Identification of an N-hydroxyguanidine reducing activity of xanthine oxidase

A guanoxabenz [1-(2,6-dichlorobenzylideneamino)-3-hydroxyguanidine; an N-hydroxyguanidine] reducing enzymatic activity of rat spleen cytosol was investigated by means of protein purification and N-terminal amino acid sequencing, the reducing activity was shown to reside in xanthine oxidase. The action of the enzyme on guanoxabenz resulted in the formation of guanabenz [1-(2,6-dichlorobenzylideneamino) -3-guanidine]; the product formation could be monitored by HPLC and its identity was confirmed by NMR analysis. The reduction of guanoxabenz required xanthine or NADH as reducing substrates, while the process could be blocked by allopurinol, a selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. By using bovine milk xanthine oxidase, the guanoxabenz reducing activity of the enzyme was also verified. We conclude that guanoxabenz is a novel electron acceptor structure for xanthine oxidase.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Prediction of indirect interactions in proteins

BACKGROUND: Both direct and indirect interactions determine molecular recognition of ligands by proteins. Indirect interactions can be defined as effects on recognition controlled from distant sites in the proteins, e.g. by changes in protein conformation and mobility, whereas direct interactions occur in close proximity of the protein's amino acids and the ligand. Molecular recognition is traditionally studied using three-dimensional methods, but with such techniques it is difficult to predict the effects caused by mutational changes of amino acids located far away from the ligand-binding site. We recently developed an approach, proteochemometrics, to the study of molecular recognition that models the chemical effects involved in the recognition of ligands by proteins using statistical sampling and mathematical modelling. RESULTS: A proteochemometric model was built, based on a statistically designed protein library's (melanocortin receptors') interaction with three peptides and used to predict which amino acids and sequence fragments that are involved in direct and indirect ligand interactions. The model predictions were confirmed by directed mutagenesis. The predicted presumed direct interactions were in good agreement with previous three-dimensional studies of ligand recognition. However, in addition the model could also correctly predict the location of indirect effects on ligand recognition arising from distant sites in the receptors, something that three-dimensional modelling could not afford. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate experimentally that proteochemometric modelling can be used with high accuracy to predict the site of origin of direct and indirect effects on ligand recognitions by proteins

Reduced natriuretic response to acute sodium loading in COMT Gene deleted mice

BACKGROUND: The intrarenal natriuretic hormone dopamine (DA) is metabolised by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO). Inhibition of COMT, as opposed to MAO, results in a potent natriuretic response in the rat. The present study in anaesthetized homozygous and heterozygous COMT gene deleted mice attempted to further elucidate the importance of COMT in renal DA and sodium handling. After acute intravenous isotonic sodium loading, renal function was followed. RESULTS: COMT activity in heterozygous mice was about half of that in wild type mice and was zero in the homozygous mice. MAO activity did not differ between the genotypes. Urinary sodium excretion increased 10-fold after sodium loading in wild type mice. In heterozygous and homozygous mice, the natriuretic effects of sodium loading were only 29 % and 39 %, respectively, of that in wild type mice. Arterial pressure and glomerular filtration rate did not differ between genotypes. Baseline norepinephrine and DA excretions in urine were elevated in the homozygous, but not in heterozygous, COMT gene deleted mice. Urinary DA excretion increased after isotonic sodium loading in the wild type mice but not in the COMT gene deleted mice. CONCLUSIONS: Mice with reduced or absent COMT activity have altered metabolism of catecholamines and are unable to increase renal DA activity and produce normal natriuresis in response to acute sodium loading. The results support the hypothesis that COMT has an important role in the DA-mediated regulation of renal sodium excretion

A new, simple and robust radioligand binding method used to determine kinetic off-rate constants for unlabeled ligands. Application at alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors

Kinetic on and off rate constants for many receptor ligands are difficult to determine with regular radioligand binding technique since only few of the ligands are available in labeled form. Here we developed a new and simple radioligand binding method for determining the kinetic off-rate constant for unlabeled ligands, using whole cells expressing alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors. The new method involves pre-incubation with unlabeled ligand, centrifugation of microtiter plates in order to adhere the cells to the bottom surface, and then upside-down centrifugation of the plates for few seconds to wash away the non-bound fraction of the pre-incubated ligand. The final on-reaction assay for the radioligand is then started by quick addition of a relatively fast-associating radioligand to the cells. The curve obtained is defined by a fairly simple mathematical formula that reflects the simultaneous dissociation of pre-incubated ligand and association of the radioligand. The method proved to produce highly reproducible results in determining the k(off) constants for various unlabeled ligands. The results show that the alpha(2C)-selectivity of MK912 depends mainly on a very slow off-rate at the alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor subtype. Regarding the markedly alpha(2C)- over alpha(2A)-selective compound spiroxatrine, its much faster on-rate at alpha(2C)- than alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors explains much of its exceptional alpha(2C)-selectivity. Several new techniques for determining the kinetic component of ligand-receptor interactions at molecular level are currently developing. As a reference, based on standard radioligand binding techniques, the present study describes a simple and robust experimental and mathematical procedure for determining k(off) constants of unlabeled drugs

BMC Bioinformatics Research article Prediction of indirect interactions in proteins

Background: Both direct and indirect interactions determine molecular recognition of ligands by proteins. Indirect interactions can be defined as effects on recognition controlled from distant sites in the proteins, e.g. by changes in protein conformation and mobility, whereas direct interactions occur in close proximity of the protein's amino acids and the ligand. Molecular recognition is traditionally studied using three-dimensional methods, but with such techniques it is difficult to predict the effects caused by mutational changes of amino acids located far away from the ligandbinding site. We recently developed an approach, proteochemometrics, to the study of molecular recognition that models the chemical effects involved in the recognition of ligands by proteins using statistical sampling and mathematical modelling. Results: A proteochemometric model was built, based on a statistically designed protein library's (melanocortin receptors') interaction with three peptides and used to predict which amino acids and sequence fragments that are involved in direct and indirect ligand interactions. The model predictions were confirmed by directed mutagenesis. The predicted presumed direct interactions were in good agreement with previous three-dimensional studies of ligand recognition. However

Reduced natriuretic response to acute sodium loading in COMT Gene deleted mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The intrarenal natriuretic hormone dopamine (DA) is metabolised by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO). Inhibition of COMT, as opposed to MAO, results in a potent natriuretic response in the rat. The present study in anaesthetized homozygous and heterozygous COMT gene deleted mice attempted to further elucidate the importance of COMT in renal DA and sodium handling. After acute intravenous isotonic sodium loading, renal function was followed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>COMT activity in heterozygous mice was about half of that in wild type mice and was zero in the homozygous mice. MAO activity did not differ between the genotypes. Urinary sodium excretion increased 10-fold after sodium loading in wild type mice. In heterozygous and homozygous mice, the natriuretic effects of sodium loading were only 29 % and 39 %, respectively, of that in wild type mice. Arterial pressure and glomerular filtration rate did not differ between genotypes. Baseline norepinephrine and DA excretions in urine were elevated in the homozygous, but not in heterozygous, COMT gene deleted mice. Urinary DA excretion increased after isotonic sodium loading in the wild type mice but not in the COMT gene deleted mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Mice with reduced or absent COMT activity have altered metabolism of catecholamines and are unable to increase renal DA activity and produce normal natriuresis in response to acute sodium loading. The results support the hypothesis that COMT has an important role in the DA-mediated regulation of renal sodium excretion.</p