Characterization of ferrochelatase in kidney and erythroleukemia cells

Cellular iron metabolism

Iron is essential for oxidation-reduction catalysis and bioenergetics, but unless appropriately shielded, iron plays a key role in the formation of toxic oxygen radicals that can attack all biological molecules. Hence, specialized molecules for the acquisition, transport (transferrin), and storage (ferritin) of iron in a soluble nontoxic form have evolved. Delivery of iron to most cells, probably including those of the kidney, occurs following the binding of transferrin to transferrin receptors on the cell membrane. The transferrin-receptor complexes are then internalized by endocytosis, and iron is released from transferrin by a process involving endosomal acidification. Cellular iron storage and uptake are coordinately regulated post-transcriptionally by cytoplasmic factors, iron-regulatory proteins 1 and 2 (IRP-1 and IRP-2). Under conditions of limited iron supply, IRP binding to iron-responsive elements (present in 5' untranslated region of ferritin mRNA and 3' untranslated region of transferrin receptor mRNA) blocks ferritin mRNA translation and stabilizes transferrin receptor mRNA. The opposite scenario develops when iron in the transit pool is plentiful. Moreover, IRP activities/levels can be affected by various forms of "oxidative stress" and nitric oxide. The kidney also requires iron for metabolic processes, and it is likely that iron deficiency or excess can cause disturbed function of kidney cells. Transferrin receptors are not evenly distributed throughout the kidney, and there is a cortical-to-medullary gradient in heme biosynthesis, with greatest activity in the cortex and least in the medulla. This suggests that there are unique iron/heme metabolism features in some kidney cells, but the specific aspects of iron and heme metabolism in the kidney are yet to be explained.

The effect of L-cysteine and N-acetylcysteine on porphyrin/heme biosynthetic pathway in cells treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid and exposed to radiation

The effects of L-cysteine (LC) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on porphyrin accumulation in a human dermal microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) and a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line (A431) loaded with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) and blue light radiation were determined. Porphyrin accumulation was decreased in the presence of 0.1-7.5 mM LC (24.8%-31.4% suppression in HMEC-1 cell; 35.8%-48.9% suppression in A431 cells), and in the presence of 0.1-10.0 mM NAC (30.9%-58.0% suppression in HMEC-1 cells; 8.5%-45.3% in A431 cells). The suppression occurred in a LC or NAC dose-dependent fashion. The above was associated with partial reversal of suppression of ferrochelatase (FeC) activity in HMEC-1 cells and in A431 cells. As compared to FeC activity in cells treated with ALA and irradiation, enzyme activity was higher (by 31.9%-62.1%) in the presence of LC (1.0 mM or 5.0 mM) and in the presence of NAC (1.0 mM or 5.0 mM). These data indicate that LC and NAC have protective effects on porphyrin- and irradiation-induced diminution of FeC activity in HMEC-1 cells and A341 cells in vitro.

The effect of ALA and radiation on porphyrin/heme biosynthesis in endothelial cells

To study porphyrin biosynthesis in human microvascular endothelial cells, HMEC-1 cells, a transformed human microvascular endothelial cell line, were incubated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the precursor of endogenous porphyrins, and porphyrin accumulation was measured spectro-fluorometrically. The HMEC-1 cells accumulated porphyrin in a concentration-related and a time-dependent fashion. Protoporphyrin was the predominant porphyrin accumulated in the cells. The effect of light on protoporphyrin accumulation was evaluated by exposing the ALA-loaded HMEC-1 cells to ultraviolet-A (UVA) and blue light, followed by another incubation with ALA for 2-24 h. Enhancement of protoporphyrin accumulation in irradiated HMEC-1 cells was observed 2-24 h after irradiation, which was associated with a decrease in ferrochelatase protein and activity. Porphyrin accumulation from ALA after irradiation was significantly decreased when catalase (750-3000 U/mL, 29.3-44.3% suppression) or superoxide dismutase (270 U/mL, 36.4% suppression) was present during irradiation. These data demonstrate that HMEC-1 cells were capable of porphyrin biosynthesis, and that exposure of protoporphyrin-containing HMEC-1 cells to UVA and blue light, which includes the Soret band spectrum, decreased the ferrochelatase activity and its protein. These changes were mediated, at least in part, by reactive oxygen species.

The ferrochelatase gene structure and molecular defects associated with erythropoietic protoporphyria

Ferrochelatase [heme synthase, protoheme ferrolyase (EC 4.99.1.1)], the terminal enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, catalyzes the incorporation of ferrous ion into protoporphyrin IX to form protoheme IX. The genes and cDNAs for ferrochelatase from mammals and micro-organisms have been isolated. The gene for human ferrochelatase has been mapped to chromosome 18q 21.3 and consists of 11 exons with a size of about 45 kilodaltons. The induction of ferrochelatase expression occurs during erythroid differentiation, and can be attributed to the existence of the promoter sequences of erythroid-related genes. Analysis of the ferrochelatase gene in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria, an inherited disease caused by ferrochelatase defects, revealed that molecular anomalies of ferrochelatase from 11 patients were found in 9 patients as autosomal dominant type, and 2 patients as recessive type. Diversity of the mutations of the ferrochelatase gene is also briefly described.

Site-directed mutagenesis of human ferrochelatase: identification of histidine-263 as a binding site for metal ions

In nature, ferrochelatase catalyzes the insertion of ferrous ion into the porphyrin macrocycle of protoporphyrin IX to exclude two protons to form protoheme IX: other porphyrin substrates, including mesoporphyrin IX may be used in vitro. Based on the deduced amino-acid sequences, one histidine residue (H263 of human enzyme) is conserved among all ferrochelatases cloned from human to bacterial cells, and three histidine residues (H157, H341 and H388 of human enzyme) are conserved among eukaryotic ferrochelatases; no cysteine residue is conserved. To attempt to clarify the binding site of ferrous ion, we converted four highly conserved histidine residues in human ferrochelatase to alanine, using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli, and iron- and zinc-chelating activities were examined. Mutants H157A and H388A lost most of their activities and concomitantly the enzyme became susceptible to proteolytic degradation. Kinetic studies with the residual activities showed no significant change of Km values for metal ions or for mesoporphyrin IX. Mutation at H341 did not alter the enzyme activities. Iron- and zinc-chelating activities of mutant H263A were reduced to 30% and 21% of the activities of the wild type, respectively. Moreover, this mutation resulted in 18- and 3.4-fold increases in Km values toward ferrous and zinc ions, respectively, while the Km value for mesoporphyrin remained unchanged. These results indicate that the binding site for metal ions in ferrochelatase is distinct from that for the porphyrin, and suggest that histidine-263 contributes significantly to the binding of metal ions. Maintenance of the structure of the protein molecule may involve functions related to histidine-157 and -388.

Overexpression in Escherichia coli, and one-step purification of the human recombinant ferrochelatase

Ferrochelatase (EC 4.99.1.1), a mitochondrial inner membrane-bound protein, is the terminal enzyme of heme biosynthesis. The cDNA encoding the human mature ferrochelatase was placed under transcriptional control of T7 RNA polymerase in an Escherichia coli expression system. The bacteria produced large amounts of 42 kDa protein which reacted with anti-ferrochelatase antibodies. Expressed ferrochelatase exhibited iron- and zinc-chelating activities, and was found as a soluble protein. The recombinant enzyme has been purified to apparent homogeneity with a high yield, by one-step purification involving Blue-Sepharose chromatography. The purified enzyme which showed a molecular weight of about 40,000 by gel-filtration, functioned in a monomeric form. Km value for both mesoporphyrin IX and protoporphyrin IX with zinc was 12.5 microM. Km values for iron and zinc with mesoporphyrin IX were 6.7 microM and 11.8 microM, respectively. Zinc-chelating activity was markedly stimulated by palmitic acid, but iron-chelating activity remained unchanged. The above results were similar to those reported previously for mammalian ferrochelatase. The overexpression and the simple purification of a functional ferrochelatase exhibiting the same properties as natural enzyme will allow us to elucidate the mechanism of the enzyme reaction and structural changes of the mutated enzyme.

Effect of UVA and blue light on porphyrin biosynthesis in epidermal cells

To study porphyrin biosynthesis in normal human keratinocytes and A431 cells derived from human epidermoid carcinoma, cultured cells were incubated with delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the precursor of porphyrin synthesis, and accumulation of porphyrins was measured spectrofluorometrically. Both human keratinocytes and A431 cells accumulated porphyrins in a time-dependent and a dose-dependent fashion. Protoporphyrin was the predominant porphyrin accumulated by both cell types. Porphyrin accumulation was enhanced by Ca Mg ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a ferrochelatase inhibitor, and the enhancement was reversed by the addition of iron, suggesting the utilization of iron by ferrochelatase. The effect of light on porphyrin accumulation was evaluated by exposing the ALA-loaded A431 cells to ultraviolet-A (UVA) and blue light radiation, followed by continued incubation with ALA for 2-48 h. There was an enhancement of porphyrin accumulation 2-48 h after the radiation as compared with nonirradiated controls. Consistent with this finding, ferrochelatase activity decreased in these cells at 24 h and 48 h. These data demonstrate that human keratinocytes and A431 cells are capable of porphyrin biosynthesis, and that exposure of porphyrin-containing A431 cells to light, which includes the Soret band spectrum, decreases the ferrochelatase activity, which is responsible, at least in part, for the further increase in porphyrin level.

Lead and the terminal mitochondrial enzymes of haem biosynthesis

Lead exposure causes increases in urinary coproporphyrin excretion and the accumulation of zinc protoporphyrin in red cells. In the conventional view of the effect of lead on haem biosynthesis, the accumulation of these metabolites results from lead inhibition of two of the mitochondrial enzymes of haem biosynthesis, coproporphyrinogen oxidase (EC 1.3.3.3) and ferrochelatase (EC 4.99.1.1). This review critically assesses the evidence for the inhibition of these enzymes. We consider this evidence to be inconclusive and alternative explanations for the increased concentrations of coproporphyrin and zinc protoporphyrin are proposed.

Structure of the human ferrochelatase gene. Exon/intron gene organization and location of the gene to chromosome 18

We have determined the structure of the human ferrochelatase gene after isolation and characterization of lambda phage clones mapping discrete regions of the cDNA. This gene was assigned to human chromosome 18 at region q21.3, by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The gene contains a total of 11 exons and has a minimum size of about 45 kb. The exon/intron boundary sequences conform to consensus acceptor (GTn) and donor (nAG) sequences, and the exons in the gene appear to encode functional protein domains. A major site of the transcription initiation, determined by S1 nuclease mapping, was assigned to an adenine base 89 bases upstream from the adenine base of the translation initiation ATG. The promoter region contains a potential binding site for Sp1, NF-E2 and erythroid-specific transcriptional factor GATA-1, but not a typical TATAA or CCAAT sequence. Analysis of primer extension showed that the transcription starts at the same position between hepatoma HepG2 and erythroleukemia K562 cell mRNA, thereby suggesting that there can be a single transcript in erythroid and non-erythroid cells.

Eclectic mechanisms of heme regulation of hematopoiesis

Regulatory features of heme (ferroprotoporphyrin IX) on hematopoietic growth/differentiation and related processes are reviewed. It is emphasized that expressions of specific erythroid and nonerythroid heme biosynthetic and degradatory enzymes are required, and the regulatory processes whereby this occurs is considered. The specificity of heme, relationship to cellular events such as differentiation, response to growth factors, oncogene and receptor expression, and how heme counteracts toxic effects such as viral growth are all discussed. The significance of heme in the hemopoietic bone marrow microenvironment and growth factor network are considered. Finally, the third pathway for arachidonic acid metabolism via the heme-cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system, in addition to cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, by bone marrow adherent cells and its role in cellular differentiation is briefly reviewed.

Molecular regulation--biological role of heme in hematopoiesis

Heme synthesis and degradation play pivotal roles in the regulation of growth and differentiation of erythroid and non-erythroid cells. Heme synthesis in mammalian cells involves eight enzymes which are localized in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic compartments. These enzymes have been well-characterized and cDNAs for six of the enzymes has been cloned. Two enzymes in the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway, delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) have special features and may have regulatory functions in heme synthesis by hematopoietic cells. ALAS exists as two isozymes which are encoded by non-erythroid and erythroid-specific genes, respectively. By contrast, PBG-D, which also exists as two isozymes, arises from a single gene comprised of two overlapping transcriptional units, each with its own promoter. Transcription from one or the other of these promoters gives rise through differential splicing to two distinct mRNA species which encode the distinct nonerythroid and erythroid isoforms. On the other hand, heme catabolism is determined by the levels of the heme oxygenase system. The enzyme has been purified and the cDNA for heme oxygenase has been cloned. Repression of heme oxygenase in erythroid progenitor cells may initiate differentiation. In addition, recent evidence has suggested that heme may have a broader role in hematopoiesis and in the network of cytokine production by adherent stromal cells.

Cloning of murine ferrochelatase

Ferrochelatase (protoheme ferro-lyase, EC 4.99.1.1) catalyzes the last step in the heme biosynthetic pathway, the chelation of ferrous iron and protoporphyrin to form heme. The activity of ferrochelatase is deficient in the inherited disease protoporphyria. In this study, murine ferrochelatase cDNAs were obtained by screening cDNA libraries with an oligonucleotide probe. The derived amino acid sequence of murine ferrochelatase has 47% identity with the recently cloned Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferrochelatase, but it is not significantly similar to other published sequences. Results of Southern blotting are consistent with a single murine ferrochelatase gene, while Northern blotting demonstrates two ferrochelatase transcripts in all tissues examined. The ferrochelatase protein and mRNAs have different relative concentrations in different tissues. The cloning of murine ferrochelatase cDNAs provides the basis for future studies on ferrochelatase gene expression and on the identification of the molecular defect in protoporphyria.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding human ferrochelatase

The cDNA encoding human ferrochelatase [EC 4.99.1.1] was isolated from a human placenta cDNA library in bacteriophage lambda gt11 by screening with a radiolabeled fragment of mouse ferrochelatase cDNA. The cDNA had an open reading frame of 1269 base pairs (bp) encoding a protein of 423 amino acid residues (Mr. 47,833) with alternative putative polyadenylation signals in the 3' non-coding regions and poly (A) tails. Amino acid sequencing showed that the mature protein consists of 369 amino acid residues (Mr. 42,158) with a putative leader sequence of 54 amino acid residues. The human enzyme showed an 88% identity to mouse enzyme and 46% to yeast enzyme. Northern blot analysis showed two mRNAs of about 2500 and 1600 bp for ferrochelatase in K562 and HepG2 cells. As full-length cDNA for human ferrochelatase is now available, molecular lesions related to erythropoietic protoporphyria can be characterized.