title: Cloning and expression of succinic semialdehyde reductase from human brain. Identity with aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase.
abstract: The neuromodulator gamma-hydroxybutyrate is synthesized in vivo from gamma-aminobutyrate by transamination to succinic semialdehyde and subsequent reduction of the aldehyde group. In human brain, succinic semialdehyde reductase is thought to be responsible for the conversion of succinic semialdehyde to gamma-hydroxybutyrate. In the present work, we cloned the cDNA coding for succinic semialdehyde reductase and expressed it in Escherichia coli. A data bank search indicated that the enzyme is identical with aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase, an enzyme implicated in the detoxification of xenobiotic carbonyl compounds. Structurally, succinic semialdehyde reductase thus belongs to the aldo-keto reductase superfamily. The recombinant protein was indistinguishable from native human brain succinic semialdehyde reductase by SDS/PAGE. In addition to succinic semialdehyde, it readily catalyzed the reduction 9,10-phenanthrene quinone, phenylglyoxal and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, typical substrates of aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase. The results suggest multiple functions of succinic semialdehyde reductase/aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase in the biosynthesis of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and the detoxification of xenobiotic carbonyl compounds, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Berne, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaffhauser
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sans
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wermuth
mesh_terms: D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006884:Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C082765:aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D006884:Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase; C019416:4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase