Involvement of an "antizyme" in the inactivation of ornithine decarboxylase

Unsaturated amino acids derived from isoleucine trigger early membrane effects on plant cells

Unsaturated amino acids (UnsAA) have been shown to affect the activity of various biological processes. However, their mode of action has been investigated poorly thus far. We show in this work that 2-amino-3-methyl-4-pentenoic acid (C2) and 2-amino-3-methyl-4-pentynoic acid (C3) structurally derived from isoleucine (Ile) exhibited a multisite action on plant cells. For one, C2 and C3 induced early modifications at the plasma membrane level, as shown by the hyperpolarization monitored by microelectrode implantation in the pulvinar cells of Mimosa pudica, indicating that these compounds are able to modify ionic fluxes. In particular, proton (H(+)) fluxes were modified, as shown by the pH rise monitored in the bathing medium of pulvinar tissues. A component of this effect may be linked to the inhibitory effect observed on the proton pumping and the vanadate-sensitive activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase monitored in plasma membrane vesicles (PMVs) purified from pulvinar tissues of M. pudica and leaf tissues of Beta vulgaris. This effect may explain, in part, the inhibitory effect of the compounds on the uptake capacity of sucrose and valine by B. vulgaris leaf tissues. In contrast, an unexpected action was observed in cell reactions, implicating ion fluxes and water movement. Indeed, the osmocontractile reactions of pulvini induced either by a mechanical shock in M. pudica or by dark and light signals in Cassia fasciculata were increased, indicating that, compared to Ile, these compounds may modify in a specific way the plasma membrane permeability to water and ions.

Brain neurons express ornithine decarboxylase-activating antizyme inhibitor 2 with accumulation in Alzheimer's disease

Polyamines are small cationic molecules that in adult brain are connected to neuronal signaling by regulating inward-rectifier K(+)-channels and different glutamate receptors. Antizyme inhibitors (AZINs) regulate the cellular uptake of polyamines and activate ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine synthesis. Elevated levels of ODC activity and polyamines are detected in various brain disorders including stroke and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We originally reported a novel brain- and testis-specific AZIN, called AZIN2, the distribution of which we have now studied in normal and diseased human brain by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. We found the highest accumulation of AZIN2 in a pearl-on-the-string-like distribution along the axons in both the white and gray matter. AZIN2 was also detected in a vesicle-like distribution in the somas of selected cortical pyramidal neurons. Double-immunofluorescence staining revealed co-localization of AZIN2 and N-methyl D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) in pyramidal neurons of the cortex. Moreover, we found accumulation of AZIN2 in brains affected by AD, but not by other neurodegenerative disorders (CADASIL or Lewy body disease). ODC activity is mostly linked to cell proliferation, whereas its regulation by AZIN2 in post-mitotically differentiated neurons of the brain apparently serves different purposes. The subcellular distribution of AZIN2 suggests a role in vesicular trafficking.

Sexual dimorphism in rat cerebrum and cerebellum: different patterns of catalytically active creatine kinase isoenzymes during postnatal development and aging

During postnatal development, maturation and aging the Wistar rat cerebrum and cerebellum synthesize, in a different sex-dependent manner, catalytically active dimeric cytosolic (c) muscle-type (MM) and heart-type (MB) creatine kinase (CK), besides the supposedly sole type brain-specific (BB) CK. In both sexes, typical and atypical neuromuscular cCK isoenzymes were present during the study for 26 months. As in rat heart, females showed more cerebral cCK variants (41%) in comparison to males. Female rats exhibited about 93% more cerebellar variants of cCK isoenzymes as compared to males. The male cerebellum showed predominantly BB- and MB-CK during the whole study in comparison to the female one that contained all neuromuscular cCK variants. Only female rats showed decreases and increases of cerebral CK specific activity. In contrast to males, coinciding with the weaning period, cerebral female CK activity decreased 45% from 14 to 21 days and increased about 3-fold in female rats and only 1.3-fold in males from 21 to 45 days of age. Contrary to the remarkable 4-fold increase of chicken brain CK specific activity exhibited at old age, the rat did not show another cerebral CK activity increase during senescence in either sex. However, sex differences of CK specific activity appeared in the cerebellum at all ages. From the sex-specific plateau phase at 45-60 days until 2.2 years of age, about a 41% independent increase of cerebellar CK specific activity was observed in both sexes. After puberty, the differential cerebellum-cerebrum values of CK specific activity were higher for female rats than males during youth, adulthood and senescence. The present work shows that in rat cerebrum and cerebellum, production of ATP through anaerobic transphosphorylation by the CK/PC system is sex-and age-specific, especially in the cerebellum, when glycolysis and the Krebs cycle lose capacity. As in rat heart, under physiological conditions at all ages the several cCK isoenzymes do participate in a gender-specific manner, in favor of females, in diverse functions of the different cell compartments of glial and neuronal cells with regard to their high and fluctuating energy demands not completely covered by anaerobic and aerobic glycolysis.

Distribution patterns of ornithine decarboxylase in cells and tissues: facts, problems, and postulates

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Increased polyamine levels are required for growth, differentiation, and transformation of cells. In situ detection of ODC in cells and tissues has been performed with biochemical, enzyme cytochemical, immunocytochemical, and in situ hybridization techniques. Different localization patterns at the cellular level have been described, depending on the type of cells or tissues studied. These patterns varied from exclusively cytoplasmic to both cytoplasmic and nuclear. These discrepancies can be partially explained by the (lack of) sensitivity and/or specificity of the methods used, but it is more likely that (sub)cellular localization of ODC is cell type-specific and/or depends on the physiological status (growth, differentiation, malignant transformation, apoptosis) of cells. Intracellular translocation of ODC may be a prerequisite for its regulation and function.

Correlations between developmental ornithine decarboxylase gene expression and enzyme activity in the rat brain

The rise and decline in cerebral ODC activity during specific stages of development has been attributed to cytoplasmic intermediates which regulate ornithine decarboxylase activity. Here we examine whether transcriptional regulation contributes to the production of the developmental profiles of ODC activity. Postnatal cerebellar and neocortical tissue were obtained from Long-Evans hooded rats at postnatal days (PND) 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 90 and probed for ODC and actin gene expression, by Northern analysis. Our results indicate that ODC gene expression in the cerebellum was elevated at PND 5 and 10 followed by a gradual drop to the adult low levels by PND 20. By contrast, high levels of ODC gene expression in the neocortex were seen at PND 5 with an abrupt decrease at day 10 to low adult levels. The expression of the ODC gene in the neocortex follows closely the pattern for the ODC enzyme activity; however, it tends to remain elevated longer in the cerebellum. The levels of actin gene expression exhibited a distinct developmental profile in the postnatally developing cerebellum. However, actin mRNA levels remained unchanged in the neocortex, consistent with the prenatal development of this region. Our findings suggest that ODC gene expression may play an important role in the production of the ontogenetic patterns of ODC activity.

Conformational changes in ornithine decarboxylase enable recognition by antizyme

Rapid, polyamine-induced degradation of mammalian ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) (ODC) is though to be controlled by the availability of a small, ODC-binding protein termed antizyme. In this study we have investigated the ability of antizyme to bind ODC protein in various altered physiological states. In particular, cold, NaCl, spermidine and deprivation of coenzyme and substrate enhance enzyme-antizyme complex formation and are all found to promote ODC homodimer dissociation. Conversely, conditions that maintain the active ODC homodimer state prevent antizyme binding and inactivation of ODC. Further, covalent modification of ODC near its active site by difluoromethylornithine or phosphate also increases its sensitivity to antizyme. These results suggest that the initial signal in ODC degradation may actually be a subtle conformational change in the enzyme that enables antizyme to bind to the enzyme and may subsequently facilitate its degradation.

Changes in antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase complexes in tissues of hormone-treated rats

The presence of antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase complex in thymus and kidney of rats was demonstrated using the method of Y Murakami et al. [(1985) Biochem. J. 225, 689-697]. A very small amount of complex was found in kidney of control rats, accounting for only 1-3% of total enzyme in the tissue, while in thymus, approximately one-third of the total ornithine decarboxylase in thymus occurred as an antizyme-enzyme complex. After treatment with dexamethasone, both free ornithine decarboxylase and antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase decreased in thymus, the free enzyme activity decreasing more rapidly. In kidney, the concentration of the antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase complex increased after dexamethasone treatment, but only after the induction of free enzyme activity had reached its peak and begun to decrease. The pattern of the changes in amount of antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase complex after prolactin treatment differed from those observed in the dexamethasone-treated animals. In both kidney and thymus, the concentration of antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase complex increased concurrently with the induction of free enzyme activity. Both free and complexed ornithine decarboxylase had increased at 2.5 h after prolactin treatment and continued to increase to maximum specific activities at similar rates. In thymus, the amount of ornithine decarboxylase present as a complex reached 70% of the total in the tissue. In both thymus and kidney, the concentration of antizyme-ornithine decarboxylase complex decreased more slowly than did free enzyme activity. Free antizyme was observed only in thymus of dexamethasone-treated animals. The amount of measurable inhibitor was decreased if cycloheximide was given with dexamethasone.

Changes in ornithine decarboxylase and antizyme activities in developing mouse brain

A macromolecular inhibitor to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) present in mouse brain was identified as ODC antizyme [Fong, Heller & Canellakis (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 428, 456-465; Heller, Fong & Canellakis (1976) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 1858-1862] on the basis of kinetic properties, Mr and reversal of its inhibition by antizyme inhibitor. The brain antizyme, however, did not cross-react immunochemically with any of seven monoclonal antibodies to rat liver antizyme. ODC activity in mouse brain rapidly decreased after birth, in parallel with putrescine content, and almost disappeared by 3 weeks of age. Free antizyme activity appeared shortly after birth and increased gradually, whereas ODC-antizyme complex already existed at birth and then gradually decreased. Thus total amount of antizyme remained about the same throughout the developmental period in mouse brain. In addition to ODC-antizyme complex, inactive ODC protein was detected by radioimmunoassay in about the same level as the complex at 3 weeks of age. Upon cycloheximide treatment, both free ODC activity and ODC-antizyme complex rapidly disappeared, although free antizyme and the inactive ODC protein were both quite stable.

Chloroform induction of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (ODC-AZ) in male rat liver

Chloroform stimulation of rat hepatic ODC is most dramatic at 18 h following a single injection. Repeated dosing, 1 dose/d for up to 7 d, results in a daily decline in the ability of the liver enzyme to respond 18 h after the final injection. We postulated that this decline was due to an increased synthesis and accumulation of the OCD-AZ protein. ODC-AZ was determined by measuring the inhibition of isolated ODC activity as described by Hayashi and Fujita and modified in our laboratory to use kidney ODC. Male and female Fischer 344 rats were injected daily for 1, 3, or 7 d with 3.0 mmol/kg chloroform. Chloroform induced ODC-AZ activity in males at 3 and 7 d (26% and 37% inhibition of the ODC activity in the incubation medium, respectively). While females exhibited a similar decline in ODC activity after repeated doses, ODC-AZ was not induced. Thus, it would appear that daily exposure of rats to chloroform results in a refractoriness of its induction of ODC activity accompanied by an induction of the ODC-AZ in males. However, in females these two responses were not directly related.

Ornithine decarboxylase lability in 2 transplantable highly deviated rat hepatomas

A strong ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)-inactivating capacity has been previously shown (M.F. Zuretti and E. Gravela (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 742, 269-277) to be bound to rat liver microsomes. Present results show that in 2 fast-growing transplantable tumors, the 3924A Morris hepatoma and the AH 130 Yoshida ascites hepatoma, microsomes are endowed with a greatly enhanced ODC-inactivating capacity, and, concurrently, ODC displays an extreme in vitro liability and an unusual thiol-dependency (most of the activity requires dithiothreitol supply to be determined). These data are at variance with those previously obtained in hepatomas induced by N-2-fluorenylacetamide (E. Gravela et al., (1983) Cancer Res., 42, 2298-2300). The possibility that ODC liability in the 2 hepatomas here studied may result from in vivo exposure to a strong microsomal activity is considered.

Immunohistochemical localization of L-ornithine decarboxylase in developing rat brain

L-Ornithine decarboxylase, the rate limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis and a marker enzyme of tissue proliferation and maturation, was localized immunocytochemically in the developing rat central nervous system. It can be noted that the distribution of the enzyme protein underlies temporal alterations. Conclusions are drawn from the localization of the enzyme and possible functional roles played by ornithine decarboxylase in discrete brain areas.

Localization of ornithine decarboxylase in the chick embryo during organogenesis

The localization of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis and thus in cell growth, was determined in the 4.5-day-old chick embryo, using two independent methods of analysis. ODC protein was identified by indirect immunofluorescence with a monospecific ODC antibody, and catalytically active ODC was identified by autoradiography with alpha-(5-3H) difluoromethylornithine. Both methods revealed a basically similar distribution of ODC within the embryo. Among the organs, the brain exhibited the highest ODC levels. ODC levels were also high in spinal cord, mesonephric tubules and heart. Similar levels, but confined to limited areas, were found in liver tissue, head mesenchyme, and the oral and pharyngeal regions. Organs that exhibited high ODC levels are all engaged in rapid growth, as well as in extensive tissue remodeling and differentiation.

Modulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity and ornithine decarboxylase-antizyme complex in rat heart by hormone and putrescine treatment

Ornithine decarboxylase was present in a cryptic, complexed form in an amount approximately equivalent to that of free ornithine decarboxylase activity in adult rat heart. Addition of isoproterenol (10 mg/kg) caused a notable rise in ornithine decarboxylase activity and a simultaneous decrease in the amount of the complexed enzyme. During the period of ornithine decarboxylase decay, when cardiac putrescine content had reached high values, the level of the complex increased above that of the control. Administration of putrescine (1.5 mmol/kg, twice) or dexamethasone (4 mg/kg) produced a decrease of heart ornithine decarboxylase activity, while it did not remarkably affect the level of complexed ornithine decarboxylase, therefore raising significantly the ratio of bound to total ornithine decarboxylase. Putrescine also elicited the appearance of free antizyme, concomitantly with the disappearance of free ornithine decarboxylase activity after 3-4 h of treatment. These results indicate that a significant amount of ornithine decarboxylase occurs in an inactive form in the heart under physiological conditions and that its absolute and relative levels may vary following stimuli which affect heart ornithine decarboxylase activity.