Biomedical subjects

K Valli

Publications and source records attributed to K Valli.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Recurrent dreams: Recurring threat simulations?

Zadra, Desjardins, and Marcotte (2006) have made a valuable contribution to the empirical testing of the Threat Simulation Theory (TST) (Revonsuo, 2000a) in recurrent dreams. For the most part, their results are in accordance with the theory, while some findings seem to conflict with the predictions of TST. In our commentary, we consider some alternative ways to interpret the results, and we conclude that many prominent features of most recurrent dreams seem to be manifestations of a threat simulation function, leading to repeated rehearsal of threat perception and avoidance, but a minority of recurrent dreams seem to have origins unrelated to threat simulation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1996

Mineralization of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid): characterization and phylogenetic identification of microbial strains.

Four bacterial strains that use picric acid as their sole carbon and energy source were isolated. Mineralization of 14C-UL-picric acid showed that up to 65% of the radioactivity was released as 14CO2. HPLC and UV/Vis spectral analyses indicated complete degradation of picric acid by these organisms. HPLC and LC/MS analyses showed transient formation of 2,4-dinitrophenol during picric acid degradation. Degradation of picric acid was concomitant with stoichiometric release of three moles of nitrite per mole of picric acid. The four picric acid degraders were identified as close relatives of Nocardioides simplex (ATCC 6946) based on their small subunit (16S) rRNA gene sequences.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Manganese(II) oxidation by manganese peroxidase from the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Kinetic mechanism and role of chelators.

Manganese oxidation by manganese peroxidase (MnP) was investigated. Stoichiometric, kinetic, and MnII binding studies demonstrated that MnP has a single manganese binding site near the heme, and two MnIII equivalents are formed at the expense of one H2O2 equivalent. Since each catalytic cycle step is irreversible, the data fit a peroxidase ping-pong mechanism rather than an ordered bi-bi ping-pong mechanism. MnIII-organic acid complexes oxidize terminal phenolic substrates in a second-order reaction. MnIII-lactate and -tartrate also react slowly with H2O2, with third-order kinetics. The latter slow reaction does not interfere with the rapid MnP oxidation of phenols. Oxalate and malonate are the only organic acid chelators secreted by the fungus in significant amounts. No relationship between stimulation of enzyme activity and chelator size was found, suggesting that the substrate is free MnII rather than a MnII-chelator complex. The enzyme competes with chelators for free MnII. Optimal chelators, such as malonate, facilitate MnIII dissociation from the enzyme, stabilize MnIII in aqueous solution, and have a relatively low MnII binding constant.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed1992

Degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene by the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Under ligninolytic conditions, the white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium mineralizes 2,4-dinitrotoluene (I). The pathway for the degradation of I was elucidated by the characterization of fungal metabolites and oxidation products generated by lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and crude intracellular cell extracts. The multistep pathway involves the initial reduction of I to yield 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene (II). II is oxidized by MnP to yield 4-nitro-1,2-benzoquinone (XII) and methanol. XII is then reduced to 4-nitro-1,2-hydroquinone (V), and the latter is methylated to 1,2-dimethoxy-4-nitrobenzene (X). 4-Nitro-1,2-hydroquinone (V) is also oxidized by MnP to yield nitrite and 2-hydroxybenzoquinone, which is reduced to form 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (VII). 1,2-Dimethoxy-4-nitrobenzene (X) is oxidized by LiP to yield nitrite, methanol, and 2-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (VI), which is reduced to form 2-methoxy-1,4-hydroquinone (IX). The latter is oxidized by LiP and MnP to 4-hydroxy-1,2-benzoquinone, which is reduced to 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (VII). The key intermediate 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene is ring cleaved by intracellular cell extracts to produce, after reduction, beta-ketoadipic acid. In this pathway, initial reduction of a nitroaromatic group generates the peroxidase substrate II. Oxidation of II releases methanol and generates 4-nitro-1,2-benzoquinone (XII), which is recycled by reduction and methylation reactions to regenerate intermediates which are in turn substrates for peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation leading to removal of the second nitro group. Thus, this unique pathway apparently results in the removal of both aromatic nitro groups before ring cleavage takes place.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed1992

Degradation of 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin by the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Under secondary metabolic conditions, the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium degraded 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (I). The pathway for the degradation of I was elucidated by the characterization of fungal metabolites and oxidation products generated by lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and crude intracellular cell-free extracts. The multistep pathway involves the degradation of I and subsequent intermediates by oxidation, reduction, and methylation reactions to yield the key intermediate 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (III). In the first step, the oxidative cleavage of the dioxin ring of I, catalyzed by LiP, generates 4-chloro-1,2-benzoquinone (V), 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (VIII), and chloride. The intermediate V is then reduced to 1-chloro-3,4-dihydroxybenzene (II), and the latter is methylated to form 1-chloro-3,4-dimethoxybenzene (VI). VI in turn is oxidized by LiP to generate chloride and 2-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (VII), which is reduced to 2-methoxy-1,4-dihydroxybenzene (IV). IV is oxidized by either LiP or MnP to generate 4-hydroxy-1,2-benzoquinone, which is reduced to 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (III). The other aromatic product generated by the initial LiP-catalyzed cleavage of I is 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (VIII). This intermediate is also generated during the LiP- or MnP-catalyzed oxidation of the intermediate chlorocatechol (II). VIII is also reduced to 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (III). The key intermediate III is ring cleaved by intracellular cell extracts to produce, after reduction, beta-ketoadipic acid. In this pathway, initial oxidative cleavage of both C-O-C bonds in I by LiP generates two quinone products, 4-chloro-1,2-benzoquinone (V) and 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (VIII). The former is recycled by reduction and methylation reactions to generate an intermediate which is also a substrate for peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation, leading to the removal of a second chlorine atom. This unique pathway results in the removal of both aromatic chlorines before aromatic ring cleavage takes place.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed1991

In vitro depolymerization of lignin by manganese peroxidase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Homogeneous manganese peroxidase catalyzed the in vitro partial depolymerization of four different 14C-labeled synthetic lignin preparations. Gel permeation profiles demonstrated significant depolymerization of 14C-sidechain-labeled syringyl lignin, a 14C-sidechain-labeled syringyl-guaiacyl copolymer (angiosperm lignin), and depolymerization of 14C-sidechain- and 14C-ring-labeled guaiacyl lignins (gymnosperm lignin). 3,5-Dimethoxy-1,4-benzo-quinone, 3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-hydroquinone, and syringylaldehyde were identified as degradation products of the syringyl and syringyl-guaiacyl lignins. These results suggest that manganese peroxidase plays a significant role in the depolymerization of lignin by Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed1991

Degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol by the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

Under secondary metabolic conditions the white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium mineralizes 2,4-dichlorophenol (I). The pathway for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (I) was elucidated by the characterization of fungal metabolites and of oxidation products generated by purified lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase. The multistep pathway involves the oxidative dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (I) to yield 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene (VIII). The intermediate 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene (VIII) is ring cleaved to produce, after subsequent oxidation, malonic acid. In the first step of the pathway, 2,4-dichlorophenol (I) is oxidized to 2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (II) by either manganese peroxidase or lignin peroxidase. 2-Chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (II) is then reduced to 2-chloro-1,4-hydroquinone (III), and the latter is methylated to form the lignin peroxidase substrate 2-chloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene (IV). 2-Chloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene (IV) is oxidized by lignin peroxidase to generate 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (V), which is reduced to 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-hydroquinone (VI). 2,5-Dimethoxy-1,4-hydroquinone (VI) is oxidized by either peroxidase to generate 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (VII) which is reduced to form the tetrahydroxy intermediate 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene (VIII). In this pathway, the substrate is oxidatively dechlorinated by lignin peroxidase or manganese peroxidase in a reaction which produces a p-quinone. The p-quinone intermediate is then recycled by reduction and methylation reactions to regenerate an intermediate which is again a substrate for peroxidase-catalyzed oxidative dechlorination. This unique pathway apparently results in the removal of both chlorine atoms before ring cleavage occurs.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed1990

Resonance Raman spectroscopic characterization of compound III of lignin peroxidase.

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra of several compounds III of lignin peroxidase (LiP) have been measured at 90 K with Soret and visible excitation wavelengths. The samples include LiPIIIa (or oxyLiP) prepared by oxygenation of the ferrous enzyme, LiPIIIb generated by reaction of the native ferric enzyme with superoxide, LiPIIIc prepared from native LiP plus H2O2 followed by removal of excess peroxide with catalase, and LiPIII* made by addition of excess H2O2 to the native enzyme. The RR spectra of these four products appear to be similar and, thus, indicate that the environments of these hexacoordinate, low-spin ferriheme species must also be very similar. Nonetheless, the Soret absorption band of LiPIII* is red-shifted by 5 nm from the 414-nm maximum common to LiPIIIa, -b, and -c [Wariishi, H., & Gold, M.H. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2070-2077]. Analysis of the iron-porphyrin vibrational frequencies indicates that the electronic structures for the various compounds III are consistent with an FeIIIO2.-formulation. The spectral changes observed between the oxygenated complex and the ferrous heme of lignin peroxidase are similar to those between oxymyoglobin and deoxymyoglobin. The contraction in the core sizes in compound III relative to the native peroxidase is analyzed and compared with that of other heme systems. EPR spectra confirm that the high-spin ferric form of the native enzyme, with an apparent g = 5.83, is converted into the EPR-silent LiPIII* upon addition of excess H2O2. Its magnetic behavior may be explained by anti-ferromagnetic coupling between the low-spin FeIII and the superoxide ligand.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Basidiomycota↗

PubMed1990

Oxidation of monomethoxylated aromatic compounds by lignin peroxidase: role of veratryl alcohol in lignin biodegradation.

Lignin peroxidase (LiP), an extracellular heme enzyme from the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, catalyzes the H2O2-dependent oxidation of a variety of nonphenolic lignin model compounds. The oxidation of monomethoxylated lignin model compounds, such as anisyl alcohol (AA), and the role of veratryl alcohol (VA) in LiP reactions were studied. AA oxidation reached a maximum at relatively low H2O2 concentrations, beyond which the extent of the reactions decreased. The presence of VA did not affect AA oxidation at low molar ratios of H2O2 to enzyme; however, at ratios above 100, the presence of VA abolished the decrease in AA oxidation. Addition of stoichiometric amounts of AA to LiP compound II (LiPII) resulted in its reduction to the native enzyme at rates that were significantly faster than the spontaneous rate of reduction, indicating that AA and other monomethoxylated aromatics are directly oxidized by LiP, albeit slowly. Under steady-state conditions in the presence of excess H2O2 and VA, a visible spectrum for LiPII was obtained. In contrast, under steady-state conditions in the presence of AA a visible spectrum was obtained for LiPIII*, a noncovalent complex of LiPIII and H2O2. AA competitively inhibited the oxidation of VA by LiP; the Ki for AA inhibition was 32 microM. Addition of VA to LiPIII* resulted in its conversion to the native enzyme. In contrast, AA did not convert LiPIII* to the native enzyme; instead, LiPIII* was bleached in the presence of AA. Thus, AA does not protect LiP from inactivation by H2O2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anisoles↗

PubMed1989

Thiol-mediated oxidation of nonphenolic lignin model compounds by manganese peroxidase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

In the presence of MnII, H2O2, and glutathione (GSH), manganese peroxidase oxidized veratryl alcohol (I) to veratraldehyde (IV). Anisyl alcohol (II) and benzyl alcohol (III) were also oxidized by this system to their corresponding aldehydes (V and VI). In the presence of GSH, chemically prepared MnIII or gamma-irradiation also catalyzed the oxidation of I, II, and III to IV, V, and VI, respectively. GSH and dithiothreitol rapidly reduced MnIII to MnII in the absence of aromatic substrates and the dithiothreitol was oxidized to its disulfide (4,5-dihydroxyl-1,2-dithiane). These results indicate that the thiol is oxidized by enzyme-generated MnIII to a thiyl radical. The latter abstracts a hydrogen from the substrate, forming a benzylic radical which reacts with another thiyl radical to yield an intermediate which decomposes to the benzaldehyde product. In the presence of MnII, GSH, and H2O2, manganese peroxidase also oxidized 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-2-(4'-hydroxymethyl-2'-methoxyphenoxy)- 1,3-dihydroxypropane (XII) to yield vanillyl alcohol (VII), vanillin (VIII), 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dihydroxypropane (XVI), 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-oxo-3-hydroxypropane (XIX), and several C alpha oxidized dimeric products. Abstraction of the C alpha (A ring) hydrogen of the dimer (XII) yields a benzylic radical, leading to C beta oxygen ether cleavage. The resultant intermediates yield the ketone (XIX) and vanillyl alcohol (VII) or vanillin (VIII). Alternatively, benzylic radical formation at the C' alpha position (B ring) leads to radical cleavage, yielding a quinone methide and a C beta radical, which yield vanillin and the 1,3-diol (XVI), respectively. In these reactions, MnIII oxidizes a thiol to a thiyl radical which subsequently abstracts a hydrogen from the substrate to form a benzylic radical. The latter undergoes nonenzymatic reactions to yield the final products.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed1981

A double-blind clinical investigation of cis(Z)-clopenthixol and clopenthixol in chronic schizophrenic patients.

The therapeutic effect of the neuroleptic cis(Z)-clopenthixol has been compared with that of clopenthixol in mainly chronic schizophrenic patients in a double-blind 8-week trial. Forty-nine of the 54 patients in the trial received clopenthixol in the pre-trial period. Ratings with CGI and a single side effects form were done at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. The registration of therapeutic effect at week 8 indicated a symptomatological status quo in both groups of patients while there was a tendency of slightly less interference by cis(Z)-clopenthixol with patient's functioning than by clopenthixol. The ratio of therapeutically equipotent cis(Z)-clopenthixol/clopenthixol doses was found to be 1:2. It is suggested that long-term treatment with clopenthixol advantageously may be replaced by cis(Z)-clopenthixol.

Adult↗