Coordination chemistry of the heme in cystathionine beta-synthase: formation of iron(II)-isonitrile complexes

Interaction of rat and human cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) with various potential ligands has been studied by visible and EPR spectroscopy in order to explore the coordination chemistry of this atypical hemeprotein. Ferric CBS did not react with any classical hemeprotein ligands, such as various imidazole and pyridine derivatives, N(-)(3) and isonitriles RNC. Ferrous CBS also failed to bind these nitrogenous ligands or nitrosoalkanes. However, it reacts with various isonitriles RNC, leading to complexes characterized by a Soret peak at 433 +/- 2 nm. Binding of isonitriles to ferrous CBS is a relatively slow process; its rate markedly depends on the nature of R. It thus seems that the only exogenous ligands able to bind CBS iron are carbon-centered, very strong heme-Fe(II) ligands such as CNR, CO, and CN(-), presumably after dissociation of the CBS-iron(II)-cysteinate bond. Isonitriles appear as interesting tools for further studies on the topology of CBS active site.

Clean oxidation of thiolates to sulfinates in a four-coordinate CoIII complex with a mixed carboxamido N–thiolato S donor set: relevance to nitrile hydratase

A new [Co(N2(SO2)2)(CNtBu)2](Et4N) complex 6 was prepared from N,N'-(3-mercapto-3-methyl-butyryl)-o-phenylenediamine and completely characterized. While the starting square planar complex [Co(N2S2)](Et4N) 4 was destroyed by dioxirane, the Co ligated thiolates of the six-coordinate intermediate [Co(N2S2)(CNtBu)2](Et4N) complex 5 was readily oxidized to sulfinates with a stoichiometric amount of this oxidant. The resulting complex 6 crystallizes with an octahedral structure. The SO bonds of the SO2 groups are almost equivalent (approximately 1.483 and approximately 1.453 A). The isonitrile is linearly bonded to the cobalt with a Co-C-N angle of 177.5 degrees and a very short C-N(tBu) distance of 1.13 A, which has a triple bond character. As expected for six-coordinate CoIII complexes, 5 and 6 are diamagnetic in agreement with their 1H and 13C NMR spectra. The SO2 IR bands are located at 1210 cm(-1) (v(as)SO2) and 1070 cm(-1) (v(s)SO2), while the CN vibration of the isonitrile is observed at 2170 cm(-1) in 5 and 2210 cm(-1) in 6. Very recently, it has been reported in the literature that oxidation of the coordinated thiolates was required for activity of both Fe and Co nitrile hydratases. Complex 6, with two oxidized thiolates trans to two deprotonated carboxamido nitrogens, is the first to have an in-plane closely related to that of the Co-NHase active site.

Mechanistic and metabolic inferences from the binding of substrate analogues and products to arginase

Arginase is a binuclear Mn(2+) metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea. X-ray crystal structures of arginase complexed to substrate analogues N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine and N(omega)-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine, as well as the products L-ornithine and urea, complete a set of structural "snapshots" along the reaction coordinate of arginase catalysis when interpreted along with the X-ray crystal structure of the arginase-transition-state analogue complex described in Kim et al. [Kim, N. N., Cox, J. D., Baggio, R. F., Emig, F. A., Mistry, S., Harper, S. L., Speicher, D. W., Morris, Jr., S. M., Ash, D. E., Traish, A. M., and Christianson, D. W. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 2678-2688]. Taken together, these structures render important insight on the structural determinants of tight binding inhibitors. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time the structural mechanistic link between arginase and NO synthase through their respective complexes with N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine. That N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine is a catalytic intermediate for NO synthase and an inhibitor of arginase reflects the reciprocal metabolic relationship between these two critical enzymes of L-arginine catabolism.

Oxidations of N(omega)-hydroxyarginine analogues and various N-hydroxyguanidines by NO synthase II: key role of tetrahydrobiopterin in the reaction mechanism and substrate selectivity

Oxidations of L-arginine 2, homo-L-arginine 1, their N(omega)-hydroxy derivatives 4 and 3 (NOHA and homo-NOHA, respectively), and four N-hydroxyguanidines, N(omega)-hydroxynor-L-arginine 5 (nor-NOHA), N(omega)-hydroxydinor-L-arginine 6 (dinor-NOHA), N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-hydroxyguanidine (8), and N-hydroxyguanidine (7) itself, by either NOS II or (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH4)-free NOS II, have been studied in a comparative manner. Recombinant BH4-free NOS II catalyzes the oxidation of all N-hydroxyguanidines by NADPH and O2, with formation of NO2(-) and NO3(-) at rates between 20 and 80 nmol min(-1) (mg of protein)(-1). In the case of compound 8, formation of the corresponding urea and cyanamide was also detected besides that of NO2(-) and NO3(-). These BH4-free NOS II-dependent reactions are inhibited by modulators of electron transfer in NOS such as thiocitrulline (TC) or imidazole (ImH), but not by Arg, and are completely suppressed by superoxide dismutase (SOD). They exhibit characteristics very similar to those previously reported for microsomal cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidation of N-hydroxyguanidines. Both P450 and BH4-free NOS II reactions appear to be mainly performed by O2(.-) derived from the oxidase function of those heme proteins. In the presence of increasing concentrations of BH4, these nonselective oxidations progressively disappear while a much more selective monooxygenation takes place only with the N-hydroxyguanidines that are recognized well by NOS II, NOHA, homo-NOHA, and 8. These monooxygenations are much more chemoselective (8 being selectively transformed into the corresponding urea and NO) and are inhibited by Arg but not by SOD, as expected for reactions performed by the NOS Fe(II)-O2 species. Altogether, these results provide a further clear illustration of the key role of BH4 in regulating the monooxygenase/oxidase ratio in NOS. They also suggest a possible implication of NOSs in the oxidative metabolism of certain classes of xenobiotics such as N-hydroxyguanidines, not only via their monooxygenase function but also via their oxidase function.

Formation of iron(II)-nitrosoalkane complexes: a new activity of microperoxidase 8

Microperoxidase 8 (MP8) is a heme octapeptide, obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of heart cytochrome c, in which a histidine is axially coordinated to the heme iron, and acts as its fifth ligand. It exhibits two kinds of activities: a peroxidase-like activity and a cytochrome P450-like activity. We here show that MP8 is not only able to oxidize various aliphatic and aromatic hydroxylamines with the formation of MP8-Fe(II)-nitrosoalkane or -arene complexes absorbing around 414 nm, but also that these complexes can be obtained by reduction of nitroalkanes. This is the first example of fully characterized iron(II)-metabolite complexes of MP8. Such complexes constitute good models for those obtained upon oxidation of amphetamine or macrolids by cytochromes P450. In addition, this is a new catalytic activity of MP8, which validates the use of this mini-enzyme as a convenient model for hemoproteins of interest in toxicology and pharmacology such as cytochromes P450 and peroxidases.

Recognition of alpha-amino acids bearing various C=NOH functions by nitric oxide synthase and arginase involves very different structural determinants

Several alpha-amino acids bearing a C=NOH function separated from the Calpha carbon by two to five atoms have been synthesized and tested as substrates or inhibitors of recombinant nitric oxide synthases (NOS) I and II and as inhibitors of rat liver arginase (RLA). These include four N-hydroxyguanidines, N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) and its analogues homo-NOHA, nor-NOHA, and dinor-NOHA, two amidoximes bearing the -NH-C(CH(3))=NOH group, and two amidoximes bearing the -CH(2)-C(NH(2))=NOH group. Their behavior toward NOS and RLA was compared to that of the corresponding compounds bearing a C=NH function instead of the C=NOH function. The results obtained clearly show that efficient recognition of these alpha-amino acids by NOS and RLA involves very different structural determinants. NOS favors molecules bearing a -NH-C(R)=NH motif separated from Calpha by three or four CH(2) groups, such as arginine itself, with the necessary presence of delta-NH and omega-NH groups and a more variable R substituent. The corresponding molecules with a C=NOH function exhibit a much lower affinity for NOS. On the contrary, RLA best recognizes molecules bearing a C=NOH function separated from Calpha by three or four atoms, the highest affinity being observed in the case of three atoms. The presence of two omega-nitrogen atoms is important for efficient recognition, as in the two best RLA inhibitors, N(omega)-hydroxynorarginine and N(omega)-hydroxynorindospicine, which exhibit IC(50) values at the micromolar level. However, contrary to what was observed in the case of NOS, the presence of a delta-NH group is not important. These different structural requirements of NOS and RLA may be directly linked to the position of crucial residues that have been identified from crystallographic data in the active sites of both enzymes. Thus, binding of arginine analogues to NOS particularly relies on strong interactions of their delta-NH and omega-NH(2) groups with glutamate 371 (of NOS II), whereas binding of C=NOH molecules to RLA is mainly based on interactions of their terminal OH group with the binuclear Mn(II).Mn(II) cluster of the enzyme and on possible additional bonds between their omega-NH(2) group with histidine 141, glutamate 277, and one Mn(II) ion. The different modes of interaction displayed by both enzymes depend on their different catalytic functions and give interesting opportunities to design useful molecules to selectively regulate NOS and arginase.

Toward model complexes of Co-containing nitrile hydratases: synthesis, complete characterization and reactivity toward ligands such as CN- and NO of the first square planar CoIII complex with two different carboxamido nitrogens and two thiolato sulfur donors

A [CoIII(N2S2)]NEt4 complex, with two carboxamido nitrogens and two alkylthiolato sulfurs, was prepared from N,N'-(2-thioacetylisobutyryl)-2-aminobenzylamine, and characterized. It crystallizes with a distorted square planar structure including two short Co-N bonds (approximately 1.882 A) and two short Co-S bonds (approximately 2.134 A). The ligand defines an 11-atom chelate, which may be Co ligands in the mean plane of Co-containing nitrile hydratase. The CoIII oxidation state, reversibly reduced at -1.13 V (vs. SCE) and irreversibly oxidized at +1.29 V (vs. SCE) in DMF, is stable over a 2 V potential range. From the temperature dependence of its magnetic susceptibility, cobalt(III) was found to be in an S = 1 triplet ground state, in agreement with the broad resonances observed in its 1H-NMR spectrum. Preliminary spectral studies showed that this complex does not interact with imidazole, H2O or HO-, but binds two CN anions or two NO molecules. The IR spectrum of the dinitrosyl complex exhibits two NO stretches at 1765 and 1820 cm(-1), in the range previously observed for dinitrosylated complexes derived from cobalt(I). This result suggests that, similarly to Fe NHases, Co NHases might readily bind NO.

Effects of the new arginase inhibitor N(omega)-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine on NO synthase activity in murine macrophages

In stimulated murine macrophage, arginase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) compete for their common substrate, l-arginine. The objectives of this study were (i) to test the new alpha-amino acid N(omega)-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine (nor-NOHA) as a new selective arginase inhibitor and (ii) to elucidate the effects of arginase inhibition on l-arginine utilization by an inducible NOS. Nor-NOHA is about 40-fold more potent than N(omega)-hydroxy-l-arginine (NOHA), an intermediate in the l-arginine/NO pathway, to inhibit the hydrolysis of l-arginine to l-ornithine catalyzed by unstimulated murine macrophages (IC(50) values 12 +/- 5 and 400 +/- 50 microM, respectively). Stimulation of murine macrophages with interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide (IFN-gamma + LPS) results in clear expression of an inducible NOS (iNOS) and to an increase in arginase activity. Nor-NOHA is also a potent inhibitor of arginase in IFN-gamma + LPS-stimulated macrophage (IC(50) value 10 +/- 3 microM). In contrast to NOHA, nor-NOHA is neither a substrate nor an inhibitor for iNOS and it appears as a useful tool to study the interplays between arginase and NOS. Inhibition of arginase by nor-NOHA increases nitrite and l-citrulline accumulation for incubation times higher than 12 h, under our conditions. Our results allow the determination of the kinetic parameters of the two competitive pathways and the proposal of a simple model which readily explains the differences observed between experiments. This model readily accounts for the observed effects and should be useful to predict the consequences of arginase inhibition in the presence of an active NOS on l-arginine availability.

Diclofenac and its derivatives as tools for studying human cytochromes P450 active sites: particular efficiency and regioselectivity of P450 2Cs

A comparison of the oxidations of diclofenac with microsomes of yeasts expressing various human liver cytochromes P450 showed that P450 2C9 regioselectively led to 4'-hydroxy diclofenac (4'-OHD) whereas P450 3A4 only led to 5-hydroxy diclofenac (5-OHD). P450 2C19, 2C18, and 2C8 led to the simultaneous formation of 4'-OHD and 5-OHD (respective molar ratios of 1.3, 0.37, and 0.17), and P450 1A1, 1A2, 2D6, and 2E1 failed to give any detectable hydroxylated metabolite under identical conditions. P450 2C9 was found to be much more efficient for diclofenac hydroxylation than all the other P450s tested (k(cat)/K(M) of 1.6 min(-1) microM(-1) instead of 0.025 for the second more active P450), mainly because of markedly lower K(M) values (15 +/- 8 instead of values between 170 and 630 microM). Oxidation of diclofenac with chemical model systems of cytochrome P450 based on iron porphyrin catalysts exclusively led to the quinone imine derived from two-electron oxidation of 5-OHD, in an almost quantitative yield. Two derivatives of diclofenac lacking its COO(-) function were then synthesized; their oxidation by recombinant human P450 2Cs always led to a major product coming from their 5-hydroxylation. Substrate 2, which derives from reduction of the COO(-) function of diclofenac to the CH(2)OH function, was studied in more detail. All the P450s tested (1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4) almost exclusively led to its 5-hydroxylation. P450s of the 2C subfamily were found to be the most efficient catalysts for this reaction, with k(cat)/K(M) values between 0.2 and 1.6 min(-1) microM(-1). Oxidation of 2 with an iron porphyrin-based chemical model of cytochrome P450 also led to a product derived from the oxidation of 2 at position 5. These results show that oxidation of diclofenac and its derivative 2, either with chemical model systems of cytochrome P450 or with recombinant human P450s, generally occurs at position 5. This position, para to the NH group on the more electron-rich aromatic ring of diclofenac derivatives, is thus, as expected, the privileged site of reaction of electrophilic, oxidant species. The most spectacular exception to this chemoselective 5-oxidation of diclofenac derivatives was found for oxidation of diclofenac itself with P450 2C9 (and P450 2C19 and 2C18 to a lesser extent), which only led to 4'-OHD. A likely explanation for this result is a strict positioning of diclofenac in the P450 2C9 active site, via its COO(-) function, to completely orientate its hydroxylation toward position 4', which is not chemically preferred. P450 2C19, 2C18, and 2C8 would not lead to such a strict positioning as they give mixtures of 4'-OHD and 5-OHD. The above results show that diclofenac derivatives are interesting tools to compare the active site topologies of human P450 2Cs.

Microsomal formation of nitric oxide and cyanamides from non-physiological N-hydroxyguanidines: N-hydroxydebrisoquine as a model substrate

The microsomal oxidative transformation of a non-physiological N-hydroxyguanidine was demonstrated for the first time for N-hydroxydebrisoquine as a model substrate (Clement et al., Biochem Pharmacol 46: 2249-2267, 1993). The objective of the present work was to further compare this reaction with the analogous oxidation of arginine via N-hydroxyarginine to citrulline and nitric oxide. The oxidation of N-hydroxydebrisoquine by liver microsomes from rats pretreated with dexamethasone not only produced nitric oxide and the urea, but also the cyanamide derivative as the main metabolite. The low stability of the cyanamide derivative, which easily hydrolyzed to the urea derivative, was noted. The formation of all compounds required cosubstrate and the enzyme source. Experiments with catalase, superoxide dismutase, and H2O2 showed that the O2- formed from the enzyme and the substrate apparently participated in the reaction. While the N-hydroxylation of the guanidine involves the usual monooxygenase activity of cytochrome P-450 (Clement et al., Biochem Pharmacol 46: 2249-2267, 1993), the resultant N-hydroxyguanidine decoupled the monooxygenase. Nitric oxide was detected by the oxyhemoglobin assay. To examine the influence of enzymatically formed nitric oxide on the formation of the metabolites, the N-hydroxydebrisoquine was incubated with SIN-1 as nitric oxide donor under aerobic conditions. It was again possible to detect the cyanamide and urea derivatives, with the latter as main metabolite. It was concluded that the microsomal transformation of N-hydroxydebrisoquine produces a cyanamide and nitric oxide which reacts with N-hydroxydebrisoquine to form the urea derivative. The purely chemical reaction of the unsubstituted N-hydroxyguanidine with nitric oxide gave similar results (Fukuto et al., Biochem Pharmacol 43: 607-613, 1992). In conclusion, similarities (formation of a urea derivative) and differences (formation of a cyanamide derivative) between the physiological oxidation of N-hydroxy-L-arginine by nitric oxide synthases and non-physiological N-hydroxyguanidines by cytochrome P-450 were observed. Furthermore, non-physiological N-hydroxyguanidines can be regarded as nitric oxide donors.

Comparison of the substrate specificities of human liver cytochrome P450s 2C9 and 2C18: application to the design of a specific substrate of CYP 2C18

A series of 2-aroylthiophenes derived from tienilic acid by replacement of its OCH2COOH substituent with groups bearing various functions have been synthesized and studied as possible substrates of recombinant human liver cytochrome P450s 2C9 and 2C18 expressed in yeast. Whereas only compounds bearing a negative charge acted as substrates of CYP 2C9 and were hydroxylated at position 5 of their thiophene ring at a significant rate, many neutral 2-aroylthiophenes were 5-hydroxylated by CYP 2C18 with kcat values of >2 min-1. Among the various compounds that were studied, those bearing an alcohol function were the best CYP 2C18 substrates. One of them, compound 3, which bears a terminal O(CH2)3OH function, appeared to be a particularly good substrate of CYP 2C18. It was regioselectively hydroxylated by CYP 2C18 at position 5 of its thiophene ring with a KM value of 9 +/- 1 microM and a kcat value of 125 +/- 25 min-1, which are the highest described so far for a CYP 2C. A comparison of the oxidations of 3, by yeast-expressed CYP 1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, and 3A5, showed that only CYP 2C8, 2C18, and 2C19 were able to catalyze the 5-hydroxylation of 3. However, the catalytic efficiency of CYP 2C18 for that reaction was considerably higher (kcat/KM value being 3-4 orders of magnitude larger than those found for CYP 2C8 and 2C19). Several human P450s exhibited small activities for the oxidative O-dealkylation of 3. The four recombinant CYP 2Cs were the best catalysts for that reaction (kcat between 1 and 5 min-1) when compared to all the P450s that were tested, even though it is a minor reaction in the case of CYP 2C18. All these results show that compound 3 is a new, selective, and highly efficient substrate for CYP 2C18 that should be useful for the study of this P450 in various organs and tissues. They also suggest some key differences between the active sites of CYP 2C9 and CYP 2C18 for substrate recognition.

Efficient formation of nitric oxide from selective oxidation of N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines by inducible nitric oxide synthase

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of N-(4-chlorophenyl)N'-hydroxyguanidine 1 by NADPH and O2, with concomitant formation of the corresponding urea and NO. The characteristics of this reaction are very similar to those of the NOS-dependent oxidation of endogenous Nomega-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA), i.e., (i) the formation of products resulting from an oxidation of the substrate C=N(OH) bond, the corresponding urea and NO, in a 1:1 molar ratio, (ii) the absolute requirement of the tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor for NO formation, and (iii) the strong inhibitory effects of L-arginine (L-arg) and classical inhibitors of NOSs. N-Hydroxyguanidine 1 is not as good a substrate for NOS II as is NOHA (Km = 500 microM versus 15 microM for NOHA). However, it leads to relatively high rates of NO formation which are only 4-fold lower than those obtained with NOHA (Vm = 390 +/- 50 nmol NO min-1 mg protein-1, corresponding roughly to 100 turnovers min-1). Preliminary results indicate that some other N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines exhibit a similar behavior. These results show for the first time that simple exogenous compounds may act as NO donors after oxidative activation by NOSs. They also suggest a possible implication of NOSs in the oxidative metabolism of certain classes of xenobiotics.

Opposite behaviors of reactive metabolites of tienilic acid and its isomer toward liver proteins: use of specific anti-tienilic acid-protein adduct antibodies and the possible relationship with different hepatotoxic effects of the two compounds

Tienilic acid (TA) is responsible for an immune-mediated drug-induced hepatitis in humans, while its isomer (TAI) triggers a direct hepatitis in rats. In this study, we describe an immunological approach developed for studying the specificity of the covalent binding of these two compounds. For this purpose, two different coupling strategies were used to obtain TA-carrier protein conjugates. In the first strategy, the drug was linked through its carboxylic acid function to amine residues of carrier proteins (BSA-N-TA and casein-N-TA), while in the second strategy, the thiophene ring of TA was attached to proteins through a short 3-thiopropanoyl linker, the corresponding conjugates (BSA-S-5-TA and betaLG-S-5-TA) thus preferentially presenting the 2, 3-dichlorophenoxyacetic moiety of the drug for antibody recognition. The BSA-S-5-TA conjugate proved to be 30 times more immunogenic than BSA-N-TA. Anti-TA-protein adduct antibodies were obtained after immunization of rabbits with BSA-S-5-TA (1/35000 titer against betaLG-S-5-TA in ELISA). These antibodies strongly recognized the 2, 3-dichlorophenoxyacetic moiety of TA but poorly the part of the drug engaged in the covalent binding with the proteins. This powerful tool was used in immunoblots to compare TA or TAI adduct formation in human liver microsomes as well as on microsomes from yeast expressing human liver cytochrome P450 2C9. TA displayed a highly specific covalent binding focused on P450 2C9 which is the main cytochrome P450 responsible for its hepatic activation in humans. On the contrary, TAI showed a nonspecific alkylation pattern, targeting many proteins upon metabolic activation. Nevertheless, this nonspecific covalent binding could be completely shifted to a thiol trapping agent like GSH. The difference in alkylation patterns for these two compounds is discussed with regard to their distinct toxicities. A relationship between the specific covalent binding of P450 2C9 by TA and the appearance of the highly specific anti-LKM2 autoantibodies (known to specifically recognize P450 2C9) in patients affected with TA-induced hepatitis is strongly suggested.

Studies of the reactivity of artificial peroxidase-like hemoproteins based on antibodies elicited against a specifically designed ortho-carboxy substituted tetraarylporphyrin

The temperature and pH dependence as well as the selectivity of the peroxidase activity of a complex associating a monoclonal antibody 13G10 with its iron(III)-alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-mesotetrakis(ortho-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Fe(ToCPP)) hapten have been studied and compared to those of Fe(ToCPP) alone. It first appears that the peroxidase activity of the 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) complex is remarkably thermostable and remains about 5 times higher than that of Fe(ToCPP) alone until at least 80 degrees C. Secondly, this complex is able to use not only H2O2 as oxidant but also a wide range of hydroperoxides such as alkyl, aralkyl and fatty acid hydroperoxides and catalyze their reduction 2-6-fold faster than Fe(ToCPP) alone. It is also able to catalyze the oxidation by H202 of a variety of reducing cosubstrates such as 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), o-phenylenediamine (OPD), 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine 3-8-fold faster than Fe(ToCPP) alone, the bicyclic aromatic ABTS and TMB being the best reducing cosubstrates. Finally, a pH dependence study, between pH 4.6 and 7.5, of the oxidation of ABTS by H2O2 in the presence of either 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) or Fe(ToCPP) shows that Km(H2O2) values vary very similarly for both catalysts, whereas very different variations are found for the k(cat) values. With Fe(ToCPP) as catalyst the k(cat) value remains constant around 100 min(-1) whereas with the 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) complex, it increases sharply below pH 5 to reach 540 min -1 at pH 4.6. This could be due to the participation of a carboxylic acid side chain of the antibody protein, as a general acid-base catalyst, to the heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of H2O2 leading to the highly reactive iron(V)-oxo intermediate in the peroxidase mechanism. Accordingly, the modification of the carboxylic acid residues of antibody 13G10 by glycinamide leads to a 50% decrease of the peroxidase activity of the 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) complex.

Microsomal cytochrome P450 dependent oxidation of N-hydroxyguanidines, amidoximes, and ketoximes: mechanism of the oxidative cleavage of their C=N(OH) bond with formation of nitrogen oxides

Oxidation by rat liver microsomes of 13 compounds involving a C=N(OH) function (including N-hydroxyguanidines, amidoximes, ketoximes, and aldoximes) was found to occur with the release of nitrogen oxides such as NO, NO2-, and NO3-. The greatest activities were observed with liver microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats (up to 8 nmol of NO2- nmol of P450(-)1 min-1). A detailed study of the microsomal oxidation of some of these compounds was performed. Oxidation of N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-hydroxy-guanidine led to the formation of the corresponding urea and cyanamide in addition to NO, NO2-, and NO3-. Formation of all these products was dependent on NADPH, O2, and cytochromes P450. Oxidation of two arylamidoximes was found to occur with formation of the corresponding amides and nitriles in addition to nitrogen oxides. Oxidation of 4-(chlorophenyl)methyl ketone oxime gave the corresponding ketone and nitroalkane as well as NO, NO2-, and NO3-. These reactions were also dependent on cytochromes P450 and required NADPH and O2. Mechanistic experiments showed that microsomal oxidations of amidoximes to the corresponding nitriles and of ketoximes to the corresponding nitroalkanes are not inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and are performed by a cytochrome P450 active species, presumably the high-valent P450-iron-oxo complex. On the contrary, microsomal oxidation of N-hydroxyguanidines to the corresponding cyanamides was greatly inhibited by SOD and appeared to be mainly due to O2*- derived from the oxidase function of cytochromes P450. Similarly, microsomal oxidations of N-hydroxyguanidines and amidoximes to the corresponding ureas and amides were also found to be mainly performed by O2*-, as shown by the great inhibitory effect of SOD (70-100%) and the ability of the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system to give similar oxidation products. However, it is noteworthy that other species, such as the P450 Fe(II)-O2 complex, are also involved, to a minor extent, in the SOD-insensitive microsomal oxidative cleavages of compounds containing a C=N(OH) bond. Our results suggest a general mechanism for such oxidative cleavages of C=N(OH) bonds with formation of nitrogen oxides by cytochromes P450 and NO-synthases, with the involvement of O2*- and its Fe(III) complex [(FeIII-O2-) or (FeII-O2)] as main active species.

Active site topology of artificial peroxidase-like hemoproteins based on antibodies constructed from a specifically designed ortho-carboxy-substituted tetraarylporphyrin

The topology of the binding site has been studied for two monoclonal antibodies 13G10 and 14H7, elicited against iron(III)-alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-meso-tetrakis(ortho-carboxyphenyl)porph yrin [alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin]], and which exhibit in the presence of this alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] cofactor a peroxidase activity. A comparison of the dissociation constants of the complexes of 13G10 and 14H7 with various tetra-aryl-substituted porphyrin has shown that: (a) the central iron(III) atom of alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] is not recognized by either of the two antibodies; and (b) the ortho-carboxylate substituents of the meso-phenyl rings of alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] are essential for the recognition of the porphyrin by 13G10 and 14H7. Measurement of the dissociation constants for the complexes of 13G10 and 14H7 with the four atropoisomers of (o-COOHPh)4-porphyrinH2 as well as mono- and di-ortho-carboxyphenyl-substituted porphyrins suggests that the three carboxylates in the alpha, alpha, beta position are recognized by both 13G10 and 14H7 with the two in the alpha, beta positions more strongly bound to the antibody protein. Accordingly, the topology of the active site of 13G10 and 14H7 has roughly two-thirds of the alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] cofactor inserted into the binding site of the antibodies, with one of the aryl ring remaining outside. Three of the carboxylates are bound to the protein but no amino acid residue acts as an axial ligand to the iron atom. Chemical modification of lysine, histidine, tryptophan and arginine residues has shown that only modification of arginine residues causes a decrease in both the binding of alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] and the peroxidase activity of both antibodies. Consequently, at least one of the carboxylates of the hapten is bound to an arginine residue and no amino acids such as lysine, histidine or tryptophan participate in the catalysis of the heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of H2O2. In addition, the amino acid sequence of both antibodies not only reveals the presence of arginine residues, which could be those involved in the binding of the carboxylates of the hapten, but also the presence of several amino acids in the complementary determining regions which could bind other carboxylates through a network of H bonds.