Discrimination of Methionine Sulfoxide and Sulfone by Human Neutrophil Elastase

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a uniquely destructive serine protease with the ability to unleash a wave of proteolytic activity by destroying the inhibitors of other proteases. Although this phenomenon forms an important part of the innate immune response to invading pathogens, it is responsible for the collateral host tissue damage observed in chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and in more acute disorders such as the lung injuries associated with COVID-19 infection. Previously, a combinatorially selected activity-based probe revealed an unexpected substrate preference for oxidised methionine, which suggests a link to oxidative pathogen clearance by neutrophils. Here we use oxidised model substrates and inhibitors to confirm this observation and to show that neutrophil elastase is specifically selective for the di-oxygenated methionine sulfone rather than the mono-oxygenated methionine sulfoxide. We also posit a critical role for ordered solvent in the mechanism of HNE discrimination between the two oxidised forms methionine residue. Preference for the sulfone form of oxidised methionine is especially significant. While both host and pathogens have the ability to reduce methionine sulfoxide back to methionine, a biological pathway to reduce methionine sulfone is not known. Taken together, these data suggest that the oxidative activity of neutrophils may create rapidly cleaved elastase “super substrates” that directly damage tissue, while initiating a cycle of neutrophil oxidation that increases elastase tissue damage and further neutrophil recruitment.

In Salmonella enterica, the Gcn5-Related Acetyltransferase MddA (Formerly YncA) Acetylates Methionine Sulfoximine and Methionine Sulfone, Blocking Their Toxic Effects

Protein and small-molecule acylation reactions are widespread in nature. Many of the enzymes catalyzing acylation reactions belong to theGcn5-relatedN-acetyltransferase (GNAT; PF00583) family, named after the yeast Gcn5 protein. The genome ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium LT2 encodes 26 GNATs, 11 of which have no known physiological role. Here, we providein vivoandin vitroevidence for the role of the MddA (methioninederivativedetoxifier; formerly YncA) GNAT in the detoxification of oxidized forms of methionine, including methionine sulfoximine (MSX) and methionine sulfone (MSO). MSX and MSO inhibited the growth of anS. entericaΔmddAstrain unless glutamine or methionine was present in the medium. We used anin vitrospectrophotometric assay and mass spectrometry to show that MddA acetylated MSX and MSO. AnmddA+strain displayed biphasic growth kinetics in the presence of MSX and glutamine. Deletion of two amino acid transporters (GlnHPQ and MetNIQ) in a ΔmddAstrain restored growth in the presence of MSX. Notably, MSO was transported by GlnHPQ but not by MetNIQ. In summary, MddA is the mechanism used byS. entericato respond to oxidized forms of methionine, which MddA detoxifies by acetyl coenzyme A-dependent acetylation.

The Involvement of Glutamate Metabolism in the Resistance to Thermal, Nutritional, and Oxidative Stress in Trypanosoma cruzi

The inhibition of some glutamate metabolic pathways could lead to diminished parasite survival. In this study, the effects of L-methionine sulfoximine (MS), DL-methionine sulfone (MSO), and DL-methionine sulfoxide (MSE), three glutamate analogs, on several biological processes were evaluated. We found that these analogs inhibited the growth of epimastigotes cells and showed a synergistic effect with stress conditions such as temperature, nutritional starvation, and oxidative stress. The specific activity for the reductive amination of α-ketoglutaric acid, catalyzed by the NADP+-linked glutamate dehydrogenase, showed an increase in the NADP+ levels, when MS, MSE, and MSO were added. It suggests an eventual conversion of the compounds tested by the T. cruzi cells. The fact that trypomastigote bursting was not significantly inhibited when infected cells were treated with these compounds, remarks the existence of relevant metabolic differences among the different life-cycle stages. It must be considered when proposing a new therapeutic drug.

Determination of Sulfur Amino Acids in Foods as Related to Bioavailability

During the processing of feedstuffs and foods, methionine can be oxidized to methionine sulfoxide and methionine sulfone, and cysteine can be oxidized to cysteic acid. Methionine sulfone and cysteic acid are nutritionally unavailable, but methionine sulfoxide can be utilized, at least to some degree. The degree of utilization depends on the levels of methionine, cysteine, and methionine sulfoxide in the diet, but there is no consensus in the literature on the quantitative impact of these dietary constituents on methionine sulfoxide utilization. Methionine and cysteine are most often determined after quantitative oxidation to methionine sulfone and cysteic acid, respectively, using performic acid oxidation prior to hydrolysis. However, this method may overestimate the methionine content of processed foods, as it will include any methionine sulfoxide and methionine sulfone present. A selection of analytical methods has been developed to allow the separate determination of the 3 oxidized forms of methionine, the merits of which are discussed in this review. An additional consideration for determining methionine and cysteine bioavailability is that not all dietary methionine and cysteine is digested and absorbed from the small intestine. Selected methods designed to determine the extent of digestion and absorption are discussed. Finally, a concept for a new assay for determining methionine bioavailability, which includes determining the digestibility of methionine and methionine sulfoxide as well as the utilization of methionine sulfoxide, is presented.

Determination of Amino Acids in Food and Feed by Derivatization with 6-Aminoquinolyl-N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl Carbamate and Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatographic Separation

A study of a new amino acid analysis method using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate as a precolumn derivatization reagent for the analysis of food and feed is described. All amino acids, including methionine sulfone and cysteic acid, were well separated on a liquid chromatographic system using the optimized chromatographic conditions. Salts in food and feed interfered very slightly with the derivatization yields of all amino acids. Several typical agricultural products and animal feeds, including 2 AOAC test samples, were analyzed with the method. The results agreed well with the data generated by using the classical postcolumn method with ion-exchange chromatography. The average relative standard deviations for corn and broiler starter feed were 0.74 and 0.70%, respectively. Good recoveries of all amino acids were demonstrated (average, 101%), even for a sample with a very complex matrix.