Thiol Redox State Research Articles

Profiling protein thiol oxidation in tumor cells using sulfenic acid-specific antibodies

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) functions as a second messenger that can activate cell proliferation through chemoselective oxidation of cysteine residues in signaling proteins. The connection between H2O2 signaling, thiol oxidation, and activation of growth pathways has emerged as fertile ground for the development of strategies for cancer treatment. Central to achieving this goal is the development of tools and assays that facilitate characterization of the molecular events associated with tumorigenesis and evaluation of patient response to therapy. Here we report on the development of an immunochemical method for detecting sulfenic acid, the initial oxidation product that results when a thiolate reacts with H2O2. For this approach, the sulfenic acid is derivatized with a chemical tag to generate a unique epitope for recognition. The elicited antibody is exquisitely specific, context-independent, and capable of visualizing sulfenic acid formation in cells. Applying this approach to several systems, including cancer cell lines, shows it can be used to monitor differences in thiol redox status and reveals a diverse pattern of sulfenic acid modifications across different subtypes of breast tumors. These studies demonstrate a general strategy for producing antibodies against a specific oxidation state of cysteine and show the utility of these reagents for profiling thiol oxidation associated with pathological conditions such as breast cancer.

Deglutathionylation of 2-Cys Peroxiredoxin Is Specifically Catalyzed by Sulfiredoxin

Reversible protein glutathionylation plays a key role in cellular regulation and cell signaling and protects protein thiols from hyperoxidation. Sulfiredoxin (Srx), an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of Cys-sulfinic acid derivatives of 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (2-Cys Prxs), has been shown to catalyze the deglutathionylation of actin. We show that deglutathionylation of 2-Cys Prx, a family of peroxidases, is specifically catalyzed by Srx. Using the ubiquitously expressed member of 2-Cys Prx, Prx I, we revealed the following. (i) Among its four Cys residues, Cys(52), Cys(83), and Cys(173) can be glutathionylated in vitro. Deglutathionylation with Cys mutants showed that Cys(83) and Cys(173) were preferentially catalyzed by Srx, with glutathionylated Srx as the reaction intermediate, whereas glutaredoxin I was more favorable for deglutathionylating Cys(52). (ii) Studies using site-directed mutagenesis coupled with binding and deglutathionylation activities revealed that Pro(174) and Pro(179) of Prx I and Tyr(92) of Srx are essential for both activities. Furthermore, relative to glutaredoxin I, Srx exhibited negligible deglutathionylation activity for glutathionylated cysteine and glutathionylated BSA. These results indicate that Srx is specific for deglutathionylating Prx I due to its favorable affinity for Prx I. To assess the biological relevance of these observations, we showed that Prx I is glutathionylated in A549 and HeLa cells under modest levels of H(2)O(2). In addition, the level of glutathionylated Prx I was substantially elevated in small interfering RNA-mediated Srx-knocked down cells, whereas the reverse was observed in Srx-overexpressing cells. However, glutathionylation of Prx V, not known to bind to Srx, was not affected by the change in Srx expression levels.

Intestinal Redox Status of Major Intracellular Thiols in a Rat Model of Chronic Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption is associated with oxidative stress in multiple tissues in vivo, yet the effect of chronic alcohol intake on intestinal redox state has received little attention. In this study, we investigated the redox status of 2 major intracellular redox regulating couples: glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and cysteine (Cys)/cystine (CySS) in a rat model of chronic alcohol ingestion. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed the liquid Lieber-DeCarli diet consisting of 36% ethanol of total calories for 6 weeks. Control rats were pair-fed with an isocaloric, ethanol-free liquid diet. Defined mucosal samples from the jejunum, ileum, and colon were obtained and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for GSH and Cys pool redox status. Mucosal free malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. In the ethanol-fed rats, Cys and mixed disulfide (GSH-Cys) were significantly decreased in all 3 segments of intestinal mucosa. Free MDA was increased in jejunal but not in ileal or colonic mucosa. Chronic ethanol ingestion significantly increased mucosal GSH concentration in association with a more reducing GSH/GSSG redox potential in the jejunum, but these indices were unchanged in the ileum. In the colon, chronic ethanol ingestion increased oxidant stress as suggested by decreased GSH and oxidized GSH/GSSG redox potential. Chronic alcohol intake differentially alters the mucosal redox status in proximal to distal intestinal segments in rats. Such changes may reflect different adaptability of these intestinal segments to the oxidative stress challenge induced by chronic ethanol ingestion.

Thiol Oxidative Stress Induced by Metabolic Disorders Amplifies Macrophage Chemotactic Responses and Accelerates Atherogenesis and Kidney Injury in LDL Receptor-Deficient Mice

Strengthening the macrophage glutathione redox buffer reduces macrophage content and decreases the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in LDL receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice, but the underlying mechanisms were not clear. This study examined the effect of metabolic stress on the thiol redox state, chemotactic activity in vivo, and the recruitment of macrophages into atherosclerotic lesions and kidneys of LDL-R(-/-) mice in response to mild, moderate, and severe metabolic stress. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels in peritoneal macrophages isolated from mildly, moderately, and severe metabolically-stressed LDL-R(-/-) mice were measured by HPLC, and the glutathione reduction potential (E(h)) was calculated. Macrophage E(h) correlated with the macrophage content in both atherosclerotic (r(2)=0.346, P=0.004) and renal lesions (r(2)=0.480, P=0.001) in these mice as well as the extent of both atherosclerosis (r(2)=0.414, P=0.001) and kidney injury (r(2)=0.480, P=0.001). Compared to LDL-R(-/-) mice exposed to mild metabolic stress, macrophage recruitment into MCP-1-loaded Matrigel plugs injected into LDL-R(-/-) mice increased 2.6-fold in moderately metabolically-stressed mice and 9.8-fold in severely metabolically-stressed mice. The macrophage E(h) was a strong predictor of macrophage chemotaxis (r(2)=0.554, P<0.001). Thiol oxidative stress enhances macrophage recruitment into vascular and renal lesions by increasing the responsiveness of macrophages to chemoattractants. This novel mechanism contributes at least in part to accelerated atherosclerosis and kidney injury associated with dyslipidemia and diabetes in mice.

Clinical assay of four thiol amino acid redox couples by LC–MS/MS: Utility in thalassemia

The total concentrations of four sulfur amino acid (SAA) metabolite redox couples (reduced and oxidized forms of homocysteine, cysteine, glutathione, and cysteinylglycine) in human blood are assayed with a simple and sensitive method by liquid chromatography–electrospray positive ionization–tandem mass spectrometry. To prevent ex vivo thiol oxidation, iodoacetamide (IAM) is used immediately following the blood draw. To selectively enrich for S-carboxyamidomethylated SAA, and other cationic amino acids metabolites, proprietary strong cation-exchange solid phase extraction tips are used. Analytes are further derivatized with isopropylchloroformate (IPCF) to esterify the amino and the carboxylic groups. Double derivatization with IAM and IPCF improves the reverse phase liquid chromatography separation of SAA metabolites. The use of detection mode of multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) allows sensitive and specific simultaneous detection of SAA. The internal standards used to account for the matrix effects of human plasma and erythrocytes were plant glutathione analogue, homoglutathione, and stable isotopes of cystine and homocystine. The method was validated for its linearity, accuracy, and precision. Excellent linearity of detection ( r 2 > 0.98) was observed over relevant ranges for plasma and erythrocyte samples, and the limits of detection were established to be between 5 and 20 nM. Relative standard deviations were <9% for within-day variations and <15% for between-day variations. The method was used to assess thiol redox states in plasma and erythrocytes isolated from healthy subjects and thalassemia patients.

Treatment of human cancer cells with selenite or tellurite in combination with auranofin enhances cell death due to redox shift

Selenium is an essential trace element incorporated as selenocysteine in 25 human selenoproteins. Among them are thioredoxin reductases (TrxR) and glutathione peroxidases, all central proteins in the regulation of the cellular thiol redox state. In this paper the effects of selenite and tellurite treatment in human cancer cells are reported and compared. Our results show that both selenite and tellurite, at relatively low concentrations, are able to increase the expression of mitochondrial and cytosolic TrxR in cisplatin-sensitive (2008) and -resistant (C13⁎) phenotypes. We further investigated the cellular effects induced by selenite or tellurite in combination with the specific TrxR inhibitor auranofin. Selenite pretreatment induced a dramatic increase in auranofin cytotoxicity in both resistant and sensitive cells. Investigation of TrxR activity and expression levels as well as the cellular redox state demonstrated the involvement of TrxR inhibition and redox changes in selenite and auranofin combined action.

Effects of glutathione reductase inhibition on cellular thiol redox state and related systems

Although inhibition of glutathione reductase (GR) has been demonstrated to cause a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and increase in glutathione disulfide (GSSG), a systematic study of the effects of GR inhibition on thiol redox state and related systems has not been noted. By employing a monkey kidney cell line as the cell model and 2-acetylamino-3-[4-(2-acetylamino-2-carboxy-ethylsulfanylthio carbonylamino)phenylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl]propionic acid (2-AAPA) as a GR inhibitor, an investigation of the effects of GR inhibition on cellular thiol redox state and related systems was conducted. Our study demonstrated that, in addition to a decrease in GSH and increase in GSSG, 2-AAPA increased the ratios of NADH/NAD + and NADPH/NADP +. Significant protein glutathionylation was observed. However, the inhibition did not affect the formation of reactive oxygen species or expression of antioxidant defense enzyme systems [GR, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase] and enzymes involved in GSH biosynthesis [γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase].

Evaluation of low molecular mass thiols content in carotid atherosclerotic plaques

Objectives Despite the evidence that both homocysteine and cysteine are important risk factors for vascular disease and atherosclerosis no information are reported about their effective amount in plaque and on the relationship with the other low molecular weight thiols. Design and methods We used capillary electrophoresis to measure thiols in both carotid plaque specimens and plasma samples from 37 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Results Pearson's correlation shows that intraplaque homocysteine, cysteine and cysteinylglycine levels are related to their plasma concentrations. The distribution of intraplaque GSH and Glu-Cys was higher than that of the same thiols in plasma, whereas the other thiols were significantly less prevalent in plaque than in plasma. Intraplaque haemoglobin and GSH levels were correlated, thus suggesting their common origin from erythrocytes lysis. Conclusion Data suggest that increased levels of intraplaque glutathione may induce important effects on plaque fate by perturbing the normal LMW thiol redox state.

Quantifying the global cellular thiol–disulfide status

It is widely accepted that the redox status of protein thiols is of central importance to protein structure and folding and that glutathione is an important low-molecular-mass redox regulator. However, the total cellular pools of thiols and disulfides and their relative abundance have never been determined. In this study, we have assembled a global picture of the cellular thiol-disulfide status in cultured mammalian cells. We have quantified the absolute levels of protein thiols, protein disulfides, and glutathionylated protein (PSSG) in all cellular protein, including membrane proteins. These data were combined with quantification of reduced and oxidized glutathione in the same cells. Of the total protein cysteines, 6% and 9.6% are engaged in disulfide bond formation in HEK and HeLa cells, respectively. Furthermore, the steady-state level of PSSG is <0.1% of the total protein cysteines in both cell types. However, when cells are exposed to a sublethal dose of the thiol-specific oxidant diamide, PSSG levels increase to >15% of all protein cysteine. Glutathione is typically characterized as the "cellular redox buffer"; nevertheless, our data show that protein thiols represent a larger active redox pool than glutathione. Accordingly, protein thiols are likely to be directly involved in the cellular defense against oxidative stress.

Characterization of a Novel Dithiocarbamate Glutathione Reductase Inhibitor and Its Use as a Tool to Modulate Intracellular Glutathione

Thiol redox state (TRS) is an important parameter to reflect intracellular oxidative stress and is associated with various normal and abnormal biochemical processes. Agents that can be used to increase intracellular TRS will be valuable tools in TRS-related research. Glutathione reductase (GR) is a critical enzyme in the homeostasis of TRS. The enzyme catalyzes the reduction of GSSG to GSH to maintain a high GSH:GSSG ratio. Inhibition of the enzyme can be used to increase TRS. Despite the reports of various GR inhibitors, N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea, an anticancer drug with IC(50) = 647 microm against yeast GR, remains the most commonly used GR inhibitor in the literature. However, the toxicity caused by nonspecific interactions, as well as inhibition of DNA synthesis, complicates the use of N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea as a GR inhibitor. We report 2-acetylamino-3-[4-(2-acetylamino-2-carboxyethylsulfanylthiocarbonylamino)phenylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl]propionic acid (2-AAPA) as a novel irreversible GR inhibitor. 2-AAPA was prepared by one-step synthesis from commercially available reagents. The K(i) and k(inact) of 2-AAPA against yeast GR were determined to be 56 microm and 0.1 min(-1), respectively. At the concentration that produced >80% yeast GR inhibition, 2-AAPA showed no inhibition against glutamylcysteine synthetase, glutathione synthetase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, but minimal inhibition against glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase. In CV-1 cells, 2-AAPA (0.1 mm) produced 97% GR inhibition, 25% GSH reduction, and a 5-fold increase in GSSG in 20 min. The compound can be a useful tool in TRS-related research.

Roles of Oxidative Stress and Redox Regulation in Atherosclerosis

Oxidative stress is believed to be a cause of aging and cardiovascular disorders. In response to inflam-mation or endothelial cell injury, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is enhanced in vascular cells. These changes contribute to the initiation of atherosclerosis. Vascular cells possess anti-oxidant systems to protect against oxidative stress, in addition to the redox system. The redox status of pro-tein thiols is important for cellular functions. The Akt signaling pathway exerts effects on survival and apoptosis, and is regulated by the glutathione (GSH)/glutaredoxin (GRX)-dependent redox sys-tem. Sex hormones such as estrogens protect against oxidative stress by protecting the Akt signaling pathway but the physiological role of the extracellular GSH/GRX system has not been clarified, although found an increase in the levels of S-glutathionylated serum proteins in patients with athero-sclerosis obliterans. The results suggested that impaired serum redox potential is a marker of the development vascular dysfunction and estrogen has a possible role in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

The L-type Ca 2+ Channel as a Potential Mediator of Pathology During Alterations in Cellular Redox State

The L-type Ca(2+) channel is the main route for calcium influx into cardiac myocytes and an important determinant of calcium homeostasis. There is now considerable evidence that the function of the L-type Ca(2+) channel is influenced by the cell's redox state. Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide can regulate biological function by directly altering the thiol redox state of proteins. Under conditions where cellular redox state varies, L-type Ca(2+) channel function and diastolic calcium levels can be significantly altered. This article will present the evidence for alterations in L-type Ca(2+) channel function by reactive oxygen species and the potential role for the channel in development of acute electrophysiological instability or chronic pathological remodelling under conditions of persistent oxidative stress.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Correlations Between Oxidative Stress Metabolism and Cytogenetic Subgroups

The chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B cell-CLL) is a heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorder susceptible to oxidative stress. The excessive production of reactive oxygen intermediates above the capability of naturally produced antioxidants may result in the instability of essential macromolecules, and represents the molecular basis of many diseases including cancer. Highly reactive radicals interact with DNA inducing a multitude of oxidative modifications, and are implicated in mutagenesis due to misreplication of the damaged base 8-oxo-2′-deoxiguanosine (8-oxo-dG). Furthermore, protooncogene activation and/or tumor suppressor gene inhibition has been reported as a consequence of oxygen radical-induced DNA modification. Even though their molecular alterations involving different genes as TP53 (17p13.1) and ATM (11q22-23) in B-cells CLL has been well established, the role of oxidative stress is still poorly understood and a matter of our interest. The aim of the present study was to analyze the correlations between oxidative stress status and the most common genetic subgroups in B-CLL.Patients and methods: We analyzed peripheral blood and urine from 86 untreated patients with B-CLL, and 39 normal controls. DNA damage was measured assessing the levels of 8-oxo-dG by HPLC-EC. Lipid peroxidation was studied quantifying the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-isoprostane by HPLC-EC and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were examined by spectrophotometric methods; and the oxidative stress marker oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio (GSSG/GSH) was measured by HPLC. Genetic abnormalities were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique with LSI D13S19, LSI ATM, LSI P53 and CEP 12 probes (Abbott Molecular Inc, Des Plaines, IL, USA).Results: With regard to antioxidant enzyme activities, there was a significantly decrease of SOD (range: 1.53–13.19 vs 11.88±3.25, p<0.001) and CAT (15.27–68.42 vs 47.15±16.45, p<0.05) levels in all B-CLL cytogenetic subgroups as compared with control subjects. On the contrary, GPx activity increased significantly among patients with del(13q) (31.22±16.53 vs 13.60±5.72, p<0.05). There was also a general increase of GSH (0.64–13.69 vs 0.45±0.51, p<0.001) and GSSG (14.41–67.47 vs 21.12±3.50, p<0.001) content in lymphocytes of CLL patients. As a consequence, the GSSG/GSH x 100 ratio (1.34–43.78 vs 1.95±1.94, p<0.001) increased indicating that the thiol redox status is elevated in CLL lymphocytes. In addition, there was an extensive lipid peroxidation as indicated by the increase of MDA and 8-isoprostane, especially among cases with ATM (MDA/8-isoprostane: 1.98±1.61/118.87±25.96 vs 0.21±0.10/74.64±33.94, p<0.001 and p<0.05) and TP53 (MDA: 2.09±0.78 vs 0.21±0.10, p<0.001) deletions. Finally, DNA damage was also enhanced in B-CLL. The mutagenic base 8-oxo-dG was found to be significantly increased in the lymphocytes DNA and urine of CLL patients (CLL lymphocytes: 13.20–92.64 vs 12.99±18.30, p<0.001 and urine 1.19–85.05 vs 7.43±2.63, p<0.001).Conclusion: Several oxidative stress parameters could relate to the prognostic role of some chromosomal abnormalities, as the favorable increase of GPx in patients with del(13q), the low oxidative damage among cases of trisomy 12, or the DNA and lipid deterioration of patients with ATM and TP53 deletions.

Determination of thiols and disulfides via HPLC quantification of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid

This work presents an assay for total thiols and total disulfides in biological samples via HPLC quantification of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid (TNB) derived from the reaction of thiols with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB, Ellman’s reagent). This method also provides simultaneous quantification of glutathione (GSH) via the measurement of the GSH–DTNB adduct (GSH–TNB). By using 326 nm as the detecting wavelength, the HPLC detection limit for TNB and the GSH–TNB adduct was determined to be 15 and 7.5 pmol respectively. A recovery study with OVCAR-3 cells revealed that the recovery yields for TNB in the procedures for determining non-protein thiols, protein thiols, non-protein disulfides, and protein disulfides were 99.4 ± 1.2% ( n = 3), 98.1 ± 5.0% ( n = 3), 95.6 ± 0.9% ( n = 3), and 96.6 ± 2.3% ( n = 3) respectively. The recovery yield for GSH–TNB in the procedures for determining non-protein thiols, protein thiols, non-protein disulfides, and protein disulfides was 99.0 ± 0.3% ( n = 3), 95.1 ± 4.9% ( n = 3), 96.8 ± 0.6% ( n = 3), and 95.1 ± 2.9% ( n = 3) respectively. The reproducibility, expressed as the relative standard deviation for the analyte, for TNB was determined to be 2.8% ( n = 6) for non-protein thiols, 3.9% ( n = 6) for protein thiols, 3.6% ( n = 6) for non-protein disulfides and 4.6% ( n = 6) for protein disulfides. The reproducibility for GSH–TNB was determined to be 1.6% ( n = 6) for non-protein thiols and 2.6% ( n = 6) for non-protein disulfides. By comparing the amount of GSH determined in a biological sample before NaBH 4 reduction with that after the reduction, this method can provide information associated with thiol glutathionylation which would be useful for protein glutathionylation study. This method should be applicable to cellular, subcellular, protein, or other biomatrix samples for thiol and disulfide quantification and will be a useful analytical method in the study of thiol redox state and thiol glutathionylation.

Measurement of Instantaneous Velocity Vectors of Organelle Transport: Mitochondrial Transport and Bioenergetics in Hippocampal Neurons

Impaired transport of mitochondria, in dendrites and axons of neurons, and bioenergetic deficit are increasingly recognized to be of pathological importance in neurodegenerative diseases. To study the relationship between transport and bioenergetics, we have developed what to our knowledge is a novel technique to quantify organelle velocity in cultured cells. The aim was to combine measurement of motion and bioenergetic parameters while minimizing photodynamic oxidative artifacts evoked by fluorescence excitation. Velocity determination from sequential fluorescence images is not trivial, and here we describe an application of “optical flow”, the flow of gray values in grayscale images, to this problem. Based on the principles of photon shot noise occurring in low light level fluorescence microscopy, we describe and validate here an optical flow-based, robust method to measure velocity vectors for organelles expressing fluorescent proteins. This method features instantaneous velocity determination from a pair of images by detecting motion of edges, with no assumptions about the separation or shapes of the objects in the image. Optical flow was used in combination with single mitochondrion assay of mitochondrial thiol redox status by mitochondrially targeted redox-sensitive green fluorescent protein and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential by tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester. Mitochondrial populations of resting cultured hippocampal neurons were analyzed. It was found that mitochondria with more oxidized thiol redox status have lower membrane potentials and are smaller in size. These mitochondria are more motile than the average; however, mitochondrial motility is only slightly dependent on the observed bioenergetic parameters and is correlated the best to the size of the mitochondria.

The thiol redox state of lymphoid organs is modified by immunization: Role of different immune cell populations

Resting T lymphocytes can internalize reduced cysteine (Cys) but not cystine, the oxidized form of the amino acid that predominates extracellularly. In vitro studies have shown that DC provide Cys to T cells during antigen presentation, allowing their activation. Here, we show that increased thiol production is a hallmark of immune response in vivo. Indeed, the thiol content of LN increases dramatically after antigen injection. Non-protein thiols co-distribute with DC and are highly abundant in germinal centers. In agreement, activated but not resting B lymphocytes and macrophages release free thiols. Increased thiol release following activation requires thioredoxin and is paralleled by increased thioredoxin expression. The T zones of LN are consistently less stained, and both resting and activated T cells are unable to release thiols. Interestingly, the cystine/glutamate transporter x(c) (-) is absent in resting T lymphocytes but is rapidly induced by TCR triggering in vitro, indicating that the release of T cells from the need of exogenous Cys occurs early after activation. These results indicate that a reducing microenvironment is essential to start the immune response but dispensable for its evolution, and support the emerging concept that extracellular redox is implicated in the control of crucial cellular functions.

Thiol Chemistry in Peroxidase Catalysis and Redox Signaling

The oxidation chemistry of thiols and disulfides of biologic relevance is described. The review focuses on the interaction and kinetics of hydrogen peroxide with low-molecular-weight thiols and protein thiols and, in particular, on sulfenic acid groups, which are recognized as key intermediates in several thiol oxidation processes. In particular, sulfenic and selenenic acids are formed during the catalytic cycle of peroxiredoxins and glutathione peroxidases, respectively. In turn, these enzymes are in close redox communication with the thioredoxin and glutathione systems, which are the major controllers of the thiol redox state. Oxidants formed in the cell originate from several different sources, but the major producers are NADPH oxidases and mitochondria. However, a different role of the oxygen species produced by these sources is apparent as oxidants derived from NADPH oxidase are involved mainly in signaling processes, whereas those produced by mitochondria induce cell death in pathways including also the thioredoxin system, presently considered an important target for cancer chemotherapy.

Protein glutathionylation increases in the liver of patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease

Oxidative stress is an important pathophysiological mechanism in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, where hepatocyte apoptosis is significantly increased correlating with disease severity. Protein glutathionylation occurs as a response to oxidative stress, where an increased concentration of oxidized glutathione modifies post-translational proteins by thiol disulfide exchange. In this study, we analyzed the protein glutathionylation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and evaluated a potential association between glutathionylation, fibrosis, and vitamin E treatment. Protein glutathionylation was studied in the livers of 36 children (mean age 12.5 years, range 4-16 years) subdivided into three groups according to their NAFLD activity score (NAS) by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, using a specific monoclonal antibody. In addition, we identified the hepatocyte ultrastructures involved in glutathionylation by immunogold electron microscopy. Our findings showed that protein glutathionylation increases in the livers of patients with NAFLD and it is correlated with steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis. Its increase appears mainly in nuclei and cytosol of hepatocytes, and it is reversed by antioxidant therapy with reduced fibrosis. Protein glutathionylation significantly increases in livers with NAFLD, strongly suggesting that oxidative injury plays a crucial role in this disease. Furthermore, the marked increase of protein glutathionylation, in correlation with collagen VI immunoreactivity, suggests a link between the redox status of hepatic protein thiols and fibrosis.

The role of thioredoxin TrxA in Bacillus subtilis: A proteomics and transcriptomics approach

Thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases of the thioredoxin superfamily are crucial for maintaining the thiol redox state in living organisms. For the bacterium Bacillus subtilis thioredoxin A (TrxA) was described as the product of an essential gene indicating a key role during growth. By means of mRNA profiling Smits et al. (J. Bacteriol. 2005, 187, 3921-3930) suggested a critical function for TrxA in sulfur utilization during stationary phase. We extended the analysis of TrxA to exponential growth and characterized a trxA conditional mutant by proteome analysis complemented by transcriptomics. After TrxA-depletion, the growth rate was dramatically decreased. The cells responded at mRNA and protein level by the increased expression of genes involved in the utilization of sulfur, which represents the most obvious response as visualized by gel-based proteomics. Furthermore, several genes of the antioxidant response were found at higher expression levels after TrxA-depletion. When sulfate was replaced by thiosulfate or methionine as sulfur source, the growth inhibition was abolished. In the presence of thiosulfate but in the absence of TrxA, the induction of the sulfur limitation response and the oxidative stress response was not observed. Our results show that the global change of gene expression is primarily caused by the interruption of the sulfate utilization after TrxA depletion. Thus, its function in sulfate assimilation renders TrxA an essential protein in growing B. subtilis cells.

Assessment of Endoplasmic Reticulum Glutathione Redox Status Is Confounded by ExtensiveEx VivoOxidation

Glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) form the principal thiol redox couple in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER); however, few studies have attempted to quantify GSH redox status in this organelle. To address this gap, GSH and GSSG levels and the extent of protein glutathionylation were analyzed in rat liver microsomes. Because of the likelihood of artifactual GSH oxidation during the lengthy microsomal isolation procedure, iodoacetic acid (IAA) was used to preserve the physiological thiol redox state. Non-IAA-treated microsomes exhibited a GSH:GSSG ratio between 0.7:1 to 1.2:1 compared to IAA-treated microsomes that yielded a GSH:GSSG redox ratio between 4.7:1 and 5.5:1. The majority of artifactual oxidation occurred within the first 2 h of isolation. Thus, the ER GSH redox ratio is subject to extensive ex vivo oxidation and when controlled, the microsomal GSH redox state is significantly higher than previously believed. Moreover, in vitro studies showed that PDI reductase activity was markedly increased at this higher thiol redox ratio versus previously reported GSH:GSSG ratios for the ER. Lastly, we show by both HPLC and Western blot analysis that ER proteins are highly resistant to glutathionylation. Together, these results may necessitate a re-evaluation of GSH and its role in ER function.