Tyrosine Catabolism Research Articles

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of δ-ALA, tyrosine and creatinine in biological fluids

Background Several acquired and congenital human disorders perturb the concentrations of delta-aminolevulinate (δ-ALA), creatinine and tyrosine in biological fluids. There is currently no facile, sensitive and specific method to measure these analytes simultaneously. Method We developed an LC-MS/MS method to quantify δ-ALA, creatinine and tyrosine in urine that requires minimal sample preparation and no derivatization. The method is also applicable to the analysis of tyrosine in plasma. Results All calibration plots were linear, with R 2≥0.996. Intra- and interday CVs were <10%. The limit of quantitation for δ-ALA was ∼0.1 μmol/l, and for creatinine and tyrosine it was well below the lowest measured physiological concentrations. The method was applied to analyze urine from 75 healthy volunteers and 43 patients with hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT I). The mean urinary concentration of δ-ALA in patients (38±35 μmol/l, 53±30 mg/g creatinine) was higher than that measured in healthy subjects (5.5±2.6 μmol/l, 0.9±0.2 mg/g creatinine; p<0.001). Treatment with 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC), an inhibitor of an early step in tyrosine catabolism, decreased urinary δ-ALA (6.4±4.8 μmol/l, 13±24 mg/g creatinine; p<0.001). The average plasma tyrosine concentration in healthy volunteers (56±14 μmol/l) was within normal reference interval used in clinical practice. Conclusions The method is simple, specific and precise and allows simultaneous quantitation of δ-ALA, creatinine and tyrosine at concentrations present under physiological or pathophysiological conditions.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) is an Fe(II)-dependent, non-heme oxygenase that catalyzes the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisate. This reaction involves decarboxylation, substituent migration and aromatic oxygenation in a single catalytic cycle. HPPD is a member of the α-keto acid dependent oxygenases that typically require an α-keto acid (almost exclusively α-ketoglutarate) and molecular oxygen to either oxygenate or oxidize a third molecule. As an exception in this class of enzymes HPPD has only two substrates, does not use α-ketoglutarate, and incorporates both atoms of dioxygen into the aromatic product, homogentisate. The tertiary structure of the enzyme would suggest that its mechanism converged with that of other α-keto acid enzymes from an extradiol dioxygenase progenitor. The transformation catalyzed by HPPD has both agricultural and therapeutic significance. HPPD catalyzes the second step in the pathway for the catabolism of tyrosine, that is common to essentially all aerobic forms of life. In plants this pathway has an anabolic branch from homogentisate that forms essential isoprenoid redox cofactors such as plastoquinone and tocopherol. Naturally occurring multi-ketone molecules act as allelopathic agents by inhibiting HPPD and preventing the production of homogentisate and hence required redox cofactors. This has been the basis for the development of a range of very effective herbicides that are currently used commercially. In humans, deficiencies of specific enzymes of the tyrosine catabolism pathway give rise to a number of severe metabolic disorders. Interestingly, HPPD inhibitor/herbicide molecules act also as therapeutic agents for a number of debilitating and lethal inborn defects in tyrosine catabolism by preventing the accumulation of toxic metabolites.

D-Serine-induced nephrotoxicity: possible interaction with tyrosine metabolism

D-serine selectively damages renal proximal tubule cells in rats by a mechanism that is not fully understood. Recent proteomic analysis identified that D-serine elevated plasma fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH). FAH is involved in tyrosine catabolism; hence, this pathway may be involved in mediating the toxicity. This work examines whether 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-cyclohexane-1,3-dione (NTBC), a potent inhibitor of the enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) located upstream of FAH, modulates D-serine-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were pretreated with NTBC (0.5 mg/kg p.o.) or corn oil and then 30 min later given either D-serine (250 mg/kg i.p.) or water. Urine was collected every 12 h until termination (48 h) and analysed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and principal component analysis (PCA). Markers of proximal tubule injury were evident in urine following treatment with D-serine and NTBC + D-serine. PCA could not distinguish between these urine samples suggesting that NTBC does not effect the development of nephrotoxicity. Clinical chemistry analysis of urine and terminal plasma samples and histopathological examination of the kidneys confirmed this. NTBC alone caused a marked increase in the excretion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPPA) and 4-hydroxyphenyllactate (HPLA); however, HPPA and HPLA excretion was minimal following NTBC + D-serine. Instead marked tyrosinuria was observed suggesting that D-serine-induced renal damage markedly affects the handling of increased levels of HPPA and HPLA resulting from the inhibition of HPPD.

Structure of the ferrous form of (4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate dioxygenase from Streptomyces avermitilis in complex with the therapeutic herbicide, NTBC.

Di- and triketone inhibitors of (4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) are both effective herbicides and therapeutics. The inhibitory activity is used to halt the production of lipophilic redox cofactors in plants and also in humans to prevent accumulation of toxic metabolic byproducts that arise from specific inborn defects of tyrosine catabolism. The three-dimensional structure of the Fe(II) form of HPPD from Streptomyces avermitilis in complex with the inhibitor 2-[2-nitro-4-(triflouromethyl)benzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) has been determined at a resolution of 2.5 A. NTBC coordinates to the active site metal ion, located at the bottom of a wide solvent-accessible cavity in the C-terminal domain of the protein. The iron is liganded in a predominantly five-coordinate, distorted square-pyramidal arrangement in which Glu349, His187, and His270 are protein-derived ligands and two other ligands are from the 5' and 7' oxygens of NTBC. There is a low-occupancy water molecule in the sixth coordination site in one of the protomers. The distance to His270 is unusually long at 2.5 A, and its orientation is somewhat distorted from ideal ligand geometry to within 2.8 A of the inhibitor nitro group. In contrast to the tetrameric quartenary structure observed for HPPD from other bacterial sources, the asymmetric unit is composed of two weakly associated protomers with a buried surface area of 1266 A(2) and a total of 12 hydrogen-bonding and no electrostatic interactions. The overall tertiary structure is similar to that of HPPD from Pseudomonas fluorescens (Serre et al., (1999) Structure 7, 977-988), although the position of the C-terminal alpha-helix is dramatically shifted. This C-terminal alpha-helix provides Phe364, which in combination with Phe336 sandwiches the phenyl ring of the bound NTBC; no other significant hydrogen-bonding or charge-pairing interactions are observed. Moreover, the structure reveals that, with the exception of Val189, NTBC makes contacts to only fully conserved amino acids. The combination of bidentate metal-ion coordination and pi-stacked aromatic rings is suggestive of a binding mode for the substrate and/or a transition state, which may be the origin of the exceedingly high affinity these inhibitors have for HPPD.

Corrigendum to “Dichloroacetate toxicokinetics and disruption of tyrosine catabolism in B6C3F1 mice: dose–response relationships and age as a modifying factor”

PII of original article S0300-483X(02)00034-3. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-509-376-5031; fax: +1-509-376-9449. E-mail addresses: ir schultz@pnl.gov (I.R. Schultz), jim.merdink@lcresources.com (J.L. Merdink), agonzalezl@cascabel.ciad.mx (A. Gonzalez-Leon), rjrdbull2@bossig.com (R.J. Bull). 1 LC Resources, 3138 N.E., Rivergate Drive, Building 301C, McMinnevillie, OR 97128, USA. 2 CIAD. A.C.-DTAOV, Km. 0.5 Carr. A La Victotia, Apdo. Postal 1735, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico 83000, USA. 3 MoBull Consulting, 8382 Gage Boulevard, Suite O, Box 511, Kennewick, WA 99336, USA.

Engineering p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase to a p-hydroxymandelate synthase and evidence for the proposed benzene oxide intermediate in homogentisate formation.

p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPD) plays a key role in the normal catabolism of tyrosine. An Fe2+/oxygen-dependent enzyme, it converts p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate into homogentisate and is part of the superfamily of alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent enzymes that couples oxidative decarboxylation of an alpha-ketoacid cofactor to oxidative modification of its substrate. In this case, the alpha-ketoacid is part of the substrate side chain. HPD shows strong homology to p-hydroxymandelate synthase (HMS), an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of p-hydroxymandelate from p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, an early step in the biosynthesis of p-hydroxyphenylglycine, which is a nonproteinogenic amino acid incorporated into several biologically active secondary metabolites. Sequence alignment between the HPD and the HMS enzyme families and analysis of the Pseudomonas fluorescens HPD crystal structure highlighted four residues within each active site that may play roles in catalytic differentiation between the two products. We attempted to convert Streptomyces avermitilis HPD into an engineered S. avermitilis HMS by site-directed mutagenesis of these four residues individually and in combination. HPLC assay analysis of each His6-tagged mutant indicated that F337I successfully produced p-hydroxymandelate, along with homogentisate and an unknown compound. The structure of the latter was determined to be an oxepinone derived from the benzene-oxide intermediate long hypothesized in HPD catalysis.

Kinetic analysis of human homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase

Homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) is a mononuclear Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase that catalyzes the third step in the pathway for the catabolism of tyrosine, the conversion of homogentisate (HG) to maleylacetoacetate (MAA). We have heterologously expressed and purified native human HGD in the apo form. Steady-state analysis varying the concentration of both HG and molecular oxygen shows that the purified enzyme has a turnover number of 16 s −1. Our data suggest that HG binds to the apo-enzyme and that the apo-HGD · HG complex does not bind Fe(II) and dissociates slowly at ∼0.028 s −1. The rate constant for the dissociation of Fe(II) from the holo-enzyme as measured under anaerobic conditions is 0.00004 s −1 and indicates that this process is not relevant in steady-state turnover. The addition of HG and molecular oxygen to the holo-enzyme is formally random as the holo-enzyme reduces molecular oxygen at a rate of 1.35 × 10 3 M −1 s −1 at 4 °C. The term ordered with respect to the addition of substrates is most descriptive as the rate of reduction of molecular oxygen must increase in the presence of HG to sustain the observed turnover number.

Hereditary tyrosinemia: an endoplasmic reticulum stress disorder?

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is the most severe metabolic disease associated with tyrosine catabolism. An accumulation of toxic metabolites seems responsible for the pathology of HT1. The metabolite fumarylacetoacetate, accumulating due to a deficiency in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase, displays apoptogenic, mutagenic, aneugenic and mitogenic activities. These effects may underlie the tumorigenic phenomenon observed in HT1. Fumarylacetoacetate in addition to causing disturbances in Ca2+ homeostasis, may induce endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Interaction of (4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate dioxygenase with the specific inhibitor 2-[2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione.

(4-Hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) is a non-heme Fe(II) enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of (4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate (HPP) to homogentisate as part of the tyrosine catabolism pathway. Inhibition of HPPD by the triketone 2-[2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) is used to treat type I tyrosinemia, a rare but fatal defect in tyrosine catabolism. Although triketones have been used for many years as HPPD inhibitors for both medical and herbicidal purposes, the mechanism of inhibition is not well understood. The following work provides mechanistic insight into NTBC binding. The tautomeric population of NTBC in aqueous solution is dominated by a single enol as determined by NMR spectroscopy. NTBC preferentially binds to the complex of HPPD and FeII [HPPD.Fe(II)] as evidenced by a visible absorbance feature centered at 450 nm. The binding of NTBC to HPPD.Fe(II) was observed using a rapid mixing method and was shown to occur in two phases and comprise three steps. A hyperbolic dependence of the first observable process with NTBC concentration indicates a pre-equilibrium binding step followed by a limiting rate (K(1) = 1.25 +/- 0.08 mM, k(2) = 8.2 +/- 0.2 s(-1)), while the second phase (k(3) = 0.76 +/- 0.02 s(-1)) had no dependence on NTBC concentration. Neither K(1),k(2), nor k(3) was influenced by pH in the range of 6.0-8.0. Isotope effects on both k(2) and k(3) were observed when D(2)O is used as the solvent (for k(2), k(h)/k(d) = 1.3; for k(3), k(h)/k(d) = 3.2). It is therefore proposed that the bidentate association of NTBC with the active site metal ion (k(2)) precedes the Lewis acid-assisted conversion of the bound enol to the enolate (k(3)). Although the native enzyme without substrate reacts with molecular oxygen to form the oxidized holoenzyme, the HPPD.Fe(II).NTBC complex does not. When the complex is exposed to atmospheric oxygen, the absorbance feature associated with NTBC binding does not diminish over the course of 2 days. This means not only that the HPPD.Fe(II).NTBC complex does not oxidize but also that the dissociation rate constant for NTBC is essentially zero because any HPPD.Fe(II) that formed would readily oxidize in the presence of dioxygen. Consistent with this observation, EPR spectroscopy has shown that only 2% of the HPPD.Fe(II).NTBC complex forms an NO complex as compared to the holoenzyme.

Tissue distribution, intracellular localization and proteolytic processing of rat 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase.

4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPD) is an important enzyme involved in tyrosine catabolism. HPD was shown to be identical to a protein named the F-antigen, exploited by immunologists because of its unique immunological properties. Congenital HPD deficiency is a rare, relatively benign condition known as hereditary type III tyrosinemia. Decreased expression of HPD is often observed in association with the severe type I tyrosinemia, and interestingly, inhibition of HPD activity seems to ameliorate the clinical symptoms of type I tyrosinemia. In this study we present a comprehensive analysis of tissue specific expression and intracellular localization of HPD in the rat. By combined use of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry we confirm previously known sites of expression in liver and kidney. In addition, we show that HPD is abundantly expressed in neurons in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. By using immunoelectron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we provide evidence that HPD contrary to earlier assumptions specifically localizes to membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Detailed mass spectrometric analyses of HPD purified from rat liver revealed N-terminal and C-terminal processing of HPD, and expression of recombinant HPD suggested that C-terminal processing enhances the enzymatic activity.

Pharmacological rescue of the 14CoS/14CoS mouse: hepatocyte apoptosis is likely caused by endogenous oxidative stress.

Whereas ch/ch wild-type mice and ch/14CoS heterozygotes are viable, 14CoS/14CoS mice homozygous for a 3800 kb deletion on chromosome 7 die during the first day postpartum. Death is caused by disruption of the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (Fah) gene; absence of FAH, final enzyme in the tyrosine catabolism pathway, leads to accumulation of reactive electrophilic intermediates. In this study, we kept 14CoS/14CoS mice alive for 60 d with oral 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethyl-benzyol)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC), an inhibitor of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, second enzyme in the tyrosine catabolic pathway. The 70% of NTBC-treated 14CoS/14CoS mice that survived 60 d showed poor growth and developed corneal opacities, compared with ch/14CoS littermates; NTBC-rescued Fah(-/-) knockout mice did not show growth retardation or ocular toxicity. NTBC-rescued 14CoS/14CoS mice also exhibited a striking oxidative stress response in liver and kidney, as measured by lower GSH levels and mRNA induction of four genes: glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic (Gclc) and modifier (Gclm) subunits, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (Nqo1), and heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox1). Withdrawal of NTBC for 24-48 h from rescued adult 14CoS/14CoS mice resulted in severe apoptosis of the liver, detected histologically and by cytochrome c release from the mitochondria, increased caspase 3-like activity, and further decreases in GSH content. In kidney, proximal tubular epithelial cells were abnormal. Human hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT1), caused by mutations in the FAH gene, is an autosomal recessive disorder in which the patient usually dies of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis during early childhood; NTBC treatment is known to prolong HT1 children's lives-although liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma, and corneal opacities sometimes occur. The mouse data in the present study are consistent with the possibility that endogenous oxidative stress-induced apoptosis may be the underlying cause of liver pathology seen in NTBC-treated HT1 patients.

Endogenous digoxin, hemispheric dominance and family bonding behavior

The isoprenoid pathway produces endogenous digoxin which can regulate neurotransmitter and amino acid transport. Digoxin synthesis and neurotransmitter patterns were assessed in individuals with differing family bonding patterns. The patterns were compared in those with right hemispheric and left hemispheric dominance. Digoxin synthesis was increased with upregulated tryptophan catabolism (increased levels of serotonin, strychnine and nicotine) and down regulated tyrosine catabolism (decreased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and morphine) in those with reduced family bonding and right hemispheric chemical dominance. Digoxin synthesis was reduced with down regulated tryptophan catabolism (decreased levels of serotonin, strychnine and nicotine) and upregulated tyrosine catabolism (increased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and morphine) in those with increased family bonding and left hemispheric chemical dominance. Hypothalamic digoxin plays a central role in the regulation of family bonding behavior. Hemispheric chemical dominance in relation to digoxin status is also crucial.

Phenylalanine and tyrosine catabolism

Phenylalanine and tyrosine catabolism

(4-Hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate dioxygenase from Streptomyces avermitilis: the basis for ordered substrate addition.

(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) catalyzes the second step in the pathway for the catabolism of tyrosine, the conversion of (4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate (HPP) to homogentisate (HG). This reaction involves decarboxylation, substituent migration, and aromatic oxygenation. HPPD is a member of the alpha-keto acid dependent oxygenases that require Fe(II) and an alpha-keto acid substrate to oxygenate an organic molecule. We have examined the binding of ligands to HPPD from Streptomyces avermitilis. Our data show that HPP binds to the apoenzyme and that the apo-HPPD.HPP complex does not bind Fe(II) to generate active holoenzyme. The binding of HPP, phenylpyruvate (PPA), and pyruvate to the holoenzyme produces a weak ligand charge-transfer band at approximately 500 nm that is indicative of bidentate binding of the 1-carboxylate and 2-keto pyruvate oxygen atoms to the active site metal ion. For HPPD from this organism the 4-hydroxyl group of (4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate is a requirement for catalysis; no turnover is observed in the presence of phenylpyruvate. The rate constant for the dissociation of Fe(II) from the holoenzyme is 0.0006 s(-)(1) and indicates that this phenomenon is not significantly relevant in steady-state turnover. The addition of HPP and molecular oxygen to the holoenzyme is formally random. The basis of the ordered bi bi steady-state kinetic mechanism previously observed by Rundgren (Rundgren, M. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 5094-9) is the 3600-fold increase in oxygen reactivity when holo-HPPD is in complex with HPP. This complex reacts with molecular oxygen with a second-order rate constant of 1.4 x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) inducing the formation of an intermediate that decays at the catalytically relevant rate of 7.8 s(-)(1).

HYPOTHALAMIC DIGOXIN, HEMISPHERIC CHEMICAL DOMINANCE, AND EATING BEHAVIOR

The isoprenoid pathway produces an endogenous membrane Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor, digoxin, which can regulate neurotransmitter and amino acid transport. Digoxin synthesis and neurotransmitter patterns were assessed in eating disorders. The patterns were compared in those with right hemispheric and left hemispheric dominance. The serum HMG CoA reductase activity, RBC membrane Na+-K+ ATPase activity, serum digoxin, magnesium, tryptophan catabolites (serotonin, quinolinic acid, strychnine, and nicotine), and tyrosine catabolites (morphine, dopamine, and noradrenaline) were measured in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, right hemispheric dominant, left hemispheric dominant, and bihemispheric dominant individuals. Digoxin synthesis was increased with upregulated tryptophan catabolism and downregulated tyrosine catabolism in those with anorexia nervosa and right hemispheric chemical dominance. Digoxin synthesis was reduced with downregulated tryptophan catabolism and upregulated tyrosine catabolism in those with bulimia nervosa and left hemispheric chemical dominance. The membrane Na+-K+ ATPase activity and serum magnesium were decreased in anorexia nervosa and right hemispheric chemical dominance while they were increased in bulimia nervosa and left hemispheric chemical dominance. Hypothalamic digoxin and hemispheric chemical dominance play a central­ role in the regulation of eating behavior. Anorexia nervosa represents the right hemispheric chemically dominant/hyperdigoxinemic state and bulimia nervosa the left hemispheric chemically dominant/hypodigoxinemic state.­­

HYPOTHALAMIC DIGOXIN, HEMISPHERIC DOMINANCE, AND FAMILY BONDING BEHAVIOR

The isoprenoid pathway produces endogenous digoxin, a substance that can regulate neurotransmitter and amino acid transport. Digoxin synthesis and neurotransmitter patterns were assessed in individuals with differing family bonding patterns. The family bonding patterns were assessed by the FACES scale--family adaptability and cohesiveness evaluation scale. The criteria given in the handbook for the 16 PF--16 personality factors questionnaire by Cattell, Eber, and Tatsouke--was also chosen for assessing the individual personality aspect of family bonding after suitable modification. The patterns were compared in those with right hemispheric and left hemispheric dominance. Digoxin synthesis was increased with upregulated tryptophan catabolism (increased levels of serotonin, strychnine, and nicotine) and downregulated tyrosine catabolism (decreased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and morphine) in those with reduced family bonding and right hemispheric dominance. Digoxin synthesis was reduced with downregulated tryptophan catabolism (decreased levels of serotonin, strychnine, and nicotine) and upregulated tyrosine catabolism (increased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and morphine) in those with increased family bonding and left hemispheric chemical dominance. Hypothalamic digoxin plays a central role in the regulation of family bonding behavior. Hemispheric chemical dominance in relation to digoxin status is also crucial in this respect.­

HYPOTHALAMIC DIGOXIN, HEMISPHERIC CHEMICAL DOMINANCE, AND SLEEP

The isoprenoid pathway produces endogenous digoxin, a substance that can regulate neurotransmitter and amino acid transport. Digoxin synthesis and neurotransmitter patterns were assessed in individuals with chronic insomnia. The patterns were compared in those with right hemispheric and left hemispheric dominance. The activity of HMG GoA reductase and serum levels of digoxin, magnesium, tryptophan catabolites, and tyrosine catabolites were measured in individuals with chronic insomnia and in individuals with differing hemispheric dominance. Digoxin synthesis was increased with upregulated tryptophan catabolism (increased levels of serotonin, strychnine, and nicotine), and downregulated tyrosine catabolism (decreased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and morphine) in those with chronic insomnia and right hemispheric chemical dominance. Digoxin synthesis was reduced with downregulated tryptophan catabolism (decreased levels of serotonin, strychnine, and nicotine) and upregulated tyrosine catabolism (increased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and morphine) in those with normal sleep patterns and left hemispheric chemical dominance. Hypothalamic digoxin plays a central role in the regulation of sleep behavior. Hemispheric chemical dominance in relation to digoxin status is also crucial.

Genomic analysis of the aromatic catabolic pathways from Pseudomonas putida KT2440.

Analysis of the catabolic potential of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 against a wide range of natural aromatic compounds and sequence comparisons with the entire genome of this microorganism predicted the existence of at least four main pathways for the catabolism of central aromatic intermediates, that is, the protocatechuate (pca genes) and catechol (cat genes) branches of the beta-ketoadipate pathway, the homogentisate pathway (hmg/fah/mai genes) and the phenylacetate pathway (pha genes). Two additional gene clusters that might be involved in the catabolism of N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds (nic cluster) and in a central meta-cleavage pathway (pcm genes) were also identified. Furthermore, the genes encoding the peripheral pathways for the catabolism of p-hydroxybenzoate (pob), benzoate (ben), quinate (qui), phenylpropenoid compounds (fcs, ech, vdh, cal, van, acd and acs), phenylalanine and tyrosine (phh, hpd) and n-phenylalkanoic acids (fad) were mapped in the chromosome of P. putida KT2440. Although a repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) element is usually associated with the gene clusters, a supraoperonic clustering of catabolic genes that channel different aromatic compounds into a common central pathway (catabolic island) was not observed in P. putida KT2440. The global view on the mineralization of aromatic compounds by P. putida KT2440 will facilitate the rational manipulation of this strain for improving biodegradation/biotransformation processes, and reveals this bacterium as a useful model system for studying biochemical, genetic, evolutionary and ecological aspects of the catabolism of aromatic compounds.

Expression and post-translational modification of human 4-hydroxy-phenylpyruvate dioxygenase.

4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPD) (EC 1.13.11.27) is a key enzyme involved in tyrosine catabolism. Congenital HPD deficiency is a rare, relatively benign condition known as hereditary type III tyrosinemia. The severe type I tyrosinemia, caused by a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase which functions downstream of HPD in the tyrosine degradation pathway, is often associated with decreased expression of HPD, and interestingly, inhibition of HPD activity seems to ameliorate the clinical symptoms of type I tyrosinemia. The HPD gene was previously mapped to the chromosomal region 12q24-->qter. In the present study high-resolution chromosome mapping localized the HPD gene to 12q24.31. DNase I footprinting, revealed that four regions of the HPD promoter were protected by rat liver nuclear proteins. Computer-assisted analyses suggested that these elements might bind Sp1/AP2, HNF4, HNF3/CREB, and C/EBP, respectively. In transient transfection experiments, the proximal 271bp of the promoter conferred basal transcriptional activation in human Chang cells. Sequences in intron 1 were able to enhance the activity of this basal promoter. Finally, vaccinia virus-based expression provided evidence that HPD is subject to phosphorylation, and furthermore, allowed mapping of the HPD protein in the human keratinocyte 2D database.

Mode of action of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibition by triketone-type inhibitors.

A series of 2-(2-nitrobenzoyl)cyclohexane-1,3-dione analogues (1-9) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for inhibition of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD), a key enzyme involved in the catabolism of tyrosine which catalyzes the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisate. The correlations between the results of enzyme inhibition, ferric chloride tests, and the conformational analysis suggested that the tight binding between triketone-type inhibitors and 4-HPPD is likely due to chelation of the enzyme-bound ferric iron with the enol tautomer of 1,3-diketone moiety of the triketones. The presence of a 2-carbonyl group in the triketone is an essential structural feature for potent 4-HPPD inhibition. Modification of the 3-carbonyl group of triketone moiety to other functionality will reduce the overall planarity and thus prevent keto-enol tautomerization, resulting in a decrease or lack of inhibition activity.