GC/MS analysis of thermally degraded neuromelanin from the human substantia nigra

Stress Dependent Biofilm Formation and Bioactive Melanin Pigment Production by a Thermophilic Bacillus Species from Chilean Hot Spring

Thermophilic bacteria able to survive extreme temperature stress are of great biotechnological interest due to their extracellular production of bioactive molecules as a part of a survival strategy, or by intracellular modifications. In the present study, thermophilic Bacillus haynesii CamB6, isolated from a Chilean hot spring, was studied for the formation of different stress response molecules. The polymeric pigment produced by the bacterial strain was characterized by different physicochemical techniques. On exposure to ranges of temperature (50–60 °C), pH (5.0–7.0), and sources of nitrogen and carbon (1–5 g·L⁻¹), the bacteria responded with a biofilm network formation in a hydrophobic polystyrene surface. Biofilm formation under fed-batch conditions was also statistically validated. The bacteria showed a planktonic pellicle network formation in the presence of induced hypoxia and salinity stress (19.45 g·L⁻¹) under static conditions. Salinity stress also resulted in the intracellular response of brown pigment production. The pigment was structurally and functionally characterized by UV-Vis absorbance and the presence of different characteristic peaks via FTIR analysis (bacterial pyomelanin fingerprints) were assessed. A high thermal stability and TGA profile indicated the brown pigment was a probable pyomelanin candidate. Micropyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) showed that isoprene, pyrrole, benzene, pyridine, and their derivatives were the major components detected. In addition, acetic acid, indole, phenol, and its derivatives were observed. The absence of sulfocompounds in the pyrolyzed products agreed with those reported in the literature for pyomelanin. The pigment surface morphology was analyzed via SEM, and the elemental composition via EDS also demonstrated the similarity of the brown pigment to that of the melanin family. The pyomelanin pigment was observed to be bioactive with promising antioxidant capacity (H₂O₂, Fe²⁺) compared to the standard antioxidant molecules. In conclusion, B. haynesii CamB6 demonstrated the formation of several biomolecules as a stress response mechanism that is bioactive, showing its probable biotechnological applications in future.

From Extraction to Advanced Analytical Methods: The Challenges of Melanin Analysis

The generic term "melanin" describes a black pigment of biological origin, although some melanins can be brown or even yellow. The pigment is characterized as a heterogenic polymer of phenolic or indolic nature, and the classification of eu-, pheo- and allo- melanin is broadly accepted. This classification is based on the chemical composition of the monomer subunit structure of the pigment. Due to the high heterogeneity of melanins, their analytical characterization can be a challenging task. In the present work, we synthesized the current information about the analytical methods which can be applied in melanin analysis workflow, from extraction and purification to high-throughput methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry or pyrolysis gas chromatography. Our thorough comparative evaluation of analytical data published so far on melanin analysis has proven to be a difficult task in terms of finding equivalent results, even when the same matrix was used. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of prior knowledge of melanin types and properties in order to select a valid experimental design using analytical methods that are able to deliver reliable results and draw consistent conclusions.

Proteomic characterization of neuromelanin granules isolated from human substantia nigra by laser-microdissection

Neuromelanin is a complex polymer pigment found primarily in the dopaminergic neurons of human substantia nigra. Neuromelanin pigment is stored in granules including a protein matrix and lipid droplets. Neuromelanin granules are yet only partially characterised regarding their structure and function. To clarify the exact function of neuromelanin granules in humans, their enrichment and in-depth characterization from human substantia nigra is necessary. Previously published global proteome studies of neuromelanin granules in human substantia nigra required high tissue amounts. Due to the limited availability of human brain tissue we established a new method based on laser microdissection combined with mass spectrometry for the isolation and analysis of neuromelanin granules. With this method it is possible for the first time to isolate a sufficient amount of neuromelanin granules for global proteomics analysis from ten 10 μm tissue sections. In total 1,000 proteins were identified associated with neuromelanin granules. More than 68% of those proteins were also identified in previously performed studies. Our results confirm and further extend previously described findings, supporting the connection of neuromelanin granules to iron homeostasis and lysosomes or endosomes. Hence, this method is suitable for the donor specific enrichment and proteomic analysis of neuromelanin granules.

Evaluation of melanogenesis in A-375 melanoma cells treated with 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin and valproic acid

Malignant melanoma (melanoma malignum) is one of the most dangerous types of tumor. It is very difficult to cure. In recent years, a lot of attention has been given to chemoprevention. This method uses natural and synthetic compounds to interfere with and inhibit the process of carcinogenesis. In this study, a new treatment strategy was proposed consisting of a combination of 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (DMC), an activator of melanogenesis, and valproic acid (VPA), a well-known drug that is one of the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis). In conjunction with 1 mM VPA, all of the tested concentrations of DMC (10-150 μM) significantly decreased the proliferation of A-375 cells. VPA and DMC also induced the synthesis of melanin and the formation of dendrite and star-shaped cells. Tyrosinase gene expression and tyrosinase activity significantly increased in response to VPA treatment. Pyrolysis with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was used to investigate the structure of the isolated melanin. This showed that the quantitative and qualitative components of melanin degradation products are dependent on the type of applied melanogenesis inductor. Products derived from eumelanin were detected in the pyrolytic profile of melanin isolated from A-375 cells stimulated with DMC. Thermal degradation of melanin isolated from melanoma cells after exposure to VPA or a mixture of VPA and DMC revealed the additional presence of products derived from pheomelanin.

Detection and quantitation of a pheomelanin component in melanin pigments using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry system with multiple reaction monitoring mode

Here, we describe the reliable method for the detection and quantitation of a pheomelanin component in melanin pigments. Synthetic melanins with various contents of pheomelanin-type structural units were thermally degraded, and the multiple reaction monitoring mode was applied to detect the pheomelanin markers in the pyrolysates by GC/MS/MS. The method allowed the specific detection and quantitation of a pheomelanin component in melanin with the incorporation of pheomelanin-type units as low as 0.05%. Considering highly universal character of the pheomelanin markers, the method could be applied for structural studies of natural melanin pigments being mixtures of eumelanin and pheomelanin.

Melanin from epidermal human melanocytes: study by pyrolytic GC/MS

Pigmentation of human skin is determined by the presence of melanin, the polymeric pigment that is produced in melanocytes and transferred to adjacent keratinocytes. Epidermal melanocytes produce two distinct types of melanin pigments: eumelanin, composed mainly of indole-type monomers, and pheomelanin that contains benzothiazine-type backbone. Eumelanin protects skin against UV-induced damages, whereas pheomelanin is believed to act as a potent UV photosensitizer and promote carcinogenesis. In this study, pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was applied for structural studies of the epidermal pigment isolated from the cultured human melanocytes. The analysis was preceded by investigations of DOPA-originated synthetic eumelanin and pheomelanin standards. This allowed determination of pyrolytic markers for both types of melanin pigments. To obtain additional information on the natural pigment structure, the samples were thermally degraded in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide as the derivatizing agent. It was shown that the analyzed pigment from normal human epidermal melanocytes derived from moderately pigmented skin is of eumelanin type with little incorporation of a pheomelanin component. The results indicate that Py-GC/MS is a rapid and efficient technique for the differentiation of epidermal melanin types and may be an alternative to commonly used methods based on chemical degradation.

Glia Protects Neurons against Extracellular Human Neuromelanin

BACKGROUND

Neuromelanin-containing neurons of the substantia nigra are highly vulnerable to degenerate in Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of the respiratory chain or formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by intracellular neuromelanin and triggering of inflammatory processes by extracellular neuromelanin emanating from melanized neurons after their demise are thought to be causally implicated in the high vulnerability of melanized neurons.

OBJECTIVE

We addressed the direct effect of purified neuromelanin on mitochondrial complex I activity, and its influence on ROS production and survival of primary mesencephalic neurons in the presence or absence of glia.

METHODS

Neuromelanin was isolated from midbrain of postmortem human brains. The content in iron and other elements was measured by inductively coupled mass spectrometry. The effect of neuromelanin on mitochondrial complex I activity was analyzed in post-nuclear extracts. Primary neuronal enriched and neuron-glia mixed cultures from midbrain were treated with different concentrations of neuromelanin. The generation of ROS was determined by fluorochrome detection. MAP2-positive and TH-positive neuronal viability was analyzed.

RESULTS

Neuromelanin did not affect complex I activity, but concentration-dependently increased ROS production in neurons and reduced the number of MAP2-positive and TH-positive cultured neurons. Glia protected neurons against the neuromelanin toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Extracellular neuromelanin is detrimental to neurons implicating a mechanism of intracellular ROS production, but not complex I inhibition. ROS formation may be catalyzed by iron, which was sensitively identified in purified neuromelanin (3.3 mg/g). Importantly, we demonstrate that glial cells have the potential to mitigate the neurotoxic effect of neuromelanin.

Structural investigations of neuromelanin by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Pyrolysis combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was applied for structural investigations of the human substantia nigra neuromelanin. Using synthetic neuromelanins, we have demonstrated that Py-GC/MS is suitable for identification and differentiation of both eumelanin (dopamine-derived) and pheomelanin (cysteinyldopamine-derived) component of the pigment. Structural information on melanin monomers was inferred from their pyrolytic markers. When the human neuromelanin was subjected to pyrolysis, none of the heterocyclic, sulfur-containing markers of pheomelanin component was detected among the thermal degradation products. We have concluded that nigral pigment isolated from normal brain tissue does not contain benzothiazine-type monomers, and that cysteinyldopamine-originated units may be incorporated into the polymer in uncyclized form. The most abundant pyrolysis product was identified as limonene, which indicates that nigral pigment is tightly associated with an isoprenoid-type compound. Pyrolysis in the presence of the methylating reagent allowed identification of high levels of saturated and monounsaturated straight-chain C14-C18 fatty acid species chemically bound to the pigment macromolecule.

Subcellular proteomics reveals neuromelanin granules to be a lysosome-related organelle

The powerful combination of subcellular fractionation and protein identification by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) pioneered the molecular elucidation of neuromelanin (NM) granules. We recently isolated NM granules from the human brain and succeeded in the establishment of the first protein profile of this compartment. NM granules are pigmented organelles, which are mainly found in the catecholaminergic neurons of the human substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta and the locus coeruleus. These granules contain the insoluble pigment NM, which is regarded as the most important iron storage system in these neurons. A global examination of NM granules, however, has so far been hampered due to the lack of a pigmented brain stem in rodents, the absence of an appropriate experimental system and their scarcity in the human brain. 'Subcellular proteomics', which increasingly emerges as the method of choice to characterize cellular compartments and to elucidate their biogenesis, has recently been shown to be an adequate approach to tackle a thorough description of NM granules. Thereby, NM granules could be described as a 'lysosome-related organelle'. This indicates a genetic program underlying a biogenesis of NM rather than its autoxidative formation.

The effect of neuromelanin on the proteasome activity in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells

In Parkinson's disease (PD), the selective depletion of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, particular those containing neuromelanin (NM), is the characteristic pathological feature. The role of NM in the cell death of dopamine neurons has been considered either to be neurotoxic or neuroprotective, but the precise mechanism has never been elucidated. In human brain, NM is synthesized by polymerization of dopamine and relating quinones, to which bind heavy metals including iron. The effects of NM prepared from human brain were examined using human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells. It was found that NM inhibits 26S proteasome activity through generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species from mitochondria. The mitochondrial dysfunction was also induced by oxidative stress mediated by iron released from NM. NM accumulated in dopamine neurons in ageing may determine the selective vulnerability of dopamine neurons in PD.

Neuromelanin induces oxidative stress in mitochondria through release of iron: mechanism behind the inhibition of 26S proteasome

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the selective depletion of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, particular those containing neuromelanin. Involvement of neuromelanin in the pathogenesis may be either cytotoxic or protective. Recently we found that neuromelanin reduces the activity of 26S proteasome. In this paper, the detailed mechanisms behind the reduced activity were studied using neuromelanin isolated from the human brain. Neuromelanin increased the oxidative stress, but synthetic melanin did not. Superoxide dismutase and deferoxamine completely suppressed the increase, indicating that superoxide produced by an iron-mediated reaction plays a central role. Iron was shown to reduce in situ 26S proteasome activity in SH-SY5Y cells and the reduction was protected by antioxidants. These results suggest that iron released from neuromelanin increases oxidative stress in mitochondria, and then causes mitochondrial dysfunction and reduces proteasome function. The role of neuromelanin is discussed in relation to the selective vulnerability of dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease.

Differential effects of human neuromelanin and synthetic dopamine melanin on neuronal and glial cells

We investigated the effects of neuromelanin (NM) isolated from the human substantia nigra and synthetic dopamine melanin (DAM) on neuronal and glial cell lines and on primary rat mesencephalic cultures. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in SK-N-SH cells by DAM but not by NM. In contrast, iron-saturated NM significantly increased LDH activity in SK-N-SH cells, compared with 100 mg/mL ETDA-treated NM containing a low concentration of bound iron. DAM, but not NM, stimulated hydroxyl radical production and increased SK-N-SH cell death via apoptotic-like mechanisms. Neither DAM nor NM induced any changes in the glial cell line U373. 3H-dopamine uptake in primary rat mesencephalic cultures was significantly reduced in DAM-compared with NM-treated cultures, accompanied by increased cell death via an apoptosis-like mechanism. Interestingly, Fenton-induced cell death was significantly decreased in cultures treated with both Fenton reagent and NM, an effect not seen in cultures treated with Fenton reagent plus DAM. These data are suggestive of a protective role for neuromelanin under conditions of high oxidative load. Our findings provide new evidence for a physiological role for neuromelanin in vivo and highlights the caution with which data based upon model systems should be interpreted.

“Subcellular Proteomics” of Neuromelanin Granules Isolated from the Human Brain

"Subcellular proteomics" is currently the most effective approach to characterize subcellular compartments. Based on the powerful combination of subcellular fractionation and protein identification by LC-MS/MS we were able for the first time to 1) isolate intact neuromelanin granules from the human brain and 2) establish the first protein profile of these granules. This compartment containing neuromelanin (NM) is primarily located in the primate's substantia nigra, one of the main brain regions that severely degenerates in Parkinson disease. We used mechanic tissue disaggregation, discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation, cell disruption, and organelle separation to isolate NM granules from human substantia nigra. Using transmission electron microscopy we demonstrated that the morphological characteristics of the isolated NM granules are similar to those described in human brain tissue. Fundamentally we found numerous proteins definitely demonstrating a close relationship of NM-containing granules with lysosomes or lysosome-related organelles originating from the endosome-lysosome lineage. Intriguingly we further revealed the presence of endoplasmic reticulum-derived chaperones, especially the transmembrane protein calnexin, which recently has been located in lysosome-related melanosomes and has been suggested to be a melanogenic chaperone.

Dolichol is the major lipid component of human substantia nigra neuromelanin

Neuromelanin is a dark brown pigment present at high concentrations in dopaminergic neurones of the human substantia nigra (SN). Early electron microscopic examinations of neuromelanin fine structure revealed a significant neutral lipid component; however, the identity of this lipid has remained unknown. Here we show that the lipid component of neuromelanin pigment derived from human SN is the polyisoprenoid dolichol. Established methods were used to isolate the pigment from the SN of 32 brains and the lipid fraction was recovered in high purity and yield. Using reversed-phase HPLC, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry, and 1H- and 13C-NMR techniques, we showed that the neuromelanin dolichol contained 17-23 isoprenoid units. Dolichol accounted for 14% of the mass of neuromelanin pigment; low levels of other hydrophobic compounds were detected (e.g. ubiquinone-10, alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol together accounted for < 0.5% of the neuromelanin lipid mass). This is the first time that dolichol has been identified in such a physiological setting and significantly advances our understanding of neuromelanin pigment structure and biosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, these studies identify a potential novel role for the isoprenoid pathway in the regulation of neuromelanin function and neurodegeneration within the SN.

The Neuromelanin of Human Substantia Nigra: Physiological and Pathogenic Aspects

Neuromelanin (NM) accumulates as a function of age in normal human substantia nigra (SN) but is relatively depleted in the SN of patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Several studies have been performed to further our understanding of the role of NM in neuronal aging and neurodegenerative mechanisms of PD. To this purpose, NM from human SN was isolated and its structure and molecular interactions were investigated. Cysteinyl-dopamine was shown to be one precursor of NM synthesis. A striking affinity of NM for specific metals, lipids, drugs and pesticides was found in vitro, and in animal and human brain postmortem studies. Because of these affinities, NM seems to play a protective role in the human brain by blocking toxic molecules. On the other hand, experiments in cell culture indicate that NM can activate microglia, eliciting the release of cytotoxic factors that can induce neurodegeneration.