Oxidative decarboxylation of salsolinol-1-carboxylic acid to 1,2-dehydrosalsolinol: evidence for exclusive catalysis by particulate factors in rat kidney

The decarboxylation of salsolinol-1-carboxylic acid (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4- tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acid), a novel endogenous catecholic adduct of dopamine and pyruvic acid, was examined in nuclei-free homogenates of rat liver, whole brain, and kidney, as well as in buffer only. Liquid chromatographic analysis of incubations for varying times (30 min to 5 h) showed that the tetrahydroisoquinoline substrate decarboxylated oxidatively, forming one product, 1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines (1,2-dehydrosalsolinol). No salsolinol was apparent, even with added NADPH. In buffer, decarboxylation occurred by an apparent oxygen radical-mediated process: it was stimulated by cupric ion or elevated pH, and was suppressed by EDTA, superoxide dismutase, metal ion removal with Chelex-100, or low pH (less than 6). In liver or brain, the conversion was qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that in buffer; thus there was no evidence for Enzyme involvement. In kidney, however, dehydrosalsolinol formation was significantly greater than that in liver, brain, or buffer, and preboiling reduced it nearly to buffer values. The heat-labile kidney activity, displaying a pH maximum ca. 9, was localized in the particulate fractions. It was blocked completely by N-ethylmaleimide. Added superoxide dismutase was only slightly inhibitory; catalase and dimethyl sulfoxide, a hydroxyl radical trap, were uneffective. Lack of inhibition by indomethacin ruled against peroxidative involvement of kidney prostaglandin synthetase. Physiological amounts of a cofactor for amino acid decarboxylases, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, also had no effect. The oxidative decarboxylation of 1-carboxylated salsolinol by kidney fractions appears mainly due to a sulfhydryl-containing particulate factor unique to or relatively concentrated in that organ. Its identity, substrate specificity, and possible significance, particularly in alcoholism, where elevated salsolinol-1-carboxylic acid levels have been reported, remain to be ascertained.