Rat brain aryl acylamidase: stereospecific inhibition by LSD and serotonin-related compounds

Multiple forms of aryl acylamidase in regional tissues of developing rat brain

The specific activities of two forms of aryl acylamidase (AAA) were examined in 7 regions of the developing rat brain, plus the remainder of the brain and the whole brain. AAA-1 activity peaked at 15 days old in all brain regions studied except the whole brain where it peaked at 22 days of age. AAA-2 activity peaked between 15 and 29 days old in most brain regions studied except corpus striatum and hippocampus where the AAA-2 activity peaked before 15 days old. In all areas and at all time periods, with the exception of CS after 15 days of age, AAA-2 activity was much higher than that of AAA-1. The developmental pattern of AAA-1 is generally the same in the different brain regions while that of AAA-2 shows more regional specificity. These results indicate that neither AAA-1 nor AAA-2 may be associated with amine N-acetyltransferase in the brain which has an entirely different developmental pattern.

Brain aryl acylamidase

1. The serotonin (5-HT) sensitive brain aryl acylamidase (AAA) has received considerable attention due to its potential involvement in 5-HT action mechanism in CNS. 2. Multiple forms, AAA-1 and 2, have been separated by ammonium sulfate precipitation of brain extract and subsequent gel filtration. 3. Their chemical properties have been characterized and differentiated by effects of several classes of drugs including d-LSD, 5-HT, 5-HT related compounds and tetrahydro-beta-carbolines on their enzyme activities. 4. In the rat brain, AAA-1 shows highest specific activity in corpus striatum and lowest activity in cerebellum whereas AAA-2 shows highest specific activity in cerebellum and lowest activity in corpus striatum. 5. Subcellularly, AAA-1 exhibits highest specific activity in synaptosomal fraction of rat corpus striatum, lowest activity in mitochondrial fraction and no activity in nuclear fraction while AAA-2 exhibits highest specific activity in microsomal fraction and lowest activity in nuclear fraction. 6. Triton X-100 treatment altered the subcellular distribution pattern of both AAA-1 and AAA-2. 7. AAA-2 is possibly associated with true acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in brain based on its inhibition by neostigmine but its identity with AChE needs further elucidation. 8. To determine the physiological role(s) for brain AAA, naturally occurring aromatic alkylamines other than melatonin need to be tested as possible substrate(s) for the enzyme activity.

Rat brain aryl acylamidase: further characterization of multiple forms

1. Two fractions of aryl acylamidase (EC 3.5.1.13) were further separated from rat brain extracts at pH 7.5 by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Bio-Gel chromatography. 2. 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-beta-carboline competitively inhibited (67%) fraction-1 but slightly inhibited (13%) fraction-2. Tetrahydroharman, 6-hydroxy-tetrahydroharman and harminic acid slightly inhibited both fractions. Harmalol inhibited fraction-1 but enhanced fraction-2. 6-Methoxy-harman, 6-methoxy-harmalan and harmaline enhanced both fractions. 3. Pargyline did not affect either fraction. Methiothepin, cyproheptadine and chlorimipramine inhibited fraction-1 but stimulated fraction-2. 4. Neostigmine moderately (30%) inhibited AAA-2 but did not have any significant effect on AAA-1. 5. These results indicate that the beta-carboline compounds might play a role in regulating activity of AAA-1 and 2 in brain. 6. Both fractions might be related to serotonergic neurons but only AAA-2 might be associated with acetylcholinesterase.

The identity of the serotonin-sensitive aryl acylamidase with acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocytes, sheep basal ganglia and electric eel

The identity of the serotonin-sensitive aryl acylamidase with acetylcholinesterase from three diverse sources, namely sheep basal ganglia, human erythrocyte membrane and electric eel, was examined. Both the enzymes co-purified with constant ratios of specific activity from all the three sources by different affinity chromatographic techniques. The ratio of acetylcholinesterase to aryl acylamidase activity was highest for basal ganglia, less for erythrocyte and lowest for eel enzymes. Both the purified enzymes co-migrated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis either as a single species or multiple species under different conditions. Gel density gradient electrophoresis indicated identical migration rates of both the enzymes. Extraction of the enzymes from the three sources by different techniques of membrane disruption and subsequent gel filtration on Sepharose 6B showed multiple peaks of enzyme activity. Both the enzymes had identical elution profiles on Sepharose 6B gel filtration. All the enzyme peaks from Sepharose 6B on gel electrophoresis showed co-migration of the enzyme activities. Apart from inhibition by serotonin and acetylcholine the purified aryl acylamidases from all the three sources were potently inhibited by neostygmine, eserine and BW 284C51, all strong inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. It is suggested that the serotonin-sensitive aryl acylamidase is identical with acetylcholinesterase.