PHAR 714 Vitamins Flashcards
The active principle for preventing scurvy?
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is also called _________________
Ascorbic Acid
Why can’t humans synthesize Vitamin C and instead depend on dietary sources?
Lack of gulonolactone oxidase enzyme (primates, fruit bats and guinea pigs also lack)
Common vitamin C containing foods
Citrus fruits, Brussels Sprouts, broccoli and kiwi fruit
Differences between Vitamin C from natural sources compared with supplements
Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables is identical to L-ascorbic acid in Vitamin C supplements (produced from D-glucose) and is therefore not superior
Describe ascorbic acid absorption
Absorbed in small intestine by sodium-dependent co-transporters (SVCT1 and SVCT2)
SVCT1 and SVCT2 differences
SVCT1 - found in most epithelial tissues
SVCT2 - found in lumenal membrane (brush border) and is widely distributed; not found in muscle and lung
Describe ascorbic acid transport
Oxidized form (dehydro-ascorbic acid) transported by sodium-independent glucose transporters (GLUTs - especially GLUT 1 and 3)
Transported in intestinal cells to plasma and lymph by facilitated diffusion through anion channels in basolateral membrane.
In plasma it is actually transported into cells by SVCTs.
Cellular and plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid
Cellular concentrations are 1-5mM (includes WBCs)
Plasma levels of dehydro-ascorbic acid are very low due to rapid uptake by GLUTs. Plasma levels of ascorbic acid are tightly regulated (about 50uM). IV administration required to achieve high levels of plasma ascorbic acid.
Gulonolacton oxidase catalyzes which transformation
L-gulonolactone oxidation to 2-keto-L-gulonolactone
Daily recommended intake of Vitamin C
90mg (kidney is very efficient)
Animals that can make Vitamin C make it from _____________. Describe the process.
alpha-D-glucose (oxidation to glucuronic acid –> glucuronic acid opens up to aldehyde form –>reduced to L-gulonic acid, an alcohol –> Carboxyl forms intramolecular ester with 5 membered ring, splitting water off and yielding L-gulonolactone –> oxidation via gulonolacton oxidase giving 2-keto-L-gulonoloactone –> keto-enol tautomerism to enol form, called L-ascorbic acid)
Does dehydro-ascorbic acid exist in solution?
No, reaction of tri-keto with water yields hemi-ketal hydrate (the typical oxidized form of Vitamin C)
What enzyme reduces the typical oxidized form of Vitamin C? Where does it get its electrons?
Dehydro-ascorbate reductase
From glutathione (2 GSH required for 1 dehydro-ascorbate)
GSSG reduced back to _____ by ____________
GSH; GSSG reductase
Purpose of NADPH in Vitamin C pathway
Recovers reduced glutathione from oxidized glutathione
What is the alternative way to recover reduced vitamin C from dehydro-ascorbate?
Dismutation (only yields 1 molecule of ascorbic acid from 2 of dehydro-ascorbate)
Recovers from dehydro-ascorbic acid radical!!
What is the main function of Vitamin C?
Functions as a co-factor in a number of hydroxylation reactions in which it maintains iron or copper ions in the metalloenzymes in the reduced state
Describe Vitamin C and collagen synthesis
Proline and lysine in collagen fibers undergo hydroxylation for cross-linking. The hydroxylase complex has an Fe2+ ascorbate cofactor in its active site. Oxygen is dissociated onto a proline and on to 2-ketoglutaric acid (forming succinc acid after decarboxylation). If Fe2+ is oxidized to 3+, ascorbate will convert it back to Fe2+
Summary: Proline-H + O2 + 2-ketoglutaric acid –> Proline-OH + CO2 + succinic acid
Describe Vitamin Cs role as a cofactor for prolyl 4-hydroxylase
Alpha-ketogluterate coordinates with enzyme bound Fe2+. Alpha-ketoglutaric acid is decarboxylated after O2 is activated, forming iron 4=O which hydroxylate proline residues. If no substrate, Fe4=O will oxidize ascorbic acid instead
How is Iron bound to prolyl 4-hydroxylase
Through interactions with His412, Asp414 and His483. Alpha-ketoglutaric acid binds in 2 sites which can be occupied by ascorbate when succinate leaves in uncoupled reaction.
What is the purpose of carnitine?
To transport long-chain fatty acids from the cell cytoplasm into the mitochondrial matrix where B-oxidation takes place.
What is the role of Vitamin C in carnitine synthesis?
Ascorbate-dependent hydroxylation occurs twice, allowing carnitine acylation with fatty acids.
Describe tyrosine catabolism and the role of Vitamin C
p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate is converted homogentisate (via p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase and a Cu1+ Asc2 complex)
Homogentisate is toxic and converted to maleylacetoacetate (via homogentisate dioxygenase and an Fe2+ Asc2 complex)
What happens if there is a defect in homogentisate dioxygenase?
A defect in this enzyme causes alkaptonuria, characterized by accumulation of homogentisate leading to painful joints. Excreted homogentisate in the urine will oxidize and turn the urine black.
Describe ascorbic acid-dependent hydroxylations for neurotransmitter synthesis (3)
Hydroxylation of dopamine by copper-dependent dopamine monooxygenase to give norepinephrine.
Hydroxylation of tryptophan (TRP monooxygenase) tot 5-OH-TRP (tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent) Ascorbate helps regenerate tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) from BH3 radical. Decarboxylation of 5-OH-TRP gives 5-OH-tryptamine, or serotonin
Ascorbate maintains coppere in peptidylglycine a-amidating monooxygenase in the reduced state. Examples include gastrin-releasing peptide, calcitonin, corticotrophin-releasing factor, gastrin, oxytocin, and vasopressin.
Describe antioxidant activity of vitamin c
Hydroxyl radical (or O2 radical –> semi-dehydro-ascorbate radical + H2O (H2O2)
Hydrogen peroxide –> dehydroascorbate +2H2O
Hydrochlorous acid –> dehydroascorbate + HCl + H2O
Vitamin E radical –> Vitamin E + semi-dehydro-ascorbate radical
Vitamin C role in cardiovascular disease
Ascorbate decreases monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells of blood vessels by inhibiting expression of adhesion molecules
Vitamin C role in cataracts
Lens browning caused by oxidation and aggregation of crystalline proteins. Ascorbate functions as an antioxidant
Vitamin C role in cancer prevention
N/A
Vitamin C role in cancer therapy
Some success in animals. Mechanism believed to be the iron-mediated formation of H2O2 from ascorbate
Vitamin C role in colds
Believed to enhance immune cell function. Effect small and does not appear to be dose-dependent
Describe metabolism and excretion of ascorbic acid
Filtered in glomeular capsule and resorbed in tubular cells (highly efficient at low plasma levels, takes ~12 weeks without Vitamin C to become scorbutic). Ascorbic acid can compete with uric acid at transporters, risking kidney stone formation.
To an extent Vitamin C is oxidized and hydrolyzed to 2,3-diketoglulonic acid which breaks into oxalic acid and C4 and C5-hydroxy acids.
Ca2+ - Oxalate kidney stones can form with high Vitamin C intake.
Ascorbic acid interaction with iron
Enhances intestinal absorption of non-heme iron. Converts Fe3+ to 2+ and forms soluble complexes with iron ions. High vitamin C intake unsafe for those with iron metabolism disorders.
Ascorbic acid interaction with copper
Forms complexes with copper ions and causes copper dissociation from copper-containing proteins such as ceruloplasmin and metallothionin. Significance not clear.
Recommended Dietary Allowance Vitamin C
90mg (adult men)
75mg (adult women)
75 required for men, 60 for women.
120mg during pregnancy and lactation.
Describe Vitamin C deficiency
Scurvy (hemorrhage of gums, hyperkeratosis of hair follicles, hypochondriasis, hematologic abnormalities as a result of impaired iron absorption)
Scurvy seen in elderly, those with poor diets, diabetics and in some cancer patients.
Describe toxicity of Vitamin C
Over 2 g/day
GI problems such as abdominal pain and osmotic diarrhea. Increased kidney stone risk (calcium oxalate AND uric acid in urinary tract). Exacerbation of iron metabolism disorders (hemochromatosis, thalassemia, and sideroblastic anemia).
Excessive ascorbate in urine can interfere with some lab tests (glucose, false-negative for fecal occult blood)
Vitamin B1 also called __________
Thiamin
Thiamin general structure/forms
Thiazole ring and pyrimidine ring connected by a methylene bridge.
3 forms: free alcohol form and 2 phosphorylated derivatives
Thiaminpyrophosphokinase converts thiamin (T) and ATP into TDP and AMP; TDP-ATP phosphoryl transferase converts TDP and ATP into TTP and ADP
Thiamin monophosphate is NOT active
Dietary thiamin sources
Meat, beans, cereals and bread.
Thiamin hydrochloride and thiamin mononitrate found in supplements.
Thiamin exists in the alcohol form in plants. Animal products contain mainly the diphosphate.
Thiamin absorption
High absorption from plant or animal foods. Polyphenols in coffee, tea, and berries can inhibit absorption by complex formation or through oxidative degradation.
Primarily absorbed passively in jejunum and through sodium-dependent transport in lumenal membrane (ThTr1, ThTr2) - a defect in ThTr1 gene causes deficiency
Raw fish and thiamin?
Raw fish contains thiaminase that can degrade thiamin. Cooking the fish will destroy this enzyme.
Thiamin transport
Transport of thiamin-OH across basolateral membrane mediated by thiamin/H+ antiporter (inhibited by alcohol)
In blood, thiamin mostly bound to albumin or present in blood cells in diphosphate (TDP) form.
What happens to thiamin in the liver?
Thiamin-OH phosphorylated. TMP can be converted to T-OH by thiamin monophosphatase (TDP by diphosphatase)
Thiamin and pyruvate
Serves as a co-factor in conversion of pyruvate into acetly-CoA (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex)
Thiamin and a-ketogluterate
Serves as a co-factor in the a-ketogluterate dehydrogenase complex, converting a-ketogluterate to succinyl-CoA
Thiamin and a-ketoisovalerate
Serves as cofactor for branched chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCAKAD) to convert a-ketoisovalerate into isobutyryl-CoA. A defect in BCAKAD causes maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)
Avoid accumulation of toxic a-keto acids by limiting leucine, isoleucine and valine intake.
Symptoms of MSUD include neurological decline and seizures.
Thiamin and transketolase
Serves as cofactor in transketloase reaction of pentose monophosphate. C2 unit transferred from donor carbohydrate to acceptor carbohydrate.
Metabolism and excretion of thiamin
Excess excreted in urine as TDP, TMP or metabolites. Cleavage into pyrimidine and thiazole moieties which are then further degraded (20+ metabolites)
How do you measure thiamin adequacy?
By measuring erythrocyte transketolase activity
Thiamin deficiency
Beriberi: symptoms include weakness, anorexia, cardiac hypertrophy, confusion, memory loss
>dry beriberi causing muscle weakness in extremities
>wet beriberi causing cardiomegaly and tachycardia
>acute beriberi, mostly in infants, causing acidosis
Deficiency often a result of alcohol abuse (W-K syndrome, characterized by ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus and ataxia)
Often seen in patients with congestive HF, presumably from urinary loss of thiamin from diuretics. Treatment = supplementation (100mg or more)
Thiamin toxicity
Over 500mg a day for 1 month
Headache, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmias and anaphylactic shock.
Large doses may be beneficial in one variant of MSUD and in thiamin-responsive lactic acidosis
Vitamin B2 also called ____________. It is part of ______
Riboflavin
FAD
Dietary B2 sources
Animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs and meat. Beans and spinach. Occurs in protein-bound form as FMD/FAD
Digestion of Riboflavin
Riboflavin released from FMN or FAD in the intestine by pyrophosphatases (FAD or FMD phosphatase)
Absorption of Riboflavin
Divalent metal ions chelate riboflavin and decrease absorption.
Free riboflavin is absorbed by an ATP-dependent transporter in the proximal small intestine. When large amounts are taken in, absorption can occur by diffusion.
Following absorption, riboflavin phosphorylated to form FMN by flavokinase (ATP is co-substrate, ADP is by-product). Dephosphorylation at basolateral surface, transported as free riboflavin to liver via the portal vein, and re-phosphorylated in the liver via flavokinase and FAD synthetase, converting FMN/ATP into FAD/PO4 3-
Riboflavin transport
In plasma, transported primarily bound to albumin. Enters tissues by carrier-mediated transport across cell membranes. Concentrations highest in liver, kidney and heart. Transported out of cells in free form.
How is FMN and FAD synthesis regulated?
Under hormones such as ACTH, aldosterone, and thyroid hormones.