Emma J. Collinson

The Yeast Glutaredoxins Are Active as Glutathione Peroxidases

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiaecontains two glutaredoxins, encoded by GRX1 andGRX2, which are active as glutathione-dependent oxidoreductases. Our studies show that changes in the levels of glutaredoxins affect the resistance of yeast cells to oxidative stress induced by hydroperoxides. Elevating the gene dosage ofGRX1 or GRX2 increases resistance to hydroperoxides including hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide. The glutaredoxin-mediated resistance to hydroperoxides is dependent on the presence of an intact glutathione system, but does not require the activity of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidases (GPX1–3). Rather, the mechanism appears to be mediated via glutathione conjugation and removal from the cell because it is absent in strains lacking glutathione-S-transferases (GTT1,GTT2) or the GS-X pump (YCF1). We show that the yeast glutaredoxins can directly reduce hydroperoxides in a catalytic manner, using reducing power provided by NADPH, GSH, and glutathione reductase. With cumene hydroperoxide, high pressure liquid chromatography analysis confirmed the formation of the corresponding cumyl alcohol. We propose a model in which the glutathione peroxidase activity of glutaredoxins converts hydroperoxides to their corresponding alcohols; these can then be conjugated to GSH by glutathione-S-transferases and transported into the vacuole by Ycf1.

Limited Role for the Bilirubin-Biliverdin Redox Amplification Cycle in the Cellular Antioxidant Protection by Biliverdin Reductase

In mammalian cells, heme is degraded by heme oxygenase to biliverdin, which is then reduced to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase (BVR). Both bile pigments have reducing properties, and bilirubin is now generally considered to be a potent antioxidant, yet it remains unclear how it protects cells against oxidative damage. A presently popular explanation for the antioxidant function of bilirubin is a redox cycle in which bilirubin is oxidized to biliverdin and then recycled by BVR. Here, we reexamined this putative BVR-mediated redox cycle. We observed that lipid peroxidation-mediated oxidation of bilirubin in chloroform, a model of cell membrane-bound bilirubin, did not yield biliverdin, a prerequisite for the putative redox cycle. Similarly, H2O2 did not oxidize albumin-bound bilirubin to biliverdin, and in vitro oxidation of albumin or ligandin-bound bilirubin by peroxyl radicals gave modest yields of biliverdin. In addition, decreasing cellular BVR protein and activity in HeLa cells using RNA interference did not alter H2O2-mediated cell death, just as BVR overexpression failed to enhance protection of these cells against H2O2-mediated damage, irrespective of whether bilirubin or biliverdin were added to the cells as substrate for the putative redox cycle. Similarly, transformation of human BVR into hmx1 (heme oxygenase) mutant yeast did not provide protection against H2O2 toxicity above that seen in hmx1 mutant yeast expressing human heme oxygenase-1. Together, these results argue against the BVR-mediated redox cycle playing a general or important role as cellular antioxidant defense mechanism.

Old Yellow Enzymes Protect against Acrolein Toxicity in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Acrolein is a ubiquitous reactive aldehyde which is formed as a product of lipid peroxidation in biological systems. In this present study, we screened the complete set of viable deletion strains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for sensitivity to acrolein to identify cell functions involved in resistance to reactive aldehydes. We identified 128 mutants whose gene products are localized throughout the cell. Acrolein-sensitive mutants were distributed among most major biological processes but particularly affected gene expression, metabolism, and cellular signaling. Surprisingly, the screen did not identify any antioxidants or similar stress-protective molecules, indicating that acrolein toxicity may not be mediated via reactive oxygen species. Most strikingly, a mutant lacking an old yellow enzyme (OYE2) was identified as being acrolein sensitive. Old yellow enzymes are known to reduce α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in vitro, but their physiological roles have remained uncertain. We show that mutants lacking OYE2, but not OYE3, are sensitive to acrolein, and overexpression of both isoenzymes increases acrolein tolerance. Our data indicate that OYE2 is required for basal levels of tolerance, whereas OYE3 expression is particularly induced following acrolein stress. Despite the range of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds that have been identified as substrates of old yellow enzymes in vitro, we show that old yellow enzymes specifically mediate resistance to small α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, such as acrolein, in vivo.

The Yeast Homolog of Heme Oxygenase-1 Affords Cellular Antioxidant Protection via the Transcriptional Regulation of Known Antioxidant Genes

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) degrades heme and protects cells from oxidative challenge. This antioxidant activity is thought to result from the HO-1 enzymatic activity, manifested by a decrease in the concentration of the pro-oxidant substrate heme, and an increase in the antioxidant product bilirubin. Using a global transcriptional approach, and yeast as a model, we show that HO-1 affords cellular protection via up-regulation of transcripts encoding enzymes involved in cellular antioxidant defense, rather than via its oxygenase activity. Like mammalian cells, yeast responds to oxidative stress by expressing its HO-1 homolog and, compared with the wild type, heme oxygenase-null mutant cells have increased sensitivity toward oxidants that is rescued by overexpression of human HO-1 or its yeast homolog. Increased oxidant sensitivity of heme oxygenase-null mutant cells is explained by a decrease in the expression of the genes encoding γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and methionine sulfoxide reductase, because overexpression of any of these genes affords partial, and overexpression of all four genes provides complete, protection to the null mutant. Genes encoding antioxidant enzymes represent only a small portion of the 480 differentially expressed transcripts in heme oxygenase-null mutants. Transcriptional regulation may be explained by the nuclear localization of heme oxygenase observed in oxidant-challenged cells. Our results challenge the notion that HO-1 functions simply as a catabolic and antioxidant enzyme. They indicate much broader functions for HO-1, the unraveling of which may help explain the multiple biological responses reported in animals as a result of altered HO-1 expression.

Nox4 Plays a Role in TGF-β–Dependent Lens Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Purpose Transforming growth factor-β induces an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the lens, presented as an aberrant growth and differentiation of lens epithelial cells. Studies in other models of EMT have shown that TGF-β–driven EMT is dependent on the expression of the reactive oxygen species (ROS)–producing enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)–oxidase-4 (Nox4). We investigate the role of this enzyme in TGF-β–induced lens EMT and determine whether it is required for this pathologic process. Methods Rat lens epithelial explants were used to investigate the role of Nox4 in TGF-β–driven lens EMT. Nox1–4 expression and localization was determined by immunolabeling and/or RT-PCR. NADPH–oxidase–produced ROS were visualized microscopically using the fluorescent probe, dihydroethidium (DHE). VAS2870, a pan-NADPH oxidase inhibitor, was used to determine the specificity of Nox4 expression and its role in ROS production, and subsequently TGF-β–driven EMT. Results We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, in rat lens epithelial explants that TGF-β treatment induces Nox4 (but not Nox1–3) expression and activity. Increased Nox4 expression was first detected at 6 to 8 hours following TGF-β treatment and was maintained in explants up to 48 hours. At 8 hours after TGF-β treatment, Nox4 was observed in cell nuclei, while at later stages in the EMT process (at 48 hours), Nox4 was predominately colocalized with α-smooth muscle actin. The inhibition of Nox4 expression and activity using VAS2870 inhibited EMT progression. Conclusions Transforming growth factor-β drives the expression of the ROS-producing enzyme Nox4 in rat lens epithelial cells and Nox4 inhibition can impede the EMT process.

Transcriptional and antioxidative responses to endogenous polyunsaturated fatty acid accumulation in yeast

Pathophysiology of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is associated with aberrant lipid and oxygen metabolism. In particular, under oxidative stress, PUFAs are prone to autocatalytic degradation via peroxidation, leading to formation of reactive aldehydes with numerous potentially harmful effects. However, the pathological and compensatory mechanisms induced by lipid peroxidation are very complex and not sufficiently understood. In our study, we have used yeast capable of endogenous PUFA synthesis in order to understand the effects triggered by PUFA accumulation on cellular physiology of a eukaryotic organism. The mechanisms induced by PUFA accumulation in S. cerevisiae expressing Hevea brasiliensis Δ12-fatty acid desaturase include down-regulation of components of electron transport chain in mitochondria as well as up-regulation of pentose-phosphate pathway and fatty acid β-oxidation at the transcriptional level. Interestingly, while no changes were observed at the transcriptional level, activities of two important enzymatic antioxidants, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase, were altered in response to PUFA accumulation. Increased intracellular glutathione levels further suggest an endogenous oxidative stress and activation of antioxidative defense mechanisms under conditions of PUFA accumulation. Finally, our data suggest that PUFA in cell membrane causes metabolic changes which in turn lead to adaptation to endogenous oxidative stress.