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Arsenolysis and Thiol-Dependent Arsenate Reduction
Citation:
THOMAS, D. J. Arsenolysis and Thiol-Dependent Arsenate Reduction. TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES. Society of Toxicology, RESTON, VA, 117(2):249-252, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
This manuscript will be published in Toxicological Sciences to highlight the research that is described in another paper appearing in the same issue. This manuscript describes research that has elucidated the role of arsenolytic enzymes in the reduction of arsenate to arsenite and places the findings in the context of continuing research on arsenic metabolism.
Description:
Conversion of arsenate to arsenite is a critical event in the pathway that leads from inorganic arsenic to a variety of methylated metabolites. The formation of methylated metabolites influences distribution and retention of arsenic and affects the reactivity and toxicity of these intermediates. Indeed, some of the toxic and carcinogenic effects associated with exposure to arsenate or arsenite are probably mediated by methylated arsenicals. Recent work has demonstrated a biologically plausible role for phosphorolytic-arsenolytic enzymes in a reaction scheme in which an "activated" arsenate ester is readily reduced by thiols to arsenite. Thiol-dependent reduction of arsenate esters formed by arsenolysis may be one of several functionally reductant processes that control the flux of arsenic into the cellular pathway for arsenic methylation. Integrating these reductive processes into a conceptual model for arsenic metabolism may provide new insights into the cellular machinery for handling this toxic metalloid.This manuscript has been reviewed in accordance with the policy of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
