J F Medina

Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

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Publications (17)49.29 Total impact

  • Article: Leukotriene A4 hydrolase: a critical role of glutamic acid-296 for the binding of bestatin.
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    ABSTRACT: Leukotriene A(4) hydrolase is a bifunctional Zn(2+)-containing enzyme catalysing the formation of the potent chemotaxin leukotriene B(4). From an analysis of three mutants of Glu-296 we have found that this catalytic residue is critical for the binding of bestatin, a classical aminopeptidase inhibitor. For bestatin, but not for three other tight-binding inhibitors, the IC(50) values for inhibition of the epoxide hydrolase activity decreased in the mutants to 0.7-0.003% of the control. Hence Glu-296 is an important structural determinant for binding of bestatin to leukotriene A(4) hydrolase; this conclusion might also apply to other members of the M1 family of metallopeptidases.
    Biochemical Journal 03/2000; 345 Pt 3:621-5. · 4.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Novel structural and functional properties of leukotriene A4 hydrolase. Implications for the development of enzyme inhibitors.
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    ABSTRACT: Recent work in our laboratory, some of which is described in this report, has established that LTA4 hydrolase is a bifunctional metalloenzyme that contains one zinc atom, essential for both catalytic activities. The well-characterized epoxide hydrolase activity, i.e., the conversion of LTA4 into LTB4 is inhibited by exposure to LTA4, and this irreversible enzyme inactivation also affects the peptidase activity. In contrast, the peptide hydrolysis proceeds without any signs of enzyme inactivation, can be stimulated by physiologic concentrations of chloride ions, and is critically dependent on the presence of a Glu residue in position 296 of the protein. A model of the active center, which summarizes these novel structural and functional properties of LTA4 hydrolase, is presented in Fig. 6.
    Advances in prostaglandin, thromboxane, and leukotriene research 02/1994; 22:3-12.
  • Article: Molecular cloning of a 12-lipoxygenase cDNA from rat brain.
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    ABSTRACT: A cDNA encoding an arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase from rat brain was obtained by polymerase chain reaction cloning. Primers specific for porcine leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase cDNA were used to isolate the initial polymerase-chain-reaction product (395 bp). The final sequence of the rat 12-lipoxygenase cDNA coding region (1989 bp) was verified by analysis of several separate polymerase-chain-reaction products. The open reading frame corresponded to a protein of 662 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular mass of 75,305 Da. Also the rat 12-lipoxygenase contained the six conserved histidines, characteristic for all cloned lipoxygenases. It displayed the highest degree of identity to porcine leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase (71%) and to human 15-lipoxygenase (75%), with less resemblance to human platelet 12-lipoxygenase (59%) or rat leukocyte 5-lipoxygenase (41%). The recombinant enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli and incubated with arachidonic acid. Primarily 12-lipoxygenase (but also some 15-lipoxygenase) enzyme activity was obtained. A part of the brain 12-lipoxygenase cDNA was used as probe in Northern blots. A 2.7-kb mRNA was more abundant in RNA from rat leukocytes, lung, and aorta, than in RNA from rat brain. Sequencing of parts of the corresponding cDNAs (from leukocytes and lung), and comparison to the brain 12-lipoxygenase sequence, indicated that these mRNAs from the different rat tissues were identical.
    European Journal of Biochemistry 04/1993; 212(2):605-12. · 3.58 Impact Factor
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    Article: Leukotriene A4 hydrolase: abrogation of the peptidase activity by mutation of glutamic acid-296.
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    ABSTRACT: The metal-binding motif in the sequence of leukotriene A4 (LTA4) (EC 3.3.2.6), a bifunctional zinc metalloenzyme, contains a glutamic acid that is conserved in several zinc hydrolases. To study its role for the two catalytic activities, Glu-296 in mouse leukotriene A4 hydrolase was replaced by a glutamine or alanine residue by site-directed mutagenesis. Wild-type and mutated cDNAs were expressed four or five times in Escherichia coli, and the resulting proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity. With respect to their epoxide hydrolase activities--i.e., the conversion of LTA4 into leukotriene B4--the mutated enzymes [Gln296]LTA4 hydrolase and [Ala296]LTA4 hydrolase exhibited specific activities of 1070 +/- 160 and 90 +/- 30 nmol of LTB4 per mg of protein per min (mean +/- SD; n = 4 or 5), respectively, corresponding to 150% and 15% of unmutated enzyme. In contrast, when the mutated proteins were assayed for peptidase activity toward alanine-4-nitroanilide, they were found to be virtually inactive (less than or equal to 0.2% of unmutated enzyme). To serve as a positive control, we also replaced Ser-298 with an alanine residue, which resulted in a protein ([Ala298]LTA4 hydrolase) with catalytic properties almost indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme. Substitution of Glu-296 by glutamine or alanine was also carried out with human LTA4 hydrolase, and the mutated human enzymes displayed specific activities similar to the corresponding mouse proteins. Zinc analyses of the purified mouse and human proteins confirmed that the mutations did not significantly influence their zinc content. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate a direct catalytic role for Glu-296 in the peptidase reaction of LTA4 hydrolase, where it presumably acts as a base to polarize water, whereas its function, if any, is apparently not essential in the epoxide hydrolase reaction.
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11/1992; 89(19):9141-5. · 9.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Recombinant mouse leukotriene A4 hydrolase: a zinc metalloenzyme with dual enzymatic activities.
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    ABSTRACT: Recombinant mouse leukotriene A4 hydrolase was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with ten additional amino acids at the amino terminus and was purified to apparent homogeneity by means of precipitation, anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction and chromatofocusing chromatographies. By atomic absorption spectrometry, the enzyme was shown to contain one mol of zinc/mol of enzyme. Apparent kinetic constants (Km and Vmax) for the conversion of leukotriene A4 to leukotriene B4 (at 0 degree C, pH 8) were 5 microM and 900 nmol/mg per min, respectively. The purified enzyme also exhibited significant peptidase activity towards the synthetic amide alanine-4-nitroanilide. Km and Vmax for this reaction (at 37 degrees C, pH 8) were 680 microM and 365 nmol/mg per min, respectively. Apo-leukotriene A4 hydrolase, prepared by treating the enzyme with 1,10-phenanthroline, was virtually inactive with respect to both enzymatic activities, but could be reactivated by addition of stoichiometric amounts of zinc or cobalt. Exposure of the enzyme to leukotriene A4 resulted in a dose-dependent inactivation of both enzyme activities.
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 11/1991; 1080(2):96-102. · 4.66 Impact Factor
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    Article: Leukotriene A4 hydrolase: determination of the three zinc-binding ligands by site-directed mutagenesis and zinc analysis.
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    ABSTRACT: Three mutants of recombinant mouse leukotriene A4 (LTA4) hydrolase (3.3.2.6) were produced by site-directed mutagenesis on cDNA. The codons corresponding to His-295, His-299, or Glu-318 were replaced by codons encoding tyrosine, tyrosine, and glutamine, respectively. The mutated cDNAs were expressed in Escherichia coli, and the three mutated proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity. None of these mutants contained significant amounts of zinc, as determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, and all of them were practically devoid of both LTA4 hydrolase and peptidase enzyme activities. Nevertheless, the mutated proteins could be positively identified by their immunoreactivities with an antiserum for human LTA4 hydrolase in immunoblot analysis. Site-directed mutagenesis was also carried out on human LTA4 hydrolase cDNA. Codons encoding His-295, His-299, and Glu-318 were replaced by ones encoding tyrosine, leucine, and alanine, respectively, and the three mutants were expressed in E. coli. The LTA4 hydrolase activities of the total soluble proteins produced in these expressions were less than 10% of that obtained for bacteria harboring nonmutated cDNA. In agreement with earlier predictions, our experimental data demonstrate that His-295, His-299, and Glu-318 constitute the three ligands of the intrinsic zinc atom in LTA4 hydrolase. Additionally, the combined loss of enzyme activities and zinc content in the purified mutated mouse proteins, emphasizes the critical role of the zinc atom for catalysis, whereas the virtually identical chromatographic behaviors of the mutated and nonmutated mouse LTA4 hydrolase proteins suggest that the metal is of limited importance for the maintenance of the enzyme tertiary structure.
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 10/1991; 88(17):7620-4. · 9.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Molecular cloning and expression of mouse leukotriene A4 hydrolase cDNA.
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    ABSTRACT: A cDNA clone for mouse leukotriene A4 hydrolase encoding the full sequence of the enzyme was isolated from a mouse spleen lambda ZAP-II library. The identification was ascertained by expression of enzyme activity in Escherichia coli. The encoded protein has 610 amino acids and exhibits an extensive identity (93%) with the human leukotriene A4 hydrolase. A region spanning between residues 233 and 340, where the zinc binding site is located, was found to be perfectly conserved between the two species. We found six sites of polymorphism in the cDNA sequence of mouse LTA4 hydrolase, one of which leads to a difference in the encoded amino acid. The polymorphism of cDNA was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR sequencing of mouse spleen total RNA, prepared as a mixture from ten different strains.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 06/1991; 176(3):1516-24. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Leukotriene A4-hydrolase in two human cell lines.
    Advances in prostaglandin, thromboxane, and leukotriene research 02/1991; 21A:41-4.
  • Article: The role of leukotriene A4 hydrolase in cells and tissues lacking 5-lipoxygenase.
    Advances in experimental medicine and biology 02/1991; 314:307-15. · 1.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Human fibroblasts show expression of the leukotriene-A4-hydrolase gene, which is increased after simian-virus-40 transformation.
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    ABSTRACT: Human fibroblasts in cell culture converted the epoxide intermediate leukotriene A4 into the potent chemotaxin leukotriene B4. The identity of leukotriene B4 was ascertained by its mobility in reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The presence of the enzyme responsible for the conversion (i.e. leukotriene A4 hydrolase), as well as the corresponding mRNA, were demonstrated by Western and Northern blot analyses. Leukotriene-A4-hydrolase enzyme activity, protein and mRNA were all enhanced (approximately threefold) in human fibroblasts that had been transformed by simian virus 40.
    European Journal of Biochemistry 08/1990; 191(1):27-31. · 3.58 Impact Factor
  • Article: B-lymphocytic cell line Raji expresses the leukotriene A4 hydrolase gene but not the 5-lipoxygenase gene.
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    ABSTRACT: The expression of LTA hydrolase and 5-lipoxygenase genes was studied in Raji cells, a Burkitt lymphoma derived B-cell line. Northern and Western blot analyses clearly showed the expression, both at the transcriptional and translational level, of the LTA4 hydrolase gene in these cells. However, expression of the 5-lipoxygenase gene was undetectable. Thus, the genes coding for the two enzymes required for biosynthesis of leukotriene B4 from arachidonic acid, 5-lipoxygenase and LTA4 hydrolase, were differentially expressed in the Raji cells.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 07/1989; 161(2):740-5. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Formation and effects of leukotriene B4 in human lymphocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: Incubation of human tonsillar B lymphocytes or peripheral blood T lymphocytes with leukotriene (LT) A4 led to the formation of LTB4. Stimulation of these cells with ionophore A23187 did not lead to the synthesis of detectable amounts of leukotrienes. Formation of LTB4 was observed in several monoclonal B- and T-cell lines after incubation with LTA4, but not after stimulation with ionophore A23187. The Burkitt lymphoma cell line Raji was found to possess higher LTA4-hydrolase activity than normal lymphocytes. The expression of the LTA4-hydrolase gene but not the 5-lipoxygenase gene was demonstrated on the transcriptional level in Northern blots and on the translational level by Western blots. Stimulation of human monocytes with ionophore A23187 resulted in the release of LTA4. Coincubations of transformed lymphocytes and monocytes stimulated with ionophore A23187 produced increased amounts of LTB4 as compared with monocytes alone. LTB4 influence on lymphocyte activation was studied and CD23 expression was used as a marker. The expression of this antigen was enhanced on resting B lymphocytes in synergy with B-cell growth-promoting factors. LTB4 also augmented DNA synthesis, cell replication and IgG secretion. These results indicate that extracellular LTA4, released from activated monocytes, is converted by lymphocytes into LTB4 which might cause activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes.
    International journal of tissue reactions 02/1989; 11(6):277-89.
  • Article: Leukotriene A4-hydrolase, cloning of the human enzyme and tissue distribution in the rat.
    Advances in prostaglandin, thromboxane, and leukotriene research 02/1989; 19:484-7.
  • Article: Leukotriene A4, conversion to leukotriene B4 in human T-cell lines.
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    ABSTRACT: Human T-cell lines (HSB, MOLT-4 and CCRF-CEM) produced leukotriene B4 when incubated with leukotriene A4. The product was characterized by chromatographic properties, UV-spectroscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. About 10 pmol of leukotriene B4 was obtained per 10(6) cells. When incubated with arachidonic acid plus the calcium ionophore A23187 however, no leukotriene B4 was found, indicating that the T-cell lines lack 5-lipoxygenase yet contain LTA4 hydrolase.
    Prostaglandins 09/1988; 36(2):241-8.
  • Article: Leukotriene A4: metabolism in different rat tissues.
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    ABSTRACT: The transformation of leukotriene A4 into dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes was determined in homogenates of rat tissues supplied with glutathione and albumin. The highest production of leukotriene B4 was found in spleen, lung and small intestine, while leukotriene C4 dominated in liver and lung. 5(S),6(R)-Dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (5,6-DHETE) was formed in all tissues, most prominently in kidney, heart and brain. We also found another isomer of 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid produced in the kidney. This compound was derived from 5,6-DHETE by isomerization, probably of the 11-cis double bond to 11-trans, and the process appeared to be catalyzed by a membrane-bound factor.
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 08/1988; 961(2):203-12. · 4.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Enzymatic hydrolysis of leukotriene A4 into 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and LTB4 by mammalian kidney.
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    ABSTRACT: Homogenates from rat and pig kidney converted leukotriene A4 to 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid as well as leukotriene B4. Both hydrolyses were enzymatic as judged by the effects of heat treatment and proteolytic digestion. Upon subcellular fractionation, conversion of leukotriene A4 to 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid occurred both in the 105,000xg supernatant and the 20,000xg pellet from rat kidney, whereas conversion to leukotriene B4 was confined to the 105,000xg supernatant. We also found production of 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and leukotriene B4 in isolated rat renal epithelial cells, either from exogenous leukotriene A4 or from this substrate supplied by human leukocytes.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 04/1987; 143(2):697-703. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Leukotriene A4 hydrolase: structural and functional properties of the active center.
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    ABSTRACT: Leukotriene (LT) A4 hydrolase (EC 3.3.2.6) is a bifunctional zinc metalloenzyme that possesses both an epoxide hydrolase activity, i.e., the well-known conversion of LTA4 into the proinflammatory substance LTB4, and a recently discovered peptidase activity. We have employed biochemical/kinetic analyses of native enzyme as well as site directed mutagenesis towards a recombinant enzyme to explore structural and functional properties of the enzyme active center. Thus, we have found that the peptidase activity is selectively stimulated by chloride ions, in a manner that suggests the presence of an anion binding site. Furthermore, a number of mutated enzymes have been constructed, expressed in E. coli, and purified to homogeneity to allow enzyme activity determinations and zinc analyses. The catalytic properties and zinc contents of these mutated enzymes establish the three zinc binding ligands of the protein and identify Glu-296 as a catalytic amino acid, directly involved in the peptidase, but not in the epoxide hydrolase reaction. In conclusion, our data provide strong evidence that the two catalytic activities of LTA4 hydrolase are exerted via non-identical but overlapping active sites.
    Journal of lipid mediators 6(1-3):1-13.