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(1) Background: Metabolism data of asarone isomers, in particular phase II, in vitro and in humans is limited so far. For the first time, phase II metabolites of asarone isomers were characterized and human kinetic as well as excretion data after oral intake of asarone-containing tea infusion was determined. (2) Methods: A high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-qTOF-MS) approach was used to identify phase II metabolites using liver microsomes of different species and in human urine samples. For quantitation of the respective glucuronides, a beta-glucuronidase treatment was performed prior to analysis via high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). (3) Results: Ingested beta-asarone and erythro and threo -asarone diols were excreted as diols and respective diol glucuronide conjugates within 24 h. An excretion rate about 42% was estimated. O -Demethylation of beta-asarone was also indicated as a human metabolic pathway because a corresponding glucuronic acid conjugate was suggested. (4) Conclusions: Already reported O -demethylation and epoxide-derived diols formation in phase I metabolism of beta-asarone in vitro was verified in humans and glucuronidation was characterized as main conjugation reaction. The excretion rate of 42% as erythro and threo -asarone diols and respective asarone diol glucuronides suggests that epoxide formation is a key step in beta-asarone metabolism, but further, as yet unknown metabolites should also be taken into consideration.

α-Asarone and β-asarone are reported as bioactive constituents of Acorus calamus . Phase I metabolism of asarone isomers results in a multiple spectrum of genotoxic metabolites. Thus, the question arises whether structural analogues of the known phase I metabolites also naturally occur in A. calamus -based food products. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for three product classes, herbal infusions, alcoholic beverages, and food supplements. High asarone contents were detected in herbal infusions (total mean 9.13 mg/kg, n = 8) and food supplements (total mean 14.52 mg/kg, n = 6); hence, these food products can highly contribute to human exposure to genotoxic asarone derivatives. Also, the occurrence of asarone oxidation products found in food and food supplements has to be taken under consideration because data on toxicity is limited so far.

Translocation of virulence effector proteins through the type III secretion system (T3SS) is essential for the virulence of many medically relevant Gram-negative bacteria. The T3SS ATPases are conserved components that specifically recognize chaperone-effector complexes and energize effector secretion through the system. It is thought that functional T3SS ATPases assemble into a cylindrical structure maintained by their N-terminal domains. Using size-exclusion chromatography coupled to multi-angle light scattering and native mass spectrometry, we show that in the absence of the N-terminal oligomerization domain the Salmonella T3SS ATPase InvC can form monomers and dimers in solution. We also present for the first time a 2.05 å resolution crystal structure of InvC lacking the oligomerization domain (InvCΔ79) and map the amino acids suggested for ATPase intersubunit interaction, binding to other T3SS proteins and chaperone-effector recognition. Furthermore, we validate the InvC ATP-binding site by co-crystallization of InvCΔ79 with ATPγS (2.65 å) and ADP (2.80 å). Upon ATP-analogue recognition, these structures reveal remodeling of the ATP-binding site and conformational changes of two loops located outside of the catalytic site. Both loops face the central pore of the predicted InvC cylinder and are essential for the function of the T3SS ATPase. Our results present a fine functional and structural correlation of InvC and provide further details of the homo-oligomerization process and ATP-dependent conformational changes underlying the T3SS ATPase activity., (© 2019 The Authors. Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Protein Society.)