Involvement of thiol groups in the impairment of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticular phospholipase D activity by oxidants

Abstract Considerable phospholipase D (PLD) activity is localized in myocardial sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) membranes, where it may take part in the regulation of Ca 2+ movements. In this study, we examined thiol group dependence as a possible regulatory mechanism for SR PLD. SR membranes isolated from rat heart were exposed to four types of thiol group modifiers, which all induced a decrease in SR PLD activity that was prevented by dithiothreitol. Furthermore, since abnormalities in thiol status and Ca 2+ homeostasis are characteristic for the myocardial cell damage induced by oxidative stress, we also studied the effects of oxidants on the SR PLD activity. The enzyme was not affected by xanthinexanthine oxidase, but was depressed by hydrogen peroxide and by hypochlorous acid. These inhibitory effects were prevented by catalase as well as by methionine and dithiothreitol, respectively. Furthermore, reduced glutathione protected against the hydrogen peroxide-induced depression, whereas oxidized glutathione inhibited SR PLD. The results indicate that SR PLD activity is inhibited by nonradical oxidants, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid, through reversible modification of associated thiol groups. Thus, the enzyme may be controlled by the glutathione redox status of the cardiac cell.