The macrophage migration inhibitory factor MIF is a phenylpyruvate tautomerase

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Abstract

A macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), originally described as a product of activated lymphocytes, has been defined as a 12 kDa protein, expressed in a wide variety of tissues. Here MIF is identified as a phenylpyruvate tautomerase (EC 5.3.2.1) having p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate and phenylpyruvate as its natural substrates. The definition of MIF as an enzyme may yield insight into the mechanism of action of this proinflammatory and immunomodulating cytokine.

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Determination of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, p-hydroxyphenyllactate and tyrosine in normal human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry isotope-dilution assay.

J C Deutsch (1997)

The synthesis and purification of [13C2]p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid from [13C2]p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, the characterization of tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-derivatized tyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid and p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid, and an isotope-dilution assay for these substances in normal human plasma using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are described. Using this method plasma p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, p-hydroxyphenyllactate and tyrosine levels of 68 +/- 42 ng/ml, 118 +/- 45 ng/ml and 16.6 +/- 6.3 micrograms/ml, respectively, were found in 9 normal adults. Isotope-dilution assays are sensitive enough to determine tyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate and p-hydroxyphenyllactate content in normal subjects, and may be useful for studying disorders of tyrosine metabolism, including inborn errors of metabolism, liver disease and ascorbic acid deficiencies.