title: Paraoxonase 1 protects against protein N-homocysteinylation in humans.
abstract: Genetic or nutritional disorders in homocysteine (Hcy) or folate metabolism elevate plasma Hcy-thiolactone and lead to vascular and/or brain pathologies. Hcy-thiolactone has the ability to form isopeptide bonds with protein lysine residues, which generates N-Hcy-protein with autoimmunogenic and prothrombotic properties. Paraoxonase (PON1), carried on high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) in the blood, hydrolyzes Hcy-thiolactone and protects against the accumulation of N-Hcy-protein in vitro. To determine its role in vivo, we studied how natural variation in Hcy-thiolactonase activity of PON1 affects plasma N-Hcy-protein levels in cystathionine beta-synthase-deficient patients (n=28). We found that plasma N-Hcy-protein was negatively correlated with serum Hcy-thiolactonase activity (r=-0.43, P=0.01), i.e., the higher the Hcy-thiolactonase activity, the lower N-Hcy protein levels. This relation was faithfully replicated in vitro in experiments with radiolabeled Hcy-thiolactone. We also found that enzymatic activities of the PON1 protein measured with artificial substrates correlated less strongly (r=-0.36, P=0.025 for paraoxonase activity) or did not correlate at all (phenylacetate hydrolase and TBLase activities) with plasma N-Hcy protein. These findings provide evidence that the Hcy-thiolactonase activity of PON1 is a determinant of plasma N-Hcy-protein levels and that Hcy-thiolactonase/PON1 protects proteins against N-homocysteinylation in vivo, a novel mechanism likely to contribute to atheroprotective roles of HDL in humans.-Perła-Kaján, J., Jakubowski, H. Paraoxonase 1 protects against protein N-homocysteinylation in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, 225 Warren St. Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perla-Kaján
authors.forename: Hieronim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D006712:Homocystinuria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; C007957:homocysteine thiolactone; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase