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Biomedical subjects

G Fuchs

Publications and source records attributed to G Fuchs.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Novel aerobic 2-aminobenzoate metabolism. Nucleotide sequence of the plasmid carrying the gene for the flavoprotein 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase in a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp.

Pseudomonas KB 740 degrades 2-aminobenzoate aerobically via a chimeric pathway which combines characteristics of anaerobic and aerobic aromatic metabolism. Atypically, 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA is an intermediate, and the activated aromatic acid is not only hydroxylated but also reduced to an alicyclic compound in a single step. The bacterial strain possesses a small plasmid, pKB 740, which carries all essential information of this new pathway. Its total nucleotide sequence was determined. It consists of 8280 bp and contains the genes for the two initial enzymes of the pathway; 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase catalyzes the activation of the aromatic acid, and the flavoenzyme 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase catalyzes the hydroxylation (monooxygenase activity) and subsequent reduction (reductase activity) of the aromatic ring of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA. Furthermore, five open reading frames (ORF) possibly coding for polypeptides are on the plasmid. Putative promoter sequences were found for two of the ORF. A nucleotide sequence able to form a possible termination loop was located downstream of the gene for 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase. This gene consists of 2190 bases. The deduced amino acid sequence of the protein (730 residues; calculated molecular mass of the native 729-residue protein, 83,559 Da) contains a consensus sequence for an FAD-binding site at the N-terminus and a possible NAD(P)H-binding site approximately 150 amino acid residues apart from the N-terminus. The monooxygenase/reductase shows low sequence similarity to the flavoprotein salicylate hydroxylase. Functional and evolutionary aspects of this work are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence

Novel aerobic 2-aminobenzoate metabolism. Purification and characterization of 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase, localisation of the gene on a 8-kbp plasmid, and cloning and sequencing of the gene from a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp.

A new pathway for the aerobic metabolism of 2-aminobenzoate which proceeds via 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA has recently been revealed in a Pseudomonas strain KB 740-. The enzyme catalyzing the first step, the formation of the coenzyme A (CoA) thioester of 2-aminobenzoate, is 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase. It was purified from cells aerobically grown with 2-aminobenzoate as sole carbon, energy, and nitrogen source and characterized. It is rather specific for 2-aminobenzoate, but activates also benzoate and fluorobenzoates. ATP was cleaved into AMP and pyrophosphate. The ligase is a monomer of M(r) 65,000, as determined by gel filtration and SDS/PAGE. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined and the gene locus of the enzyme was identified by Southern blot hybridization on a small 8-kbp plasmid pKB 740. The 1.8-kb nucleotide sequence of the 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase gene and the derived amino acid sequence of the native enzyme (597 residues) are reported.

Aerobiosis

13C-NMR study of autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways in the sulfur-reducing Archaebacterium Thermoproteus neutrophilus and in the phototrophic Eubacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus.

The unresolved autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways in the sulfur-reducing Archaebacterium Thermoproteus neutrophilus and in the phototrophic Eubacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus have been investigated. Autotrophically growing cultures were labelled with [1,4-13C1]succinate, and the 13C pattern in cell constituents was determined by 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy of purified amino acids and other cell constituents. In both organisms succinate contributed to less than 10% of cell carbon, the major part of carbon originated from CO2. All cell constituents became 13C-labelled, but different patterns were observed in the two organisms. This proves that two different cyclic CO2 fixation pathways are operating in autotrophic carbon assimilation in both of which succinate is an intermediate. The 13C-labelling pattern in T. neutrophilus is consistent with the operation of a reductive citric acid cycle and rules out any other known autotrophic CO2 fixation pathway. Surprisingly, the proffered [1,4-13C1]succinate was partially converted to double-labelled [3,4-13C2]glutamate, but not to double-labelled aspartate. These findings suggest that the conversion of citrate to 2-oxoglutarate is readily reversible under the growth conditions used, and a reversible citrate cleavage reaction is proposed. The 13C-labelling pattern in C. aurantiacus disagrees with any of the established CO2 fixation pathways; it therefore demands a novel autotrophic CO2 fixation cycle in which 3-hydroxypropionate and succinate are likely intermediates. The bacterium excreted substantial amounts of 3-hydroxypropionate (5 mM) and succinate (0.5 mM) at the end of autotrophic growth. Autotrophically grown Chloroflexus cells contained acetyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase activity. These enzymes are proposed to be the main CO2-fixing enzymes resulting in malonyl-CoA and methylmalonyl-CoA formation; from these carboxylation products 3-hydroxypropionate and succinate, respectively, can be formed.

Amino Acids

Enzymatic reduction of benzoyl-CoA to alicyclic compounds, a key reaction in anaerobic aromatic metabolism.

Different anaerobic bacteria can oxidize a variety of aromatic compounds completely to CO2 via one common aromatic intermediate, benzoyl-CoA. It has been postulated that anaerobically the aromatic nucleus of benzoyl-CoA becomes reduced. An oxygen-sensitive enzyme system is described catalyzing the reduction of benzoyl-CoA to trans-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxyl-CoA in a denitrifying Pseudomonas species grown anaerobically on benzoate plus nitrate. The assay mixture consists of cell extract, [U-14C]benzoyl-CoA, a [U-14C]benzoyl-CoA-generating system (consisting of [U-14C]benzoate, purified benzoate-CoA ligase, Mg(2+)-ATP, coenzyme A), an ATP-regenerating system (consisting of phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate kinase, myokinase), and a low-potential reductant [titanium(III) citrate]. The optimal pH is about 7, the specific activity 10 nmol benzoyl-CoA reduced min-1 x mg-1 protein. The apparent Km for benzoyl-CoA is below 50 microM. Five major products were found. One product is cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA which must have been formed by a benzoyl-CoA reductase. The other product is probably trans-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxyl-CoA rather than the cis-stereoisomer; this product must have been formed by a cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA hydratase. Two other products are likely to be intermediates of benzoyl-CoA reduction to cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA, suggesting that the reduction reaction is more complex. An early formed fifth product is more polar than cyclohexanecarboxyl- or cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA. The enzyme system is under oxygen control since it was not found in cells grown aerobically on benzoate. It is induced by aromatic compounds since its activity is low in cells grown anaerobically on acetate. The actual inducer is probably benzoyl-CoA rather than benzoate. This conclusion is drawn from the fact that the system is also present in cells grown anaerobically on phenol, phenylacetate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, or 2-aminobenzoate; the anaerobic metabolism of these compounds has been shown in this organism to proceed directly via benzoyl-CoA rather than via free benzoate.

Acetobacteraceae

Brain death: timing of apnea testing in primary brain stem lesion.

In a 73-year-old patient complete areflexia of the cerebral and peripheral nerves following the rupture of an aneurysm of the basilar artery was diagnosed. During apnea testing the spectral analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) revealed an irreversible shift of peak from 6 to 3 Hz within the low-frequency bands. These findings suggest that apnea testing in patients with primary lesion of the brain stem should be carried out only after an isoelectric EEG.

Aged

Anaerobic degradation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (anthranilic acid) via benzoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA in a denitrifying bacterium.

The enzymes catalyzing the initial reactions in the anaerobic degradation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (anthranilic acid) were studied with a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp. anaerobically grown with 2-aminobenzoate and nitrate as the sole carbon and energy sources. Cells grown on 2-aminobenzoate are simultaneously adapted to growth with benzoate, whereas cells grown on benzoate degrade 2-aminobenzoate several times less efficiently than benzoate. Evidence for a new reductive pathway of aromatic metabolism and for four enzymes catalyzing the initial steps is presented. The organism contains 2-aminobenzoate-coenzyme A ligase (2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase), which forms 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA. 2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA is then reductively deaminated to benzoyl-CoA by an oxygen-sensitive enzyme, 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA reductase (deaminating), which requires a low potential reductant [Ti(III)]. The specific activity is 15 nmol of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA reduced min-1 mg-1 of protein at an optimal pH of 7. The two enzymes are induced by the substrate under anaerobic conditions only. Benzoyl-CoA is further converted in vitro by reduction with Ti(III) to six products; the same products are formed when benzoyl-CoA or 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA is incubated under reducing conditions. Two of them were identified preliminarily. One product is cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA, the other is trans-2-hydroxycyclohexane-carboxyl-CoA. The complex transformation of benzoyl-CoA is ascribed to at least two enzymes, benzoyl-CoA reductase (aromatic ring reducing) and cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA hydratase. The reduction of benzoyl-CoA to alicyclic compounds is catalyzed by extracts from cells grown anaerobically on either 2-aminobenzoate or benzoate at almost the same rate (10 to 15 nmol min-1 mg-1 of protein). In contrast, extracts from cells grown anaerobically on acetate or grown aerobically on benzoate or 2-aminobenzoate are inactive. This suggests a sequential induction of the enzymes.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Carboxylation of phenylphosphate by phenol carboxylase, an enzyme system of anaerobic phenol metabolism.

Several lines of evidence indicate that the first step in the anaerobic metabolism of phenol is phenol carboxylation to 4-hydroxybenzoate; this reaction is considered a biological Kolbe-Schmitt carboxylation. A phenol carboxylase system was characterized by using a denitrifying Pseudomonas strain, K 172, which catalyzes an isotope exchange between 14CO2 and the carboxyl group of 4-hydroxybenzoate. The enzymatic isotope exchange activity (100 nmol min-1 mg-1 of protein) requires Mn2+ and K+. We show that this system also catalyzes the carboxylation of phenylphosphate (the phosphoric acid monophenyl ester) to 4-hydroxybenzoate and phosphate. The specific activity of phenylphosphate carboxylation at the optimal pH of 6.5 is 12 nmol of CO2 fixed min-1 mg-1 of protein. Phenylphosphate cannot be replaced by Mg(2+)-ATP and phenol. The carboxylase activity requires Mn2+ but, in contrast to the isotope exchange activity, does not require K+. The apparent Km values are 1.5 mM dissolved CO2 and 0.2 mM phenylphosphate. Several convenient assays for phenylophosphate carboxylation are described. The isotope exchange reaction and the net carboxylation reaction are catalyzed by the same oxygen-sensitive enzyme, which has a half-life in an air-saturated solution of less than 1 min. Both activities cochromatographed with a protein with a Mr of 280,000, and both activities were induced only after anaerobic growth on phenol. The carboxylation of phenylphosphate suggests that phenylphosphate itself is the physiological CO2 acceptor molecular of this novel CO2 fixation reaction. Alternatively, phenylphosphate could simulate the unknown natural precursor. It is suggested that the formation of an enzyme-bound phenolate anion from the activated phenolic compound is the rate-determining step in the carboxylation reaction.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Anaerobic toluene oxidation to benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde in a denitrifying Pseudomonas strain.

The denitrifying Pseudomonas strain K172 was grown with a generation time of 6 h to a cell density of 0.4 g (dry weight) per liter with toluene and nitrate as substrates. We found that anaerobic cell suspensions oxidize [14C]toluene first to [14C]benzyl alcohol and subsequently to [14C]benzaldehyde. This proves that the methyl group of toluene is oxidized without molecular oxygen to a hydroxymethyl group.

Anaerobiosis

Catalytic properties of phenol carboxylase. In vitro study of CO2: 4-hydroxybenzoate isotope exchange reaction.

Phenol is metabolized in a denitrifying bacterium in the absence of molecular oxygen via para-carboxylation to 4-hydroxybenzoate (biological Kolbe-Schmitt synthesis). The enzyme system catalyzing the presumptive carboxylation of phenol, tentatively named 'phenol carboxylase', catalyzes an isotope exchange between 14CO2 and the carboxyl group of 4-hydroxybenzoate (specific activity 0.1 mumol 14CO2 incorporated into 4-hydroxybenzoate x min-1 x mg-1 cell protein) which is considered a partial reaction of the overall enzyme catalysis; 14C from [14C]phenol was not exchanged into 4-hydroxybenzoate ring positions to a significant extent. The 14CO2 isotope exchange reaction was studied in vitro. The reaction was dependent on the substrates CO2 and 4-hydroxybenzoate and required K+ and Mn2+. The actual substrate was CO2 rather than HCO3-. The apparent Km values were 1 mM dissolved CO2, 0.2 mM 4-hydroxybenzoate, 2 mM K+, and 0.1 mM Mn2+. The cationic cocatalysts could be substituted by ions of similar ionic radius: K+ could be replaced to some extent by Rb+, but not by Li+, Na+, Cs+, or NH4+; Mn2+ could be replaced to some extent by Fe2+ greater than Mg2+, Co2+, but not by Ni2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, or Cu2+. The exchange reaction was not strictly specific for 4-hydroxybenzoate, however it required a p-hydroxyl group; derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzoate with OH, CH3 or Cl substituents in m-position did react, whereas those with substitutions in the o-position were inactive or were inhibitory. The enzyme was induced when cells were grown on phenol, but not on 4-hydroxybenzoate. Comparison of SDS/PAGE protein patterns of cells grown on phenol or 4-hydroxybenzoate revealed several additional protein bands in phenol-grown cells. The possible role of similar enzymes in the anaerobic metabolism of phenolic compounds is discussed.

Carbon Dioxide

Anaerobic degradation of cresols by denitrifying bacteria.

The initial reactions in anaerobic metabolism of methylphenols (cresols) and dimethylphenols were studied with denitrifying bacteria. A newly isolated strain, possibly a Paracoccus sp., was able to grow on o- or p-cresol as sole organic substrate with a generation time of 11 h; o- or p-cresol was completely oxidized to CO2 with nitrate being reduced to N2. A denitrifying Pseudomonas-like strain oxidized m- or -p-cresol as the sole organic growth substrate completely to CO2 with a generation time of 14 h. Demonstration of intermediates and/or in vitro measurement of enzyme activities suggest the following enzymatic steps: (1) p-Cresol was metabolized by both strains via benzoyl-CoA as central intermediate as follows: p-cresol----4-OH-benzaldehyde----4-OH-benzoate----4-OH-benzoyl-CoA----be nzoyl-CoA. Oxidation of the methyl group to 4-OH-benzaldehyde was catalyzed by p-cresol methylhydroxylase. After oxidation of the aldehyde to 4-OH-benzoate, 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA is formed by 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA synthetase; subsequent reductive dehydroxylation of 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA to benzoyl-CoA is catalyzed by 4-OH-benzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating). (2) o-Cresol was metabolized in the Paracoccus-like strain via 3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA as central intermediate as follows: o-cresol----4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate----4-OH-3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA----3-CH3-benzo yl-CoA. The following enzymes were demonstrated: (a) An enzyme catalyzing an isototope exchange reaction between 14CO2 and the carboxyl of 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate; this activity is thought to be a partial reaction catalyzed by an o-cresol carboxylase. (b) 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA synthetase (AMP-forming) activating the carboxylation product 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate to its coenzyme A thioester. (c) 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating) catalyzing the reductive dehydroxylation of the 4-hydroxyl group with reduced benzyl viologen as electron donor to yield 3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA. This thioester may also be formed by action of a coenzyme A ligase when 3-CH3-benzoate is metabolized. 2,4-Dimethylphenol was metabolized via 4-OH-3-CH3-benzoate and further to 3-CH3-benzoyl-CoA. (3) The initial reactions of anaerobic metabolism of m-cresol in the Pseudomonas-like strain were not resolved. No indication for the oxidation of the methyl group nor for the carboxylation of m-cresol was found. In contrast, 2,4- and 3,4-dimethylphenol were oxidized to 4-OH-3-CH3- and 4-OH-2-CH3-benzoate, respectively, probably initiated by p-cresol methylhydroxylase; however, these compounds were not metabolized further.

Anaerobiosis

Anaerobic degradation of toluene in denitrifying Pseudomonas sp.: indication for toluene methylhydroxylation and benzoyl-CoA as central aromatic intermediate.

The anaerobic degradation of toluene has been studied with whole cells and by measuring enzyme activities. Cultures of Pseudomonas strain K 172 were grown in mineral medium up to a cell density of 0.5 g of dry cells per liter in fed-batch culture with toluene and nitrate as the sole carbon and energy sources. A molar growth yield of 57 g of cell dry matter formed per mol toluene totally consumed was determined. The mean generation time was 24 h. The redox balance between toluene consumed (oxidation and cell material synthesis) and nitrate consumed (reduction to nitrogen gas and assimilation as NH3) was 77% of expectation if toluene was completely oxidized; this indicated that the major amount of toluene was mineralized to CO2. It was tested whether the initial reaction in anaerobic toluene degradation was a carboxylation or a dehydrogenation (anaerobic hydroxylation); the hypothetical carboxylated or hydroxylated intermediates were tested with whole cells applying the method of simultaneous adaptation; cells pregrown on toluene degraded benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and benzoic acid without lag, 4-hydroxybenzoate and p-cresol with a 90 min lag phase, and phenylacetate after a 200 min lag phase. The cells were not at all adapted to degrade 2-methylbenzoate, 4-methylbenzoate, o-cresol, and m-cresol, nor did these compounds support growth within a few days after inoculation with cells grown on toluene. In extracts of cells anaerobically grown on toluene, benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase, benzaldehyde dehydrogenase, and benzoyl-CoA synthetase (AMP forming) activities were present. The data (1) conclusively show anaerobic growth of a pure culture on toluene; (2) suggest that toluene is anaerobically degraded via benzoyl-CoA; (3) imply that water functions as the source of the hydroxyl group in a toluene methylhydroxylase reaction.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Kidney stone formed around refluxed surgical staple and removed by transureteral endoscopic manipulation.

We present a case of a kidney stone that developed around a surgical staple which refluxed up to the kidney following a Bricker urinary diversion and bilateral ureteroileal anastomosis. A GIA stapler had been utilized to construct the ileal conduit. The stone was retrieved by means of flexible ureterorenoscopy through the ileal conduit. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a complication following construction of an ileal conduit with a stapling device.

Adult

Purification and characterization of benzoate-coenzyme A ligase and 2-aminobenzoate-coenzyme A ligases from a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp.

The enzymes catalyzing the formation of coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters of benzoate and 2-aminobenzoate were studied in a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp. anaerobically grown with these aromatic acids and nitrate as sole carbon and energy sources. Three different rather specific aromatic acyl-CoA ligases, E1, E2, and E3, were found which catalyze the formation of CoA thioesters of benzoate, fluorobenzoates, and 2-aminobenzoate. ATP is cleaved into AMP and pyrophosphate. The enzymes were purified, their N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined, and their catalytic and molecular properties were studied. Cells anaerobically grown on benzoate and nitrate contain one CoA ligase (AMP forming) for benzoic acid (E1). It is a homodimer of Mr 120,000 which prefers benzoate as a substrate but shows some activity also with 2-aminobenzoate and fluorobenzoates, although with lower Km. Cells anaerobically grown on 2-aminobenzoate and nitrate contain three different CoA ligases for aromatic acids. The first one is identical with benzoate-CoA ligase (E1). The second enzyme is a 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase (E2). It is a monomer of Mr 60,000 which prefers 2-aminobenzoate but also activates benzoate, fluorobenzoates and, less effectively, 2-methylbenzoate, with lower affinities to the latter substrates. The enzymes E1 and E2 have similar activity levels; a third minor CoA ligase activity is due to a different 2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase. The enzyme (E3) is a monomer of Mr, 65,000 which 2-aminobenzoate pathway (U. Altenschmidt, C. Eckerskorn, and G. Fuchs, Eur. J. Biochem. 194:647-653, 1990); apparently, it is not completely repressed under anaerobic conditions and therefore also is induced to a small extent by 2-aminobenzoate under anaerobic growth conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Automated measurement of retinal vascular diameter].

We describe a new unit of the Jena retinal camera for automatic measurement of retinal vessel diameter. The brightness profile perpendicular to the vessel is registered by CCD line sensor and the signal is transmitted to the computer. An adaptive computer program recognizes the edges of vessels and estimates the vessel diameters automatically. Applying several measurements per vessel, the intraindividual standard deviation may be smaller than 3%. By using the same objective measuring edge criterion, the measuring results are comparable between different observers and methods. Error sources are discussed. Measured vessel reactions to oxygen breathing and reduced perfusion pressure are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of this new method.

Adult

Evidence that enzymes of a novel aerobic 2-amino-benzoate metabolism in denitrifying Pseudomonas are coded on a small plasmid.

A new pathway for aerobic metabolism of 2-aminobenzoate which proceeds via anthranoyl-CoA has recently been revealed in a Pseudomonas strain KB740. This bacterial strain was found to contain a small 8.1-kbp plasmid pKB740 which appears to harbour the genes encoding for two key enzymes catalyzing the initial reactions of the pathway, 2-aminobenzoate coenzyme A ligase and 2-aminobenzoyl-coenzyme A monooxygenase/reductase. The evidence is as follows: The plasmid content of the culture varied by a factor of ten depending on the growth substrates; it was highest when cells were grown aerobically on 2-aminobenzoate. The plasmid pKB740 could be introduced into Escherichia coli strain JM83 by transformation. Wild-type E. coli and E. coli JM83 are unable to metabolize 2-aminobenzoate whereas the transformed E. coli JM83 cells could grow with this aromatic compound as sole organic substrate and oxidize it completely to CO2. The plasmid recovered from E. coli had the same restriction map as the original plasmid, but was dimerized. The two key enzyme activities were demonstrated in the transformed E. coli in sufficiently high amounts to explain growth. They appear to be regulated on the transcription level by induction; they were formed only during aerobic growth in the presence of 2-aminobenzoate, as in the parent Pseudomonas. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase was similar to the consensus sequence of the FAD binding site of different flavoenzymes. The data also prove that the enzyme with two flavin functions is a alpha 2 homodimer. Southern blotting of digested chromosomal and plasmid DNA and hybridization against a labelled 15-base oligonucleotide derived from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase revealed that the gene for this enzyme is coded on the plasmid rather than on the chromosome. The gene was localized on a 3.2-kbp restriction fragment. The formation of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase protein in transformed E. coli was demonstrated by Western blotting of proteins of cell extracts separated by SDS/PAGE. The enzyme protein band, which was stained by a procedure based on antibodies against 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase, was demonstrated in transformed E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence

2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase, a novel type of flavoenzyme. Identification of the reaction products.

In a previous report we have described some properties of a novel flavoenzyme from a denitrifying Pseudomonas species which catalyzes the oxygen- and NAD(P)H-dependent conversion of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA [Buder, R., Ziegler, K., Fuchs, G., Langkau, B. & Ghisla, S. (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 185, 637-634]. In this paper, we report on the identification of the three products formed from 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA in this reaction. The spectroscopic data and the chemical properties of these compounds and those of their degradation products are compatible with the structures of 2-amino-5-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA, 2-amino-5-hydroxycyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA and of 2-amino-5-oxocyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA. The latter is the main product and was found to be rather unstable since it hydrolyzes and decarboxylates readily at pH less than 5. Ammonia is released from the decarboxylation product in the neutral pH range to yield 1,4-cyclohexanedione. Conditions were optimized such that the CoA thioester of 2-amino-5-hydroxybenzoate is the product obtained at greater than 98% yield. 2-amino-5-hydroxycyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA is the product which is formed when the mixture of the reaction products is treated with sodium borohydride before separation.

Chemical Phenomena

Urinary dopamine sulfate: regulations and significance in neurological disorders.

Dopamine-3-O-sulfate (DA-3-O-S) and dopamine-4-O-sulfate (DA-4-O-S) are important end products of L-dopa metabolism. Therefore they may give indications of disturbances in the peripheral metabolism of catecholamines, when measured in urine samples of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, information about the reliability of DA sulfatation after L-dopa therapy may be of significance for its role in the elimination of DA from the peripheral nervous system. Although DA-3-O-S appears to be the predominant sulfo-conjugate in urine, there are no changes in PD nor in depression syndrome compared to controls with or without other neurological disorders. By contrast, DA-4-O-S is significantly decreased in de novo PD subjects. However, a similar reduction is notable in patients with other neurological disorders. In depressed persons the loss of this compound was less pronounced as compared to de novo PD. Treatment with combined L-dopa therapy caused increased excretion of DA-3-O-S, while changes in DA-4-O-S were only marginal. It is concluded that urinary DA-3-O-S cannot be used as marker for PD, while DA-4-O-S is significantly reduced in a variety of neurological disorders and in particular in de novo PD. Further studies are necessary to elucidate its role as possible peripheral marker to distinguish preclinical PD and depression syndrome.

Adult