title: Protective effect of phospholipids in methylmercury inhibition of hydroxybutyrate deshydrogenase.
abstract: The inhibitory effect of methylmercury on rat liver mitochondrial D 3-hydroxybutyrate deshydrogenase--an enzyme of the inner membrane matrix, which requires lecithin as a cofactor and has thiol residues in the active site--has been investigated. Using a partially purified enzymatic extract, methylmercury inhibition of the reactivation of the apodeshydrogenase by liposomes of lecithin has been studied as a function of lecithin concentration in the incubation medium. Partial reactivation has been observed at a concentration 3 times higher than that needed to reactivate the control. The present studies support the hypothesis that phospholipids are implicated in the mechanism of methylmercury inhibition.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D006884:Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D006884:Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase