Redox pacing of proteome turnover: influences of glutathione and ketonemia

Investigating the effect of antioxidant treatment on the protective effect of preconditioning in anesthetized rabbits

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are critical in preconditioning (PC). We sought to determine the effect of N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG) on infarct size and on the oxidative status. Rabbits were exposed to 30-minute regional ischemia of the heart, which was followed by 3-hour reperfusion: (1) a control group without further intervention, (2) a PC1 group that was subjected to one cycle of PC, (3) a PC4 group that was subjected to 4 cycles of PC, (4) an MPG group that was treated with MPG for 60 minutes, starting 10 minutes before reperfusion, (5) MPG-PC1, and (6) the MPG-PC4 groups that were treated with the same dose of MPG and with 1 or 4 cycles of PC, respectively. Blood samples were drawn and collected for metabonomic analysis. In another series of experiments, 6 groups respective to the described ones were subjected to 30-minute regional ischemia of the heart and 20 minutes of reperfusion, after which pieces of heart tissue were quickly excised for malondialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, and glutathione content assessment. All PC and MPG groups developed smaller infarct size compared with control (16.5% ± 3.9%, 13.7% ± 3.1%, 18.6% ± 5.0%, 9.7% ± 2.0%, 15.0% ± 2.8% vs. 48.05% ± 7.2%; P < 0.05). MPG did not prevent lipid peroxidation and nitrotyrosine formation but enhanced the glutathione content. PC and MPG induced similar nuclear magnetic resonance changes. Long MPG infusion reduces the infarct size without abolishing the effect of PC, providing novel insights into the activity of MPG in PC.

Copper chaperone-dependent and -independent activation of three copper-zinc superoxide dismutase homologs localized in different cellular compartments in Arabidopsis

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are important antioxidant enzymes that catalyze the disproportionation of superoxide anion to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide to guard cells against superoxide toxicity. The major pathway for activation of copper/zinc SOD (CSD) involves a copper chaperone for SOD (CCS) and an additional minor CCS-independent pathway reported in mammals. We characterized the CCS-dependent and -independent activation pathways for three CSDs localized in different cellular compartments in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The main activation pathway for CSD1 in the cytoplasm involved a CCS-dependent and -independent pathway, which was similar to that for human CSD. Activation of CSD2 in chloroplasts depended totally on CCS, similar to yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) CSD. Peroxisome-localized CSD3 via a CCS-independent pathway was similar to nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) CSD in retaining activity in the absence of CCS. In Arabidopsis, glutathione played a role in CCS-independent activation, as was reported in humans, but an additional factor was required. These findings reveal a highly specific and sophisticated regulation of CSD activation pathways in planta relative to other known CCS-independent activation.

Zn(II) complexes of glutathione disulfide: structural basis of elevated stabilities

Glutathione disulfide (GSSG), a long disregarded redox partner of glutathione (GSH), is thought to participate in intracellular zinc homeostasis. We performed a concerted potentiometric and NMR spectroscopic study of protonation and Zn(II) binding properties of GSSG ((γECG)(2)) and a series of its nine analogs with C-terminal modifications, tripeptide disulfides: (γECS)(2), (γECE)(2), (γECG-NH(2))(2), (γECG-OEt)(2), and (γEcG)(2); dipeptide disulfides, (γEC)(2) and (γEC-OEt)(2); and mixed disulfides, γECG-γEC and γECG-γEC-OEt. The acid-base and Zn(II) complexation properties in this group of compounds are strictly correlated to average C-terminal electrostatic charges. In particular, it was demonstrated that GSSG assumes a bent (head-to-tail) conformation in solution at neutral pH, which is controlled by electrostatic attraction between the protonated γ-amino groups of the Glu residue and the deprotonated C-terminal Gly carboxylates. This interaction modulates the ability of GSSG to coordinate Zn(II), both indirectly, by affecting the basicities of the amino groups, and directly, through the participation of the Gly carboxylates in the outer coordination sphere of the Zn(II) ion. A specific coiled structure of the major [Zn-GSSG](2-) complex is additionally stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds between glycinyl carboxylates and two Zn(II)-coordinated water molecules. The elevated stability of Zn(II)-GSSG complexes was demonstrated by competition with FluoZin-3, a fluorescent sensor with high Zn(II) affinity, commonly used in in vitro and in vivo studies. The potential biological functions and reactivity of GSSG complexes of Zn(II) ions are discussed.

The transfer of reductive energy and pace of proteome turnover: a theory of integrated catabolic control

Hundreds of cell proteins undergo reversible transitions among redox states. Coordinate control and common functions served by redox-modified proteins are unknown. The suspect "redox code" integrating metabolome, proteome, and genome remains undefined. Protein redox control involves coupling of the population redox partition to transfer of reductive energy from source to sink. Lessons in metabolic programs under redox coordination might be found in nutritional desperation where reductive transfer from fuel fails to feed pathways to protein reduction. Upon nutritional interruption, proteolysis initially increases. However, catabolism secondarily declines in later starvation so as to postpone loss of the minimal proteome under synthetic failure and delay death. Integrated proteome turnover is paced by reductive transfer coupled to redox states of proteins serving diverse functions. Some continuing proteolysis is redox-independent. Cathepsin B is a model, redox-responsive, catabolic machine among proteins involved in turnover. The CysHis pair is simultaneously a redox-responsive site, an inhibitory metal-binding site, and a peptidolytic reaction mechanism. Pro-region cleavage generates permissive reaction conditions, but not necessarily the maximal peptidolytic rate. Mature cathepsin B can be inactivated by partition into multiple oxidation states. Cathepsin B can be reductively activated by glutathione or disulfhydryl reductases, and redox-buffered by glutathione homodisulfide/glutathione. Topics in protease regulation include: (a) the rate of total cell transfer of nutrient reductive energy from NADPH source potential to reductive pathways, (b) the distribution of reductive energy routed through parallel interactive pathways to protease, (c) the rate of transfer from protease through pathways to oxygen (reactive oxygen species) acceptor at sink potential, and (d) the linkage of protease state partition to relative rates of reductions and oxidations. Cell iron, sulfur, and oxygen redox are inseparable. The interaction of the CysHis site with iron provides a sensor, integrator, and effector switch coupling cathepsin B to metal-sulfuroxygen redox. Artificial metal-redox-proton switching is a new concept in protein engineering; however, nature has already applied "nanotechnology" to protein redox control.

Cys-His proteases are among the wired proteins of the cell

Integrated cell protein degradation can be paced by the transfer of reductive energy, as revealed by experimental agents of informative actions. The peptidolytic pair of Cys-His proteases can undergo oxidative reactions to inactive derivatives and inhibitory metal binding. Proton-dependent ionizations can modify ongoing activity. If the reaction rate of a Cys-His protease were found responsive to the ranges of metal/redox/proton factors regulated within the cell, then these factors might serve to link the peptidolytic reaction rate to cell controls. Here, cathepsin B (cat B) was found to be inhibited by Zn2+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ (1-50 microM) under excess GSH or DTT protease activators (6 mM). Under DTT or GSH (6 mM) the initial inhibitory action of Zn2+ is stable indefinitely; however, the inhibitory actions of Fe3+ and Cu2+ are reversed over approximately 1h. The 12-14 min half time of reversal of initial protease inhibition is correlated with the measured reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ by DTT or GSH (pH 5.5 or 6.5). Endogenous Fe2+ concentrations (100 microM) inhibit cat B only marginally. However, the inhibitory threshold of several microM Fe3+ is only a few percent oxidation of the endogenous pool. Without metals cat B reaction is reportedly proportional to GSH concentration, and is inhibited by increasing GSSG/GSH redox ratio. Following activation with GSH, cat B can be influenced by Fe3+/Fe2+, Cu2+/Cu+, and GSSG/GSH ratios and concentrations. Results are interpreted in relation to properties of the thiolate-imidazolium pair as illustrated by Dock modeling of their shared Fe3+ binding. It is proposed that the interaction of Cys-His with 1 electron transition between Fe2+ and Fe3+ serves as a sensor, signal integrator and switch wiring cat B reaction rate to the transfer of reductive energy in the presence of excess GSH. Speciated metals might also serve among electron acceptors transferring from reduced protease to oxygen. Results provide a model for pharmacologic redox switching of protease functions with metal-interactive drugs, and other nano-technology engineering.

L-gamma-Glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine (glutathione; GSH) and GSH-related enzymes in the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines: a signaling transcriptional scenario for redox(y) immunologic sensor(s)?

Of the antioxidant/prooxidant mechanisms mediating the regulation of inflammatory mediators, particularly cytokines, oxidative stress-related pathways remain a cornerstone. It is conspicuous that there is a strong association between free radical accumulation (ROS/RNS; oxidative stress) and the evolution of inflammation and inflammatory-related responses. The scenario that upholds a consensus on the aforementioned is still evolving to unravel, from an immunologic perspective, the molecular mechanisms associated with ROS/RNS-dependent inflammation. Cytokines are keynote players when it comes to defining an intimate relationship among reduction-oxidation (redox) signals, oxidative stress and inflammation. How close we are to identifying the molecular basis of this intricate association should be weighed against the involvement of specific signaling molecules and, potentially, transcription factors. L-gamma-Glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, or glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant thiol, has shaped, and still is refining, the face of oxidative signaling in terms of regulating the milieu of inflammatory mediators, ostensibly via the modulation (expression/repression) of oxygen- and redox-responsive transcription factors, hence termed redox(y)-sensitive cofactors. When it comes to the arena of oxygen sensing, oxidative stress and inflammation, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) are key players that determine antioxidant/prooxidant responses with oxidative challenge. It is the theme therein to underlie current understanding of the molecular association hanging between oxidative stress and the evolution of inflammation, walked through an elaborate discussion on the role of transcription factors and cofactors. Would that classify glutathione and other redox signaling cofactors as potential anti-inflammatory molecules emphatically remains of particular interest, especially in the light of identifying upstream and downstream molecular pathways for conceiving therapeutic, alleviating strategy for oxidant-mediated, inflammatory-related disease conditions.