[Carbohydrate and nitrogenous metabolism condition in the rat tissue under experimental rhabdomyolysis]

Some effects of glycerol injection on indices of the condition of the thiol-disulfide system as well as carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism in rats in vivo were studied. A decrease was revealed in levels of non-protein SH-groups in the liver, kidney and heart, as well as of protein SH-groups in the kidney and heart of rats following glycerol injection. That might be connected with SH-group oxidation under the excessive arrival of free haem into tissues under rhabdomyolysis. A decrease in glycogen and increase in tyrosine aminotransferase activity in the liver were observed. Activation of nitrogenous metabolism following glycerol injection is indicated by the increase of aminotransferase activity in organs, and concentration of blood urea. High concentration of creatinine in the rat serum can reflect malfiltration in kidneys.

[Antioxidant effects of L-arginine in the rat heart in experimental rhabdomyolysis]

The glycerol administration in a dose of 1 ml of 50% water solution/100 g b. w. was found to cause considerable accumulation of the total heme in the rat blood serum that is accompanied by an increase of TBA-reactive products and protein carbonyl derivates contents and by changes of protein level. Heme entering in the heart tissue is observed in the first hours after glycerol injection. The breaches of heart antioxidant-prooxidant balance are noted in twenty-four hours: TBA-reactive products and protein carbonyl derivates accumulation, heme oxygenase and catalase activation, superoxide dismutase activity lowering and reduction of glutathione content elevation. Pretreatment by L-arginine (0.5 h before glycerol administration) almost did not affect the blood serum changes caused by glycerol injection. However in the rat heart L-arginine administration prevents from TBA-reactive products and protein carbonyl derivates accumulation and the breaches of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Besides L-arginine causes the ealier heme oxygenase induction. Possible mechanisms of L-arginine protective action in the rat heart under experimental rhabdomyolysis are discussed.

[Effect of L-arginine on pro- and antioxidant status of the rat vessels and lungs in experimental rhabdomyolysis]

The glycerol administration was found to cause accumulation of the total heme in rat blood serum, vessels and lungs that are accompanied by increase of TBA-reactive products and protein carbonyl derivates contents. A decrease of superoxide dismutase activity and an increase of reduced glutathione in lung were observed. Heme entering the vessels and lungs is accompanied by elevation in heme oxygenase activity. Pretreatment by L-arginine (0.5 h before glycerol administration) didn't affect blood serum and vessels changes caused by glycerol injection. However, in lungs, L-arginine prevents TBA-reactive products and protein carbonyl derivates accumulation, the decrease ofsuperoxide dismutase activity and causes the ealier heme oxygenase induction. Prooxidant effects of heme in tissues studied and possible mechanisms of L-arginine protective action in lung under experimental rhabdomyolysis are discussed.

[Effect of chronic social stress on lipid metabolism in golden Syrian hamsters]

The changes of total lipids, lipoproteins and their fractions, free fatty acids, triacylglyceroles, free and esterified cholesterol levels and parameters of its metabolism in the blood serum and liver, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lysosomal lipase activity in the liver, and also post-heparin lipases activity in blood of hamsters with chronic social stress are investigated. Is has been shown, that in stressed animals the prevalence in early terms of chronic stress lipolysis above lipogenesis is observed. In later terms of chronic stress the lipogenesis activation is also observed which, alongside with active lipolysis, can cause hyperlipidemia in blood. The latter phenomenon is obviously more characteristic of males, while in females the main source of fatty acids in blood is probably lipolysis in the liver. Proatherogenic redistribution of lipoprotein fractions, which was observed at chronic stress, becomes complicated by changes of their transformations processes under blood lipases action, in particular, lipases disbalance: by increasing of hepatic lipase activity without lipoprotein lipase activity increase. The increase of CETP activity in HDL, which is observed at stress, can be accompanied by atherogenic LDLB accumulation in the blood plasma. The chronic social stress is proatherogenic owing to lipid and lipoprotein metabolism changes, which lead to the shift of balance during lipids transport and their use by tissues.

[Antioxidative status changes in golden syrian hamsters with experimental metabolic syndrome]

Some indices of the antioxidant status (content of the alpha-tocopherol, reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid, activity of the glutathione reductase and aryl-esterase) and lipid peroxidation processes in the liver, blood serum, and some blood serum lipoprotein fractions of the Golden Syrian hamsters of different sex and age status under high-caloric diet were investigated. It has been shown that the hypercaloric diet leads to a decreaseng of reduced glutathione content and increase of the level of lipid peroxidation products in the liver of experimental animals. The ascorbic acids content in male liver is decreased and in female liver is increased. In the blood serum under hypercaloric nutrition the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and alpha-tocopherol content a decrease in ApoB-lipoproteins and HDL is observed. Simultaneously the ascorbic acid content is increased in the blood serum of all experimental animals. Activation of free-radical oxidation both in the liver, and blood serum is more significant in males compared with females. The data obtained allow to suppose that atherosclerotic complications of metabolic syndrome development may be connected to the lipoprotein oxidant status infringement.

[Heme oxygenase activity in the tissues of the vessels and heart of rats under co-administration of NO-synthase inhibitor and hemin chloride]

The administration of hemin chloride in a dose of 1.5 mg/100 g of the body weight was found to cause accumulation of the total heme and TBA-reactive products in the rat blood serum and vessels. Pretreatment by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (0.5 h before hemin chloride administration) did not affect the dynamics of the total heme and TBA-reacting products accumulation. The increase of heme oxygenase activity was observed in the vessels after hemin chloride administration. This effect was strengthened by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine pretreatment. The changes of heme oxygenase activity and the total heme level in heart were not observed at any periods studied. The increase of the TBA-reactive products level in the heart after exogenous hemin injection was accompanied by an increase of nitrites content and blocked by pretreatment of NOS inhibitor. The N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine alone caused the accumulation of the total heme, TBA-reacting products and the increase of heme oxygenase activity in the vessels. The role of heme and NO in regulation of the heme oxygenase activity is discussed.

[Effect of heavy metals on activity of key enzymes of glyoxylate cycle and content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the germinating soybean Glicine max L.seeds]

The influence of CoCl2 and CdCl2 on the activity of isocytrate lyase, malate synthase and NAD-malate dehydrogenase in the seed lobes and the composition of malondialdehyde products at early stages of germinating of soybean seeds: after first 24-hours, 72 hours and 96 hours are investigated. It is shown that when germinating in the medium containing no metal salts, isocytrate lyase activity is greatly increased during 96 h and malate synthase is increased after 72 h and is decreased after 96 h of germination period. CoCl2 activated isocytrate lyase activity after 72 hours and decreased malate synthase activity after 96 hours. The lengthening of the primary root under such conditions is noted. CdCl2 inhibited isocytrate lyase activity during first 24 hours and suppressed malate synthase activity after 96 hours. During this process the germ growth is suppressed. CoCl2 increased the composition of malondialdehyde products during each period of germination, and CdCl2 increased malondialdehyde content after 72 and 96 hours. The role of glyoxylate cycle enzymes in transforming fatty acids into carbohydrates and in forming the primary root under the process of germination of seed lobes of soybean is discussed.

Affinity chromatography of GroEL chaperonin based on denatured proteins: role of electrostatic interactions in regulation of GroEL affinity for protein substrates

The chaperonin GroEL of the heat shock protein family from Escherichia coli cells can bind various polypeptides lacking rigid tertiary structure and thus prevent their nonspecific association and provide for acquisition of native conformation. In the present work we studied the interaction of GroEL with six denatured proteins (alpha-lactalbumin, ribonuclease A, egg lysozyme in the presence of dithiothreitol, pepsin, beta-casein, and apocytochrome c) possessing negative or positive total charge at neutral pH values and different in hydrophobicity (affinity for a hydrophobic probe ANS). To prevent the influence of nonspecific association of non-native proteins on their interaction with GroEL and make easier the recording of the complexing, the proteins were covalently attached to BrCN-activated Sepharose. At low ionic strength (lower than 60 mM), tight binding of the negatively charged denatured proteins with GroEL (which is also negatively charged) needed relatively low concentrations (approximately 10 mM) of bivalent cations Mg2+ or Ca2+. At the high ionic strength (approximately 600 mM), a tight complex was produced also in the absence of bivalent cations. In contrast, positively charged denatured proteins tightly interacted with GroEL irrespectively of the presence of bivalent cations and ionic strength of the solution (from 20 to 600 mM). These features of GroEL interaction with positively and negatively charged denatured proteins were confirmed by polarized fluorescence (fluorescence anisotropy). The findings suggest that the affinity of GroEL for denatured proteins can be determined by the balance of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.

[V.N. Karazin Kharkov National University as the foundation of biochemistry in Ukraine]

The paper deals with the data on foundation and development of physiological chemistry (biochemistry) as independent science and education subject in the V. N. Karazin Kharkov National University before and after the organization of the Department of Physiological Chemistry. Studying the chemistry of natural compounds, their qualitative and quantitative content and transformations in living organisms both by foreign and home researchers made the basis for the appearance of physiological chemistry as static biochemistry. The improvement of the investigation methods and further discoveries caused the appearing of new branches--dynamic and functional biochemistry. The attention is paid to the fact that biochemistry arised at the Kharkov University as the education subject (A. I. Khodnev) and then developed as independent science due to efforts of A. Ya. Danilevskiy as well as biochemical school created by him. The Kazan' and Kharkov periods of scientific activity of A.Ya. Danilevskiy are described. The leading role of A. Ya. Danilevskiy in development of the home school of biochemistry is considered. Important role of A. V. Palladin in the foundation of Kharkov biochemists' school and organization of the Scientific-research Institute of Biochemistry in Kharkov is considered as well. It is stated that the Institute of Biochemistry after its arrival to Kiev and joining the Academy of Sciences became the center of Ukrainian biochemistry. The role of A. V. Nagorny and I. N. Bulankin in further development of biochemistry and foundation of a new scientific branch--age-related physiology and biochemistry--at the Kharkov University after its re-organization is discussed.

Free heme pool and activity of key enzyme of heme synthesis in the rat liver under action of agents affecting reduced glutathione level

The decrease of GSH level in the rat liver was found to be accompanied by an increase of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) heme saturation during first hours after HgCl2, phenylhydrazine (Ph) injection or rhabdomyolysis (the coefficient of correlation -0.978). The activity of the key enzyme of heme synthesis--5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS) was 2.5-fold increased in the first hours after Ph injection and rhabdomyolysis. Glutathione injection in vivo as well as CdCl2 caused the increase of GSH content and the inhibition of ALAS. The coefficient of correlation for GSH content and ALAS activity under the action of agents altering both these parameters (CdCl2, Ph, GSH injection and rhabdomyolysis) is 0.938. Taking into account the presence of heme regulatory motif with conserved cystein in many proteins, including ALAS and TDO (accession number in SwissProt database AAH61793 and P21643, respectively), the link between alterations of GSH content, ALAS activity and heme saturation of TDO in the rat liver could be proposed. The further experiments should be performed in order to elucidate the mechanisms of GSH level influence on free heme pool formation in the liver cells.

[Glucose-fatty acids cycle in cobalt chloride-induced oxidative stress in rats]

It was found that the glucose-fatty acids cycle functioned under the oxidative stress, caused by injection of cobalt chloride solution in albino rats. This cycle promoted the adaptation of metabolism and rehabilitated the homeostasis under extreme conditions. Its functioning was regulated by prolonged (during 2-24 hours) rise in activity of amino acids catabolism enzymes (e.g. tyrosine aminotransferase, arginase) and activation of glyconeogenesis after the mobilisation of liver glycogen. This contributed to increase in glucose and free fatty acids contents in blood. The latter is additionally provided by lipid mobilisation under stress. Tyrosine aminotransferase activation occurred both on the transcription level and by enabling of other mechanisms, which probably concerned the stabilisation of this enzyme. Preliminary injection of alpha-tocopherol in vivo significantly decreased the rise in tyrosine aminotransferase and arginase activities and the rate of erythrocyte hemolysis but did not disable them in full. This made evident that in regulation of the glucose-fatty acids cycle not only active metabolites of oxygen but also Co ions were directly enabled.

Intracellular redistribution of heme in rat liver under oxidative stress: the role of heme synthesis

Heme distribution in subcellular fractions of rat liver was studied first hours under the action of several agents causing oxidative stress in vivo. Total and post-mitochondrial heme content in liver was found to depend on both the level of hemolysis products in blood and agent's capacity to modify heme and hemoproteins. The increase of activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS) and/or heme accumulation in mitochondria was accompanied by increase of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) heme saturation. Membrane stabilisation by tocopherol or prevention of early ALAS induction by cycloheximide prevented both mitochondrial heme accumulation and increase of TDO heme saturation. Modification of heme fully prevented the alterations of total heme content even under severe hemolysis as well as the increase of TDO heme saturation if no increase of heme synthesis occurred. Thus heme synthesis can greatly contribute to heme intracellular redistribution under oxidative stress.

[Heme oxygenase induction in rat heart and vessels and peroxidative resistance of erythrocytes during hemolytic anemia development]

The hemolytic anemia development caused by phenylhydrazine injection (7 mg/100 g b.w.) was shown to be caused by the decreasing of both catalase activity and glutathione content in erythrocytes, and by the increasing of spontaneouse hemolysis level of these cells in blood stream. The increasing of heme oxygenase activity and TBA-active products in rat heart and vessels were revealed 24 hrs after phenylhydrazine injection. Possible mechanisms of heme oxygenase-1 induction under hypoxia as response to the hemolytic anemia development and it's role in defense of the cells from damage are discussed.

[Influence of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide on the content of phosphoinositides in isolated hepatocytes of rats]

Influence of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide on the processes of lipid peroxidation and contents of polyphosphoinositides in isolated hepatocytes of rats was studied. It is shown that incubation of the cells with cadmium chloride or hydrogen peroxide already in 15 min results in the reinforcement of lipid peroxidation and increase of contents of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositoldiphosphate. Variations of the basal level of the latter, as is well known, plays an important messenger role. In case of more long incubation (60 min) one can observe the significant accumulation of intermediate and final products of lipid peroxidation, while the content of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositoldiphosphate did not differ from the control, but the content of phosphatidylinositolphosphate was increased. Changes in the content of separate fraction of polyphosphoinositides in the presence of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide were similar. Allowing for all that it is, possible to draw a conclusion that the mechanism of cadmium influence on the content of polyphosphoinositides is based on its ability to cause development of the oxidative stress.

[The effect of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide on the lipid peroxidation and fractional composition of lipids in hepatocytes of rats]

The isolated hepatocytes were incubated in the medium, containing cadmium chloride or hydrogen peroxide. Influence of the latter on the intensity of lipid peroxidation and contents of some lipids fractions, as well as viability of hepatocytes in these conditions has been studied. It is shown that under such cultivation conditions the activation of lipid peroxidation in the hepatocytes takes place. Its activation in presence of cadmium chloride was one of the factors of the membranes damage. The changes in the content of some fractions of lipids were similar both under the incubations of the cells with cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide. This allows one to suppose that cadmium chloride causes changes in the lipid composition of membranes as a result of intensification of lipid peroxidation.

[Metabolism of heme and hemeproteins and some indices of the antioxidant system in rat erythrocytes and tissues under anemia caused by phenylhydrazine]

The decrease of activity of several antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes in the first hours after injection of phenylhydrazine to rats (7 mg per 100 g body weight) was found to be accompanied by accumulation of heme-containing compounds in rat serum and appearance of free heme in liver and decrease of cytochrome P450 content. Tissue-specific features of dynamics of activity of enzymes studied and reduced glutathione content were revealed, that might be caused by differences in total and free heme content in these organs. The role of key enzymes of heme biosynthesis and degradation in adaptation of metabolism under phenylhydrazine action is discussed.

[Effect of cadmium chloride on polyphosphoinositides content in the rat liver and kidneys]

The influence of cadmium chloride on the content of some fractions of polyphosphoinositides in the liver and kidneys of rats has been investigated in the work. We have reported that a single administration of sublethal dose of cadmium chloride leads to the long-term elevation of the content of diacylglycerol, which is responsible for the activation of protein kinase C. The increase of triphosphoinositides fraction content may be connected with activation of phosphoinositid-3-kinase and with accumulation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4-diphosphate and phosphatidilinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate, which are known as activators of some protein kinase C isoforms and also play an important role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. The lipids fractions content changes were similar in the liver and kidneys, but had different time of response.

[Effect of ADP and GroES on interaction of molecular chaperonin GroEL with non-native lysozyme]

The interaction of the molecular chaperonin GroEL with fluorescein-labeled lysozyme in the presence of high concentrations of thiol reagent--dithiothreitol (DTT) has been studied. In case of high concentrations of DTT lysozyme loses the native conformation due to the disruption of the intramolecular disulfide bonds stabilizing its structure and effectively aggregates. It has been shown that in the presence of high concentrations of DTT and two-fold molar excess of GroEL the lysozyme tightly interacts with GroEL that essentially decreases the efficiency of its aggregation. The addition of ADP to the complex of GroEL with nonnative lysozyme noticeably decreases the interaction of the chaperonin with nonnative protein target resulting in some increase of the efficiency of its aggregation. However, the addition of the co-chaperonin GroES together with ADP (i.e. the formation of the complex of GroEL with GroES) leads to drastic weakness of the interaction of GroEL with nonnative lysozyme and the efficiency of its aggregation becomes comparable with that in the absence of GroEL.

[Activity of key enzymes of heme metabolism and cytochrome P-450 content in the rat liver in experimental rhabdomyolysis and hemolytic anemia]

The 5-aminolevulinate synthase, heme oxygenase, tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activities, the content of total heme and cytochrome P-450 content in the rat liver and absorption spectrum of blood serum in Soret region under glycerol model of rhabdomiolisis and hemolytic anemia caused by single phenylhydrazine injection have been investigated. The glycerol injection caused a considerable accumulation of heme-containing products in the serum and the increase of the total heme content, holoenzyme, total activity and heme saturation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase, as well as the increase of the 5-aminolevulinate synthase and heme oxygenase activities in the liver during the first hours of its action and the decrease of cytochrome P-450 content in 24 h. Administration of phenylhydrazine lead to the increasing of hemolysis products content in blood serum too, although it was less expressed. The phenylhydrazine injection caused the increase of activities of 5-aminolevulinate synthase, holoenzyme, total activity and heme saturation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase, as well as decrease of cytochrome P-450 content in the rat liver in 2 h. The increase of the total heme content and heme oxygenase activity has been observed in 24 h. The effect of heme arrival from the blood stream, as well as a direct influence of glycerol and phenylhydrazine on the investigated parameters are discussed.

[Activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase in rat liver during degradation of cytochrome P-450 caused by administration of cadmium chloride]

The 5-aminolevulinate synthase, tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activities and cytochrome P-450 content in the rat liver was studied in different terms after CdCl2 administration and after administration of metal salt against a background of 2-hours action of alpha-tocopherol. The lowering of activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase in 2 h with the consequent increase of the enzyme activity in 6 h and 24 h was detected. The holoenzyme activity and heme saturation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase increased 6 h after CdCl2 administration. The holoenzyme activity and the total activity of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase rised in 24 h. The level of cytochrome P-450 lowered. Preliminary administration of alpha-tocopherol prevented changes of studied parameters 24 h after CdCl2 administration. The relationship between decrease of cytochrome P-450 level and 5-aminolevulinate synthase activation are discussed.

[Activity of Ca(2+)-dependent neutral proteinases in rat organs under cobalt and mercury chloride injection]

The activity of Ca(2+)-dependent neutral proteinases in rats under cobalt and mercury chloride injection was investigated. The calpains activity increase in the lungs, heart, liver and kidneys was revealed after 2 h cobalt chloride action. The mercury chloride gives a reliable increase of calcium-dependent neutral proteinases only in the kidneys.

Heme oxygenase activity and some indices of antioxidant protection in rat liver and kidney in glycerol model of rhabdomyolysis

Activity of heme oxygenase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, the content of reduced glutathione and total heme in the liver and kidneys, and serum absorption spectrum in the Soret band were studied in rats with glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis. Glycerol increased the content of heme-containing metabolites in the serum and the total heme content in the liver and kidneys, and decreased the content of reduced glutathione and catalase activity in the examined organs. Superoxide dismutase activity increased in the liver and decreased in the kidneys. Heme oxygenase activity increased in the liver and kidneys 2 and 6 h postinjection, respectively. The effects of heme delivered to the liver and kidneys from the vascular bed on the antioxidant defense and heme oxygenase activity were studied.

[Heme oxygenase activity in rat organs during cadmium chloride administration]

Heme oxygenase activity, the level of spontaneous and ascorbat-induced LPO in the liver, kidney and spleen homogenates of rats and blood serum absorption spectrum in the Soret region in different periods both after CdCl2 and prior alpha-tocopherol administration were studied. The increase in the hemolysis products content in the serum was observed in 15 min after CdCl2 injection and remained during 24 h. Heme oxygenase activity in the liver and kidney increased after 6 h and stayed at the same level 24 h after CdCl2 administration. The level of spontaneous LPO in the spleen increased after 6 h, and in the liver and kidney the level of spontaneous and ascorbat-induced LPO increased in 24 h after CdCl2 injection. The preliminary alpha-tocopherol administration did not prevent the accumulation of hemolysis products in the serum and the increase of heme oxygenase activity in the liver and kidney caused by CdCl2 administration. However, the increase in the ascorbat-induced LPO in these organs was completely blocked. The role of heme and LPO in the heme oxygenase induction by CdCl2 are discussed.

[Effect of mercury chloride on the level of lipids and products of their peroxidation in rat vital organs]

The influence of mercury chloride on peroxidation processes of lipids and level of common lipids, phospholipids and spectrum of neutral lipids in liver, heart, lung and kidney of rats has been investigated. Administration of mercury chloride in a dose 0.7 mg/100 g of body weight to animals has invoked accumulation of lipids peroxide products in fractions of neutral lipids and phospholipids so it testifies the development of oxidative stress. Decrease of the most sensitive to oxidation fractions in the early stages of oxidative stress development and increase of free cholesterol and its ethers content in kidney and free cholesterol in the heart in more later terms as a result of mercury chloride administration have been revealed.

[Effect of quercetin on some indicators of the proteinase-proteinase inhibitor system in rats upon administration of cobalt chloride to them]

The results of quercetin effect on some changes of proteinase--proteinase inhibitor system parameters in rats under cobalt chloride injection are shown. It was established that preliminary quercetin administration prevened neutral proteinase activation and alpha-2-macroglobulin activity decreasing after 2 h of cobalt chloride influence.

[Effect of pentoxyphylline on certain indicators of the proteinase-proteinase inhibitor system in rats upon administration of cycloheximide]

The pentoxifylline influence on neutral proteinase, alpha-2-macroglobulin, trypsin-alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor and elastaseinhibitory activity under cycloheximide injection has been investigated. Two hours after cycloheximide injection the activity of neutral proteinases increases in rats serum, lungs, heart, liver and kidneys. The preliminary injection of pentoxifylline prevents increase of neutral proteinases activity. Cycloheximide also decreases alpha-2-macroglobulin activity in serum and liver and trypsin-, elastaseinhibitory activity of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor in all investigated organs. At using pentoxifylline the alpha-2-macroglobulin activity doesn't change in liver and increases in serum in comparison with only cycloheximide and there are no observed any alpha-1 inhibitor proteinase activity changes in rats serum and organs.

[Effect of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on lipoproteins in blood serum and liver cytosol of rats under oxidative stress]

The influence of protein synthesis inhibitors on rat lipoprotein content and composition under oxidative stress caused by cobalt chloride injection has been investigated in the present work. It has been concluded that apoprotein synthesis is very important process influencing on adaptive reactions under free-radical oxidation activation conditions. Co-administration of cobalt chloride and actinomycin D or cycloheximide (the inhibitors of the protein synthesis) has realy prevented hyperlipoproteinemia in many cases but hasn't influenced on lipoprotein oxidation. Pre-beta- and beta-lipoproteins were discussed to have mRNA pool in hepatocytes.

[Heme metabolism and oxidative stress]

The role of heme metabolism in oxidative stress development and defense reactions formation in mammals under different stress factors are discussed in the article. Heme metabolism is considered as the totality of synthesis, degradation, transport and exchange processes of exogenous heme and heme liberated from erythrocyte hemoglobin under erythrocyte aging and hemolysis. The literature data presented display normal heme metabolism including mammals heme-binding proteins and intracellular free heme pool and heme metabolism alterations under oxidative stress development. The main attention is focused to the prooxidant action of heme, the interaction of heme transport and lipid exchange, and to the heme metabolism key enzymes (delta-aminolevulinate synthase and heme oxygenase), serum heme-binding protein hemopexin and intracellular heme-binding proteins participating in metabolism adaptation under the action of factors, which cause oxidative stress.

Regulation of heme oxygenase activity in rat liver during oxidative stress induced by cobalt chloride and mercury chloride

Activities of heme oxygenase and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase and cytochrome P450 content in liver as well as absorption of the Soret band and optical density at 280 nm in serum were determined 2 and 24 h after administration of HgCl(2) and CoCl(2) and after co-administration of the metal salts with alpha-tocopherol. Administration of HgCl(2) and CoCl(2) increased the contents of hemolysis products in the serum, induced heme oxygenase, and decreased cytochrome P450 content in the liver. Injection of HgCl(2) increased the activity of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase holoenzyme and enzyme saturation with the heme, but administration of CoCl(2) decreased these parameters. Pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol completely blocked the changes induced by HgCl(2) after 24 h. Induction of heme oxygenase induced by CoCl(2) was not blocked by alpha-tocopherol, but this antioxidant normalized the increase in the level of hemolysis products in the serum and decrease in tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase holoenzyme activity and cytochrome P450 content. Mechanisms of regulation of heme oxygenase by mercury and cobalt ions are discussed.

[Research of the academician I. N. Bulankin on problems of protein chemistry]

The article presents an information about scientific researches on the problem of chemical properties and structure of proteins, which were carried out intensively by the biochemists of Kharkiv State University in 30-50 years of XX cent., headed by I. N. Bulankin, academician of Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. This researches dealt with the processes of proteolysis and protein denaturation, the peculiarities of globular and fibrilliar proteins behavior in solution, the properties of complexes with proteins and nucleic acids, etc. The historic analysis of origin and development of this scientific problem at the biochemistry chair of the university and its gradual replacement by researches with other biochemical problems has been carried out. The data concerned with the general situation in the field protein structure of estimation at the world and home biochemistry are cited too. In connection with the above presented the authors give the grounded conclusions about the importance of the scientific researches carried out by I. N. Bulankin as well as about.

[Foundation and development of biochemistry at the Imperial Kharkov University]

The article summarizes the biochemical researches carried out at Kharkiv Imperial University from the middle of XIX century up to the cessation of its existence in 1920 as a result of transformation into the Kharkiv Institute of National Education. Scientific activity at the Chair of Medical Chemistry at Medical Department is described in details. Information on professors who led the chair and their researches are represented. Among them a great attention is spared to the Kharkiv works of such famous scientists as A. Danilevsky and V. Gulevich, who made a great contribution to the development of Russian and world biochemistry. There are also some resordes about researches of biological and physiological chemistry carried out at other chairs of Medical Department and Department of Physics and Mathematics of the Kharkiv University. In particular, the article presents the works of well-known plant physiologists and biochemists prof. V. Palladin and V. Zalessky, and the endocrinological researches led by prof. A. Reprev.

[Proteinase-proteinase inhibitor complex in rats under oxidative stress caused by administration of cobalt chloride]

Mechanisms of proteinase-inhibitor proteinase system response was estimated following of cobalt chloride injection. The increase proteinase activity, which led to significant decrease of alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha-2-MG) level was established that indicated to the removal of the proteinase in complex with alpha-2-MG from the organism. Increase of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha-1-PI) trypsin-inhibitory activity in the kidneys testify about removal of oxidative alpha-1-PI.

[Metabolism of heme and hemoproteins in rat liver upon administration of mercuric chloride]

Rat liver delta-aminolevulinate synthase (delta-ALAS) activity in the early period after mercury chloride administration (0.7 mg per 100 g body weight) was found to be followed by free heme level increase, which was registered by the increase of heme saturation of the heme-binding protein tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (T-2,3-DO). delta-ALAS and heme oxygenase activity increase was observed 24 h after action. Microsomal cytochromes P450 and b5 levels decrease. Heme saturation of the T-2,3-DO returned to control level. Heme oxygenase and T-2,3-DO induction promoted hepatocytes free heme level normalization. Heme oxygenase and delta-ALAS induction role in the liver cells defense from the oxidative damage is discussed.

Regulation of delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity during the development of oxidative stress

Activities of rat liver delta-aminolevulinate synthetase (delta-ALAS), glutathione reductase (GR), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), GSH content in the liver, and the absorption spectrum of blood serum were investigated after CoCl2, HgCl2, or beta-adrenoblocker (propranolol) injection and after CoCl2 and propranolol co-administration. Inhibition of the activity of the key heme biosynthesis enzyme delta-ALAS was most pronounced and prolonged during the first hours after CoCl2 and CoCl2 plus propranolol injections; this was associated with accumulation of Co2+--protoporphyrin-containing products of hemolysis. Inhibition of delta-ALAS after propranolol injection is not mediated by hemolysis. A decrease in GSH content precedes the induction of heme biosynthesis only in the case of HgCl2 administration, and this was associated with inhibition of GR and G6PDH. The decreased GSH content during the first hours after injection of propranolol and co-administration of CoCl2 and propranolol was not followed by increase in delta-ALAS activity 24 h after the injection. The mechanisms of the increase in the free heme content in the liver during the early stages of oxidative stress and the regulation of the key heme biosynthesis enzyme are discussed.

[Content and composition of lipoproteins of rat blood and liver and various parameters of oxidative stress during administration of cobalt chloride]

Cobalt chloride effect on rat liver and serum blood lipoproteins content and composition and on some characteristics of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress was investigated. The activation of free-radical oxidation and oxidative stress development were judged from the dynamics of lipid peroxidation products accumulation, from cathepsin D unsedimental activity and from the alteration of microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and from activity of a number antioxidative enzymes. In order to evaluate the state of glutathione-defence system the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and some NADPH-generating enzymes and reduced glutathione level alteration were studied in liver. The data obtained show that the cobalt chloride injection leads to the development of the oxidative stress and to activation of some antioxidant defence system, namely, glutathione-depending enzymes, and of microsomal cytochrome P-450 catabolism. The system blood lipoproteins (liver lipoproteins was found to participate in metabolism adaptation under oxidative stress and in maintenance of biological membranes structure and functioning.

Effect of cobalt chloride on content of lipids and lipoproteins in serum and liver of rats

Lipids and the composition of lipoproteins in blood serum and liver cytosol, total lipid, and phospholipid contents in liver subcellular fractions and the spectrum of microsomal liver lipids were studied in male Wistar rats after a single injection of cobalt chloride. Virtually all lipid and lipoprotein fractions in blood and liver were increased and lipoprotein composition was changes. The lipid composition of liver microsomes did not change under these conditions. Thus, microsomal membranes are stable under developing oxidative stress.

[Some characteristics of metabolism in osteoarticular, cardiovascular, and liver tissues in "experimental osteochondrosis"]

Considerable changes of collagen, glycosaminoglycans and calcium were observed both in vertebral tissues, bone, and in the heart, vessels, liver during development of "experimental osteochondrosis". The results have shown, that desintegration of biochemical processes in different tissues may be one of the factors affecting several diseases in one organism.

[Effect of adrenal stress on activity of proteinase and alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor in rats]

The effect of adrenal stress on the proteinase and alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor activities in blood serum and cytosols of the rat organs were investigated. The reliable change was marked only in the alpha-1-PI level research of lung tissue cytosol. The proteolysis suppression was revealed in the heart and kidney tissue, while the proteolysis activation was revealed in serum and less in the lung tissue cytosol. Changes in proteinase level in the myocardium and kidney tissue play the primary role in respect to those of the other research liquids under study.

[Dynamics of RNA synthesis and transport into the intact and regenerating rat liver in the presence of sublethal doses of actinomycin D]

The time-dependent characteristic of RNA synthesis has been studied against the effect of sublethal doses of actinomycine D in cells with different proliferative activity, connection of synthesized RNA with RNP-particles of nuclei and its transport into the ribosomes and cytoplasmic postribosomal fraction. Against a background of actinomycine D sublethal doses (150 and 300 micrograms per 100 g body weight) from 0.5 to 4% of RNA is synthesized in comparison with the original level. The level of specific radioactivity of RNA depends on the original functional state of the liver. The newly synthesized RNA is found in the nuclei RNP-particles and transported into the cytoplasm. It is localized in ribosomes (2-3% in intact and about 6% in regenerating liver from the original level) and in the postribosomal fraction (8-10% and 16-18% in intact and regenerating liver, respectively. It is supposed that RNA synthesized against the effect of sublethal doses of actinomycine D takes part in conservation and restoration of realization of genetic information system activity, that is observed 12 hours after the antibiotic injection.

[Activity of cytoplasmic NADP-dependent dehydrogenase in rat liver during induction of cytochrome P-450 by phenobarbital]

Activity of oxidation enzymes of the pentosephosphate way (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44), cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating oxaloacetate) (NADP+) (EC 1.1.1.40) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+) (EC 1.1.1.42) as well as the content of microsomal cytochromes b5 and P-450 in the rat liver have been studied 24 hours after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 intraperitoneal administrations of phenobarbital (4 mg per 100 g of the body weight). It is shown that the cytochrome P-450 content increases after a single administration of phenobarbital and then it gradually grows reaching its maximum after 4 administrations and falls after 5 administrations (though it remains high as compared to the control animals). The content of cytochrome b5 increases only after 4 administrations of phenobarbital and after 5th one it returns to the initial level. The content of microsomal gangliosides calculated per 1 mg of microsomal protein decreases after a single administration of phenobarbital and 5 days later it returns to the initial level. Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increases after a single administration of phenobarbital, that of malate dehydrogenase--after 3 administrations, 6--phosphogluconate-dehydrogenase--after 4 administrations of the preparation. The 5 administrations of phenobarbital makes activity of all the mentioned dehydrogenases return to the initial level. Activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase under given conditions of the experiment does not change.

The effect of inhibitors of transcription and translation on basal and haem-induced tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activity in the rat liver

The effect of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on basal tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.11) activity in Wistar rat liver and on the enzyme activity induced by pretreatment with haemin was studied. Inhibition of either transcription or translation was accompanied by a reduction in tryptophan oxygenase activity, and this occurred more rapidly in the case of inhibition of translation. A 40% and 45% reduction in holoenzyme activity was found 2.5 and 6.5 h after introduction of cycloheximide and actinomycin D, respectively. Pretreatment with the antibiotics did not impair saturation of the apoenzyme by exogenous haem but haem induced tryptophan oxygenase activity was affected in various ways. Introduction of cycloheximide after haemin was accompanied by a rapid fall in the activity of both forms of the enzyme, but when transcription was inhibited under these conditions there was a subsequent increase in both holoenzyme activity and overall tryptophan oxygenase activity. The results support the concept that a regulatory pool of haem exists in hepatocytes and that haem is involved in both the activation and the degradation of tryptophan oxygenase.

[The role of heme in the regulation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activity and content of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver]

The effects of exogenous heme on the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthase, heme oxygenase, tryptophan-2.3-dioxygenase and microsomal cytochrome content in rat liver were studied. It was shown that hemin chloride diminishes the delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity and provokes heme oxygenase induction. This is paralleled with the induction of the tryptophan 2.3-dioxygenase apoenzyme and an increase in the saturation of the enzyme with heme. The cytochrome b5 content does not change thereby, whereas that of cytochrome P-450 shows a decrease. Upon combined administration of actinomycin D and hemin the cytochrome P-450 level is markedly increased. Actinomycin D by itself has no effect on the hemoprotein concentration. It is concluded that the increase in the cytochrome P-450 level results from the activation of heme-induced mRNA translation.

[Activity of key enzymes of heme metabolism and the content of several hemoproteins in the liver of rats of various ages]

The activity of key enzymes of heme metabolism (delta-aminolevulinate synthase, EC 2.3.1.37, and heme oxygenase, EC 1.14.99.3) and the content of some hemoproteins were examined in the liver of male Wistar rats aged 1, 3 and 24 months. It is established that the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthase decreases when rats reach the age of 3 months and remains at the same level in rats aged 24 months. The content of microsomal cytochrome P450 and the activity of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase holoenzyme increase when rats reach the age of 3 months. The total tryptophan-2,3 dioxygenase activity is higher in animals aged 24 months as compared to those aged 1 month. The heme oxygenase activity and the content of microsomal cytochrome b5 do not change with age.

[Effect of cobalt chloride on the activity of key enzymes of heme metabolism in the rat liver]

The effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on the original and CoCl2-induced delta-aminolevulinate-synthase and heme-oxygenase activities in rat liver were investigated. It was shown that 1.5 hours after CoCl2 administration the delta-aminolevulinate-synthase activity diminishes, then increases up to the original level within the subsequent 4.5 hours, showing a further increase thereafter. The heme-oxygenase activity does not change within 1,5 hours and is then increased. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide suppress the increase in the CoCl2-induced heme-oxygenase activity, whereas that of the delta-aminolevulinate-synthase activity is blocked only by cycloheximide. Hence, the increase in the CoCl2-induced delta-aminolevulinate-synthase activity in the liver is a result of activation of translation. The degree of tryptophan pyrrolase saturation with heme decreases already by the 6th hour, whereas the level of heme in liver mitochondria and microsomes decreases only by the 15th hour following CoCl2 injection. The heme content in the liver shows a further decrease irrespective of the increase in the delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity induced by CoCl2. It may be concluded that under the given experimental conditions this enzyme is not a rate-limiting step in the terminal reaction of heme biosynthesis.

[Age-dependent characteristics of the regulation of cytoplasmic NADP+-dehydrogenases in the liver of rats on different diets]

It is established that the activity of malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rats aged 1,3 and 12 months lowers under fasting and on high-fatty diet and in old animals (24 months) on a high-fatty diet only the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity decreases. When rats after fasting are put on high-carbohydrate diet the activity value of the mentioned enzymes has already returned to the initial level after 12 hours in rats aged 1 and 12 months and in rats aged 3 months it exceeds that activity in intact rats. The rise in the activity of the determined enzymes is completely blocked by the preliminary administration of actinomycin D. The isocitrate dehydrogenase activity remains unchanged under conditions of maintaining animals on different diets.

[Activity of nuclear RNA polymerases in the liver of rats of different ages after phenobarbital administration]

DNA-dependent RNA-polymerases of nuclei isolated from the liver of rats aged 3- and 24 months were studied in different periods after phenobarbital administration. It is shown that 4h after single intraperitoneal injection of the preparation (80 mg per 1 kg of the body mass) to young animals the activity of the RNA-polymerase I rises, it remains higher, the following 12-20 h and then returns to the initial level. The activity of RNA-polymerases II and III under these conditions 16 h later remains higher the following 8 h and 24 h later the activity of the first enzyme returns to the initial value and that of the second one becomes still more. In old rats (24 months) the activity of all three classes of RNA-polymerases is lower than in young ones and increases only 48 h later. Under long-term administration of phenobarbital (40 mg per 1 kg of the body mass daily, 4 days) the activity of RNA-polymerase I was the same as in the intact animals of the corresponding ages and the activity of RNA-polymerases II and III increased both in young and old rats. Single administration of the preparation increases the liver mass in the young animals 24 h later and in the old ones--48 h later. Long-term administration of the preparation enhances its mass both in young and old animals, but its relative increase is more expressed in rats at the age of 3 months.

[Enzymes of the antioxidant system of rat liver during aging]

It is shown that ageing induces in rats intensification of a GSH-dependent antioxidant effect of the liver cytozole, growth of glutathione-S-transferase activity of cytozole, microsomes and mitochondria, a decrease of the NADPH generation rate in cytozole with malate and glucose-6-phosphate oxidation (the rate remaining at high level with isocytrate oxidation). It is supposed that under definite physiological conditions a lowered rate of NADPH generation in the malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase reactions in old animals may limit the efficiency of the NADPH-GSH-dependent antioxidant system of the liver cells. The peroxidase activity of cytochrome P-450 of microsomes and the glutathione reductase activity (EC 1.6.4.2) of cytozole rise in the liver of rats up to their 12 months and fall considerably with ageing. Cytochrome P-450 in the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum plays the role of an antioxidant.

[Age variations in ethylmorphine demethylase and benzopyrene hydroxylase activities in rat liver microsomes]

The ethylmorphine demethylase activity of the rat liver microsomes was higher in three-month animals (as compared to one-month), remained at a high level in the 12-month and decreased in old rats. The benzopyrene hydrolase activity increased in three-month animals, decreased in 12-month rats and remained the same with subsequent ageing of the organism. Asynchronicity of variations in the oxidation rate of different xenobiotics with ageing is considered as a result of changes in substrate specificity of the monooxygenase system due to metabolic peculiarities which reflect the age development of the organism and extinction of the reproduction function.

[Interaction of the protein-synthesizing systems of the cytoplasm and mitochondria during hormonal induction of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase in the liver of rats of various ages]

The paper deals with the effect of thyroxine and insulin on the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity, the content of DNA and RNA in the liver mitochondria of uneven-aged rats as well as with the effect of actinomycin D and selective inhibitors of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial translation on the ATPase induction. The both hormones rise the mitochondria ATPase activity (whose increase is blocked by actinomycin D) and also the content of RNA in all mitochondrial fractions of young animals. In old animals insulin induces ATPase without changing the RNA level and thyroxine increases ATPase and RNA only in heavy mitochondria. The DNA content grows under the effect of thyroxine in heavy mitochondria of young animals and is not changed after the insulin administration. Under the effect of thyroxine both the cytoplasmic and the mitochondrial protein-synthesizing systems and mitochondria division are activated. Insulin affects ATPase mainly via cytoplasmic translation and to a lesser extent via mitochondria.