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Abstract: Band 3 (B3), the anion transporter, is an integral membrane protein that plays a key structural role by anchoring the plasma membrane to the spectrin-based membrane skeleton in the red cell. In addition, it also plays a critical role in the assembly of glycolytic enzymes to regulate red cell metabolism. However, its ability to recruit proteins that can prevent membrane oxidation has not been previously explored. In this study, using a variety of experimental approaches including cross-linking studies, fluorescence and dichroic measurements, surface plasmon resonance analysis, and proteolytic digestion assays, we document that the antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2), the third most abundant cytoplasmic protein in RBCs, interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of B3. The surface electrostatic potential analysis and stoichiometry measurements revealed that the N-terminal peptide of B3 is involved in the interaction. PRDX2 underwent a conformational change upon its binding to B3 without losing its peroxidase activity. Hemichrome formation induced by phenylhydrazine of RBCs prevented membrane association of PRDX2, implying overlapping binding sites. Documentation of the absence of binding of PRDX2 to B3 Neapolis red cell membranes, in which the initial N-terminal 11 amino acids are deleted, enabled us to conclude that PRDX2 binds to the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of B3 and that the first 11 amino acids of this domain are crucial for PRDX2 membrane association in intact RBCs. These findings imply yet another important role for B3 in regulating red cell membrane function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In addition to α, β-elimination of L-cysteine, Treponema denticola cystalysin catalyzes the racemization of both enantiomers of alanine accompanied by an overall transamination. Lys-238 and Tyr-123 or a water molecule located on the si and re face of the cofactor, respectively, have been proposed to act as the acid/base catalysts in the proton abstraction/donation at Cα/C4′ of the external aldimine. In this investigation, two site-directed mutants, K238A and Y123F, have been characterized. The Lys → Ala mutation results in the complete loss of either lyase activity or racemase activity in both directions or transaminase activity toward L-alanine. However, the K238A mutant is able to catalyze the overall transamination of D-alanine, and only D-alanine is the product of the reverse transamination. For Y123F the kcat/Km is reduced 3.5-fold for α,β-elimination, whereas it is reduced 300–400-fold for racemization. Y123F has ∼18% of wild type transaminase activity with L-alanine and an extremely low transaminase activity with D-alanine. Moreover, the catalytic properties of the Y124F and Y123F/Y124F mutants rule out the possibility that the residual racemase and transaminase activities displayed by Y123F are due to Tyr-124. All these data, together with computational results, indicate a two-base racemization mechanism for cystalysin in which Lys-238 has been unequivocally identified as the catalyst acting on the si face of the cofactor. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of the interaction of Tyr-123 with water molecules for efficient proton abstraction/donation function on the re face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study suggesting that lysine 238 is an essential residue for alpha,beta-elimination catalyzed by treponema denticola cystalysin. Background on the treponema denticola cystalysin enzyme that catalyzes the alpha,beta-elimination of lysine-cysteine to pyruvate, ammonia and H[sub 2]S; Analysis of the mutant enzymes in which Lys-238 has been replaced by Ala and Arg.

Peroxiredoxin-2 (Prx2), a typical two-cysteine peroxiredoxin, is the third most abundant protein in red cells. Although progress has been made in the functional characterization of Prx2, its role in red cell membrane protein homeostasis is still under investigation. Here, we studied Prx2 −/− mouse red cells. The absence of Prx2 promotes (i) activation of the oxidative-induced Syk pathway; (ii) increased band 3 Tyr phosphorylation, with clustered band 3; and (iii) increased heat shock protein (HSP27 and HSP70) membrane translocation. This was associated with enhanced in vitro erythrophagocytosis of Prx2 −/− red cells and reduced Prx2 −/− red cell survival, indicating the possible role of Prx2 membrane recruitment in red cell aging and in the clearance of oxidized hemoglobin and damaged proteins through microparticles. Indeed, we observed an increased release of microparticles from Prx2 −/− mouse red cells. The mass spectrometric analysis of erythroid microparticles found hemoglobin chains, membrane proteins, and HSPs. To test these findings, we treated Prx2 −/− mice with antioxidants in vivo. We observed that N -acetylcysteine reduced (i) Syk activation, (ii) band 3 clusterization, (iii) HSP27 membrane association, and (iv) erythroid microparticle release, resulting in increased Prx2 −/− mouse red cell survival. Thus, we propose that Prx2 may play a cytoprotective role in red cell membrane protein homeostasis and senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thyronamines (TAM), recently described endogenous signaling molecules, exert metabolic and pharmacological actions partly opposing those of the thyromimetic hormone T3. TAM biosynthesis from thyroid hormone (TH) precursors requires decarboxylation of the l-alanine side chain and several deiodination steps to convert e.g. l-thyroxine (T4) into the most potent 3-T1AM. Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) was proposed to mediate TAM biosynthesis via decarboxylation of TH. This hypothesis was tested by incubating recombinant human AADC, which actively catalyzes dopamine production from DOPA, with several TH. Under all reaction conditions tested, AADC failed to catalyze TH decarboxylation, thus challenging the initial hypothesis. These in vitro observations are supported by detection of 3-T1AM in plasma of patients with AADC-deficiency at levels (46±18nM, n =4) similar to those of healthy controls. Therefore, we propose that the enzymatic decarboxylation needed to form TAM from TH is catalyzed by another unique, perhaps TH-specific, decarboxylase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2), the third most abundant cytoplasmic protein in red blood cells (RBCs), is involved in the defense against oxidative stress. Although much is known about Prx2 in healthy RBCs, its role in pathological RBCs remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that the expression and net content of Prx2 are markedly increased in RBCs from two mouse models of β-thalassemia (β-thal; Hbb th/th and Hbb th3/+ strains). We also demonstrate that the increased expression of Prx2 correlates with the severity of the disease and that the amount of Prx2 bound to the membrane is markedly reduced in β-thal mouse RBCs. To explore the impact of oxidative stress on Prx2 membrane association, we examined Prx2 dimerization and membrane translocation in murine RBCs exposed to various oxidants (phenylhydrazine, PHZ; diamide; H2O2). PHZ-treated RBCs, which mimic the membrane damage in β-thal RBCs, exhibited a kinetic correlation among Prx2 membrane displacement, intracellular methemoglobin levels, and hemichrome membrane association, suggesting the possible masking of Prx2 docking sites by membrane-bound hemichromes, providing a possible mechanism for the accumulation of oxidized/dimerized Prx2 in the cytoplasm and the increased membrane damage in β-thal RBCs. Thus, reduced access of Prx2 to the membrane in β-thal RBCs represents a new factor that could contribute to the oxidative damage characterizing the pathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]