ruminants makes it challenging to supplement these nutrients in an accessible form in animals’ diets. Several strategies to protect amino acids from ruminal degradation were reported, producing amino acids available for the protein used in the intestine called “bypass.” The intercalation of biomolecules in clay mineral minerals has gained notoriety due to its ability to support, protect, transport, physicochemical properties and non-toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the incorporation of L-lysine (Lys), L-methionine (Met), and L-tryptophan (Trp) amino acids in the clay minerals sepiolite (Sep) and Veegum^® (Veg) using the adsorption method. The characterization techniques of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy indicated the presence of biomolecules in the inorganic matrices. Elemental and thermal analyzes monitored the percentages of incorporated amino acids. They showed better incorporation capacities for Veg, such as Met-Veg < Lys-Veg < Trp-Veg and Lys-Sep < Met-Sep < Trp-Sep for sepiolite, except for the incorporation of Met. Matrices provide a promising alternative for planning the administration of biomolecules, using essential amino acids as models, and may offer an alternative to improve functional diet strategies.     

Endogenous thiols enhance thallium toxicity

Either L-methionine (L-met) or L-cysteine (L-cys), given alone and in combination with Prussian blue (PB) was characterized as treatment against acute thallium (Tl) toxicity in rats. Animals were intoxicated with 32 mg/kg Tl acetate corresponding to rat LD₅₀. Antidotal treatments were administered during 4 days, as follows: (1) vehicle, (2) L-met 100 mg/kg i.p. twice a day, (3) L-cys 100 mg/kg i.p. twice a day, (4) PB 50 mg/kg oral, twice a day, (5) L-met + PB and (6) L-cys + PB. Mortality was as follows: control 50%; L-met 80%; L-cys 80%; PB 20%; L-met + PB 90% and L-cys + PB 100%. In a different experiment, using 16 mg/kg of Tl, tissue levels of this metal were analyzed. PB treatment statistically diminished Tl content in body organs and brain regions (P < 0.01). Whereas, separate treatments of L-met and L-cys failed to decrease Tl content in organs and brain regions; while its administration in combination with PB (L-met + PB and L-cys + PB groups) lowered Tl levels in body organs in the same extent as PB group. Results indicate that L-met and L-cys administered alone or in combination with PB should not be considered suitable treatments against acute Tl toxic effects because this strategy failed to prevent mortality and Tl accumulation in brain.     

Amelioration of hepatotoxicity by biocleavable aminothiol chimeras of isoniazid: Design,synthesis, kinetics and pharmacological evaluation

AIM To overcome the hazardous effects on liver caused by long-term use of antitubercular agent isoniazid(INH) by developing a novel hepatoprotective prodrug strategy by conjugating INH with aminothiols as antioxidant promoities for probable synergistic effect.METHODS INH was conjugated with N-acetyl cysteine(NAC) and N-(2)-mercaptopropionyl glycine using the SchottenBaumann reaction and with L-methionine using Boc-anhydride through a biocleavable amide linkage. Synthesized prodrugs were characterized by spectral analysis, and in vitro and in vivo release studies were carried out using HPLC. Their hepatoprotective potential was evaluated in male Wistar rats by performing liver function tests, measuring markers of oxidative stress and carrying out histopathology studies.RESULTS Prodrugs were found to be stable in acidic(pH 1.2) and basic(pH 7.4) buffers and in rat stomach homogenates, whereas they were hydrolysed significantly(59.43%-94.93%) in intestinal homogenates over a period of 6 h. Upon oral administration of prodrug NI to rats, 52.4%-61.3% INH and 47.4%-56.8% of NAC were recovered in blood in 8-10 h. Urine and faeces samples pooled over a period of 24 h exhibited 1.3%-2.5% and 0.94%-0.9% of NAC, respectively, without any presence of intact NI or INH. Prodrugs were biologically evaluated for hepatoprotective activity. All the prodrugs were effective in abating oxidative stress and re-establishing the normal hepatic physiology. The effect of prodrug of INH with NAC in restoring the levels of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and abrogating liver damage was noteworthy especially. CONCLUSION The findings of this investigation demonstrated that the reported prodrugs can add safety and efficacy to future clinical protocols of tuberculosis treatment.     

The formation of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan by oral bacteria

The capacity to form volatile sulfur compounds was tested in bacteria isolated from subgingival microbiotas and in a representative number of reference strains. A majority of the 75 tested oral bacterial species and 7 unnamed bacterial taxa formed significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide from L-cysteine. The most active bacteria were found in the genera Peptostreptococcus, Eubacterium, Selenomonas, Centipeda, Bacteroides and Fusobacterium. Methyl mercaptan from L-methionine was formed by some members of the genera Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Porphyromonas and Eubacterium. When incubated in serum for 7 d, the most potent producers of hydrogen sulfide were Treponema denticola and the black-pigmented species, Bacteroides intermedius, Bacteroides loescheii, Porphyromonas endodontalis and Porphyromonas gingivalis. P. endodontalis and P. gingivalis also produced significant amounts of methyl mercaptan in serum. No other volatile sulfur compound was detected in serum or in the presence of L-cysteine and L-methionine. These findings significantly increase the list of oral bacteria known to produce volatile sulfur compounds.     

Elevated dimethylglycine in blood of children with congenital heart defects and their mothers

Objective

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) may be related to nutritional deficiencies affecting the methylation cycle. We aimed to study the metabolic markers of the betaine homocysteine methyl transferase (BHMT) pathway in children with CHD and their mothers compared to children without CHD and their mothers.

Materials and Methods

Children with CHD (n = 105, age < 3 years) and mothers of 80 of the affected children were studied. The controls were non-CHDs children of comparable age as the CHD group (n = 52) and their mothers (n = 50). We measured serum or plasma concentrations of the metabolites of the methylation cycle homocysteine (HCY), methylmalonic acid (MMA), cystathionine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), betaine, choline, and dimethylglycine (DMG).

Results

Children with CHD had higher plasma SAM (131 vs. 100 nmol/L) and DMG (8.7 vs. 6.0 μmol/L) and lower betaine/DMG ratio (7.5 vs. 10.2) compared to the controls. Mothers of CHD children showed also higher DMG (6.1 vs. 4.1 µmol/L) and lower betaine/DMG ratio compared with the mothers of the controls. Higher SAM levels were related to higher cystathionine, MMA, betaine, choline, and DMG. MMA elevation in the patients was related to higher HCY, SAM, betaine and DMG.

Conclusions

Elevated DMG in CHD children and their mothers compared to the controls can indicate upregulation of the BHMT pathway in this disease group. Nutritional factors are related to metabolic imbalance during pregnancy that may be related to worse birth outcome.     

L-methionine reduces oxidant stress in endothelial cells: Role of heme oxygenase-1, ferritin, and nitric oxide

The amino acid L-methionine is known to exert antioxidant effects by as yet unidentified mechanisms. In the present study, L-methionine led to a concentration-dependent induction of the antioxidant proteins heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and ferritin in cultured endothelial cells (ECV 304). HO-1 protein expression was accompanied by an increased catalytic activity of the enzyme. Long-term pre-incubation of endothelial cells with L-methionine reduced NADPH-mediated radical formation by up to 60%. The antioxidant effect of L-methionine was mimicked by the HO-1 product bilirubin, which suppressed free radical formation almost completely. Reduction of superoxide generation by L-methionine was inhibited in the presence of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NMMA, suggesting the involvement of endogenous NO in L-methionine-dependent cytoprotection. These findings demonstrate that L-methionine reduces free radical formation in endothelial cells, possibly through induction of heme oxygenase-1 and ferritin. This novel, indirect antioxidant action might be relevant for the preventive potential of methionine and methionine rich diets under conditions of inflammation and oxidative stress.     

谷胱甘肽与蛋氨酸对饮水砷暴露小鼠体内砷化物的分布和甲基代谢的影响

目的探讨外源性谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)和L-蛋氨酸(L-Methionine,L-Met)干预后,对饮水砷暴露小鼠肝、肾和血中化物的分布和甲基代谢的影响。方法将实验小鼠随机分为对照组(Con组)、单纯染砷组(As组)、GSH干预组(GSH组)与L-Met干预组(L-Met组)。小鼠自由饮用含砷50mg/L的水。从第4周起,染砷组同时腹腔注射GSH和L-Met进行处理,共处理7天。末次注射后24h处死小鼠,取其肝、肾和血组织样品。采用氢化物发生-超低温捕集-原子吸收分光光度法分别检测小鼠肝、肾和血中无机砷(inorganic arsenic,iAs)、一甲基胂(monomethylarsenic acid,MMA)和二甲基胂(dimethylarsenic acid,DMA)含量。结果L-Met组小鼠肝中DMA含量和砷二甲基化率(SMI)显著高于As组;GSH干预组小鼠肝中砷一甲基化率(PMI)和SMI显著高于As组。L-Met组和GSH组小鼠血中DMA、总砷含量和PMI均显著高于As组。结论GSH和L-Met对小鼠体内的砷甲基化代谢具有促进作用、可加速无机砷在体内的甲基化过程,最终使砷甲基代谢的终产物DMA含量增加,从而促进了总砷的代谢与排泄。     

Production of volatile sulfur compounds by various Fusobacterium species

In 12 species of Fusobacterium the following characteristics were studied; the desulfhydration of L-cysteine and L-methionine by resting cell suspensions, the formation of alpha-keto-acids from L-cysteine, D-cysteine and L-methionine by cell extracts, and the formation of hydrogen sulfide from L-cysteine, D-cysteine and L-cysteine by cell extracts separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Multiple forms of L-cysteine desulfhydrase activity were found in most of the species. In some of them also D-cysteine desulfhydrase activity was demonstrated. Seven of the species had high L-methionine gamma-lyase activity. L-cysteine activity was present in 5 of the species.