Tryptophan decarboxylase oxygenase

GH has been shown to induce a number of enzymes concerned with amino acid metabolism in the liver of the hypophysectomized rat (in vivo or in perfused liver [78]). Induced enzymes include tyrosine aminotransferase, tryptophan oxygenase and ornithine decarboxylase. The effects are complex, particularly in relation to interaction with glucocorticoids, and in some experiments GH lowered enzyme levels induced by glucocorticoids, although given alone it led to induction of these enzymes. 

Thiram and other dithiocarbamates are metabolic poisons. The acute effects of thiram are very similar to that of carbon disulfide, supporting the notion that the common metabolite of this compound is responsible for its toxic effects. The exact mechanism of toxicity is still unclear, however it has been postulated that the intracellular action of thiram involves metabolites of carbon disulfide, causing microsome injury and cytochrome P450 disruption, leading to increased heme-oxygenase activity. The intracellular mechanism of toxicity of thiram may include inhibition of monoamine oxidase, altered vitamin Bg and tryptophan metabolism, and cellular deprivation of zinc and copper. It induces accumulation of acetaldehyde in the bloodstream following ethanol or paraldehyde treatment. Thiram inhibits the in vitro conversion of dopamine to noradrenalin in cardiac and adrenal medulla cell preparations. It depresses some hepatic microsomal demethylation reactions, microsomal cytochrome P450 content and the synthesis of phospholipids. Thiram has also been shown to have moderate inhibitory action on decarboxylases and, in fish, on muscle acetylcholinesterases. 

Figure 2 NAD metabolism. Tip = tryptophan, 3-HK = 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-HA = 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, ACMS = a-amino-P-carboxymuconate- -semialdehyde, AMS = a-aminomuconate- -semialdehyde, NaMN = nicotinic acid mononucleotide, NMN = nicotinamide mononucleotide, NaAD = nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide. For other abbreviations, see Figure 1. (1) tryptophan oxygenase [EC 1.13.11.11], (2) formy-dase [EC 3.5.1.9], (3) kynurenine 3-hydroxylase [EC 1.14.13.9], (4) kynureninase [EC 3.7.1.3], (5) 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxygenase [EC 1.13.11.6], (6) nonenzymatic, (7) aminocarboxymuconate-semialdehyde decarboxylase [EC 4.1.1.45], (8) quinolinate phos-phoribosyltransferase [EC 2.4.2.19], (9) NaMN adenylyltransferase [EC 2.7.2.18], (10) NAD synthetase [EC 6.3.5.1], (11) NAD kinase [EC 2.7.1.23], (12) NAD" glycohydro-lase [EC 3.2.2.5], (13) nicotinamide methyltransferase [EC 2.2.1.1], (14) 2-Py-forming MNA oxidase [EC 1.2.3.1], (15) 4-Py-forming MNA oxidase [EC number not given], (16) nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase [EC 2.4.2.12], (17) NMN adenylytransferase [EC 2.7.71], (18) nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase [EC 2.4.2.11], (19) nicotinate methyltransferase [EC 2.7.1.7], and nicotinamidase [EC 3.5.1.19]. Solid line, biosynthesis dotted line, catabolism.

Enzymes present in the liver cytosol with short half-lives include ornithine decarboxylase, thymidine kinase, tyrosine aminotransferase, tryptophan oxygenase, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, serine dehydratase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. All of these enzymes have degradation rate constants greater than 0.1/h—more than 10 times more rapid than the average ka for liver cytosol proteins (Schimke, 1970). Perhaps a scrutiny of the group can provide information on the enzyme properties as well as the nature of reactions catalyzed by enzymes with rapid turnover rates. 

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