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Rafi H, Rafiq H, Farhan M. Pharmacological profile of agmatine: An in-depth overview. Neuropeptides 2024; 105:102429. [PMID: 38608401 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2024.102429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Agmatine, a naturally occurring polyamine derived from arginine via arginine decarboxylase, has been shown to play multifaceted roles in the mammalian body, impacting a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. This comprehensive review delineates the significant insights into agmatine's pharmacological profile, emphasizing its structure and metabolism, neurotransmission and regulation, and pharmacokinetics and function. Agmatine's biosynthesis is highly conserved across species, highlighting its fundamental role in cellular functions. In the brain, comparable to established neurotransmitters, agmatine acts as a neuromodulator, influencing the regulation, metabolism, and reabsorption of neurotransmitters that are key to mood disorders, learning, cognition, and the management of anxiety and depression. Beyond its neuromodulatory functions, agmatine exhibits protective effects across various cellular and systemic contexts, including neuroprotection, nephroprotection, cardioprotection, and cytoprotection, suggesting a broad therapeutic potential. The review explores agmatine's interaction with multiple receptor systems, including NMDA, α2-adrenoceptors, and imidazoline receptors, elucidating its role in enhancing cell viability, neuronal protection, and synaptic plasticity. Such interactions underpin agmatine's potential in treating neurological diseases and mood disorders, among other conditions. Furthermore, agmatine's pharmacokinetics, including its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, are discussed, underlining the complexity of its action and the potential for therapeutic application. The safety and efficacy of agmatine supplementation, demonstrated through various animal and human studies, affirm its potential as a beneficial therapeutic agent. Conclusively, the diverse physiological and therapeutic effects of agmatine, spanning neurotransmission, protection against cellular damage, and modulation of various receptor pathways, position it as a promising candidate for further research and clinical application. This review underscores the imperative for continued exploration into agmatine's mechanisms of action and its potential in pharmacology and medicine, promising advances in the treatment of numerous conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Rafi
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
| | - Hamna Rafiq
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan
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Martinis P, Grancara S, Kanamori Y, García-Argáez AN, Pacella E, Dalla Via L, Toninello A, Agostinelli E. Involvement of the biogenic active amine agmatine in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and release of pro-apoptotic factors. Amino Acids 2019; 52:161-169. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-019-02791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Dempsey DR, Nichols DA, Battistini MR, Pemberton O, Ospina SR, Zhang X, Carpenter AM, O'Flynn BG, Leahy JW, Kanwar A, Lewandowski EM, Chen Y, Merkler DJ. Structural and Mechanistic Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Agmatine N-Acetyltransferase, an Enzyme that Catalyzes the Formation of N-Acetylagmatine. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13432. [PMID: 29044148 PMCID: PMC5647378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13669-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Agmatine N-acetyltransferase (AgmNAT) catalyzes the formation of N-acetylagmatine from acetyl-CoA and agmatine. Herein, we provide evidence that Drosophila melanogaster AgmNAT (CG15766) catalyzes the formation of N-acetylagmatine using an ordered sequential mechanism; acetyl-CoA binds prior to agmatine to generate an AgmNAT•acetyl-CoA•agmatine ternary complex prior to catalysis. Additionally, we solved a crystal structure for the apo form of AgmNAT with an atomic resolution of 2.3 Å, which points towards specific amino acids that may function in catalysis or active site formation. Using the crystal structure, primary sequence alignment, pH-activity profiles, and site-directed mutagenesis, we evaluated a series of active site amino acids in order to assign their functional roles in AgmNAT. More specifically, pH-activity profiles identified at least one catalytically important, ionizable group with an apparent pKa of ~7.5, which corresponds to the general base in catalysis, Glu-34. Moreover, these data led to a proposed chemical mechanism, which is consistent with the structure and our biochemical analysis of AgmNAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Dempsey
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States.,Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Derek A Nichols
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States.,Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Matthew R Battistini
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States
| | - Orville Pemberton
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
| | | | - Xiujun Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
| | - Anne-Marie Carpenter
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States.,University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0216, United States
| | - Brian G O'Flynn
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States
| | - James W Leahy
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States.,Florida Center of Excellence for Drug Discovery and Innovation, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 305, Tampa, FL, 33612, United States
| | - Ankush Kanwar
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States
| | - Eric M Lewandowski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States.
| | - David J Merkler
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, United States.
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Zhang R, Ma XN, Liu K, Zhang L, Yao M. Exogenous spermine preserves mitochondrial bioenergetics via regulating Src kinase signaling in the spinal cord. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:3619-3626. [PMID: 28765886 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of mitochondrial metabolism is becoming an important target in inhibiting necrosis and apoptosis following secondary spinal cord injury, and physiological compounds that reduce mitochondrial dysfunction are regarded as efficient protective reagents following injury. It has been demonstrated that spermine, a polyamine composed of four primary amines, may be taken up by a mitochondria‑specific uniporter and may preserve mitochondrial bioenergetics, suggesting that it may be important in the pathophysiology of mitochondria. However, the protective mechanism has not yet been definitively clarified. In the present study, isolated spinal cord mitochondria were incubated with spermine to evaluate its physiological functions and Src kinase activities. The results revealed that spermine increased oxidative phosphorylation, attenuated mitochondrial swelling and maintained the membrane potential. An inhibitor of Src kinases, amino‑5-(4‑chlorophenyl)‑7‑(t‑butyl)pyrazolo[3,4‑d]pyrimidine (PP2), markedly reduced the effects of spermine. However, inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases by vanadate led to marginal increases in the effects of spermine. Therefore, the present study hypothesized that tyrosine phosphorylation sites are present in the subunits of respiratory chains and mitochondrial permeability transition pore proteins, which may be modified via phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Furthermore, spermine may upregulate the phosphorylation of Src kinases, and PP2 and vanadate conversely regulate Src phosphorylation. The results of the present study suggest that spermine is a strategic regulator within mitochondria that may activate Src kinases in the spinal cord, and tyrosine phosphorylation signaling is a primary regulatory pathway of mitochondrial metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Nan Ma
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Meng Yao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
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Milestones and recent discoveries on cell death mediated by mitochondria and their interactions with biologically active amines. Amino Acids 2016; 48:2313-26. [PMID: 27619911 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-016-2323-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria represent cell "powerhouses," being involved in energy transduction from the electrochemical gradient to ATP synthesis. The morphology of their cell types may change, according to various metabolic processes or osmotic pressure. A new morphology of the inner membrane and mitochondrial cristae, significantly different from the previous one, has been proposed for the inner membrane and mitochondrial cristae, based on the technique of electron tomography. Mitochondrial Ca(2+) transport (the transporter has been isolated) generates reactive oxygen species and induces the mitochondrial permeability transition of both inner and outer mitochondrial membranes, leading to induction of necrosis and apoptosis. In the mitochondria of several cell types (liver, kidney, and heart), mitochondrial oxidative stress is an essential step in the induction of cell death, although not in brain, in which the phenomenon is caused by a different mechanism. Mitochondrial permeability transition drives both apoptosis and necrosis, whereas mitochondrial outer membrane permeability is characteristic of apoptosis. Adenine nucleotide translocase remains the most important component involved in membrane permeability, with the opening of the transition pore, although other proteins, such as ATP synthase or phosphate carriers, have been proposed. Intrinsic cell death is triggered by the release from mitochondria of proteic factors, such as cytochrome c, apoptosis inducing factor, and Smac/DIABLO, with the activation of caspases upon mitochondrial permeability transition or mitochondrial outer membrane permeability induction. Mitochondrial permeability transition induces the permeability of the inner membrane in sites in contact with the outer membrane; mitochondrial outer membrane permeability forms channels on the outer membrane by means of various stimuli involving Bcl-2 family proteins. The biologically active amines, spermine, and agmatine, have specific functions on mitochondria which distinguish them from other amines. Enzymatic oxidative deamination of spermine by amine oxidases in tumor cells may produce reactive oxygen species, leading to transition pore opening and apoptosis. This process could be exploited as a new therapeutic strategy to combat cancer.
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Lee CP, Wirtz M, Hell R. Evidence for Several Cysteine Transport Mechanisms in the Mitochondrial Membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 55:64-73. [DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pct155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Grancara S, Martinis P, Manente S, García-Argáez AN, Tempera G, Bragadin M, Dalla Via L, Agostinelli E, Toninello A. Bidirectional fluxes of spermine across the mitochondrial membrane. Amino Acids 2013; 46:671-9. [PMID: 24043461 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1591-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The polyamine spermine is transported into the mitochondrial matrix by an electrophoretic mechanism having as driving force the negative electrical membrane potential (ΔΨ). The presence of phosphate increases spermine uptake by reducing ΔpH and enhancing ΔΨ. The transport system is a specific uniporter constituted by a protein channel exhibiting two asymmetric energy barriers with the spermine binding site located in the energy well between the two barriers. Although spermine transport is electrophoretic in origin, its accumulation does not follow the Nernst equation for the presence of an efflux pathway. Spermine efflux may be induced by different agents, such as FCCP, antimycin A and mersalyl, able to completely or partially reduce the ΔΨ value and, consequently, suppress or weaken the force necessary to maintain spermine in the matrix. However this efflux may also take place in normal conditions when the electrophoretic accumulation of the polycationic polyamine induces a sufficient drop in ΔΨ able to trigger the efflux pathway. The release of the polyamine is most probably electroneutral in origin and can take place in exchange with protons or in symport with phosphate anion. The activity of both the uptake and efflux pathways induces a continuous cycling of spermine across the mitochondrial membrane, the rate of which may be prominent in imposing the concentrations of spermine in the inner and outer compartment. Thus, this event has a significant role on mitochondrial permeability transition modulation and consequently on the triggering of intrinsic apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Grancara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Viale U. Bassi 58 B, 35131, Padua, Italy
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Molderings GJ, Haenisch B. Agmatine (decarboxylated l-arginine): Physiological role and therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Ther 2012; 133:351-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Battaglia V, Tibaldi E, Grancara S, Zonta F, Brunati AM, Martinis P, Bragadin M, Grillo MA, Tempera G, Agostinelli E, Toninello A. Effect of peroxides on spermine transport in rat brain and liver mitochondria. Amino Acids 2011; 42:741-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-0990-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Further characterization of agmatine binding to mitochondrial membranes: involvement of imidazoline I2 receptor. Amino Acids 2011; 42:761-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-0992-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Tassoni A, Bagni N, Ferri M, Franceschetti M, Khomutov A, Marques MP, Fiuza SM, Simonian AR, Serafini-Fracassini D. Helianthus tuberosus and polyamine research: past and recent applications of a classical growth model. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2010; 48:496-505. [PMID: 20172735 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2010.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2009] [Revised: 01/21/2010] [Accepted: 01/27/2010] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The earliest studies concerning polyamines (PAs) in plants were performed by using in vitro cultured explants of Helianthus tuberosus dormant tuber. This parenchyma tissue was particularly useful due to its susceptibility to several growth substances, including PAs. During tuber dormancy, PA levels are too low to sustain cell division; thus Helianthus represents a natural PA-deficient model. When cultivated in vitro in the presence of auxins, Helianthus tuber dormant parenchyma cells at the G(0) stage start to divide synchronously acquiring meristematic characteristics. The requirement for auxins to induce cell division can be substituted by aliphatic PAs such as putrescine, spermidine or spermine. Cylinders or slices of explanted homogeneous tuber parenchyma were cultured in liquid medium for short-term studies on the cell cycle, or on solid agar medium for long-term experiments. Morphological and physiological modifications of synchronously dividing cells were studied during the different phases of the cell cycle in relation to PAs biosynthesis and oxidation. Long-term experiments led to the identification of the PAs as plant growth regulators, as the sole nitrogen source, as tuber storage substances and as essential factors for morphogenetic processes and cell homeostasis. More recently this system was used to study the effects on plant cell proliferation of platinum- or palladium-derived drugs (cisplatin and platinum or palladium bi-substituted spermine) that are used in human cancer cell lines as antiproliferative and cytotoxic agents. Cisplatin was the most active both in cell proliferation inhibition and on PA metabolism. Similar experiments were performed using three agmatine analogous. Different effects of these compounds were observed on cell proliferation, free PA levels and enzyme activities, leading to a hypothesis of a correlation between their chemical structure and the agmatine metabolism in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Tassoni
- Department of Experimental Evolutionary Biology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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Polyamines: fundamental characters in chemistry and biology. Amino Acids 2009; 38:393-403. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0396-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2009] [Accepted: 10/08/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Battaglia V, Grancara S, Satriano J, Saccoccio S, Agostinelli E, Toninello A. Agmatine prevents the Ca(2+)-dependent induction of permeability transition in rat brain mitochondria. Amino Acids 2009; 38:431-7. [PMID: 20012118 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0402-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 10/22/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The arginine metabolite agmatine is able to protect brain mitochondria against the drop in energy capacity by the Ca(2+)-dependent induction of permeability transition (MPT) in rat brain mitochondria. At normal levels, the amine maintains the respiratory control index and ADP/O ratio and prevents mitochondrial colloid-osmotic swelling and any electrical potential (DeltaPsi) drop. MPT is due to oxidative stress induced by the interaction of Ca(2+) with the mitochondrial membrane, leading to the production of hydrogen peroxide and, subsequently, other reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals. This production of ROS induces oxidation of sulfhydryl groups, in particular those of two critical cysteines, most probably located on adenine nucleotide translocase, and also oxidation of pyridine nucleotides, resulting in transition pore opening. The protective effect of agmatine is attributable to a scavenging effect on the most toxic ROS, i.e., the hydroxyl radical, thus preventing oxidative stress and consequent bioenergetic collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Battaglia
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Padua, Viale G. Colombo, 3, 35121, Padua, Italy
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Agmatine transport in brain mitochondria: a different mechanism from that in liver mitochondria. Amino Acids 2009; 38:423-30. [PMID: 19997762 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0401-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 10/20/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The diamine agmatine (AGM), exhibiting two positive charges at physiological pH, is transported into rat brain mitochondria (RBM) by an electrophoretic mechanism, requiring high membrane potential values and exhibiting a marked non-ohmic force-flux relationship. The mechanism of this transport apparently resembles that observed in rat liver mitochondria (RLM), but there are several characteristics that strongly suggest the presence of a different transporter of agmatine in RBM. In this type of mitochondria, the extent of initial binding and total accumulation is higher and lower, respectively, than that in liver; saturation kinetics and the flux-voltage relationship also exhibit different trends, whereas idazoxan and putrescine, ineffective in RLM, act as inhibitors. The characteristics of agmatine uptake in RBM lead to the conclusion that its transporter is a channel with two asymmetric energy barriers, showing some characteristics similar to those of the imidazoline receptor I(2) and the sharing with the polyamine transporter.
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Atteia A, Adrait A, Brugière S, Tardif M, van Lis R, Deusch O, Dagan T, Kuhn L, Gontero B, Martin W, Garin J, Joyard J, Rolland N. A proteomic survey of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mitochondria sheds new light on the metabolic plasticity of the organelle and on the nature of the alpha-proteobacterial mitochondrial ancestor. Mol Biol Evol 2009; 26:1533-48. [PMID: 19349646 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msp068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria play a key role in the life and death of eukaryotic cells, yet the full spectrum of mitochondrial functions is far from being fully understood, especially in photosynthetic organisms. To advance our understanding of mitochondrial functions in a photosynthetic cell, an extensive proteomic survey of Percoll-purified mitochondria from the metabolically versatile, hydrogen-producing green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was performed. Different fractions of purified mitochondria from Chlamydomonas cells grown under aerobic conditions were analyzed by nano-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry after protein separation on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or on blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Of the 496 nonredundant proteins identified, 149 are known or predicted to reside in other cellular compartments and were thus excluded from the molecular and evolutionary analyses of the Chlamydomonas proteome. The mitochondrial proteome of the photosynthetic alga reveals important lineage-specific differences with other mitochondrial proteomes, reflecting the high metabolic diversity of the organelle. Some mitochondrial metabolic pathways in Chlamydomonas appear to combine typical mitochondrial enzymes and bacterial-type ones, whereas others are unknown among mitochondriate eukaryotes. The comparison of the Chlamydomonas proteins to their identifiable homologs predicted from 354 sequenced genomes indicated that Arabidopsis is the most closely related nonalgal eukaryote. Furthermore, this phylogenomic analysis shows that free-living alpha-proteobacteria from the metabolically versatile orders Rhizobiales and Rhodobacterales better reflect the gene content of the ancestor of the chlorophyte mitochondria than parasitic alpha-proteobacteria with reduced and specialized genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Atteia
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale, Centre Nationale la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5168, Grenoble, France.
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Arndt MA, Battaglia V, Parisi E, Lortie MJ, Isome M, Baskerville C, Pizzo DP, Ientile R, Colombatto S, Toninello A, Satriano J. The arginine metabolite agmatine protects mitochondrial function and confers resistance to cellular apoptosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2009; 296:C1411-9. [PMID: 19321739 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00529.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Agmatine, an endogenous metabolite of arginine, selectively suppresses growth in cells with high proliferative kinetics, such as transformed cells, through depletion of intracellular polyamine levels. In the present study, we depleted intracellular polyamine content with agmatine to determine if attrition by cell death contributes to the growth-suppressive effects. We did not observe an increase in necrosis, DNA fragmentation, or chromatin condensation in Ha-Ras-transformed NIH-3T3 cells administered agmatine. In response to Ca(2+)-induced oxidative stress in kidney mitochondrial preparations, agmatine demonstrated attributes of a free radical scavenger by protecting against the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups and decreasing hydrogen peroxide content. The functional outcome was a protective effect against Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial swelling and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse. We also observed decreased expression of proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members and of execution caspase-3, implying antiapoptotic potential. Indeed, we found that apoptosis induced by camptothecin or 5-fluorourocil was attenuated in cells administered agmatine. Agmatine may offer an alternative to the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor difluoromethyl ornithine for depletion of intracellular polyamine content while avoiding the complications of increasing polyamine import and reducing the intracellular free radical scavenger capacity of polyamines. Depletion of intracellular polyamine content with agmatine suppressed cell growth, yet its antioxidant capacity afforded protection from mitochondrial insult and resistance to cellular apoptosis. These results could explain the beneficial outcomes observed with agmatine in models of injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Arndt
- Division of Nephrology-Hypertension, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
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Marques MPM, Gil FPSC, Calheiros R, Battaglia V, Brunati AM, Agostinelli E, Toninello A. Biological activity of antitumoural MGBG: the structural variable. Amino Acids 2007; 34:555-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-007-0009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2007] [Accepted: 11/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Santhanam AVR, Viswanathan S, Dikshit M. Activation of protein kinase B/Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mediates agmatine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. Eur J Pharmacol 2007; 572:189-96. [PMID: 17640632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2007] [Revised: 06/11/2007] [Accepted: 06/12/2007] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The ability of agmatine, formed from L-arginine by the enzyme arginine decarboxylase (ADC), to modulate vasomotor function in rat aorta was investigated in the present study. Agmatine-mediated modulation of vasomotor tone was studied in organ chambers, protein expression quantified by Western blot analysis and cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) levels measured by radioimmunoassay. Agmatine (10(-10) to 10(-3) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxations (82+/-5%) in phenylephrine-contracted endothelium intact rat aorta. Relaxations to agmatine were diminished on denudation of endothelium and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition by L-Nomega-nitro arginine or soluble guanylate cyclase inhibition by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (P<0.001) abolished agmatine-mediated relaxations, while relaxations were insensitive to inducible NOS inhibition by 1400W. Agmatine-treated aorta demonstrated increased protein expression of phosphorylated S473-Akt and phosphorylated S1177-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and elevated the levels of cyclic GMP (P<0.01). Agmatine-mediated potentiation of relaxations and elevation of cGMP levels was sensitive to phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. Relaxations to agmatine were also affected by pre-treatment with tetraethylammonium (P<0.01) or apamin (P<0.05), and were not affected by charybdotoxin. Relaxations to agmatine were partially affected by pre-treatment of aortic rings with barium chloride (P<0.05), and glybenclamide (P<0.05). Results obtained suggest that agmatine activates protein kinase B/Akt to phosphorylate eNOS and elevate cyclic GMP levels to produce vasodilatation of aorta. Agmatine-mediated relaxations in rat aorta seems to be mediated mainly by endothelial NO-mediated activation of small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels, and partly by ATP-sensitive and inward rectifying K+ channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anantha Vijay R Santhanam
- Department of Anesthesiology, and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
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Agostinelli E, Tempera G, Molinari A, Salvi M, Battaglia V, Toninello A, Arancia G. The physiological role of biogenic amines redox reactions in mitochondria. New perspectives in cancer therapy. Amino Acids 2007; 33:175-87. [PMID: 17390098 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-007-0510-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2007] [Accepted: 02/01/2007] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In tumours, polyamines and amine oxidases increase as compared to normal tissues. Cytotoxicity induced by bovine serum amine oxidase (BSAO) and spermine is attributed to H2O2 and aldehydes produced by the reaction. Increasing the incubation temperature from 37 to 42 degrees C enhances cytotoxicity in cells exposed to spermine metabolites. The combination BSAO/spermine prevents tumour growth, particularly well if the enzyme has been conjugated with a biocompatible hydrogel polymer. Since the tumour cells release endogenous substrates of BSAO, the administration of spermine is not required. Combination with hyperthermia improves the cytocidal effect of polyamines oxidation products. Our findings show that multidrug resistant (MDR) cells are more sensitive to spermine metabolites than their wild-type counterparts, due to an increased mitochondrial activity which induces the generation of intracellular ROS prior to the onset of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). It makes this new approach attractive, since the development of MDR is one of the major problems of conventional cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Agostinelli
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, University of Rome La Sapienza and CNR, Rome, Italy.
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Grillo MA, Battaglia V, Colombatto S, Rossi CA, Simonian AR, Salvi M, Khomutov AR, Toninello A. Inhibition of agmatine transport in liver mitochondria by new charge-deficient agmatine analogues. Biochem Soc Trans 2007; 35:401-4. [PMID: 17371286 DOI: 10.1042/bst0350401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The charge of the agmatine analogues AO-Agm [N-(3-aminooxypropyl)guanidine], GAPA [N-(3-aminopropoxy)guanidine] and NGPG [N-(3-guanidinopropoxy)guanidine] is deficient as compared with that of agmatine and they are thus able to inhibit agmatine transport in liver mitochondria. The presence of the guanidine group is essential for an optimal effect, since AO-Agm and NGPG display competitive inhibition, whereas that of GAPA is non-competitive. NGPG is the most effective inhibitor (Ki=0.86 mM). The sequence in the inhibitory efficacy is not directly dependent on the degree of protonation of the molecules; in fact NGPG has almost the same charge as GAPA. When the importance of the guanidine group for agmatine uptake is taken into account, this observation suggests that the agmatine transporter is a single-binding, centre-gated pore rather than a channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Grillo
- Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, University of Turin, Italy
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22
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Marques MPM, Batista de Carvalho LAE. Vibrational spectroscopy studies on linear polyamines. Biochem Soc Trans 2007; 35:374-80. [PMID: 17371281 DOI: 10.1042/bst0350374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Vibrational spectroscopy [both Raman and INS (inelastic neutron scattering)], coupled to quantum mechanical calculations, was used in order to perform a thorough structural analysis of linear polyamines and polynuclear polyamine metal chelates [e.g. with Pt(II) and Pd(II)] with potential anticancer activity. The complementarity of the Raman and INS spectroscopies was exploited in order to gain a better knowledge of the conformational behaviour of these systems. Moreover, the conjugation of the experimental spectroscopic data to the theoretical results allows us to obtain valuable information on the structural preferences of this kind of system, which may lead to the establishment of SARs (structure–activity relationships) ruling their biological activity. Some of the most significant results obtained by the ‘Molecular Physical-Chemistry’ Research Group of the University of Coimbra (Portugal) are reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P M Marques
- Research Unit Molecular Physical-Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Battaglia V, Rossi CA, Colombatto S, Grillo MA, Toninello A. Different behavior of agmatine in liver mitochondria: inducer of oxidative stress or scavenger of reactive oxygen species? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2007; 1768:1147-53. [PMID: 17316555 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2007.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2006] [Revised: 12/14/2006] [Accepted: 01/16/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Agmatine, at concentrations of 10 microM or 100 microM, is able to induce oxidative stress in rat liver mitochondria (RLM), as evidenced by increased oxygen uptake, H(2)O(2) generation, and oxidation of sulfhydryl groups and glutathione. One proposal for the production of H(2)O(2) and, most probably, other reactive oxygen species (ROS), is that they are the reaction products of agmatine oxidation by an unknown mitochondrial amine oxidase. Alternatively, by interacting with an iron-sulfur center of the respiratory chain, agmatine can produce an imino radical and subsequently the superoxide anion and other ROS. The observed oxidative stress causes a drop in ATP synthesis and amplification of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) induced by Ca(2+). Instead, 1 mM agmatine generates larger amounts of H(2)O(2) than the lower concentrations, but does not affect RLM respiration or redox levels of thiols and glutathione. Indeed, it maintains the normal level of ATP synthesis and prevents Ca(2+)-induced MPT in the presence of phosphate. The self-scavenging effect against ROS production by agmatine at higher concentrations is also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Battaglia
- Dipartimento di Chimica Biologica, Università di Padova, Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR, Padova, Italy
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Nissim I, Horyn O, Daikhin Y, Nissim I, Luhovyy B, Phillips PC, Yudkoff M. Ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity: mechanism and prevention. Cancer Res 2006; 66:7824-31. [PMID: 16885387 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-1043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of ifosfamide (IFO), an antineoplastic drug, is severely limited by a high incidence of nephrotoxicity of unknown etiology. We hypothesized that inhibition of complex I (C-I) by chloroacetaldehyde (CAA), a metabolite of IFO, is the chief cause of nephrotoxicity, and that agmatine (AGM), which we found to augment mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and beta-oxidation, would prevent nephrotoxicity. Our model system was isolated mitochondria obtained from the kidney cortex of rats treated with IFO or IFO + AGM. Oxidative phosphorylation was determined with electron donors specific to complexes I, II, III, or IV (C-I, C-II, C-III, or C-IV, respectively). A parallel study was done with (13)C-labeled pyruvate to assess metabolic dysfunction. Ifosfamide treatment significantly inhibited oxidative phosphorylation with only C-I substrates. Inhibition of C-I was associated with a significant elevation of [NADH], depletion of [NAD], and decreased flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase and the TCA cycle. However, administration of AGM with IFO increased [cyclic AMP (cAMP)] and prevented IFO-induced inhibition of C-I. In vitro studies with various metabolites of IFO showed that only CAA inhibited C-I, even with supplementation with 2-mercaptoethane sulfonic acid. Following IFO treatment daily for 5 days with 50 mg/kg, the level of CAA in the renal cortex was approximately 15 micromol/L. Taken together, these observations support the hypothesis that CAA is accumulated in renal cortex and is responsible for nephrotoxicity. AGM may be protective by increasing tissue [cAMP], which phosphorylates NADH:oxidoreductase. The current findings may have an important implication for the prevention of IFO-induced nephrotoxicity and/or mitochondrial diseases secondary to defective C-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzhak Nissim
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Child Development, Rehabilitation Medicine and Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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