Biomedical subjects

H Rubbo

Publications and source records attributed to H Rubbo.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Succinate-dependent metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.

Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes permeabilized with digitonin (65 micrograms (mg protein)-1) to measure mitochondrial respiration were exposed to different substrates. Although none of the NADH-dependent substrates stimulated respiration, succinate supported not only oxygen consumption but also oxidative phosphorylation (respiratory control ratio of 1.9 +/- 0.3) indicating that the mitochondria were coupled. The rate of NADH-dependent oxygen consumption by membrane fractions (9.4 +/- 0.7 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1) was reduced by 50% upon addition of catalase indicating that the electrons from NADH oxidation reduced oxygen to H2O2. NADH-dependent H2O2 production (16 +/- 1 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1) was confirmed using cytochrome c peroxidase. This activity was inhibited by fumarate by 70%, suggesting a competition between fumarate and oxygen for the electrons from NADH, probably at the fumarate reductase level. The respiratory chain inhibitor antimycin blocked both respiration by intact cells and succinate-dependent cytochrome c by isolated membranes. No inhibition by antimycin was observed when NADH replaced succinate as an electron donor, indicating that the electrons from NADH oxidation reduced cytochrome c through a different route. Malonate blocked not only succinate-cytochrome c reductase and fumarate reductase, but also intact cell motility. These results suggest that succinate has a central role in the intermediate metabolism of i. cruzi, as it may be used for respiration or excreted to the extracellular space under anaerobic conditions. In addition, 2 potential sources of H2O2 were tentatively identified as: (a) the enzyme fumarate reductase; and (b) a succinate-dependent site, which may be the semiquinone form of Coenzyme Q9, as in mammalian mitochondria.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Substrate inhibition of xanthine oxidase and its influence on superoxide radical production.

The influence of substrate inhibition on xanthine oxidase-intramolecular electron transport was studied by steady-state kinetic analysis. Experiments with hypoxanthine and xanthine up to 900 microM indicated an inhibition pattern which fitted an equation of the general form nu 0 = nu max . [S]/(Km + a[S] + b[S]2/Ki). Univalent electron flux to oxygen was favored at substrate concentrations above 50 microM. This augmentation of univalent flux percentage that appeared at a high substrate concentration was greater for hypoxanthine that xanthine and at pH 8.3 than at 9.5. Our results support a mechanism of inhibition in which a substrate-reduced enzyme, non-productive Michaelis complex was formed. It is possible that this non-productive complex favored the univalent pathway of enzyme reoxidation (superoxide production) by increasing the midpoint redox potential of the molybdenum active site.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Cytochrome c-catalyzed oxidation of organic molecules by hydrogen peroxide.

Cytochrome c catalyzed the oxidation of various electron donors in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), including 2-2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AP), and luminol. With ferrocytochrome c, oxidation reactions were preceded by a lag phase corresponding to the H2O2-mediated oxidation of cytochrome c to the ferric state; no lag phase was observed with ferricytochrome c. However, brief preincubation of ferricytochrome c with H2O2 increased its catalytic activity prior to progressive inactivation and degradation. Superoxide (O2-) and hydroxyl radical (.OH) were not involved in this catalytic activity, since it was not sensitive to superoxide dismutase (SOD) or mannitol. Free iron released from the heme did not play a role in the oxidative reactions as concluded from the lack of effect of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Uric acid and tryptophan inhibited the oxidation of ABTS, stimulation of luminol chemiluminescence, and inactivation of cytochrome c. Our results are consistent with an initial activation of cytochrome c by H2O2 to a catalytically more active species in which a high oxidation state of an oxo-heme complex mediates the oxidative reactions. The lack of SOD effect on cytochrome c-catalyzed, H2O2-dependent luminol chemiluminescence supports a mechanism of chemiexcitation whereby a luminol endoperoxide is formed by direct reaction of H2O2 with an oxidized luminol molecule, either luminol radical or luminol diazoquinone.

Ampyrone↗

PubMed1990

Luminol chemiluminescence using xanthine and hypoxanthine as xanthine oxidase substrates.

Luminol chemiluminescence induced by the xanthine or hypoxanthine-O2-xanthine oxidase system is analyzed and compared. Characteristics of the light emission curves were examined considering the conventional reaction scheme for the oxidation of both substrates in the presence of xanthine oxidase. The ratio of the areas of the rate of superoxide production during substrate oxidation to uric acid. The O2-. to uric acid ratio for each substrate can account for differences in xanthine and hypoxanthine-supported light emission, since uric acid is a strong inhibitor of O2-.-dependent luminol chemiluminescence. These results are consistent with a free radical scavenging role for uric acid. A similar but weaker scavenging effect of xanthine may also contribute to the observed differences in chemiluminescent yields between both substrates.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Comparison of the effects of superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c on luminol chemiluminescence produced by xanthine oxidase-catalyzed reactions.

Superoxide dismutase (superoxide: superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) (SOD) and ferricytochrome c are used to check the effects on luminol chemiluminescence induced by a xanthine or hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase/oxygen system. Luminol chemiluminescence has been attributed to superoxide anion radical (O2.-) in this system. From kinetic studies on the light intensity vs. time curves it is demonstrated that addition of SOD into the system does not affect the mechanism of O2.- generation, whilst ferricytochrome c dramatically alters the time-course of the reaction. This is interpreted as the effect of cytochrome c redox cycling by reaction with H2O2, modifying oxy-radical generation in the reaction medium. Also, an alternative mechanism for luminol chemiexcitation is proposed under certain experimental conditions.

Catalysis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nitric oxide regulation of tissue free radical injury.

We have presented evidence from a broad range of chemical, cell biological, and in vivo studies showing that .NO can mediate tissue-protective reactions during oxidant stress, as well as toxic and tissue prooxidant effects. One predominant factor that has been identified which influences .NO being protective versus toxic is the relative rates of production and concentrations of .NO and the more "traditional" family of reactive oxygen species, including O2.-, H2O2, .OH, LO., LOO., and high valency complexes of iron. Also, since so many anti-neutrophil actions of .NO have been described, it is likely that .NO will serve a protective role in acute inflammatory reactions. One issue is certain--many new truths remain to be revealed, as we continue to develop our understanding of the toxicology of reactive oxygen- and nitrogen-containing species.

Animals↗