Immunocyte Ca2+ influx system mediated by LTRPC2

We characterized an activation mechanism of the human LTRPC2 protein, a member of the transient receptor potential family of ion channels, and demonstrated that LTRPC2 mediates Ca2+ influx into immunocytes. Intracellular pyrimidine nucleotides, adenosine 5'-diphosphoribose (ADPR), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), directly activated LTRPC2, which functioned as a Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channel and enabled Ca2+ influx into cells. This activation was suppressed by intracellular adenosine triphosphate. These results reveal that ADPR and NAD act as intracellular messengers and may have an important role in Ca2+ influx by activating LTRPC2 in immunocytes.     

Requirement of NAD and SIR2 for life-span extension by calorie restriction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Calorie restriction extends life-span in a wide variety of organisms. Although it has been suggested that calorie restriction may work by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species produced during respiration, the mechanism by which this regimen slows aging is uncertain. Here, we mimicked calorie restriction in yeast by physiological or genetic means and showed a substantial extension in life-span. This extension was not observed in strains mutant for SIR2 (which encodes the silencing protein Sir2p) or NPT1 (a gene in a pathway in the synthesis of NAD, the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). These findings suggest that the increased longevity induced by calorie restriction requires the activation of Sir2p by NAD.     

ABAD directly links Abeta to mitochondrial toxicity in Alzheimer's disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of beta-amyloid (Abeta)-induced neuronal toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we demonstrate that Abeta-binding alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD) is a direct molecular link from Abeta to mitochondrial toxicity. Abeta interacts with ABAD in the mitochondria of AD patients and transgenic mice. The crystal structure of Abeta-bound ABAD shows substantial deformation of the active site that prevents nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) binding. An ABAD peptide specifically inhibits ABAD-Abeta interaction and suppresses Abeta-induced apoptosis and free-radical generation in neurons. Transgenic mice overexpressing ABAD in an Abeta-rich environment manifest exaggerated neuronal oxidative stress and impaired memory. These data suggest that the ABAD-Abeta interaction may be a therapeutic target in AD.     

Increased nuclear NAD biosynthesis and SIRT1 activation prevent axonal degeneration

Axonal degeneration is an active program of self-destruction that is observed in many physiological and pathological settings. In Wallerian degeneration slow (wlds) mice, Wallerian degeneration in response to axonal injury is delayed because of a mutation that results in overexpression of a chimeric protein (Wlds) composed of the ubiquitin assembly protein Ufd2a and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthetic enzyme Nmnat1. We demonstrate that increased Nmnat activity is responsible for the axon-sparing activity of the Wlds protein. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SIRT1, a mammalian ortholog of Sir2, is the downstream effector of increased Nmnat activity that leads to axonal protection. These findings suggest that novel therapeutic strategies directed at increasing the supply of NAD and/or Sir2 activation may be effective for treatment of diseases characterized by axonopathy and neurodegeneration.     

Direct demonstration of an adaptive constraint

The role of constraint in adaptive evolution is an open question. Directed evolution of an engineered beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IMDH), with coenzyme specificity switched from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), always produces mutants with lower affinities for NADP. This result is the correlated response to selection for relief from inhibition by NADPH (the reduced form of NADP) expected of an adaptive landscape subject to three enzymatic constraints: an upper limit to the rate of maximum turnover (kcat), a correlation in NADP and NADPH affinities, and a trade-off between NAD and NADP usage. Two additional constraints, high intracellular NADPH abundance and the cost of compensatory protein synthesis, have ensured the conserved use of NAD by IMDH throughout evolution. Our results show that selective mechanisms and evolutionary constraints are to be understood in terms of underlying adaptive landscapes.     

Biochemical modeling of an autonomously oscillatory circadian clock in Euglena

Eukaryotic microorganisms, as well as higher animals and plants, display many autonomous physiological and biochemical rhythmicities having periods approximating 24 hours. In an attempt to determine the nature of the timing mechanisms that are responsible for these circadian periodicities, two primary operational assumptions were postulated. Both the perturbation of a putative element of a circadian clock within its normal oscillatory range and the direct activation as well as the inhibition of such an element should yield a phase shift of an overt rhythm generated by the underlying oscillator. Results of experiments conducted in the flagellate Euglena suggest that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), the mitochondrial Ca2+-transport system, Ca2+, calmodulin, NAD+ kinase, and NADP+ phosphatase represent clock "gears" that, in ensemble, might constitute a self-sustained circadian oscillating loop in this and other organisms.     

烟草中依赖于NAD+的山梨醇脱氢酶基因的克隆及序列分析

以珊西烟(Nicotiana tabacum L.cv Xanthi NN)为材料,通过RT-PCR,首次克隆了烟草中山梨醇脱氢酶基因(NAD+-SDH),该基因全长1119bp,编码372个氨基酸残基,其氨基酸序列与番茄和葡萄的山梨醇脱氢酶同源性分别为92%和87%。     

Lactate dehydrogenase isozymes: further kinetic studies at high enzyme concentration

By competition with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), commonly occurring intracellular proteins, such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, and albumin, can protect LDH-1 and LDH-5 from inhibition and ternary complex formation with NAD and pyruvate. The existence of intracellular proteins that compete with LDH for NAD renders unphysiological a model for estimating the extent of intracellular LDH inhibition based on incubations of only LDH, NAD, and pyruvate.     

Changes in mean concentration, phase shifts, and dissipation in a forced oscillatory reaction

Experiments are presented that confirm earlier predictions that the mode of supply of reactants to a nonlinear (bio)chemical reaction determines or controls concentrations at steady states far from equilibrium. The oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) catalyzed by the enzyme horseradish peroxidase with continuous input of oxygen was studied; NAD+ is continuously recycled to NADH through a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase system. A comparison of steady-state concentrations is made with an oscillatory oxygen input and a constant input at the same average oxygen input for both modes. By varying the frequency and amplitude of the perturbation (O2 influx), the following may be changed: the average concentration of NADH; the Gibbs free energy difference delta G of the reactants and products at steady state; the average rate of the reaction; the phase relation between the oscillatory rate and delta G; and the dissipation. These results confirm the possibility of an "alternating current chemistry," of control and optimization of thermodynamic efficiency and dissipation by means of external variation of constraints in classes of nonlinear reactions and biological pumps, and of improvements of the yield in such reactions (heterogeneous catalysis, for example).     

HST2 mediates SIR2-independent life-span extension by calorie restriction

Calorie restriction (CR) extends the life span of numerous species, from yeast to rodents. Yeast Sir2 is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase that has been proposed to mediate the effects of CR. However, this hypothesis has been challenged by the observation that CR can extend yeast life span in the absence of Sir2. Here, we show that Sir2-independent life-span extension is mediated by Hst2, a Sir2 homolog that promotes the stability of repetitive ribosomal DNA, the same mechanism by which Sir2 extends life span. These findings demonstrate that the maintenance of DNA stability is critical for yeast life-span extension by CR and suggest that, in higher organisms, multiple members of the Sir2 family may regulate life span in response to diet.     

Metabolic deficiencies in protozoa induced by thalidomide

Thalidomide inhibits growth of some protozoa. This inhibition was counteracted by nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and vitamin K(1). The mechanism of toxicity may be an interference of cellular oxidation. A protozoan test system is useful for studying the potential "side actions" of drugs in higher animals and man.     

Yeast life-span extension by calorie restriction is independent of NAD fluctuation

Calorie restriction (CR) slows aging in numerous species. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this effect requires Sir2, a conserved NAD+-dependent deacetylase. We report that CR reduces nuclear NAD+ levels in vivo. Moreover, the activity of Sir2 and its human homologue SIRT1 are not affected by physiological alterations in the NAD+:NADH ratio. These data implicate alternate mechanisms of Sir2 regulation by CR.     

Fumarate reductase in the control of heme biosynthesis

A drug-induced stimulation of heme biosynthesis in mouse liver was accompanied by altered fumarate metabolism. In liver homogenate, fumarate 1,4-C(14) was incorporated, via succinate and succinyl coenzyme A, into heme at an accelerated rate. This pathway of fumarate utilization was inhibited by acetoacetate but not by beta-hydroxybutyrate. Fumarate reduction to succinate required reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The enzyme fumarate reductase is suggested as a link between terminal oxidation and cellular control of the heme biosynthetic pathway.     

A mammalian H+ channel generated through alternative splicing of the NADPH oxidase homolog NOH-1

Voltage-gated proton (H+) channels are found in many human and animal tissues and play an important role in cellular defense against acidic stress. However, a molecular identification of these unique ion conductances has so far not been achieved. A 191-amino acid protein is described that, upon heterologous expression, has properties indistinguishable from those of native H+ channels. This protein is generated through alternative splicing of messenger RNA derived from the gene NOH-1 (NADPH oxidase homolog 1, where NADPH is the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).     

草莓果实采后NAD激酶活性与NAD（H）、NADP（H）含量及活性氧代谢的关系

【目的】研究草莓采后成熟衰老过程中NADK活性与NAD（H）、NADP（H）及活性氧代谢和膜氧化产物变化的关系，以探讨NADK在非跃变型果实成熟衰老过程中的作用，为调控果实的成熟衰老提供理论依据。【方法】将从果园采回的草莓果实贮藏于不同的温度下并进行每天取样，研究草莓果实在低温（4℃）、常温（20℃）贮藏期间成熟衰老过程中NAD激酶（NADK）活性及其底物NAD（H）、产物NADP（H）以及超氧阴离子O2- •过氧化氢（H2O2）、膜氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）含量的变化并分析NADK 与上述指标的关系。【结果】草莓果实在低温（4℃）贮藏时，其NADK活性比常温（20℃）贮藏的高，NAD（H）含量则相应比常温贮藏的低，NADP（H）含量则高于常温下的；同时，在常温贮藏期间果实O2- •生成速率和H2O2含量、膜氧化产物MDA含量均比低温贮藏的高，暗示NADK可能通过影响NAD（H）、NADP（H）的含量及比例来调控O2- •生成速率和H2O2含量，从而调控果实的成熟衰老。【结论】非跃变型果实草莓采后成熟衰老过程中，保持较高的NADK活性有利于延缓果实的成熟衰老，降低NADK活性可导致NAD和NAD（H）含量的积累，进而加速电子传递，产生大量的活性氧O2- •和H2O2，从而促进膜过氧化作用和积累较多的MDA，最终导致果实衰老变质。     

Atomic structure of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase: prototype for a structurally novel flavoenzyme family

The three-dimensional structure of spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (NADP+, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) has been determined by x-ray diffraction at 2.6 angstroms (A) resolution and initially refined to an R factor of 0.226 at 2.2 A resolution. The model includes the flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) prosthetic group and the protein chain from residue 19 through the carboxyl terminus at residue 314 and is composed of two domains. The FAD binding domain (residues 19 to 161) has an antiparallel beta barrel core and a single alpha helix for binding the pyrophosphate of FAD. The NADP binding domain (residues 162 to 314) has a central five-strand parallel beta sheet and six surrounding helices. Binding of the competitive inhibitor 2'-phospho-AMP (AMP, adenosine monophosphate) places the NADP binding site at the carboxyl-terminal edge of the sheet in a manner similar to the nucleotide binding of the dehydrogenase family. The structures reveal the key residues that function in cofactor binding and the catalytic center. With these key residues as a guide, conclusive evidence is presented that the ferredoxin reductase structure is a prototype for the nicotinamide dinucleotide and FAD binding domains of the enzymes NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADPH-sulfite reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, and NADH-nitrate reductase. Thus this structure provides a structural framework for the NADH- or NADPH-dependent flavoenzyme parts of five distinct enzymes involved in photosynthesis, in the assimilation of inorganic nitrogen and sulfur, in fatty-acid oxidation, in the reduction of methemoglobin, and in the metabolism of many pesticides, drugs, and carcinogens.     

Structural basis for the activation of cholera toxin by human ARF6-GTP

The Vibrio cholerae bacterium causes devastating diarrhea when it infects the human intestine. The key event is adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation of the human signaling protein GSalpha, catalyzed by the cholera toxin A1 subunit (CTA1). This reaction is allosterically activated by human ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), a family of essential and ubiquitous G proteins. Crystal structures of a CTA1:ARF6-GTP (guanosine triphosphate) complex reveal that binding of the human activator elicits dramatic changes in CTA1 loop regions that allow nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to bind to the active site. The extensive toxin:ARF-GTP interface surface mimics ARF-GTP recognition of normal cellular protein partners, which suggests that the toxin has evolved to exploit promiscuous binding properties of ARFs.