Quantitative determination of phenolsulfotransferase using 4-methylumbelliferone

A robust and quantitative method for tracking liposome contents after intravenous administration

We introduce a method for tracking the rate and extent of delivery of liposome contents in vivo based on encapsulation of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MU-P), a profluorophore of 4-methylumbelliferone (MU). MU-P is rapidly dephosphorylated by endogenous phosphatases in vivo to form MU after leakage from the liposome. The change in fluorescence spectra when MU-P is converted to MU allows for quantification of entrapped (MU-P) and released (MU) liposome contents by fluorescence or by a sensitive high performance liquid chromatography assay. We define the "cellular availability" of an agent encapsulated in a liposome as the ratio of the amount of released agent in the tissue to the total amount of agent in the tissue; this parameter quantifies the fraction of drug available for therapy. The advantage of this method over existing technologies is the ability to decouple the signals of entrapped and released liposome contents. We validate this method by tracking the circulation and tissue distribution of MU-P loaded liposomes after intravenous administration. We use this assay to compare the cellular availability of liposomes composed of engineered phosphocholine lipids with covalently attached cholesterol, sterol-modified lipids (SML), to liposomes composed of conventional phospholipids and cholesterol. The SML liposomes have similar pharmacokinetic and biodistribution patterns as conventional phospholipid-cholesterol liposomes but a slower rate of contents delivery into the tissue. Thus, MU-P enables the tracking of the rate and extent of liposome contents release in tissues and should facilitate a better understanding of the pharmacodynamics of liposome-encapsulated drugs in animals.

Spectrofluorimetric analysis of 7-hydroxycoumarin binding to bovine phenol sulfotransferase

Phenol sulfotransferases (SULT1s, EC 2.8.2.1) catalyze sulfuryl group transfer from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to the hydroxyl oxygen of aromatic acceptor substrates. Previous work with the bovine SULT1A1 has utilized the highly fluorescent substrate 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-HC, umbelliferone) as an acceptor substrate [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 261 (1999) 815]. Here we report that adenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate (PAP)-dependent binding of 7-HC to bSULT1A1 can be observed due to the appearance of a 400-420-nm shoulder in the emission spectrum, using an excitation wavelength of 280 nm. This emission was observed by placing 7-HC in ethanol, which is consistent with bSULT1A1 phenol binding site hydrophobicity. Titrations with 7-HC indicate a K(d) for 7-HC of 0.58 microM and substoichiometric binding to the homodimeric enzyme. The bSULT1A1:PAP:7-HC complex could be disrupted with pentachlorophenol (PCP), titrations with which indicated 0.5 equivalents per enzyme subunit. Titrations of enzyme plus 7-HC with PAP also indicated 0.5 equivalents per enzyme subunit. These results suggest a model of homodimeric bSULT1A1 in which subunit interactions favor half-site reactivity in the formation of a dead end complex.

Determination of the kinetics of rat UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) in liver and intestine using HPLC

Uridinediphosphoglucuronosyl transferases (UGTs) are a group of membrane bound proteins which catalyze the transfer of glucuronic acid from UDP-glucuronic acid to a wide variety of xenobiotics and drug molecules enabling them to be eliminated. The major UGT isoforms found in the rat are 1A1, 1A6, 2B1 and 2B12. Conventional methods for the assay of glucuronides (GLs) include TLC, extraction and colorimetry or quantification of the aglycone, liberated after hydrolyzing the GL with beta-glucuronidase. However these techniques cannot distinguish between isomeric GLs or GLs of multiple acceptor site substrates. Therefore the purpose of this study was to develop simple and sensitive HPLC methods for the direct and simultaneous analysis of the GL(s) and their aglycones without the drawbacks of the conventional methods. The three classical substrates we chose were 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), testosterone (TES) and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HOQ) representing UGT isoforms 1A6, 2B1 and 2B12 of the rat family, respectively. Here we report the validated HPLC conditions, for the detection and separation of 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronide (4MUG), testosterone glucuronide (TESG) and 8-hydroxyquinoline glucuronide (8HOQG) and their aglycones in incubation media containing male Sprague-Dawley rat liver and intestinal microsomal preparations. The separations were achieved on a Zorbax SB-CN column (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 micron). The analysis time for the separation of TES, 8HOQ and 4MU and their glucuronides were 17, 12 and 30 min, respectively. The methods showed excellent linearity (r2 > 0.99) over the concentration ranges tested (0.25-5.0 nmoles of TESG; 0.125-18.75 nmoles of 8HOQG and 0.125-12.5 nmoles of 4MUG), good precision and accuracy (RSD<2.5%). Inter-day variability studies (n = 3) showed no significant difference between the regression lines obtained on the three days. Recoveries were good ( > 90%) at all three points (low, mid-point, high) of the standard curve. The limits of detection were 0.125, 0.1 and 0.1 nmole for TESG, 8HOQG and 4MUG. respectively. The above methods were used to estimate kinetic parameters such as Vmax and Km for the GLs of the three substrates in both liver and intestinal tissue preparations and the values were comparable with previously reported results. UGT2B1 was found primarily in the liver while UGTs 1A6 and 2B12 were present in comparable amounts in both tissues.

Bioactivation of the hepatocarcinogen N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene by sulfation in the rat liver changes during the cell cycle

Sulfation activity towards N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and 4-nitrophenol was determined in male rat liver cytosol at several time points after partial hepatectomy corresponding to G1-, S-, and M-phase. N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene sulfation activity decreased by 80% when hepatocytes entered the G1-phase. This lower activity was maintained during the S-phase and M-phase, but was restored when hepatocytes entered the G0-phase again. Sulfation activity towards 4-nitrophenol did not alter after hepatectomy. Various other cytosolic enzyme activities were determined after hepatectomy to investigate the specificity of the decrease in sulfation activity. Lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were increased in the S- and M-phase by maximally 80% and 60%, respectively. Glutathione-S-transferase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activity did not alter during the cell cycle. These results indicate that sulfation of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene in hepatocytes may depend on the phase of the cell cycle. The relevance of the finding is discussed in relation to the resistance of proliferating (pre)neoplastic hepatocytes to the toxic and mitoinhibitory effects of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the direct determination of 4-methylumbelliferone and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Application to studies in the single-pass in situ perfused rat intestine-liver preparation

A direct high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the separation and determination of 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) and its glucuronide (MUG) and sulfate (MUS) conjugates in the cell-free perfusate ("plasma") from in situ perfused rat intestine-liver preparation. In addition, a procedure was developed to extract and determine 4MU in the whole blood perfusate. Perfusate plasma containing an internal standard (umbelliferone) was precipitated with methanol (1:4, v/v), and injected into a reversed-phase HPLC system with gradient elution. 4MU and the same internal standard were also extracted directly from the whole blood perfusate with ethyl acetate and injected into a reversed-phase HPLC system with isocratic elution. Inter- and intra-day precision studies (n = 5 for each) for both the plasma and whole blood procedures demonstrated relative standard deviation of less than 10% at all concentrations studied. The compounds were stable in either the plasma or blood extracts at room temperature for up to 72 h. The procedures were successfully used to analyze perfusate samples obtained from the single-pass in situ perfusion of rat intestine-liver system with either trace (0.95 nM) or 32.3 microM concentrations of 4MU. The intestine was responsible for the formation of most of the MUG formed by the intestine-liver preparation during steady-state perfusion with either input concentration of 4MU.

A simple sensitive fluorimetric assay of APS-kinase activity

Adenosine phosphosulphokinase (APS-kinase or ATP:adenylylsulphate 3'-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.25) catalyses the formation of 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS). Its activity in various tissues was measured by transferring the sulphate from PAPS, a product of APS-kinase reaction, to 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) to form 4-MU-sulphate (4-MUS) using phenolsulphotransferase (PST) extracted from rat liver. Desalting with Sephadex G-25, together with the addition of EDTA effectively removed the Mg2+ ions from the rat liver extract and thereby inhibited the APS-kinase activity therein in the subsequent PST reaction. 4-MUS formed was measured indirectly by a decrease in the fluorescence of 4-MU by a continuous fluorimetric assay. Kinetic data showed that the substrate, APS, at concentrations at and above 132 microM inhibited the APS kinase reaction. Pyrophosphate (PP) also inhibited the reaction. The apparent Km for APS was 14 microM. Two apparent Km values of 0.12 mM and 1.06 mM were obtained for ATP, while that for Mg2+ was 0.09 mM.

Assay of purified aryl sulfotransferase suitable for reactions yielding unstable sulfuric acid esters

An assay procedure for purified aryl sulfotransferase is described. The method utilizes isocratic paired-ion reverse-phase HPLC analysis of adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate formed in the reaction. Evaluation of the assay procedure was carried out with 1-naphthalene-methanol as a model substrate for purified rat hepatic aryl sulfotransferase IV. Kinetic constants for sulfation of 1-naphthalenemethanol determined by this method compared favorably with those determined using thin-layer chromatographic assays of 35S incorporation. These results indicate that the method will be suitable for determination of kinetic constants in sulfotransferase-catalyzed reactions where the product sulfuric acid ester may be chemically unstable.

A modified Ecteola cellulose assay for M and P phenol sulfotransferase

The development and applications of a modified Ecteola cellulose, ion exchange assay for phenol sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.1, PST) are described. Mixtures containing dopamine or phenol and 35S-labeled 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) were incubated with 100,000 g supernatant solution from human frontal cortex and applied to 0.5 X 2 cm columns of Ecteola cellulose. Dopamine sulfate was eluted with 3 ml of distilled water, while phenyl sulfate, inorganic sulfate and unreacted PAPS were eluted with successive step gradients of 5, 20 and 200 mM NH4HCO3. The solution volume for phenyl sulfate was 11 ml, while those for inorganic sulfate and PAPS were both 6 ml. The new assay method yielded apparent Km values for dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine, tyramine and norepinephrine similar to those obtained by other methods. Comparison of the activities of various amine substrates at a concentration of 20 microM showed that dopamine was the preferred substrate, followed in decreasing order of relative activity by 3-methoxytyramine, norepinephrine, tyramine and octopamine. When mixed substrate inhibition of dopamine sulfation by phenol was examined, phenol was found to effectively inhibit dopamine sulfation over a range of 0.1 to 10 mM. The procedure described in this paper offers a number of significant advantages over currently available assays: these include a rapid, simple product isolation procedure and a complete, discrete separation of the radiolabeled products and reactants. This property allows the detailed study of the flux of radiolabel through the enzymatic system and also makes alternative substrate inhibition studies possible.

Pharmacokinetic evidence for the occurrence of extrahepatic conjugative metabolism of p-nitrophenol in rats

p-Nitrophenol (PNP), as a model compound for the study of conjugative metabolism, was administered intravenously to rats. PNP and its conjugated metabolites, i.e. PNP-glucuronide (PNP-Glu) and PNP-sulfate (PNP-Sul), were determined in body fluids by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using ion-pair systems. Linear pharmacokinetics was applicable in the dose range of 1.6 to 8 mg/kg. The metabolic clearance which was obtained from the area under the PNP blood concentration curve (AUCiv) and from the excretion ratio of the total conjugates as PNP-Glu and PNP-Sul was so close to the hepatic blood flow that the PNP conjugation reactions seemed to be limited by the hepatic blood flow, that is the hepatic extraction ratio (EH) was expected to be 1. However, AUCpv, following portal vein administration of PNP (4 mg/kg), was not zero but was significantly different from AUCiv after the same dosing (P less than 0.05). Consequently, comparison between the AUC values from both dosing routes and the excretion ratio of PNP-Glu and PNP-Sul gave and EH of 0.43. Such a difference in EH obtained by the two methods suggested a contribution by extrahepatic conjugative metabolism. It was shown that the intrinsic hepatic clearance obtained, assuming exclusively hepatic conjugative metabolism, was certainly overestimated. Furthermore, the results of the conjugation reaction in tissue homogenates suggested a contribution by extrahepatic glucuronidation.

Enzymatic sulphation of bile salts in man. Bile salt sulphotransferase activity in percutaneous liver biopsy specimens from patients with liver disease

Bile salt sulphation in liver disease was investigated by measuring the bile salt sulphotransferase level in percutaneous liver biopsy specimens from 27 patients. The same magnitude of mean specific enzyme activity was found in patients with cholestatic and non-cholestatic liver disease. No significant difference of the mean bile salt sulphotransferase activity was found when patients with and without reduced liver function as evidence from the intravenous galactose tolerance test were compared. The present results indicate that induction of liver bile salt sulphotransferase does not occur to a significant extend in clinical conditions with cholestasis.

Partial purification of a human liver sulphotransferase active towards bile salts

An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of sulphate from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulphate to bile salts was purified from human liver cytosol by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and Sephadex G-200, by agarose suspension electrophoresis and by isoelectric focusing in free solution. The purified enzyme was also active towards oestrone, dehydroepiandrosterone and phenol. No other liver steroid sulphotransferases could be detected during this purification procedure. Km values of 1.8 . 10(-6) M and 3.3 . 10(-6) M for glycolithocholate and 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulphate respectively were found. The sulphotransferase has an isoelectric point of 5.5. The enzyme was markedly activated by Mg2+, Mn2+ and Co2+ and inhibited by Cu2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+. Chenodeoxycholate and deoxycholate were sulphated at the 7-OH and 12-OH position, respectively. No bile salt disulphate formation was detected. A 30-fold increase in specific activity was obtained, although the purification based on ultraviolet light measurements was considerably higher.

Biotransformation of xenobiotics in Drosophila melanogaster and its relevance for mutagenicity testing

Biotransformation of lipophilic xenobiotics may lead to formation of reactive intermediates which can give rise to irreversible toxic events such as carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, teratogenesis, and tissue necrosis. In recent years considerable attention has been paid to the problem of testing for these effects. Short-term mutagenicity tests have been shown to have value for predicting the occurrence of delayed toxic effects in mammals following administration of indirectly acting harmful xenobiotics. In any test system the capacity to bioactivate the compound under test is a necessary prerequisite, and in most short-term test assays this is provided for by adding a metabolic activation system generally consisting of the 9,000 g supernatant fraction of a rat liver homogenate supplied with cofactors. The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster constitutes an organism well-suited for mutagenicity testing, and it was shown that a number of precarcinogens evoke mutagenic effects in this species. Thus Drosophila is apparently able to metabolize xenobiotics to reactive intermediates, which in turn induce mutagenicity. However, knowledge about the presence and characteristics of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes involved is lacking. Since knowledge of these enzymes contributes to the evaluation and interpretation of observed mutagenic events, this paper described studies concerning some important xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes of Drosophila. Files were homogenized and subcellular fractions were investigated with respect to enzymatic activities. It was possible to demonstrate cytochrome P-450 and some related mixed-function oxidase activities. Cytochrome b5, epoxide hydrolase, and glutathione S-transferase are also present, while preliminary experiments suggest the presence of UDP-glucosyltransferase and phosphotransferase activities. The enzymes which have been found are discussed with respect to their similarities with rat liver enzymes and their relevance for mutagenicity testing with Drosophila melanogaster.

The metabolism of a bronchodilator procaterol HCL in the rat in vitro and in vivo

1. The metabolism of the bronchodilator, 5-(1-hydroxy-2-isopropylamino-butyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril hydrochloride hemihydrate (procaterol HCl), has been studied in vitro and in vivo after oral and intravenous administration to rats. 2. The recovery of [14 C] procaterol HCl and its metabolites in 72 h was about 42% each in urine and faeces for an oral dose (30 mg/kg) and about 53% in urine and 33% in faeces for an intravenous dose (30 mg/kg). 3. Six metabolites in rat excreta were identified as procaterol glucuronide, 5-(2-amino-1-hydroxybutyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril (desisopropylprocaterol), 5-formyl-8-hydroxycarbostyril (5-formyl-8-HCS), 8-hydroxycarbostyril (8-HCS), procaterol sulphate and unchanged procaterol. 4. In experiments in vitro, procaterol HCl was metabolized into desisopropylprocaterol, 5-formyl-8-HCS, and their conjugates, by rat liver 9000 g supernatant fraction, but not by preparations of kidney, lung and small intestine. Conjugation of procaterol HCl with glucuronic acid occurred in liver and small intestine preparations.

Insulin and metabolism of glycosaminoglycans in rabbits

The effect of insulin on the concentration of different glycosaminoglycan (CG) fractions was different in different segments of aorta. Chondroitin sulphate A and heparin were increased in the aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aorta, while chondroitin sulphate B and C were increased only in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta. Heparin sulphate and hyalutonic acid were increased only in the abdominal aorta. In the liver, significant increases occurred in all GG fractions. All enzymes studied which are involved in the biosynthesis of GG precursors, i.e. glucosaminphosphate isomerase, UDP glucose dehydrogenase and glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, were increased in the animals of the insulin group, while all enzymes involved in the degradation of GG, i.e. hyalurono glucosidase, beta-glucosaminidase, arylsulphatase, and cathepsin D, were decreased. Concentration of hepatic PAPS, activity of the sulphate-activiting system and sulphotransferase increased on administration of insulin.

Sex hormones and metabolism of glycosaminoglycans. I. Effect of orchidectomy and administration of testosterone in rabbits

The effect of orchidectomy in male rabbits and administration of testosterone to orchidectomized animals on the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) has been studied. The response of the different GAG fractions in the aorta varies with the nature of the GAG, and in some cases is different in different segments of the aorta. Orchidectomy produced an increase in hyaluronic acid fraction, decrease in heparin sulphate fraction, and no response in the chondroitin sulphate A fraction in the aortic arch, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta. Chondroitin sulphate C and chondroitin sulphate B fractions decreased only in the abdominal aorta and were not significantly altered in the other two segments, while heparin fraction decreased only in the thoracic aorta and was not affected in the other segments. Administration of testosterone to the orchidectomized animals counteracted these changes in the aortic GAG fractures. The enzymes concerned with the synthesis of precursors of GAG--L-glutamine:D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase, UDPG dehydrogenase, and UDPG pyrophosphorylase-- all decreased in the orchidectomized animals; testosterone administration increased their activity in the orchidectomized animals. Enzymes concerned with degradation of GAG--beta-glucuronidase, beta-hexosaminidase, aryl sulphatase, cathepsin, and hyaluronidase--increased in the orchidectomized and decreased on administration of testosterone. Concentration of PAPS and activity of sulphate-activating system and sulphotransferase also decreased in the orchidectomized animals, and testosterone administration tended to restore this decrease to normal levels.

Ascorbic acid and glycosaminoglycan and lipid metabolism in guinea pigs fed normal and atherogenic diets

The effect of low and high doses of ascorbic acid on glycosaminoglycan and lipid metabolism was studied in guinea pigs fed both normal and atherogenic diets. The high dose of ascorbic acid (25 mg/100 g body weight/day) decreased the cholesterol level in the liver and aorta but not in the serum in animals fed the normal diet in comparison with those fed the low dose of ascorbic acid (0.1 mg/100 g body weight/day). In animals fed the atherogenic diet, cholesterol decreased in the serum and liver, but not in the aorta. Serum triglycerides were not affected by the dose of ascorbic acid in the group on the normal diet, but in the animals receiving the atherogenic diet, the high dose of ascorbic acid caused serum triglycerides to decrease when compared with the low dose. Hepatic and aortic triglycerides decreased in groups on normal and atherogenic diets receiving the high dose of ascorbic acid. Lipoprotein lipase activity was not affected in the aorta by the dose of ascorbic acid either in the normal or atherogenic diet group. It was increased in the liver and heart in both the groups receiving the low dose of ascorbic acid but decreased in the high dose group. The concentration of all the glycosaminoglycans significantly increased in the aorta of animals on normal diet receiving the high dose of ascorbic acid when compared with the low dose group. In the group on the atherogenic diet, hyaluronic acid was not affected, but all the sulphated glycosaminoglycans increased in the animals receiving the high dose when compared with those receiving the low dose. In the liver all the sulphated glycosaminoglycans increased while hyaluronic acid decreased in both the normal and atherogenic diet groups receiving the high rather than the low dose of ascorbic acid. L-Glutamine:D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase and UDPG dehydrogenase, two key enzymes in the biosynthesis of precursors of glycosaminoglycans, were studied in relation to the dose of ascorbic acid. Hepatic aminotransferase activity was higher both in the normal and atherogenic diet groups when receiving the high rather than the low dose of ascorbic acid. UDPG dehydrogenase was not affected by the dose of ascorbic acid. The activities of the degrading enzymes -- hyaluronidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-hexosaminidase and aryl sulphatase -- significantly increased both in the normal and atherogenic diet groups when receiving the low rather than the high dose of ascorbic acid. The concentration of PAPS, sulphate activity and sulphotransferase activity were all increased in both the normal and atherogenic diet groups receiving the high dose of ascorbic acid.

Metabolism of glycosaminoglycans in atheromatous rats. Enzymes concerned with synthesis, degradation and sulphation of glycosaminoglycans

Some important enzymes concerned with the biosynthesis of the precursors of glycosaminoglycans (gg), degradation of gg and biological sulphation have been studied in rats fed an atherogenic diet. L-Glutamine-D-fructose-6-phosphate amino-transferase and glucosamine-6-phosphate-N-acetylase--2 enzymes concerned with the biosynthesis of hexosamine precursors of gg--decreased in the liver in rats fed the atherogenic diet. UDPG pyrophosphorylase, UDPG dehydrogenase and UDPG glucuronic acid-5'-epimerase, which are concerned with the biosynthesis of the uronic precursors of gg, also decreased in the liver in the diet-fed rats. The activities of some of the enzymes concerned with degradation of gg-hyaluronidase, beta-glucuronidase beta-hexosaminidase, cathepsin and aryl sulphatase--increased both in the liver and aorta. The hepatic concentration of PAPS significantly decreased in the diet-fed rats. The sulphate-activating system, which includes ATP sulphurylase, APS kinase and sulphotransferase, also decreased. Thus the overall picture is one of decreased synthesis of gg and their increased degradation in the atheromatous rats.