Melatonin activates the peroxidase-oxidase reaction and promotes oscillations

Biofilm effects on the peroxidase-oxidase reaction

In experiments on the kinetics of the peroxidase-oxidase oscillatory reaction in pH 5.l acetate buffer, biofilms form in less than 48 h on the quartz reactor surface. The nominally homogeneous peroxidase system shows dynamical changes in response to this biofilm growth, partially explaining subtle differences among dynamics observed over time and between laboratories. Kinetics data and model computations are correlated with micrographs of biofilm formation. It is evident that bare quartz also interacts with reaction species, so that the surface area-to-volume ratio is an important parameter on which observed dynamics depend.

Horseradish peroxidase embedded in polyacrylamide nanoparticles enables optical detection of reactive oxygen species

We have synthesized and characterized new nanometer-sized polyacrylamide particles containing horseradish peroxidase and fluorescent dyes. Proteins and dyes are encapsulated by radical polymerization in inverse microemulsion. The activity of the encapsulated enzyme has been examined and it maintains its ability to catalyze the oxidation of guaiacol with hydrogen peroxide as the electron acceptor, although at a slightly lower rate compared to that of the free enzyme in solution. The embedded enzyme is also capable of catalyzing the peroxidase-oxidase reaction. However, the rate is decreased by a factor of 2-3 compared to that of the free enzyme. The reduced rate is probably due to limitation of diffusion of substrates and products into and out of the particles. The catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase in the polyacrylamide matrix demonstrates that the particles have pores which are large enough for substrates to enter and products to leave the polymer matrix containing the enzyme. The polymer matrix protects the embedded enzyme from proteolytic digestion, which is demonstrated by treating the particles with a mixture of the two proteases trypsin and proteinase K. The particles allow for quantification of hydrogen peroxide and other reactive oxygen species in microenvironments, and we propose that the particles may find use as nanosensors for use in, e.g., living cells.

Interactions between melatonin and nicotinamide nucleotide: NADH preservation in cells and in cell-free systems by melatonin

Interactions of melatonin and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) have been studied in different experimental models including NADH-promoted oxyhemoglobin oxidation, vanadate-induced NADH oxidation and paraquat-induced NADH depletion in cultured PC12 cells. Our findings indicate that melatonin preserves NADH levels under oxidative stress both in cell-free systems and in cultured PC12 cells. These interactions likely involve electron donation by melatonin and reduction of the NAD radical. As a result, the NAD radical is recycled to NADH and melatonin is oxidized to N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK). NADH is a central molecule at the crossroads between energy metabolism and the antioxidant defense system in organisms. Recycling of NADH by melatonin might improve the efficiency of NADH as an energy carrier and as an antioxidant. Interactions between melatonin and NADH may be implicated in mitochondrial metabolism.

Human myeloperoxidase catalyzes an oscillating peroxidase-oxidase reaction

We have studied the peroxidase-oxidase reaction catalyzed by human myeloperoxidase in an open system where both substrates-molecular oxygen and NADH-are supplied continuously to the reaction mixture. The reaction shows oscillatory kinetics at pH values around 5, provided that the reaction medium in addition to the enzyme and the substrates also contains an aromatic electron mediator such as melatonin or 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and chloride ions at concentrations >1mM. The experimental findings can be simulated by a detailed model of the reaction. The results are important for our understanding of oxidant production in neutrophils.

Concerted simulations reveal how peroxidase compound III formation results in cellular oscillations

A major problem in mathematical modeling of the dynamics of complex biological systems is the frequent lack of knowledge of kinetic parameters. Here, we apply Brownian dynamics simulations, based on protein three-dimensional structures, to estimate a previously undetermined kinetic parameter, which is then used in biochemical network simulations. The peroxidase-oxidase reaction involves many elementary steps and displays oscillatory dynamics important for immune response. Brownian dynamics simulations were performed for three different peroxidases to estimate the rate constant for one of the elementary steps crucial for oscillations in the peroxidase-oxidase reaction, the association of superoxide with peroxidase. Computed second-order rate constants agree well with available experimental data and permit prediction of rate constants at physiological conditions. The simulations show that electrostatic interactions depress the rate of superoxide association with myeloperoxidase, bringing it into the range necessary for oscillatory behavior in activated neutrophils. Such negative electrostatic steering of enzyme-substrate association presents a novel control mechanism and lies in sharp contrast to the electrostatically-steered fast association of superoxide and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, which is also simulated here. The results demonstrate the potential of an integrated and concerted application of structure-based simulations and biochemical network simulations in cellular systems biology.

Mechanism of protection of peroxidase activity by oscillatory dynamics

The peroxidase-oxidase reaction is known to involve reactive oxygen species as intermediates. These intermediates inactivate many types of biomolecules, including peroxidase itself. Previously, we have shown that oscillatory dynamics in the peroxidase-oxidase reaction seem to protect the enzyme from inactivation. It was suggested that this is due to a lower average concentration of reactive oxygen species in the oscillatory state compared to the steady state. Here, we studied the peroxidase-oxidase reaction with either 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or melatonin as cofactors. We show that the protective effect of oscillatory dynamics is present in both cases. We also found that the enzyme degradation depends on the concentration of the cofactor and on the pH of the reaction mixture. We simulated the oscillatory behaviour, including the oscillation/steady state bistability observed experimentally, using a detailed reaction scheme. The computational results confirm the hypothesis that protection is due to lower average concentrations of superoxide radical during oscillations. They also show that the shape of the oscillations changes with increasing cofactor concentration resulting in a further decrease in the average concentration of radicals. We therefore hypothesize that the protective effect of oscillatory dynamics is a general effect in this system.

Oscillatory nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of the general stress response transcriptional activators Msn2 and Msn4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Msn2 and Msn4 are two related transcriptional activators that mediate a general response to stress in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by eliciting the expression of specific sets of genes. In response to stress or nutritional limitation, Msn2 and Msn4 migrate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Using GFP-tagged constructs and high-resolution time-lapse video microscopy on single cells, we show that light emitted by the microscope also triggers this migration. Unexpectedly, the population of Msn2 or Msn4 molecules shuttles repetitively into and out of the nucleus with a periodicity of a few minutes. A large heterogeneity in the oscillatory response to stress is observed between individual cells. This periodic behavior, which can be induced by various types of stress, at intermediate stress levels, is not dependent upon protein synthesis and persists when the DNA-binding domain of Msn2 is removed. The cAMP-PKA pathway controls the sensitivity of the oscillatory nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. In the absence of PKA, Msn4 continues to oscillate while Msn2 is maintained in the nucleus. We show that a computational model based on the possibility that Msn2 and Msn4 participate in autoregulatory loops controlling their subcellular localization can account for the oscillatory behavior of the two transcription factors.

Mechanistic and comparative studies of melatonin and classic antioxidants in terms of their interactions with the ABTS cation radical

Melatonin and classic antioxidants possess the capacity to scavenge ABTSb+ with IC50s of 4, 11, 15.5, 15.5, 17 and 21 microm for melatonin, glutathione, vitamin C, trolox, NADH and NADPH, respectively. In terms of scavenging ABTSb+, melatonin exhibits a different profile than that of the classic antioxidants. Classic antioxidants scavenge one or less ABTSb+, while each melatonin molecule can scavenge more than one ABTSb+, probably with a maximum of four. Classic antioxidants do not synergize when combined in terms of scavenging ABTSb+. However, a synergistic action is observed when melatonin is combined with any of the classic antioxidants. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that melatonin donates an electron at the potential of 715 mV. The scavenging mechanism of melatonin on ABTSb+ may involve multiple-electron donations via intermediates through a stepwise process. Intermediates including the melatoninyl cation radical, the melatoninyl neutral radical and cyclic 3-hydroxymelatonin (cyclic 3-OHM) and N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) seem to participate in these reactions. More interestingly, the pH of the solution dramatically modifies the ABTSb+ scavenging capacity of melatonin while pH changes have no measurable influence on the scavenging activity of classic antioxidants. An acidic pH markedly reduces the ABTSb+ scavenging capacity of melatonin while an increased pH promotes the interaction of melatonin and ABTSb+. The major melatonin metabolites that develop when melatonin interacts with ABTSb+ are cyclic 3-OHM and AFMK. Cyclic 3-OHM is the intermediate between melatonin and AFMK, and cyclic 3-OHM also has the ability to scavenge ABTSb+. Melatonin and the metabolites which are generated via the interaction of melatonin with ABTSb+, i.e. the melatoninyl cation radical, melatoninyl neutral radical and cyclic 3-OHM, all scavenge ABTSb+. This unique cascade action of melatonin, in terms of scavenging, increases its efficiency to neutralized ABTSb+; this contrasts with the effects of the classic antioxidants.

Mechanism of melatonin-induced oscillations in the peroxidase-oxidase reaction

Melatonin induces oscillations in the peroxidase-oxidase (PO) reaction catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase. We present here studies of the effect of pH, enzyme concentration, and concentration of melatonin on the oscillation frequency. We also present a mechanistic model to explain the experimentally observed changes in oscillation frequency. Using the data obtained here we are able to predict that oscillations will also occur in the PO reaction catalyzed by myeloperoxidase. Myeloperoxidase is an important protein in activated neutrophils and we provide evidence that the oscillations of NAD(P)H, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in these cells may involve this enzyme. Thus, our experimental system can be considered a model system for the nonrespiratory oxygen metabolism in activated neutrophils and other similar cells participating in the defence against invading pathogens.

A model of the oscillatory metabolism of activated neutrophils

We present a two-compartment model to explain the oscillatory behavior observed experimentally in activated neutrophils. Our model is based mainly on the peroxidase-oxidase reaction catalyzed by myeloperoxidase with melatonin as a cofactor and NADPH oxidase, a major protein in the phagosome membrane of the leukocyte. The model predicts that after activation of a neutrophil, an increase in the activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt and the delivery of myeloperoxidase into the phagosome results in oscillations in oxygen and NAD(P)H concentration. The period of oscillation changes from >200 s to 10-30 s. The model is consistent with previously reported oscillations in cell metabolism and oxidant production. Key features and predictions of the model were confirmed experimentally. The requirement of the hexose monophosphate pathway for 10 s oscillations was verified using 6-aminonicotinamide and dexamethasone, which are inhibitors of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The role of the NADPH oxidase in promoting oscillations was confirmed by dose-response studies of the effect of diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of the NADPH oxidase. Moreover, the model predicted an increase in the amplitude of NADPH oscillations in the presence of melatonin, which was confirmed experimentally. Successful computer modeling of complex chemical dynamics within cells and their chemical perturbation will enhance our ability to identify new antiinflammatory compounds.

Simulations of temperature sensitivity of the peroxidase-oxidase oscillator

The influence of temperature on the oscillatory kinetics of the peroxidase-oxidase reaction was studied theoretically. Assuming Q(10)=2 for elementary reactions, the effect of multiplying the rate constants of the model by factors between 0.5 and 2 (corresponding to a 10 degrees C decrease and increase, respectively, of temperature) was investigated. First, the individual rate constants were successively multiplied by 0.5 or 2 while all other rate constants were kept unchanged. This resulted in either a longer or a shorter period, depending on the rate constant being changed. Multiplication by 0.5 or by 2 generally resulted in opposite effects on the period length. However, the absolute value of this deviation differed. Also, the dynamics changed when halving the dimerization rate of NAD* as well as when doubling the rate constant for the reduction of ferric peroxidase by NAD*. Next, simulations were performed multiplying all rate constants by one and the same factor, which increased progressively from 0.5 to 2. Intervals were found corresponding to temperature dependency, compensation, and over-compensation, respectively.

Oxidation of melatonin and tryptophan by an HRP cycle involving compound III

We recently described that horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) catalyze the oxidation of melatonin, forming the respective indole ring-opening product N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 279, 657-662, 2001). Although the classic peroxidatic enzyme cycle is expected to participate in the oxidation of melatonin, the requirement of a low HRP:H(2)O(2) ratio suggested that other enzyme paths might also be operative. Here we followed the formation of AFMK under two experimental conditions: predominance of HRP compounds I and II or presence of compound III. Although the consumption of substrate is comparable under both conditions, AFMK is formed in significant amounts only when compound III predominates during the reaction. Using tryptophan as substrate, N- formyl-kynurenine is formed in the presence of compound III. Both, melatonin and tryptophan efficiently prevents the formation of p-670, the inactive form of HRP. Since superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibits the production of AFMK, we proposed that compound III acts as a source of O(-*)(2) or participates directly in the reaction, as in the case of enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.