Nanoparticulate transport of oximes over an in vitro blood-brain barrier model

Background

Due to the use of organophosphates (OP) as pesticides and the availability of OP-type nerve agents, an effective medical treatment for OP poisonings is still a challenging problem. The acute toxicity of an OP poisoning is mainly due to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNS). This results in an increase in the synaptic concentration of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, overstimulation of cholinergic receptors and disorder of numerous body functions up to death. The standard treatment of OP poisoning includes a combination of a muscarinic antagonist and an AChE reactivator (oxime). However, these oximes can not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) sufficiently. Therefore, new strategies are needed to transport oximes over the BBB.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we combined different oximes (obidoxime dichloride and two different HI 6 salts, HI 6 dichloride monohydrate and HI 6 dimethanesulfonate) with human serum albumin nanoparticles and could show an oxime transport over an in vitro BBB model. In general, the nanoparticulate transported oximes achieved a better reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE than free oximes.

Conclusions/Significance

With these nanoparticles, for the first time, a tool exists that could enable a transport of oximes over the BBB. This is very important for survival after severe OP intoxication. Therefore, these nanoparticulate formulations are promising formulations for the treatment of the peripheral and the CNS after OP poisoning.

[How the various substrates activate the process of enzymatic hydrolysis by different cholinesterases]

Kinetic analysis of the activating effect of substrate on the cholinesterase catalysis is performed. There are determined values of coefficient of activation A in the pH zone 5.0-7.5 for the process of hydrolysis of acetylcholine, indophenylacetate (IPA), and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenylacetate (DIPA) by cholinesterase (ChE) of horse blood serum, as well as of IPA and DIPA by ChE of optical ganglia of the Pacific squid Todarodes pacificus. The phenomenon of activation has not been revealed at hydrolysis of phenylacetate by the horse blood serum ChE. The conclusion is made that the cause of the activating effect of substrate on the process of enzymatic hydrolysis by ChEs of different origin is the presence of the onium grouping in the structure of substrates.

Mutagenesis of nucleophilic residues near the orthosteric binding pocket of M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors: effect on the binding of nitrogen mustard analogs of acetylcholine and McN-A-343

Investigating how a test drug alters the reaction of a site-directed electrophile with a receptor is a powerful method for determining whether the drug acts competitively or allosterically, provided that the binding site of the electrophile is known. In this study, therefore, we mutated nucleophilic residues near and within the orthosteric pockets of M(1) and M(2) muscarinic receptors to identify where acetylcholine mustard and 4-[(2-bromoethyl)methyl-amino]-2-butynyl-N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamate (BR384) bind covalently. BR384 is the nitrogen mustard analog of [4-[[N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]oxy]-2-butynyl]trimethylammonium chloride (McN-A-343). Mutation of the highly conserved aspartic acid in M(1) (Asp105) and M(2) (Asp103) receptors to asparagine largely prevented receptor alkylation by acetylcholine mustard, although modest alkylation still occurred at M(2) D103N at high concentrations of the mustard. Receptor alkylation by BR384 was also greatly inhibited in the M(1) D105N mutant, but some alkylation still occurred at high concentrations of the compound. In contrast, BR384 rapidly alkylated the M(2) D103N mutant. Its affinity was reduced to one tenth, however. The alkylation of M(2) D103N by BR384 was competitively inhibited by N-methylscopolamine and allosterically inhibited by gallamine. Mutation of a variety of other nucleophilic residues, some in combination with D103N, had little effect on M(2) receptor alkylation by BR384. Our results suggest that BR384 alkylates at least one residue other than the conserved aspartic acid at the ligand-binding site of M(1) and M(2) receptors. This additional residue seems to be located within or near the orthosteric-binding pocket and is not part of the allosteric site for gallamine.

Rapid and label-free screening of enzyme inhibitors using segmented flow electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is an attractive analytical tool for high-throughput screening because of its rapid scan time and ability to detect compounds without need for labels. Impediments to the use of ESI-MS for screening have been the relatively large sample consumed and slow sample introduction rates associated with commonly used flow injection analysis. We have previously shown that by segmenting nanoliter plugs of sample with air, an array of discrete samples can be delivered to a platinum-coated emitter tip for ESI-MS analysis with throughput as high as 0.8 Hz and carry-over between samples less than 0.1%. This method was applied to screening for inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase as a demonstration of the potential of segmented flow ESI-MS for such applications. Each enzyme assay consumed 10 nL of sample. At 1 microL/min infusion rate, 102 samples were analyzed, corresponding to a 0.65 Hz sample analysis rate. Linear quantification of choline was achieved from 200 microM to 10 mM using this method and Z' values were over 0.8 for the assay. Detailed pharmacologic dose-response curves of selected inhibitors were also measured in high-throughput fashion to validate the method.

Strategies to resolve the catalytic mechanism of acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hydrolyzes its physiological substrate acetylcholine at one of the highest known catalytic rates. Two sites of ligand interaction have been identified: an acylation site or A-site at the base of the active-site gorge and a peripheral site or P-site at its mouth. Although much is known about AChE structure and the role of specific residues in catalysis, a detailed understanding of the catalytic mechanism and the role of the P-site has lagged far behind. In recent years, we have clarified how the P-site and A-site interact to promote catalysis. Our studies revealed that the P-site mediates substrate trapping and that ligand binding to the P-site can result in steric blockade of the A-site as well as allosteric activation of substrate hydrolysis. Because a general, nonequilibrium treatment of AChE catalysis results in complex enzyme kinetic formulations, three simpler, overlapping strategies are presented here that provide significant insights into the AChE catalytic mechanism. The strategies are (1) to choose substrates, preferably close analogs of acetylcholine, that render some intermediates in the general reaction scheme negligible; (2) obtain some of the thermodynamic parameters in this scheme with experiments that are independent of kinetic measurements.

Near-infrared fluorescence detection of acetylcholine in aqueous solution using a complex of rhodamine 800 and p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene

The complexing properties of p-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes (n = 4: S[4], n = 6: S[6], and n = 8: S[8]) for rhodamine 800 (Rh800) and indocyanine green (ICG) were examined to develop a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence detection method for acetylcholine (ACh). We found that Rh800 (as a cation) forms an inclusion complex with S[n], while ICG (as a twitter ion) have no binding ability for S[n]. The binding ability of Rh800 to S[n] decreased in the order of S[8] > S[6] >> S[4]. By the formation of the complex between Rh800 and S[8], fluorescence intensity of the Rh800 was significantly decreased. From the fluorescence titration of Rh800 by S[8], stoichiometry of the Rh800-S[8] complex was determined to be 1:1 with a dissociation constant of 2.2 μM in PBS. The addition of ACh to the aqueous solution of the Rh800-S[8] complex caused a fluorescence increase of Rh800, resulting from a competitive replacement of Rh800 by ACh in the complex. From the fluorescence change by the competitive fluorophore replacement, stoichiometry of the Rh800-ACh complex was found to be 1:1 with a dissociation constant of 1.7 mM. The effects of other neurotransmitters on the fluorescence spectra of the Rh800-S[8] complex were examined for dopamine, GABA, glycine, and l-asparatic acid. Among the neurotransmitters examined, fluorescence response of the Rh800-S[8] complex was highly specific to ACh. Rh800-S[8] complexes can be used as a NIR fluorescent probe for the detection of ACh (5 × 10⁻⁴−10⁻³ M) in PBS buffer (pH = 7.2).

Identification of orthosteric and allosteric site mutations in M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors that contribute to ligand-selective signaling bias

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors contain at least one allosteric site that is topographically distinct from the acetylcholine, orthosteric binding site. Although studies have investigated the basis of allosteric modulation at these receptors, less is known about putative allosteric ligands that activate the receptor in their own right. We generated M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor mutations in either the orthosteric site in transmembrane helices 3 and 6 (TM3 and -6) or part of an allosteric site involving the top of TM2, the second extracellular (E2) loop, and the top of TM7 and investigated their effects on the binding and function of the novel selective (putative allosteric) agonists (AC-42 (4-n-butyl-1-(4-(2-methylphenyl)-4-oxo-1-butyl)piperidine HCl), 77-LH-28-1 (1-(3-(4-butyl-1-piperidinyl)propyl)-3,3-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone), and N-desmethylclozapine) as well as the bitopic orthosteric/allosteric ligand, McN-A-343 (4-(m-chlorophenyl-carbamoyloxy)-2-butynyltrimethylammonium). Four classes of agonists were identified, depending on their response to the mutations, suggesting multiple, distinct modes of agonist-receptor interaction. Interestingly, with the exception of 77-LH-28-1, allosteric site mutations had no effect on the affinity of any of the agonists tested, but some mutations in the E2 loop influenced the efficacy of both orthosteric and novel selective agonists, highlighting a role for this region of the receptor in modulating activation status. Two point mutations (Y104(3.33)A (Ballesteros and Weinstein numbers in superscript) in the orthosteric and Y177A in the allosteric site) unmasked ligand-selective and signaling pathway-selective effects, providing evidence for the existence of pathway-specific receptor conformations. Molecular modeling of 77-LH-28-1 and N-desmethylclozapine yielded novel binding poses consistent with the possibility that the functional selectivity of such agents may arise from a bitopic mechanism.

Enzymatic activity versus structural dynamics: the case of acetylcholinesterase tetramer

The function of many proteins, such as enzymes, is modulated by structural fluctuations. This is especially the case in gated diffusion-controlled reactions (where the rates of the initial diffusional encounter and of structural fluctuations determine the overall rate of the reaction) and in oligomeric proteins (where function often requires a coordinated movement of individual subunits). A classic example of a diffusion-controlled biological reaction catalyzed by an oligomeric enzyme is the hydrolysis of synaptic acetylcholine (ACh) by tetrameric acetylcholinesterase (AChEt). Despite decades of efforts, the extent to which enzymatic efficiency of AChEt (or any other enzyme) is modulated by flexibility is not fully determined. This article attempts to determine the correlation between the dynamics of AChEt and the rate of reaction between AChEt and ACh. We employed equilibrium and nonequilibrium electro-diffusion models to compute rate coefficients for an ensemble of structures generated by molecular dynamics simulation. We found that, for the static initial model, the average reaction rate per active site is approximately 22-30% slower in the tetramer than in the monomer. However, this effect of tetramerization is modulated by the intersubunit motions in the tetramer such that a complex interplay of steric and electrostatic effects either guides or blocks the substrate into or from each of the four active sites. As a result, the rate per active site calculated for some of the tetramer structures is only approximately 15% smaller than the rate in the monomer. We conclude that structural dynamics minimizes the adverse effect of tetramerization, allowing the enzyme to maintain similar enzymatic efficiency in different oligomerization states.

How does acetylcholine lose trimethylamine? A density functional theory study of four competing mechanisms

Low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) of acetylcholine (ACh) yields only two fragment ions: the dominant C(4)H(7)O(2)(+) ion at m/z 87, arising from trimethylamine loss; and protonated trimethylamine at m/z 60. Since the literature is replete with conflicting mechanisms for the loss of trimethylamine from ACh, in this article density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to assess four competing mechanisms: (1) Path A involves a neighboring group attack to form a five-membered ring product, 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium cation; (2) Path B is a neighboring group attack to form a three-membered ring product, 1-methyl-oxiranium ion; (3) Path C involves an intramolecular elimination reaction to form CO protonated vinylacetate; and (4) Path D is a 1,2-hydride migration reaction forming CH(2)-protonated vinylacetate. At the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p)//B3-LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory path A is the kinetically favored pathway, with a transition-state energy barrier of 37.7 kcal mol(-1) relative to the most stable conformer of ACh. The lowest energy pathway for the formation of protonated trimethylamine was also calculated to proceed via path A, involving proton transfer within the ion-molecule complex intermediate, with the exocylic methyl group being the proton donor. To confirm the site of proton transfer, low-energy CID of acetyl-d(3)-choline (d(3)-ACh) was carried out, which revealed loss of trimethylamine and the formation of Me(3)ND(+).

Synthesis and SAR of analogues of the M1 allosteric agonist TBPB. Part I: Exploration of alternative benzyl and privileged structure moieties

This Letter describes the first account of the synthesis and SAR, developed through an iterative analogue library approach, of analogues of the highly selective M1 allosteric agonist TBPB. With slight structural changes, mAChR selectivity was maintained, but the degree of partial M1 agonism varied considerably.

Bioelectronome. Integrated Approach to Receptor Chemistry, Radicals, Electrochemistry, Cell Signaling, and Physiological Effects Based on Electron Transfer

Bioelectronome refers to the host of electron transfer (ET) reactions that occur in living systems. This review presents an integrated approach to receptor chemistry based on electron transfer, radicals, electrochemistry, cell signaling, and end result. First, receptor activity is addressed from the unifying standpoint of redox transformations in which various receptors are discussed. After a listing of receptor-binding modes, receptor chemistry is treated with focus on generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation by ROS, and subsequent cell signaling involving ROS. A general electrostatic mechanism is proposed for receptor-ligand action with supporting evidence. Cell-signaling processes appear to entail electron transfer, ROS, redox chains, and relays. The widespread involvement of phosphate from phosphorylation may be rationalized electrostatically by analogy with DNA phosphate. Extensive evidence supports important participation of ET functionalities in the mechanism of drugs and toxins. The integrated approach is applied to the main ET classes, namely, quinones, metal complexes, iminium species, and aromatic nitro compounds.

Enzyme-modified field effect transistors based on surface-conductive single-crystalline diamond

Enzyme-modified field effect transistors (ENFETs) were realized using surface-conductive single-crystalline diamond films. The enzymes penicillinase and acetylcholinesterase were immobilized onto the active area of diamond-based electrolytic solution gated FETs, using different organic linker molecules and cross-linking chemistries. The active area of the devices was patterned to generate enzyme-modified regions next to surface-conductive regions. Penicillinase was chosen as a robust model system, but the main focus of the present paper is on acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme essential for many neuronal signal transduction processes. All the different ENFETs show a clear and specific response to the corresponding substrate, penicillin and acetylcholine. The device response is based on the pH sensitivity of the surface-conductive active area and is enabled by the local pH change induced during the enzymatic reaction. The devices demonstrate promising stability and characteristic variations of the enzymatic activity with measurement conditions. Furthermore, the results from the ENFET measurements were compared with the results of spectrophotometric experiments, carried out with enzymes immobilized on diamond substrates and also with free enzymes in solution. This allows an analysis of the enzyme kinetics, as well as qualitative comparison of the different functionalization methods employed in this study.

Computer aided optimization of carbon atom labeling for tracer experiments

Isotopomer tracer experiments are indispensable for the determination of flux rates in already known pathways as well as for the identification of new pathways. The information gained from such experiments depends on the labeling of the feed tracer metabolite, i.e. the atom positions carrying a label. Here we present an algorithm and a software tool to find an optimal carbon labeling pattern that assures the label to disseminate predominantly into those parts of the network under study. Our implementation is based on carbon fate maps and distinguishes between homotopic and prochiral atoms. In addition, the software can be used to generate carbon transition probability matrices, which can be used for the study of biochemical reaction mechanisms. In this article we present the algorithms and show an application of the software for glycolysis and the TCA cycle.

Peripheral administration of CDP-choline and its cholinergic metabolites increases serum insulin: muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are both involved in their actions

The present study was designed to test the effects of CDP-choline and its metabolites on serum insulin concentrations in rats and to investigate the involvements of cholinergic and adrenergic receptors in the effect. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CDP-choline (200-600 micromol/kg) increased serum insulin in a dose- and time-related manner. Equivalent doses (200-600 micromol/kg; i.p.) of phosphocholine or choline also increased serum insulin dose-dependently. Serum-free choline concentrations increased several-fold following i.p. administration of CDP-choline, phosphocholine or choline itself. In contrast, equivalent doses of cytidine monophosphate and cytidine failed to alter serum insulin concentrations. The increases in serum insulin induced by i.p. 600 micromol/kg of CDP-choline, phosphocholine or choline were abolished by pretreatment with the ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist hexamethonium (15 mg/kg; i.p.), or by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine methylnitrate (2 mg/kg; i.p.). Pretreatment with prazosin (0.5 mg/kg; i.p.), an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, or yohimbine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), an alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist, enhanced slightly the increases in serum insulin in response to 600 micromol/kg of CDP-choline, phosphocholine and choline. Serum insulin also increased following central administration of choline; the effect was blocked by intracerebroventricularly injected atropine, mecamylamine or hemicholinium-3 (HC-3). It is concluded that CDP-choline or its cholinergic metabolites phosphocholine and choline increases circulating insulin concentrations by increasing muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic neurotransmission in the insulin secreting beta-cells.

Reversible precipitation of bovine serum albumin by metal ions and synthesis, structure and reactivity of new tetrathiometallate chelating agents

Independent research is an important component of any undergraduate chemistry program. This article reports the findings of two of many undergraduate research projects directed by Ed Stiefel in the hopes that the results will be inspiring and useful to the scientific community. The neurological disorders associated with insufficient copper in Menkes disease and an excess of copper in Wilson's disease are well established; however, recent evidence suggests that copper may also be involved in other disorders, such as Alzheimer's, angiogenesis, and prion diseases. The exact role of copper, however, is uncertain. This study examines the role of copper and zinc in the formation of protein deposits and the chelation and removal of the metal ions to reverse the process. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein forms a precipitate after the addition of approximately 6 copper(II) atoms or 8 zinc(II) atoms. Other metal ions, such as Ca(II), Al(III), Ni(II), and Co(II), did not precipitate the BSA even when the metal ion to BSA ratios were in excess of 1000. The copper and zinc protein precipitates returned to solution after addition of the chelating agents, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or tetrathiometallates [(MS(4)(2-)), where M=Mo, W]. Two new choline and acetylcholine tetrathiomolybdate and tetrathiotungstate chelating agents have been synthesized and characterized. The infrared (IR) and X-ray crystal structures of the complexes revealed that the (MS(4)(2-)) cores had approximate T(d) symmetry in the choline (Ch) salts and C(2v) symmetry in the acetylcholine (AcCh) salts. The AcCh salts hydrolyzed more slowly than the ammonium or Ch salts and the tetrathiotungstate salts hydrolyzed approximately two orders of magnitude more slowly than the tetrathiomolybdate salts. The slower hydrolysis of tetrathiotungstate may make it more useful as an inorganic reagent and therapeutic agent.

A mixed-α,β miniprotein stereochemically reprogrammed to high-binding affinity for acetylcholine

The protein-structure space is limited to L configuration in the asymmetric alpha-amino acid structures; the function space, on other hand, seems limitless because of the chemical diversity in the amino acid side chain structures. The chemical diversity in side chain structure may be multiplied beneficially with the stereochemical diversity in main chain structure; thus, de novo protein design may be explored for customizing molecular structures stereochemically and molecular functions chemically. Illustrating de novo design in the structure space of L and D alphabet, canonical all-beta folds of poly-L structure were reprogrammed as bracelet, boat, and canoe-shaped molecules-the "boat" as a receptor-like pocket and the "canoe" as a metal-ion receptor-simply by mutating specific L-amino acid residues to the corresponding D stereochemical structure. Demonstrating customization of molecular shape stereochemically and function chemically, a 15-residue mixed-alpha, beta miniprotein of canonical poly-L structure is now reprogrammed stereochemically as a cup-shaped receptor for acetylcholine via cation-pi interaction with a triad of aromatic side chains placed in mimicry of the acetylcholine-receptor sites both natural and artificial. Evidence from CD, fluorescence, NMR, DSC, ITC, MD, and molecular-docking studies is presented to show that a rationally designed 15-residue mixed-L, D peptide is a cooperatively ordered molecular fold in the stereochemically specified molecular morphology, submicromolar in affinity of acetylcholine and thus an acetylcholine receptor exceptionally small and simple. .

The conformational and property space of acetylcholine bound to muscarinic receptors: An entropy component accounts for the subtype selectivity of acetylcholine

The conformational behavior of receptor-bound acetylcholine (ACh) was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Based on the great similarity among muscarinic receptors, the study was focused on the human M(1), M(2), and M(5) receptors as previously modeled by us. The results showed that receptor-bound ACh was not frozen in a single preferred conformation but preserved an unexpected fraction of its conformational space. However, there were marked differences between the three receptors since the ligand was mostly trans in the M(1) receptor, equally distributed among trans and gauche conformers in M(2), and exclusively gauche in the M(5); the greater flexibility of M(2)-bound ACh was paralleled by the greater flexibility of the occupied M(2) binding site. By contrast, the property space of receptor-bound ACh, and particularly its virtual (computed, conformation-dependent) lipophilicity, was restricted to relatively narrow ranges optimal for successful interaction. Experimental binding investigations to the individual human M(1), M(2), and M(5) muscarinic receptors showed ACh to have a 10-fold higher affinity for the M(2) compared to the M(1) and M(5) receptors. This selectivity was not confirmed by the calculated binding scores, a fact postulated to be caused by the absence of an entropy component in such binding scores. Indeed, the Shannon entropy of all geometric and physicochemical properties monitored were markedly higher in M(2)-bound ACh compared to M(1)-bound and M(5)-bound ACh. This finding suggests that the selectivity profile of acetylcholine for the M(2) receptor is largely entropy-driven, a fact that might explain the intrinsic difficulty to design subtype-selective muscarinic agonists.

AChBP-targeted alpha-conotoxin correlates distinct binding orientations with nAChR subtype selectivity

Neuronal nAChRs are a diverse family of pentameric ion channels with wide distribution throughout cells of the nervous and immune systems. However, the role of specific subtypes in normal and pathological states remains poorly understood due to the lack of selective probes. Here, we used a binding assay based on acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP), a homolog of the nicotinic acetylcholine ligand-binding domain, to discover a novel alpha-conotoxin (alpha-TxIA) in the venom of Conus textile. Alpha-TxIA bound with high affinity to AChBPs from different species and selectively targeted the alpha(3)beta(2) nAChR subtype. A co-crystal structure of Ac-AChBP with the enhanced potency analog TxIA(A10L), revealed a 20 degrees backbone tilt compared to other AChBP-conotoxin complexes. This reorientation was coordinated by a key salt bridge formed between Arg5 (TxIA) and Asp195 (Ac-AChBP). Mutagenesis studies, biochemical assays and electrophysiological recordings directly correlated the interactions observed in the co-crystal structure to binding affinity at AChBP and different nAChR subtypes. Together, these results establish a new pharmacophore for the design of novel subtype-selective ligands with therapeutic potential in nAChR-related diseases.

Modeling effects of oxyanion hole on the ester hydrolysis catalyzed by human cholinesterases

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and hydrogen bonding energy (HBE) calculations have been performed on the prereactive enzyme-substrate complexes (ES), transition states (TS1), and intermediates (INT1) for acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)-catalyzed hydrolysis of ACh, and BChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of (+)/(-)-cocaine to examine the protein environmental effects on the catalytic reactions. The hydrogen bonding of cocaine with the oxyanion hole of BChE is found to be remarkably different from that of ACh with AChE/BChE. Whereas G121/G116, G122/G117, and A204/A199 of AChE/BChE all can form hydrogen bonds with ACh to stabilize the transition state during the ACh hydrolysis, BChE only uses G117 and A199 to form hydrogen bonds with cocaine. The change of the estimated total HBE from ES to TS1 is ca. -5.4/-4.4 kcal/mol for AChE/BChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of ACh and ca. -1.7/-0.8 kcal/mol for BChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of (+)/(-)-cocaine. The remarkable difference of approximately 3 to 5 kcal/mol reveals that the oxyanion hole of AChE/BChE can lower the energy barrier of the ACh hydrolysis significantly more than that of BChE for the cocaine hydrolysis. These results help to understand why the catalytic activity of AChE against ACh is considerably higher than that of BChE against cocaine and provides valuable clues on how to improve the catalytic activity of BChE against cocaine.

Comparative interaction of few antihypertensive drugs with cyclosporine-A in rats

The maximal endothelial dependent relaxation of isolated aortic rings to cumulative doses of acetylcholine was significantly decreased in the Cyclosporine-A (CSA, 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) treated animals compared to olive oil (CSA vehicle) treated control. Administration of antihypertensive drugs like diltiazem, enalapril or propranolol to CSA treated animals augmented the endothelial damage induced by CSA. These drugs also increased the bioavailability of CSA. However, administration of losartan to CSA treated animals produced a significant increase in endothelial dependent relaxation as compared to CSA treated control but did not affect the bioavailability of CSA significantly. The results suggest that losartan is safer compared to other antihypertensives for the treatment of CSA induced hypertension.

A novel extrapallial fluid protein controls the morphology of nacre lamellae in the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata

Mollusk shell nacre is known for its superior mechanical properties and precisely controlled biomineralization process. However, the question of how mollusks control the morphology of nacre lamellae remains unresolved. Here, a novel 38-kDa extrapallial fluid (EPF) protein, named amorphous calcium carbonate-binding protein (ACCBP), may partially answer this question. Although sequence analysis indicated ACCBP is a member of the acetylcholine-binding protein family, it is actively involved in the shell mineralization process. In vitro, ACCBP can inhibit the growth of calcite and induce the formation of amorphous calcium carbonate. When ACCBP functions were restrained in vivo, the nacre lamellae grew in a screw-dislocation pattern, and low crystallinity CaCO(3) precipitated from the EPF. Crystal binding experiments further revealed that ACCBP could recognize different CaCO(3) crystal phases and crystal faces. With this capacity, ACCBP could modify the morphology of nacre lamellae by inhibiting the growth of undesired aragonite crystal faces and meanwhile maintain the stability of CaCO(3)-supersaturated body fluid by ceasing the nucleation and growth of calcite. Furthermore, the crystal growth inhibition capacity of ACCBP was proved to be directly related to its acetylcholine-binding site. Our results suggest that a "safeguard mechanism" of undesired crystal growth is necessary for shell microstructure formation.

The influence of pomegranate fruit extract in comparison to regular pomegranate juice and seed oil on nitric oxide and arterial function in obese Zucker rats

Metabolic syndrome includes most widely distributed clinical conditions such as obesity, hypertension, dislipidemia, and diabetes. Pomegranate fruit extract (PFE), rich in polyphenolic antioxidants, reduces the expression of oxidation-sensitive genes at the sites of perturbed shear-stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PFE in comparison to regular pomegranate juice (PJ) and seed oil on the biological actions of nitric oxide (NO) and the arterial function in obese Zucker rats, a model of metabolic syndrome. Our results indicated that supplementation with PFE or PJ significantly decreased the expression of vascular inflammation markers, thrombospondin (TSP), and cytokine TGFbeta1 (P<0.05), whereas seed oil supplementation had a significant effect only on TSP-1 expression (P <0.05). Plasma nitrate and nitrite (NO(x)) levels were significantly increased by PFE and PJ (P<0.05). Furthermore, the effect of PFE in increasing endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression was comparable to that of PJ. These data highlight possible clinical applications of PFE in metabolic syndrome.

Hydrogen peroxide regulates the cholinergic signal in a concentration dependent manner

The human epidermis holds the full capacity for autocrine synthesis, transport and degradation of acetylcholine as well as the muscarinic (m1-m5) and nicotinic signal transduction in keratinocytes and melanocytes. This cholinergic cascade is severely affected in patients with the depigmentation disorder vitiligo due to accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in the mM range as shown by in vivo FT-Raman spectroscopy. These high levels can oxidise susceptible amino acid residues such as methionine, tryptophan, cysteine and selenocysteine in the structure of proteins and peptides which in turn can severely affect the function. Here the effect of this reactive oxygen species was followed on the production and degradation of acetylcholine using immunofluorescence, enzyme kinetics, in vivo and in vitro FT-Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as computer modelling. The results showed that both epidermal acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BchE) are target to H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of methionine and tryptophan residues close to the catalytic triad, while cholineacetyltransferase (chAT) is not affected. Enzyme kinetics revealed concentration dependent activation/deactivation of both degrading enzymes by H(2)O(2). Oxidation of methionine to methionine sulfoxide was confirmed by FT-Raman spectroscopy while oxidation of tryptophan to 5OH-tryptophan was identified by fluorescence spectroscopy. H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of both enzymes takes place in acute vitiligo yielding accumulation of acetylcholine in the epidermis of these patients. This process is reversible with a narrowband UVB activated pseudocatalase PC-KUS leading to recovery of epidermal and systemic enzyme activities as well as restoration of the lost skin colour.

Photo-induced covalent attachment of agonists as a tool to study allosteric mechanisms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Muscular and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels and contain either two or five binding sites for acetylcholine (ACh). Binding of ACh molecules on the nAChR will trigger the fast opening of the channel and subsequent slow desensitization process. Neuronal alpha7 nicotinic receptors are made up of five identical subunits and possess five binding sites for ACh; this raises the question of how many sites must be occupied before channel opening. However, the effect of each ligand binding on gating is difficult to assess because of the reversible aspect of ligand binding at each site. One solution is to photochemically tether agonists to their binding sites. Such methodology has been applied elegantly and successfully on the homotetrameric cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels to evaluate the functional effects of each ligand binding on gating (Ruiz and Karpen, 1997). We therefore decided to develop a similar approach on Torpedo and neuronal alpha7 nAChRs with the photoactivatable agonist AC5 to investigate the effect of binding site occupancy on allosteric transitions of the receptor. In the dark, AC5 (see structure below) evokes robust currents on oocytes expressing Torpedo nAChR, displaying maximal amplitude comparable to ACh, with EC50 = 1.2 microM (Mourot et al., 2005). When the voltage-clamp oocyte was exposed to UV light in the presence of 30 microM AC5 for 50 s, there was a prolonged activation of the Torpedo nAChR, not reversible by washing, but inhibited by the noncompetitive blockers tetracaine and proadifen (see structure below). Both UV light and AC5 are required for this effect. However, further studies are required to determine whether the gradual decrease of the inward current reflects a slow desensitization process. AC5 is thus a potent photoactivatable agonist of the nAChR, which is able, upon UV irradiation, to incorporate covalently into the ACh-binding sites and to prolong activation of the nAChR. By extending this methodology to patch-clamp experiments, we will be able to incorporate one or several AC5s covalently into the muscular and neuronal nAChR at the single-channel level. Such study will help us understand the observed cooperative effect of gating and will contribute decisively to the controversial concerted vs sequential models for nAChR allosteric transitions.