Heme-regulated eIF2alpha kinase [heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI)] plays a critical role in the regulation of protein synthesis by heme iron. The kinase active site is located in the C-terminal domain, whereas the N-terminal domain is suggested to regulate catalysis in response to heme binding. Here, we found that the rate of dissociation for Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX was much higher for full-length HRI (1.5 x 10(-)(3) s(-)(1)) than for myoglobin (8.4 x 10(-)(7) s(-)(1)) or the alpha-subunit of hemoglobin (7.1 x 10(-)(6) s(-)(1)), demonstrating the heme-sensing character of HRI. Because the role of the N-terminal domain in the structure and catalysis of HRI has not been clear, we generated N-terminal truncated mutants of HRI and examined their oligomeric state, heme binding, axial ligands, substrate interactions, and inhibition by heme derivatives. Multiangle light scattering indicated that the full-length enzyme is a hexamer, whereas truncated mutants (truncations of residues 1-127 and 1-145) are mainly trimers. In addition, we found that one molecule of heme is bound to the full-length and truncated mutant proteins. Optical absorption and electron spin resonance spectra suggested that Cys and water/OH(-) are the heme axial ligands in the N-terminal domain-truncated mutant complex. We also found that HRI has a moderate affinity for heme, allowing it to sense the heme concentration in the cell. Study of the kinetics showed that the HRI kinase reaction follows classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to ATP but sigmoidal kinetics and positive cooperativity between subunits with respect to the protein substrate (eIF2alpha). Removal of the N-terminal domain decreased this cooperativity between subunits and affected the other kinetic parameters including inhibition by Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX, Fe(II)-protoporphyrin IX, and protoporphyrin IX. Finally, we found that HRI is inhibited by bilirubin at physiological/pathological levels (IC(50) = 20 microM). The roles of the N-terminal domain and the binding of heme in the structural and functional properties of HRI are discussed.

2-methoxyaniline (o-anisidine) is an industrial and environmental pollutant and a bladder carcinogen for rodents. The mechanism of its carcinogenicity was investigated with 2 independent methods, 32 P-postlabeling and 14 C-labeled o-anisidine, to show that o-anisidine binds covalently to DNA in vitro after its activation by human hepatic microsomes. We also investigated the capacity of o-anisidine to form DNA adducts in vivo. Rats were treated i.p. with oanisidine (0.15 mg/kg daily for 5 days) and DNA from several organs was analyzed by 32 P-postlabeling. Two o-anisidine-DNA adducts, identical to those found in DNA incubated with o-anisidine and human microsomes in vitro, were detected in urinary bladder (4.1 adducts per 10 7 nucleotides), the target organ, and, to a lesser extent, in liver, kidney and spleen. These DNA adducts were identified as deoxyguanosine adducts derived from a metabolite of o-anisidine, N-(2-methoxyphenyl)hydroxylamine. This metabolite was identified in incubations with human microsomes. With 9 human hepatic microsomal preparations, we identified the specific CYP catalyzing the formation of the o-anisidine metabolites by correlation studies and by examining the effects of CYP inhibitors. On the basis of these analyses, oxidation of o-anisidine was attributed mainly to CYP2E1. Using recombinant human CYP (in Supersomes) and purified CYPs, the participation of CYP2E1 in o-anisidine oxidation was confirmed. In Supersomes, CYP1A2 was even more efficient in oxidizing o-anisidine than CYP2E1, followed by CYP2B6, 1A1, 2A6, 2D6 and 3A4. The results, the first report on the potential of the human microsomal CYP enzymes to activate o-anisidine, strongly suggest a carcinogenic potential of this rodent carcinogen for humans. ' 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

2-Nitroanisole (2-NA) is an important industrial pollutant and a potent bladder carcinogen for rodents. The mechanism of its carcinogenicity was investigated in this study. Here we have used two independent methods, (32)P-post-labeling and (3)H-labeled 2-NA, to show that 2-NA binds covalently to DNA in vitro after reductive activation by human hepatic cytosol and xanthine oxidase (XO). We also investigated the capacity of 2-NA to form DNA adducts in vivo. Male Wistar rats were treated i.p. with 2-NA (0.15 mg/kg body wt daily for 5 days) and DNA from several organs was analyzed by (32)P-post-labeling. Two 2-NA-specific DNA adducts, identical to those found in DNA incubated with 2-NA and human hepatic cytosol or XO in vitro, were detected in the urinary bladder (3.4 adducts/10(7) nt), the target organ, and, to a lesser extent, in liver, kidney and spleen. The two DNA adducts found in rat tissues in vivo were identified as deoxyguanosine adducts derived from a 2-NA reductive metabolite, N-(2-methoxyphenyl)hydroxylamine. This reactive metabolite of 2-NA was identified in incubations with human hepatic cytosol, besides 2-methoxyaniline (o-anisidine). The results of our study, the first report on the potential of human cytosolic enzymes to contribute to the activation of 2-NA by nitroreduction, strongly suggest a carcinogenic potency of this rodent carcinogen for humans.

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2-Nitroanisole (2-NA) is an important industrial pollutant and a potent carcinogen for rodents. Determining the capability of humans to metabolize 2-NA and understanding which human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are involved in its activation and/or detoxification are important to assess an individual's susceptibility to this environmental carcinogen. We compared the ability of hepatic microsomal samples from different species including human to metabolize 2-NA. Comparison between experimental animals and human P450 enzymes is essential for the extrapolation of animal carcinogenicity data to assess human health risk. Human hepatic microsomes generated a pattern of 2-NA metabolites, reproducing that formed by hepatic microsomes of rats and rabbits. An O-demethylated metabolite of 2-NA (2-nitrophenol) and two ring-oxidized derivatives of this metabolite (2,6-dihydroxynitrobenzene and 2,X-dihydroxynitrobenzene) were produced. No nitroreductive metabolism leading to the formation of o-anisidine was evident with hepatic microsomes of any species. Likewise, no DNA binding of 2-NA metabolite(s) measured with either tritium-labeled 2-NA or the (32)P-postlabeling technique was detectable in microsomes. Therefore, hepatic microsomal P450 enzymes participate in the detoxication reactions of this environmental carcinogen. Using hepatic microsomes of rabbits pretreated with specific P450 inducers, microsomes from Baculovirus transfected insect cells expressing recombinant human P450 enzymes, purified P450 enzymes, and selective P450 inhibitors, we found that human recombinant P450 2E1, 1A1, and 2B6, as well as orthologous rodent P450 enzymes, are the most efficient enzymes metabolizing 2-NA. The role of specific P450 enzymes in the metabolism of 2-NA in human hepatic microsomes was investigated by correlating specific P450-dependent reactions with the levels of 2-NA metabolites formed by the same microsomes and by examining the effects of specific inhibitors of P450 enzymes on 2-NA metabolism. On the basis of these studies, we attribute most of the 2-NA oxidation metabolism in human microsomes to P450 2E1. These results, the first report on the metabolism of 2-NA by human P450 enzymes, clearly demonstrate that P450 2E1 is the major human enzyme oxidizing this carcinogen in human liver.

We investigated the ability of hepatic cytosolic samples from human, rat, rabbit and pig to metabolize an important industrial pollutant and a potent carcinogen for rodents, 2-nitroanisole (1-methoxy-2-nitrobenzene). A comparison between experimental animals and the human enzymatic system is essential for the extrapolation of animal carcinogenicity data to humans to assess a health risk to humans. Two major metabolites produced from 2-nitroanisole by cytosols of all species were N-(2-methoxyphenyl)hydroxylamine and 2-methoxyaniline. An additional minor product of 2-nitroanisole metabolism has not yet been characterized. Both the identified metabolites are generated from 2-nitroanisole by reduction of the nitro group. To define the role of cytosolic reductases in the reduction of 2-nitroanisole, we investigated the modulation of 2-nitroanisole reduction by cofactors of the cytosolic reductases, DT-diaphorase and xanthine oxidase. The role of the human enzymes in 2-nitroanisole reduction was also investigated by correlating the xanthine oxidase-linked catalytic activities in each human cytosolic sample with the concentration of the 2-nitroanisole reduction product, 2-methoxyaniline, formed by the action of the same cytosol. On the basis of these analyses, most of hepatic cytosolic reduction of 2-nitroanisole was attributed to xanthine oxidase, but participation of DT-diaphorase in the reduction of this carcinogen in hepatic cytosols of rabbit and pigs cannot be excluded. Using the purified xanthine oxidase, its participation in 2-nitroanisole reduction was confirmed. The data clearly demonstrate the predominant role of xanthine oxidase in 2-nitroanisole reduction in human and rat hepatic cytosols and suggest a carcinogenic potency of this rodent carcinogen for humans.

Peroxidases are enzymes playing an important role in large and diverse numbers of physiological processes in organisms including human. We have attempted in this article to summarize and review the important structural and catalytic properties of principal classes of heme peroxidases as well as their biological functions. Major reactions catalyzed by these enzymes (a conventional peroxidase cycle, reactions using O2 and halogenations) and their mechanism are reviewed, too. Moreover, the reaction mechanisms by which peroxidases are implicated in bioactivation of xenobiotic chemicals are presented. Numerous chemicals including protoxicants and procarcinogens are metabolized by equally numerous chemical reactions catalyzed by peroxidases. The unifying theme is the radical nature of the oxidations. The direct conventional peroxidase reaction forming reactive species is generally responsible for the activation of procarcinogenic substrates of peroxidases. The subsequent formation of a superoxide anion radical and peroxy radicals is necessary for activation of chemicals that are poor substrates for peroxidases. The significance of studies concerning the reactions catalyzed by peroxidases is underlined in the present review article. A review with 166 references.

2-Methoxyaniline (o-anisidine) and 2-methoxynitrobenzene (o-nitroanisole) are important pollutants and potent carcinogens for rodents. o-Anisidine is oxidized by microsomes of rats and rabbits to N-(2-methoxyphenyl)hydroxylamine that is also formed as the reduction metabolite of o-nitroanisole. o-Anisidine is a promiscuity substrate of rat and rabbit cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, because CYPs of 1A, 2B, 2E and 3A subfamilies oxidize o-anisidine. Using purified CYP enzymes, reconstituted with NADPH: CYP reductase, rabbit CYP2E1 was the most efficient enzyme oxidizing o-anisidine, but the ability of CYP1A1, 1A2, 2B2, 2B4 and 3A6 to participate in o-anisidine oxidation was also proved. Utilizing Western blotting and consecutive immunoquantification employing chicken polyclonal anti bodies raised against various CYPs, the effect of o-anisidine and o-nitroanisole on the expression of the CYP enzymes was investigated. The expression of CYP1A1/2 was found to be strongly induced in rats treated with either compounds. In addition, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, a marker activity for both CYP1A1 and 1A2, was significantly increased in rats treated with either carcinogen. The data demonstrate the participation of different rat and rabbit CYP enzymes in o-anisidine oxidation and indicate that both experimental animal species might serve as suitable models to mimic the o-anisidine oxidation in human. Furthermore, by induction of rat hepatic and renal CYP1A1/2, both o-nitroanisole and o-anisidine influence their carcinogenic effects, modifying their detoxification and/or activation pathways.