Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Erkrankungen

Die Gruppe der hereditären Neuropathien (Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Erkrankungen, CMT) ist eine klinisch und genetisch heterogene Gruppe von peripheren Neuropathien. Die Prävalenz beträgt 1:2 500, womit die CMT zu den seltenen Erkrankungen zählen. In der klinischen Neurologie stellen sie die häufigste neurogenetische Erkrankung dar. Die CMTFormen mit sensiblen und motorischen Symptomen sind am häufigsten. Neben diesen Formen gibt es rein sensible Formen, mit oder ohne autonome Symptome (HSAN), rein motorische Neuropathien (dHMN) und die besondere Form der hereditären Neuropathie mit Neigung zu Druckparesen (HNPP). Die molekulargenetische Diagnostik wurde zunehmend weiterentwickelt. Die Gendiagnostik ist integraler Bestandteil der Diagnostik für Patienten mit dem klinischen Verdacht auf das Vorliegen einer hereditären Neuropathie. Die klinische und genetische Zuordnung ist durch die große Heterogenität des Phänotyps bei über 80 potenziell krankheitsverursachenden Genen oft sehr erschwert. Trotzdem werden über 90% aller genetisch gesicherten CMT durch Mutationen in vier Genen (PMP22, Cx32, MPZ und MFN2) geklärt. Diese stellen die klinisch relevanten Kandidatengene im klinischen Alltag dar.

Malusides, novel glucosylceramides isolated from apple pomace (Malus domestica)

Three new glucosylceramides (GluCers) named malusides I-III (1-3) were isolated from apple (cultivars of Malus domestica) pomace (fruit material remaining after juice extraction). An unusual oxo/hydroxy group pattern within the sphingadienine (d18:2) type sphingoid base was observed. All compounds contained the same α-hydroxylated fatty acid (h16:0) and a β-D-glucose moiety. Their structures were assigned on the basis of one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses and mass spectrometry (MS) measurements.

Production of Rare Phyto-Ceramides from Abundant Food Plant Residues

Ceramides (Cers) are major components of the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, and play a crucial role in permeability barrier functions. Alterations in Cer composition causing skin diseases are compensated with semisynthetic skin-identical Cers. Plants constitute new resources for Cer production as they contain glucosylceramides (GluCers) as major components. GluCers were purified from industrial waste plant materials, apple pomace (Malus domestica), wheat germs (Triticum sp.), and coffee grounds (Coffea sp.), with GluCer contents of 28.9 mg, 33.7 mg, and 4.4 mg per 100 g of plant material. Forty-five species of GluCers (1-45) were identified with different sphingoid bases, saturated or monounsaturated α-hydroxy fatty acids (C15-28), and β-glucose as polar headgroup. Three main GluCers were hydrolyzed by a recombinant human glucocerebrosidase to produce phyto-Cers (46-48). These studies showed that rare and expensive phyto-Cers can be obtained from industrial food plant residues.

Potato plants with genetically engineered tropane alkaloid precursors

Solanum tuberosum tropinone reductase I reduced tropinone in vivo. Suppression of tropinone reductase II strongly reduced calystegines in sprouts. Overexpression of putrescine N -methyltransferase did not alter calystegine accumulation. Calystegines are hydroxylated alkaloids formed by the tropane alkaloid pathway. They accumulate in potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae) roots and sprouting tubers. Calystegines inhibit various glycosidases in vitro due to their sugar-mimic structure, but functions of calystegines in plants are not understood. Enzymes participating in or competing with calystegine biosynthesis, including putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) and tropinone reductases (TRI and TRII), were altered in their activity in potato plants by RNA interference (RNAi) and by overexpression. The genetically altered potato plants were investigated for the accumulation of calystegines and for intermediates of their biosynthesis. An increase in N-methylputrescine provided by DsPMT expression was not sufficient to increase calystegine accumulation. Overexpression and gene knockdown of StTRI proved that S. tuberosum TRI is a functional tropinone reductase in vivo, but no influence on calystegine accumulation was observed. When StTRII expression was suppressed by RNAi, calystegine formation was severely compromised in the transformed plants. Under phytochamber and green house conditions, the StTRII RNAi plants did not show phenotypic alterations. Further investigation of calystegines function in potato plants under natural conditions is enabled by the calystegine deprived StTRII RNAi plants.

MATE Transporter-Dependent Export of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Amides

The ability of Arabidopsis thaliana to successfully prevent colonization by Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum), depends on multilayered defense responses. To address the role of surface-localized secondary metabolites for entry control, droplets of a P. infestans zoospore suspension, incubated on Arabidopsis leaves, were subjected to untargeted metabolite profiling. The hydroxycinnamic acid amide coumaroylagmatine was among the metabolites secreted into the inoculum. In vitro assays revealed an inhibitory activity of coumaroylagmatine on P. infestans spore germination. Mutant analyses suggested a requirement of the p-coumaroyl-CoA:agmatine N4-p-coumaroyl transferase ACT for the biosynthesis and of the MATE transporter DTX18 for the extracellular accumulation of coumaroylagmatine. The host plant potato is not able to efficiently secrete coumaroylagmatine. This inability is overcome in transgenic potato plants expressing the two Arabidopsis genes ACT and DTX18. These plants secrete agmatine and putrescine conjugates to high levels, indicating that DTX18 is a hydroxycinnamic acid amide transporter with a distinct specificity. The export of hydroxycinnamic acid amides correlates with a decreased ability of P. infestans spores to germinate, suggesting a contribution of secreted antimicrobial compounds to pathogen defense at the leaf surface.

Substrate flexibility and reaction specificity of tropinone reductase-like short-chain dehydrogenases

Annotations of protein or gene sequences from large scale sequencing projects are based on protein size, characteristic binding motifs, and conserved catalytic amino acids, but biochemical functions are often uncertain. In the large family of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs), functional predictions often fail. Putative tropinone reductases, named tropinone reductase-like (TRL), are SDRs annotated in many genomes of organisms that do not contain tropane alkaloids. SDRs in vitro often accept several substrates complicating functional assignments. Cochlearia officinalis, a Brassicaceae, contains tropane alkaloids, in contrast to the closely related Arabidopsis thaliana. TRLs from Arabidopsis and the tropinone reductase isolated from Cochlearia (CoTR) were investigated for their catalytic capacity. In contrast to CoTR, none of the Arabidopsis TRLs reduced tropinone in vitro. NAD(H) and NADP(H) preferences were relaxed in two TRLs, and protein homology models revealed flexibility of amino acid residues in the active site allowing binding of both cofactors. TRLs reduced various carbonyl compounds, among them terpene ketones. The reduction was stereospecific for most of TRLs investigated, and the corresponding terpene alcohol oxidation was stereoselective. Carbonyl compounds that were identified to serve as substrates were applied for modeling pharmacophores of each TRL. A database of commercially available compounds was screened using the pharmacophores. Compounds identified as potential substrates were confirmed by turnover in vitro. Thus pharmacophores may contribute to better predictability of biochemical functions of SDR enzymes.

Immunolocalisation of spermidine synthase in Solanum tuberosum

Spermidine synthase (SPDS) catalyses the formation of spermidine, which is an essential polyamine and widespread in living organisms. Spermidine is formed from putrescine by transfer of an aminopropyl group from decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine. Spermidine is also a precursor to further polyamines, such as spermine and thermospermine, most of which contribute to tolerance against drought and salinity in plants. Thermospermine is indispensible for vascular tissue growth. Plant spermidine synthases have been cloned from several angiosperms; organ-specific gene expression levels are known for Arabidopsis only. In this study, immunolocalisation of SPDS in potato (Solanum tuberosum) organs is presented. Polyclonal antibodies for SPDS from potato produced in rabbits were purified by affinity chromatography. Cross-reaction with potato putrescine N-methyltransferase was eliminated. Accumulation of SPDS protein in the phloem region of vascular tissues throughout the potato plant is demonstrated.

Inhibition of human intestinal α-glucosidases by calystegines

Calystegines are polyhydroxylated nortropane alkaloids found in Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae, and other plant families. These plants produce common fruits and vegetables. The calystegine structures resemble sugars and suggest interaction with enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Maltase and sucrase are α-glucosidases contributing to human carbohydrate degradation in the small intestine. Inhibition of these enzymes by orally administered drugs is one option for treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. In this study, inhibition of maltase and sucrase by calystegines A3 and B2 purified from potatoes was investigated. In silico docking studies confirmed binding of both calystegines to the active sites of the enzymes. Calystegine A3 showed low in vitro enzyme inhibition; calystegine B2 inhibited mainly sucrose activity. Both compounds were not transported by Caco-2 cells indicating low systemic availability. Vegetables rich in calystegine B2 should be further investigated as possible components of a diet preventing a steep increase in blood glucose after a carbohydrate-rich meal.

Evolution of the key alkaloid enzyme putrescine N-methyltransferase from spermidine synthase

Putrescine N-methyltransferases (PMTs) are the first specific enzymes of the biosynthesis of nicotine and tropane alkaloids. PMTs transfer a methyl group onto the diamine putrescine from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) as coenzyme. PMT proteins have presumably evolved from spermidine synthases (SPDSs), which are ubiquitous enzymes of polyamine metabolism. SPDSs use decarboxylated SAM as coenzyme to transfer an aminopropyl group onto putrescine. In an attempt to identify possible and necessary steps in the evolution of PMT from SPDS, homology based modeling of Datura stramonium SPDS1 and PMT was employed to gain deeper insight in the preferred binding positions and conformations of the substrate and the alternative coenzymes. Based on predictions of amino acids responsible for the change of enzyme specificities, sites of mutagenesis were derived. PMT activity was generated in D. stramonium SPDS1 after few amino acid exchanges. Concordantly, Arabidopsis thaliana SPDS1 was mutated and yielded enzymes with both, PMT and SPDS activities. Kinetic parameters were measured for enzymatic characterization. The switch from aminopropyl to methyl transfer depends on conformational changes of the methionine part of the coenzyme in the binding cavity of the enzyme. The rapid generation of PMT activity in SPDS proteins and the wide-spread occurrence of putative products of N-methylputrescine suggest that PMT activity is present frequently in the plant kingdom.

Lignans as food constituents with estrogen and antiestrogen activity

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived food ingredients assumed to contribute to the prevention of hormone-dependent cancers, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and menopausal symptoms. Lignans occur in numerous food plants and various structures; they are common constituents of human diet, and estrogen activity has been assessed for lignan metabolites formed in the mammalian intestine. We examined natural lignans and semisynthetic norlignans for estrogen and antiestrogen activity. A transformed yeast strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) expressing the estrogen receptor alpha and a reporter system was applied as test system. Some plant lignans showed estrogen activity while others and the semisynthetic norlignans were moderately active antiestrogens. Docking of lignans to protein models of estrogen receptor alpha in the active and inactive form sustained the results of the yeast estrogen assay and supported the concept of plant lignans as phytoestrogens.

Small structural changes of pentacyclic lupane type triterpenoid derivatives lead to significant differences in their anticancer properties

In the present investigations five new derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acid were synthesized and the effect of this structural variations on anticancer activity was studied and discussed. The antiproliferative activity of betulinic and betulonic acid derivatives was studied against eight tumor cell lines of different histogenic origin. The derivatives exerted a dose dependent antiproliferative action at micromolar concentrations toward target tumor cell lines. The apoptotic mode of cell death on colon cancer cell line HT-29 was induced by the most active compounds 5, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propyl (3-O-acetyl)betulinate, and 9, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propyl betulonate. Treatment of HT-29 cells with 5 and 9 induced apoptosis, as observed by dye exclusion test (trypan blue) and by the appearance of a typical ladder pattern in the DNA fragmentation assay and FITC annexin V assay. Cell cycle perturbations caused by compound 5 are also presented.

Putrescine N-methyltransferase--the start for alkaloids

Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) catalyses S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) dependent methylation of the diamine putrescine. The product N-methylputrescine is the first specific metabolite on the route to nicotine, tropane, and nortropane alkaloids. PMT cDNA sequences were cloned from tobacco species and other Solanaceae, also from nortropane-forming Convolvulaceae and enzyme proteins were synthesised in Escherichia coli. PMT activity was measured by HPLC separation of polyamine derivatives and by an enzyme-coupled colorimetric assay using S-adenosylhomocysteine. PMT cDNA sequences resemble those of plant spermidine synthases (putrescine aminopropyltransferases) and display little similarity to other plant methyltransferases. PMT is likely to have evolved from the ubiquitous enzyme spermidine synthase. PMT and spermidine synthase proteins share the same overall protein structure; they bind the same substrate putrescine and similar co-substrates, SAM and decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine. The active sites of both proteins, however, were shaped differentially in the course of evolution. Phylogenetic analysis of both enzyme groups from plants revealed a deep bifurcation and confirmed an early descent of PMT from spermidine synthase in the course of angiosperm development.

Evolution of putrescine N-methyltransferase from spermidine synthase demanded alterations in substrate binding

Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) catalyses S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methylation of putrescine in tropane alkaloid biosynthesis. PMT presumably evolved from the ubiquitous spermidine synthase (SPDS). SPDS protein structure suggested that only few amino acid exchanges in the active site were necessary to achieve PMT activity. Protein modelling, mutagenesis, and chimeric protein construction were applied to trace back evolution of PMT activity from SPDS. Ten amino acid exchanges in Datura stramonium SPDS dismissed the hypothesis of facile generation of PMT activity in existing SPDS proteins. Chimeric PMT and SPDS enzymes were active and indicated the necessity for a different putrescine binding site when PMT developed.

The functional divergence of short-chain dehydrogenases involved in tropinone reduction

Tropane alkaloids typically occur in the Solanaceae and are also found in Cochlearia officinalis, a member of the Brassicaceae. Tropinone reductases are key enzymes of tropane alkaloid metabolism. Two different tropinone reductases form one stereoisomeric product each, either tropine for esterified alkaloids or pseudotropine that is converted to calystegines. A cDNA sequence with similarity to known tropinone reductases (TR) was cloned from C. officinalis. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and found to catalyze the reduction of tropinone. The enzyme is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase enzyme family and shows broad substrate specificity. Several synthetic ketones were accepted as substrates, with higher affinity and faster enzymatic turnover than observed for tropinone. C. officinalis TR produced both the isomeric alcohols tropine and pseudotropine from tropinone using NADPH + H(+) as co-substrate. Tropinone reductases of the Solanaceae, in contrast, are strictly stereospecific and form one tropane alcohol only. The Arabidopsis thaliana homologue of C. officinalis TR showed high sequence similarity, but did not reduce tropinone. A tyrosine residue was identified in the active site of C. officinalis TR that appeared responsible for binding and orientation of tropinone. Mutagenesis of the tyrosine residue yielded an active reductase, but with complete loss of TR activity. Thus C. officinalis TR presents an example of an enzyme with relaxed substrate specificity, like short-chain dehydrogenases, that provides favorable preconditions for the evolution of novel functions in biosynthetic sequences.

The functional divergence of short-chain dehydrogenases involved in tropinone reduction

Tropane alkaloids typically occur in the Solanaceae and are also found in Cochlearia officinalis, a member of the Brassicaceae. Tropinone reductases are key enzymes of tropane alkaloid metabolism. Two different tropinone reductases form one stereoisomeric product each, either tropine for esterified alkaloids or pseudotropine that is converted to calystegines. A cDNA sequence with similarity to known tropinone reductases (TR) was cloned from C. officinalis. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and found to catalyze the reduction of tropinone. The enzyme is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase enzyme family and shows broad substrate specificity. Several synthetic ketones were accepted as substrates, with higher affinity and faster enzymatic turnover than observed for tropinone. C. officinalis TR produced both the isomeric alcohols tropine and pseudotropine from tropinone using NADPH + H(+) as co-substrate. Tropinone reductases of the Solanaceae, in contrast, are strictly stereospecific and form one tropane alcohol only. The Arabidopsis thaliana homologue of C. officinalis TR showed high sequence similarity, but did not reduce tropinone. A tyrosine residue was identified in the active site of C. officinalis TR that appeared responsible for binding and orientation of tropinone. Mutagenesis of the tyrosine residue yielded an active reductase, but with complete loss of TR activity. Thus C. officinalis TR presents an example of an enzyme with relaxed substrate specificity, like short-chain dehydrogenases, that provides favorable preconditions for the evolution of novel functions in biosynthetic sequences.

Putrescine N-methyltransferases--a structure-function analysis

Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) is a key enzyme of plant secondary metabolism at the start of the specific biosynthesis of nicotine, of tropane alkaloids, and of calystegines that are glycosidase inhibitors with nortropane structure. PMT is assumed to have developed from spermidine synthases (SPDS) participating in ubiquitous polyamine metabolism. In this study decisive differences between both enzyme families are elucidated. PMT sequences were known from four Solanaceae genera only, therefore additional eight PMT cDNA sequences were cloned from five Solanaceae and a Convolvulaceae. The encoded polypeptides displayed between 76% and 97% identity and typical amino acids different from plant spermidine synthase protein sequences. Heterologous expression of all enzymes proved catalytic activity exclusively as PMT and K (cat) values between 0.16 s(-1) and 0.39 s(-1). The active site of PMT was initially inferred from a protein structure of spermidine synthase obtained by protein crystallisation. Those amino acids of the active site that were continuously different between PMTs and SPDS were mutated in one of the PMT sequences with the idea of changing PMT activity into spermidine synthase. Mutagenesis of active site residues unexpectedly resulted in a complete loss of catalytic activity. A protein model of PMT was based on the crystal structure of SPDS and suggests that overall protein folds are comparable. The respective cosubstrates S-adenosylmethionine and decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine, however, appear to bind differentially to the active sites of both enzymes, and the substrate putrescine adopts a different position.

Calystegines in potatoes with genetically engineered carbohydrate metabolism

Calystegines are hydroxylated nortropane alkaloids derived from the tropane alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. They are strong glycosidase inhibitors and occur in vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, and cabbage. Calystegine accumulation in root cultures was described to increase with carbohydrate availability. Whether this is indicative for the in planta situation is as yet unknown. Potatoes are model plants for the study of carbohydrate metabolism. Numerous transgenic potato lines with altered carbohydrate metabolism are available, but rarely were examined for alterations in secondary metabolism. In this study, calystegine accumulation and expression of biosynthetic enzymes were related to genetic modifications in carbohydrate metabolism in potato tubers. Tubers contained more soluble sugars due to overexpression of yeast invertase in the apoplast or in the cytosol, or due to antisense suppression of sucrose synthase. It is shown that the major part of calystegines in tubers originated from biosynthesis in plant roots. Yet, tuber calystegine levels responded to genetic alterations of carbohydrate metabolism in tubers. The strongest increase in calystegines was found in tubers with suppressed sucrose synthase activity. Transcripts and enzyme activities involved in calystegine biosynthesis largely concurred with product accumulation. Whole plant organs were examined similarly and displayed higher calystegines and corresponding enzyme activities in roots and stolons of plants with enhanced soluble sugars. Increases in calystegines appear to be linked to sucrose availability.

Immunolocalisation of two tropinone reductases in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) root, stolon, and tuber sprouts

Tropinone reductases (TRs) are essential enzymes in the tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, providing either tropine for hyoscyamine and scopolamine formation or providing pseudotropine for calystegines. Two cDNAs coding for TRs were isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber sprouts and expressed in E. coli. One reductase formed pseudotropine, the other formed tropine and showed kinetic properties typical for tropine-forming tropinone reductases (TRI) involved in hyoscyamine formation. Hyoscyamine and tropine are not found in S. tuberosum plants. Potatoes contain calystegines as the only products of the tropane alkaloid pathway. Polyclonal antibodies raised against both enzymes were purified to exclude cross reactions and were used for Western-blot analysis and immunolocalisation. The TRI (EC 1.1.1.206) was detected in protein extracts of tuber tissues, but mostly in levels too low to be localised in individual cells. The function of this enzyme in potato that does not form hyoscyamine is not clear. The pseudotropine-forming tropinone reductase (EC 1.1.1.236) was detected in potato roots, stolons, and tuber sprouts. Cortex cells of root and stolon contained the protein; additional strong immuno-labelling was located in phloem parenchyma. In tuber spouts, however, the protein was detected in companion cells.

Colorimetric activity measurement of a recombinant putrescine N-methyltransferase from Datura stramonium

Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT, EC 2.1.1.53) catalyses the S-adenosyl- L-methionine (SAM or AdoMet)-dependent methylation of putrescine to N-methylputrescine within the biosynthetic pathways of calystegines, nicotine, and tropane alkaloids in medicinal plants and produces S-adenosyl- L-homocysteine (SAH or AdoHcy). Determination of PMT activity was time-consuming and hardly reproducible in the past because it required tedious separation steps after chemical derivatisation or radioactive labelling of N-methylputrescine. A convenient and accurate enzyme-coupled colorimetric assay is based on the conversion of SAH to homocysteine by 5'-methylthioadenosine/ S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase (MTAN/SAHN, EC 3.2.2.9) and S-ribosylhomocysteine lyase (LuxS, EC 4.4.1.21). Homocysteine is quantified by 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid. Putrescine was shown not to interfere with MTAN or LuxS. The colorimetric assay was validated by HPLC analysis. K(m) values determined by the assay, 108 microM for putrescine and 42 microM for SAM, are lower than the previously reported values, due to alleviation of PMT inhibition by SAH. DTNB:5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid LuxS: S-ribosylhomocysteine lyase MTAN:5'-methylthioadenosine nucleosidase PMT:putrescine N-methyltransferase SAH: S-adenosyl- L-homocysteine SAM: S-adenosyl- L-methionine TNB:2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid.

Brassicaceae contain nortropane alkaloids

The report of cochlearine, the 3-hydroxybenzoate ester of tropine found in Cochlearia officinalis, Brassicaceae, initiated a screening for tropane alkaloids in Cochlearia species and for calystegines in further Brassicaceae. All ten Cochlearia species investigated contained cochlearine, tropine, and pseudotropine. Calystegines, nortropane alkaloids deriving from pseudotropine, were also identified in all Cochlearia species and accumulated up to 0.5% dry mass in leaves. Brassicaceae species of all major lineages of the family were analysed for calystegines. Of the 43 species included in the study, 18 accumulated calystegines of various structures. This is the first screening of Brassicaceae for products of the tropane alkaloid pathway, which is known as characteristic for plants of Solanaceae family. The identification of calystegines in all branches of the Brassicaceae family including Aethionema, a species at the basis of the family, suggests tropane alkaloids as secondary compound typical for Brassicaceae.

Tropinone reductases, enzymes at the branch point of tropane alkaloid metabolism

Two stereospecific oxidoreductases constitute a branch point in tropane alkaloid metabolism. Products of tropane metabolism are the alkaloids hyoscyamine, scopolamine, cocaine, and polyhydroxylated nortropane alkaloids, the calystegines. Both tropinone reductases reduce the precursor tropinone to yield either tropine or pseudotropine. In Solanaceae, tropine is incorporated into hyoscyamine and scopolamine; pseudotropine is the first specific metabolite on the way to the calystegines. Isolation, cloning and heterologous expression of both tropinone reductases enabled kinetic characterisation, protein crystallisation, and structure elucidation. Stereospecificity of reduction is achieved by binding tropinone in the respective enzyme active centre in opposite orientation. Immunolocalisation of both enzyme proteins in cultured roots revealed a tissue-specific protein accumulation. Metabolite flux through both arms of the tropane alkaloid pathway appears to be regulated by the activity of both enzymes and by their access to the precursor tropinone. Both tropinone reductases are NADPH-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases with amino acid sequence similarity of more than 50% suggesting their descent from a common ancestor. Putative tropinone reductase sequences annotated in plant genomes other that Solanaceae await functional characterisation.

Tropinone reductases, enzymes at the branch point of tropane alkaloid metabolism

Two stereospecific oxidoreductases constitute a branch point in tropane alkaloid metabolism. Products of tropane metabolism are the alkaloids hyoscyamine, scopolamine, cocaine, and polyhydroxylated nortropane alkaloids, the calystegines. Both tropinone reductases reduce the precursor tropinone to yield either tropine or pseudotropine. In Solanaceae, tropine is incorporated into hyoscyamine and scopolamine; pseudotropine is the first specific metabolite on the way to the calystegines. Isolation, cloning and heterologous expression of both tropinone reductases enabled kinetic characterisation, protein crystallisation, and structure elucidation. Stereospecificity of reduction is achieved by binding tropinone in the respective enzyme active centre in opposite orientation. Immunolocalisation of both enzyme proteins in cultured roots revealed a tissue-specific protein accumulation. Metabolite flux through both arms of the tropane alkaloid pathway appears to be regulated by the activity of both enzymes and by their access to the precursor tropinone. Both tropinone reductases are NADPH-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases with amino acid sequence similarity of more than 50% suggesting their descent from a common ancestor. Putative tropinone reductase sequences annotated in plant genomes other that Solanaceae await functional characterisation.

Putrescine N-methyltransferase in Solanum tuberosum L., a calystegine-forming plant

Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT, EC 2.1.1.53) catalyses the first specific step in the biosynthesis of tropane and nicotine alkaloids. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) contains neither nicotine nor the medicinal tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine or scopolamine, but calystegines. They are nortropane alkaloids with glycosidase inhibitory activity. Based on the assumption of calystegine formation by the tropane alkaloid pathway, PMT genes and enzymes were investigated in potato. Sprouting tubers contained both N-methylputrescine and PMT activity. Two cDNA clones coding for PMTs were obtained together with a cDNA clone for spermidine synthase (SPDS, EC 2.5.1.16). The pmt sequences resemble those from Nicotiana tabacum (85% identity) and those from tropane alkaloid plants, Atropa belladonna (80% identity) and Hyoscyamus niger (79% identity). They are less similar to SPDS of S. tuberosum (66% identity). Expression of pmt1 and spds cDNA in Escherichia coli yielded active enzymes, while pmt2 expression resulted in insoluble protein. Chimera proteins obtained by fusion of fragments of S. tuberosum pmt2 and H. niger pmt were active as PMT, if the initial part of pmt2 was used, indicating that a mutation in the terminal part of the gene caused insolubility of the enzyme. PMT1 was purified after expression in E. coli and proved to be an active N-methyltransferase without SPDS activity. The enzyme was specific for putrescine (K (M) 250 microM) and inhibited by n-butylamine and cadaverine. While spds was transcribed in all plant organs, pmt transcripts were found in small tuber sprouts only. The results confirm that in potato genes and enzymes specific for the tropane alkaloid metabolism are expressed and active.

Betulinic acid induces apoptosis in skin cancer cells and differentiation in normal human keratinocytes

Betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpene of plant origin, induces cell death in melanoma cells and other malignant cells of neuroectodermal origin. Little is known about additional biological effects in normal target cells. We show, in this study, that BA induces differentiation as well as cell death in normal human keratinocytes (NHK). Cytotoxicity profiles of BA are compared among normal human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells, IGR1 melanoma cells and normal melanocytes. As expected, BA is toxic to all cell types, normal and malignant, but varies in its cytotoxic potency and in the extent of induction of apoptotic vs. necrotic cell death in the four different skin cell types. Apoptosis is proved by annexin V and Apo2.7 binding and by DNA fragmentation. Induction of differentiation-associated antigens in keratinocytes--filaggrin and involucrin--is demonstrated, together with specific morphological changes in treated cell cultures. BA, apart from its cytotoxic activities in cellular systems, is capable of inducing differentiation of NHK into corneocytes without immediately provoking apoptotic cell death.

Nicotine demethylation in Nicotiana cell suspension cultures: N'-formylnornicotine is not involved

Nicotine or nornicotine enriched with stable isotopes in either the N'-methyl group or the pyrrolidine-N were fed to Nicotiana plumbaginifolia suspension cell cultures that do not form endogenous nicotine. The metabolism of these compounds was investigated by analysing the incorporation of isotope into other alkaloids using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Nicotine metabolism primarily resulted in the accumulation of nornicotine, the N'-demethylation product. In addition, six minor metabolites appeared during the course of nicotine metabolism, four of which were identified as cotinine, myosmine, N'-formylnornicotine and N'-carboethoxynornicotine. While cotinine was formed from [(13)C,(2)H(3)-methyl]nicotine without dilution of label, N'-formylnornicotine was labelled at only about 6% of the level of nicotine and N'-carboethoxynornicotine was unlabelled. Feeding with [1'-(15)N]nornicotine resulted in incorporation without dilution of label into both N'-formylnornicotine and N'-carboethoxynornicotine. This pattern strongly indicates that, while nornicotine and cotinine are derived directly from nicotine, N'-formylnornicotine and N'-carboethoxynornicotine are metabolites of nornicotine. Thus, it is directly demonstrated that N'-formylnornicotine is not an intermediate in nicotine demethylation.

How human neuroblastoma cells make morphine

Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) are capable of synthesizing morphine, the major active metabolite of opium poppy. Now our experiments are further substantiated by extending the biochemical studies to the entire morphine pathway in this human cell line. L-[1,2,3-13C3]- and [ring-2',5',6'-2H3]dopa showed high isotopic enrichment and incorporation in both the isoquinoline and the benzyl moiety of the endogenous morphine. [2,2-2H2]Dopamine, however, was exclusively incorporated only into the isoquinoline moiety. Neither the trioxygenated (R,S)-[1,3-13C2]norcoclaurine, the precursor of morphine in the poppy plant, nor (R)-[1,3,4-2H3]norlaudanosoline showed incorporation into endogenous morphine. However, (S)-[1,3,4-2H3]norlaudanosoline furnished a good isotopic enrichment and the loss of a single deuterium atom at the C-9 position of the morphine molecule, indicating that the change of configuration from (S)- to (R)-reticuline occurs via the intermediacy of 1,2-dehydroreticuline. Additional feeding experiments with potential morphinan precursors demonstrated substantial incorporation of [7-2H]salutaridinol, but not 7-[7-2H]episalutaridinol, and [7-2H,N-C2H3]oripavine, and [6-2H]codeine into morphine. Human morphine biosynthesis involves at least 19 chemical steps. For the most part, it is a reflection of the biosynthesis in opium poppy; however, there is a fundamental difference in the formation of the key intermediate (S)-reticuline: it proceeds via the tetraoxygenated initial isoquinoline alkaloid (S)-norlaudanosoline, whereas the plant morphine biosynthesis proceeds via the trioxygenated (S)-norcoclaurine. Following the plant biosynthetic pathway, (S)-reticuline undergoes a change of configuration at C-1 during its transformation to salutaridinol and thebaine. From thebaine, there is a bifurcate pathway leading to morphine proceeding via codeine or oripavine, in both plants and mammals.

Calystegines in wild and cultivated Erythroxylum species

Calystegines were identified in the genus Erythroxylum for the first time. Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense, a species cultivated for cocaine production, contained 0.2% total calystegines in dry leaves. Forty six Erythroxylum herbarium species consisting mostly of leaf tissue were analysed for calystegines, and 38 were found positive. Calystegines were compared qualitatively and quantitatively between individual Erythroxylum species. Calystegines A(3) and B(2) were the major calystegines in most species. Total calystegine content reached up to 0.32% dry mass. The simultaneous occurrence of calystegines, cocaine, other alkaloids of a 3alpha-hydroxy- or 3beta-hydroxytropane structure together with nicotine supports the concept of common biosynthetic steps of these alkaloids in Erythroxylum. The present results are the basis for further investigations of the phylogenetic origin of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in the taxonomically remote families Solanaceae and Erythroxylaceae.

Language lateralization in young children assessed by functional transcranial Doppler sonography

Compared to adults, children show superior recovery of language function after damage to the dominant brain hemisphere. Possible explanations are that children have different patterns of language representation or display different patterns of reorganization. Information about language lateralization in children could provide insights into the repair mechanisms of the young brain. While functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is usually difficult to perform in children younger than 5 years, functional transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD) is nonfrightening and readily applicable in young and very young children. However, for serial examinations, sufficient validity and reliability are required. To this end, we designed a picture-description language task (PDLT) for fTCD examinations in children, compared the outcome to established protocols and determined the 1 month retest-reliability of the measurement in 16 children aged 2-9 years. The dependent variable was the task-related hemispheric perfusion difference based on averaged relative cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) increases in the middle cerebral arteries. This picture-description language lateralization index was compared to language lateralization by a phonetic word generation task (PWGT) in adults revealing good intermethod validity (r=0.70; P <or= 0.05). The 1 month retest-reliability of the PDLT in the children was r=0.87 (P <or= 0.05). With this degree of reliability, fTCD seems a promising tool for the assessment of changes in hemispheric involvement in language in young and very young children.

Overexpression of tropinone reductases alters alkaloid composition in Atropa belladonna root cultures

The medicinally applied tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine are produced in Atropa belladonna L. and in a small number of other Solanaceae. Calystegines are nortropane alkaloids that derive from a branching point in the tropane alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. In A. belladonna root cultures, calystegine molar concentration is 2-fold higher than that of hyoscyamine and scopolamine. In this study, two tropinone reductases forming a branching point in the tropane alkaloid biosynthesis were overexpressed in A. belladonna. Root culture lines with strong overexpression of the transcripts contained more enzyme activity of the respective reductase and enhanced enzyme products, tropine or pseudotropine. High pseudotropine led to an increased accumulation of calystegines in the roots. Strong expression of the tropine-forming reductase was accompanied by 3-fold more hyoscyamine and 5-fold more scopolamine compared with control roots, and calystegine levels were decreased by 30-90% of control. In some of the transformed root cultures, an increase of total tropane alkaloids was observed. Thus, transformation with cDNA of tropinone reductases successfully altered the ratio of tropine-derived alkaloids versus pseudotropine-derived alkaloids.

How does the brain accommodate to increased task difficulty in word finding? A functional MRI study

In functional imaging of the brain, the difficulty of a task may be critical for the pattern of activation. Increased task difficulty could lead to increased activation in task-specific regions or to activation of additional, "compensatory" regions. A previous study with functional transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD) showed no evidence that increased difficulty in word retrieval leads to a recruitment of areas homologous to language-related regions. The question remains how the brain accommodates increasing task difficulty. Because of limitations of fTCD method, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in this study. We manipulated word retrieval difficulty in healthy subjects (n = 14) to determine whether the classical language-related brain regions are activated with increasing difficulty in word retrieval. fMRI demonstrated that with increased task difficulty (I) the lateralization of language-associated brain activation remained constant, (II) no additional activation of language-related regions of the dominant hemisphere, nor of homologous regions of the subdominant hemisphere, was evident, (III) additional activation was found in right posterior parietal cortex--typically associated with sustained attention and executive control. Thus, increased difficulty in word retrieval leads to coactivation of distinct brain areas, working together in a large cognitive network, rather than to increased activation of typically language-related areas.

Familial aggregation of strong hemispheric language lateralization

The most conspicuous aspect of the neural basis of language is the uneven involvement of the cerebral hemispheres. The familial distribution of variable degrees of left-hemispheric language lateralization was investigated. A significant familial aggregation of strong left-hemispheric language lateralization and a positive association of the degree of language lateralization between parents and their children were found. These data strongly suggest a genetic determination of the degree of language lateralization.

Endogenous formation of morphine in human cells

Morphine is a plant (opium poppy)-derived alkaloid and one of the strongest known analgesic compounds. Studies from several laboratories have suggested that animal and human tissue or fluids contain trace amounts of morphine. Its origin in mammals has been believed to be of dietary origin. Here, we address the question of whether morphine is of endogenous origin or derived from exogenous sources. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids present in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) and human pancreas carcinoma cells (DAN-G) were identified by GC/tandem MS (MS/MS) as norlaudanosoline (DAN-G), reticuline (DAN-G and SH-SY5Y), and morphine (10 nM, SH-SY5Y). The stereochemistry of reticuline was determined to be 1-(S). Growth of the SH-SY5Y cell line in the presence of (18)O(2) led to the [(18)O]-labeled morphine that had the molecular weight 4 mass units higher than if grown in (16)O(2), indicating the presence of two atoms of (18)O per molecule of morphine. Growth of DAN-G cells in an (18)O(2) atmosphere yielded norlaudanosoline and (S)-reticuline, both labeled at only two of the four oxygen atoms. This result clearly demonstrates that all three alkaloids are of biosynthetic origin and suggests that norlaudanosoline and (S)-reticuline are endogenous precursors of morphine. Feeding of [ring-(13)C(6)]-tyramine, [1-(13)C, N-(13)CH(3)]-(S)-reticuline and [N-CD(3)]-thebaine to the neuroblastoma cells led each to the position-specific labeling of morphine, as established by GC/MS/MS. Without doubt, human cells can produce the alkaloid morphine. The studies presented here serve as a platform for the exploration of the function of "endogenous morphine" in the neurosciences and immunosciences.

Calystegines in Calystegia sepium do not inhibit fungal growth and invertase activity but interact with plant invertase

Calystegines are alkaloidal glycosidase inhibitors. They accumulate predominantly in young and meristemic parts of Calystegia sepium (Convolvulaceae). C. sepium, bindweed, infests meadows and cereal fields and is difficult to control chemically. Fungal pathogens against C. sepium are established as mycoherbicides. Stagonospora convolvuli LA39 attacks C. sepium and does not affect crop plants, but young plants of C. sepium are less susceptible to the fungus. The interaction of Stagonospora convolvuli with calystegines was investigated. Further, endophytic fungi of several classes were isolated from wild-grown Calystegia sepium leaves, and selected strains were tested for interaction with calystegines. Fungal growth on agar containing calystegines was not affected considerably. Plants in climate chambers were infected with an endophyte, Phomopsis, and with the fungal pathogen, Stagonospora convolvuli. Calystegine levels were measured in infected and non-infected plant tissues. Accumulation depended on developmental stage of the plant tissue and was not influenced by infection. Acid invertase was measured from fungal mycelia and from infected and non-infected plant tissues. Fungal acid invertase activity was not inhibited by 10 mM calystegine B (2), while invertase from C. sepium leaves was inhibited. It is concluded that calystegines do not inhibit fungal development and sucrose consumption under the conditions of the present investigation, but may act by redirection of plant carbohydrate metabolism.