Kynureninase [l-kynurenine hydrolase E.C.3.7.1.3] catalyzes the conversion of l-3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHKYN) and l-kynurenine (l-KYN) to 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-OHAA) and anthranilic acid (AA), respectively [1]. The reaction is pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) dependent and is sensitive to nutritional vitamin B6 deprivation in mammals [2]. The biochemical properties of kynureninase were studied in mouse, rat and pig liver extracts 3, 4, 5 and 6showing that this enzyme is an homodimer of around 95 kDa. It is present in all major classes of vertebrates [7]and can be regarded as a 3-hydroxykynureninase-type enzyme, since it hydrolyzes preferentially 3-OHKYN [8]. The product of this reaction, 3-OHAA is further utilised to synthesize quinolinic acid (QUINA), whose neurotoxic effect in the CNS is well documented [9]. On the other hand, l-KYN can be converted by kynurenine aminotransferase to produce kynurenic acid (KYNA), a neuroprotective agent [1]. Therefore, increases in KYNA concentrations within the central nervous system could mitigate the neurotoxic effects of QUINA while reductions in KYNA levels could promote excitotoxicity. Intraperitoneal injection of a kynureninase inhibitor o-methoxybenzoylalanine (oMBA), increases the concentration of KYNA in the hippocampal extracellular space and is able to prevent audiogenic convulsions in DBA/2 mice [10]. This, among other evidence [11], suggests that the pharmacological modulation of the kynurenine pathway could have neuroprotective effects. A substantial increase in the kynureninase activity has been observed in several cerebral and systemic inflammatory conditions [12]. In addition, it has been recently found that interferon-γ induces kynureninase activity in murine macrophages [13]and kynureninase mRNA in human monocyte/macrophages [14]. Moreover, recent in vivo data [15]suggested either the existence of two kynureninase enzymes or the presence of different regulatory co-factors of the enzymatic activity in liver and brain tissues. The cloning and characterization of kynureninase cDNA expression is therefore instrumental for clarifying the function of this enzyme, the existence of possible tissue-specific isoforms, the regulation of its expression by immune stimuli and its possible involvement in disorders associated with unbalanced levels of QUINA and KYNA. To gain insights into the physiology and pathology of the kynurenine pathway we have recently isolated the cDNAs encoding two other enzymes: kynurenine aminotransferase [16]and kynurenine 3-hydroxylase [17]. Here we report the molecular cloning of rat and human kynureninase and their biochemical characterization in transiently transfected COS-1 cells. The constitutive expression of rat kynureninase mRNA is also demonstrated in liver, kidneys, brain and other tissues by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis.
Kynureninase [l-kynurenine hydrolase E.C.3.7.1.3] catalyzes the conversion of l-3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHKYN) and l-kynurenine (l-KYN) to 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-OHAA) and anthranilic acid (AA), respectively [1]. The reaction is pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) dependent and is sensitive to nutritional vitamin B6 deprivation in mammals [2]. The biochemical properties of kynureninase were studied in mouse, rat and pig liver extracts 3, 4, 5 and 6showing that this enzyme is an homodimer of around 95 kDa. It is present in all major classes of vertebrates [7]and can be regarded as a 3-hydroxykynureninase-type enzyme, since it hydrolyzes preferentially 3-OHKYN [8]. The product of this reaction, 3-OHAA is further utilised to synthesize quinolinic acid (QUINA), whose neurotoxic effect in the CNS is well documented [9]. On the other hand, l-KYN can be converted by kynurenine aminotransferase to produce kynurenic acid (KYNA), a neuroprotective agent [1]. Therefore, increases in KYNA concentrations within the central nervous system could mitigate the neurotoxic effects of QUINA while reductions in KYNA levels could promote excitotoxicity. Intraperitoneal injection of a kynureninase inhibitor o-methoxybenzoylalanine (oMBA), increases the concentration of KYNA in the hippocampal extracellular space and is able to prevent audiogenic convulsions in DBA/2 mice [10]. This, among other evidence [11], suggests that the pharmacological modulation of the kynurenine pathway could have neuroprotective effects. A substantial increase in the kynureninase activity has been observed in several cerebral and systemic inflammatory conditions [12]. In addition, it has been recently found that interferon-γ induces kynureninase activity in murine macrophages [13]and kynureninase mRNA in human monocyte/macrophages [14]. Moreover, recent in vivo data [15]suggested either the existence of two kynureninase enzymes or the presence of different regulatory co-factors of the enzymatic activity in liver and brain tissues. The cloning and characterization of kynureninase cDNA expression is therefore instrumental for clarifying the function of this enzyme, the existence of possible tissue-specific isoforms, the regulation of its expression by immune stimuli and its possible involvement in disorders associated with unbalanced levels of QUINA and KYNA. To gain insights into the physiology and pathology of the kynurenine pathway we have recently isolated the cDNAs encoding two other enzymes: kynurenine aminotransferase [16]and kynurenine 3-hydroxylase [17]. Here we report the molecular cloning of rat and human kynureninase and their biochemical characterization in transiently transfected COS-1 cells. The constitutive expression of rat kynureninase mRNA is also demonstrated in liver, kidneys, brain and other tissues by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis.
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