20S proteasome and glyoxalase 1 activities decrease in erythrocytes derived from Alzheimer’s disease patients

As a result of accumulating methylglyoxal and advanced glycation end products in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease,it is considered a protein precipitation disease.The ubiquitin proteasome system is one of the most important mechanisms for cells to degrade proteins,and thus is very important for maintaining normal physiological function of the nervous system.This study recruited 48 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease(20 males and 28 females aged 75±6 years)and 50 healthy volunteers(21 males and 29 females aged 72±7 years)from the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities(Baise,China)between 2014 and 2017.Plasma levels of malondialdehyde and H2O2 were measured by colorimetry,while glyoxalase 1 activity was detected by spectrophotometry.In addition,20S proteasome activity in erythrocytes was measured with a fluorescent substrate method.Ubiquitin and glyoxalase 1 protein expression in erythrocyte membranes was detected by western blot assay.The results demonstrated that compared with the control group,patients with Alzheimer’s disease exhibited increased plasma malondialdehyde and H2O2 levels,and decreased glyoxalase 1 activity;however,expression level of glyoxalase 1 protein remained unchanged.Moreover,activity of the 20S proteasome was decreased and expression of ubiquitin protein was increased in erythrocytes.These findings indicate that proteasomal and glyoxalase activities may be involved in the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease,and erythrocytes may be a suitable tissue for Alzheimer’s disease studies.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities(approval No.YJ12017013)on May 3,2017.

Hesperetin induces glyoxalase 1 enhancement in SH-SY5Y cells cultured with high glucose via Nrf2/ARE activation

OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effects of hesperetin on central neurons under chronic high glucose,and the relationship to glyoxalase 1(Glo-1),a cytoprotective enzyme.METHODS The human neuroblas⁃toma SH-SY5Y cells were divided into 5 groups:normal glucose,high glucose(HG),HG plus low,middle,or high concentra⁃tion of hesperetin(1,5,25μmol·L^-1).After treatment for 72 h,neuron damages,Glo-1 expressions and functions,as well as Nrf2/ARE pathway and its regulating mechanisms were examined.RESULTS Hesperetin increased cell viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase release,which was accompanied by the elevated activity,protein,and mRNA levels of Glo-1 as well as the enhanced Glo-1 functions in SH-SY5Y cells cultured with HG.Moreover,hesperetin activated Nrf2/ARE pathway as evidenced by the raised Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 levels in nucleus and up-regulation of γ-glutamycysteine synthase(γ-GCS),a well-known target gene of Nrf2/ARE pathway.Nevertheless,pretreatment with a PKC inhibitor(Go 6983)or an Akt inhibitor(MK-22062HCl,reflecting GSK-3β activation)abolished the effect of hesperetin on protein expressions of Glo-1 and γ-GCS.CONCLUSION Hesperetin exerted the neuroprotection by promoting Glo-1 function in central neurons in long-term HG condition,which was mediated by activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway;moreover,the increased Nrf2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation mediated by PKC activation and/or GSK-3β inhibition were involved in the activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway by hesperetin.

Low red blood cell levels of deglycating enzymes in colorectal cancer patients

AIM: To investigate Glyoxalase Ⅰ and fructosamine-3-kinase (FN3K) activity in red blood cells from patients with colorectal adenomas and cancer. METHODS: Thirty three consecutive subjects with one or more histologically confirmed colorectal adenomatous polyps, 16 colorectal cancer patients and a group of 11 control subjects with normal colonoscopy were included in the study. Glyoxalase Ⅰ and FN3K activities were measured in red blood cells using a spectrophotometric and radiometric assay, respectively. RESULTS: A significant reduction in both Glyoxalase Ⅰ and FN3K activity was detected in patients with tumors compared to patients with adenomas and the controls. Erythrocyte Glyoxalase Ⅰ activity in colorectal cancer was approximately 6 times lower than that detected in patients with adenoma (0.022 ± 0.01 mmol/min per milliliter vs 0.128 ± 0.19 mmol/min per milliliter of red blood cells, P = 0.003, Tukey's test). FN3K activity in red blood cells from patients with colon cancer was approximately 2 times lower than that detected in adenoma patients (19.55 ± 6.4 pmol/min per milliliter vs 38.6 ± 31.7 pmol/min per milliliter of red blood cells, P = 0.04, Tukey's test). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that deglycating enzymes may be involved in the malignant transformation of colon mucosa.

BRITTON CHANCE IN MEMORIAM

Britton Chance was a truly inspiring scientist,among the greatest.His long and vigorous career in biochemistry,biophysics,and biological instrumentation began with his now-classic kinetic and spectroscopic studies of the mechanisms of action of individual enzymes:catalases,peroxidases,and dehydrogenases.

Neuroprotection of quercetin on central neurons against chronic high glucose through enhancement of Nrf2/Glo-1 mediated by phosphorylation regulation

OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effects of quercetin on central neurons against chronic high glucose in central neurons,in relation to Nrf2/ARE/Glo-1 activation.METHODS SH-SY5Y cells were cultured with high glucose(HG,70 mmol·L^(-1)),4-fold of the normal glucose(17.5 mmol·L^(-1)).Quercetin was set three concentrations(5,10,20μmol·L^(-1)),with Nrf2 activator sulforaphane(SFN)as a positive group(2.5μmol·L^(-1)).After 72 h,cells were collected for glyoxalase 1(Glo-1)activity and GSH level were by spectrophotometry;advanced glycation end-products(AGEs)as well as nuclear Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 levels by immunofluorescence;Glo-1,γ-glutamycysteine synthase(γ-GCS),Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 protein levels by Western blotting,and Glo-1 andγ-GCS m RNA levels by real-time qP CR.RESULTS Quercetin increased the cell viability of SH-SY5Y cells,and upregulated the levels of Glo-1 activity,protein,and m RNA in SH-SY5Y cells cultured with HG,accompanied by the elevated levels of glutathione,a cofactor of Glo-1 activity,and the reduced levels of AGEs.Meanwhile,quercetin could increase p-Nrf2 and Nrf2 levels in nucleus as well as p-Nrf2 levels in cytosol of SH-SY5Y cells exposed to chronic HG,accompanied by the elevated protein expression and m RNA levels ofγ-GCS,a known target gene of Nrf2/ARE signaling.Moreover,a PKC activator or a p38MAPK inhibitor pretreatment could significantly increase the protein expression ofγ-GCS in HG condition,but an alkylating agent for sulfydryl of cysteine in Keap 1,a negative regulator of Nrf2,pretreatment only showed an increased tendency ofγ-GCS protein,compared with without pretreatment;however,after pretreatment with those tool drugs,co-treatment with quercetin and HG had similar results to those of single tool drug pretreatment followed by HG exposure.CONCLUSION Firstly,quercetin can enhance Glo-1 function in central neurons,which is mediated by activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway,then exerts the neuroprotection against HG induced damage;moreover,PKC and p38 MAPK pathways may be involved in Nrf2 inactivation in chronic HG condition.

Oxidative Stress Tolerance Mechanism in Rice under Salinity

The research was conducted to investigate comparative oxidative damage including probable protective roles of antioxidant and glyoxalase systems in rice(Oryza sativa L.)seedlings under salinity stress.Seedlings of two rice genotypes:Pokkali(tolerant)and BRRI dhan28(sensitive)were subjected to 8 dSm^(−1) salinity stress for seven days in a hydroponic system.We observed significant variation between Pokkali and BRRI dhan28 in phenotypic,biochemical and mole-cular level under salinity stress.Carotenoid content,ion homeostasis,antioxidant enzymes,ascorbate and glutathione redox system and proline accumulation may help Pokkali to develop defense system during salinity stress.However,the activity antioxidant enzymes particularly superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and non-chloroplastic peroxidase(POD)were observed significantly higher in Pokkali compared to salt-sensitive BRRI dhan28.Higher glyoxalase(Gly-I)and glyoxalase(Gly-II)activity might have also accompanied Pokkali genotype to reduce potential cytotoxic MG through non-toxic hydroxy acids conversion.However,the efficient antioxidants and glyoxalase system together increased adaptability in Pokkali during salinity stress.

RES transformation for biosynthesis and detoxification

The reactive electrophilic species(RES), typically the molecules bearing α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group, are widespread in living organisms and notoriously known for their damaging effects. Many of the mycotoxins released from phytopathogenic fungi are RES and their contamination to cereals threatens food safety worldwide. However, due to their high reactivity, RES are also used by host organisms to synthesize specific metabolites. The evolutionary conserved glyoxalase(GLX) system scavenges the cytotoxic α-oxoaldehydes that bear RES groups, which cause host disorders and diseases. In cotton, a specialized enzyme derived from glyoxalase I(GLXI) through gene duplications and named as specialized GLXI(SPG), acts as a distinct type of aromatase in the gossypol pathway to transform the RES intermediates into the phenolic products. In this review, we briefly introduce the research progress in understanding the RES, especially the RES-type mycotoxins, the GLX system and SPG, and discuss their application potential in detoxification and synthetic biology.