Biomaterial Database

Effect of lindane and heptachlor on delta-aminolaevulinate synthase and its regulation. 1998

M C Taira, and L C San Martín de Viale

Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The effect of lindane and heptachlor on haem metabolism was studied with the aim to elucidate the mechanism of their porphyrinogenic action. The effects of these compounds on delta-aminolaevulinate synthase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase were evaluated and the mechanism of increase of ALA-S activity was especially studied. The results indicated the following: (1) Lindane and heptachlor produced increases in ALA-S activity; this effect was dependent on the drug dose, the time of treatment, and the development of the animal, the maximum response being obtained prior to hatching. Lindane was observed to have a greater effect on ALA-S than heptachlor. In fact, when effects of lindane and heptachlor were compared we observed that lindane produced: (a) greater increases in ALA-S activity (six fold vs four fold), both with respect to dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) controls (3.8+/-0.3 nmol ALA/g liver per h); (b) earlier ALA-S response (1.5 h vs 4 h); (c) responses at lower doses (0.3 mg/egg vs 1 mg/egg). (2) The increase in ALA-S activity produced by lindane or heptachlor is an induction and not an activation process since it depends on protein synthesis and the drugs per se have no effect. Thus, our results obtained from studies in ovo with actinomycin D and cycloheximide suggest that lindane is acting at the translational level while heptachlor interferes at the level of transcription. (3) The study of ALA-S subcellular distribution indicated no accumulation in the cytosol of DMSO controls and in the lindane or heptachlor treated embryos, neither of the chlorinated pesticides alter the normal subcellular distribution of this regulatory enzyme in the liver. (4) Exogenous haem was able to prevent or decrease the induction of ALA-S elicited by both pesticides, thus showing that lindane or heptachlor-induced ALA-S respond to haem regulation. (5) Lindane had no effect on ferrochelatase activity at the doses and times assayed, but heptachlor decreased this enzyme activity. The porphyrinogenic mechanism of lindane and heptachlor is discussed on the basis of the present results.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D011164	Porphyrias	A diverse group of metabolic diseases characterized by errors in the biosynthetic pathway of HEME in the LIVER, the BONE MARROW, or both. They are classified by the deficiency of specific enzymes, the tissue site of enzyme defect, or the clinical features that include neurological (acute) or cutaneous (skin lesions). Porphyrias can be hereditary or acquired as a result of toxicity to the hepatic or erythropoietic marrow tissues.	Porphyria,Porphyrin Disorder,Disorder, Porphyrin,Disorders, Porphyrin,Porphyrin Disorders
D002642	Chick Embryo	The developmental entity of a fertilized chicken egg (ZYGOTE). The developmental process begins about 24 h before the egg is laid at the BLASTODISC, a small whitish spot on the surface of the EGG YOLK. After 21 days of incubation, the embryo is fully developed before hatching.	Embryo, Chick,Chick Embryos,Embryos, Chick
D004790	Enzyme Induction	An increase in the rate of synthesis of an enzyme due to the presence of an inducer which acts to derepress the gene responsible for enzyme synthesis.	Induction, Enzyme
D005294	Ferrochelatase	A mitochondrial enzyme found in a wide variety of cells and tissues. It is the final enzyme in the 8-enzyme biosynthetic pathway of HEME. Ferrochelatase catalyzes ferrous insertion into protoporphyrin IX to form protoheme or heme. Deficiency in this enzyme results in ERYTHROPOIETIC PROTOPORPHYRIA.	Heme Synthetase,Porphyrin-Metal Chelatase,Protoheme Ferro-Lyase,Zinc Chelatase,Chelatase, Porphyrin-Metal,Chelatase, Zinc,Ferro-Lyase, Protoheme,Porphyrin Metal Chelatase,Protoheme Ferro Lyase,Synthetase, Heme
D006427	Hemin	Chloro(7,12-diethenyl-3,8,13,17-tetramethyl-21H,23H-porphine-2,18-dipropanoato(4-)-N(21),N(22),N(23),N(24)) ferrate(2-) dihydrogen.	Ferriprotoporphyrin,Hematin,Alkaline Hematin D-575,Chlorohemin,Ferrihaem,Ferriheme Chloride,Ferriprotoporphyrin IX,Ferriprotoporphyrin IX Chloride,Panhematin,Protohemin,Protohemin IX,Alkaline Hematin D 575,Chloride, Ferriheme,Chloride, Ferriprotoporphyrin IX,Hematin D-575, Alkaline
D006533	Heptachlor	A man-made compound previously used to control termites and other insects. Even though production of heptachlor was phased out of use in the United States during the late 1980's it remains in soil and hazardous waste sites. It is clearly toxic to animals and humans but, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that heptachlor is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (From ATSDR Public Heath Statement, April 1989)
D000637	Transaminases	A subclass of enzymes of the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of an amino group from a donor (generally an amino acid) to an acceptor (generally a 2-keto acid). Most of these enzymes are pyridoxyl phosphate proteins. (Dorland, 28th ed) EC 2.6.1.	Aminotransferase,Aminotransferases,Transaminase
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001556	Hexachlorocyclohexane	Any of several polyhalogenated organic compounds consisting of a six-carbon ring with one chlorine and one hydrogen attached to each carbon.	Benzene Hexachloride,Lindane,gamma-Benzene Hexachloride,BHC Insecticide,Delitex,Epsilon-hexachlorocyclohexane,Eta-hexachlorocyclohexane,Gamma-666,Gammexane,Hexachlorane,Jacutin,Kwell,PMS-Lindane,Scabecid,Scabene,Scabisan,Tetocid,Zeta-hexachlorocyclohexane,gamma-HCH,gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane,Epsilon hexachlorocyclohexane,Eta hexachlorocyclohexane,Gamma 666,Hexachloride, Benzene,Hexachloride, gamma-Benzene,Insecticide, BHC,PMS Lindane,Zeta hexachlorocyclohexane,gamma Benzene Hexachloride,gamma HCH,gamma Hexachlorocyclohexane