We originally identified senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) as a distinctive protein whose expression decreases in an androgenindependent manner with aging. Here, we report its sequence homology found in two kinds of bacterial gluconolactonases (GNLs) by using the BLAST search. Then, through a biochemical study, we identify SMP30 as the lactone-hydrolyzing enzyme GNL of animal species. SMP30 purified from the rat liver had lactonase activity toward various aldonolactones, such as D-and L-glucono-␦-lactone, D-and L-gulono-␥-lactone, and D-and L-galactono-␥-lactone, with a requirement for Zn 2؉ or Mn 2؉ as a cofactor. Furthermore, in SMP30 knockout mice, no GNL activity was detectable in the liver. Thus, we conclude that SMP30 is a unique GNL in the liver. The lactonase reaction with L-gulono-␥-lactone is the penultimate step in L-ascorbic acid (AA) biosynthesis, and the essential role of SMP30 in this synthetic process was verified here by a nutritional study using SMP30 knockout mice. These knockout mice (n ‫؍‬ 6), fed a vitamin C-deficient diet, did not thrive; i.e., they displayed symptoms of scurvy such as bone fracture and rachitic rosary and then died by 135 days after the start of receiving the deficient diet. The AA levels in their livers and kidneys at the time of death were <1.6% of those in WT control mice. In addition, by using the SMP30 knockout mouse, we demonstrate that the alternative pathway of AA synthesis involving D-glucurono-␥-lactone operates in vivo, although its flux is fairly small. aging ͉ osteogenic disorder ͉ vitamin C S enescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) is a 34-kDa protein whose tissue levels in the liver, kidney, and lung decrease with aging (1, 2). To examine the physiological function of SMP30, we established SMP30 knockout mice (3) and found that they were viable and fertile, although they were lower in body weight and shorter in life span than WT mice (4). Their livers were also far more susceptible to TNF-␣-and Fas-mediated apoptosis than those of WT mice, indicating that SMP30 may act to protect cells from apoptosis (3). The livers of SMP30 knockout mice showed abnormal accumulations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids (4). In addition, the lungs of these knockout mice had enlarged alveolar airspaces during their first to sixth month of life (2). However, the molecular mechanism of SMP30 function has remained obscure.Recently, we reported that SMP30 acts as a hydrolase for diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (5), a compound resembling chemical warfare nerve agents such as sarine, soman, and tabun. However, a physiological substrate for SMP30 must be present, because this compound is an artificial chemical. Our recent search for amino acid sequences resembling SMP30 was accomplished by using the BLAST program, which revealed that rat SMP30 is homologous with gluconolactonase (GNL) [EC 3.1.1.17], a lactone-hydrolyzing enzyme, of Nostoc punctiforme and Zymomonas mobilis (6). Therefore, we suspected that SMP30 is a GNL of animal species. In mammalian metabolism, GNL is...

Three types of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), which converts a protein arginine residue to a citrulline residue, are widely distributed in animal tissues. Little is known about PAD of hemopoietic cells. We found that PAD activity in human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells was induced with the granulocyte-inducing agents retinoic acid and dimethyl sulfoxide and with the monocyteinducing agent 1␣,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 . We cloned and characterized a PAD cDNA from retinoic acid-induced cells. The cDNA was 2,238 base pairs long and encoded a 663-amino acid polypeptide. The HL-60 PAD had 50 -55% amino acid sequence identities with the three known enzymes and 73% identity with the recently cloned keratinocyte PAD. The recombinant enzyme differs in kinetic properties from the known enzymes. Immunoblotting and Northern blotting with an antiserum against the enzyme and the cDNA, respectively, showed that a protein of approximately 67 kDa increased concomitantly with increase of mRNA of approximately 2.6 kilobases during granulocyte differentiation. During monocyte differentiation the same mRNA and protein increased as in granulocyte differentiation. Neither the enzyme activity nor the protein was found in macrophageinduced cells. These results suggested that expression of the PAD gene is tightly linked to myeloid differentiation.Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) 1 (protein-arginine deiminase, protein L-arginine iminohydrolase, EC 3.5.3.15) are a family of post-translational modification enzymes which convert arginine residues to citrulline residues in the presence of calcium ion. Enzymatic deimination in vitro changes the functional properties of various proteins and alters their secondary and tertiary structures (1-4). Deimination of keratins, filaggrin, and trichohyalin is involved in the process of keratinization of skin and hair (4 -9). Deiminated keratins and filaggrin are found in the cornified layer of the epidermis and deiminated trichohyalin is localized in the medulla of hair and the inner root sheath of hair follicles and these modifications are tightly linked to cell-specific stages of epidermis differentiation and hair follicle development (5-9). Extensively deiminated forms of myelin basic protein are also found in normal infant brain and in demyelinated areas of brain with multiple sclerosis, and this deimination is thought to be associated with immature myelination (10, 11). We reported a correlation between deimination of vimentin in mouse peritoneal macrophages and ionomycin-induced apoptosis (12). Deimination of a 70-kDa nuclear protein in cultured keratinocytes associated with apoptosis was also reported recently (13). All these findings suggest involvements of PAD in biological as well as pathological processes. There are at least three types of PAD in various rodent tissues which seem to be cell type specific (3, 14 -16). Their substrate specificities for BAEE and Bz-L-Arg and their antigenic properties are different. PAD type II purified from rat muscle has been well characterized. It is also pres...

Inflammation increases the abundance of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), leading to enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO), which can modify proteins by S-nitrosylation. Enhanced NO production increases the activities of the transcription factors p53 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in several models of disease-associated inflammation. S-Nitrosylation inhibits the activity of the protein deacetylase SIRT1. SIRT1 limits apoptosis and inflammation by deacetylating p53 and p65 (also known as RelA), a subunit of NF-κB. We showed in multiple cultured mammalian cell lines that NO donors or inflammatory stimuli induced S-nitrosylation of SIRT1 within CXXC motifs, which inhibited SIRT1 by disrupting its ability to bind zinc. Inhibition of SIRT1 reduced deacetylation and promoted activation of p53 and p65, leading to apoptosis and increased expression of proinflammatory genes. In rodent models of systemic inflammation, Parkinson’s disease, or aging-related muscular atrophy, S-nitrosylation of SIRT1 correlated with increased acetylation of p53 and p65 and activation of p53 and NF-κB target genes, suggesting that S-nitrosylation of SIRT1 may represent a proinflammatory switch common to many diseases and aging.

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are posttranslational modification enzymes that convert protein arginine to citrulline residues in a calcium ion-dependent manner. Previously, we reported the abnormal accumulation of citrullinated proteins and the increase in the amount of PAD2 in hippocampi from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Moreover, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocyte-specific marker protein, and vimentin were identified as citrullinated proteins by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. To clarify the substrate specificity of PADs against GFAP, we prepared recombinant human (rh)PAD1, rhPAD2, rhPAD3, rhPAD4, and rhGFAP. After incubation of rhGFAP with rhPAD1, rhPAD2, rhPAD3, and rhPAD4, citrullinated (cit-)rhGFAP was detected by Western blotting. The citrullination of rhGFAP by rhPAD2 was unique, specific, and time dependent; additionally, rhPAD1 slightly citrullinated rhGFAP. We then generated eight anti-cit-rhGFAP monoclonal antibodies, CTGF-125, -128, -129, -1212, -1213, -1221, -122R, and -1224R, which reacted specifically with cit-rhGFAP. Two of those eight monoclonal antibodies, CTGF-122R and -1224R, reacted with both cit-rhGFAP and rhGFAP in Western blots. By using the CTGF-1221 antibody and a tandem mass spectrometer, we identified the two independent citrullination sites (R270Cit and R416Cit) of cit-rhGFAP. Immunohistochemical analysis with CTGF-1221 antibody revealed cit-GFAP staining in the hippocampus of AD brain, and the cit-GFAP-positive cells appeared to be astrocyte-like cells. These collective results strongly suggest that PAD2 is responsible for the citrullination of GFAP in the progression of AD and that the monoclonal antibody CTGF-1221, reacting with cit-GFAP at R270Cit and R416Cit, is useful for immunohistochemical investigation of AD brains.

In community-dwelling elderly women, the concentration of plasma vitamin C related well to their muscle strength and physical performance.