Myeloperoxidase Catalyzes the Conjugation of Serotonin to Thiols via Free Radicals and Tryptamine-4,5-dione

Covalent adduction of serotonin-derived quinones to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease expressed in a cultured cell

The SARS-CoV-2 main protease is an essential molecule for viral replication and is often targeted by medications to treat the infection. In this study, we investigated the possible inhibitory action of endogenous quinones on the enzyme. Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 main protease was exposed to tryptamine-4,5-dione (TD) or quinone from 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (Q5HIAA). As a result, the protease activity was considerably decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 values of the quinones toward the enzyme were approximately 0.28 μM (TD) and 0.49 μM (Q5HIAA). Blot analyses using specific antibodies to quinone-modified proteins revealed that quinones were adducted to the enzyme at concentrations as low as 0.12 μM. Intact mass analyses showed that one or two quinone molecules were covalently adducted onto the main protease. Chymotrypsin-digested main protease analyses revealed that the quinones bind to thiol residues at the enzyme's active site. When TD or Q5HIAA were exposed to cultured cells expressing the viral enzyme, quinone-modified enzyme was identified in the cell lysate, suggesting that even extracellularly generated quinones could react with the viral enzyme expressed in an infected cell. Thus, these endogenous quinones could act as inhibitors of the viral enzyme.

Transition metal ions and neurotransmitters: coordination chemistry and implications for neurodegeneration

Neurodegeneration is characterized by a disturbance in neurotransmitter-mediated signaling pathways. Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of transition metal ions, including Cu(i/ii), Zn(ii), and Fe(ii/iii), in neurotransmission, thereby making the coordination chemistry of neurotransmitters a growing field of interest in understanding signal dysfunction. This review outlines the physiological functions of transition metal ions and neurotransmitters, with the metal-binding properties of small molecule-based neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Additionally, we discuss the structural and conformational changes of neurotransmitters induced by redox-active metal ions, such as Cu(i/ii) and Fe(ii/iii), and briefly describe the outcomes arising from their oxidation, polymerization, and aggregation. These observations have important implications for neurodegeneration and emphasize the need for further research to develop potential therapeutic strategies.

Food phytochemicals, epigallocatechin gallate and myricetin, covalently bind to the active site of the coronavirus main protease in vitro

SARS-CoV-2 main protease is a possible target for protection against viral infection. This study examined the inhibitory effect of food phytochemicals on the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 by determining a cleaved product after chromatographic separation. First, 37 phytochemicals, including glycosides and metabolites, were screened at 20 µM; epigallocatechin gallate, myricetin, theaflavin, herbacetin, piceatannol, myricitrin, and isothiocyanates inhibited the enzyme in varying degrees. The IC₅₀ values were estimated from 0.4 to 33.3 µM against the 0.5-µM enzyme. The dose-dependent adduction of epigallocatechin gallate and myricetin was confirmed by quinone staining of protein blotted onto a membrane. The enzyme activity was decreased by increasing the concentration of the two phytochemicals, accompanied by increasing the respective adducted molecule estimated by intact mass spectrometry. Reduced glutathione canceled the formation of conjugate and the inhibitory effect of epigallocatechin gallate or myricetin on the enzyme, suggesting that the formation of the quinone moiety in the phytochemicals is critical for the inhibition. The covalent binding of epigallocatechin gallate or myricetin to the cysteine residue at the active site was confirmed by analyzing peptides from the chymotrypsin-digested main protease.

The many roles of myeloperoxidase: From inflammation and immunity to biomarkers, drug metabolism and drug discovery

This review provides a practical guide to myeloperoxidase (MPO) and presents to the reader the diversity of its presence in biology. The review provides a historical background, from peroxidase activity to the discovery of MPO, to its role in disease and drug development. MPO is discussed in terms of its necessity, as specific individuals lack MPO expression. An underlying theme presented throughout brings up the question of the benefit and burden of MPO activity. Enzyme structure is discussed, including accurate masses and glycosylation sites. The catalytic cycle of MPO and its corresponding pathways are presented, with a discussion of the importance of the redox couples of the different states of MPO. Cell lines expressing MPO are discussed and practically summarized for the reader, and locations of MPO (primary and secondary) are provided. Useful methods of MPO detection are discussed, and how these can be used for studying disease processes are implied through the presentation of MPO as a biomarker. The presence of MPO in neutrophil extracellular traps is presented, and the activators of the former are provided. Lastly, the transition from drug metabolism to a target for drug development is where the review concludes.

Covalent inhibitors of GAPDH: From unspecific warheads to selective compounds

Targeting glycolysis is an attractive approach for the treatment of a wide range of pathologies, such as various tumors and parasitic infections. Due to its pivotal role in the glycolysis, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) represents a rate-limiting enzyme in those cells that mostly, or exclusively rely on this pathway for energy production. In this context, GAPDH inhibition can be a valuable approach for the development of anticancer and antiparasitic drugs. In addition to its glycolytic role, GAPDH possesses several moonlight functions, whose deregulation is involved in some pathological conditions. Covalent modification on different amino acids of GAPDH, in particular on cysteine residues, can lead to a modulation of the enzyme activity. The selectivity towards specific cysteine residues is essential to achieve a specific phenotypic effect. In this work we report an extensive overview of the latest advances on the numerous compounds able to inhibit GAPDH through the covalent binding to cysteine residues, ranging from endogenous metabolites and xenobiotics, which may serve as pharmacological tools to actual drug-like compounds with promising therapeutic perspectives. Furthermore, we focused on the potentialities of the different warheads, shedding light on the possibility to exploit a combination of a finely tuned electrophilic group with a well-designed recognition moiety. These findings can provide useful information for the rational design of novel covalent inhibitors of GAPDH, with the final goal to expand the current treatment options.

Covalent adduction of endogenous and food-derived quinones to a protein: its biological significance

There are many chemically reactive compounds, including quinone, in living systems and also food. Even after the ingestion of food polyphenols, quinones derived from catechol moieties could form endogenously in the body. Dopaquinone, dopamine quinone, estrogen-derived quinones, tryptamine-4,5-dione, and ubiquinone are examples of an endogenous quinone. These indicate that quinone is ubiquitously formed or present in living systems and food. Quinones can induce a variety of hazardous effects and also could have beneficial physiological effects. This review focuses on the chemical reactivity of quinone toward a biomolecule and its biological action.

Cytotoxic and cytoprotective effects of tryptamine-4,5-dione on neuronal cells: a double-edged sword

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is a putative substrate for myeloperoxidase, which may convert it into the reactive quinone tryptamine-4,5-dione (TD). In this study, we found that the viability of human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells treated with 25 μM TD was increased to approximately 117%. On the other hand, the cell viability was significantly decreased by exposure to TD (150-200 μM), with an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with 100 μM TD prevented cell death and suppressed intracellular ROS generation evoked by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Expression of the phase-II antioxidant enzyme NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 and haem oxygenase 1 were upregulated by TD at a concentration of 50-100 μM. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the regulator of these enzyme, was translocated from the cytosol to the nucleus by 100 μM TD. In summary, moderate concentrations of TD may increase the self-defence capacity of neuronal cells against oxidative stress.

A Chemical Perspective of Pharmacology and Toxicology

My chemical training provided a somewhat different perspective of biolo-gical problems, in the problem itself and approaches to its solution. I was fortunate to have in my laboratory postdocs and students who shared this perspective and used appropriate tools to address problems in amphetamine pharmacology and air pollution toxicology. These apparently disparate areas of research shared two chemical reactions: prooxidant-based generation of reactive oxygen and formation of covalent bonds between electrophiles and biological nucleophiles. This article is an attempt to summarize that research and to identify those individuals who made the contributions.

A novel quinone derived from 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid reacts with protein: Possible participation of oxidation of serotonin and its metabolite in the development of atherosclerosis

The modification of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) by myeloperoxidase with a xanthine oxidase system was investigated by chromatographic analyses. Two major products were identified as a dimer and quinone (indoleacetate dione) of 5HIAA. The formation of a quinone moiety was also confirmed by chemical trapping with o-phenylenediamine. In the presence of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a quinone-NAC adduct was formed. When glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase was exposed to the myeloperoxidase system with 5HIAA, quinone adducts were formed on the protein molecule. A monoclonal antibody was prepared using a quinone-modified protein as an immunogen to immunochemically detect the quinone on a protein. The established antibody recognized the quinone-NAC adduct, quinone-modified poly-L-lysine, and quinone-modified low-density lipoprotein. Quinone-modified proteins in human atherosclerotic lesions were immunohistochemically observed using the established antibody to the quinone and also a monoclonal antibody to tryptamine dione-modified protein, suggesting an occurrence of in vivo oxidation of serotonin and 5HIAA, accompanied by covalent adduction to biomolecules.

Efavirenz biotransformation as an up-stream event of mood changes in HIV-infected patients

Efavirenz is a drug of choice for adults and children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Notably, up to 35% of patients on efavirenz suffer from mood changes. This work aimed to investigate efavirenz biotransformation into 8-hydroxy-efavirenz as an up-stream event of mood changes and to evaluate the suitability of 8-hydroxy-efavirenz biomonitoring for the minimization of these manifestations. A case-control study with two age-matched groups of HIV-infected male patients was performed in a group without adverse central nervous system complaints (28 patients) and a group presenting mood changes (14 patients). The plasma concentration of non-conjugated 8-hydroxy-efavirenz was higher in patients with mood changes (p=0.020). An association between efavirenz and 8-hydroxy-efavirenz-glucuronide was found (Spearman r=0.414, p<0.010), only within therapeutic efavirenz concentrations. This correlation was not observed in patients with toxic (>4mg/L) plasma concentrations of the parent drug. We conclude that metabolism to 8-hydroxy-efavirenz is associated with efavirenz-related mood changes, which suggests that the concentration of this metabolite is a suitable parameter for therapeutic drug monitoring aimed at controlling these manifestations. Moreover, our data suggest that 8-hydroxy-efavirenz is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and that the peripheral detoxification of 8-hydroxy-efavirenz by glucuronidation may be inhibited by toxic efavirenz concentrations.

Serotonin as a putative scavenger of hypohalous acid in the brain

Neurodegenerative disorders represent the culmination of numerous insults including oxidative stress. The long etiology of most of these disorders suggests that lessening the effects of one or more of the insults could significantly delay disease onset. Antioxidants have been tested as possible therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders, but with little success. Here we report that serotonin acts as a scavenger of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in the brain. Serotonin was shown to prevent the oxidation of 2-thio-5-nitrobenzoate by HOCl in a biphasic manner. The first phase was a partial scavenging that occurred at concentrations of serotonin that exceeded those of HOCl. (1)H-NMR studies indicated that HOCl chlorinates both the aryl and akyl nitrogen atoms of serotonin. Thus, the oxidation of 2-thio-5-nitrobenzoate that occurred during the first phase of scavenging is likely due to the formation of serotonergic chloramines. A second phase of scavenging occurred at concentrations of HOCl that exceeded those of serotonin. Under these conditions, the chlorinated serotonin polymerized and formed inert aggregates. Serotonin was further shown to prevent the loss of cells and cellular α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex activity caused by HOCl. Extracellular concentrations of serotonin in the brain can be elevated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and suggests that such compounds could be used to increase the cerebral antioxidant capacity. Acute administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to mice treated with endotoxin partially mitigated sickness behavior and protein chlorination in the brain. These observations suggest that serotonin may act to suppress chlorinative stress in the brain.

Covalent modification of cytoskeletal proteins in neuronal cells by tryptamine-4,5-dione

Serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, is a systemic bioactive amine that acts in the gut and brain. As a substrate of myeloperoxidase in vitro, serotonin is oxidized to tryptamine-4,5-dione (TD), which is highly reactive with thiols. In this work, we successively prepared a monoclonal antibody to quinone-modified proteins and found that the antibody preferentially recognizes the TD–thiol adduct. Using the antibody, we observed that the chloride ion, the predominant physiological substrate for myeloperoxidase in vivo, is not competitive toward the enzyme catalyzed serotonin oxidation process, suggesting that serotonin is a plausible physiological substrate for the enzyme in vivo. Immunocytochemical analyses revealed that TD staining was observed in the cytosol of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells while blot analyses showed that some cellular proteins were preferentially modified. Pull-down analyses confirmed that the cytoskeletal proteins tubulins, vimentin, and neurofilament-L were modified. When pure tubulins were exposed to micromolar levels of synthetic TD, self-polymerization was initially enhanced and then suppressed. These results suggest that serotonin oxidation by myeloperoxidase or the action of other oxidants could cause functional alteration of cellular proteins, which may be related to neurodegeneration processes or irritable bowel syndrome.

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Antibody to quinone-modified protein was established and characterized.

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Modification of protein by quinone was dependent on myeloperoxidase but independent of chloride ion concentration.

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We immunochemically found that cellular proteins were preferentially modified.

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Quinone modulated polymerization of tubulins in vitro.