Biomedical subjects

Carlos Severo Dutra-Filho

Publications and source records attributed to Carlos Severo Dutra-Filho.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid induces oxidative stress in cerebral cortex of young rats.

GHB is a naturally occurring compound in the central nervous system (CNS) whose tissue concentration are highly increased during drug abuse and in the inherited deficiency of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) activity. SSADH deficiency is a neurometabolic-inherited disorder of the degradation pathway of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is biochemically characterized by increased concentrations of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in tissues, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood and urine of affected patients. Clinical manifestations are variable, ranging from mild retardation of mental, motor, and language development to more severe neurological symptoms, such as hypotonia, ataxia and seizures, whose underlying mechanisms are practically unknown. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo effects of GHB was investigated on some parameters of oxidative stress, such as chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), total antioxidant reactivity (TAR), as well as the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in homogenates from cerebral cortex of 15-day-old Wistar rats. In vitro, GHB significantly increased chemiluminescence and TBA-RS levels, while TRAP and TAR measurements were markedly diminished. In contrast, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GPX were not altered by GHB in vitro. Acute administration of GHB provoked a significant enhance of TBA-RS levels and a decrease of TRAP and TAR measurements. These results indicate that GHB induces oxidative stress by stimulating lipid peroxidation and decreasing the non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses in cerebral cortex of young rats. If these effects also occur in humans, it is possible that they might contribute to the brain damage found in SSADH-deficient patients and possibly in individuals who consume GHB or its prodrug gamma-butyrolactone.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Kynurenines impair energy metabolism in rat cerebral cortex.

Growing evidence indicates that some metabolites derived from the kynurenine pathway, the major route of L-tryptophan catabolism, are involved in the neurotoxicity associated with several brain disorders, such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, as well as in glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (GAI). Considering that the pathophysiology of the brain damage in these neurodegenerative disorders is not completely defined, in the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of L-kynurenine (Kyn), kynurenic acid (KA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HA) and anthranilic acid (AA) on some parameters of energy metabolism, namely glucose uptake, 14CO2 production from [U-14C] glucose, [1-14C] acetate and [1,5-14C] citrate, as well as on the activities of the respiratory chain complexes I-IV and Na+,K+-ATPase activity in cerebral cortex from 30-day-old rats. We observed that all compounds tested, except L-kynurenine, significantly increased glucose uptake and inhibited 14CO2 production from [U-14C] glucose, [1-14C] acetate and [1,5-14C] citrate. In addition, the activities of complexes I, II and IV of the respiratory chain were significantly inhibited by 3HK, while 3HA inhibited complexes I and II activities and AA inhibited complexes I-III activities. Moreover, Na+,K+-ATPase activity was not modified by these kynurenines. Taken together, our present data provide evidence that various kynurenine intermediates provoke impairment of brain energy metabolism.

3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid↗

PubMed2006

Inhibition of creatine kinase activity from rat cerebral cortex by 3-hydroxykynurenine.

3-hydroxykynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite, is known to be potential neurotoxic in some neurodegenerative disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms of toxicity are not well understood. Creatine kinase plays a key role in energy metabolism of tissues with intermittently high and fluctuating energy requirements, such as nervous tissue. This study investigated the in vitro effect of 3-hydroxykynurenine on creatine kinase activity in the brain cortex of rats. The results indicated that low micromolar 3-hydroxykynurenine concentrations inhibit uncompetitively mitochondrial and cytosolic creatine kinase activities in a time and dose-dependent way. Inhibition was prevented, but not reversed by incubation with reduced glutathione, dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid plus trolox, suggesting adduct formation. The assay under nitrogen atmosphere suggested that the inhibition was caused by products of 3-hydroxykynurenine autoxidation. Determination of thiol groups suggested that adducts between the enzyme and autoxidation products of 3-hydroxykynurenine were not formed with sulfhydryl groups. The interaction plot between tryptophan and 3-hydroxykynurenine suggested different sites of action on creatine kinase with cross-inhibition. Considering the importance of creatine kinase for the maintenance of energy homeostasis in the brain, it is conceivable that an alteration of this enzyme activity may be one of the mechanisms by which 3-hydroxykynurenine might be neurotoxic.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

A chemically-induced acute model of maple syrup urine disease in rats for neurochemical studies.

We report a chemically-induced model of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) in 10- and 30-day-old rats produced by subcutaneous administration of a branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) pool along with the analyses of plasma and brain amino acid levels by HPLC at 0-120 min after administration. We observed an increase of plasma leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val) concentrations in both 10- and 30-day-old rats. These increases were accompanied by a concomitant reduction of plasma concentrations of methionine (Met), phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), histidine (His), alanine (Ala), lysine (Lys), and ornithine (Orn) in 10-day-old rats and of Met, Phe, Tyr, tryptophan (Trp), and Orn in 30-day-old rats. These results are similar to those observed in MSUD patients during crises, when plasma levels of large neutral amino acids (LNAA) are also reduced when BCAA concentrations are increased. In the brain, increased concentrations of Leu, Ile and Val were achieved in 10-day-old rats at all times after injection. In contrast, no differences in cerebral concentrations of BCAA were observed in 30-day-old rats. In conclusion, the present MSUD model, using 10- rather than 30-day-old rats, has a similar amino acid profile to that of MSUD untreated patients and is suitable to investigate the mechanisms of brain damage characteristic of this disorder.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2006

Promotion of oxidative stress by L-tryptophan in cerebral cortex of rats.

Despite the significant brain abnormalities, the neurotoxic mechanisms of brain injury in hypertryptophanemia are virtually unknown. In this work, it was investigated the in vitro effect of l-tryptophan on various parameters of oxidative stress, namely spontaneous chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) and glutathione (GSH) levels in cerebral cortex from 30-day-old rats. Tryptophan significantly increased chemiluminescence and TBA-RS measurements indicating that this amino acid induced lipid peroxidation in vitro. We also observed that tryptophan significantly decreased the brain antioxidant defenses by reducing the values of TRAP, TAR and GSH, reflecting that the overall content of antioxidants was reduced by tryptophan. Furthermore, the tryptophan-induced increase of TBA-RS was fully prevented by GSH and by combination of catalase plus superoxide dismutase, but not by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). In case these findings also occur in human hypertryptophanemia or in other neurodegenerative diseases in which tryptophan accumulates, it is feasible that oxidative stress may be involved in the mechanism leading to the brain injury observed in patients affected by these disorders.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

PubMed2006

Inhibition of creatine kinase activity by cystine in the kidney of young rats.

Nephropathic cystinosis is a lethal genetic disease caused by a lysosomal transport disorder leading to intralysosomal cystine accumulation in all tissues. Cystinosis is the most common inherited cause of Fanconi syndrome, but the mechanisms by which cystine causes tissue damage are not fully understood. Thiol-containing enzymes are critical for renal energy metabolism and may be altered by disulfides like cystine. Therefore, in the present study our main objective was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro effects of cystine on creatine kinase, which contains critical thiol groups in its structure, in the kidney of young Wistar rats. We observed that cystine inhibited in vivo and in vitro the enzyme activity and that this inhibition was prevented by cysteamine and glutathione. The results suggest oxidation of essential sulfhydryl groups necessary for creatine kinase function by cystine. Considering that creatine kinase and other thiol-containing enzymes are crucial for renal energy metabolism, and programmed cell death occurs in situations of energy deficiency, the enzyme inhibition caused by cystine released from lysosomes might be a mechanism of tissue damage in patients with cystinosis.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

alpha-keto acids accumulating in maple syrup urine disease stimulate lipid peroxidation and reduce antioxidant defences in cerebral cortex from young rats.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inherited neurometabolic disorder caused by deficiency of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex activity which leads to tissue accumulation of the branched-chain alpha-keto acids (BCKAs) alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC), alpha-ketoisovaleric acid (KIV) and alpha-keto-beta-methylvaleric acid (KMV) and their respective amino acids. Neuropathologic findings characteristic of the disease are cerebral edema and atrophy, whose pathophysiology is poorly known. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of BCKAs on various parameters of oxidative stress, namely chemiluminescence (CL), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), total antioxidant reactivity (TAR), and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cerebral cortex of 30-day-old rats. The major effects observed were with KIC, which significantly increased CL and TBA-RS measurements, decreased TRAP and TAR values, and markedly inhibited GPx activity. KMV and KIV increased CL and decreased TRAP and TAR values. In contrast, these compounds did not affect CAT and SOD activities. Taken together, it was shown that: the BCKAs studied stimulated lipid peroxidation and reduced the brain antioxidant defences, suggesting an increased production of free radicals. In case the in vitro effects here detected also occur in vivo in MSUD, it can be presumed that oxidative stress might contribute, at least in part, to the brain damage found in the affected patients.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The effects of the interactions between amino acids on pyruvate kinase activity from the brain cortex of young rats.

Considering that pyruvate kinase activity, a crucial enzyme for glucose metabolism and energy liberation in brain, may be regulated by some amino acids, it is possible that diminution of this enzyme activity may contribute to the brain damage caused by amino acids accumulated in metabolic diseases, such as phenylalanine, tryptophan and cystine. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of these amino acids on pyruvate kinase activity in the brain cortex of rats. We also investigated the effect of serine and alanine on pyruvate kinase activity in the same tissue. The results suggested that phenylalanine, tryptophan, cystine, alanine, and serine act at the same site on the enzyme, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and cystine causing inhibition, and alanine and serine preventing this effect. Cystine also inhibited the enzyme activity through a different mechanism, possibly acting on the enzyme thiol groups. Considering that this enzyme is a target for amino acids accumulated in some metabolic diseases of amino acid metabolism, it is possible that its inhibition may contribute to the brain damage found in these diseases.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

PubMed2005

Cysteamine prevents and reverses the inhibition of creatine kinase activity caused by cystine in rat brain cortex.

Cystinosis is a disorder associated with lysosomal cystine accumulation caused by defective cystine efflux. Cystine accumulation provokes a variable degree of symptoms depending on the involved tissues. Adult patients may present brain cortical atrophy. However, the mechanisms by which cystine is toxic to the tissues are not fully understood. Considering that brain damage may be developed by energy deficiency, creatine kinase is a thiolic enzyme crucial for energy homeostasis, and disulfides like cystine may alter thiolic enzymes by thiol/disulfide exchange, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of cystine on creatine kinase activity in total homogenate, cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of the brain cortex from 21-day-old Wistar rats. We performed kinetic studies and investigated the effects of GSH, a biologically occurring thiol group protector, and cysteamine, the drug used for cystinosis treatment, to better understand the effect of cystine on creatine kinase activity. Results showed that cystine inhibited the enzyme activity non-competitively in a dose- and time-dependent way. GSH partially prevented and reversed CK inhibition caused by cystine and cysteamine fully prevented and reversed this inhibition, suggesting that cystine inhibits creatine kinase activity by interaction with the sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme. Considering that creatine kinase is a crucial enzyme for brain cortex energy homeostasis, these results provide a possible mechanism for cystine toxicity and also a new possible beneficial effect for the use of cysteamine in cystinotic patients.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed2005

Benzophenones from Hypericum carinatum.

Two new benzophenones were isolated from the leaves of Hypericum carinatum. Their structures were established on the basis of 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and mass spectrometry as cariphenone A (6-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,8-trimethyl-2H-chromene) (1) and cariphenone B (8-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl-2H-chromene) (2). Five known compounds, the phloroglucinol derivative uliginosin B (3), 1-eicosanol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, were also characterized. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their total antioxidant capacity through a total radical-trapping parameter assay. Only compound 1 showed moderate antioxidant activity, exhibiting inhibition of chemiluminescence similar to that of quercetin at the same concentration.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2005

Evaluation of the mechanisms involved in leucine-induced oxidative damage in cerebral cortex of young rats.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a metabolic disorder caused by the deficiency of the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme complex branched-chain L-2-keto acid dehydrogenase. The metabolic block results in tissue and body fluid accumulation of the branched-chain amino acids leucine (Leu), isoleucine and valine, as well as of their respective alpha-keto acids. Neurological sequelae are usually present in MSUD, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms of neurotoxicity are still poorly known. It was previously demonstrated that Leu elicits oxidative stress in rat brain. In the present study we investigated the possible mechanisms involved in Leu-induced oxidative damage. We observed a significant attenuation of Leu-elicited increase of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) measurement when cortical homogenates were incubated in the presence of the free radical scavengers ascorbic acid plus trolox, dithiothreitol, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase, suggesting a probable involvement of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in this effect. In contrast, the use of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or catalase (CAT) did not affect TBA-RS values. We also demonstrated an inhibitory effect of Leu on the activities of the antioxidant enzymes CAT and gluthathione peroxidase, as well as a significant reduction in the membrane-protein thiol content from mitochondrial enriched preparations. Furthermore, dichlorofluorescein levels were increased although not significantly by Leu. Taken together, our present data indicate that an unbalance between free radical formation and inhibition of critical enzyme activities may explain the mechanisms involved in the Leu-induced oxidative damage.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Inhibition of energy metabolism in cerebral cortex of young rats by the medium-chain fatty acids accumulating in MCAD deficiency.

Patients affected by medium-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, a frequent inborn error of metabolism, suffer from acute episodes of encephalopathy. However, the mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of this disease are poorly known. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of the medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), at concentrations varying from 0.01 to 3 mM, accumulating in MCAD deficiency on some parameters of energy metabolism in cerebral cortex of young rats. (14)CO(2) production from [U(14)] glucose, [1-(14)C] acetate and [1,5-(14)C] citrate was evaluated by incubating cerebral cortex homogenates from 30-day-old rats in the absence (controls) or presence of octanoic acid, decanoic acid or cis-4-decenoic acid. OA and DA significantly reduced (14)CO(2) production from acetate by around 30-40%, and from glucose by around 70%. DA significantly reduced (14)CO(2) production from citrate by around 40%, while OA did not affect this parameter. cDA inhibited (14)CO(2) production from all tested substrates by around 30-40%. The activities of the respiratory chain complexes and of creatine kinase were also tested in the presence of DA and cDA. Both metabolites significantly inhibited cytochrome c oxidase activity (by 30%) and complex II-III activity (DA, 25%; cDA, 80%). Furthermore, only cDA inhibited complex II activity (by 30%), while complex I-III and citrate synthase were not affected by these MCFA. On the other hand, only cDA reduced the activity of creatine kinase in total homogenates, as well as in mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions from cerebral cortex (by 50%). The data suggest that the major metabolites which accumulate in MCAD deficiency, with particular emphasis to cDA, compromise brain energy metabolism. We presume that these findings may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of the neurological dysfunction of MCAD deficient patients.

Acetates↗

PubMed2004

Inhibition of pyruvate kinase activity by cystine in brain cortex of rats.

Cystinosis is a metabolic disturb associated with excessive lysosomal cystine accumulation secondary to defective cystine efflux. Patients affected by this disease develop a variable degree of symptoms depending of the involved tissues. Accumulation of cystine in the brain may lead to severe neurological symptoms. However, the mechanisms by which cystine is neurotoxic are not fully understood. Considering that pyruvate kinase (PK) is a thiolic enzyme crucial for the glycolytic pathway, and disulfides like cystine may alter thiolic enzymes by thiol/disulfide exchange, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of cystine on PK activity in the brain cortex of developing Wistar rats. We also performed kinetic studies and investigated the effects of GSH, a biologically occurring thiol groups protector, and cysteamine (CysN), the drug used for cystinosis treatment, on the enzyme activity. We observed that cystine inhibited the enzyme activity by two different mechanisms, one through the competition with ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and the other non-competitively, probably through oxidation of the thiol groups of PK. We also observed that GSH and cysteamine fully prevented and reversed the inhibition caused by cystine. Considering that cysteamine is used in patients with cystinosis because it causes parenkimal organ cystine depletion, the present data provides a possible new beneficial effect for the use of this drug.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Tryptophan reduces creatine kinase activity in the brain cortex of rats.

Hypertryptophanemia is a rare inherited metabolic disorder probably caused by a blockage in the conversion of tryptophan to kynurenine, resulting in the accumulation of tryptophan and some of its metabolites in plasma and tissues of affected patients. The patients present mild-to-moderate mental retardation with exaggerated affective responses, periodic mood swings, and apparent hypersexual behavior. Creatine kinase plays a key role in energy metabolism of tissues with intermittently high and fluctuating energy requirements, such as nervous tissue. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of acute administration of tryptophan on creatine kinase activity in brain cortex of Wistar rats. We also studied the in vitro effect of this amino acid on creatine kinase activity in the brain cortex of non-treated rats. The results indicated that tryptophan inhibits creatine kinase in vitro and in vivo. We also observed that the in vitro inhibition was fully prevented but not reversed by pre-incubation with reduced glutathione, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of tryptophan on CK activity is possibly mediated by oxidation of essential thiol groups of the enzyme and/or long-lasting adduct formation. Considering the importance of creatine kinase for the maintenance of energy homeostasis in the brain, it is conceivable that an inhibition of this enzyme activity in the brain may be one of the mechanisms by which tryptophan might be neurotoxic.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

PubMed2004

Monosialoganglioside increases catalase activity in cerebral cortex of rats.

Monosialoganglioside (GM1) is a neuroprotective agent that has been reported to scavenge free radicals generated during reperfusion and to protect receptors and enzymes from oxidative damage. However, only a few studies have attempted to investigate the effects of GM1 on enzymatic antioxidant defenses of the brain. In the present study, we evaluate the effects of the systemic administration of GM1 on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and on spontaneous chemiluminescence and total radical-trapping potential (TRAP) in cerebral cortex of rats ex vivo. The effects of GM1 on CAT activity and spontaneous chemiluminescence in vitro were also determined. Animals received two injections of GM1 (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline (0.85% NaCl, i.p.) spaced 24 h apart. Thirty minutes after the second injection the animals were sacrificed and enzyme activities and spontaneous chemiluminescence and TRAP were measured in cell-free homogenates. GM1 administration reduced spontaneous chemiluminescence and increased catalase activity ex vivo, but had no effect on TRAP, SOD or GSH-Px activities. GM1, at high concentrations, reduced CATactivity in vitro. We suggest that the antioxidant activity of GM1 ganglioside in the cerebral cortex may be due to an increased catalase activity.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

In vivo and in vitro effects of proline on some parameters of oxidative stress in rat brain.

Hyperprolinemia type II is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the severe deficiency of delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity leading to tissue accumulation of proline (Pro). Most patients detected so far show neurological manifestations including epilepsy and mental retardation, whose pathophysiology is not yet fully established. In the present study, we determined the in vivo and in vitro effects of Pro on some parameters of oxidative stress, namely chemiluminescence, total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) from cerebral cortex of 29-day-old Wistar rats. Results showed that acute administration of Pro provoked a significant increase of chemiluminescence and a decrease of TRAP, whereas chronic administration of the metabolite did not alter these parameters. Furthermore, in vitro brain exposure to Pro resulted in increased chemiluminescence and decreased TRAP at Pro concentrations similar to those observed in tissues of hyperprolinemic patients (0.5-1.0 mM). As regards to the antioxidant enzymes, acute injection of Pro significantly decreased CAT activity and did not alter SOD and GSH-Px activities, whereas chronic Pro administration provoked a significant increase of CAT activity, a decrease of GSH-Px activity and did not modify SOD activity. Furthermore, CAT, GSH-Px and SOD activities were not affected by the presence of Pro in the incubation medium. The data indicate that Pro induces oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro, which may be involved in the brain dysfunction observed in hyperprolinemic patients.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Induction of oxidative stress by L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in rat brain.

L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid (LGA) is the biochemical hallmark of L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-OHGA), an inherited neurometabolic disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration with cerebellar and pyramidal signs, mental deterioration, epilepsy, and subcortical leukoencephalopathy. Because the underlying mechanisms of the neuropathology of this disorder are virtually unknown, in this study we tested the in vitro effect of LGA on various parameters of oxidative stress, namely, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), protein carbonyl formation (PCF), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), total antioxidant reactivity (TAR), and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in cerebellum and cerebral cortex of 30-day-old rats. LGA significantly increased chemiluminescence, TBA-RS, and PCF measurements and markedly decreased TAR values in cerebellum, in contrast to TRAP and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, which were not altered by the acid. Similar but less pronounced effects were provoked by LGA in cerebral cortex. Moreover, the LGA-induced increase of TBA-RS was significantly attenuated by melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) and by the combinations of ascorbic acid plus Trolox (soluble alpha-tocopherol) and of superoxide dismutase plus catalase but not by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), creatine, or superoxide dismutase or catalase alone in either cerebral structure. The data indicate that LGA provokes oxidation of lipids and proteins and reduces the brain capacity to modulate efficiently the damage associated with an enhanced production of free radicals, possibly by inducing generation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, which are trapped by the scavengers used. Thus, in case these findings can be extrapolated to human L-OHGA, it may be presumed that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of the brain damage observed in this disorder.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Characterization of the inhibition of pyruvate kinase caused by phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate in rat brain cortex.

Pyruvate kinase plays a crucial role on the glycolytic pathway, the main route that provides energy for brain functioning. In the present study, we investigated the kinetics of the inhibition of pyruvate kinase provoked by phenylalanine and its main metabolite, phenylpyruvate, in mitochondria-free cerebral cortex homogenate from 22-day-old Wistar rats. We found that phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate inhibit PK activity by competition with the enzyme substrates ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate. We also investigated the interaction between phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate, and the kinetics of alanine prevention of the inhibitory action of phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate on pyruvate kinase activity. We observed that alanine per se had no effect on PK activity but prevented the inhibitory action of phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate by competition. The data suggest that phenylalanine, phenylpyruvate, and alanine act on a common site in the enzyme, probably an allosteric one. It is possible that inhibition of brain PK activity may be related to the reduction of glucose metabolism observed in the brain of phenylketonuric patients and may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the neurological dysfunction found in these patients. Further studies, however, are necessary to evaluate the benefit of carbohydrate and alanine supplementation to the diet of phenylketonuric patients.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗