Author Correction: Forearc carbon sink reduces long-term volatile recycling into the mantle

An Amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Optimization of xanthatin extraction from Xanthium spinosum L. and its cytotoxic, anti-angiogenesis and antiviral properties

The aqueous extraction of the sesquiterpene lactone xanthatin from Xanthium spinosum L. favours the conversion of xanthinin (1) to xanthatin (2) via the loss of acetic acid. The cytotoxic (Hep-G2 and L1210 human cell lines) and antiviral activities of isolated xanthatin are established. This natural compound shows significant cytotoxicity against the Hep-G2 cell line and our experimental results reveal its strong anti-angiogenesis capacity in vitro. The structure of xanthatin is determined by spectroscopic methods and for the first time confirmed by X-ray diffraction.

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A method to maximize extraction of xanthatin is proposed.

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X-ray crystal of xanthatin is contributed by the first time and confirms the structure.

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Antitumor, antiviral and antiangiogenesis activities of xanthatin are performed.

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Xanthatin exhibited potent antiangiogenic activity.

The importance of polymerization and galloylation for the antiproliferative properties of procyanidin-rich natural extracts

Grape (Vitis vinifera) and pine (Pinus pinaster) bark extracts are widely used as nutritional supplements. Procyanidin-rich fractions from grape and pine bark extract showing different mean degrees of polymerization, percentage of galloylation (percentage of gallate esters) and reactive oxygen species-scavenging capacity were tested on HT29 human colon cancer cells. We observed that the most efficient fractions in inhibiting cell proliferation, arresting the cell cycle in G(2) phase and inducing apoptosis were the grape fractions with the highest percentage of galloylation and mean degree of polymerization. Additionally, the antiproliferative effects of grape fractions were consistent with their oxygen radical-scavenging capacity and their ability to trigger DNA condensation-fragmentation.

The changes in the energy metabolism of human muscle induced by training

The biochemical effects of training programmes have been studied with a kinetic model of central metabolism, using enzyme activities and metabolite concentrations measured at rest and after 30 s maximum-intensity exercise, collected before and after long and short periods of training, which differed only by the duration of the rest intervals. After short periods of training the glycolytic flux at rest was three times higher than it had been before training, whereas during exercise the flux and energy consumption remained the same as before training. Long periods of training had less effect on the glycolytic flux at rest, but increased it in response to exercise, increasing the contribution of oxidative phosphorylation.

Anticancer effect of a new benzophenanthridine isolated from Zanthoxylum madagascariense (Rutaceline)

Fractionation of the cyclohexane extract from the stem bark powder of Zanthoxylum madagascariense led to the isolation of a new benzophenanthridine-type alkaloid, hydrochloride of 2,3-methylendioxy-8-hydroxy- 7-methoxy-benzo[C]phenanthridine (Rutaceline), characterized on the basis of its spectral data. Rutaceline was evaluated for its antiproliferative capacity on the human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and the African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell lines. The 50% inhibition of cell growth (IC50) obtained after 24 h incubation was similar for both cells lines (110-115 microg/ml, i.e. 269-281 microM), but at 48 h the IC50 value for the Caco-2 cells was lower than for the Vero cells (20 microg/lml, i.e. 49 microM versus 90 microg/ml, i.e. 220 microM) indicating a higher cell growth inhibitory effect on the colon adenocarcinoma cells. At the respective IC50 concentrations, Rutaceline did not significantly induce apoptosis but induced cell cycle arrest in the GO/G1 phase, as well as a decrease of cells in S phase. Rutaceline also induced DNA fragmentation in both cell lines, as revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis, and a dose-dependent clastogenic effect in both cell lines as revealed by the Comet assay.

Functional fatty fish supplemented with grape procyanidins. Antioxidant and proapoptotic properties on colon cell lines

This work shows the properties of grape procyanidins with additional anticarcinogenic properties for increasing the shelf life of functional seafood preparations. Galloylated procyanidins (100 ppm, 2.7 mean degree of polymerization, 25% galloylation) extended the shelf life of minced horse mackerel muscle stored at 4 degrees C more than 8 days compared to controls without addition of polyphenols. The levels of endogenous alpha-tocopherol, EPA, and DHA of fish muscle were also preserved after 10 days at 4 degrees C. Therefore, the presence of procyanidins increased the stability of a product based on minced fish muscle during cold storage and maintained its functionality associated with the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol. In addition, grape procyanidins showed a significant capacity to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells (HT29 cell line) while being inactive in noncancer control cells (IEC-6). Thus, the product based on fatty fish muscle supplemented with grape procyanidins appears to be a stable functional food offering the combined action of omega-3 fatty acids and natural polyphenols.

Metabolic sensitivity of pancreatic tumour cell apoptosis to glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor treatment

Inhibitors of glycogen breakdown regulate glucose homeostasis by limiting glucose production in diabetes. Here we demonstrate that restrained glycogen breakdown also inhibits cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis through limiting glucose oxidation, as well as nucleic acid and de novo fatty acid synthesis. Increasing doses (50-100 microM) of the glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor CP-320626 inhibited [1,2-(13)C(2)]glucose stable isotope substrate re-distribution among glycolysis, pentose and de novo fatty acid synthesis in MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Limited oxidative pentose-phosphate synthesis, glucose contribution to acetyl CoA and de novo fatty acid synthesis closely correlated with decreased cell proliferation. The stable isotope-based dynamic metabolic profile of MIA cells indicated a significant dose-dependent decrease in macromolecule synthesis, which was detected at lower drug doses and before the appearance of apoptosis markers. Normal fibroblasts (CRL-1501) did not show morphological or metabolic signs of apoptosis likely due to their slow rate of growth and metabolic activity. This indicates that limiting carbon re-cycling and rapid substrate mobilisation from glycogen may be an effective and selective target site for new drug development in rapidly dividing cancer cells. In conclusion, pancreatic cancer cell growth arrest and death are closely associated with a characteristic decrease in glycogen breakdown and glucose carbon re-distribution towards RNA/DNA and fatty acids during CP-320626 treatment.

Cation-exchange micropreparative separation of galloylated and non-galloylated sulphur conjugated catechins

Catechin conjugates bearing an amino function can be separated from underivatized monomers by cation-exchange chromatography. Here, chromatographic conditions for the separation of epicatechin gallate-containing conjugates from the non-galloylated conjugates at micropreparative scale are described. The separation was achieved by exploiting either the hydrophobic or hydrophilic interactions of the conjugates with the core polymer. The retention was modulated by changing the amount of organic co-solvents (MeOH, EtOH, CH3CH, THF) in the elution buffers. The best resolution compatible with small peak widths was obtained at 20-30% EtOH. The experiments were reproducible.

Cysteinyl-flavan-3-ol conjugates from grape procyanidins. Antioxidant and antiproliferative properties

New bio-based antioxidant compounds have been obtained by depolymerisation of grape polymeric flavanols in the presence of cysteine. Their preparation and purification, as well as their antiradical/antioxidant and antiproliferative properties are reported. 4beta-(S-cysteinyl)epicatechin 5, 4beta-(S-cysteinyl)catechin 6 and 4beta-(S-cysteinyl)epicatechin 3-O-gallate 7 were efficiently purified from the crude depolymerised mixture by cation-exchange chromatography and preparative reversed-phase chromatography. The new compounds were more efficient than the underivatised (-)-epicatechin 1 as scavengers of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) and weak growth inhibitors of human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. The order of antiradical and antiproliferative efficiency was 7 >5 approximately 6 >1, the same for both assays.

A new bis-indole, KARs, induces selective M arrest with specific spindle aberration in neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y

KARs, new semisynthetic antitumor bis-indole derivatives, were found to be inhibitors of tubulin polymerization with lower toxicity than vinblastine or vincristine, used in chemotherapy. Here, we compare the effect of KARs with those of vinblastine and vincristine on cell viability, cell proliferation, and cell cycle in neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). At concentrations of the different compounds equivalent in causing 50% of inhibition of cell growth, KARs induced a complete arrest in the G2/M phase, whereas vinblastine and vincristine induced a partial arrest in both G0/G1 and G2/M. Moreover, a combination of KAR-2 and W13 (an anticalmodulin drug) qualitatively caused a similar arrest in both G0/G1 and G2/M than vinblastine. Levels of cyclin A and B1 were higher in KARs-treated cells than in vinblastine- or vincristine-treated cells. Cdc2 activity was much higher in KAR-2 than in vinblastine-treated cells, indicating a stronger mitotic arrest. The effect of KAR2 and vinblastine on microtubules network was analyzed by immunostaining with anti-tubulin antibody. Results indicated that KAR-2-induces the formation of aberrant mitotic spindles, with not apparent effect on interphase microtubules, whereas vinblastine partially destroyed interphase microtubules coexisting with normal and aberrant mitotic spindles.

Gleevec (STI571) influences metabolic enzyme activities and glucose carbon flow toward nucleic acid and fatty acid synthesis in myeloid tumor cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia cells contain a constitutively active Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, the target protein of Gleevec (STI571) phenylaminopyrimidine class protein kinase inhibitor. Here we provide evidence for metabolic phenotypic changes in cultured K562 human myeloid blast cells after treatment with increasing doses of STI571 using [1,2-13C2]glucose as the single tracer and biological mass spectrometry. In response to 0.68 and 6.8 microm STI571, proliferation of Bcr-Abl-positive K562 cells showed a 57% and 74% decrease, respectively, whereas glucose label incorporation into RNA decreased by 13.4% and 30.1%, respectively, through direct glucose oxidation, as indicated by the decrease in the m1/Sigma(m)n ratio in RNA. Based on the in vitro proliferation data, the IC50 of STI571 in K562 cultures is 0.56 microm. The decrease in 13C label incorporation into RNA ribose was accompanied by a significant fall in hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase activities. The activity of transketolase, the enzyme responsible for nonoxidative ribose synthesis in the pentose cycle, was less affected, and there was a relative increase in glucose carbon incorporation into RNA through nonoxidative synthesis as indicated by the increase in the m2/Sigma(m)n ratio in RNA. The restricted use of glucose carbons for de novo nucleic acid and fatty acid synthesis by altering metabolic enzyme activities and pathway carbon flux of the pentose cycle constitutes the underlying mechanism by which STI571 inhibits leukemia cell glucose substrate utilization and growth. The administration of specific hexokinase/glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase inhibitor anti-metabolite substrates or competitive enzyme inhibitor compounds, alone or in combination, should be explored for the treatment of STI571-resistant advanced leukemias as well as that of Bcr-Abl-negative human malignancies.

The effect of thiamine supplementation on tumour proliferation. A metabolic control analysis study

Thiamine deficiency frequently occurs in patients with advanced cancer and therefore thiamine supplementation is used as nutritional support. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is metabolized to thiamine pyrophosphate, the cofactor of transketolase, which is involved in ribose synthesis, necessary for cell replication. Thus, it is important to determine whether the benefits of thiamine supplementation outweigh the risks of tumor proliferation. Using oxythiamine (an irreversible inhibitor of transketolase) and metabolic control analysis (MCA) methods, we measured an in vivo tumour growth control coefficient of 0.9 for the thiamine-transketolase complex in mice with Ehrlich's ascites tumour. Thus, transketolase enzyme and thiamine clearly determine cell proliferation in the Ehrlich's ascites tumour model. This high control coefficient allows us to predict that in advanced tumours, which are commonly thiamine deficient, supplementation of thiamine could significantly increase tumour growth through transketolase activation. The effect of thiamine supplementation on tumour proliferation was demonstrated by in vivo experiments in mice with the ascites tumour. Thiamine supplementation in doses between 12.5 and 250 times the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for mice were administered starting on day four of tumour inoculation. We observed a high stimulatory effect on tumour growth of 164% compared to controls at a thiamine dose of 25 times the RDA. This growth stimulatory effect was predicted on the basis of correction of the pre-existing level of thiamine deficiency (42%), as assayed by the cofactor/enzyme ratio. Interestingly, at very high overdoses of thiamine, approximately 2500 times the RDA, thiamine supplementation had the opposite effect and caused 10% inhibition of tumour growth. This effect was heightened, resulting in a 36% decrease, when thiamine supplementation was administered from the 7th day prior to tumour inoculation. Our results show that thiamine supplementation sufficient to correct existing thiamine deficiency stimulates tumour proliferation as predicted by MCA. The tumour inhibitory effect at high doses of thiamine is unexplained and merits further study.

Wheat germ extract decreases glucose uptake and RNA ribose formation but increases fatty acid synthesis in MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells

The fermented wheat germ extract with standardized benzoquinone composition has potent tumor propagation inhibitory properties. The authors show that this extract induces profound metabolic changes in cultured MIA pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells when the [1,2-13C2]glucose isotope is used as the single tracer with biologic gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MIA cells treated with 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL wheat germ extract showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell glucose consumption. uptake of isotope into ribosomal RNA (2.4%, 9.4%, and 28.0%), and release of 13CO2. Conversely, direct glucose oxidation and ribose recycling in the pentose cycle showed a dose-dependent increase of 1.2%, 20.7%, and 93.4%. The newly synthesized fraction of cell palmitate and the 13C enrichment of acetyl units were also significantly increased with all doses of wheat germ extract. The fermented wheat germ extract controls tumor propagation primarily by regulating glucose carbon redistribution between cell proliferation-related and cell differentiation-related macromolecules. Wheat germ extract treatment is likely associated with the phosphorylation and transcriptional regulation of metabolic enzymes that are involved in glucose carbon redistribution between cell proliferation-related structural and functional macromolecules (RNA, DNA) and the direct oxidative degradation of glucose, which have devastating consequences for the proliferation and survival of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells in culture.

Relationships between inhibition constants, inhibitor concentrations for 50% inhibition and types of inhibition: new ways of analysing data

The concentration of an inhibitor that decreases the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction by 50%, symbolized i(0.5), is often used in pharmacological studies to characterize inhibitors. It can be estimated from the common inhibition plots used in biochemistry by means of the fact that the extrapolated inhibitor concentration at which the rate becomes infinite is equal to -i(0.5). This method is, in principle, more accurate than comparing the rates at various different inhibitor concentrations, and inferring the value of i(0.5) by interpolation. Its reciprocal, 1/i(0.5), is linearly dependent on v(0)/V, the uninhibited rate divided by the limiting rate, and the extrapolated value of v(0)/V at which 1/i(0.5) is zero allows the type of inhibition to be characterized: this value is 1 if the inhibition is strictly competitive; greater than 1 if the inhibition is mixed with a predominantly competitive component; infinite (i.e. 1/i(0.5) does not vary with v(0)/V) if the inhibition is pure non-competitive (i.e. mixed with competitive and uncompetitive components equal); negative if the inhibition is mixed with a predominantly uncompetitive component; and zero if it is strictly uncompetitive. The type of analysis proposed has been tested experimentally by examining inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase by oxalate (an uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to pyruvate) and oxamate (a competitive inhibitor with respect to pyruvate), and of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase by hydroxymalonate (a mixed inhibitor with respect to oxaloacetate). In all cases there is excellent agreement between theory and experiment.

Occurrence of paradoxical or sustained control by an enzyme when overexpressed: necessary conditions and experimental evidence with regard to hepatic glucokinase

It is widely assumed that the control coefficient of an enzyme on pathway flux decreases as the concentration of enzyme increases. However, it has been shown [Kholodenko and Brown (1996) Biochem. J. 314, 753-760] that enzymes with sigmoidal kinetics can maintain or even gain control with an increase in enzyme activity or concentration. This has been described as 'paradoxical control'. Here we formulate the general requirements for allosteric enzyme kinetics to display this behaviour. We show that a necessary condition is that the Hill coefficient of the enzyme should increase with an increase in substrate concentration or decrease with an increase in product concentration. We also describe the necessary and sufficient requirements for the occurrence of paradoxical control in terms of the flux control coefficients and the derivatives of the elasticities. The derived expression shows that the higher the control coefficient of an allosteric enzyme, the more likely it is that the pathway will display this behaviour. Control of pathway flux is generally shared between a large number of enzymes and therefore the likelihood of observing sustained or increased control is low, even if the kinetic parameters are in the most favourable range to generate the phenomenon. We show that hepatic glucokinase, which has a very high flux control coefficient and displays sigmoidal behaviour within the hepatocyte in situ as a result of interaction with a regulatory protein, displays sustained or increased control over an extended range of enzyme concentrations when the regulatory protein is overexpressed.

Role of thiamin (vitamin B-1) and transketolase in tumor cell proliferation

Metabolic control analysis predicts that stimulators of transketolase enzyme synthesis such as thiamin (vitamin B-1) support a high rate of nucleic acid ribose synthesis necessary for tumor cell survival, chemotherapy resistance, and proliferation. Metabolic control analysis also predicts that transketolase inhibitor drugs will have the opposite effect on tumor cells. This may have important implications in the nutrition and future treatment of patients with cancer.

Use of alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus to test for channelling of intermediates of glycolysis between glucokinase and aldolase in hepatocytes

We investigated whether hepatocytes permeabilized with alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus are a valid model for studying the channelling of intermediates of glycolysis between glucokinase and triosephosphate isomerase. These cells are permeable to 2-aminoisobutyrate, ATP, glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) and fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate [Fru(2,6)P(2)], but maintain cell integrity in the presence of ATP as judged by the retention of cytoplasmic enzymes. During incubation with 25 mM glucose, an ATP-generating system and saturating concentrations of Fru(2,6)P(2), rates of detritiation of [2-(3)H]glucose and [3-(3)H]glucose were similar. Exogenous Glc6P (1 mM) and to a lesser extent fructose 6-phosphate, but not Fru(1, 6)P(2), decreased the rate of detritiation of [3-(3)H]glucose. During incubation with 25 mM glucose and Glc6P (0.2-1 mM), with either [3-(3)H]glucose or [3-(3)H]Glc6P as labelled substrate, there was dilution of metabolism of [3-(3)H]glucose with increasing Glc6P but no overall increase in glycolytic flux from glucose and Glc6P, indicating that glycolysis is apparently saturated with Glc6P despite the permeability of the cells to this metabolite. These findings could be explained by partial channelling of Glc6P between glucokinase and glycolysis in the presence of saturating concentrations of Fru(2,6)P(2). They provide an alternative explanation for the concept that there is more than one Glc6P pool.

Cells overexpressing fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase showed enhanced pentose phosphate pathway flux and resistance to oxidative stress

Changes in the content of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, a modulator of glycolytic flux, also affect other metabolic fluxes such as the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Since this is the main source of precursors for biosynthesis in proliferating cells, PFK-2/FBPase-2 has been proposed as a potential target for neoplastic treatments. Here we provide evidence that cells with a low content of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate have a lower energy status than controls, but they are also less sensitive to oxidative stress. This feature is related to the activation of the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway and the increased production of NADPH.

Organization-dependent effects of toxic bivalent ions microtubule assembly and glycolysis

The effects of bivalent ions on tubulin dynamics and the upper phase of glycolysis were investigated at different organization levels in vitro. Cu2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and CrO4(2-) inhibit the tubulin polymerization at an IC50 of 14-24 microM with high cooperativity and also induce microtubule disassembly. The apparent binding constants of the ions to tubulin, estimated by fluorescence quenching, vary between 6 and 28 microM. BIAcore measurements for tubulin-tubulin interaction suggest that the presence of Cu2+ affects neither koff nor kon, but the amount of the bound tubulin. While the inhibitory effect of Cu2+ on tubulin polymerization is partially abolished by cross-linking of microtubules with substoichiometric amounts of phosphofructokinase or decoration of tubules with cytosolic proteins, in the presence of kinase but not with cytosolic proteins the tubules are resistant to CrO4(2-). No inhibitory effect of Cu2+ or CrO4(2-) on microtubule assembly was detected in the MAP-containing cytosolic fraction. Electron microscopy revealed that tubules assembled in the presence of Cu2+ or CrO4(2-) ions contain aggregates of thread-like oligomers that are less conspicuous in the presence of cytosolic proteins. Cu2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ inhibit the glycolytic flux in the cytosolic fraction characterized at equilibrium by an IC50 of 10-14 microM with high cooperativity. Tubulin diminishes the inhibitory effect of the cations. These data indicate that the responses elicited by the bivalent ions are highly dependent on the supramolecular organization of the systems.

In vivo measurements of control coefficients for hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were increased in Xenopus laevis oocytes by microinjection of commercial pure enzymes. The effect of increased fractional activities on glycogen synthesis or on the production of 14CO(2) (the oxidative portion of the pentose phosphate pathway) was investigated by microinjection of [1-(14)C]glucose and measurements of the radioactivity in glycogen and CO(2). Control coefficients calculated from the data show that hexokinase plays an important role in the control of glycogen synthesis (control coefficient=0.7) but its influence on the control of the pentose phosphate pathway is almost nil (control coefficient=-0.01). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase injections did not affect the production of 14CO(2) by the pentose phosphate pathway, indicating that other factors control the operation of this pathway. In addition, an almost null control of this enzyme on glycogen synthesis flux was observed.

Quantitative characterization of homo- and heteroassociations of muscle phosphofructokinase with aldolase

Dissociation of purified phosphofructokinase accompanied with inactivation was analyzed in the absence and presence of aldolase and the data were compared with those obtained with muscle extract. The kinetics of the decrease in enzymatic activity was highly dependent on the dilution factor in both cases, but the inactivation appeared to be biphasic only with extract. The inactivation of the phosphofructokinase was impeded by addition of excess of aldolase. Time courses of kinase inactivation were fitted by alternative kinetic models to characterize the multiple equilibria of several homo- and hetero-oligomers of phosphofructokinase. The combination of modeling data obtained with purified and extract systems suggests that aldolase binds to an intermediate dimer of phosphofructokinase and within this heterocomplex the kinase is completely active. The intermediate dimer is stabilized by association with microtubules and the kinase activity decreased due to dilution can be recovered by addition of excess aldolase. In extract, the phosphofructokinase is of sigmoidal character (Hill coefficient of 2.3); the addition of excess exogenous aldolase to phosphofructokinase resulted in heterocomplex formation displaying Michaelian kinetics. The possible physiological relevance of heterocomplex formation of phosphofructokinase in muscle extract is discussed.

[Primary retinal vasculitis]

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 22-year-old Caucasian female who consulted because of a brief episode of blurred vision in her right eye. Funduscopic findings in right eye included marked venous tortuousness and roundish paramacular haemorrhages. A slight venous tortuousness in left eye. Fluorescein angiography showed a segmentary retinal vasculitis affecting medium calibre vessels of the posterior pole. Complementary examinations ruled out any systemic involvement. After therapy with oral corticoesteroids the case evolves to remission.

DISCUSSION

The diagnosis of retinal vasculitis is achieved by the performance of ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Prior studies have ruled out the need for complementary examinations to find any systemic involvement in patients.

Implications of oxidative stress and inflammatory process in the cytotoxicity of capsaicin in human endothelial cells: lack of DNA strand breakage

Capsaicin, a natural product of Capsicum species is known to induce excitation of nociceptive terminals involved in pain perception. Nevertheless, it is utilized by topical application in humans, giving rise to blood capsaicin concentration up to 10-20 microM. The effect of capsaicin on human endothelial cells ECV 304 has been investigated. The cytotoxicity and inflammatory properties of capsaicin were evaluated by measuring the capsaicin-stimulated release of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels (sICAM-1) into the culture medium; production of reactive oxygen species measured by quantification of lipoperoxidation in endothelial cell membranes; and genotoxicity measured using the comet assay and the DNA fragmentation assay. The concentration inhibiting protein synthesis by 50% after 24-h incubation was found to be 175 microM. Capsaicin induced an increase of sICAM-1 release into the culture medium at concentration >/=100 microM. Lipoperoxidation measured by malondialdehyde production increased at capsaicin concentration >/=200 microM. The comet test and DNA fragmentation assay clearly suggested that capsaicin does not induce significant DNA strand breaks within the range of concentrations used. Because the inflammatory reaction and lipid peroxidation may affect cellular functions and lead to cell death, the present data may have important implications for the possible health threats of capsaicin, specially in the case of unreasonable use of capsaicin preparations in pathological situations.

Analysis and prediction of the effect of uncertain boundary values in modeling a metabolic pathway

The integration of large quantities of biological information into mathematical models of cell metabolism provides a way for quantitatively evaluating the effect of parameter changes on simultaneous, coupled, and, often, counteracting processes. From a practical point of view, the validity of the model's predictions would critically depend on its quality. Among others, one of the critical steps that may compromise this quality is to decide which are the boundaries of the model. That is, we must decide which metabolites are assumed to be constants, and which fluxes are considered to be the inputs and outputs of the system. In this article, we analyze the effect of the experimental uncertainty on these variables on the system's characterization. Using a previously defined model of glucose fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we characterize the effect of the uncertainty on some key variables commonly considered to be constants in many models of glucose metabolism, i.e., the intracellular pH and the pool of nucleotides. Without considering if this variability corresponds to a possible true physiological phenomenon, the goal of this article is to illustrate how this uncertainty may result in an important variability in the systemic responses predicted by the model. To characterize this variability, we analyze the utility and limitations of computing the sensitivities of logarithmic-gains (control coefficients) to the boundary parameters. With the exception of some special cases, our analysis shows that these sensitivities are good indicators of the dependence of the model systemic behavior on the parameters of interest.

Transforming growth factor beta2 promotes glucose carbon incorporation into nucleic acid ribose through the nonoxidative pentose cycle in lung epithelial carcinoma cells

The invasive transformation of A-459 lung epithelial carcinoma cells has been linked to the autocrine regulation of malignant phenotypic changes by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Here we demonstrate, using stable 13C glucose isotopes, that the transformed phenotype is characterized by decreased CO2 production via direct glucose oxidation but increased nucleic acid ribose synthesis through the nonoxidative reactions of the pentose cycle. Increased nucleic acid synthesis through the nonoxidative pentose cycle imparts the metabolic adaptation of nontransformed cells to the invasive phenotype that potentially explains the fundamental metabolic disturbance in tumor cells: highly increased nucleic acid synthesis despite hypoxia and decreased glucose oxidation.

Engineering a living cell to desired metabolite concentrations and fluxes: pathways with multifunctional enzymes

With molecular genetics enabling modulation of the concentrations of cellular enzymes, metabolic engineering becomes limited by the question of which modulations of the enzyme concentrations are required to bring about a desired pattern of cellular metabolism. In an earlier paper (Kholodenko et al. (1998). Biotechnol. Bioeng. 59, 239-247) we derived a method to determine the required modulations. This method, however, cannot be immediately applied to cellular pathways with enzymes catalyzing more than one step in metabolism (multifunctional enzymes). In the present paper we show to which extent the presence of multifunctional enzymes limits biotechological ambitions, which one might otherwise pursue in vain. In particular, it is impossible to change the concentration of a single intermediate and leave the rest of metabolism unperturbed if that intermediate interacts directly with a multifunctional enzyme. The analytical machinery of Metabolic Control Analysis is used to relate the desired and ensuing changes in the metabolic pattern. An explicit solution to this problem of engineering metabolism is then given in the form of a single matrix equation.

Combined enhancement of microtubule assembly and glucose metabolism in neuronal systems in vitro: decreased sensitivity to copper toxicity

Brain cell-free extract greatly stimulates the polymerization rate of purified tubulin with a reduction of the nucleation period and without a significant alteration of the final assembly state. This effect is mimicked by neuroblastoma extract at 10-fold lower extract concentration, but not by excess muscle extract. Copper inhibits microtubule assembly in vitro but in the presence of brain extract the copper effect is suspended. Electron microscopic images showed that intact microtubules are formed and decorated by cytosolic proteins in the absence and presence of copper, while the copper alone induces the formation of S-shaped sheets and oligomeric threads. The flux of triosephosphate formation from glucose is enhanced by microtubules in brain extract, but not in muscle extract. Copper inhibits the glycolytic flux; however, the presence of microtubules not only suspends the inhibition by copper but the activation of glycolysis by microtubules is also preserved. We conclude that the organization of neuronal proteins modifies both the rates of microtubule assembly and glycolysis, and reduces their sensitivities against the inhibition caused by copper.

Advantages and disadvantages of aggregating fluxes into synthetic and degradative fluxes when modelling metabolic pathways

It is now widely accepted that mathematical models are needed to predict the behaviour of complex metabolic networks in the cell, in order to have a rational basis for planning metabolic engineering with biotechnological or therapeutical purposes. The great complexity of metabolic networks makes it crucial to simplify them for analysis, but without violating key principles of stoichiometry or thermodynamics. We show here, however, that models for branched complex systems are sometimes obtained that violate the stoichiometry of fluxes at branch points and as a result give unrealistic metabolite concentrations at the steady state. This problem is especially important when models are constructed with the S-system form of biochemical systems theory. However, the same violation of stoichiometry can occur in metabolic control analysis if control coefficients are assumed to be constant when trying to predict the effects of large changes. We derive the appropriate matrix equations to analyse this type of problem systematically and to assess its extent in any given model.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of capsaicin in human neuroblastoma cells SHSY-5Y

Capsaicin, a natural product of Capsicum species, induces excitation of pain perception at nociceptive terminals. Our previous studies have shown that capsaicin inhibits protein synthesis in cultured monkey kidneys cells (Vero cells) and in primoculture of rat astrocytes. We have now investigated the effect of capsaicin on human neuroblastoma cells SHSY-5Y. The cytotoxicity has been assessed by incorporation of [(3)H]L-leucine into cellular protein in the presence of capsaicin and the genotoxicity has been evaluated using the comet assay and the fragmentation assay after incubation of neuroblastoma cells with 25-100 microM capsaicin. The concentration required to inhibit 50% of the protein synthesis (IC(50)) was found to be 60 microM after incubation with the toxin during one cellular cycle (5 days) of SHSY-5Y. The results of the comet test and DNA fragmentation assay clearly suggest that capsaicin is able to induce DNA strand breaks already with concentrations in the range of 50 microM, corresponding to 29.3 microM of capsaicin not bound to alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. Several daily topical applications of preparations containing 0.075% of capsaicin could lead to blood capsaicin concentration of this order of magnitude following transdermal passage (5% of the total quantity applied). Because DNA strand breaks or DNA lesions may affect cellular functions, lead to cell death and/or mutagenesis, our data in case of inappropriate DNA repair may have important implications for the possible health threats of capsaicin, specially in the case of misuse of capsaicin preparations in pathological situations.

Oxythiamine and dehydroepiandrosterone induce a G1 phase cycle arrest in Ehrlich's tumor cells through inhibition of the pentose cycle

Transketolase (TK) reactions play a crucial role in tumor cell nucleic acid ribose synthesis utilizing glucose carbons, yet, current cancer treatments do not target this central pathway. Experimentally, a dramatic decrease in tumor cell proliferation after the administration of the TK inhibitor oxythiamine (OT) was observed in several in vitro and in vivo tumor models. Here, we demonstrate that pentose cycle (PC) inhibitors, OT and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), efficiently regulate the cell cycle and tumor proliferation processes. Increasing doses of OT or DHEA were administered by daily intraperitoneal injections to Ehrlich's ascites tumor hosting mice for 4 days. The tumor cell number and their cycle phase distribution profile were determined by DNA flow histograms. Tumors showed a dose dependent increase in their G0-G1 cell populations after both OT and DHEA treatment and a simultaneous decrease in cells advancing to the S and G2-M cell cycle phases. This effect of PC inhibitors was significant, OT was more effective than DHEA, both drugs acted synergistically in combination and no signs of direct cell or host toxicity were observed. Direct inhibition of PC reactions causes a G1 cell cycle arrest similar to that of 2-deoxyglucose treatment. However, no interference with cell energy production and cell toxicity is observed. PC inhibitors, specifically ones targeting TK, introduce a new target site for the development of future cancer therapies to inhibit glucose utilizing pathways selectively for nucleic acid production.

New semisynthetic vinca alkaloids: chemical, biochemical and cellular studies

A new semisynthetic anti-tumour bis-indol compound, KAR-2 [3'-(beta-chloroethyl)-2',4'-dioxo-3,5'-spiro-oxazolidino-4-dea cetoxy-vinblastine] with lower toxicity than vinca alkaloids used in chemotherapy binds to calmodulin but, in contrast to vinblastine, does not exhibit anti-calmodulin activity. To investigate whether the modest chemical modification of bis-indol structure is responsible for the lack of anti-calmodulin potency and for the different pharmacological effects, new derivatives have been synthesized for comparative studies. The synthesis of the KAR derivatives are presented. The comparative studies showed that the spiro-oxazolidino ring and the substitution of a formyl group to a methyl one were responsible for the lack of anti-calmodulin activities. The new derivatives, similar to the mother compounds, inhibited the tubulin assembly in polymerization tests in vitro, however their inhibitory effect was highly dependent on the organization state of microtubules; bundled microtubules appeared to be resistant against the drugs. The maximal cytotoxic activities of KAR derivatives in in vivo mice hosting leukaemia P388 or Ehrlich ascites tumour cells appeared similar to that of vinblastine or vincristine, however significant prolongation of life span could be reached with KAR derivatives only after the administration of a single dose. These studies plus data obtained using a cultured human neuroblastoma cell line showed that KAR compounds displayed their cytotoxic activities at significantly higher concentrations than the mother compounds, although their antimicrotubular activities were similar in vitro. These data suggest that vinblastine/vincristine damage additional crucial cell functions, one of which could be related to calmodulin-mediated processes.

Application of metabolic control analysis to the study of toxic effects of copper in muscle glycolysis

Experimental and model studies have been performed to characterise the effects of Cu2+ on the activities of individual glycolytic enzymes and on the flux and internal metabolite concentrations of the upper part of glycolysis in mouse muscle extracts. Cu2+ significantly inhibited the triosephosphate production from glucose with an IC50 of about 6.0 microM. At a similar extension Cu2+ inhibited hexokinase and phosphofructokinase, with an IC50 of 6.2 microM and 6.4 microM respectively, whereas the effects on the activities of aldolase, phosphoglucose isomerase and the internal metabolite levels were not significant. Flux control coefficients and flux response coefficients were determined in the presence of copper concentrations between 0 and 10 microM. The same values of flux control coefficients for hexokinase and for phosphofructokinase (0.8 and 0.2 respectively) were found in absence and in presence of copper. At Cu2+ equal to the flux IC50, the response coefficient was -1. The elasticity coefficients for hexokinase and phosphofructokinase at Cu2+ equal to the IC50 were also -1. A mathematical model was used to analyze the effect of copper on glycolysis under different conditions using experimental kinetic parameters and rate equations for enzymatic reactions of the upper part of glycolysis.

Metabolic design: how to engineer a living cell to desired metabolite concentrations and fluxes

A biotechnological aim of genetic engineering is to increase the intracellular concentration or secretion of valuable compounds, while making the other concentrations and fluxes optimal for viability and productivity. Efforts to accomplish this based on over-expression of the enzyme, catalyzing the so-called "rate-limiting step," have not been successful. Here we develop a method to determine the enzyme concentrations that are required to achieve such an aim. This method is called Metabolic Design Analysis and is based on the perturbation method and the modular ("top-down") approach-formalisms that were first developed for the analysis of biochemical regulation such as, Metabolic Control Analysis. Contrary to earlier methods, the desired alterations of cellular metabolism need not be small or confined to a single metabolite or flux. The limits to the alterations of fluxes and metabolite concentrations are identified. To employ Metabolic Design Analysis, only limited kinetic information concerning the pathway enzymes is needed.

Subtleties in control by metabolic channelling and enzyme organization

Because of its importance to cell function, the free-energy metabolism of the living cell is subtly and homeostatically controlled. Metabolic control analysis enables a quantitative determination of what controls the relevant fluxes. However, the original metabolic control analysis was developed for idealized metabolic systems, which were assumed to lack enzyme-enzyme association and direct metabolite transfer between enzymes (channelling). We here review the recently developed molecular control analysis, which makes it possible to study non-ideal (channelled, organized) systems quantitatively in terms of what controls the fluxes, concentrations, and transit times. We show that in real, non-ideal pathways, the central control laws, such as the summation theorem for flux control, are richer than in ideal systems: the sum of the control of the enzymes participating in a non-ideal pathway may well exceed one (the number expected in the ideal pathways), but may also drop to values below one. Precise expressions indicate how total control is determined by non-ideal phenomena such as ternary complex formation (two enzymes, one metabolite), and enzyme sequestration. The bacterial phosphotransferase system (PTS), which catalyses the uptake and concomitant phosphorylation of glucose (and also regulates catabolite repression) is analyzed as an experimental example of a non-ideal pathway. Here, the phosphoryl group is channelled between enzymes, which could increase the sum of the enzyme control coefficients to two, whereas the formation of ternary complexes could decrease the sum of the enzyme control coefficients to below one. Experimental studies have recently confirmed this identification, as well as theoretically predicted values for the total control. Macromolecular crowding was shown to be a major candidate for the factor that modulates the non-ideal behaviour of the PTS pathway and the sum of the enzyme control coefficients.

Physical constraints in the synthesis of glycogen that influence its structural homogeneity: a two-dimensional approach

Several aspects of glycogen optimization as an efficient fuel storage molecule have been studied in previous works: the chain length and the branching degree. These results demonstrated that the values of these variables in the cellular molecule are those that optimize the structure-function relationship. In the present work we show that structural homogeneity of the glycogen molecule is also an optimized variable that plays an important role in its metabolic function. This problem was studied by means of a two-dimensional approach, which allowed us to simplify the very complicated structure of glycogen. Our results demonstrate that there is a molecular size limit that guarantees the structural homogeneity, beyond which the structure of the molecule degenerates, as many chains do not grow. This strongly suggests that such a size limit is precisely what the molecule possesses in the cell.

Mathematical models of purine metabolism in man

Experimental and clinical data on purine metabolism are collated and analyzed with three mathematical models. The first model is the result of an attempt to construct a traditional kinetic model based on Michaelis-Menten rate laws. This attempt is only partially successful, since kinetic information, while extensive, is not complete, and since qualitative information is difficult to incorporate into this type of model. The data gaps necessitate the complementation of the Michaelis-Menten model with other functional forms that can incorporate different types of data. The most convenient and established representations for this purpose are rate laws formulated as power-law functions, and these are used to construct a Complemented Michaelis-Menten (CMM) model. The other two models are pure power-law-representations, one in the form of a Generalized Mass Action (GMA) system, and the other one in the form of an S-system. The first part of the paper contains a compendium of experimental data necessary for any model of purine metabolism. This is followed by the formulation of the three models and a comparative analysis. For physiological and moderately pathological perturbations in metabolites or enzymes, the results of the three models are very similar and consistent with clinical findings. This is an encouraging result since the three models have different structures and data requirements and are based on different mathematical assumptions. Significant enzyme deficiencies are not so well modeled by the S-system model. The CMM model captures the dynamics better, but judging by comparisons with clinical observations, the best model in this case is the GMA model. The model results are discussed in some detail, along with advantages and disadvantages of each modeling strategy.

Inhibition of the oxidative and nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathways by somatostatin: a possible mechanism of antitumor action

Long-acting somatostatin analogs have recently become supplemental drugs in the treatment of neurofibroma because of their marked tumor growth inhibitory effect. Somatostatin is currently under extended evaluation in other cancers as a possible supplemental drug to the treatment protocols in use. The mode of action is not known. Somatostatin has been shown to cause glucose intolerance by inhibiting glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in fish liver. Recent data generated in our laboratory indicate that it is this pathway and the transketolase reactions of the pentose cycle (PC) which are directly involved in the ribose synthesis process of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. In cell culture, somatostatin alone inhibited glucose carbon recycling through the PC by 5.7%, which was increased to 19.8% in combination with oxythiamine, a competitive inhibitor of transketolase. Oxythiamine produced strong apoptosis in in-vitro hosted tumor cells. We hypothesize that somatostatin- and oxythiamine-induced antiproliferative action is mediated by the inhibition of G6PD, transketolase, or both.

Mass isotopomer study of the nonoxidative pathways of the pentose cycle with [1,2-13C2]glucose

We present a single-tracer method for the study of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) using [1,2-13C2]glucose and mass isotopomer analysis. The metabolism of [1,2-13C2]glucose by the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, transketolase (TK), and transaldolase (TA) reactions results in unique pentose and lactate isotopomers with either one or two 13C substitutions. The distribution of these isotopomers was used to estimate parameters of the PPP using the model of Katz and Rognstad (J. Katz and R. Rognstad. Biochemistry 6: 2227-2247, 1967). Mass and position isotopomers of ribose, and lactate and palmitate (products from triose phosphate) from human hepatoma cells (Hep G2) incubated with 30% enriched [1,2-13C2]glucose were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After 24-72 h incubation, 1.9% of lactate molecules in the medium contained one 13C substitution (m1) and 10% contained two 13C substitutions (m2). A similar m1-to-m2 ratio was found in palmitate as expected. Pentose cycle (PC) activity determined from incubation with [1,2-13C2]glucose was 5.73 +/- 0.52% of the glucose flux, which was identical to the value of PC (5.55 +/- 0.73%) determined by separate incubations with [1-13C] and [6-13C]glucose, 13C was found to be distributed in four ribose isotopomers ([1-13C]-, [5-13C]-, [1,2-13C2]-, and [4,5-13C2]ribose). The observed ribose isotopomer distribution was best matched with that provided from simulation by substituting 0.032 for TK and 0.85 for TA activity relative to glucose uptake into the model of Katz and Rognstad. The use of [1,2-13C2]glucose not only permits the determination of PC but also allows estimation of relative rates through the TK and TA reactions.

Control analysis of metabolic systems involving quasi-equilibrium reactions

Reactions for which the rates are extremely sensitive to changes in the concentrations of variable metabolite concentrations contribute little to the control of biochemical reaction networks. Yet they do interfere with the calculation of the system's behaviour, both in terms of numerical integration of the rate equations and in terms of the analysis of metabolic control. We here present a way to solve this problem systematically for systems with time hierarchies. We identify the fast reactions and fast metabolites, group them apart from the other ("slow") reactions and metabolites, and then apply the appropriate quasi-equilibrium condition for the fast subsystem. This then makes it possible to eliminate the fast reactions and their elasticity coefficients from the calculations, allowing the calculation of the control coefficients of the slow reactions in terms of the elasticity coefficients of the slow reactions. As expected, the elasticity coefficients of the fast reactions drop out of the calculations, and they are irrelevant for control at the time resolution of the steady state of the slow reactions. The analysis, when applied iteratively, is expected to be particularly valuable for the control analysis of living cells, where a time hierarchy exists, the fastest being at the level of enzyme kinetics and the slowest at gene expression.

Effects of feedback inhibition on transit time in a linear pathway of Michaelis-Menten-type reactions

An analysis of the effects of external and internal metabolites on the steady-state behavior of linear pathways comprising a sequence of three Michaelis-Menten-type reactions with and without a simple feedback inhibition (i.e. an interaction of an internal metabolite with the pathway) is performed with respect to the transit time tau by its formulation as rectangular-hyperbolic functions of the flux J, instead of direct expressions in terms of the external metabolite concentrations. For a given concentration of the external metabolite M1 (substrate of the pathway) or M4 (product of the pathway), the flux J has a lower value in the pathway with feedback inhibition than in the pathway without feedback inhibition. With variation in the M1 concentration the transit time tau shows a concave relationship with the flux J which is virtually identical for both pathways, yielding a minimum at a certain value of J. With variation in the M4 concentration the transit time tau monotonously decreases with higher value of J, and for a given value of J the feedback inhibition allows a lower transit time. This effect is enhanced with stronger feedback inhibition, and is in turn greatly reduced with higher values of total concentration and rate constants for the first enzyme in the pathway.

Analysis of abnormalities in purine metabolism leading to gout and to neurological dysfunctions in man

A modelling approach is used to analyse diseases associated with purine metabolism in man. The specific focus is on deficiencies in two enzymes, hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenylosuccinate lyase. These deficiencies can lead to a number of symptoms, including neurological dysfunctions and mental retardation. Although the biochemical mechanisms of dysfunctions associated with adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency are not completely understood, there is at least general agreement in the literature about possible causes. Simulations with our model confirm that accumulation of the two substrates of the enzyme can lead to significant biochemical imbalance. In hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency the biochemical mechanisms associated with neurological dysfunctions are less clear. Model analyses support some old hypotheses but also suggest new indicators for possible causes of neurological dysfunctions associated with this deficiency. Hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency is known to cause hyperuricaemia and gout. We compare the relative importance of this deficiency with other known causes of gout in humans. The analysis suggests that defects in the excretion of uric acid are more consequential than defects in uric acid synthesis such as hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency.

Thiamine supplementation to cancer patients: a double edged sword

The objectives of this review are to (a) explain the mechanism by which thiamine (vitamin B1) promotes nucleic acid ribose synthesis and tumor cell proliferation via the nonoxidative transketolase (TK) pathway; (b) estimate the thiamine intake of cancer patients and (c) provide background information and to develop guidelines for alternative treatments with antithiamine transketolase inhibitors in the clinical setting. Clinical and experimental data demonstrate increased thiamine utilization of human tumors and its interference with experimental chemotherapy. Analysis of RNA ribose indicates that glucose carbons contribute to over 90% of ribose synthesis in cultured cervix und pancreatic carcinoma cells and that ribose is synthesized primarily through the thiamine dependent TK pathway (> 70%). Antithiamine compounds significantly inhibit nucleic acid synthesis and tumor cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo in several tumor models. The medical literature reveals little information regarding the role of the thiamine dependent TK reaction in tumor cell ribose production which is a central process in de novo nucleic acid synthesis and the salvage pathways for purines. Consequently, current thiamine administration protocols oversupply thiamine by 200% to 20,000% of the recommended dietary allowance, because it is considered harmless and needed by cancer patients. The thiamine dependent TK pathway is the central avenue which supplies ribose phosphate for nucleic acids in tumors and excessive thiamine supplementation maybe responsible for failed therapeutic attempts to terminate cancer cell proliferation. Limited administration of thiamine and concomitant treatment with transketolase inhibitors is a more rational approach to treat cancer.