The interactions of cephalosporins on polyol pathway enzymes from sheep kidney

CONTEXT

Cephalosporins are derived from the fungus Acremonium. Due to their strong bactericidal ability, these drugs have to a wide usage in medicine.

OBJECTIVE

An investigation of the effects on sheep renal aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) of cefoperazone, cefazolin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone as cephalosporin drugs was carried out in the present study.

METHODS

AR and SDH were purified from sheep kidney by ion exchange, gel filtration and affinity methods with approximately 219- and 484-fold, respectively. Some kinetic properties of the enzymes were determined such as optimal pH, optimal ionic strength, optimal temperature, stable pH, K_m and V_max. IC₅₀ values of the drugs were found for each enzyme.

RESULTS

While the AR was inhibited by all drugs, SDH enzyme was inhibited by only CXM (IC₅₀ 8.10 mM). Interestingly, CZO activated SDH enzyme. This result was evaluated as important for the flow of the polyol reactions. K_i values and inhibition types were determined for AR. However, these values could not have determined for SDH, due to insufficient inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

From these results, it was concluded that cephalosporins may have an important effect on flow of the polyol metabolism.

Structural characterization of the thermostable Bradyrhizobium japonicumD-sorbitol dehydrogenase

Bradyrhizobium japonicum sorbitol dehydrogenase is NADH-dependent and is active at elevated temperatures. The best substrate is D-glucitol (a synonym for D-sorbitol), although L-glucitol is also accepted, giving it particular potential in industrial applications. Crystallization led to a hexagonal crystal form, with crystals diffracting to 2.9 Å resolution. In attempts to phase the data, a molecular-replacement solution based upon PDB entry 4nbu (33% identical in sequence to the target) was found. The solution contained one molecule in the asymmetric unit, but a tetramer similar to that found in other short-chain dehydrogenases, including the search model, could be reconstructed by applying crystallographic symmetry operations. The active site contains electron density consistent with D-glucitol and phosphate, but there was not clear evidence for the binding of NADH. In a search for the features that determine the thermostability of the enzyme, the Tm for the orthologue from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, for which the structure was already known, was also determined, and this enzyme proved to be considerably less thermostable. A continuous β-sheet is formed between two monomers in the tetramer of the B. japonicum enzyme, a feature not generally shared by short-chain dehydrogenases, and which may contribute to thermostability, as may an increased Pro/Gly ratio.

Subcellular localization and vacuolar targeting of sorbitol dehydrogenase in apple seed

Sorbitol is the primary photosynthate and translocated carbohydrate in fruit trees of the Rosaceae family. NAD(+)-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase (NAD-SDH, EC 1.1.1.14), which mainly catalyzes the oxidation of sorbitol to fructose, plays a key role in regulating sink strength in apple. In this study, we found that apple NAD-SDH was ubiquitously distributed in epidermis, parenchyma, and vascular bundle in developing cotyledon. NAD-SDH was localized in the cytosol, the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles, and the vacuolar lumen in the cotyledon at the middle stage of seed development. In contrast, NAD-SDH was mainly distributed in the protein storage vacuoles in cotyledon at the late stage of seed development. Sequence analysis revealed there is a putative signal peptide (SP), also being predicated to be a transmembrane domain, in the middle of proteins of apple NAD-SDH isoforms. To investigate whether the putative internal SP functions in the vacuolar targeting of NAD-SDH, we analyzed the localization of the SP-deletion mutants of MdSDH5 and MdSDH6 (two NAD-SDH isoforms in apple) by the transient expression system in Arabidopsis protoplasts. MdSDH5 and MdSDH6 were not localized in the vacuoles after their SPs were deleted, suggesting the internal SP functions in the vacuolar targeting of apple NAD-SDH.

Effects of some anti-neoplastic drugs on sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase

Stress is an important factor for many diseases in living metabolisms. The mini pathway named as polyol is a critical junction for stress factors. This pathway has two enzymes: aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). It is linked with some diseases such as diabetes mellitus and some cancer types. In particular, SDH is very sensitive and unstable in in vitro conditions. In this study, SDH was purified by using simple and rapid chromatographic methods such as DEAE-Sephadex and CM-Sephadex C-50 columns. Subunit and active form molecular weights were found as 39.8 kDa and 150 kDa, respectively. The in vitro effects of some antineoplastic drugs were investigated. IC(50) values were 0.025, 0.081, 0.291, 1.62, 4.86, 6.54 mM for dacarbazine, methotrexate, epirubicin hydrochloride, calcium folinate, gemcitabine hydrochloride, oxaliplatin, respectively. From these results, dacarbazine was lowest IC(50) value and it is the strongest inhibitor for liver SDH enzyme activity compared to the other drugs.

Multiscale-tailored bioelectrode surfaces for optimized catalytic conversion efficiency

We describe the elaboration of a multiscale-tailored bioelectrocatalytic system. The combination of two enzymes, D-sorbitol dehydrogenase and diaphorase, is studied with respect to the oxidation of D-sorbitol as a model system. The biomolecules are immobilized in an electrodeposited paint (EDP) layer. Reproducible and efficient catalysis of D-sorbitol oxidation is recorded when this system is immobilized on a gold electrode modified by a self-assembled monolayer of 4-carboxy-(2,5,7-trinitro-9-fluorenylidene)malonitrile used as a mediator. The insertion of mediator-modified gold nanoparticles into the EDP film increases significantly the active surface area for the catalytic reaction, which can be further enhanced when the whole system is immobilized in macroporous gold electrodes. This multiscale architecture finally leads to a catalytic device with optimized efficiency for potential use in biosensors, bioelectrosynthesis, and biofuel cells.

X-ray crystal structure and small-angle X-ray scattering of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase

The X-ray crystal structure of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase (slSDH) has been determined using the crystal structure of human sorbitol dehydrogenase (hSDH) as a molecular-replacement model. slSDH crystallized in space group I222 with one monomer in the asymmetric unit. A conserved tetramer that superposes well with that seen in hSDH (despite belonging to a different space group) and obeying the 222 crystal symmetry is seen in slSDH. An acetate molecule is bound in the active site, coordinating to the active-site zinc through a water molecule. Glycerol, a substrate of slSDH, also occupies the substrate-binding pocket together with the acetate designed by nature to fit large polyol substrates. The substrate-binding pocket is seen to be in close proximity to the tetramer interface, which explains the need for the structural integrity of the tetramer for enzyme activity. Small-angle X-ray scattering was also used to identify the quaternary structure of the tetramer of slSDH in solution.

Ubiquitous distribution and different subcellular localization of sorbitol dehydrogenase in fruit and leaf of apple

NAD(+)-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase (NAD-SDH, EC 1.1.1.14), a key enzyme in sorbitol metabolism, plays an important role in regulating sink strength and determining the quality of apple fruit. Understanding the tissue and subcellular localization of NAD-SDH is helpful for understanding sorbitol metabolism in the apple. In this study, two NAD-SDH cDNA sequences were isolated from apple fruits (Malus domestica Borkh cv. Starkrimson) and named MdSDH5 and MdSDH6. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that NAD-SDH is distributed in both the flesh and the vascular tissue of the fruit, and the vascular tissue and mesophyll tissue in the young and old leaves, indicating that it is a ubiquitous protein expressed in both sink and source organs. Immunogold electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that NAD-SDH is localized mainly in the cytoplasm and chloroplast of the fruit and leaves. The chloroplast localization of NAD-SDH was confirmed by the transient expression of MdSDH5-GFP and MdSDH6-GFP in the mesophyll protoplast of Arabidopsis. NAD-SDH was also found in electron opaque deposits of vacuoles in young and mature leaves. These data show that NAD-SDH has different subcellular localizations in fruit and leaves, indicating that it might play a different role in sorbitol metabolism in different tissues of apple.

Catalytic mechanism of Zn2+-dependent polyol dehydrogenases: kinetic comparison of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase with wild-type and Glu154-->Cys forms of yeast xylitol dehydrogenase

Co-ordination of catalytic Zn2+ in sorbitol/xylitol dehydrogenases of the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily involves direct or water-mediated interactions from a glutamic acid residue, which substitutes a homologous cysteine ligand in alcohol dehydrogenases of the yeast and liver type. Glu154 of xylitol dehydrogenase from the yeast Galactocandida mastotermitis (termed GmXDH) was mutated to a cysteine residue (E154C) to revert this replacement. In spite of their variable Zn2+ content (0.10-0.40 atom/subunit), purified preparations of E154C exhibited a constant catalytic Zn2+ centre activity (kcat) of 1.19+/-0.03 s(-1) and did not require exogenous Zn2+ for activity or stability. E154C retained 0.019+/-0.003% and 0.74+/-0.03% of wild-type catalytic efficiency (kcat/K(sorbitol)=7800+/-700 M(-1) x s(-1)) and kcat (=161+/-4 s(-1)) for NAD+-dependent oxidation of sorbitol at 25 degrees C respectively. The pH profile of kcat/K(sorbitol) for E154C decreased below an apparent pK of 9.1+/-0.3, reflecting a shift in pK by about +1.7-1.9 pH units compared with the corresponding pH profiles for GmXDH and sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase (termed slSDH). The difference in pK for profiles determined in 1H2O and 2H2O solvent was similar and unusually small for all three enzymes (approximately +0.2 log units), suggesting that the observed pK in the binary enzyme-NAD+ complexes could be due to Zn2+-bound water. Under conditions eliminating their different pH-dependences, wild-type and mutant GmXDH displayed similar primary and solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects of 1.7+/-0.2 (E154C, 1.7+/-0.1) and 1.9+/-0.3 (E154C, 2.4+/-0.2) on kcat/K(sorbitol) respectively. Transient kinetic studies of NAD+ reduction and proton release during sorbitol oxidation by slSDH at pH 8.2 show that two protons are lost with a rate constant of 687+/-12 s(-1) in the pre-steady state, which features a turnover of 0.9+/-0.1 enzyme equivalents as NADH was produced with a rate constant of 409+/-3 s(-1). The results support an auxiliary participation of Glu154 in catalysis, and possible mechanisms of proton transfer in sorbitol/xylitol dehydrogenases are discussed.

Renewable dehydrogenase-based interfaces for bioelectronic applications

Bioelectronic interfaces that establish electrical communication between redox enzymes and electrodes have potential applications as biosensors, biocatalytic reactors, and biological fuel cells. However, these interfaces contain labile components, including enzymes and cofactors, which have limited lifetimes and must be replaced periodically to allow long-term operation. Current methods to fabricate bioelectronic interfaces do not allow facile replacement of these components, thus limiting the useful lifetime of the interfaces. In this paper we describe a versatile new fabrication approach that binds the enzymes and cofactors using reversible ionic interactions. This approach allows the interface to be removed via a simple pH change and then replaced to fully regenerate the biocatalytic activity. The positively charged polyelectrolyte poly(ethylenimine) was used to ionically bond a dehydrogenase enzyme and its cofactor to a gold electrode that was functionalized with 3-mercaptopropionic acid and the electron mediator toluidine blue O. By reducing the pH, the surface-bound 3-mercaptopropionic acid was protonated, disrupting the ionic bonds and releasing the enzyme-modified polyelectrolyte. After neutralization, fresh enzyme and cofactor were bound, regenerating the bioelectronic interface. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, constant potential amperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses were used to characterize the bioelectronic interfaces. For the two enzymes tested (secondary alcohol dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase) and their respective cofactors (beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), the reconstituted interface exhibited a surface coverage, an electron-transfer coefficient, and a turnover rate similar to those of the original interface.

Purification and properties of NAD(P)-independent polyol dehydrogenase complex from the plasma membrane ofGluconobacter oxydans

Gluconobacter oxydans rapidly oxidizes many different polyhydroxy alcohols (polyols). Polyol oxidations are catalyzed by constitutively synthesized membrane-bound dehydrogenases directly linked to the electron transport chain. A polyol-oxidizing enzyme was isolated from the membranes of G. oxydans and tested for its ability to oxidize various substrates. The enzyme was composed of three subunits: a 67 kDa catalytic unit, a 46 kDa c-type cytochrome, and a 15 kDa subunit. The enzyme oxidized compounds containing three or more hydroxyl groups but did not oxidize mono-, di-, or cyclic alcohols; aldehydes; carboxylic acids; or mono- or di-saccharides. Therefore, we propose this enzyme be considered a polyol dehydrogenase.

Functional myo-inositol catabolic genes of Bacillus subtilis Natto are involved in depletion of pinitol in Natto (fermented soybean)

Soybeans are rich in pinitol (PI; 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol), which improves health by treating conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as diabetes mellitus and obesity. Natto is a food made from soybeans fermented by strains of Bacillus subtilis natto. In the chromosome of natto strain OK2, there is a putative promoter region almost identical to the iol promoter for myo-inositol (MI) catabolic genes of B. subtilis 168. In the presence of MI, the putative iol promoter functioned to induce inositol dehydrogenase, the enzyme for the first-step reaction in the MI catabolic pathway. PI also induced inositol dehydrogenase and the promoter was indispensable for the utilization of PI as well as MI, suggesting that PI might be an alternative carbon source metabolized in a way involving the MI catabolic genes. Natto fermentation studies have revealed that the parental natto strain consumed PI while a mutant defective in the iol promoter did not do so at all. These results suggest that inactivating the MI catabolic genes might prevent PI consumption, retaining it in natto for enrichment of possible health-promoting properties.

Identification of enzyme responsible for erythritol utilization and reaction product in yeast Lipomyces starkeyi

We have identified the enzyme responsible for erythritol utilization and its reaction product in the yeast Lipomyces starkeyi CBS 1807. The enzyme, a polyol dehydrogenase requiring NAD+ as a coenzyme, was induced by erythritol in this yeast. We confirmed that the enzyme product was L-erythrulose by MS, NMR, and polarimeter analyses, meaning that we clarified the first step of erythritol utilization in yeasts for the first time. In the case of the oxidative reaction, D-threitol, (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol, and erythritol were much better substrates than 21 other polyols tested. These three substrates are tetroses and have an R configuration at C-3, and whose third carbon results in easiest oxidation in this enzyme. The research of the substrate specificity in the reductive reaction demonstrated that L-erythrulose and dihydroxyacetone were better substrates, that D-acetoin was inactive and L-erythrose (aldose) was slightly active.

The Structural Basis of Substrate Promiscuity in Glucose Dehydrogenase from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus grows optimally above 80 degrees C and utilizes an unusual, promiscuous, non-phosphorylative Entner-Doudoroff pathway to metabolize both glucose and galactose. The first enzyme in this pathway, glucose dehydrogenase, catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to gluconate, but has been shown to have activity with a broad range of sugar substrates, including glucose, galactose, xylose, and L-arabinose, with a requirement for the glucose stereo configuration at the C2 and C3 positions. Here we report the crystal structure of the apo form of glucose dehydrogenase to a resolution of 1.8 A and a complex with its required cofactor, NADP+, to a resolution of 2.3 A. A T41A mutation was engineered to enable the trapping of substrate in the crystal. Complexes of the enzyme with D-glucose and D-xylose are presented to resolutions of 1.6 and 1.5 A, respectively, that provide evidence of selectivity for the beta-anomeric, pyranose form of the substrate, and indicate that this is the productive substrate form. The nature of the promiscuity of glucose dehydrogenase is also elucidated, and a physiological role for this enzyme in xylose metabolism is suggested. Finally, the structure suggests that the mechanism of sugar oxidation by this enzyme may be similar to that described for human sorbitol dehydrogenase.

Chaperone-like features of bovine serum albumin: a comparison with α-crystallin

The chaperone behaviour of bovine serum albumin was compared with that of alpha-crystallin. The chaperone activity was assessed by measuring: (i) the ability to antagonize protein aggregation induced by heat; (ii) the capability to protect the activity of thermally stressed enzymes and (iii) the effectiveness in assisting the functional recovery of chemically denatured sorbitol dehydrogenase. Despite the lack of structural analogies, both proteins show several functional similarities in preventing inactivation of thermally stressed enzymes and in reactivating chemically denatured sorbitol dehydrogenase. As with alpha-crystallin, the chaperone action of bovine serum albumin appears to be ATP independent. Bovine serum albumin appears significantly less effective than alpha-crystallin only in preventing thermally induced protein aggregation. A possible relationship between chaperone function and structural organization is proposed. Together, our results indicate that bovine serum albumin acts as a molecular chaperone and that, for its particular distribution, can be included in the extracellular chaperone family.

Molecular properties of membrane-bound FAD-containing D-sorbitol dehydrogenase from thermotolerant Gluconobacter frateurii isolated from Thailand

There are two types of membrane-bound D-sorbitol dehydrogenase (SLDH) reported: PQQ-SLDH, having pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), and FAD-SLDH, containing FAD and heme c as the prosthetic groups. FAD-SLDH was purified and characterized from the PQQ-SLDH mutant strain of a thermotolerant Gluconobacter frateurii, having molecular mass of 61.5 kDa, 52 kDa, and 22 kDa. The enzyme properties were quite similar to those of the enzyme from mesophilic G. oxydans IFO 3254. This enzyme was shown to be inducible by D-sorbitol, but not PQQ-SLDH. The oxidation product of FAD-SLDH from D-sorbitol was identified as L-sorbose. The cloned gene of FAD-SLDH had three open reading frames (sldSLC) corresponding to the small, the large, and cytochrome c subunits of FAD-SLDH respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences showed high identity to those from G. oxydans IFO 3254: SldL showed to other FAD-enzymes, and SldC having three heme c binding motives to cytochrome c subunits of other membrane-bound dehydrogenases.

Alpha-crystallin: an ATP-independent complete molecular chaperone toward sorbitol dehydrogenase

alpha-Crystallin, the major component of the vertebrate lens, is known to interact with proteins undergoing denaturation and to protect them from aggregation phenomena. Bovine lens sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was previously shown to be completely protected by alpha-crystallin from thermally induced aggregation and inactivation. Here we report that alpha-crystallin, in the presence of the SDH pyridine cofactor NAD(H), can exert a remarkable chaperone action by favoring the recovery of the enzyme activity from chemically denaturated SDH up to 77%. Indeed, even in the absence of the cofactor, alpha-crystallin present at a ratio with SDH of 20:1 (w:w) allows a recovery of 35% of the enzyme activity. The effect of ATP in enhancing alpha-crystallin-promoted SDH renaturation appears to be both nonspecific and to not involve hydrolysis phenomena, thus confirming that the chaperone action of alpha-crystallin is not dependent on ATP as energy donor.

Structure of zinc-independent sorbitol dehydrogenase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides at 2.4 A resolution

Recombinant sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides has been crystallized in the absence of the cofactor NAD(H) and its structure determined to 2.4 A resolution using molecular replacement (refined R and R free factors of 18.8 and 23.8%, respectively). As expected from the sequence and shown by the conserved fold, SDH can be assigned to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase protein family. The cofactor NAD and the substrate sorbitol have been modelled into the structure and the active-site architecture, which displays the highly conserved catalytic tetrad of Asn-Ser-Tyr-Lys residues, is discussed in relation to the enzyme mechanism. This is the first structure of a bacterial SDH belonging to the SDR family.

Nondenaturing two-dimensional electrophoresis enzyme profile involving activity and sequence structure of cytosol proteins from mouse liver

After cytosol proteins in the mouse liver were separated by nondenaturing two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), activities of several enzymes, such as fructose bisphosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase, transferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, or several dehydrogenases, were analyzed on the same 2-D gel. Further, peptidase (or protease) activity can be examined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) when peptides such as angiotensin and adenocorticotropic hormone are incubated in the presence of the cytosol protein separated by nondenaturing 2-DE. Sequence structures of proteins on the 2-D gel were analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting using MALDI-TOF-MS or by peptide sequencing using electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The combination of activity and sequence structure accurately verified the position and activity range of the separated enzymes on the nondenaturing 2-D gel. From these results, we created a nondenaturing 2-D enzyme profile involving activities and sequence structure of cytosol proteins from mouse liver. This profile can be used for checking whether activities of enzymes were specifically or nonspecifically inhibited by inhibitors.

Autodisplay of Active Sorbitol Dehydrogenase (SDH) Yields a Whole Cell Biocatalyst for the Synthesis of Rare Sugars

Whole cell biocatalysts are attractive technological tools for the regio- and enantioselective synthesis of products, especially from substrates with several identical reactive groups. In the present study, a whole cell biocatalyst for the synthesis of rare sugars from polyalcohols was constructed. For this purpose, sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family, was expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli using Autodisplay. Autodisplay is an efficient surface display system for Gram-negative bacteria and is based on the autotransporter secretion pathway. Transport of SDH to the outer membrane was monitored by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting of different cell fractions. The surface exposure of the enzyme could be verified by immunofluorescence microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The activity of whole cells displaying SDH at the surface was determined in an optical test. Specific activities were found to be 12 mU per 3.3 x 10(8) cells for the conversion of D-glucitol (sorbitol) to D-fructose, 7 mU for the conversion D-galactitol to D-tagatose, and 17 mU for the conversion of L-arabitol to L-ribulose. The whole cell biocatalyst obtained by surface display of SDH could also produce D-glucitol from D-fructose (29 mU per 3.3 x 10(8) cells).

Sorbitol Dehydrogenase: Structure, Function and Ligand Design

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), a member of the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase protein family and the second enzyme of the polyol pathway of glucose metabolism, converts sorbitol to fructose strictly using NAD(+) as coenzyme. SDH is expressed almost ubiquitously in all mammalian tissues. The enzyme has attracted considerable interest due to its implication in the development of diabetic complications and thus its tertiary structure may facilitate the development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes sufferers. Modelling studies suggest that SDH is structurally homologous to mammalian alcohol dehydrogenase with respect to conserved zinc binding motif and a hydrophobic substrate-binding pocket. Recently, the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of a mammalian SDH was solved, and it was found that while the overall 3-D structures of SDH and alcohol dehydrogenase are similar, the zinc coordination in the active sites of the two enzymes is different. The available structural and biochemical information of SDH are currently being utilized in a structure-based approach to develop drugs for the treatment or prevention of the complications of diabetes. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in the structure, function and drug development fields of sorbitol dehydrogenase.

Sporangium-specific gene expression in the oomycete phytopathogen Phytophthora infestans

The oomycete genus Phytophthora includes many of the world's most destructive plant pathogens, which are generally disseminated by asexual sporangia. To identify factors relevant to the biology of these propagules, genes induced in sporangia of the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans were isolated using cDNA macroarrays. Of approximately 1,900 genes known to be expressed in sporangia, 61 were up-regulated >5-fold in sporangia versus hyphae based on the arrays, including 17 that were induced >100-fold. A subset were also activated by starvation and in a nonsporulating mutant. mRNAs of some genes declined in abundance after germination, while others persisted through the germinated zoospore cyst stage. Functions were predicted for about three-quarters of the genes, including potential regulators (protein kinases and phosphatases, transcription factors, and G-protein subunits), transporters, and metabolic enzymes. Predominant among the last were several dehydrogenases, especially a highly expressed sorbitol dehydrogenase that accounted for 3% of the mRNA. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity also rose during sporulation and several stress treatments, paralleling the expression of the gene. Another interesting metabolic enzyme resembled creatine kinases, which previously were reported only in animals and trypanosomes. These results provide insight into the transcriptional and cellular processes occurring in sporangia and identify potential targets for crop protection strategies.

Enzymatic activity and stability ofd-fructose dehydrogenase and sarcosine dehydrogenase immobilizd onto giant vesicles

Stable vesicles with diameters between about 1 and 10 mum were prepared by a particular emulsification technology that involved the use of the surfactants Span 80 and Tween 80 and the phospholipid lecithin (phosphatidylcholine from soybeans). Two membrane enzymes, d-fructose dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter sp. (FDH) and sarcosine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida (SDH), were for the first time immobilized onto the bilayer membranes of these type of vesicles; and the catalytic activity and enzymatic stability were measured and compared with the enzymes in a vesicle-free solution. The enzyme activity as well as stability considerably increased upon immobilization. In particular, immobilized FDH at 25 degrees C was stable for at least 20 days, while the activity of the free enzyme dropped to about 20% of its initial value during the same period of time. In contrast to FDH and SDH, immobilization of sorbitol dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter suboxydans (SODH) was not successful, as no improved activity or stability could be obtained.

X-ray crystallographic and kinetic studies of human sorbitol dehydrogenase

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (hSDH) and aldose reductase form the polyol pathway that interconverts glucose and fructose. Redox changes from overproduction of the coenzyme NADH by SDH may play a role in diabetes-induced dysfunction in sensitive tissues, making SDH a therapeutic target for diabetic complications. We have purified and determined the crystal structures of human SDH alone, SDH with NAD(+), and SDH with NADH and an inhibitor that is competitive with fructose. hSDH is a tetramer of identical, catalytically active subunits. In the apo and NAD(+) complex, the catalytic zinc is coordinated by His69, Cys44, Glu70, and a water molecule. The inhibitor coordinates the zinc through an oxygen and a nitrogen atom with the concomitant dissociation of Glu70. The inhibitor forms hydrophobic interactions to NADH and likely sterically occludes substrate binding. The structure of the inhibitor complex provides a framework for developing more potent inhibitors of hSDH.

Expression, purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of human sorbitol dehydrogenase

Human sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 cells and purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion-exchange and dye-affinity chromatography. Purified SDH was crystallized from polyethylene glycol solutions using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. X-ray data were collected to 2.75 A resolution. The crystals belong to the monoclinic C2 space group, with unit-cell parameters a = 145.9, b = 52.3, c = 169.0 A, beta = 101.8 degrees. This is the first crystallization report of human sorbitol dehydrogenase.

Alpha-glutathione S-transferase in the assessment of hepatotoxicity--its diagnostic utility in comparison with other recognized markers in the Wistar Han rat

The diagnostic utility of alpha-glutathione S-transferase (alphaGST) in the assessment of acute hepatotoxicity was compared with a range of markers including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Rats were given a single oral dose of either alpha-naphthylisothiocynate (AN IT), bromobenzene (BrB). or thioacetamide (TAM) at concentrations previously shown to induce marked hepatotoxicity. The progression of each hepatic lesion was monitored by the measurement of a battery of markers, including alphaGST, in plasma collected at time points ranging from 3 h to 7 days after dosing. alphaGST was seen to increase significantly at 24 h (ANIT/BrB) and 3 h (TAM) postdosing, corresponding with histopathological findings. For each compound, when the degree of insult was most severe, fold increases in alphaGST were greater than those seen with ALT and AST, yet lower than those seen with glutamate dehydrogenase (BrB and ANIT). sorbitol dehydrogenase (TAM), or total bilirubin and bile acids (ANIT). Elevations in alphaGST were also detected no earlier than any other marker. AlphaGST in the rat was shown to be a valid marker of hepatotoxicity; however, its measurement offered no additional information in detecting either the time of onset/recovery or the severity of each type of hepatic injury induced.

Purification and properties of membrane-bound D-sorbitol dehydrogenase from Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3255

D-Sorbitol dehydrogenase was solubilized from the membrane fraction of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3255 with Triton X-100 in the presence of D-sorbitol. Purification of the enzyme was done by fractionation with column chromatographies of DEAE-Cellulose, DEAE-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite, and Sephacryl HR300 in the presence of Triton X-100. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 800 kDa, consisting of homologous subunits of 80 kDa. The optimum pH of the enzyme activity was 6.0, and the optimum temperature was 30 degrees C. Western blot analysis suggested the occurrence of the enzyme in all the Gluconobacter strains tested.

Crystal structure of sorbitol dehydrogenase

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) is a distant relative to the alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) with sequence identities around 20%. SDH is a tetramer with one zinc ion per subunit. We have crystallized rat SDH and determined the structure by molecular replacement using a tetrameric bacterial ADH as search object. The conformation of the bound coenzyme is extended and similar to NADH bound to mammalian ADH but the interactions with the NMN-part have several differences with those of ADH. The active site zinc coordination in SDH is significantly different than in mammalian ADH but similar to the one found in the bacterial tetrameric NADP(H)-dependent ADH of Clostridiim beijerinckii. The substrate cleft is significantly more polar than for mammalian ADH and a number of residues are ideally located to position the sorbitol molecule in the active site. The SDH molecule can be considered to be a dimer of dimers, with subunits A-B and C-D, where the dimer interactions are similar to those in mammalian ADH. The tetramers are composed of two of these dimers, which interact with their surfaces opposite the active site clefts, which are accessible on the opposite side. In contrast to the dimer interactions, the tetramer-forming interactions are small with only few hydrogen bonds between side-chains.

Complete protection by alpha-crystallin of lens sorbitol dehydrogenase undergoing thermal stress

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (l-iditol:NAD(+) 2-oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.1.1. 14) (SDH) was significantly protected from thermally induced inactivation and aggregation by bovine lens alpha-crystallin. An alpha-crystallin/SDH ratio as low as 1:2 in weight was sufficient to preserve the transparency of the enzyme solution kept for at least 2 h at 55 degrees C. Moreover, an alpha-crystallin/SDH ratio of 5:1 (w/w) was sufficient to preserve the enzyme activity fully at 55 degrees C for at least 40 min. The protection by alpha-crystallin of SDH activity was essentially unaffected by high ionic strength (i.e. 0.5 m NaCl). On the other hand, the transparency of the protein solution was lost at a high salt concentration because of the precipitation of the alpha-crystallin/SDH adduct. Magnesium and calcium ions present at millimolar concentrations antagonized the protective action exerted by alpha-crystallin against the thermally induced inactivation and aggregation of SDH. The lack of protection of alpha-crystallin against the inactivation of SDH induced at 55 degrees C by thiol blocking agents or EDTA together with the additive effect of NADH in stabilizing the enzyme in the presence of alpha-crystallin suggest that functional groups involved in catalysis are freely accessible in SDH while interacting with alpha-crystallin. Two different adducts between alpha-crystallin and SDH were isolated by gel filtration chromatography. One adduct was characterized by a high M(r) of approximately 800,000 and carried exclusively inactive SDH. A second adduct, carrying active SDH, had a size consistent with an interaction of the enzyme with monomers or low M(r) aggregates of alpha-crystallin. Even though it had a reduced efficiency with respect to alpha-crystallin, bovine serum albumin was shown to mimic the chaperone-like activity of alpha-crystallin in protecting SDH from thermal denaturation. These findings suggest that the multimeric structural organization of alpha-crystallin may not be a necessary requirement for the stabilization of the enzyme activity.

Purification and characterization of a NAD+-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase from Japanese pear fruit

NAD+-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase NAD-SDH, EC 1.1.1.14) from Japanese pear fruit was purified to apparent homogeneity (single band by SDS-PAGE with silver staining), and had a specific activity of 916.7 nKatal/mg protein. The molecular of the native enzyme was calculated to be 160 kDa by gel filtration, whereas SDS-PAGE gave a subunit size of 40 kDa, indicating that the native enzyme is a homotetramer. The protein immunologically reacted with an antibody raised in rabbit against the fusion protein expressed in E. coli harboring an apple NAD-SDH cDNA. The Km, values for sorbitol and fructose were 96.4+/-8.60 and 4239+/-33.5 mM, respectively, and optimum pH for sorbitol oxidation was 9.0 and 7.0 for fructose reduction. Pear NAD-SDH had a very narrow substrate specificity, that is, sorbitol, L-iditol, xylitol and L-threitol were oxidized but not any of the other alcohols tested. These data suggest the structural importance of an S configuration at C-2 and an R configuration at C-4 in the substrate(s). Its enzymatic activity was strongly inhibited both by heavy metal ions such as mercury, and by thiol compounds, such as L-cysteine. However, the addition of zinc ion reversed the enzyme inactivation caused by addition of L-cysteine.

Modelling studies on the binding of substrate and inhibitor to the active site of human sorbitol dehydrogenase

This study reports a molecular modelling investigation of human sorbitol dehydrogenase complexed with the substrate sorbitol and the inhibitor WAY135 706 based on the structures of human beta3 alcohol dehydrogenase, human sigma alcohol dehydrogenase and horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. The tertiary structure of human beta3 alcohol dehydrogenase was used as a template for the construction of the model. The rms positional deviation between the main-chain atoms of the initial and final models of sorbitol dehydrogenase is 1.37 A. Similar residue interactions exist between sorbitol dehydrogenase and both sorbitol and inhibitor. Binding of sorbitol in the substrate-binding site results in interactions with Lys-294, Tyr-50, His-69, Glu-150, and NAD+ while WAY135 706 interacts with Ser-46, Lys-294 and Phe-59. The enzyme-inhibitor interactions revealed by this study will be useful in the design of more specific inhibitors.

Selective disruption of protein aggregation by cyclodextrin dimers

Beta-cyclodextrin (CD) dimers (n = 11) were synthesized and tested against eight enzymes, seven of which were dimeric or tetrameric, for inhibitor activity. Initial screening showed that only L-lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase were inhibited but only by two specific CD dimers in which two beta-CDs were linked on the secondary face by a pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic group. Further investigation suggested that these CD dimers inhibit the activity of L-lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase at least in part by disruption of protein-protein aggregation.

Kinetic study of the catalytic mechanism of mannitol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas fluorescens

To characterize catalysis by NAD-dependent long-chain mannitol 2-dehydrogenases (MDHs), the recombinant wild-type MDH from Pseudomonas fluorescens was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The enzyme is a functional monomer of 54 kDa, which does not contain Zn(2+) and has B-type stereospecificity with respect to hydride transfer from NADH. Analysis of initial velocity patterns together with product and substrate inhibition patterns and comparison of primary deuterium isotope effects on the apparent kinetic parameters, (D)k(cat), (D)(k(cat)/K(NADH)), and (D)(k(cat)/K(fructose)), show that MDH has an ordered kinetic mechanism at pH 8.2 in which NADH adds before D-fructose, and D-mannitol and NAD are released in that order. Isomerization of E-NAD to a form which interacts with D-mannitol nonproductively or dissociation of NAD from the binary complex after isomerization is the slowest step (>/=110 s(-)(1)) in D-fructose reduction at pH 8.2. Release of NADH from E-NADH (32 s(-)(1)) is the major rate-limiting step in mannitol oxidation at this pH. At the pH optimum for D-fructose reduction (pH 7.0), the rate of hydride transfer contributes significantly to rate limitation of the catalytic cascade and the overall reaction. (D)(k(cat)/K(fructose)) decreases from 2.57 at pH 7.0 to a value of </=1 above pH 9.6, corresponding to the pK of 9.34 observed in the pH profile of k(cat)/K(fructose). Therefore, hydride transfer is not pH-dependent, and D-fructose is not sticky at pH 7.0. A comparison of the kinetic data of MDH and mammalian sorbitol dehydrogenase, presumably involved in detoxification metabolism, is used to point out a physiological function of MDH in the oxidation of D-mannitol with high specificity and fluxional efficiency under prevailing reaction conditions in vivo.

Sorbitol dehydrogenase of Drosophila. Gene, protein, and expression data show a two-gene system

The Drosophila melanogaster sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) is characterized as a two-enzyme system of the medium chain dehydrogenase/reductase family (MDR). The SDH-1 enzyme has an enzymology with Km and kcat values an order of magnitude higher than those for the human enzyme but with a similar kcat/Km ratio. It is a tetramer with identical subunits of approximately 38 kDa. At the genomic level, two genes, Sdh-1 and Sdh-2, have a single transcriptional start site and no functional TATA box. Expression is greater in larvae and adults than in pupae, where it is very low. At all three stages, Sdh-1 constitutes the major transcript. Sdh-1 and Sdh-2 genes were located at positions 84E-F and 86D in polytene chromosomes. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two genes show 90% residue identity. Evaluation of the sequence and modeling of the structure toward that of class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) show altered loop and gap arrangements as in mammalian SDH and establishes that SDH, despite gene multiplicity and larger variability than the "constant" ADH of class III, is an enzyme conserved over wide ranges.

The use of fluoro- and deoxy-substrate analogs to examine binding specificity and catalysis in the enzymes of the sorbitol pathway

The carbohydrate specificity of the two enzymes that catalyze the metabolic interconversions in the sorbitol pathway, aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, has been examined through the use of fluoro- and deoxy-substrate analogs. Hydrogen bonding has been shown to be the primary mode of interaction by which these enzymes specifically recognize and bind their respective polyol substrates. Aldose reductase has broad substrate specificity, and all of the fluoro- and deoxysugars that were examined are substrates for this enzyme. Unexpectedly, both 3-fluoro- and 4-fluoro-D-glucose were found to be better substrates, with significantly lower K(m) and higher Kcat/K(m) values than those of D-glucose. A more discriminating pattern of substrate specificity is observed for sorbitol dehydrogenase. Neither the 2-fluoro nor the 2-deoxy analogs of D-glucitol were found to be substrates or inhibitors, suggesting that the 2-hydroxyl group of sorbitol is a hydrogen bond donor. The 4-fluoro and 4-deoxy analogs are poorer substrates than sorbitol, also implying a binding role for this hydroxyl group. In contrast, both 6-fluoro- and 6-deoxy-D-glucitol are very good substrates for sorbitol dehydrogenase, indicating that the primary hydroxyl group at this position is not involved in substrate recognition by this enzyme.

Structural and functional properties of a yeast xylitol dehydrogenase, a Zn2+-containing metalloenzyme similar to medium-chain sorbitol dehydrogenases

The NAD+-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase from the xylose-assimilating yeast Galactocandida mastotermitis has been purified in high yield (80%) and characterized. Xylitol dehydrogenase is a heteronuclear multimetal protein that forms homotetramers and contains 1 mol of Zn2+ ions and 6 mol of Mg2+ ions per mol of 37.4 kDa protomer. Treatment with chelating agents such as EDTA results in the removal of the Zn2+ ions with a concomitant loss of enzyme activity. The Mg2+ ions are not essential for activity and are removed by chelation or extensive dialysis without affecting the stability of the enzyme. Results of initial velocity studies at steady state for d-sorbitol oxidation and d-fructose reduction together with the characteristic patterns of product inhibition point to a compulsorily ordered Theorell-Chance mechanism of xylitol dehydrogenase in which coenzyme binds first and leaves last. At pH 7.5, the binding of NADH (Ki approximately 10 microM) is approx. 80-fold tighter than that of NAD+. Polyhydroxyalcohols require at least five carbon atoms to be good substrates of xylitol dehydrogenase, and the C-2 (S), C-3 (R) and C-4 (R) configuration is preferred. Therefore xylitol dehydrogenase shares structural and functional properties with medium-chain sorbitol dehydrogenases.

The glutathione redox couple modulates zinc transfer from metallothionein to zinc-depleted sorbitol dehydrogenase

The release and transfer of zinc from metallothionein (MT) to zinc-depleted sorbitol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.14) in vitro has been used to explore the role of MT in cellular zinc distribution. A 1:1 molar ratio of MT to sorbitol dehydrogenase is required for full reactivation, indicating that only one of the seven zinc atoms of MT is transferred in this process. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) are critical modulators of both the rate of zinc transfer and the ultimate number of zinc atoms transferred. GSSG increases the rate of zinc transfer 3-fold, and its concentration is the major determinant for efficient zinc transfer. GSH has a dual function. In the absence of GSSG, it inhibits zinc transfer from MT, indicating that MT is in a latent state under the relatively high cellular concentrations of GSH. In addition, it primes MT for the reaction with GSSG by enhancing the rate of zinc transfer 10-fold and by increasing the number of zinc atoms transferred to four. 65Zn-labeling experiments confirm the release of one zinc from MT in the absence of glutathione and the more effective release of zinc in the presence of GSH and GSSG. In vivo, MT may keep the cellular concentrations of free zinc very low and, acting as a temporary cellular reservoir, release zinc in a process that is dynamically controlled by its interactions with both GSH and GSSG. These results suggest that a change of the redox state of the cell could serve as a driving force and signal for zinc distribution from MT.

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and overexpression of smoS, a component of a novel operon encoding an ABC transporter and polyol dehydrogenases of Rhodobacter sphaeroides Si4

The gene coding for sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides Si4 was located 55 nucleotides upstream of the mannitol dehydrogenase gene (mtlK) within a previously unrecognized polyol operon. This operon probably consists of all the proteins necessary for transport and metabolization of various polyols. The gene encoding SDH (smoS) was cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed homology to enzymes of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase protein family. For structure analysis of this unique bacterial enzyme, smoS was subcloned into the overexpression vector pET-24a(+) and then overproduced in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), which yielded a specific activity of 24.8 U/mg of protein and a volumetric yield of 38,000 U/liter. Compared to values derived with the native host, R. sphaeroides, these values reflected a 270-fold increase in expression of SDH and a 971-fold increase in the volumetric yield. SDH was purified to homogeneity, with a recovery of 49%, on the basis of a three-step procedure. Upstream from smoS, another gene (smoK), which encoded a putative ATP-binding protein of an ABC transporter, was identified.

Glycation and inactivation of sorbitol dehydrogenase in normal and diabetic rats

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) is involved in the polyol pathway, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. We have measured the tissue distributions of SDH mRNA, both the immunoreactive enzyme levels and the enzyme activity. SDH mRNA was especially abundant in liver, kidney and testis. Both the activity and enzyme content are high in liver and kidney but not in testis. The discrepancy between mRNA and immunoreactive enzyme levels and the activity of SDH observed in testis was also seen in livers of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. SDH was found to exist in both glycated and non-glycated forms, with larger amounts of the glycated protein in the diabetic liver. Moreover, after incubation of purified enzyme with glucose or fructose, its activity was markedly decreased. These results indicate that glycation causes a decrease in SDH activity in liver under diabetic conditions. The same post-transcriptional event might occur to decrease the activity of SDH in testis in normal animals.

Stereo-selective affinity labelling of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase by chloro-substituted analogues of 2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid

The role of configuration for the affinity labelling of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase by chloro-substituted analogues of 2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionate (BrImPpOH) has been studied. A saturation kinetics mechanism applies which includes formation of a reversible complex with the enzyme prior to alkylation of Cys-43. The pseudo first-order inactivation rate-constant, k2, and the dissociation constant for the reversible enzyme-affinity label complex. KEI, were determined at pH 7.4 and 23.5 degrees C. The stereo isomers of each affinity label exhibit different kinetic characteristics but, unlike with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, the discrimination between them is not absolute. For the different affinity labels, k2 varies with 2-chloro-3-(5-imidazolyl)methylpropionate (Me-ClImPpOH) > 2-chloro-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionate (ClImPpOH) > 2-chloro-3-(5-imidazolyl)propanol (ClImPOH), consistent with their order of inherent reactivity, and the specificity constant k2/KEI varies with (S)-Me-ClImPpOH > (S)-ClImPpOH > (S)-ClImPpOH > (R)-Me-ClImPpOH > (R)-ClImPpOH. Models of the affinity labels were built into the active site of the predicted subunit structure of the enzyme by using a computer-controlled display system. In each binary complex, the imidazole moiety of the affinity label was liganded to the catalytic zinc atom, and the angle Scys-C alpha-Cl was linear, in accordance with an SN2 mechanism. Both enantiomers of each label could form plausible complexes with the enzyme model, in agreement with the kinetic data. The enantiomeric selectivity, rather than absolute specificity, of the reaction appears due to the anion-binding site in sorbitol dehydrogenase being less developed than in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase.

Polyol metabolism of Rhodobacter sphaeroides: biochemical characterization of a short-chain sorbitol dehydrogenase

A sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH; L-iditol:NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.1.14) was isolated from the phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides strain M22, a transposon mutant of R. sphaeroides Si4 with the transposon inserted in the mannitol dehydrogenase (MDH) gene. SDH was purified 470-fold to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose, Q-Sepharose and Matrex Gel Red-A, and by gel filtration on Superdex 200. The relative molecular mass (M(r)) of the native SDH was 61000 as calculated from its Stokes' radius (rs = 3.5 nm) and sedimentation coefficient (S20,w = 4.23S). SDS-PAGE resulted in one single band representing a polypeptide with a M(r) of 29,000, indicating that the native protein is a dimer. The isoelectric point of SDH was determined to be pH 4.8. The enzyme was specific for NAD+ and catalysed the oxidation of D-glucitol (sorbitol) to D-fructose, galactitol to D-tagatose and of L-iditol. The apparent Km values were NAD+, 0.06 mM; D-glucitol, 6.2 mM; galactitol, 1.5 mM; NADH, 0.13 mM; D-fructose, 160 mM; and D-tagatose, 13 mM. The pH-optimum of substrate oxidation was 11.0 and that of substrate reduction 6.0-7.2. It was demonstrated that SDH is expressed in the wild-type strain R. sphaeroides Si4 together with MDH during growth on D-glucitol. Forty-four amino acids of the SDH N terminus were sequenced. This sequence exhibited 45-55% identity to the N-terminal sequence of 10 enzymes belonging to the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase family.

Cloning, sequencing, and determination of the sites of expression of mouse sorbitol dehydrogenase cDNA

Sorbitol dehydrogenase is one of the enzymes in the polyol pathway, which is thought to be implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The cDNA encoding mouse sorbitol dehydrogenase was cloned from a liver library and its sequence was determined. The open reading frame encodes a product of 356 amino acids that shares high similarity with the human and rat liver sorbitol dehydrogenases (83% and 93% identity, respectively). The 3'-untranslated region contains a truncated L1Md repeat element inserted in reverse relative to the sorbitol dehydrogenase cDNA. Northern-blot hybridization showed that the testis has the highest level of expression, followed by kidney, liver, and lung. Low levels of expression were also observed in lens, brain, and skeletal muscle. In situ hybridization revealed that in the kidney, the highest concentration of sorbitol dehydrogenase mRNA is observed in the cortex, but is absent from the inner medulla. The parenchymal cells of the liver showed strong expression while the cells of the hepatic vasculature did not hybridize. The sorbitol dehydrogenase expression in the seminiferous tubules was mostly associated with the mature cells of the developing germ cells, confirming the usefulness of sorbitol dehydrogenase as an enzyme indicator for sexual maturation. The seminal vesicle, where most of the seminal fructose is produced, also showed a high level of expression in the epithelial cells. The mouse sorbitol dehydrogenase cDNA will be useful in the studies of the involvement of the polyol pathway in diabetic complications.

The human sorbitol dehydrogenase gene: cDNA cloning, sequence determination, and mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization

The cDNA for human sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD) has been cloned and sequenced. It translates into a peptide of 356 amino acid residues, one more than the sequence previously reported from peptide analysis. An extra alanine was found at the acetyl-blocked N-terminal, between positions 1 and 4. This matches the rat cDNA, which also has 356 amino acids, with an extra proline at position 3. Four other mis-matches were also observed, but these are all amino acid substitutions that occur outside proposed functionally important regions. Further work must be performed to determine whether these discrepancies represent polymorphic forms of the enzyme. The SORD gene was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization and found to occupy a single site on chromosome 15q15, indicating that it is a single-copy gene. This was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. SORD is thought to be involved in the etiology of diabetic complications, and its deficiency has been linked to congenital cataracts. The cloned gene could be used as a probe to study the role of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

The crystal structure of glucose dehydrogenase from Thermoplasma acidophilum

BACKGROUND

The archaea are a group of organisms distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes. Structures of proteins from archaea are of interest because they function in extreme environments and because structural studies may reveal evolutionary relationships between proteins. The enzyme glucose dehydrogenase from the thermophilic archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum is of additional interest because it is involved in an unusual pathway of sugar metabolism.

RESULTS

We have determined the crystal structure of this glucose dehydrogenase to 2.9 A resolution. The monomer comprises a central nucleotide-binding domain, common to other nucleotide-binding dehydrogenases, flanked by the catalytic domain. Unexpectedly, we observed significant structural homology between the catalytic domain of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and T. acidophilum glucose dehydrogenase.

CONCLUSIONS

The structural homology between glucose dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase suggests an evolutionary relationship between these enzymes. The quaternary structure of glucose dehydrogenase may provide a model for other tetrameric alcohol/polyol dehydrogenases. The predicted mode of nucleotide binding provides a plausible explanation for the observed dual-cofactor specificity, the molecular basis of which can be tested by site-directed mutagenesis.

Inhibition and activation studies on sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase

Reversible inhibition and activation, as well as protection against affinity labelling with DL-2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid, of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase have been studied. The results presented are discussed in terms of enzyme active-site properties and may have potential applications for drug design. Kinetics with mainly sorbitol competitive inhibitors reveals that aliphatic thiols are generally the most potent inhibitors of enzyme activity. Inhibition and inactivation by heterocyclics parallel that seen previously with sorbitol dehydrogenase from other sources as well as with alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast. However, there are significant differences in relation to the structurally similar horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, as the catalytic zinc of sorbitol dehydrogenase is more easily removed by chelating molecules. Several aldose reductase inhibitors are shown to also inhibit sorbitol dehydrogenase, but at concentrations unlikely to be reached clinically. Enzyme activation has been observed with various compounds, in particular halo-alcohols and detergents. Several inhibitors provide competitive protection against enzyme inactivation by DL-2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid. This enables the dissociation constants for binary enzyme-inhibitor complexes to be determined. NADH protects noncompetitively against inactivation. The presence of some binary and ternary enzyme-NADH complexes is indicated from fluorescence emission spectra, as a shift in the fluorescence maximum and intensity is observed due to their formation.

Conformational changes in proteins induced by dynamic associations. A tryptophan phosphorescence study

Random collisions between macromolecules lead to dynamic associations (lengthy encounters) that in principle could affect their conformation and, in the case of enzymes, their binding and catalytic properties. Exploiting the unique sensitivity of the phosphorescence lifetime, tau, of Trp to the internal flexibility of globular proteins we probed the perturbations induced in the structure of the coenzyme-binding domain of alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GraPDH) by the presence in solution of other dehydrogenases and of functionally unrelated proteins. With Trp314 of LADH, the results emphasize that while tau is not affected by the concentration of LADH itself, the addition of micromolar quantities of other proteins causes a distinct reduction in it. From the linear increase of 1/tau with protein concentration one obtains values for the apparent second-order Stern-Volmer rate constant that range between 2-200 x 10(3) M-1 s-1, decreasing 2-3-fold when ternary complexes of LADH with NADH or NAD+ and inhibitors are involved. Similar effects were observed with Trp310 of GraPDH except that with sorbitol dehydrogenase as perturbant the increase of 1/tau is hyperbolic and governed by an apparent dissociation constant of about 1 microM. Finally, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the strongest perturber of both LADH and GraPDH, has either no effect on lactic dehydrogenase from pig heart or induces a moderate lengthening of the triplet lifetime of the rabbit muscle enzyme. Because Stern-Volmer behavior is typical also of diffusion-mediated quenching reactions, a parallel investigation with cysteine, cystine and N-acetyl-tryptophanamide demonstrated that among potential, protein-associated, quenching moieties namely, -SH, -S-S- and indole groups, only the latter has rate constants approaching the magnitude of protein perturbants. Since considerable evidence rules out the predominance of such quenching reactions, these findings confirm a subtle form of communication between protein molecules in solution. The lack of specificity and the similar effects between dehydrogenases with right and wrong stereospecificity for direct coenzyme transfer suggests that the perturbations monitored are unrelated to this function.

Sorbitol dehydrogenase. Full-length cDNA sequencing reveals a mRNA coding for a protein containing an additional 42 amino acids at the N-terminal end

A cDNA clone encoding rat sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was isolated from a rat testis lambda ZAP II cDNA library. The full-length cDNA insert contained 2277 base pairs (bp), starting 182 bp upstream from an ATG codon where translation to the active enzyme SDH is presumed to be initiated. A second ATG codon, however, was found 126 bp upstream, aligned in the same reading frame as that of the active enzyme. Therefore, the coding sequence for SDH can be translated into an additional 42-amino-acid polypeptide linked to the N-terminal amino acid of the enzyme, generating a pre-sorbitol dehydrogenase. The sequence data indicate that the nucleotide environment around this ATG codon is more favorable towards it being the actual open reading frame (ORF) for a pre-SDH than the ATG codon preceding the nucleotide sequence for SDH. Since no known SDH starts with the additional 42 amino acids, it may be that post-translational removal of this polypeptide accompanies the release of the active enzyme. Next, the 3' untranslated region of the cDNA contained a non-coding 1021 bp downstream from the TAA stop codon. The latter sequence included three putative poly(A) signals: one at nucleotides 1362-1367, the second at nucleotides 1465-1470, and the third at nucleotides 2212-2217 [17 bp away from the poly(A) tail]. In addition to the above findings we also report a variance in one of the amino acids in the SDH cDNA sequence. This variance occurs at position 957-960, where threonine is coded for instead of aspartic acid; in the rat testis SDH cDNA, we find the sequence is ACG instead of GAC, as was reported for the rat liver SDH cDNA. Northern-blot hybridization analysis showed that SDH mRNA is a doublet, one band of 4 kb and the other of 2.3-2.4 kb, in both the rat liver and the rat lens, further confirming that the isolated SDH cDNA constituted a full-length cDNA.

Zinc coordination in mammalian sorbitol dehydrogenase. Replacement of putative zinc ligands by site-directed mutagenesis

Rat sorbitol dehydrogenase was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity, resulting in a protein with a specific activity of 4.7 U/mg, close to that of the enzyme isolated from mammalian liver. A Glu residue has been postulated to replace the Cys of alcohol dehydrogenase as a ligand to the active-site zinc atom of sorbitol dehydrogenase. This Glu (position 155 in the rat enzyme) was mutated both to Cys, in order to mimic the alcohol dehydrogenase relationships, and to Ala, as a control. A third mutation, Cys164 to Ala, was also performed since Cys has also been considered as a possible zinc ligand. With Ala at position 155, an inactive enzyme was obtained, showing that correct active-site relationships have been destroyed. With Cys at position 155, the enzyme is still partly active, but rapidly looses activity unless stabilized by the addition of ZnSO4. The catalytic efficiency in the oxidation of sorbitol is 120-fold less than that of the native form, and reduction of fructose is lost completely. In contrast, the activity of the Cys164Ala mutant is comparable with that of the native enzyme and, in fact, even increased in the oxidation of sorbitol. Combined, the results strongly suggest that Glu155 is a ligand to the active-site zinc atom. Zinc analysis of the different variants of sorbitol dehydrogenase establishes that all contain one atom of zinc/subunit, also when the catalytic function is lost. Apparently, zinc remains coordinated even after replacement with an amino acid residue (Ala) unable to ligand metal atoms.