In vitro characterization experiments revealed the formations of 3-(trans-2’-aminocyclopropyl)alanine ((3-Acp)Ala) and 3-(trans-2’-nitrocyclopropyl)alanine ((3-Ncp)Ala) are originated via two homologous proteins, BelK HrmI, which regioselectively catalyze N?-oxygenation l-lysine. The enzymes belong to emerging heme-oxygenase-like diiron oxidase oxygenase (HDO) superfamily catalytic center is va...

Recently, the carbon monoxide (CO)-heme oxygenase pathway has been shown to play an important role in fever generation by acting on the central nervous system, but the mechanisms involved have not been assessed. Thus the present study was designed to determine whether prostagandins participate in the rise in body temperature (T(b)) observed after induction of the CO-heme oxygenase pathway in th...

BACKGROUND Both resveratrol and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are frequently used in complementary and alternative medicine. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms for potential health benefits of resveratrol and its interactions with ascorbic acid. METHODS The antioxidant enzymes heme oxygenase-1 and paraoxonase-1 were analysed for their mRNA and protein levels in HUH7 liver ce...

We tested the hypothesis that the status of NO synthesis influences the renal heme-heme oxygenase system. Studies were conducted in untreated rats and rats treated with the NO synthesis inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester for 2 days. Treated and untreated rats were contrasted in terms of renal expression of heme oxygenase-1 and -2, renal carbon monoxide (CO)-generating activity, and ur...

For many pathogenic bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa heme is an essential source of iron. After uptake, the heme molecule is degraded by heme oxygenases to yield iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin. The heme oxygenase PigA is only induced under iron-limiting conditions and produces the unusual biliverdin isomers IXbeta and IXdelta. The gene for a second putative heme oxygenase in P. aerug...

The presence of heme oxygenase and NADPH cytochrome P-450 (c) reductase, the latter an integral component of heme oxygenase and cytochrome P-450-dependent drug metabolizing enzymes, was demonstrated in human corneal epithelium. We reported for the first time that human corneal epithelium contains heme oxygenase activity as high as 20% of that reported for the human liver. Using immunological te...

Recent studies suggest that carbon monoxide (CO), which is produced in significant quantities in many brain regions, may function as a neurotransmitter. Heme oxygenase catalyzes the metabolism of heme to CO and biliverdin; however, the physiological role of CO in central cardiovascular regulation was not well understood. In the present study, we evaluated the baroreflex response of CO in the nu...