Univ., Diss.--Osnabrück, 1998.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen specie (ROS), is most commonly associated with oxidative stress causing cytotoxic effects on living cells. Oxidative stress has been implicated in various conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer. In addition H2O2 is produced as a defense mechanism against pathogens, as being released by activated phagocytes. In recent years, H2O2 has become established as an important regulator of signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. Hydrogen peroxide is generated both intracellularly and extracellularly in response to various stimuli including cytokines and growth factors. There are different mechanisms by which H2O2 is generated, facilitating signal transduction in cells; through NOX-system in miyochondria, via singlet oxygen, receptor/ligand interaction or by redox active metal ions. The HIV glycoprotein 120 (gp120) is associated with HIV dementia and it is known as a neurotoxin that causes neuronal damage. It has been proposed that free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis caused by gp120. In addition the truncated form of thioredoxin (Trx80) is known to stimulate HIV replication in HIV infected cells, however, the exact mechanism is not known. A possible way both proteins may mediate their activity is by inducing H2O2 production. The aim of this study was to investigate H2O2 production induced by the proteins gp120 and Trx80. In order to detect H2O2 production an assay based on the fluorescent compound Amplex Red, was established. The assay was used to detect H2O2 released by gp120 and Trx80 in a cell-free environment, in a cell-system and in the presence of metal ions (copper ions) with a physiological reductant (ascorbate). We did not detect H2O2 production induced by gp120 and Trx80 respectively, using our assay, however, other ROS such as hydroxyl radicals may have been generated although they were not detectable with our method. Hence, further studies are needed in order to fully understand how gp120 and Trx80 mediate their activity.

NADPH, tiorredoxina e tioredoxina redutase compõem o sistema tiorredoxina, estão envolvidos na redução de ligações específicas de dissulfetos que desempenham um grande número de funções biológicas, tais como: síntese de DNA, defesa contra o estresse oxidativo, apoptose e sinalização redox. Tem sido demonstrado que as interações tioredoxina redutase-tiorredoxina são espécies específicas, sendo assim, investigamos aqui a especificidade dos substratos da tioredoxina redutase 2 mitocondrial (ScTrxR2) de Saccharomyces cerevisiae frente a outras tioredoxinas. ScTrxR2 especificamente reduziu as tiorredoxinas de levedura (tiorredoxina 1 = ScTrx1, tiorredoxina 2 = ScTrx2 e tiorredoxina = ScTrx3), mas não conseguiu reduzir a tiorredoxina de Homo sapiens e a de Escherichia coli. Além disso, ScTrxR2 exibiu eficiência catalítica semelhante para ScTrx3, que está localizado na mitocôndria e ScTrx1 e ScTrx2 que estão localizadas no citosol. Para compreender as características deste fenômeno, resolvemos a estrutura cristalográfica da ScTrxR2 a 1,9 Å de resolução por meio de substituição molecular utilizando as coordenadas de ScTrxR1 (PDB Id = 3ITJ) como modelo (Oliveira et al., 2010). A ScTrxR2 é uma proteína de dois domínios (domínio de ligação do NADPH e domínio de ligação do FAD). As tiorredoxinas redutases de baixo peso molecular podem adotar duas conformações: flavina oxidada (FO) e flavina reduzida (FR), estando esta última envolvida na interação física com as tiorredoxinas. A estrutura cristalográfica da ScTrxR2 obtida por nós está na conformação FO. Posteriormente, modelamos a conformação FR (Flavina reduzida) da ScTrxR2, a partir da estrutura do cristal na conformação FO, e utilizando a estrutura cristalográfica da tiorredoxina redutase de E. coli complexada com a tiorredoxina (PDB 1F6M). Pela análises dessas estruturas, levantamos hipóteses de que alguns resíduos de aminoácidos podem estar envolvidos nas interações espécie-específicas entre tiorredoxina redutase e tiorredoxina. Com isso, geramos mutantes sítio dirigidos das Trx de levedura e da ScTrxR2 e através de ensaios enzimáticos e bioquímicos com estas proteínas mutantes estamos testando as hipóteses levantadas sobre possíveis amino ácidos envolvidos em interações entre tiorredoxina e tiorredoxina redutase / NADPH, thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase, comprising the thioredoxin system, are involved in the reduction of specific disulfides linkages that play a large number of biological roles, such as: DNA synthesis, defense against oxidative stress, apoptosis and redox signaling. It has been shown that thioredoxin reductase-thioredoxin interactions are species-specific, therefore we have investigated here the substrate specificity of mitochondrial Thioredoxin reductase 2 (ScTrxR2) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae towards other thioredoxins. ScTrxR2 specifically reduced yeast thioredoxins (thioredoxin 1 = ScTrx1, thioredoxin 2 = ScTrx2 and thioredoxin = ScTrx3), but failed to reduce thioredoxin from Homo sapiens and from Escherichia coli. Furthermore, ScTrxR2 displayed similar catalytic efficiency towards ScTrx3, which is located in the mitochondria and ScTrx1 and ScTrx2 that are located in the cytosol. To understand the features of this phenomenon, we have solved the crystallographic structure of ScTrxR2 at 1,9Å resolution through molecular replacement using ScTrxR1 as search model (Oliveira et al., 2010)1. ScTrxR2 is a two-domain protein (NADPH and FAD binding domains). Low molecular weight thioredoxin reductases can adopt two conformations: flavin oxidized (FO) or flavin reduced (FR), the late one physically interacts with thioredoxins. Our ScTrxR2 crystal structure is in the FO conformation. Therefore, we have modeled the ScTrxR2 FR (Flavin reduced) conformation from our FO crystal structure and using the E. coli thioredoxin reductase crystallographic structure complexed with thioredoxin (PDB code 1F6M). Then, we have raised hypothesis that some amino acid residues that may be involved in the thioredoxin reductase-thioredoxin interactions. Next, site-directed mutants of yeast Trxs and ScTrx2 were generated. Through enzymatic and biochemical assays with these mutant proteins we are testing the hypothesis generated by structural analysis

This thesis focuses on the study of TTL protein family in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. It sums up available published data on this so far poorly studied genes and presents newly gained experimental data. Main emphasis is given to TTLs cellular localization in possible relationship to their physiological function. Presented thesis comprises of in silico analysis of TTL proteins, but also the creation and microscopy analysis of TTL-mRuby2 and TTL-GFP fusion proteins in transient and permanent transformants. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

The thioredoxin system is the major cellular reductant system present in the cell, whose role is to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. It does this in part, by regulating the activity of many other enzymes including ribonucleotide reductase, which is essential for DNA synthesis. It also acts as an antioxidant, reducing destructive reactive oxygen species. The thioredoxin system is comprised of thioredoxin (Trx) which reduces target protein disulfide bridges by thiol-disulfide exchange and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) which reduces Trx back to its active state. Thioredoxin reductase is a common target for many cancer drugs including cisplatin and auranofin. Recently we have shown that the Florida red tide toxin, brevetoxin-2 (PbTx-2) can inhibit mammalian TrxR1. Brevetoxin-2 has α, β-unsaturated aldehyde moiety that was proposed to inhibit the enzyme by forming a Michael adduct. Several compounds which are similar to brevetoxin in size and functionality have a similar effect on TrxR. These compounds include antitumor and antibiotics such as manumycin A, geldanamycin, rifamycin SV and thiostrepton and toxins such as brevetoxin-3, nodularin and microcystin-LR. Manumycin A behaves as a typical TrxR1 inhibitor while other compounds screened activate the reduction of small disulfides such as DTNB (5,5’-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)). Mammalian thioredoxin reductase is a homodimer with two redox center viz. N-terminal dithiol buried in the enzyme and C-terminal selenosulfide located on the flexible C-terminal tail. Modification of the C-terminal tail of TrxR by these test compounds can expose N-terminal redox thiol that could reduce DTNB. The C-terminal Sec, a nucleophile can form a Michael adduct with α, β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety of test compounds. Together with point-specific mutant enzymes (C-terminal tail truncated, dead tail and Cys mutant) and enzyme assays that are specific/dependent on C-terminal Sec were used to decipher the site-specific interaction between these test compounds and TrxR. Inhibition of TrxR at the C-terminal redox center produces a pro-oxidant known as SecTRAP (Selenium Compromised Thioredoxin Reductase-derived Apoptotic Proteins), which uses NADPH to produce superoxide radical anion as observed with manumycin A. Since many cancer drugs target TrxR the present study has the potential to discover new cancer drugs.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 can damage cellular components and are formed as a byproduct of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Studies using the nematode C. elegans have found that increasing ROS during development or early adulthood can extend lifespan, while increasing ROS during later adulthood normally decreases lifespan. NADPH provides the reducing power for several cellular antioxidants and is synthesized in a two-step reaction from NAD+ with the first step being catalyzed by NAD kinase (NADK). In this study, the effects of knocking down C. elegans cytoplasmic NADK, nadk-1 globally or in a neuron or intestine-specific manner starting from early development on oxygen consumption and ROS levels were determined. Surprisingly, whole body knockdown of nadk-1 to decrease cytoplasmic NADPH levels decreased oxygen consumption and tert-butyl hydroperoxide-stimulated ROS levels, which was phenocopied by intestine-specific or neuron-specific knockdown. Thioredoxin reductase measurements following nadk-1 knockdown showed a trend toward increased activity.

Yes / Organometallic complexes offer the prospect of targeting multiple pathways that are important in cancer biology. Here, the preclinical activity and mechanism(s) of action of a silver-bis(N-heterocyclic carbine) complex (Ag8) were evaluated. Ag8 induced DNA damage via several mechanisms including topoisomerase I/II and thioredoxin reductase inhibition and induction of reactive oxygen species. DNA damage induction was consistent with cytotoxicity observed against proliferating cells and Ag8 induced cell death by apoptosis. Ag8 also inhibited DNA repair enzyme PARP1, showed preferential activity against cisplatin resistant A2780 cells and potentiated the activity of temozolomide. Ag8 was substantially less active against non-proliferating non-cancer cells and selectively inhibited glycolysis in cancer cells. Ag8 also induced significant anti-tumour effects against cells implanted intraperitoneally in hollow fibres but lacked activity against hollow fibres implanted subcutaneously. Thus, Ag8 targets multiple pathways of importance in cancer biology, is less active against non-cancer cells and shows activity in vivo in a loco-regional setting. / RMP and MS funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research (pump priming grant BPP 046). IJS and AL funded by NIHR Research & Innovation Division, Strategic Project Funding 2013 and Manchester Pharmacy School Fellowship.

Background: Oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is a key factor in the development of heart failure (HF). This study investigated the thioredoxin (Trx) system, which plays a major role in antioxidant defense, in patients suffering from ischemic (ICM) or dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy. Methods and results: Myocardial tissue from ICM (n = 13) and DCM (n = 13) patients, as well as septal tissue of patients with aortic stenosis but without diagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or subaortic stenosis (control; n = 12), was analyzed for Trx1, Trx-interacting protein (TXNIP) and E3 ligase ITCH (E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Itchy homolog) expression. Trx-reductase 1 (TXNRD1) amount and activity, cytosolic cytochrome C content, and apoptosis markers were quantified by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and multiplexing. Compared with control samples, ITCH and Trx1 expression, TXNRD1 amount and activity were reduced and TXNIP expression was increased in ICM (ITCH: P = .013; Trx1: P = .028; TXNRD1 amount: P = .035; TXNRD1 activity: P = .005; TXNIP: P = .014) but not in DCM samples. A higher level of the downstream apoptosis marker caspase-9 (ICM: 582 ± 262 MFI [P = .995]; DCM: 1251 ± 548 MFI [P = .002], control: 561 ± 214 MFI) was detected in DCM tissue. A higher expression of Bcl-2 was found in DCM (P = .011). Conclusion: The Trx system was impaired in ICM but not in DCM. ITCH appeared to be responsible for the down-regulation of the Trx system. ROS-induced mitochondrial instability appeared to play a role in DCM.

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