title: Effect of methyl mercaptan on synthesis and degradation of collagen.
abstract: Measurements of the conversion of [14C]-proline to [14C]-hydroxyproline were employed to assess the effect of methyl mercaptan on intra- and extracellular metabolism of collagenous proteins in human gingival fibroblast cultures. Following a 30-min pulse, 10 ng of methyl mercaptan per ml of 95% air/5% CO2 head-space suppressed collagen synthesis by 39% and increased the intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen from 26% to 42%. Parallel cultures assayed for proline transport demonstrated a 29% inhibition of [14C]-proline uptake. A similar analysis of cultures exposed to methyl mercaptan for 12 h revealed an increase in intracellular degradation (20% control vs. 30% test) and a marked increase in extracellular collagenolysis (4% control vs. 55% test). While pulsing, collagen synthesis was decreased by 39%. Slab gel electrophoresis also demonstrated that treatment with methyl mercaptan caused reductions both in mature alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains of type I collagen and in type III procollagen. Identities of the procollagen species were confirmed by pepsin digestion. Reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction was utilized to compare expression of alpha 1 chains of type I procollagen with type III procollagen and indicated suppression of mRNA synthesis for type III procollagen in cultures exposed to methyl mercaptan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaegaki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonzetich
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D011347:Procollagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011347:Procollagen; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C005231:methylmercaptan; D003094:Collagen; D011392:Proline; D006909:Hydroxyproline