Enhanced ability of regulatory T cells in chronic hepatitis C patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels than those with active hepatitis

In hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the Th1-type immune response is involved in liver injury. A predominance of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Treg) is hypothesized in patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (PNALT). Our aim was to clarify the role of Treg in the pathogenesis of PNALT. Fifteen chronically HCV-infected patients with PNALT, 21 with elevated ALT (CH) and 19 healthy subjects (HS) were enrolled. We determined naturally-occurring Treg (N-Treg) as CD4+CD25high+FOXP3+ T cells. The expression of FOXP3 and CTLA4 in CD4+CD25high+ cells was quantified by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Bulk or CD25-depleted CD4+ T cells cultured with HCV-NS5 loaded dendritic cells were assayed for their proliferation and cytokine release. We examined CD127-CD25-FOXP3+ cells as distinct subsets other than CD25+ N-Treg. The frequencies of N-Treg in patients were significantly higher than those in HS. The FOXP3 and CTLA4 transcripts were higher in PNALT than those in CH. The depletion of CD25+ cells enhanced HCV-specific T cell responses, showing that co-existing CD25+ cells are suppressive. Such inhibitory capacity was more potent in PNALT. The frequency of CD4+CD127-CD25-FOXP3+ cells was higher in CH than those in PNALT. Treg are more abundant in HCV-infected patients, and their suppressor ability is more potent in patients with PNALT than in those with active hepatitis.

Cooperative induction of 15-lipoxygenase in rheumatoid synovial cells by IL-4 and proinflammatory cytokines

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the expression of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX), whose metabolities are known to suppress the inflammatory reaction, in freshly prepared rheumatoid synovial cells.

METHODS

Adherent synovial cells were prepared by enzymatic digestion of synovia obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Protein expression of 15-LOX was determined by Western blot analysis. The messenger RNAs of 15-LOX were determined by reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

Freshly prepared rheumatoid synovial cells did not express 15-LOX at either the mRNA or protein levels. IL-4 induced the protein expression of 15-LOX after 24 hours of culture. Although interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), major inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid synovia, did not induce the expression of 15-LOX, IL-4 and these inflammatory cytokines synergistically enhanced the protein expression of 15-LOX. The synergistic effect was also observed at the level of mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that IL-4 cooperated with the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha to enhance the expression of 15-LOX in rheumatoid synovial cells. Since 15-LOX metabolites have potent anti-inflammatory actions, our data suggest that IL-4 might downregulate rheumatoid inflammation via the induction of 15-LOX and its metabolites.

Autocatalytic processing of the streptococcal cysteine protease zymogen: processing mechanism and characterization of the autoproteolytic cleavage sites

The autocatalytic processing of the streptococcal cysteine protease zymogen (proSCP) to active streptococcal cysteine protease (SCP) was investigated in vitro using purified protein from Streptococcus pyogenes strain B220. It was found that the autocatalytic maturation of the zymogen proceeds through the sequential appearance of at least six intermediates, five of which were characterized through a combination of N-terminal sequencing and MS. Intermediates were identified as resulting from cleavages after Lys26, Asn41, Lys101, Ala112, and Lys118. Time-course studies of the proSCP processing gave a sigmoidal activity profile and indicated that proSCP catalyses its own transformation, mainly via an intermolecular processing mechanism. A similar sequential appearance of intermediates was observed when inactive Cys192Ser proSCP was treated with native, enzymatically active SCP, thus demonstrating that the maturation can exclusively proceed by a bimolecular mechanism. It was shown that proSCP, but not mature SCP, immobilized on a Sepharose resin is capable of liberating itself from the column, indicating that the zymogen is also capable of intramolecular processing. In order to test whether the amino acid sequences at the processing sites could be used for developing new, specific substrates, 3-amino benzoic acid octapeptide derivatives based on all five characterized amino acid sequences from the autoprocessing cleavage sites were synthesized and tested for activity. The 3-amino benzoic acid derivatives have kcat/KM values ranging from 1200 to 7700.M-1.s-1, making them very good endopeptidase substrates for SCP.

Autocatalytic processing of recombinant human procathepsin L. Contribution of both intermolecular and unimolecular events in the processing of procathepsin L in vitro

The autocatalytic processing of procathepsin L was investigated in vitro using purified recombinant proenzyme expressed in Pichia pastoris. Pure intermolecular processing was studied by incubating the mutant procathepsin L (C25S), which cannot autoactivate with a small amount of mature active cathepsin L. The results clearly establish that, contrary to recent reports, intermolecular processing of procathepsin L is possible. The main cleavage sites are located at or near the N terminus of the mature enzyme, in an accessible portion of the proregion, which contains sequences corresponding to the known substrate specificity of cathepsin L. Contrary to procathepsins B, K, and S, autocatalytic processing of procathepsin L can generate the natural mature form of the enzyme. A continuous assay using the substrate benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Arg 4-methylcoumarinyl-7-amide hydrochloride has also been used to obtain information on the nature of the steps involved in the autocatalytic processing of wild-type procathepsin L. Processing is initiated by decreasing the pH from 8.0 to 5.3. The influence of proenzyme concentration on the rate of processing indicates the existence of both unimolecular and bimolecular steps in the mechanism of processing. The nature of the unimolecular event that triggers processing remains elusive. Circular dichroism and fluorescence measurements indicate the absence of large scale conformational change in the structure of procathepsin L on reduction of pH. However, the bimolecular reaction can be attributed to intermolecular processing of the zymogen.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of human procathepsin L

Human procathepsin L has been expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris and its inactive (Cys25Ser) and unglycosylated (Thr110Ala) mutant purified, concentrated to 4 mg/ml, and crystallized by vapor diffusion against solution containing 1.4 M (Na,K)PO4 buffer, pH 7.8. Crystal size was increased by multiple macroseeding. The crystals are orthorhombic, of space group P2 1 2 1 2 1, with cell dimensions of a = 40.2 A, b = 88.4 A, and c = 94.9 A. A 2.2 A native data set was collected using synchrotron radiation. Although molecular replacement solution for the mature portion of the enzyme was easily found, the resulting maps could not be interpreted in the proregion. Heavy-atom derivative search is in progress.

Potency and selectivity of the cathepsin L propeptide as an inhibitor of cysteine proteases

The cathepsin L propeptide (phcl-2) was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a human procathepsin L/alpha-factor fusion construct containing a stop codon at position -1 (the C-terminal amino acid of the proregion). Since the yield after purification was very low, the cathepsin L propeptide was also obtained by an alternate procedure through controlled processing of an inactive mutant of procathepsin L (Cys25Ser/Thrl10Ala) expressed in Pichia pastoris, by small amounts of cathepsin L. The peptide resulting from the cleavage of the proenzyme (phcl-1) was then purified by HPLC. The purified propeptides were characterized by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry and correspond to incomplete forms of the proregion (87 and 81 aa for phcl-1 and phcl-2 respectively, compared to 96 aa for the complete cathepsin L propeptide). The two peptides were found to be potent and selective inhibitors of cathepsin L at pH 5.5, with Ki values of 0.088 nM for phcl-1 and 0.66 nM for phcl-2. The Ki for inhibition of cathepsin S was much higher (44.6 nM with phcl-1), and no inhibition of cathepsin B or papain could be detected at up to 1 microM of the propeptide. The inhibitory activity was also found to be strongly pH-dependent. Two synthetic peptides of 75 and 44 aa corresponding to N-terminal truncated versions of the propeptide were also prepared by solid phase synthesis and displayed Ki values of 11 nM and 2900 nM, respectively, against cathepsin L. The data obtained for the 4 propeptide derivatives of various lengths indicate that the first 20 residues in the N-terminal region of the propeptide are more important for inhibition than the C-terminal region which contributes little to the overall inhibitory activity.

[Accurate placement of central venous catheters using right atrial electrocardiography]

We have evaluated the effectiveness of central venous catheter placement using right atrial electrocardiography (RAECG). Consecutive patients under general anesthesia (n = 42) who required a central venous catheter underwent RAECG-guided catheter insertion procedure via right internal jugular vein. Catheter tip position was verified by post procedure portable chest radiography. Forty of 42 catheter tips were placed above the superior vena cava-right atrial junction, and none of them had its associated complications. The average insertion depth of catheters was 16.4 cm. We also attempted to predict the optimal catheter insertion depth for each patient from the previous measurements of external landmarks, but it was found to be difficult to predict reliably. In this point of view, we should use RAECG technique to make sure the proper positioning of the catheter tip.

Functional expression of human P-glycoprotein in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Human MDR1 cDNA was introduced into the human cultured cells KB-3-1 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe pmd1 null mutant KN3. The drug sensitivity of KB-G2 and KN3/pgp, expressing human P-glycoprotein, was examined. KB-G2 was resistant to the peptide antibiotics valinomycin and gramicidin D as well as having a typical multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. KN3/pgp was resistant to valinomycin and actinomycin D, but not to adriamycin. The ATP-hydrolysis-deficient mutant did not confer KN3 resistance to these antibiotics. Human P-glycoprotein expressed in S. pombe seemed to lack N-glycosylation. The N-glycosylation-deficient mutant, however, conferred a typical MDR phenotype on KB-3-1. These results suggest that human P-glycoprotein functions as an efflux pump of valinomycin and actinomycin D in the membrane of S. pombe.

Mutational analysis of the specific priming signal essential for DNA replication of the broad host-range plasmid RSF1010

To analyze the RSF1010-specific priming mechanism, a library of randomly mutagenized ssiA sequences was constructed by chemical synthesis using mixed nucleotide phosphoramidites. Synthetic ssiA sequences with the single base-substitutions were assayed for the SSI activity in E. coli JM109 expressing RepB' primase. It was demonstrated that the activity of ssiA was damaged markedly by single base-substitutions within the possible stem-loop structure and its 3'-flanking region. It is conceivable that these domains are critical in recognition and primer synthesis by RepB' primase.

Inhibition of urease activity by dipeptidyl hydroxamic acids

A series of dipeptidyl hydroxamic acids (H-X-Gly-NHOH: X = amino acid residues) was synthesized, and the inhibitory activity against Jack bean and Proteus mirabilis ureases [EC 3.5.1.5] was examined. A number of H-X-Gly-NHOH inhibited Jack bean urease with an I50 of the order of 10(-6) M and inhibited Proteus mirabilis urease with an I50 of the order of 10(-5) M. The inhibition against Jack bean urease was more potent than that with the corresponding aminoacyl hydroxamic acids (H-X-NHOH).

[A case of coronary spasm during the operation for lung cancer]

We reported a case of coronary spasm during the operation for lung cancer. A 72-year-old man underwent left upper lobectomy for lung cancer under general anesthesia with the aid of thoracic epidural anesthesia. Preoperative examinations did not reveal any clinical problems in the past. Hypotension and premature ventricular beats were observed for several times during operation due to the compression of the heart and left pulmonary artery by the surgeon's hands in stopping brisk bleeding. After this event, ST-segment of ECG was elevated abruptly. Intravenous administration of nitroglycerin was effective to relieve the coronary spasm in this case. Possible triggering factors were mechanical injury of the coronary artery due to compression of the heart, vagal stimuli under thoracic epidural anesthesia and alpha-stimulating drugs to treat hypotension. The importance of preoperative evaluation of coronary lesions, perioperative treatments with nitrates and calcium-channel blockers, and avoidance of intraoperative triggering factors are emphasized to prevent the coronary spasm.

Alternative secondary structures in the phage G4 origin of the complementary DNA strand synthesis: effects of NaCl concentration on the bleomycin-DNA interaction

The effects of NaCl concentration on bleomycin-induced cleavages of single-strand and double-strand DNA fragments containing the phage G4 origin of complementary DNA strand synthesis were investigated. It was found that bleomycin could be used as a reagent to analyze secondary and tertiary structures and subtle changes of DNA structures. The effects of NaCl concentration on cleavages of single-stranded DNA were distinct at every target site, indicating that the diversity of topolotical properties of DNA might change the selectivity of the bleomycin-induced DNA cleavage. These results showed alternative secondary structures within and close to the G4 origin of complementary DNA strand synthesis.

Effects of a novel urease inhibitor, N-(diaminophosphinyl)isopentenoylamide on the infection stone in rats

We evaluated the effect of a novel potent urease inhibitor, N-(diaminophosphinyl)isopentenoylamide (IPA), on the development of an infection bladder stone using our urolithiasis model in rats. IPA was excreted into urine after oral administration to rats, and the cumulative urinary recovery rate of unchanged IPA reached about 29.6% within 24 h (50 mg/kg). The oral administration of IPA (6.25 mg/kg, b.i.d., 5 d) significantly inhibited the development of the infection bladder stone. The present result suggests that IPA is a very promising compound in the prevention of formation and recurrence of an infection stone owing to a high efficacy and a low toxicity of IPA in animals.

Evaluation of effects of novel urease inhibitor, N-(pivaloyl)glycinohydroxamic acid on the formation of an infection bladder stone using a newly designed urolithiasis model in rats

By using our new infection stone model of a rat, we evaluated the effect of a novel urease inhibitor, N-(pivaloyl)glycinohydroxamic acid (P-GHA), on the formation of an infection bladder stone. The oral dosing of P-GHA significantly inhibited the elevation of the urinary ammonia level of rats having the urinary tract infection with Proteus mirabilis. A short term regimen (7 d, 730 +/- 38 mg/kg) with P-GHA significantly inhibited the development of the infection bladder stone. Furthermore, a long term combination regimen (11 d) of P-GHA and aminobenzylpenicillin markedly inhibited the development of the infection bladder stone, and also caused a very slight renal impairment to the rats tested in contrast with the method of Vermeulen et al. Our infection stone model in rats, therefore, seems to be useful for the evaluation of therapeutic agents in long term examinations.

High paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity in organophosphorus insecticide-resistant mosquitoes

We found a strong paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity (23.4 +/- 8.50 nmol/h/individual and 137 +/- 86.2 nmol/h/mg protein) in the crude extract from larvae of Culex tritaeniorhynchus Toyama 89, which is markedly resistant to organophosphorous insecticides. The activity was higher than those from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus re-e-ae (0.175 +/- 0.0336 and 1.83 +/- 0.651), Anopheles omorii (0.112 +/- 0.0301 and 1.86 +/- 0.746) and An. stephensi (0.0651 +/- 0.0713 and 0.789 +/- 0.910), which are susceptible to organophosphorous insecticides. These facts suggest that the high paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity plays a role in the development of organophosphorous resistance in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. The enzyme preparation obtained from Toyama 89 showed higher activity in the alkaline pH range and its Km values to paraoxon were 0.67 mM in larvae and 0.50 mM in adults. A calcium ion was strictly required for the hydrolysis of paraoxon. Fenitroxon was also hydrolyzed, in addition to paraoxon. However, it did not degradate parathion and fenitrothion at all. Dichlorvos and phenyl acetate competitively inhibited the enzyme. The phenyl acetate-hydrolyzing activity in the preparation of Toyama 89 was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower than those in susceptible strains, and was irreversibly inhibited by paraoxon. Therefore, the paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity belongs to the class of organophosphate compound hydrolases; it must be thus distinguished from bacterial phosphotriesterase.

Urethane-hydrolyzing enzyme from Citrobacter sp

Urethane, a cancer-causing chemical, was reported to contaminate alcoholic beverages such as whisky, liquor, wine and sake. Enzymatic removal of urethane would be a possible approach to remove this potentially hazardous chemical from alcoholic beverages. We found that Citrobacter sp. isolated from mouse feces stoichiometrically decomposed urethane to ethanol and ammonia. We named this enzyme "urethanase." Partially purified urethanase could hydrolyze several carbamates and some amides. However, urea, N-alkyl ureas and ethyl esters of organic acids were not hydrolyzed at all. These results suggest that urethanase belongs to the category of amidase. The enzyme was inactive in high concentrations of alcohol and at acidic pH and was practically ineffective for the elimination of urethane from alcoholic beverages.

Removal of urea from alcoholic beverages with an acid urease

Urethan, a cancer causing chemical, was reported to contaminate some alcoholic beverages. Since urethan is formed by heating urea with ethyl-alcohol, removal of urea is necessary to prevent urethan formation in alcoholic beverages. Acid urease, whose optimal pH lies around 4, lowered urea concentrations in Japanese sake. This finding indicates a protective effect of acid urease on urethan's potential hazards in alcohol.

A novel type of aryl sulfotransferase obtained from an anaerobic bacterium of human intestine

A novel type of aryl sulfotransferase is produced by an anaerobic bacterium of human intestine, Eubacterium A-44. Aryl sulfotransferase separated from this bacterium differs from the sulfotransferase which uses 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate as a donor. The enzyme catalyzes stoichiometric transfer of a sulfate group from a phenol sulfate ester to other phenolic compounds, with strict specificity. The optimal pH and molecular weight were 8-9 and 315,000, respectively.

Specific inhibition of urease by N-acylphosphoric triamides

Benzoyl- and isopentenoyl phosphoric triamides (BPA and IPA) strongly inhibited urease activities from jack bean, soybean, watermelon seed, Proteus mirabilis, P. rettgeri, P. vulgaris, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Their I50 values (the final concentration causing 50% inhibition), independent of enzyme source, were 2-21 nM, which are about 1,000-fold lower than that of caprylohydroxamic acid, one of the most potent urease inhibitors. ATP-urea amidolyase activity was inhibited 50% by BPA at a higher concentration of 0.28 mM, but was not affected by IPA even at 1.3 mM. Thirteen kinds of hydrolases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, leucine aminopeptidase, papain, lipase, alpha-amylase, glucuronidase, asparaginase, arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and true cholinesterase), two oxidoreductases (catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase), three transferases (glutamic-oxaloacetic aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and arylsulfotransferase) and two kinases (pyruvate kinase and creatine kinase) were not affected at all even at 1 mM BPA and IPA. Exceptionally, pseudo-cholinesterase from human serum was inhibited by BPA and IPA, whose I50 values were 70 nM and 10 muM, respectively, using acetylthiocholine as a substrate. These values increased to 0.55 muM and 54 muM, respectively, when acetylcholine was used as a substrate. These results show that N-acylphosphoric triamides potently and specifically inhibit urease activity at concentrations of nM order.

A colorimetric method for the determination of hydroxamic acid by iodine oxidation

A new colorimetric method for the determination of hydroxamic acid is described. Hydroxamic acid was oxidized quantitatively by iodine to produce nitrous acid, which was thereafter determined according to the diazocoupling reaction. This method is sensitive to as little as 5 nmol of hydroxamic acid, and the calibration curve is linear up to 50 nmol. Using this method, acyl-CoAs were determined after conversion to hydroxamic acid by the addition of hydroxylamine. The present method is applicable to the determination of free fatty acids which are activated by acyl-CoA synthetase.

Stone formation by Ureaplasma urealyticum in human urine and its prevention by urease inhibitors

When Ureaplasma urealyticum T-960 was inoculated into normal human urine (10(8) viable cells per ml of urine), a white precipitate formed, with an increase in pH of the infected urine. This precipitate was identified as a mixture of struvite and whitelockite by analysis of the infrared spectrum. Its formation was completely prevented by the addition of 10 microM N-benzoylphosphotriamide, 20 microM N-isopentenoylphosphotriamide, or 0.5 mM caprylohydroxamic acid without the alkalinization of the urine, and the Ureaplasma color change units were also decreased markedly by these compounds. The apparent concentrations for 50% inhibition by N-benzoylphosphotriamide,N-isopentenolyphosphotriamide, and caprylohydroxamic acid against Ureaplasma urease were 7 nM, 2 nM, and 2.2 microM, respectively. From these results, it seems that stone formation by U. urealyticum is prevented with these compounds, that prevention being directly attributable to the inhibition of urease activity, which causes the death of the cells.

Therapy for urolithiasis by hydroxamic acids. III. Urease inhibitory potency and urinary excretion rate of N-acylglycinohydroxamic acids

Hydroxamic acid, a potent urease inhibitor, having a high urinary excretion rate is expected to be a therapeutic agent for urolithiasis caused by urea-splitting bacterial infection of the urinary tract. Twenty-one new derivatives of N-aliphatic-acylglycinohydroxamic acids (GHAs) were synthesized, and their inhibitory potencies against the urease activity of sword bean in a phosphate buffer and against the ureolytic activity of Proteus mirabilis in human urine, and their urinary excretion rates in rats were also measured for this purpose I50 values of most of GHAs against the urease activity of sword bean were about 1 to 10 microM and 2-ethyl-n-butyroyl GHA was the most potent inhibitor with the value of 0.79 microM. I50 values of most of the GHAs against the ureolytic activity of Proteus mirabilis were about 5 to 50 microM and n-nonaroyl GHA was the most potent inhibitor with the value of 3.6 microM. 2,2-Dimethylpropionyl GHA had the highest urinary excretion rate with the recovery of 11%. Routes of administration of 2,2-dimethylpropionyl GHA and sex of rats used did not affect the amount of urinary excretion at all. The results in this report suggest that DL 2-methyl-n-butyroyl, 2-ethyl-n-butyroyl and 2,2-dimethylpropionyl GHA are the most hopeful therapeutic agents for urolithiasis among them.

Therapy for urolithiasis by hydroxamic acids. II. Urease inhibitory potency and urinary excretion rate of hippurohydroxamic acid derivatives

The apparent I50 values of various hippurohydroxamic acids against urease activity of sword bean were mostly 0.5 to 2.0 microM regardless of hydrophobicity of their substituents. However, the marked increase of hydrophilicity caused by substitution of trimethoxy groups conspicuously decreased the inhibitory potency. Methylation at alpha-position of the hydroxamic acid group in these compounds remarkably decreased the inhibitory potency, probably owing to steric hindrance by the alpha-methyl group. Thenoyl-, furoyl- and nicotino-glycinohydroxamic acids which are bioisostereomers of hippurohydroxamic acid had I50 values of 0.64, 1.3 and 5.3 microM, respectively. Furthermore, the inhibitory potency of some substituted hippurohydroxamic acids against the ureolytic activity of intact Proteus mirabilis isolated from patients with urinary tract infection, were half to one-tenth of those against urease activity of sword bean. On the other hand, m- and p-nitro-, m- and p-methoxy-, m- and p-acetylamino-hippurohydroxamic acid and furoylglycinohydroxamic acid showed high urinary excretion rates of 14 to 16% of the doses administered orally to rats, while most of the others had excretion rates of about 3 to 5%.

[Adsorption behavior and distribution coefficient of 137Cs and 85Sr on sand (author's transl)]

The adsorption behavior of radionuclides (137Cs and 85Sr) on sand and the influence of pH on the distribution coefficient have been studied. The adsorption obeys the Henry adsorption isotherm, which is an approximation of Freudlich adsorption isotherm, in the concentration range of 10(-9) approximately 10(-12) mol/l for both 137Cs and 85Sr. Their distribution coefficients do not depend on the concentration of radionuclides provided that sand particle size, pH, concentration of coexisting cations and so on are fixed.

Urease-producing species of intestinal anaerobes and their activities

Urease activities of anaerobic bacteria that constituted predominant gut flora were examined. It was demonstrated that some strains of Eubacterium aerofaciens, E. lentum, and Peptostreptococcus products produced urease. They were the most numerous species in human feces. All strains of Bifidobacterium infantis and some strains of Bacteroides multiacidus, B. bifidum, Clostridium symbiosum, Fusobacterium necrophorum, F. varium, Lactobacillus fermentum, Peptococcus asaccharolyticus, and P. prevotii produced urease. The optimum pH of the Lactobacillus urease was found to be 4.0, whereas the pH value of B. multiacidus urease was 8.0.

Inhibition of urease activity by hydroxamic acid derivatives of amino acids

Hydroxamic acids have been reported to be potent and specific inhibitors of urease (EC 3.5.1.5) activity of plant and bacterial origin. The present investigation was performed on the inhibitory effect of hydroxamic acid derivatives of naturally occurring amino acids on the urease activity of the Jack Bean and the alimentary tracts of rats. Methionine-hydroxamic acid was the most powerful inhibitor (I50=3.9 X 10(-6) M) among nineteen alpha-aminoacyl hydroxamic acids. Phenylalanine-, serine-, alanine-, glycine-, histidine-, threonine-, leucine-, and arginine-hydroxamic acids followed, in order of decreasing inhibitory power. The inhibition proceeded with time at a comparable rate to fatty acyl hydroxamic acid inhibition. The I50 values of alpha-aminoacyl hydroxamic acids were found to be almost equal to those of the corresponding fatty acyl hydroxamic acids. This fact shows that the alpha-amino group did not affect inhibitory power. However, aspartic-beta-, lysine-, and glutamic-gamma-hydroxamic acids, in descending order, were much less inhibitory, probably due to the presence of a carboxyl or omega-amino group. Furthermore, the pH optimum of the inhibition shifted to lower pH in the presence of a carboxyl group, and to a higher pH in e presence of an amino group. The results suggest that the dissociation of an acidic or a basic group reduces the inhibitory power of hydroxamic acid. Hydroxamic acid inhibits urease activity with strict specificity, excpet for aspartic-beta-hydroxamic acid, which inhibited asparaginase competitively. Hydroxamic acid derivatives of amino acids inhibited not only the urease activity of the Jack Bean, but also that of the caecum and ileum parts of the rat intestine.