Lucas Frungillo

S -nitrosothiols regulate nitric oxide production and storage in plants through the nitrogen assimilation pathway

Nitrogen assimilation plays a vital role in plant metabolism. Assimilation of nitrate, the primary source of nitrogen in soil, is linked to generation of the redox signal nitric oxide (NO). An important mechanism by which NO regulates plant development and stress responses is through S-nitrosylation, i.e. covalent attachment of NO to cysteines to form S-nitrosothiols (SNO). Despite the importance of nitrogen assimilation and NO signalling, it remains largely unknown how these pathways are interconnected. Here we show that SNO signalling suppresses both nitrate uptake and reduction by transporters and reductases, respectively, to fine-tune nitrate homeostasis. Moreover, NO derived from nitrate assimilation suppresses the redox enzyme S-nitrosoglutathione Reductase 1 (GSNOR1) by S-nitrosylation, preventing scavenging of S-nitrosoglutathione, a major cellular bio-reservoir of NO. Hence, our data demonstrates that (S)NO controls its own generation and scavenging by modulating nitrate assimilation and GSNOR1 activity.

Antitumoral activity of L-ascorbic acid-poly- D,L-(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles containing violacein

It has been demonstrated that tumoral cells have a higher uptake of ascorbic acid compared to normal cells. This differential characteristic can be used as a way to improve the specificity of antitumoral compounds if combined with polymeric drug delivery systems. The aim of this study was to prepare, characterize and evaluate the antitumoral activity of poly- D,L-(lactide-co-glycolide) 50:50 loading the antitumoral compound violacein and capped with L-ascorbic acid. Nanoparticles were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method and morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average diameter and Zeta potential were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy method (PCS), and assays were carried out to determine the content of ascorbic acid and in vitro drug release kinetics. The antitumoral activity of this system was also evaluated against HL-60 cells by tetrazolium reduction assay. Nanoparticles with size distribution between 300–400 nm and strong negative outer surface (−40 mV) were obtained by this method. Analysis of ascorbic acid content showed that this compound was mainly localized on the external surface of nanoparticles. Violacein loading efficiency was determined as 32% ± 1% and this drug was gradually released from nanoparticles at different rates depending on the composition of the release media. In addition, this system was observed to be 2 × more efficient as an antitumoral compared with free violacein.

Modulation of mitochondrial activity by S-nitrosoglutathione reductase in Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic cell lines

The enzyme S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) has an important role in the metabolism of S-nitrosothiols (SNO) and, consequently, in the modulation of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated processes. Although the mitochondrial electron transport chain is an important target of NO, the role of GSNOR in the functionality of plant mitochondria has not been addressed. Here, we measured SNO content and NO emission in Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension cultures of wild-type (WT) and GSNOR overexpressing (GSNOR(OE)) or antisense (GSNOR(AS)) transgenic lines, grown under optimal conditions and under nutritional stress. Respiratory activity of isolated mitochondria and expression of genes encoding for mitochondrial proteins were also analyzed. Under optimal growth conditions, GSNOR(OE) had the lowest SNO and NO levels and GSNOR(AS) the highest, as expected by the GSNO-consuming activity of GSNOR. Under stress, this pattern was reversed. Analysis of oxygen uptake by isolated mitochondria showed that complex I and external NADH dehydrogenase activities were inhibited in GSNOR(OE) cells grown under nutritional stress. Moreover, GSNOR(OE) could not increase alternative oxidase (AOX) activity under nutritional stress. GSNOR(AS) showed constitutively high activity of external NADH dehydrogenase, and maintained the activity of the uncoupling protein (UCP) under stress. The alterations observed in mitochondrial protein activities were not strictly correlated to changes in gene expression, but instead seemed to be related with the SNO/NO content, suggesting a post-transcriptional regulation. Overall, our results highlight the importance of GSNOR in modulating SNO and NO homeostasis as well mitochondrial functionality, both under normal and adverse conditions in A. thaliana cells.

Nitric oxide signaling and homeostasis in plants: a focus on nitrate reductase and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase in stress-related responses

Studies in the last two decades have firmly established that the gaseous free radical nitric oxide (NO) is an intracellular and intercellular mediator of signal transduction pathways controlling plant growth and development, as well as plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The underlying mechanisms of NO action may rely on its reactivity with different kinds of biomolecules, leading to modulation of enzymatic activities, and of gene transcription, with profound impact on metabolism and signal transduction pathways. NO homeostasis depends on the appropriate coordination of NO synthesis and degradation under different physiological conditions. The mechanisms by which NO is synthesized de novo in plants are still a matter of controversy, although in the last years, the key role of the enzyme nitrate reductase (NR) in plants NO production has been widely accepted. In addition, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), which forms by spontaneous reaction of NO with glutathione, is likely a major NO reservoir and NO donor in plant cells. GSNO levels are controlled by the enzyme GSNO reductase that has emerged as the main enzyme responsible for the modulation of S-nitrosothiol pools. The number of plant processes influenced/modulated by NO has dramatically increased in the last years. This review particularly emphasizes the roles of NR and GSNOR enzymes in NO homeostasis and NO-mediated plant responses to environmental challenges.

Nitrate reductase- and nitric oxide-dependent activation of sinapoylglucose:malate sinapoyltransferase in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana

Nitrate reductase (NR) activity is necessary for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), a key signaling molecule in plants. Here, we investigated the effect of NR deficiency on NO production and phenylpropanoid metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. HPLC-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the NR double mutant (nia1 nia2) is deficient in the synthesis of sinapoylmalate (SM), the main phenylpropanoid end-product in wild-type leaves, resulting in accumulation of its precursor sinapoylglucose (SG). While real-time PCR analysis revealed no significant difference at the transcript level, sinapoylglucose:malate sinapoyltransferase (SMT) activity in leaf extracts was reduced in the mutant compared with the wild type. The low levels of SM in nia1 nia2 leaves do not result from the deficient nitrogen incorporation into amino acids, since the recovery of the amino acid content of nia1 nia2 by irrigating the plants with glutamine did not change the metabolic profile of this mutant. In contrast, an increased supply of nitrate stimulated NR activity and NO production, and enhanced SM and decreased SG levels in both genotypes. Nevertheless, sinapic acid esters in nia1 nia2 were not recovered when compared with those detected in the leaves of the wild-type plant. Mutant plants grown in medium supplemented with malate and an NO donor recovered SM to the levels of wild-type leaves. Overall, the results suggest that SMT activity is dependent on the NR-dependent steady-state levels of NO during plant development.

Xylodiol from Xylopia langsdorfiana induces apoptosis in HL60 cells

An atisane diterpene was isolated from Xylopia langsdorfiana St. Hilaire & Tulasne, Annonaceae, leaves, ent-atisane-7α,16α-diol (xylodiol). Preliminary study showed that xylodiol was cytotoxic and induced differentiation on human leukemia cell lines. However, the molecular mechanisms of xylodiol-mediated cytotoxicity have not been fully defined. Thus, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of xylodiol in human leukemia HL60 cell line. Xylodiol induced apoptosis and necrosis. HL60 cells treated with xylodiol showed biochemical changes characteristic of apoptosis, including caspases-8, -9 and -3 activation and loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (∆ Ψm). However, there was a condensation rather than swelling of mitochondria. Moreover, the formation of condensed mitochondria and the loss of ∆ Ψm occurred downstream of caspase activation. Cyclosporine A did not protect HL60 cells from the cytotoxic effects of xylodiol, suggesting that the loss of ∆ Ψm is a late event in xylodiol-induced apoptosis. Oxidative stress was involved in xylodiol-induced apoptosis. Thus, we conclude that activated caspases cleave cellular proteins resulting in mitochondrial damage leading to mitochondrial condensation, loss of ∆ Ψm and ROS release from the mitochondria. ROS can further induce and maintain a collapse of ∆ Ψm leading to cellular damage through oxidation of lipids and proteins resulting in apoptotic cell death.

Diterpenes from Xylopia langsdorffiana inhibit cell growth and induce differentiation in human leukemia cells.

Two new diterpenes were isolated from stems and leaves of Xylopia langsdorffi ana, entatisane- 7α,16α-diol (xylodiol) and ent-7α-acetoxytrachyloban-18-oic acid (trachylobane), along with the known 8(17),12E,14-labdatrien-18-oic acid (labdane). We investigated their antitumour effects on HL60, U937 and K562 human leukemia cell lines. We found that xylodiol was the most potent diterpene in inhibiting cell proliferation of HL60, U937 and K562 cells, with mean IC50 values of 90, 80 and 50 μM, respectively. Based on the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay, all the diterpenes were found to induce terminal differentiation in HL60 and K562 cells, with xylodiol being the most effective. NBT reduction was increased by almost 120% after 12 h exposure of HL60 cells to xylodiol at a concentration lower than the IC50 (50 μM). Thus, xylodiol inhibited human leukemia cell growth in vitro partly by inducing cell differentiation, and merits further studies to examine its mechanism of action as a potential antitumoural agent

Targeted antitumoral dehydrocrotonin nanoparticles with L-ascorbic acid 6-stearate

Tumoral cells are known to have a higher ascorbic acid uptake than normal cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain polymeric nanoparticles containing the antitumoral compound trans-dehydrocrotonin (DHC) functionalized with L-ascorbic acid 6-stearate (AAS) to specifically target this system tumoral cells. Nanoparticle suspensions (NP-AAS-DHC) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. The systems were characterized for AAS presence by thin-layer chromatography and for drug loading (81-88%) by UV-Vis spectroscopy. To further characterize these systems, in vitro release kinetics, size distribution (100-140 nm) and Zeta potential by photon-correlation spectroscopic method were used. In vitro toxicity against HL60 cells was evaluated by tetrazolium reduction and Trypan blue exclusion assays. Cell death by apoptosis was quantified and characterized by flow cytometry and caspase activity. Zeta potential analyses showed that the system has a negatively charged outer surface and also indicate that AAS is incorporated on the external surface of the nanoparticles. In vitro release kinetics assay showed that DHC loaded in nanoparticles had sustained release behavior. In vitro toxicity assays showed that NP-AAS-DHC suspension was more effective as an antitumoral than free DHC or NP-DHC and increased apoptosis induction by receptor-mediated pathway.

Soybean extracts enriched with free isoflavones promote nitric oxide synthesis and affect the proliferation of breast adenocarcinoma cells

Although soybean isoflavones naturally accumulate in their conjugated forms, the beneficial effects on human health of soybean-containing foods have been credited to their aglycone forms. In the present study we analyzed the effects of a chemical agent, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), in eliciting the exudation of non-conjugated isoflavones from intact soybean seeds, embrionary axes and cotyledons. The isoflavones in the exudates were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The effect of the exudates on the emission of nitric oxide (NO) and on the proliferation of breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) was also evaluated. SNP elicitation increased the production of the aglycone forms dose- and time-dependently. Exudates of embrionary axes and cotyledons stimulated NO emission and showed biphasic effects on viability of MCF-7 cells. At lower concentrations both extracts presented proliferative effects (10-25%), and at higher concentrations inhibited (15%) cell proliferation. The biphasic effect might be due to the action of isoflavone aglycones in activating estrogen receptors which in turn stimulate the production of NO. Overall, the results suggest that soybean extracts enriched in isoflavone aglycones by elicitation with SNP could be exploited as a functional ingredient in the food industry.