E1 Reaction Research Articles

An Improved Mechanistic Interpretation of the Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Methylcyclohexanols

The acid-catalyzed dehydration of regioisomeric methylcyclohexanols is a classic organic chemistry experiment featured in a variety of laboratory textbooks and literature. The mechanistic details of this reaction have received an inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate treatment, wherein the reaction has been described as a mix of E1, E2-like, acid-catalyzed E2, and base-catalyzed E2 processes. We provide an overview of how this reaction has been represented in the chemistry education literature and describe a model for its mechanistic interpretation as an E1 reaction that is typically analyzed before thermodynamic equilibrium is established. This model is supported by new experimental data and computational explorations of the reactive intermediates and cycloalkene products. We provide clear recommendations for how this reaction should be presented to students.

Learning to Think in Mechanistic Alternatives: S<SUB>N</SUB>1 vs. E1 and the Gibbs-Helmholtz Equation

One of the biggest challenges for learners of organic chemistry is learning to think in competing mechanistic alternatives and using cross-linked chemical knowledge. An outstanding subject for this is the competition between SN1 and E1 reactions. In this case, it is special that the competing reactions have an identical first step and separate into different paths only from the intermediate, the second step, of the reaction. Learners who are familiar with the SN1 mechanism have the opportunity to work out the fact that in addition to the SN1 reaction, the E1 reaction is also proceeding, which more or less dominates, depending on the substrate, nucleophile or solvent and the temperature. This differentiation is undertaken with a set of experimental learning opportunities we have developed using simple qualitative analytics. Our learning opportunities are designed as contrasting cases, one of them with a variation of temperature in one setup. These allow the question why a chemical reaction can occur even though it is enthalpically unfavorable, i.e. has a positive reaction enthalpy (H>0), to be answered. The latter helps the learners to realize that in addition to the enthalpy of reaction, there must be another energetic quantity that determines the thermodynamics of chemical reactions: Entropy. In the end, this leads to the discussion of the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation and, thus, to basic insights into chemical thermodynamics.

Largazole and Its Derivatives Selectively Inhibit Ubiquitin Activating Enzyme (E1)

Protein ubiquitination plays an important role in the regulation of almost every aspect of eukaryotic cellular function; therefore, its destabilization is often observed in most human diseases and cancers. Consequently, developing inhibitors of the ubiquitination system for the treatment of cancer has been a recent area of interest. Currently, only a few classes of compounds have been discovered to inhibit the ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) and only one class is relatively selective in E1 inhibition in cells. We now report that Largazole and its ester and ketone analogs selectively inhibit ubiquitin conjugation to p27Kip1 and TRF1 in vitro. The inhibitory activity of these small molecules on ubiquitin conjugation has been traced to their inhibition of the ubiquitin E1 enzyme. To further dissect the mechanism of E1 inhibition, we analyzed the effects of these inhibitors on each of the two steps of E1 activation. We show that Largazole and its derivatives specifically inhibit the adenylation step of the E1 reaction while having no effect on thioester bond formation between ubiquitin and E1. E1 inhibition appears to be specific to human E1 as Largazole ketone fails to inhibit the activation of Uba1p, a homolog of E1 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Moreover, Largazole analogs do not significantly inhibit SUMO E1. Thus, Largazole and select analogs are a novel class of ubiquitin E1 inhibitors and valuable tools for studying ubiquitination in vitro. This class of compounds could be further developed and potentially be a useful tool in cells.

E1 reaction-induced synthesis of hydrophilic oxide nanoparticles in a non-hydrophilic solvent

In this paper, tert-amyl alcohol was employed to directly react with metal chlorides for the preparation of oxide nanoparticles. Some typical metal oxide or hydroxides with different morphologies, such as TiO(2) nanoparticles, TiO(2) nanorods, FeOOH nanowires, Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles, and SnO(2) nanoparticles, can be easily fabricated through such simple chemical reactions. E1 reaction was found to play the leading role in the synthesis of metal oxides attributed to better stability of tertiary carbocations in tert-amyl alcohol and the strong interaction of metal chlorides with hydroxyl groups that results in the easy dissociation of carbon-oxygen bonds in tert-amyl alcohol. S(N)1 reaction can also occur in certain reactions due to nucleophilic substitution of chloride ions for hydroxyl groups. As-prepared metal oxides show good compatibility with an aqueous system while they were synthesized in a non-hydrophilic solvent probably attributed to the specific E1 reaction mechanism involving the generation of water, and can be directly incorporated into an aqueous soluble polymer, such as PVA, to exhibit many promising applications.

Searching for Computational Strategies to Accurately Predict pKas of Large Phenolic Derivatives

Twenty-two reaction schemes have been tested, within the cluster-continuum model including up to seven explicit water molecules. They have been used in conjunction with nine different methods, within the density functional theory and with second-order Møller-Plesset. The quality of the pKa predictions was found to be strongly dependent on the chosen scheme, while only moderately influenced by the method of calculation. We recommend the E1 reaction scheme [HA + OH(-) (3H2O) ↔ A(-) (H2O) + 3H2O], since it yields mean unsigned errors (MUE) lower than 1 unit of pKa for most of the tested functionals. The best pKa values obtained from this reaction scheme are those involving calculations with PBE0 (MUE = 0.77), TPSS (MUE = 0.82), BHandHLYP (MUE = 0.82), and B3LYP (MUE = 0.86) functionals. This scheme has the additional advantage, compared to the proton exchange method, which also gives very small values of MUE, of being experiment independent. It should be kept in mind, however, that these recommendations are valid within the cluster-continuum model, using the polarizable continuum model in conjunction with the united atom Hartree-Fock cavity and the strategy based on thermodynamic cycles. Changes in any of these aspects of the used methodology may lead to different outcomes.

The E2 Domain of OdhA of Corynebacterium glutamicum Has Succinyltransferase Activity Dependent on Lipoyl Residues of the Acetyltransferase AceF

Oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (ODH) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complexes catalyze key reactions in central metabolism, and in Corynebacterium glutamicum there is indication of an unusual supercomplex consisting of AceE (E1), AceF (E2), and Lpd (E3) together with OdhA. OdhA is a fusion protein of additional E1 and E2 domains, and odhA orthologs are present in all Corynebacterineae, including, for instance, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here we show that deletion of any of the individual domains of OdhA in C. glutamicum resulted in loss of ODH activity, whereas PDH was still functional. On the other hand, deletion of AceF disabled both PDH activity and ODH activity as well, although isolated AceF protein had solely transacetylase activity and no transsuccinylase activity. Surprisingly, the isolated OdhA protein was inactive with 2-oxoglutarate as the substrate, but it gained transsuccinylase activity upon addition of dihydrolipoamide. Further enzymatic analysis of mutant proteins and mutant cells revealed that OdhA specifically catalyzes the E1 and E2 reaction to convert 2-oxoglutarate to succinyl-coenzyme A (CoA) but fully relies on the lipoyl residues provided by AceF involved in the reactions to convert pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. It therefore appears that in the putative supercomplex in C. glutamicum, in addition to dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase E3, lipoyl domains are also shared, thus confirming the unique evolutionary position of bacteria such as C. glutamicum and M. tuberculosis.

Crystal Structure of the Human Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme 5 (UBA5) Bound to ATP: MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS INTO A MINIMALISTIC E1 ENZYME

E1 ubiquitin-activating enzymes (UBAs) are large multidomain proteins that catalyze formation of a thioester bond between the terminal carboxylate of a ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like modifier (UBL) and a conserved cysteine in an E2 protein, producing reactive ubiquityl units for subsequent ligation to substrate lysines. Two important E1 reaction intermediates have been identified: a ubiquityl-adenylate phosphoester and a ubiquityl-enzyme thioester. However, the mechanism of thioester bond formation and its subsequent transfer to an E2 enzyme remains poorly understood. We have determined the crystal structure of the human UFM1 (ubiquitin-fold modifier 1) E1-activating enzyme UBA5, bound to ATP, revealing a structure that shares similarities with both large canonical E1 enzymes and smaller ancestral E1-like enzymes. In contrast to other E1 active site cysteines, which are in a variably sized domain that is separate and flexible relative to the adenylation domain, the catalytic cysteine of UBA5 (Cys250) is part of the adenylation domain in an α-helical motif. The novel position of the UBA5 catalytic cysteine and conformational changes associated with ATP binding provides insight into the possible mechanisms through which the ubiquityl-enzyme thioester is formed. These studies reveal structural features that further our understanding of the UBA5 enzyme reaction mechanism and provide insight into the evolution of ubiquitin activation.

Kinetics and mechanism of unimolecular heterolysis of cage-like compounds: XIX. Effect of the nucleofuge nature on the activation parameters of heterolysis of 1-halo-1-methylcyclohexanes in cyclohexane. Heterolysis rate ratio in aprotic and protic solvents

Heterolysis of 1-bromo-1-methylcyclohexane in cyclohexane (E1 reaction) involves solvation of the transition state (ΔS≡ = −81 J mol−1K−1), while heterolysis of 1-chloro-1-methylcyclohexane is characterized by desolvation of the transition state (ΔS≡ = 92 J mol−1K−1). The probability for the formation of transition state (interaction between cationoid intermediate and solvent cavity) increases in the first case due to enhanced stability of the solvated intermediate, and in the second, due to reduction in its size. The bromide/chloride heterolysis rate ratio decreases as the ionizing power of aprotic solvent decreases and that of protic solvent increases.

Binding of a Single Rb+ Increases Na+/K+-ATPase, Activating Dephosphorylation without Stoichiometric Occlusion

We used partially purified Na+/K+-ATPase from pig kidney to study dephosphorylation, occlusion, and ATPase activity in the same enzyme preparation and in media of identical composition containing 10 microM ATP and different concentrations of Rb+, used as a K+ congener. The experiments were performed using a rapid-mixing apparatus with a time resolution of 3.5 ms. The main findings were as follows. (i) At sufficiently low Rb+ concentration the initial rate of dephosphorylation was higher than that of occlusion, (ii) as [Rb+] tended to zero the slope of the time course of occlusion but not that of the time course of dephosphorylation approached zero and, (iii) as Rb+ concentration increased, ATPase activity first increased and, after passing through a maximum, tended to a value that was lower than that observed in media without Rb+. None of these results is compatible with the currently held idea that binding of a single Rb+ to the E2P conformer of the ATPase does not modify the rate of dephosphorylation and strongly suggest that a single Rb+ does promote dephosphorylation through a mechanism that is not stoichiometrically coupled to Rb+ occlusion. If this mechanism is included in the currently accepted scheme for ATP hydrolysis by the Na+/K+-ATPase, a reasonable prediction of the experimental results is obtained.

Reaction mechanism of the heterotetrameric (alpha2beta2) E1 component of 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes.

Pyruvate decarboxylase (E1) catalyzes the first two reactions of the four involved in oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate by the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) multienzyme complex. It requires thiamin diphosphate to bring about the decarboxylation of pyruvate, which is followed by the reductive acetylation of a lipoyl group covalently bound to the N(6) amino group of a lysine residue in the second catalytic component, a dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2). Replacement of two histidine residues in the E1alpha and E1beta chains of the heterotetrameric E1 (alpha(2)beta(2)) component of the PDH complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus, considered possible proton donors at the active site, was carried out. Subsequent characterization of the mutants permitted different roles to be assigned to these two particular residues in the reaction catalyzed by E1: E1alpha His271 to stabilize the dianion formed during decarboxylation of the 2-oxo acid and E1beta His128 to provide the proton required to protonate the incoming dithiolane ring in the subsequent reductive acetylation of the lipoyl goup. On the basis of these and other results from a separate investigation into the roles of individual residues in a loop region in the E1alpha chain close to the active site of E1 [Fries, M., Chauhan, H. J., Domingo, G. J., Jung, H., and Perham, R. N. (2002) Eur. J. Biochem. 270, 861-870] together with work from other laboratories, a detailed mechanism for the E1 reaction can be formulated.

Inactivation of Na,K-ATPase Following Co(NH3)4ATP Binding at a Low Affinity Site in the Protomeric Enzyme Unit

The Na(+)-dependent or E1 stages of the Na,K-ATPase reaction require a few micromolar ATP, but submillimolar concentrations are needed to accelerate the K(+)-dependent or E2 half of the cycle. Here we use Co(NH(3))(4)ATP as a tool to study ATP sites in Na,K-ATPase. The analogue inactivates the K(+) phosphatase activity (an E2 partial reaction) and the Na,K-ATPase activity in parallel, whereas ATP-[(3)H]ADP exchange (an E1 reaction) is affected less or not at all. Although the inactivation occurs as a consequence of low affinity Co(NH(3))(4)ATP binding (K(D) approximately 0.4-0.6 mm), we can also measure high affinity equilibrium binding of Co(NH(3))(4)[(3)H]ATP (K(D) = 0.1 micro m) to the native enzyme. Crucially, we find that covalent enzyme modification with fluorescein isothiocyanate (which blocks E1 reactions) causes little or no effect on the affinity of the binding step preceding Co(NH(3))(4)ATP inactivation and only a 20% decrease in maximal inactivation rate. This suggests that fluorescein isothiocyanate and Co(NH(3))(4)ATP bind within different enzyme pockets. The Co(NH(3))(4)ATP enzyme was solubilized with C(12)E(8) to a homogeneous population of alphabeta protomers, as verified by analytical ultracentrifugation; the solubilization did not increase the Na,K-ATPase activity of the Co(NH(3))(4)ATP enzyme with respect to parallel controls. This was contrary to the expectation for a hypothetical (alphabeta)(2) membrane dimer with a single ATP site per protomer, with or without fast dimer/protomer equilibrium in detergent solution. Besides, the solubilized alphabeta protomer could be directly inactivated by Co(NH(3))(4)ATP, to less than 10% of the control Na,K-ATPase activity. This suggests that the inactivation must follow Co(NH(3))(4)ATP binding at a low affinity site in every protomeric unit, thus still allowing ATP and ADP access to phosphorylation and high affinity ATP sites.

Reaction Mechanism for Mammalian Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Using Natural Lipoyl Domain Substrates

The pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) catalyzes a two-step reaction. Recombinant production of substrate amounts of the lipoyl domains of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) component of the mammalian PDC allowed kinetic characterization of the rapid physiological reaction catalyzed by E1. Using either the N-terminal (L1) or the internal (L2) lipoyl domain of E2 as a substrate, analyses of steady state kinetic data support a ping pong mechanism. Using standard E1 preparations, Michaelis constants (Km) were 52 ± 14 μM for L1 and 24.8 ± 3.8 μM for pyruvate and kcat was 26.3 s−1. With less common, higher activity preparations of E1, the Km values were ≥160 μM for L1 and ≥35 μM for pyruvate and kcat was ≥70 s−1. Similar results were found with the L2 domain. The best synthetic lipoylated-peptide (L2 residues 163–177) was a much poorer substrate (Km ≥ 15 mM, kcat ≈ 5 s−1; kcat/Km decreased >1500-fold) than L1 or L2, but a far better substrate in the E1 reaction than free lipoamide (kcat/Km increased >500-fold). Each lipoate source was an effective substrate in the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) reaction, but E3 had a lower Km for the L2 domain than for lipoamide or the lipoylated peptides. In contrast to measurements with slow E1 model reactions that use artificial acceptors, we confirmed that the natural E1 reaction, using lipoyl domain acceptors, was completely inhibited (>99%) by phosphorylation of E1 and the phosphorylation strongly inhibited the reverse of the second step catalyzed by E1. The mechanisms by which phosphorylation interferes with E1 activity is interpreted based on accrued results and the location of phosphorylation sites mapped onto the 3-D structure of related α-keto acid dehydrogenases.

A Secondary β Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect in the Chorismate Synthase Reaction

Chorismate synthase (EC 4.6.1.4) is the shikimate pathway enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) to chorismate. The enzyme reaction is unusual because it involves a trans-1,4 elimination of the C-3 phosphate and the C-6 proR hydrogen and it has an absolute requirement for reduced flavin. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for the cofactor requirement and stereochemistry of the reaction, including a radical mechanism. This paper describes the synthesis of [4-2H]EPSP and the observation of kinetic isotope effects using this substrate with both Neurospora crassa and Escherichia coli chorismate synthases. The magnitude of the effects were D(V) = 1.08 ± 0.01 for the N. crassa enzyme and 1.10 ± 0.02 on phosphate release under single-turnover conditions for the E. coli enzyme. The effects are best rationalised as substantial secondary β isotope effects. It is most likely that the C(3)-O bond is cleaved first in a nonconcerted E1 or radical reaction mechanism. Although this study alone cannot rule out a concerted E2-type mechanism, the C(3)-O bond would have to be substantially more broken than the proR C(6)-H bond in a transition state of such a mechanism. Importantly, although the E. coli and N. crassa enzymes have different rate limiting steps, their catalytic mechanisms are most likely to be chemically identical.

Specificity Determinants for the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Component Reaction Mapped with Mutated and Prosthetic Group Modified Lipoyl Domains

Efficient catalysis in the second step of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component reaction requires a lipoyl group to be attached to a lipoyl domain that displays appropriately positioned specificity residues. As substrates, the human dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase provides an N-terminal (L1) and an inner (L2) lipoyl domain. We evaluated the specificity requirements for the E1 reaction with 27 mutant L2 (including four substitutions for the lipoylated lysine, Lys(173)), with three analogs substituted for the lipoyl group on Lys(173), and with selected L1 mutants. Besides Lys(173) mutants, only E170Q mutation prevented lipoylation. Based on analysis of the structural stability of mutants by differential scanning calorimetry, alanine substitutions of residues with aromatic side chains in terminal regions outside the folded portion of the L2 domain significantly decreased the stability of mutant L2, suggesting specific interactions of these terminal regions with the folded domain. E1 reaction rates were markedly reduced by the following substitutions in the L2 domain (equivalent site-L1): L140A, S141A (S14A-L1), T143A, E162A, D172N, and E179A (E52A-L1). These mutants gave diverse changes in kinetic parameters. These residues are spread over >24 A on one side of the L2 structure, supporting extensive contact between E1 and L2 domain. Alignment of over 40 lipoyl domain sequences supports Ser(141), Thr(143), and Glu(179) serving as specificity residues for use by E1 from eukaryotic sources. Extensive interactions of the lipoyl-lysine prosthetic group within the active site are supported by the limited inhibition of E1 acetylation of native L2 by L2 domains altered either by mutation of Lys(173) or enzymatic addition of lipoate analogs to Lys(173). Thus, efficient use by mammalian E1 of cognate lipoyl domains derives from unique surface residues with critical interactions contributed by the universal lipoyl-lysine prosthetic group, key specificity residues, and some conserved residues, particularly Asp(172) adjacent to Lys(173).

Stepwise and Concerted Solvolytic Elimination and Substitution Reactions: E1 Reaction via a Primary Carbocation

Solvolysis of 9-(X-methyl)fluorene (1-X, X = I, Br, OBs) in 25 vol % acetonitrile in water gives the elimination product 9-methylidenefluorene and the substitution products 9-(hydroxymethyl)fluorene (1-OH) and 9-(acetamidomethyl)fluorene (1-NHCOMe). Kinetic studies of the corresponding ring-substituted compounds 2-X and 3-X show that the rate of elimination increases with increasing acidity of the substrate, Bronsted α > 0. The small kinetic deuterium isotope effects measured for the elimination reactions of the brosylates 1-OBs and 3-OBs, kH/kD = 2.0 ± 0.1 and 2.8 ± 0.1, respectively, suggest significant amounts of E1 reaction. The bimolecular reactions of the brosylates with added bases may be of irreversible E1cB type in contrast to the reactions of the halides which exhibit E2 reaction with added bases as well as with solvent water.

Univariant reactions in the YBCO system and the influence of oxygen on soldification and microstructure

Several aspects of the Y−Ba−Cu−O phase diagram have been investigated by thermal analysis, isopiestic, and soaking methods in various gas environments in more detail. On the basis of the univariant reactions at p(O2)≈0.21×105 Pa (especially e1 and m1) and oxygen balance considerations, consequences concerning single crystal growth as well as texturing techniques have been derived. It is shown that oxygen diffusion through the melt can become an important technological factor. Phase diagram investigations at reduced oxygen partial pressure, especially the stability field of YBa2Cu3O7−δ and the pressure dependence of the e1 reaction, give rise to modified techniques of melt processing at lower temperatures.

Substrate properties of site-specific mutant ubiquitin protein (G76A) reveal unexpected mechanistic features of ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1).

Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis proceeds via the formation and degradation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates. Ubiquitin (Ub)-activating enzyme (E1) catalyzes the first, MgATP-dependent step in the conjugative reaction sequence. With wild type ubiquitin, the product of the E1 reaction is a ternary complex (E1-Ub-AMP-Ub) containing one thiol-linked ubiquitin (via the Ub COOH terminus, Gly-76) and one tightly bound ubiquitin adenylate. The thiol-linked ubiquitin is subsequently transferred to the thiol of a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2 protein); the latter adduct is the proximal donor of ubiquitin to the target protein. A mutant ubiquitin, bearing a Gly to Ala substitution at the COOH terminus (G76A-ubiquitin), was characterized as a substrate for E1. G76A-ubiquitin 1) supported PPi-ATP exchange poorly (500-fold decrease in kcat/K(m); 2) did not produce detectable AMP-Ub with native E1; 3) produced stoichiometric AMP-Ub with thiol-blocked E1; 4) gave a stoichiometric burst of ATP consumption (1 mol/mol E1) with either native or thiol-blocked E1; 5) supported E1-ubiquitin thiol ester formation with native E1; 6) supported several downstream reactions of the proteolytic pathway at approximately 20% of the rate of wild type ubiquitin. These results indicate that G76A-ubiquitin gives a binary E1 thiol ester complex with native E1, due to the failure of the E1-ubiquitin thiol ester to undergo another round of adenylate synthesis; thus AMP-Ub is detected only if adenylate to thiol transfer is prevented by alkylating E1. The inability of G76A-ubiquitin to support ternary complex formation has implications for E1 active site structure. In other experiments, occupancy of the nucleotide/adenylate site of E1, by either MgATP or AMP-Ub, was found to stimulate ubiquitin transthiolation between E1 and E2 proteins. The intermediacy of ubiquitin adenylate thus provides a previously unrecognized catalytic advantage in the E1 mechanism.

Photosolvolysis of 9-fluorenol derivatives in aqueous solution—exploratory studies of reactivity of photogenerated 9-fluorenyl cations

The photosolvolysis of several 9-fluorenol derivatives ( –7) substituted at the 9-position has been studied in aqueous CH 3CN and CH 3OH solutions. The purpose of the study was to examine structure reactivity for photodehydroxylation of 9-fluorenol derivatives, giving rise to 9-fluorenyl cations, and subsequent chemistry of these photogenerated cations, which are formally anti-aromatic in the ground state. Derivatives 4–7 all photodehydroxylated efficiently, as measured by quantum yields for methyl ether formation. The photogenerated 9-fluorenyl cation from compound 4 also undergoes efficient E1 reaction, to give alkene 10. However, the corresponding pathway for compound 6 was inefficient due to the inabililty of the adjacent proton to line up in a periplanar arrangement with the empty p z orbital, as indicated by molecular mechanics (MMX) calculations. Photolysis of 9-vinyl-9-fluorenol (compound 5) in aqueous CH 3CN gave 9-methylenefluorene derivative 20 via a simple isomerization, showing that the initially photogenerated 9-fluorenyl cation is significantly delocalized.

Regulation of human placental 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase: Mechanism of stimulation of 17β-estradiol formation from estrone by 5α-dihydrotestosterone in homogenates and villi in vitro

The mechanism of stimulation of 17β-estradiol (E2) formation from estrone (E1) by 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) in placental villi was investigated by examining; (1) if dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) was stimulatory, (2) if NAD(P)H-generating, non-steroidal substrates stimulated E2 formation, (3) the subcellular localization of the effect, (4) if NAD(P) or NAD(P)H was required and (5) rates of 5α-DHT oxidation by villi and microsomes. Although 5α-DHT and DHA both inhibited the E2 to E1 reaction in villi and microsomes, only 5α-DHT stimulated the conversion of E1 and E2. Glucose and lactate were slightly stimulatory when compared with 5α-DHT. Stimulation of E2 formation was observed with microsomes but not with cytosol, and NAD or NADP was required. The results indicate that neither inhibition of the back reaction, E2 to E1, nor NADH or NADPH formation via the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/5-ene-3-ketosteroid isomerase reaction can account for the stimulation. It is proposed that the mechanism of stimulation involves one or more forms of membrane-bound 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase with NADH or NADPH formed as a product of 5α-DHT oxidation being used as the cofactor for E1 reduction. This may involve a direct transfer of reduced pyridine nucleotide between enzyme molecules without equilibration with intracellular coenzyme pools.

Inhibition of the bovine branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex and its kinase by arylidenepyruvates

A novel class of inhibitors for the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase (BCOAD) complex has been synthesized and studied. The sodium salts of arylidenepyruvates: e.g., furfurylidenepyruvate (compound I), 4-(3-thienyl)-2-oxo-3-butenoate (compound II), cinnamalpyruvate (compound III) and 4-(2-thienyl)-2-oxo-3-butenoate (compound IV) inhibit the overall and kinase reactions of the BCOAD complex from bovine liver. Inhibitions of the overall reaction occur at the decarboxylase (E1) step as determined by a spectrophotometric assay with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol as an electron acceptor. Inhibition of the E1 reaction by compound I ( K i = 0.5 μ M ) is competitive, whereas inhibitions by compounds II ( K i = 150 μ M ) and III ( K i =500μ M ) are non-competitive with respect to the substrate 2-oxoisovalerate. The K m value for 2-oxoisovalerate is 6.7 μM as measured by the E1 assay. Inhibition of the E1 step by compounds I, II and III are reversible at low inhibitor concentrations based on the Michaelis-Menten kinetics observed. By comparison, compound I does not significantly inhibit pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes. The arylidenepyruvates (compounds I, II and IV) inhibit the BCOAD kinase reaction in a manner similar to the substrate 2-oxo acids. The inhibition of the kinase reaction by compound I is non-competitive with respect to ATP, with an apparent K i value of 4.5 mM. The results suggest that arylidenepyruvates may be useful probes for elucidating the reaction mechanisms of the BCOAD complex and its kinase.