Bulent Mutus

Mechanism of transfer of NO from extracellular S-nitrosothiols into the cytosol by cell-surface protein disulfide isomerase

N-dansylhomocysteine (DnsHCys) is quenched on S-nitrosation. The product of this reaction, N-dansyl-S-nitrosohomocysteine, is a sensitive, direct fluorogenic substrate for the denitrosation activity of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) with an apparent KM of 2 μM. S-nitroso-BSA (BSA-NO) competitively inhibited this reaction with an apparent KI of 1 μM. The oxidized form of DnsHCys, N,N-didansylhomocystine, rapidly accumulated in cells and was reduced to DnsHCys. The fluorescence of DnsHCys-preloaded human umbilical endothelial cells and hamster lung fibroblasts were monitored as a function of extracellular BSA-NO concentration via dynamic fluorescence microscopy. The observed quenching of the DnsHCys fluorescence was an indirect measure of cell surface PDI (csPDI) catalyzed denitrosation of extracellular S-nitrosothiols as decrease or increase in the csPDI levels in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells correlated with the rate of quenching and the PDI inhibitors, 5,5′-dithio-bis-3-nitrobenzoate and 4-(N-(S-glutathionylacetyl) amino)phenylarsenoxide inhibited quenching. The apparent KM values for denitrosation of BSA-NO by csPDI ranged from 12 μM to 30 μM. Depletion of membrane N2O3 with the lipophylic antioxidant, vitamin E, inhibited csPDI-mediated quenching rates of DnsHCys fluorescence by ≈70%. The KM for BSA-NO increased by ≈3-fold and Vmax decreased by ≈4-fold. These findings suggest that csPDI catalyzed NO released from extracellular S-nitrosothiols accumulates in the membrane where it reacts with O2 to produce N2O3. Intracellular thiols may then be nitrosated by N2O3 at the membrane-cytosol interface.

VISIBLE LIGHT PHOTOCHEMICAL RELEASE OF NITRIC OXIDE FROM S-NITROSOGLUTATHIONE: POTENTIAL PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract Some aspects of the physiological role of NO may be mediated by stable NO‐carriers such as S‐nitrosoglutathione and related S‐nitrosothiols. In this report we show that irradiation of S‐nitrosoglutathione at either absorption band (λmax= 340 nm or 545 nm) results in the release of nitric oxide. Photolysis of S‐nitrosoglutathione at 545 nm exhibited a quantum yield of 0.056 ± 0.002 and was best approximated by a first‐order process with kobs= 4.9 × 10−7± 0.3 × 10−7 s−1. The photolytic release of NO from S‐nitrosoglutathione resulted in an enhanced cytotoxic effect of S‐nitrosoglutathione on HL‐60 leukemia cells. That the cytotoxic effect of S‐nitrosoglutathione was diminished by the addition of oxyhemoglobin strongly suggests that NO is the cytotoxic species. The finding that NO can be readily liberated from S‐nitrosoglutathione by visible radiation indicates that the photochemical properties of this compound in the visible spectrum must be considered in order to obtain meaningful data as to its physiological role and the S‐nitrosoglutathione and related compounds may find use as photochemotherapeutic agents.

Evidence for iNOS-dependent peroxynitrite production in diabetic platelets

Aims/hypothesis. The aim of the present study was twofold. Firstly, to determine whether diabetic platelets produce more peroxynitrite than normal platelets and secondly to correlate the peroxynitrite production with the intraplatelet induction of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide-synthase. Methods. Intraplatelet peroxynitrite production was monitored with dichlorofluorescin acetate with a combination of confocal microscopy and steady-state fluorescence. The platelets were probed for the induction of the inducible-nitric oxide-synthase by western immunoblotting. Results. In the presence of extracellular l-arginine (100 μmol/l), platelets from subjects with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes displayed about 5 times higher fluorescence than those from control subjects. To determine whether inducible-nitric oxide-synthase was the source of peroxynitrite, dichlorofluorescein production was quantified as a function of l-arginine as well as nitric oxide-synthase inhibitors, in platelets from control subjects, subjects with Type I diabetes and subjects with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Platelets from subjects with Type I yielded about sevenfold and those from Type II about threefold larger amounts of l-arginine/nitric oxide-synthase-dependent dichlorofluorescein fluorescence than those from control subjects. The platelets were then immunologically probed for inducible-nitric oxide-synthase, which has previously been implicated in peroxynitrite production and detected in megakaryocytes of subjects with coronary heart disease. Western immunoblots of intraplatelet proteins indicated that the inducible-nitric oxide-synthase was absent in control subjects. Platelets from both Type I and Type II diabetic subjects, however, contained inducible-nitric oxide-synthase. Conclusion/interpretation. Inducible-nitric oxide-synthase-derived peroxynitrite is a source of platelet damage in diabetes. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 539–544]

1-p-Chlorophenyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-diethylamino-1-penten-3-one hydrobromide, a sulfhydryl-specific compound which reacts irreversibly with protein thiols but reversibly with small molecular weight thiols

1-p-Chlorophenyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-diethylamino-1-penten-3-one hydrobromide (CDDP) has been shown to react selectively with small molecular weight and protein thiols. The reaction of this compound with thiols can be monitored directly owing to the large decrease (approximately 21,000 M-1 cm-1 at 310 nm) in extinction coefficient subsequent to thiol addition. CDDP reacted stoichiometrically with large molecular weight (greater than 11,000) protein thiols. However, with small molecular weight thiols (less than 500) the reaction was less than stoichiometric, indicating a significant degree of back-reaction. The forward and reverse rate constants have been estimated. The fact that the reaction is reversible enables CDDP to be used for the direct monitoring of the oxidation of small molecular weight thiols.

Disulfide-Linked, Gold Nanoparticle Based Reagent for Detecting Small Molecular Weight Thiols

Disulfide-linked gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were synthesized by reacting dithiobis[succinimidylpropionate] (DSP) coated nanoparticles with glutathione disulfide. AuNP-cross-linking was monitored by the red shift and broadening of the AuNPs localized surface plasmon absorption resonance (LSPR) spectrum. The exposure of the disulfide-linked AuNPs to a variety of free thiols with systematically varying molecular weight revealed a AuNP-disulfide stability to reduction by thiols up to a critical molecular weight, M(c), of >300 Da thus making the disulfide-linked AuNP the first reagent that can discriminate thiols based on their size.

Microplate-based colorimetric detection of free hydrogen sulfide.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has recently been recognized as an important physiologically relevant gasotransmitter. Produced by the enzymes involved in the transsulfuration pathway, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), H2S has been implicated to control biological activity in virtually every organ system. In recent years it is being recognized that many commonly used H2S assays do not measure free H2S specifically and may be prone to artifacts. This has led to large variations in the reported H2S biological concentrations. In order to accurately study H2Ss functions in biological systems accurate assays which measure free H2S specifically are required. In this work we present a simple microplate-based colorimetric assay for H2S gas. The underside of a 96-well microplate cover was coated with Nafion polymer doped with Ag(+) ions. H2S is a highly volatile gas, and as it is volatilized in the microplate well it reacts with Ag(+) to produce Ag2S nanoparticles, which have a strong absorbance in the low-UV range. By monitoring the absorbance change from formation of Ag2S nanoparticles, H2S production can be monitored in real time. The assay has a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.61 nmol (8.70 μM) and a liner range up to 30 nmol (100 μM). Using the assay, the KM and Vmax of recombinant CSE enzyme were determined to be 11.13 ± 0.57 mM and 0.45 ± 0.01 nmol min(-1), respectively. H2S production from mouse liver homogenate under aerobic conditions in the presence of cysteine was measured and determined to be 4.89 ± 0.19 nmol min(-1) mL(-1) homogenate. The assay is simple, low cost, and specific to free H2S gas.

Glutathione metabolic enzyme activities in diabetic platelets as a function of glycemic control

Type 1 diabetic subjects categorized on the basis of the glycated haemoglobin content of their blood (low less than 7%; medium, greater than 7% and less than 11%; high, greater than 11%) were analyzed for total intraplatelet GSH as well as for the steady-state kinetic parameters (apparent KM and apparent Vmax) of some glutathione metabolic enzymes including glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, gamma-glutamyltrans-peptidase and glutathione-S-transferase. This study indicates that intraplatelet GSH content of subjects with low glycated-haemoglobin is approximately 2-fold higher than those with medium glycated-haemoglobin. There was no further decrease in intraplatelet-GSH in subjects with high glycated-haemoglobin. The kinetic parameters of the platelet-enzymes studied (glutathione reductase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and glutathione-S-transferase) were essentially independent of the glycation state of the subject. However, the apparent KM of glutathione peroxidase was approximately 4-fold higher in the subjects with high glycated-haemoglobin, in comparison to low subjects. This decrease in affinity could possibly result from the susceptibility of this enzyme to non-enzymatic glucosylation as purified samples of glutathione peroxidase incubated in vitro with glucose showed similar increases in apparent KM. These results are discussed in terms of the potential contribution of glutathione peroxidase impairment, to the hyperaggregability of the diabetic platelet.

Protein disulfide isomerase a multifunctional protein with multiple physiological roles

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), is a member of the thioredoxin superfamily of redox proteins. PDI has three catalytic activities including, thiol-disulfide oxireductase, disulfide isomerase and redox-dependent chaperone. Originally, PDI was identified in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequently detected at additional locations, such as cell surfaces and the cytosol. This review will provide an overview of the recent advances in relating the structural features of PDI to its multiple catalytic roles as well as its physiological and pathophysiological functions related to redox regulation and protein folding.

Diabetes-Induced Alterations in Platelet Metabolism

OBJECTIVES This review summarizes the recent findings on some aspects of platelet metabolism that appear to be affected as a consequence of diabetes mellitus. The metabolites include glutathione, L-Arginine/nitric oxide, as well as the ATP-dependent exchange of Na+/K+ and Ca2+. CONCLUSIONS Several aspects of platelet metabolism are altered in diabetics. These metabolic events give rise to a platelet that has less antioxidants, and higher levels of peroxides. The direct consequence of this is the overproduction platelet agonists. In addition, there is evidence for altered Ca2+ and Na+ transport across the plasma membrane. Recent evidence indicates that plasma ATPases in diabetic platelets are not damaged instead their activities are likely to be modulated by oxidized LDL. Finally, platelet inhibitory mechanisms regulated by NO appear to be perturbed in the diabetes disease-state. The combined production of NO and superoxide by NOS isoforms in the platelet could be a major contributory factor to platelet pathogenesis in diabetes mellitus.

Homocysteine-induced inhibition of nitric oxide production in platelets : a study on healthy and diabetic subjects

Abstract.Aims/hypothesis: The molecular mechanisms involved in the platelet activation observed in hyperhomocysteinemia are not known. We aimed to discover if homocysteine concentrations are associated with abnormal platelet nitric oxide production in healthy and diabetic subjects. Methods: The study cohort included 28 patients with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, 30 patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, and 34 healthy subjects. Homocysteine plasma concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Platelet nitric oxide production was measured using a nitric oxide meter before and after a 3-h incubation with 100 μmol/l homocysteine. Stimulation experiments were done in vitro by the addition of α-thrombin (0.2 U/ml). Results: Basal platelet nitric oxide production was lower in diabetic patients than in healthy subjects. Nitric oxide release was reduced by in vitro homocysteine incubation, being lower in platelets from diabetic patients than in platelets from control subjects. Thrombin increased nitric oxide synthesis in platelets from healthy subjects both in the presence and absence of homocysteine. In diabetic subjects thrombin increased nitric oxide release in the absence of homocysteine. But in the presence of homocysteine the response was reduced. An inverse relation was found between plasma homocysteine levels and basal platelet nitric oxide release in diabetic and healthy subjects. Conclusion/interpretation: Homocysteine could exert its atherogenic action in healthy and diabetic subjects partly by inhibiting platelet nitric oxide production with the subsequent increased platelet activation and aggregation. [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 979–982]