Search results for "Cysteine"
showing 10 items of 550 documents
Age-dependent regulation of antioxidant genes by p38α MAPK in the liver
2018
p38α is a redox sensitive MAPK activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and environmental, genotoxic and endoplasmic reticulum stresses. The aim of this work was to assess whether p38α controls the antioxidant defense in the liver, and if so, to elucidate the mechanism(s) involved and the age-related changes. For this purpose, we used liver-specific p38α-deficient mice at two different ages: young-mice (4 months-old) and old-mice (24 months-old). The liver of young p38α knock-out mice exhibited a decrease in GSH levels and an increase in GSSG/GSH ratio and malondialdehyde levels. However, old mice deficient in p38α had higher hepatic GSH levels and lower GSSG/GSH ratio than young p38α knock-…
Hamster Bcl-2 Protein Is Cleaved in Vitro and in Cells by Caspase-9 and Caspase-3
2001
Full-length cDNA of hamster bcl-2 (771 nt) was cloned by RT-PCR and inserted into pGEX-4T-1 to produce the recombinant hamster Bcl-2 protein. The purified recombinant Bcl-2 protein (26.4 kDa) was used as a substrate for the active human caspase-3 and caspase-9 in vitro. It is shown here that Bcl-2 is efficiently cleaved by caspase-3 to a 23 kDa fragment. Although not possessing a putative caspase-9 cleavage site in its sequence, hamster Bcl-2 was also cleaved by caspase-9 into exactly the same 23 kDa cleavage product, indicating that cleavage occurred at the same site. Caspase-3- and caspase-9-mediated cleavage of Bcl-2 was efficiently blocked by caspase-3 (zDEVD) and caspase-9 (zLEHD) inhi…
Purification of a biologically active recombinant glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase fromCandida albicans
1999
We report here the purification of a functionally active recombinant glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) from Candida albicans. The GAPDH protein encoded by the TDH1 gene was obtained as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein by expression in the vector pGEX-4T-3, and purified by affinity chromatography and thrombin digestion. The purified protein displays GAPDH enzymatic activity (42 micromol NADH min(-1) mg(-1)) as well as the laminin and fibronectin binding activities previously described. In addition, the recombinant GAPDH is covalently modified by NAD linkage; this modification is stimulated by nitric oxide and probably involves a sulfhydryl group (cysteine) residue si…
Control of the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity by the chloroplastic glutathione pool.
2014
The CO2-fixing activity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase depends on the redox state of its cysteines. Disulfides like cystamine or 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), but not oxidized glutathione, switch the enzyme to the inactive oxidized form. Conversely, thiols like cysteamine, cysteine, dithiotreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol, but not reduced glutathione, recover enzymatic activity after a previous oxidation. Direct regulation of the carboxylase activity by the chloroplastic glutathione pool is hindered by kinetic barriers impeding access to the critical residues. However, reduced glutathione can drive the recovery of activity by means of minute amounts of smaller interme…
Homocysteine and S-adenosylated metabolites in cardiovascular disease
2010
A major unanswered question is whether direct cellular toxicity of homocysteine (Hcy) is causally involved in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in humans or whether homocysteinemia is simply a passive and indirect indicator of a more complex mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, the association between Hcy and CVD may result from its metabolic precursor S-adenosyl-Hcy (SAH), or from the altered ratio of S-adenosylmethionine SAM/SAH. This competition is based on the known effects of these adenosylated metabolites on cellular methylation, disturbances of which may lead to endothelial dysfunction and/ or CVD. Thus, it is of great significance to know how these adenosylated metabolites (SAM, SAH…
Effects of garlic powders with varying alliin contents on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in rats
2003
International audience; The anticarcinogenic effect of garlic has been demonstrated in both epidemiologic and experimental studies. In this study, possible mechanisms involved in the anticarcinogenic effect of garlic consumption were assessed by determining its capacity to alter drug metabolizing enzymes, in relation with its alliin content. Rats were fed a diet for 2 weeks containing 5% garlic powders produced from bulbs grown on soils with different levels of sulfate fertilization and therefore containing differing amounts of alliin. Activities of several hepatic enzymes, which are important in carcinogen metabolism such cytochromes P450 (CYP) and phase II enzymes, were determined. Garlic…
Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease for Treatment of COVID-19: Covalent Inhibitors Structure-Activity Relationship Insights and Evolution Perspectives
2022
The viral main protease is one of the most attractive targets among all key enzymes involved in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. Covalent inhibition of the cysteine145 of SARS-CoV-2 MPRO with selective antiviral drugs will arrest the replication process of the virus without affecting human catalytic pathways. In this Perspective, we analyzed the in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data of the most representative examples of covalent SARS-CoV-2 MPRO inhibitors reported in the literature to date. In particular, the studied molecules were classified into eight different categories according to their reactive electrophilic warheads, highlighting the differences between their reversible/irreversible mech…
Mutagenicity of glutathione and cysteine in the Ames test.
1983
Postmitochondrial supernatant from rat liver and kidney homogenates transformed cysteine into a mutagen that reverted bacteria of the strain Salmonella typhimurium TA100 to histidine independence. Glutathione was also activated by kidney postmitochondrial supernatant but not by liver preparations. Hence, important endogenous compounds of mammals are positive in the most commonly used short-term test for carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Glutathione is positive in the test even at concentrations found in mammalian tissues.