Substrate inhibition of xanthine oxidase and its influence on superoxide radical production

Removal of substrate inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii xanthine oxidase by point mutation at Gln-201 enables efficient reduction of purine content in fish sauce

Xanthine oxidase is an oxidase that has a molybdopterin structure with substrate inhibition. Here, we show that a single point mutation (Q201) in the Acinetobacter baumannii xanthine oxidase (AbXOD) obtained mutant Q201E (k _cat =799.44 s^-1, no inhibition) with high enzyme activity and decrease of substrate inhibition in 5 mmol/L high substrate model, and which cause two loops structure change at active center, characterized by complete loss of substrate inhibition without reduction of enzymatic activity. Molecular docking results showed that the change of flexible loop increased the affinity between substrate and enzyme, and the formation of a π-π bond and two hydrogen bonds made the substrate more stable in the active center. Ultimately, Q201E can still maintain better enzyme activity under high purine content (an approximately 7-fold improvement over the wild-type), indicating a broader application prospect in the manufacture of low-purine food.

Interplay of carbon dioxide and peroxide metabolism in mammalian cells

The carbon dioxide/bicarbonate (CO₂/HCO₃^-) molecular pair is ubiquitous in mammalian cells and tissues, mainly as a result of oxidative decarboxylation reactions that occur during intermediary metabolism. CO₂ is in rapid equilibrium with HCO₃^-via the hydration reaction catalyzed by carbonic anhydrases. Far from being an inert compound in redox biology, CO₂ enhances or redirects the reactivity of peroxides, modulating the velocity, extent, and type of one- and two-electron oxidation reactions mediated by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-/ONOOH). Herein, we review the biochemical mechanisms by which CO₂ engages in peroxide-dependent reactions, free radical production, redox signaling, and oxidative damage. First, we cover the metabolic formation of CO₂ and its connection to peroxide formation and decomposition. Next, the reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and processes by which the CO₂/peroxide interplay modulates mammalian cell redox biology are scrutinized in-depth. Importantly, CO₂ also regulates gene expression related to redox and nitric oxide metabolism and as such influences oxidative and inflammatory processes. Accumulated biochemical evidence in vitro, in cellula, and in vivo unambiguously show that the CO₂ and peroxide metabolic pathways are intertwined and together participate in key redox events in mammalian cells.

Presenting a New Standard Drug Model for Turmeric and Its Prized Extract, Curcumin

Various parts of the turmeric plant have been used as medicinal treatment for various conditions from ulcers and arthritis to cardiovascular disease and neuroinflammation. The rhizome's curcumin extract is the most studied active constituent, which exhibits an expansive polypharmacology with influence on many key inflammatory markers. Despite the expansive reports of curcucmin's therapeutic value, clinical reliability and research repeatability with curcumin treatment are still poor. The pharmacology must be better understood and reliably mapped if curcumin is to be accepted and used in modern medical applications. Although the polypharmacology of this extract has been considered, in mainstream medicine, to be a drawback, a perspective change reveals a comprehensive and even synergistic shaping of the NF-kB pathway, including transactivation. Much of the inconsistent research data and unreliable clinical outcomes may be due to a lack of standardization which also pervades research standard samples. The possibility of other well-known curcumin by-products contributing in the polypharmacology is also discussed. A new flowchart of crosstalk in transduction pathways that lead to shaping of nuclear NF-kB transactivation is generated and a new calibration or standardization protocol for the extract is proposed which could lead to more consistent data extraction and improved reliability in therapy.

Sensing based on the motion of enzyme-modified nanorods

Asymmetric modification with an enzyme confers nanorods an enhanced diffusive motion that is dependent on the concentration of the enzyme substrate. In turn, such a motion opens the possibility of determining the concentration of the enzyme substrate by measuring the diffusion coefficient of nanorods modified with the appropriate enzyme. Nanorods, with a Pt and a polypyrrole (PPy) segment, were fabricated. The PPy segment of such nanorods was then modified with glucose oxidase (GOx), glutamate oxidase (GluOx), or xanthine oxidase (XOD). Calibration curves, linking the diffusion coefficient of the oxidase-modified nanorods to the concentration of the oxidase substrate, were subsequently built. The oxidase-modified nanorods and their calibration curves were finally used to determine substrate concentrations both in simple aqueous solutions and in complex samples such as horse serum and cell culture media. Based on the obtained results we are confident that our motion-based approach to sensing can be developed to the point where different nanorods in a mixture simultaneously report on the concentration of different compounds with good temporal and spatial resolution.

Molybdate:sulfate ratio affects redox metabolism and viability of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum

Molybdenum is a transition metal used primarily (90% or more) as an additive to steel and corrosion-resistant alloys in metallurgical industries and its release into the environment is a growing problem. As a catalytic center of some redox enzymes, molybdenum is an essential element for inorganic nitrogen assimilation/fixation, phytohormone synthesis, and free radical metabolism in photosynthesizing species. In oceanic and estuarine waters, microalgae absorb molybdenum as the water-soluble molybdate anion (MoO4(2-)), although MoO4(2-) uptake is thought to compete with uptake of the much more abundant sulfate anion (SO4(2-), approximately 25 mM in seawater). Thus, those aspects of microalgal biology impacted by molybdenum would be better explained by considering both MoO4(2-) and SO4(2-) concentrations in the aquatic milieu. This work examines toxicological, physiological and redox imbalances in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum that have been induced by changes in the molybdate:sulfate ratios. We prepared cultures of Lingulodinium polyedrum grown in artificial seawater containing eight different MoO4(2-) concentrations (from 0 to 200 μM) and three different SO4(2-) concentrations (3.5 mM, 9.6 mM and 25 mM). We measured sulfur content in cells, the activities of the three major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase), indexes of oxidative modifications in proteins (carbonyl content) and lipids (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS), the activities of the molybdenum-dependent enzymes xanthine oxidase and nitrate reductase, expression of key protein components of dinoflagellate photosynthesis (peridinin-chlorophyll a protein and ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxidase) and growth curves. We find evidence for Mo toxicity at relatively high [MoO4(2-)]:[SO4(2-)] ratios. We also find evidence for extensive redox adaptations at Mo levels well below lethal levels.

Chemical foundations of hydrogen sulfide biology

Following nitric oxide (nitrogen monoxide) and carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide (or its newer systematic name sulfane, H2S) became the third small molecule that can be both toxic and beneficial depending on the concentration. In spite of its impressive therapeutic potential, the underlying mechanisms for its beneficial effects remain unclear. Any novel mechanism has to obey fundamental chemical principles. H2S chemistry was studied long before its biological relevance was discovered, however, with a few exceptions, these past works have received relatively little attention in the path of exploring the mechanistic conundrum of H2S biological functions. This review calls attention to the basic physical and chemical properties of H2S, focuses on the chemistry between H2S and its three potential biological targets: oxidants, metals and thiol derivatives, discusses the applications of these basics into H2S biology and methodology, and introduces the standard terminology to this youthful field.

Nitrite as regulator of hypoxic signaling in mammalian physiology

In this review we consider the effects of endogenous and pharmacological levels of nitrite under conditions of hypoxia. In humans, the nitrite anion has long been considered as metastable intermediate in the oxidation of nitric oxide radicals to the stable metabolite nitrate. This oxidation cascade was thought to be irreversible under physiological conditions. However, a growing body of experimental observations attests that the presence of endogenous nitrite regulates a number of signaling events along the physiological and pathophysiological oxygen gradient. Hypoxic signaling events include vasodilation, modulation of mitochondrial respiration, and cytoprotection following ischemic insult. These phenomena are attributed to the reduction of nitrite anions to nitric oxide if local oxygen levels in tissues decrease. Recent research identified a growing list of enzymatic and nonenzymatic pathways for this endogenous reduction of nitrite. Additional direct signaling events not involving free nitric oxide are proposed. We here discuss the mechanisms and properties of these various pathways and the role played by the local concentration of free oxygen in the affected tissue.

NADH oxidase activity of rat and human liver xanthine oxidoreductase: potential role in superoxide production

To characterise the NADH oxidase activity of both xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) forms of rat liver xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) and to evaluate the potential role of this mammalian enzyme as an O2*- source, kinetics and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies were performed. A steady-state kinetics study of XD showed that it catalyses NADH oxidation, leading to the formation of one O2*- molecule and half a H(2)O(2) molecule per NADH molecule, at rates 3 times those observed for XO (29.2 +/- 1.6 and 9.38 +/- 0.31 min(-1), respectively). EPR spectra of NADH-reduced XD and XO were qualitatively similar, but they were quantitatively quite different. While NADH efficiently reduced XD, only a great excess of NADH reduced XO. In agreement with reductive titration data, the XD specificity constant for NADH (8.73 +/- 1.36 microM(-1) min(-1)) was found to be higher than that of the XO specificity constant (1.07 +/- 0.09 microM(-1) min(-1)). It was confirmed that, for the reducing substrate xanthine, rat liver XD is also a better O2*- source than XO. These data show that the dehydrogenase form of liver XOR is, thus, intrinsically more efficient at generating O2*- than the oxidase form, independently of the reducing substrate. Most importantly, for comparative purposes, human liver XO activity towards NADH oxidation was also studied, and the kinetics parameters obtained were found to be very similar to those of the XO form of rat liver XOR, foreseeing potential applications of rat liver XOR as a model of the human liver enzyme.

The confounding effects of light, sonication, and Mn(III)TBAP on quantitation of superoxide using hydroethidine

Previously, we showed that hydroethidine (HE) reacts with intracellular superoxide radical anion (O2-*) to form a unique fluorescent marker product, 2-hydroxyethidium cation (2-OH-E+), that was not formed from HE reaction with other biologically relevant oxidants (H. Zhao et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA102:5727-5732; 2005). Here we rigorously assessed the confounding effects of light, sonication, and Mn(III)TBAP on 2-OH-E+, the HE/O2-* reaction product. Results indicate that continuous exposure to visible light induced photo-oxidation of HE to ethidium cation (E+) by a 2-OH-E+ -dependent mechanism. Treatment of HE with ultrasound, a frequently used technique to lyse cell membranes, induced 2-OH-E+ from in situ generation of O2-*. Mn(III)TBAP, a cell-permeable metal-porphyrin complex used as a catalytic antioxidant, reacts with HE to form E+. This finding provides an alternative interpretation for Mn(III)TBAP effects during the HE/O2-* reaction. In order to correctly interpret the HE reaction with O2-* in cells, it is therefore imperative that HE and HE-derived products be measured by HPLC. A new and improved HPLC-electrochemical (HPLC-EC) detection has been developed for analysis of intracellular O2-*. The HPLC-EC method is at least 10 times more sensitive than the HPLC-fluorescence technique for detecting O2-* in cells.

Peroxynitrite delivery methods for toxicity studies

The endogenous synthesis of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) has been implicated in a number of diseases, but assessments of its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity have been hampered by its extremely short half-life under physiological conditions (<20 ms) and the consequent difficulty in exposing cells to known concentrations of it over at least several hours. Two methods for peroxynitrite delivery to cell cultures were investigated, one involving steady infusion of preformed ONOO(-) and the other based on the continuous in situ synthesis of ONOO(-) from NO and O(2)(-). In the latter, NO was supplied by diffusion through gas permeable tubing and O(2)(-) was generated using the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction. The performance of both methods was assessed by measuring the rates of formation of tyrosine derivatives (dityrosine and nitrotyrosine) that are commonly employed as biomarkers for peroxynitrite. Experimental results in the absence of cells were compared in each case with predictions from kinetic models. In the infusion system, the measured dityrosine and nitrotyrosine yields were in excellent agreement with those predicted from the model. To characterize the other system, experiments were performed first to determine the kinetics of hypoxanthine oxidation by xanthine oxidase and uric acid oxidation by uricase. Simulations of the complex reaction network in the complete synthesis system suggested that dityrosine should be the major product there, that the yields of both tyrosine derivatives should be very sensitive to the relative rates of NO and O(2)(-) delivery, and that equal rates for NO and O(2)(-) should maximize those yields. Experiments performed under the predicted optimal conditions showed much lower levels of dityrosine than expected and no detectable nitrotyrosine. The unexpectedly low yields of tyrosine products could be explained largely by the partial inactivation of both xanthine oxidase and uricase by peroxynitrite-derived NO(2) and CO(3)(-) radicals. We conclude that continuous infusion of peroxynitrite is the more promising approach.

The role of active site glutamate residues in catalysis of Rhodobacter capsulatus xanthine dehydrogenase

Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) from the bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus catalyzes the hydroxylation of xanthine to uric acid with NAD+ as the electron acceptor. R. capsulatus XDH forms an (alphabeta)2 heterotetramer and is highly homologous to homodimeric eukaryotic xanthine oxidoreductases. Here we first describe reductive titration and steady state kinetics on recombinant wild-type R. capsulatus XDH purified from Escherichia coli, and we then proceed to evaluate the catalytic importance of the active site residues Glu-232 and Glu-730. The steady state and rapid reaction kinetics of an E232A variant exhibited a significant decrease in both kcat and kred as well as increased Km and Kd values as compared with the wild-type protein. No activity was determined for the E730A, E730Q, E730R, and E730D variants in either the steady state or rapid reaction experiments, indicating at least a 10(7) decrease in catalytic effectiveness for this variant. This result is fully consistent with the proposed role of this residue as an active site base that initiates catalysis.

Characterization of the magnitude and kinetics of xanthine oxidase-catalyzed nitrate reduction: evaluation of its role in nitrite and nitric oxide generation in anoxic tissues

In addition to nitric oxide (NO) generation from specific NO synthases, NO is also formed during anoxia from nitrite reduction, and xanthine oxidase (XO) catalyzes this process. While in tissues and blood high nitrate levels are present, questions remain regarding whether nitrate is also a source of NO and if XO-mediated nitrate reduction can be an important source of NO in biological systems. To characterize the kinetics, magnitude, and mechanism of XO-mediated nitrate reduction under anaerobic conditions, EPR, chemiluminescence NO-analyzer, and NO-electrode studies were performed. Typical XO reducing substrates, xanthine, NADH, and 2,3-dihydroxybenz-aldehyde, triggered nitrate reduction to nitrite and NO. The rate of nitrite production followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, while NO generation rates increased linearly following the accumulation of nitrite, suggesting stepwise-reduction of nitrate to nitrite then to NO. The molybdenum-binding XO inhibitor, oxypurinol, inhibited both nitrite and NO production, indicating that nitrate reduction occurs at the molybdenum site. At higher xanthine concentrations, partial inhibition was seen, suggesting formation of a substrate-bound reduced enzyme complex with xanthine blocking the molybdenum site. The pH dependence of nitrite and NO formation indicate that XO-mediated nitrate reduction occurs via an acid-catalyzed mechanism. With conditions occurring during ischemia, myocardial xanthine oxidoreductase and nitrate levels were determined to generate up to 20 microM nitrite within 10-20 min that can be further reduced to NO with rates comparable to those of maximally activated NOS. Thus, XOR catalyzed nitrate reduction to nitrite and NO occurs and can be an important source of NO production in ischemic tissues.

The mechanism-based inactivation of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase by catecholic substrates

2,3-Dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (EC ), the extradiol dioxygenase of the biphenyl biodegradation pathway, is subject to inactivation during the steady-state cleavage of catechols. Detailed analysis revealed that this inactivation was similar to the O(2)-dependent inactivation of the enzyme in the absence of catecholic substrate, resulting in oxidation of the active site Fe(II) to Fe(III). Interestingly, the catecholic substrate not only increased the reactivity of the enzyme with O(2) to promote ring cleavage but also increased the rate of O(2)-dependent inactivation. Thus, in air-saturated buffer, the apparent rate constant of inactivation of the free enzyme was (0.7 +/- 0.1) x 10(-3) s(-1) versus (3.7 +/- 0.4) x 10(-3) s(-1) for 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, the preferred catecholic substrate of the enzyme, and (501 +/- 19) x 10(-3) s(-1) for 3-chlorocatechol, a potent inactivator of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (partition coefficient = 8 +/- 2, K(m)(app) = 4.8 +/- 0.7 microm). The 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase-catalyzed cleavage of 3-chlorocatechol yielded predominantly 2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid and 2-hydroxymuconic acid, consistent with the transient formation of an acyl chloride. However, the enzyme was not covalently modified by this acyl chloride in vitro or in vivo. The study suggests a general mechanism for the inactivation of extradiol dioxygenases during catalytic turnover involving the dissociation of superoxide from the enzyme-catecholic-dioxygen ternary complex and is consistent with the catalytic mechanism.

Characterization of the magnitude and kinetics of xanthine oxidase-catalyzed nitrite reduction. Evaluation of its role in nitric oxide generation in anoxic tissues

Xanthine oxidase (XO)-catalyzed nitrite reduction with nitric oxide (NO) production has been reported to occur under anaerobic conditions, but questions remain regarding the magnitude, kinetics, and biological importance of this process. To characterize this mechanism and its quantitative importance in biological systems, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, chemiluminescence NO analyzer, and NO electrode studies were performed. The XO reducing substrates xanthine, NADH, and 2,3-dihydroxybenz-aldehyde triggered nitrite reduction to NO, and the molybdenum-binding XO inhibitor oxypurinol inhibited this NO formation, indicating that nitrite reduction occurs at the molybdenum site. However, at higher xanthine concentrations, partial inhibition was seen, suggesting the formation of a substrate-bound reduced enzyme complex with xanthine blocking the molybdenum site. Studies of the pH dependence of NO formation indicated that XO-mediated nitrite reduction occurred via an acid-catalyzed mechanism. Nitrite and reducing substrate concentrations were important regulators of XO-catalyzed NO generation. The substrate dependence of anaerobic XO-catalyzed nitrite reduction followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, enabling prediction of the magnitude of NO formation and delineation of the quantitative importance of this process in biological systems. It was determined that under conditions occurring during no-flow ischemia, myocardial XO and nitrite levels are sufficient to generate NO levels comparable to those produced from nitric oxide synthase. Thus, XO-catalyzed nitrite reduction can be an important source of NO generation under ischemic conditions.

The reductive half-reaction of xanthine oxidase. Reaction with aldehyde substrates and identification of the catalytically labile oxygen

The kinetics of xanthine oxidase has been investigated with the aim of addressing several outstanding questions concerning the reaction mechanism of the enzyme. Steady-state and rapid kinetic studies with the substrate 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde demonstrated that (kcat/Km)app and kred/Kd exhibit comparable bell-shaped pH dependence with pKa values of 6.4 +/- 0.2 and 8.4 +/- 0.2, with the lower pKa assigned to an active-site residue of xanthine oxidase (possibly Glu-1261, by analogy to Glu-869 in the crystallographically known aldehyde oxidase from Desulfovibrio gigas) and the higher pKa to substrate. Early steps in the catalytic sequence have been investigated by following the reaction of the oxidized enzyme with a second aldehyde substrate, 2-aminopteridine-6-aldehyde. The absence of a well defined acid limb in this pH profile and other data indicate that this complex represents an Eox.S rather than Ered.P complex (i.e. no chemistry requiring the active-site base has taken place in forming the long wavelength-absorbing complex seen with this substrate). It appears that xanthine oxidase (and by inference, the closely related aldehyde oxidases) hydroxylates both aromatic heterocycles and aldehydes by a mechanism involving base-assisted catalysis. Single-turnover experiments following incorporation of 17O into the molybdenum center of the enzyme demonstrated that a single oxygen atom is incorporated at a site that gives rise to strong hyperfine coupling to the unpaired electron spin of the metal in the MoV oxidation state. By analogy to the hyperfine interactions seen in a homologous series of molybdenum model compounds, we conclude that this strongly coupled, catalytically labile site represents a metal-coordinated hydroxide rather than the Mo=O group and that this Mo-OH represents the oxygen that is incorporated into product in the course of catalysis.

Xanthine oxidase-mediated decomposition of S-nitrosothiols

S-Nitrosothiols (RSNO) occur in vivo and have been proposed as nitric oxide (.NO) storage and transport biomolecules. Still, the biochemical mechanisms by which RSNO release .NO in biological systems are not well defined, and in particular, the interactions between reactive oxygen species and RSNO have not been studied. In this work, we show that xanthine oxidase (XO), in the presence of purine (hypoxanthine, xanthine) or pteridine (lumazine) substrates, induces S-nitrosocysteine (CysNO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) decomposition under aerobic conditions. The decomposition of RSNO by XO was inhibitable by copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, in agreement with the participation of superoxide anion (O-2) in the process. However, while superoxide dismutase could totally inhibit aerobic decomposition of GSNO, it was only partially inhibitory for CysNO. Competition experiments indicated that O-2 reacted with GSNO with a rate constant of 1 x 10(4) M-1.s-1 at pH 7.4 and 25 degreesC. The decomposition of RSNO was accompanied by peroxynitrite formation as assessed by the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine and of cytochrome c2+. The proposed mechanism involves the O-2-dependent reduction of RSNO to yield .NO, which in turn reacts fast with a second O-2 molecule to yield peroxynitrite. Under anaerobic conditions, CysNO incubated with xanthine plus XO resulted in CysNO decomposition, .NO detection, and cysteine and uric acid formation. We found that CysNO is an electron acceptor substrate for XO with a Km of 0.7 mM. In agreement with this concept, the enzymatic reduction of CysNO by XO was inhibitable by oxypurinol and diphenyliodonium, inhibitors that interfere with the catalytic cycle at the molybdenum and flavin sites, respectively. In conclusion, XO decomposes RSNO by O-2-dependent and -independent pathways, and in the presence of oxygen it leads to peroxynitrite formation.

Quantitative measurement of superoxide generation using the spin trap 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide

Measurement and quantitation of superoxide by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) have been limited by the short half-life of the superoxide adduct DMPO-OOH (approximately 50 s at pH 7). Recently a beta-phosphorylated nitrone, 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO), was developed and reported to form a more stable superoxide adduct with a half-life of approximately 15 min. We evaluated the use of DEPMPO for quantitative measurement of superoxide in chemical and biochemical systems. To estimate the efficiency of trapping, EPR oximetry was used to measure oxygen consumption and the intensity of the DEPMPO-OOH signal to measure superoxide generation and adduct decay. With the superoxide-generating systems, riboflavin/light and xanthine/xanthine oxidase, DEPMPO trapped approximately 65% of the superoxide produced. The efficiency of superoxide trapping by DEPMPO was compared to the commonly used cytochrome c reduction method. When superoxide production was > 20 microM, cytochrome c detected approximately 100% of the superoxide produced, while DEPMPO trapped 60 to 70%. However, EPR detection with DEPMPO was 40-fold more sensitive than cytochrome c. Thus, DEPMPO is an efficient spin trap which enables specific and sensitive detection and quantitation of superoxide generation.

Xanthine oxidase binding to glycosaminoglycans: kinetics and superoxide dismutase interactions of immobilized xanthine oxidase-heparin complexes

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XDH + XO, EC 1.2.3.2) is released into the circulation from organs rich in XO activity. Herein we report the specific high affinity binding of XO to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the preferential association of XO with heparin, compared with heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and dematan sulfate. The binding of XO to Sepharose 6B-conjugated heparin (HS6B) occurs at physiological ionic strength and increased with pH, with Scatchard analysis revealing a nonlinear binding pattern at pH 7.4. The dissociation constant (Kd) for XO binding was 0.4 to 1.8 x 10(-7) M, similar to the heparin-reversible binding of lipoprotein lipase to vascular endothelium. The binding energy of 9-13 kcal/mol was concordant with noncovalent electrostatic interactions. Xanthine oxidase immobilization to HS6B rendered a catalytically active enzyme from that had kinetic characteristics distinct from XO in free solution. While the Km and Ki for xanthine in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 were 3 microM and 1.6 mM, respectively, for free XO, they were 15 microM and 2.8 mM for immobilized XO. Inhibition constants for guanine and uric acid were also increased upon XO binding to HS6B. Changes in kinetic parameters were related to a real and not apparent decrease in binding affinity for substrate and inhibitors and were not due to diffusion-controlled processes within the gel matrix. Changes in Km and Ki for xanthine also had a significant influence on the relative quantities of O2.- and H2O2 generated by a given substrate concentration. Superoxide formed by HS6B-bound XO was partially consumed within the gel microenvironment which electrostatically excluded CuZn SOD. Immobilization of XO increased the half-life of enzyme activity in buffer and in the absence of substrate from 67 to 120 h at 4 degrees C. These data indicate that binding to cell surfaces will strongly influence the catalytic properties, oxidant producing capacity, and stability of XO.

Modulation of superoxide-dependent oxidation and hydroxylation reactions by nitric oxide

The rapid and spontaneous interaction between superoxide (O2-.) and nitric oxide (NO) to yield the potent oxidants peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH), has been suggested to represent an important pathway by which tissue may be injured during inflammation. Although several groups of investigators have demonstrated substantial oxidizing and cytotoxic activities of chemically synthesized ONOO-, there has been little information available quantifying the interaction between O2-. and NO in the absence or the presence of redox-active iron. Using the hypoxanthine (HX)/xanthine oxidase system to generate various fluxes of O2-. and H2O2 and the spontaneous decomposition of the spermine/NO adduct to produce various fluxes of NO, we found that in the absence of redox-active iron, the simultaneous production of equimolar fluxes of O2-. and NO increased the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine (DHR) from normally undetectable levels to approximately 15 microM, suggesting the formation of a potent oxidant. Superoxide dismutase, but not catalase, inhibited this oxidative reaction, suggesting that O2-. and not hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) interacts with NO to generate a potent oxidizing agent. Excess production of either radical virtually eliminated the oxidation of DHR. In the presence of 5 microM Fe+3-EDTA to insure optimum O2-.-driven Fenton chemistry, NO enhanced modestly HX/xanthine oxidase-induced oxidation of DHR. As expected, both superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibited this Fe-catalyzed oxidation reaction. Excess NO production with respect to O2-. flux produced only modest inhibition (33%) of DHR oxidation. In a separate series of studies, we found that equimolar fluxes of O2-. and NO in the absence of iron only modestly enhanced hydroxylation of benzoic acid from undetectable levels to 0.6 microM 2-hydroxybenzoate. In the presence of 5 microM Fe+3-EDTA, HX/xanthine oxidase-mediated hydroxylation of benzoic acid increased dramatically from undetectable levels to 4.5 microM of the hydroxylated product. Superoxide dismutase and catalase were both effective at inhibiting this classic O2-.-driven Fenton reaction. Interestingly, NO inhibited this iron-catalyzed hydroxylation reaction in a concentration-dependent manner such that fluxes of NO approximating those of O2-. and H2O2 virtually abolished the hydroxylation of benzoic acid. We conclude that in the absence of iron, equimolar fluxes of NO and O2-. interact to yield potent oxidants such as ONOO-/ONOOH, which oxidize organic compounds. Excess production of either radical remarkably inhibits these oxidative reactions. In the presence of low molecular weight redox-active iron complexes, NO may enhance or inhibit O2-.-dependent oxidation and hydroxylation reactions depending upon their relative fluxes.

A re-evaluation of the tissue distribution and physiology of xanthine oxidoreductase

Xanthine oxidoreductase is an enzyme which has the unusual property that it can exist in a dehydrogenase form which uses NAD+ and an oxidase form which uses oxygen as electron acceptor. Both forms have a high affinity for hypoxanthine and xanthine as substrates. In addition, conversion of one form to the other may occur under different conditions. The exact function of the enzyme is still unknown but it seems to play a role in purine catabolism, detoxification of xenobiotics and antioxidant capacity by producing urate. The oxidase form produces reactive oxygen species and, therefore, the enzyme is thought to be involved in various pathological processes such as tissue injury due to ischaemia followed by reperfusion, but its role is still a matter of debate. The present review summarizes information that has become available about the enzyme. Interpretations of contradictory findings are presented in order to reduce confusion that still exists with respect to the role of this enzyme in physiology and pathology.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of the molecular mechanism of the reductive half-reaction of xanthine oxidase

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the reductive half-reaction of xanthine oxidase with xanthine as substrate have been investigated by stopped-flow kinetic measurements. The temperature dependence of the steady-state and transient kinetics of the reductive half-reaction reveals the existence of at least three molecular intermediates during this half-reaction. All the microscopic rate constants and the thermodynamic activation parameters of the elementary steps of the reductive half-reaction have been determined for the first time. The microscopic rate constants and the thermodynamic activation parameters of the individual steps show wide variations in their magnitudes. The present work provides the most detailed and incisive description of the reaction of xanthine oxidase with its physiological substrate xanthine.

Inhibition of xanthine oxidase by uric acid and its influence on superoxide radical production

The inhibition of xanthine oxidase by its reaction product, uric acid, was studied by steady state kinetic analysis. Uric acid behaved as an uncompetitive inhibitor of xanthine oxidase with respect to the reducing substrate, xanthine. Under 50 microM xanthine and 210 microM oxygen, the apparent K(i) for uric acid was 70 microM. Uric acid-mediated xanthine oxidase inhibition also caused an increase in the percentage of univalent reoxidation of the enzyme (superoxide radical production). Steady-state rate equations derived by the King-Altman method support the formation of an abortive-inhibitory enzyme-uric acid complex (dead-end product inhibition). Alternatively, inhibition could also depend on the reversibility of the classical ping-pong mechanism present in xanthine oxidase-catalyzed reactions.