title: Mechanistic study on the roles of a bifidogenetic growth stimulator based on physicochemical characterization.
abstract: 2-Amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, discovered as a novel bifidogenetic growth stimulator (BGS), has been characterized by determination of redox and acid-base equilibria, partition properties, and UV-vis and electron spin resonance spectral properties. BGS is proposed to function as an electron transfer mediator from NADH to O2. BGS is reduced by NADH-reduced diaphorase (or related enzymes) and the reduced BGS is reoxidized by autoxidation and a peroxidase-catalyzed reaction. The proposed reaction would spare pyruvate as an important metabolic intermediate, and minimize the cytotoxic effects of H2O2 generated by the autoxidation. Kinetic studies were performed in model enzymatic systems using 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (VK3) as a reference compound with a very weak growth-stimulating effect. The results support our proposal and reveal the superiority of BGS to VK3 as an electron transfer mediator in the proposed reactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004579:Electron Transport; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C108806:2-amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; D006133:Growth Substances; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D014812:Vitamin K; D010544:Peroxidases; C021845:NAD+ peroxidase; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase