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Reduction in eumelanin by the activation of glutathione reductase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase after exposure to a depigmenting chemical.

Topical application of 4-tertiary butyl catechol (TBC) causes vitiligo in the skin of man and animals, and previous electron microscopic studies showed pheomelanin formation in the affected areas. In the present study, we investigated changes of enzyme activities, eumelanin content and amount of sulfur in tissue cultured human melanoma cells exposed to the depigmenting chemical. TBC enhanced glutathione reductase activity without changing the eumelanin content by 24 hr after exposure and subsequently (by 42 hr) increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and sulfur content in the cells with a decrease in eumelanin content. It is suggested that this chemical alters the types of melanin formed by modulation of these enzyme activities.

Catechols↗

The role of glutathione reductase in the cytotoxicity of chromium (VI) in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Chromium (VI) is an environmental and occupational carcinogen, and it is accepted that intracellular reduction is necessary for DNA damage and cytotoxicity. We have investigated the interaction of Cr(VI) with hepatocytes in vitro to determine the contribution of various hepatic enzymes to the reduction of Cr(VI). Cr(VI) caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability and intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) levels between 100 and 500 microM within 3 h exposure of hepatocytes. Both DT-diaphorase and cytochrome P450 play only a minor role in detoxifying Cr(VI) and/or its metabolites. (GSH) appears to act as a non-enzymatic reductant, reducing Cr(VI) to a toxic form. The evidence for this is two-fold. Firstly, GSH was depleted during the metabolism of Cr(VI) and, secondly, pretreatment of the cells with diethylmaleate to deplete GSH levels, partially protected the cells from Cr(VI) toxicity. Glutathione reductase appears to play an important role in the enzymatic reduction of Cr(VI) as inhibition of this enzyme by carmustine (BCNU) markedly protected the cells from cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

N-terminal domain of the dual-targeted pea glutathione reductase signal peptide controls organellar targeting efficiency.

Import of nuclear-encoded proteins into mitochondria and chloroplasts is generally organelle specific and its specificity depends on the N-terminal signal peptide. Yet, a group of proteins known as dual-targeted proteins have a targeting peptide capable of leading the mature protein to both organelles. We have investigated the domain structure of the dual-targeted pea glutathione reductase (GR) signal peptide by using N-terminal truncations. A mutant of the GR precursor (pGR) starting with the second methionine residue of the targeting peptide, pGRdelta2-4, directed import into both organelles, negating the possibility that dual import was controlled by the nature of the N terminus. The deletion of the 30 N-terminal residues (pGRdelta2-30) inhibited import efficiency into chloroplasts substantially and almost completely into mitochondria, whereas the removal of only 16 N-terminal amino acid residues (pGRdelta2-16) resulted in the strongly stimulated mitochondrial import without significantly affecting chloroplast import. Furthermore, N-terminal truncations of the signal peptide (pGRdelta2-16 and pGRdelta2-30) greatly stimulated the mitochondrial processing activity measured with the isolated processing peptidase. These results suggest a domain structure for the dual-targeting peptide of pGR and the existence of domains controlling organellar import efficiency therein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Simultaneous targeting of pea glutathione reductase and of a bacterial fusion protein to chloroplasts and mitochondria in transgenic tobacco.

N-terminal presequences from cDNAs encoding mitochondrion- or chloroplast-specific proteins are able, with variable efficiencies, to target preproteins to their respective organelles. In the few cases studied in which a nuclear-encoded protein is found in both these organelles, each compartment-specific isoform is encoded by a separate gene. Glutathione reductase (GR) from peas is encoded by a single nuclear gene and yet GR is distributed between chloroplasts, mitochondria and the cytosol. Previous sequence analysis of a full-length GR cDNA revealed the presence of a putative plastid transit peptide. However, expression of this cDNA in transgenic tobacco resulted in substantially elevated GR activities in both chloroplasts and mitochondria in four independent lines examined. There was no effect on expression of the endogenous tobacco GR genes. Replacement of the GR presequence with presequences from pea rbcS (chloroplast) and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Mn-SOD (mitochondrion) resulted in targeting of GR only into the appropriate organelle. Expression of a fusion protein between the amino terminal region of GR and phosphinothricin acetyl transferase resulted in targeting of the foreign protein to chloroplasts and mitochondria. Thus, the pea GR presequence is capable of co-targeting this enzyme or a foreign protein to chloroplasts and mitochondria in vivo. This is the first example of co-targeting by a higher plant preprotein.

Acetyltransferases↗

Growth, erythrocyte glutathione reductase and liver flavin as indicators of riboflavin status in turkey poults.

1. Turkey poults were fed on an isolated soya protein diet supplemented with 0, 2, 4 or 8 mg riboflavin/kg between 7 and 28 d of age. Maximum body weight was attained with the 4 and 8 mg diets, and poults fed on the supplemented diet did not survive until 21 d of age. The erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRAC) of the poults was inversely related to dietary riboflavin at all ages. At 28 d of age the values for EGRAC of poults fed on the 2, 4 and 8 mg diets were 2.25, 1.59 and 1.25 respectively; at 31 d, following a single oral dose of 10 mg riboflavin administered on day 28, the same poults had EGRAC values of 1.36, 1.17 and 1.26. 2. In a second experiment, poults were fed on diets supplemented with 0, 2, 4, 8 or 12 mg riboflavin/kg. Maximum body weight was attained with the 4, 8 and 12 mg diets. At 28 d of age the EGRAC values for the 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 mg treatments were 2.36, 2.34, 1.59, 1.28 and 1.18 respectively. The concentration of flavin in the liver was not related to riboflavin intake, whereas total flavin in the liver was positively related, being on average 94, 206, 400, 440 and 413 micrograms flavin/liver for the 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 mg treatments respectively. 3. It is concluded that EGRAC is a sensitive indicator of riboflavin status in the turkey poult and that an EGRAC of 1.6 indicates a marginal riboflavin status. It is also concluded that liver total flavin reflects merely the effect of riboflavin on growth and liver size.

Animals↗

Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities are partially responsible for determining the susceptibility of cells to oxidative stress.

Different cell types response differently to toxic insult. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that the C6 glioma cell is more sensitive to Cd induced oxidative stress than the HepG2 cells. To explain the difference between the two cell lines in their response to oxidative stress, it was hypothesized that the activity of glutathione metabolizing enzymes may be different. The objective of this study is to determine the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) in the two cell lines and to explain how these differences may affect the susceptibility of the two cells to oxidative stress. In the HepG2 cells, the activity of GPx was 2.24+/-0.18 micromol/mg protein/min and that for GR was 5.63+/-0.58 micromol/mg protein/min. For the C6 glioma cells, GPx and GR activities were 1.29+/-0.14 and 1.07+/-0.11 micromol/mg protein/min, respectively. Using the kinetic equilibrium: K(eq)=([GSSG]x[NADPH]x[H(+)])/([GSH](2)x[NADP(+)]), and the GSH/GSSG previously published (HepG2: 2.6 and C6 glioma: 3.6), resting NADPH/NADP(+) for the cell lines were calculated. The results showed that NADPH/NADP(+) for HepG2 cells (17.8) is higher than that in the C6 glioma cells (10.8). These data supported the notion that the reducing power (NADPH/NADP(+)) in the HepG2 cells is higher than that in the C6 glioma cell and thus, the later would be more susceptible to oxidative stress. The results also suggested that besides GSH/GSSG, the activities of GPx and GR are important in predicting tissue redox state. Applying this hypothesis to animal tissues, the ratio of the activities of the two enzymes in mouse liver, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum were measured. It was demonstrated that the activities of GPx and GR were different in the different tissues studied. The possible correlation between enzymatic activities and the redox state in the different tissues were discussed.

Animals↗

Degradation of malathion and phenthoate by glutathione reductase in wheat germ.

Residual malathion in wheat was estimated at a lower value when analysis was performed by extraction with acetone after addition of water to swell the wheat, according to the Japanese Bulletin Method. The supernatant of the wheat homogenate showed degradation not only of malathion but also of phenthoate. Malathion and phenthoate were not degraded by the boiled supernatant of the wheat homogenate. It was presumed for this reason that glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6. 4.2) in the wheat degraded malathion. The following results were obtained: (1) GR originating in wheat could degrade malathion and phenthoate. (2) The degradation of malathion by the GR was inhibited by excessive GSSG. (3) There was a high correlation between GR activity and malathion degradation activity of the supernatant of wheat homogenates. It is likely that GR acted on the specific structure of malathion and phenthoate, the S=P-S bond, and the blanch structure bonding with the sulfur atom. Following the above, extraction with acetone after addition of water (the Japanese Bulletin Method) should be replaced by extraction with pure organic solvent and without addition of water for swelling.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Chromate tolerance caused by reduced hydroxyl radical production and decreased glutathione reductase activity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The stable Cr(VI)-tolerant chr1-66T mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which carries one simple gene mutation responsible for Cr(VI) tolerance, accumulated and reduced the chromate anion (CrO(4)(2-)) significantly more slowly than did its parental strain 6chr(+). The mutant chr1-66T proved to be sensitive to oxidative stressors such as H(2)O(2), menadione, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and Cd(2+). Both the Cr(VI) tolerance and the oxidative stress sensitivity were attributed to a decreased specific glutathione reductase activity. These effects were also enhanced with a decrease in the specific mitochondrial Mn-SOD activity.

Chromates↗

Glutathione reductase inhibition and methylated arsenic distribution in Cd1 mice brain and liver.

Inorganic arsenic exposure via drinking water has been associated with cancer and serious injury in various internal organs, as well as with peripheral neuropathy and diverse effects in the nervous system. Alterations in memory and attention processes have been reported in exposed children, whereas adults acutely exposed to high amounts of inorganic arsenic showed impairments in learning, memory, and concentration. Glutathione (GSH) is extensively involved in the metabolism of inorganic arsenic, and both arsenite and its methylated metabolites have been shown to be potent inhibitors of glutathione reductase (GR) in vitro. Brain would be more susceptible to GR inhibition because of the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase reported in this tissue. To investigate whether GR inhibition could be documented in vivo, we determined the activity and levels of GR in brain as well as in liver, the main organ of arsenic metabolism in mice exposed to 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg/day of sodium arsenite over a period of 9 days. In contrast to what has been observed in vitro, significant inhibition of the expression and activity of GR was observed only at the highest concentration used (10 mg/kg/day) in both organs. Although the disposition of arsenicals was higher in liver, significant amounts of inorganic and methylated arsenic forms were determined in the brain of exposed animals. The formation of monomethylarsenic (MMA) and dimethylarsenic (DMA) metabolites in the brain was confirmed by incubating brain slices for 24, 48, and 72 h with sodium arsenite.

Animals↗

Phenobarbital-induced cytoprotective mechanisms in menadione metabolism: the role of glutathione reductase and DT-diaphorase.

1. Treatment with N,N-bis (2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU) (80 microM) led to decreases in cell viability in both naive and sodium phenobarbital (PB) induced hepatocytes. 2. Dicumarol (30 microM) selectively increased the cytotoxicity of menadione in hepatocytes isolated from naive vs PB-pretreated rats. 3. Inclusion of both BCNU and dicumarol to the incubation medium abolished the characteristic concentration-response curves of the hepatocytes for menadione. 4. A greater proportion of menadione was metabolized by DT-diaphorase in the hepatocytes isolated from PB-pretreated rats. 5. The role of glutathione reductase vs DT-diaphorase in mitigating menadione-cytotoxicity in the naive vs PB-induced hepatocyte is discussed.

Animals↗

Low red blood cell glutathione reductase and pyridoxine phosphate oxidase activities not related to dietary riboflavin: selection by malaria?

This study was designed to confirm that low dietary riboflavin does not contribute to the flavin-deficient red blood cells commonly found in subjects in Ferrara Province, northern Italy. In this area it is primarily an inherited characteristic believed to have been selected for by malaria, which was endemic from the 12th century. In parallel with assessment of daily riboflavin intake (DRI), flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glutathione reductase (EGR) and flavin mononucleotide-dependent pyridoxine phosphate oxidase (PPO) were measured in beta-thalassemic heterozygotes, their normal relatives, and normal spouses (representative of the normal population). In all of these groups there is a high incidence of deficiency of these flavin enzymes. We found that the majority had an adequate riboflavin intake and there was no significant correlation of EGR and PPO activities with DRI. Thus, interpretation of low EGR activity is discussed with reference to studies of EGR done to detect nutritional riboflavin deficiency in countries where there is malnutrition and endemic malaria.

Adult↗

Inhibition of glutathione reductase by isoproterenol oxidation products.

Oxidative stress induced by catecholamines is a well recognized toxic event. This effect has been extensively observed in the heart, where high levels of catecholamines cause enzyme inhibition, lipid peroxidation, energy depletion and myocardial necrosis. Catecholamines can be converted into o-quinones and undergo cyclization into aminochromes. This process can occur enzymatically or through autoxidation and involves the formation of free radicals. Aminochromes are highly reactive molecules that can cause oxidation of protein sulfhydryl groups and deamination catalysis, among other deleterious effects; in addition, inhibition of some enzymes has been also reported. We have studied the effects of isoproterenol oxidation products (IOP) on glutathione reductase (GR) activity in vitro. Isoproterenol (ISO) autoxidation was conducted at 37 degrees C in the dark, for 4 h at pH 7.0 and this process was monitored by UV spectrophotometry at both 340 and 490nm. Addition of the autoxidized solution to GR in the presence of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and NADPH showed that IOP inhibits GR in a competitive mode and that this effect increases during the 4 h incubation period. This inhibitory effect of IOP was partially prevented by the addition of reduced glutathione (GSH), L-cysteine and ascorbic acid to the reaction mixtures.

Antioxidants↗

Glutathione and N-acetylcysteine conjugates of 2-chloroethyl isocyanate. Identification as metabolites of N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea in the rat and inhibitory properties toward glutathione reductase in vitro.

The antitumor agent N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU) is known to be unstable in aqueous solution, and to degrade spontaneously to reactive alkylating and carbamoylating intermediates. Whereas the alkylating component is believed to be responsible for the antitumor effects of this drug, it has been speculated that the carbamoylating species 2-chloroethyl isocyanate (CEIC) may mediate some of the serious adverse effects of BCNU therapy. In order to determine whether CEIC is released from BCNU in vivo, rats were administered an ip injection of the drug and a targeted search was made by ionspray LC-MS/MS techniques for the glutathione (GSH) conjugate of CEIC in bile and for the corresponding N-acetylcysteine (NAC) adduct in urine. Both of these S-linked conjugates were identified on the basis of their HPLC and MS/MS characteristics, which were identical to those of the respective reference compounds prepared by synthesis. Quantitative studies indicated that, following an ip dose of BCNU (24 mg kg-1), excretion of the GSH conjugate in bile over 4 h accounted for 3.90 +/- 0.64% of the administered dose, while excretion of the mercapturic acid derivative in urine over 24 h accounted for a further 18.1 +/- 3.3% (n = 4). Experiments conducted in vitro demonstrated that the S-linked conjugates of CEIC were of limited stability under simulated physiological conditions, decomposing to generate free GSH and NAC. In addition, both adducts inhibited rat liver glutathione reductase in vitro, when they were essentially equipotent to BCNU.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcysteine↗

Chromate sensitivity in fission yeast is caused by increased glutathione reductase activity and peroxide overproduction.

The Cr(VI)-sensitive mutant chr-51S of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe accumulated chromate (CrO(4) (2-)) and reduced Cr(V) to much greater extent, than did its parental strain 6 chr(+). Sublethal doses of K(2)Cr(2)O(7) did not induce any adaptive stress response, while H(2)O(2) or menadione pretreatment proved protective against the cell injuries caused by Cr(VI). The intracellular GSH concentration in chr-51S cells was approximately half of that for the 6 chr(+). Moreover, the glutathione disulfide reducing capacity of chr-51S was characterized by significantly increased glutathione reductase (GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities. These data strongly suggested that, instead of GSH, the NADPH/GR system was the major one-electron Cr(VI) reductant in vivo. The increased Cr(V) reduction in chr-51S mutant was accompanied by high intracellular superoxide and peroxide concentrations, required for formation of the hydroxyl radical ((*)OH). The decreased intracellular GSH levels and the Cr(VI)-sensitive phenotype of the chr-51S cells indicates that GSH might act effectively against chromate by scavenging (*)OH.

Chromium↗

Inhibition of yeast glutathione reductase by trehalose: possible implications in yeast survival and recovery from stress.

Accumulation of trehalose has been implicated in the tolerance of yeast cells to several forms of stress, including heat-shock and high ethanol levels. However, yeast lacking trehalase, the enzyme that degrades trehalose, exhibit poor survival after exposure to stress conditions. This suggests that optimal cell viability also depends on the capacity to rapidly degrade the high levels of trehalose that build up under stress. Here, we initially examined the effects of trehalose on the activity of an important antioxidant enzyme, glutathione reductase (GR), from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. At 25 degrees C, GR was inhibited by trehalose in a dose-dependent manner, with 70% inhibition at 1.5M trehalose. The inhibition was practically abolished at 40 degrees C, a temperature that induces a physiological response of trehalose accumulation in yeast. The inhibition of GR by trehalose was additive to the inhibition caused by ethanol, indicating that enzyme function is drastically affected upon ethanol-induced stress. Moreover, two other yeast enzymes, cytosolic pyrophosphatase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, showed temperature dependences on inhibition by trehalose that were similar to the temperature dependence of GR inhibition. These results are discussed in terms of the apparent paradox represented by the induction of enzymes involved in both synthesis and degradation of trehalose under stress, and suggest that the persistence of high levels of trehalose after recovery from stress could lead to the inactivation of important yeast enzymes.

Betaine↗

Riboflavin status of the elderly: dietary intake and FAD-stimulating effect on erythrocyte glutathione reductase coefficients.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between riboflavin intake and its biochemical status in elderly subjects (> or = 65 years). SUBJECTS: Thirty males and 30 females were randomly selected from a larger sample of free-living elderly residents of Edmonton, Canada. Subjects were contacted through a seniors' service organization and the Medical Officer of Health. Any subject using vitamin supplements or alcohol other than the occasional drink was excluded from the study. DESIGN: Dietary intake was estimated using a 3-nonconsecutive-day food record. Biochemical status was assessed by measuring the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC), which is a functional test indicative of metabolic availability of riboflavin. RESULTS: Average daily riboflavin intake of the study population was above the recommended requirement (0.5 mg/1000 kcal). According to the frequently used criterion that an EGRAC value > or = 1.20 is indicative of inadequate riboflavin status, 23% of the males and 7% of the females were classified as being deficient in the vitamin. However, based on the recently suggested normal values (1.30-1.4) for EGRAC, it appeared that all male subjects but one had adequate riboflavin status. CONCLUSION: The criteria used for EGRAC values may affect the interpretation of riboflavin status. It is therefore important that guidelines for EGRAC are standardized for more reliable interpretations.

Aged↗

The effect of a novel taurine nitrosourea, 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-[2-(dimethylaminosulfonyl)ethyl]-1-nitrosour ea (TCNU) on cytotoxicity, DNA crosslinking and glutathione reductase in lung carcinoma cell lines.

A novel nitrosourea, 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-[2-(dimethylaminosulfonyl)ethyl]-1-nitrosourea (TCNU) has been investigated with respect to cytotoxic mechanisms in rat and human cell lines which either possess (Mer+) or lack (Mer-) 0(6)-alkylguanine transferase activity. TCNU produced significantly greater cytotoxicity in the Mer- cells (Walker 256 rat breast carcinoma resistant to nitrogen mustards; human lung carcinoma A427) than in the Mer+ cells (Walker 256 wild-type; human lung carcinoma A594). This correlated with results generated by alkaline elution studies which showed that TCNU caused DNA interstrand crosslinks in A427 but not in A549 cells. Inhibition of glutathione reductase activity by TCNU demonstrated that in carbamoylating activity the drug was intermediate between chlorozotocin and 1,(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) in both A427 and A549 cells. These data suggest that the presence of taurine in the drug structure does little to alter the cytotoxicity or the alkylating or carbamoylating properties of TCNU, and that any clinical advantages with TCNU will be the consequence of other factors.

Animals↗

Genetic and other influences on red-cell flavin enzymes, pyridoxine phosphate oxidase and glutathione reductase in families with beta-thalassaemia.

In 18 beta-thalassaemia families from the Ferrara area the incidence of an inherited low flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent pyridoxine phosphate (PNP) oxidase activity, a sensitive indicator of red-cell FMN deficiency, is higher in related members in these families than in the unrelated spouses and controls subjects without family history of thalassaemia. This suggests slower red-cell riboflavin metabolism in thalassaemia families, which may have resulted from selection in combination with thalassaemia by malaria. However, there was a markedly higher incidence of red-cell flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) deficiency in thalassaemia heterozygotes than in their normal relatives. This was indicated by higher stimulation of FAD-dependent glutathione reductase (GR) activity by FAD and lower GR activity per red cell, and suggests a marked additive effect by thalassaemia on the red cell FAD deficiency that results from the inherited slow riboflavin metabolism. There is evidence that diversion of FAD to other FAD-dependent enzymes might be an important factor.

Adult↗