First Evidence of a Protective Effect of Plant Bioactive Compounds against H2O2-Induced Aconitase Damage in Durum Wheat Mitochondria

In order to contribute to the understanding of the antioxidant behavior of plant bioactive compounds with respect to specific subcellular targets, in this study, their capability to protect aconitase activity from oxidative-mediated dysfunction was evaluated for the first time in plant mitochondria. Interest was focused on the Krebs cycle enzyme catalyzing the citrate/isocitrate interconversion via cis-aconitate, as it possesses a [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster at the active site, making it an early and highly sensitive target of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damage. In particular, the effect on the aconitase reaction of five natural phenols, including ferulic acid, apigenin, quercetin, resveratrol, and curcumin, as well as of the isothiocyanate sulforaphane, was investigated in highly purified mitochondria obtained from durum wheat (DWM). Interestingly, a short-term (10 min) DWM pre-treatment with all investigated compounds, applied at 150 µM (75 µM in the case of resveratrol), completely prevented aconitase damage induced by a 15 min exposure of mitochondria to 500 µM H2O2. Curcumin and quercetin were also found to completely recover DWM-aconitase activity when phytochemical treatment was performed after H2O2 damage. In addition, all tested phytochemicals (except ferulic) induced a significant increase of aconitase activity in undamaged mitochondria. On the contrary, a relevant protective and recovery effect of only quercetin treatment was observed in terms of the aconitase activity of a commercial purified mammalian isoform, which was used for comparison. Overall, the results obtained in this study may suggest a possible role of phytochemicals in preserving plant mitochondrial aconitase activity, as well as energy metabolism, against oxidative damage that may occur under environmental stress conditions. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the physiological role and the mechanism responsible for this short-term protective effect.

Sialylation of Asparagine 612 Inhibits Aconitase Activity during Mouse Sperm Capacitation; a Possible Mechanism for the Switch from Oxidative Phosphorylation to Glycolysis

After ejaculation, mammalian spermatozoa must undergo a process known as capacitation in order to successfully fertilize the oocyte. Several post-translational modifications occur during capacitation, including sialylation, which despite being limited to a few proteins, seems to be essential for proper sperm-oocyte interaction. Regardless of its importance, to date, no single study has ever identified nor quantified which glycoproteins bearing terminal sialic acid (Sia) are altered during capacitation. Here we characterize sialylation during mouse sperm capacitation. Using tandem MS coupled with liquid chromatography (LC–MS/MS), we found 142 nonreductant peptides, with 9 of them showing potential modifications on their sialylated oligosaccharides during capacitation. As such, N-linked sialoglycopeptides from C4b-binding protein, endothelial lipase (EL), serine proteases 39 and 52, testis-expressed protein 101 and zonadhesin were reduced following capacitation. In contrast, mitochondrial aconitate hydratase (aconitase; ACO2), a TCA cycle enzyme, was the only protein to show an increase in Sia content during capacitation. Interestingly, although the loss of Sia within EL (N62) was accompanied by a reduction in its phospholipase A1 activity, a decrease in the activity of ACO2 (i.e. stereospecific isomerization of citrate to isocitrate) occurred when sialylation increased (N612). The latter was confirmed by N612D recombinant protein tagged with both His and GFP. The replacement of Sia for the negatively charged Aspartic acid in the N612D mutant caused complete loss of aconitase activity compared with the WT. Computer modeling show that N612 sits atop the catalytic site of ACO2. The introduction of Sia causes a large conformational change in the alpha helix, essentially, distorting the active site, leading to complete loss of function. These findings suggest that the switch from oxidative phosphorylation, over to glycolysis that occurs during capacitation may come about through sialylation of ACO2.

Trehalose Protects against Insulin Resistance-Induced Tissue Injury and Excessive Autophagy in Skeletal Muscles and Kidney

Background:: Insulin resistance refers to a pathological state of compromised sensitivity of insulin to promote glucose uptake and utilization, resulting in compensatory excessive insulin secretion and hyperinsulinemia in an effort to maintain glucose homeostasis. Akt2 represents an important member of the Akt family and plays an essential role in the maintenance of insulin signaling. Methods:: This study was designed to examine the effects of trehalose on kidney and skeletal muscle (rectus femoris muscle) injury in an Akt2 knockout-induced model of insulin resistance. Akt2 knockout (Akt2-/-) and adult WT mice were treated with trehalose (1 mg/g/d) intraperitoneally for 2 days, followed by providing 2% trehalose in drinking water for 2 months. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), protein carbonyl content and mitochondrial function (aconitase activity) were examined. Apoptosis and autophagy protein markers were monitored using western blot analysis. Results:: Akt2 ablation impaired glucose tolerance, promoted protein carbonyl formation and decreased aconitase activity in kidney and skeletal muscles, associated with pronounced apoptosis and overt autophagy, the effects of which, with the exception of IPGTT, were greatly ameliorated or negated by trehalose treatment. Moreover, phosphorylation of mTOR was downregulated in both kidney and skeletal muscles from Akt2-/- mice, the effect of which was attenuated by trehalose. Levels of Akt (pan and Akt2) were much lower in Akt2-/- mice, the effect of which was unaffected by trehalose treatment although trehalose itself upregulated Akt levels. Conclusion:: These data suggest that the autophagy inducer trehalose rescued against insulin resistance-induced kidney and skeletal muscle injury, apoptosis and excessive autophagy, possibly in association with restored mTOR phosphorylation without affecting Akt.

3329 Hemoglobin selectively inhibits renal proximal tubular uptake of proteins: Implications for vitamin D deficiency and kidney disease in sickle cell disease

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: While Hb-induced toxicity has been assumed to cause PT dysfunction, the development of tubular proteinuria from this dysfunction in SCD patients is not well understood. We previously found that free Hb, at concentrations predicted to be present chronically and during hemolytic crisis in the tubular filtrate of SCD patients, impairs uptake of albumin by PT cells via direct competition for binding to megalin and cubilin receptors. The purpose of this study is to further evaluate the consequences of increased filtered Hb concentrations on vitamin D reabsorption and activation. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We have developed a PT cell culture model that closely mimics in vivo PT cell structure, morphology, and endocytic capacity. Using this model, we treated cells with physiologic levels of cell-free Hb estimated in SCD and measured protein endocytosis and toxicity/oxidative stress. Endocytosis of fluorescently-tagged DBP and RBP were evaluated and quantified by confocal imaging and spectrofluorometry. Cellular toxicity and oxidative stress were assessed by measuring aconitase activity and accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: PT cell uptake of DBP was significantly inhibited by both concentrations of Hb estimated to be filtered into the tubule lumen under chronic conditions (0.6μM Hb; 39% inhibition) and hemolytic crisis (≤20μM Hb; up to 92% inhibition) in SCD patients. ****p<0.0001 by one-way ANOVA, Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test. PT cell uptake of RBP was minimally affected by the same concentrations of Hb that profoundly inhibited internalization of DBP. RBP uptake was not significantly inhibited by all concentrations of Hb tested except the estimated hemolytic crisis maximum concentration (20μM; 27% inhibition). RBP uptake inhibition at 20μM Hb treatment was dramatically less than DBP uptake inhibition under the same treatment condition (27% RBP inhibition vs 92% DBP inhibition). *p<0.05 by one-way ANOVA, Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test. Mitochondrial oxidative stress, measured as a decrease in aconitase activity, was significantly increased in cells exposed to Hb (~43% aconitase activity reduction after 72h 20μM Hb treatment, and ~11% aconitase activity reduction after 72h 1μM Hb treatment). *p<0.05, **p<0.01 by one-sample t-test of the differences between treatment and untreated control conditions. We are currently assessing changes in PT cell vitamin D hydroxylase expression levels and vitamin D metabolism after exposure to chronic and hemolytic concentrations of Hb. Because oxidative stress has been previously reported to affect hydroxylase expression and activity, we expect to find a decrease in vitamin D hydroxylase expression and/or activity, resulting in decreased vitamin D activation. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Our results suggest that competition for megalin/cubilin binding between Hb and normally-filtered proteins, including DBP, may be the primary cause of tubular proteinuria in SCD patients. This inhibition appears to be selective for proteins that are largely α-helical in structure, such as albumin and DBP. Understanding the structural basis for Hb competition with filtered proteins for PT uptake could identify biomarkers to detect tubular proteinuria in SCD patients prior to the onset of kidney disease. This may also help develop therapeutic compounds that would selectively inhibit Hb binding to megalin/cubilin receptors. We have developed a highly sensitive fluorescence-based assay to test for such compounds. Inhibition of DBP uptake and vitamin D metabolism in the PT could lead or contribute to vitamin D deficiency. To our knowledge, our study is the first to suggest a mechanism for vitamin D deficiency commonly observed in SCD patients. Ongoing studies focus on measuring vitamin D metabolism in both cell and mouse models of SCD.

The effect of one-electron reduced drugs on hepatic aconitase activity and triglycerides level

The redox cycle triggered by one electron reduction of doxorubicin and tirapazamine - both anticancer agents - leads to superoxide production. This superoxide production itself removes one iron atom from the [4Fe-4S] cluster, being an active center of aconitase. In addition, the incurred changes in cell redox equilibrium may affect lipid metabolism. The aim of the study was to evaluate a concomitant effect of both drugs on hepatic aconitase activity and triglycerides level. In our study, doxorubicin (1.8 mg/kg b.w.) was administered intraperitoneal (i.p.) six times, once a week, within male Wistar rats, to achieve a cumulative dose of 10.8 mg/kg b.w. Two hours before every doxorubicin administration, tirapazamine in the dose of either 5 or 10 mg/kg b.w. was also i.p. injected. A week after withdrawing drug administration, the liver was taken for biochemical analysis. Therein, an increase in aconitase activity and a decrease in triglycerides level was seen in all groups exposed to doxorubicin. Our work demonstrated that tirapazamine administration had no influence on both tested parameters, but its higher dose rate normalized aconitase activity affected by doxorubicin.

Iron alters cell survival in a mitochondria-dependent pathway in ovarian cancer cells

Non-transferrin bound iron mediates cell death in ovarian cancer cells by inducing mitochondrial damage and loss of OMM proteins. Inhibition of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter, MAPK and aconitase activity reversed these changes.