Lipid and lipoprotein oxidation: basic mechanisms and unresolved questions in vivo

Abstract

The kinetics and mechanistic aspects of the riboflavin-photosensitised oxidation of the topically administrable ophthalmic drugs Timolol (Tim) and Pindolol (Pin) were investigated in water–MeOH (9:1, v/v) solution employing light of wavelength > 400 nm. riboflavin, belonging to the vitamin B₂ complex, is a known human endogenous photosensitiser. The irradiation of riboflavin in the presence of ophthalmic drugs triggers a complex picture of competitive reactions which produces the photodegradation of both the drugs and the pigment itself. The mechanism was elucidated employing stationary photolysis, polarographic detection of dissolved oxygen, stationary and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser flash photolysis. Ophthalmic drugs quench riboflavin-excited singlet and triplet states. From the quenching of excited triplet riboflavin, the semireduced form of the pigment is generated, through an electron transfer process from the drug, with the subsequent production of superoxide anion radical (O₂^?–) by reaction with dissolved molecular oxygen. Through the interaction of dissolved oxygen with excited triplet riboflavin, the species singlet oxygen (O₂(¹Δ_g)) is also generated to a lesser extent. Both O₂^?– and O₂(¹Δ_g) induce photodegradation of ophthalmic drugs, Tim being ~3-fold more easily photooxidisable than Pin, as estimated by oxygen consumption experiments.     

Scavenging of photogenerated oxidative species by antimuscarinic drugs: atropine and derivatives

The quenching ability of photogenerated oxidative species by some antimuscarinic drugs generically named atropines (e.g. atropine [I] eucatropine [II], homatropine [III] and scopolamine [IV]) have been investigated employing stationary photolysis, polarographic detection of dissolved oxygen, stationary and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and laser flash photolysis. Using Rose Bengal as a dye sensitiser for singlet molecular oxygen, O(2)((1)Delta(g)), generation, compounds I-IV behave as moderate chemical plus physical quenchers of the oxidative species. Correlation between kinetic and electrochemical data indicates that the process is possibly driven by a charge-transfer interaction. The situation is somewhat more complicated employing the natural pigment riboflavin (Rf) as a sensitiser. Compounds I and II complex Rf ground state, diminishing the quenching ability towards singlet and triplet excited state of the pigment. On the other hand, compounds III and IV effectively quench Rf excited states, protecting the pigment against photodegradation. Under anaerobic conditions, semireduced Rf (Rf(.-)) is formed through quenching of excited triplet Rf. Nevertheless, although Rf(.-) is a well-known generator of the reactive species superoxide radical anion by reductive quenching in the presence of oxygen, the process of O(2)((1)Delta(g)) production prevails over superoxide radical generation, due to the relatively low rate constants for the quenching of triplet Rf by the atropines (in the order of 10(7) M(-1)s(-1) for compounds III and IV) in comparison to the rate constant for the quenching by ground state oxygen, approximately two orders of magnitude higher, yielding O(2)((1)Delta(g)). Compound I is the most promising O(2)((1)Delta(g)) physical scavenger, provided that it exhibits the higher value for the overall quenching rate constant and only 11% of the quenching process leads to its own chemical damage.     

Visible-light promoted degradation of the commercial antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): a kinetic study

Visible-light photo-irradiation of the commercial phenolic antioxidants (PhAs) butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), in the presence of vitamin B2 (riboflavin, Rf), in methanolic solutions and under aerobic conditions, results in the photo-oxidation of the PhAs. The synthetic dye photosensitiser Rose Bengal was also employed for auxiliary experiments. With concentrations of riboflavin and PhAs of ca. 0.02 mM and < 1 mM, respectively, the excited triplet state of the vitamin (3Rf*) is quenched by BHT in a competitive fashion with dissolved ground state triplet oxygen. From the quenching of 3Rf*, the semireduced form of the pigment is generated through an electron transfer process from BHT, with the subsequent production of superoxide anion radical (O2*-) by reaction with dissolved molecular oxygen. In parallel, the species singlet molecular oxygen, O2(1delta(g)), is also generated. Both reactive oxygen species produce the photodegradation of BHT. In the case of BHA, the lack of any effect exerted by superoxide dismutase drives out a significant participation of a O2(*-)-mediated mechanism. BHA mainly interacts with O2(1delta(g)) and exhibits a desirable property as an antioxidant--a relatively high capacity for O2(1delta(g)) de-activation and a low photodegradation efficiency by the oxidative species. Electrochemical determinations support the proposed photodegradative mechanism.     

The role of vitamin B6 as an antioxidant in the presence of vitamin B2-photogenerated reactive oxygen species. A kinetic and mechanistic study

We report on the photostability of a mixture of vitamins B6 and B2 (riboflavin, Rf) upon visible light irradiation and on the possible role of the vitamin B6 family (B6D) as deactivators of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The work is a systematic kinetic and mechanistic study under conditions in which only Rf absorbs photoirradiation. Pyridoxine, pyridoxal hydrochloride, pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine dihydrochloride were studied as representative members of the vitamin B6 family. The visible light irradiation of dissolved Rf and B6D in pH 7.4 aqueous medium under aerobic conditions induces photoprocesses that mainly produce B6D degradation. The overall oxidative mechanism involves the participation of ROS. Photogenerated (3)Rf* is quenched either by oxygen, giving rise to O(2)((1)Δ(g)) by electronic energy transfer to dissolved ground state oxygen, or by B6D yielding, through an electron transfer process, the neutral radical RfH˙, and O(2)˙(-) in an subsequent step. B6D act as quenchers of O(2)((1)Δ(g)) and O(2)˙(-), the former in a totally reactive event that also inhibits Rf photoconsumption. The common chromophoric moiety of B6D represented by 3-hydroxypyridine, constitutes an excellent model that mimics the kinetic behavior of the vitamin as an antioxidant towards Rf-generated ROS. The protein lysozyme, taken as an O(2)((1)Δ(g))-mediated oxidizable biological target, is photoprotected by B6D from Rf-sensitized photodegradation through the quenching of electronically excited triplet state of the pigment, in a process that competes with O(2)((1)Δ(g)) generation.     

Kinetic study on the photostability of riboflavin in the presence of barbituric acid

The photochemical fate of riboflavin (vitamin B2) in the presence of barbituric acid was examined employing polarographic detection of dissolved oxygen and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. Under visible light, riboflavin reacts with barbituric acid--the latter being transparent to this type of photo-irradiation--via radicals and reactive oxygen species, such as singlet molecular oxygen [O2(1delta(g))] and superoxide radical anion, which are generated from the excited triplet state of the vitamin. As a result, both the vitamin and barbituric acid are photodegraded. Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the photoreactions of riboflavin in the presence of barbituric acid indicate the excellent quenching ability of the latter towards O2(1delta(g)).     

Effect of reverse micelles on the Rose Bengal-sensitized photo-oxidation of 1- and 2-hydroxynaphthalenes

Benzylhexadecyl dimethylammonium chloride (BHDC) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) water-in-oil micro-emulsions were employed to study the influence of medium heterogeneity on singlet molecular oxygen [O(2)((1)Delta(g))]-mediated degradation of 1-hydroxynaphthalene (1-OHN) and 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHN) in their naphthoate form. The kinetic study in the micellar system, that was considered as a closer model for the environment of contaminants in natural polluted waters, consisted of a comparative work with the process in homogeneous solution, by varying surfactant structure and water content of the micro-emulsion. While it is known that 1-OHN and 2-OHN are rapidly and efficiently photo-oxidised in aqueous medium, time-resolved phosphorescence detection of O(2)((1)Delta(g)) and stationary photolysis experiments demonstrate that both the values for the overall and reactive rate constants for the quenching of O(2)((1)Delta(g)) and the photo-oxidation efficiencies are lowered in BHDC micelles, whereas the photo-oxidative process in AOT micro-emulsions was totally inhibited. Results are interpreted and discussed on the basis of different locations of the probe in the micellar environment.     

On the antioxidant properties of therapeutic drugs: quenching of singlet molecular oxygen by aminosalicylic acids

The ability of the widely employed therapeutic drugs 4-aminosalicylic acid and 5-aminosalicylic acid to act as singlet molecular oxygen (O(2)((1)delta(g))) scavengers was investigated at pH 7 and pH 12. The isomer 3-aminosalicylic acid was also included in the study for comparative purposes. All three compounds quench photochemically generated O(2)((1)delta(g)) with rate constants in the range of 10(7)-10(8) x M(-1)s(-1), depending on the experimental conditions. No chemical reaction (oxidation of the aminosalicylic acids) was detected at the neutral pH, whereas at pH 12 both chemical and physical interactions with O(2)((1)delta(g)) operated. The physical process implies the de-activation of the oxidant species without destruction of the aminosalicylic acid. The quotients between the overall and reactive rate constants for O(2)((1)delta(g)) quenching at pH 12 (k(r)/k(t) ratios), which account for the actual effectiveness of photodegradation, were relatively low (0.22, 0.04, and 0.06 for 3-, 4- and 5-aminosalicylic acids, respectively). This indicates that the drugs, particularly the 4- and 5-amino derivatives, de-activate the excited oxygen species, at both pH values studied, mainly in a physical fashion, preventing its photodegradation and providing an antioxidative protection for possible photo-oxidizable biological targets in the surroundings.     

Visible-light promoted degradation of the commercial antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): a kinetic study

Abstract

Visible-light photo-irradiation of the commercial phenolic antioxidants (PhAs) butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), in the presence of vitamin B₂ (riboflavin, Rf), in methanolic solutions and under aerobic conditions, results in the photo-oxidation of the PhAs. The synthetic dye photosensitiser Rose Bengal was also employed for auxiliary experiments. With concentrations of riboflavin and PhAs of ca. 0.02 mM and < 1 mM, respectively, the excited triplet state of the vitamin (³Rf*) is quenched by BHT in a competitive fashion with dissolved ground state triplet oxygen. From the quenching of ³Rf*, the semireduced form of the pigment is generated through an electron transfer process from BHT, with the subsequent production of superoxide anion radical (O₂^??) by reaction with dissolved molecular oxygen. In parallel, the species singlet molecular oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), is also generated. Both reactive oxygen species produce the photodegradation of BHT. In the case of BHA, the lack of any effect exerted by superoxide dismutase drives out a significant participation of a O₂^??-mediated mechanism. BHA mainly interacts with O₂(¹Δ_g) and exhibits a desirable property as an antioxidant – a relatively high capacity for O₂(1Δ_g) de-activation and a low photodegradation efficiency by the oxidative species. Electrochemical determinations support the proposed photodegradative mechanism.     

Visible-light-promoted degradation of the antioxidants propyl gallate and t-butylhydroquinone: Mechanistic aspects

Abstract

The kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the visible-light-mediated photodegradation of the phenolic antioxidants (PA), propyl gallate (PG), and t-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), employing riboflavin (Rf) as photosensitizer, have been studied by time-resolved and stationary techniques. The photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB) was used for auxiliary experiments. Results show the occurrence of chemical transformations on PA with the participation of electronically excited states of Rf and different reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from these states. With 0.02 mM Rf and 1.0 mM PA, the electronically excited triplet state of Rf is quenched by PA, in a competitive manner with the dissolved oxygen. As a consequence, a cascade of photoprocesses produces singlet oxygen (O₂(¹Δ_g)) and H₂O₂ in the case of PG and, O₂(¹Δ_g), H₂O₂ and HO^? in the case of TBHQ. The participation of these species is supported by experiments of oxygen consumption carried out in the presence of specific ROS scavengers. TBHQ has a relatively high capacity for O₂(¹Δ_g) physical deactivation and a low photodegradation efficiency by the oxidative species. Comparatively, it can be asserted that TBHQ has a higher antioxidant capacity than PG.     

Micellar effect on the scavenging of singlet molecular oxygen by hydroxybenzenes

The antioxidative effectiveness of three hydroxyaromatic derivatives (OHAD), namely phenol, resorcinol and phloroglucinol, as reflected by their scavenging ability of the photochemically generated species singlet molecular oxygen [O(2)((1)Delta(g))], was studied in aqueous solution and micellar media. Kinetic results, obtained through time-resolved phosphorescence detection of O(2)((1)Delta(g)) emission and polarographic methods, at pH 7 and 12 in homogeneous and CTAB micellar media, were compared. Calculated photooxidation quantum efficiencies (phi(r)), ranging from very low values ( approximately 0.01) to relatively high ones (approximately 0.3), depend on the preferential solubilization sites of the hydroxyaromatic derivatives either in the micellar or homogeneous media. OHAD in water pH 7 and in CTAB 0.02 M pH 12 exhibit their highest antioxidative efficiency as O(2)((1)Delta(g)) scavengers. In these conditions, they present the best degree of self protection against O(2)((1)Delta(g))-mediated photooxidation with relatively high values for the overall quenching rate constant and, simultaneously, the lowest phi(r).     

The balance between charge transfer and non-charge transfer pathways in the sensitization of singlet oxygen by pi pi* triplet states.

A charge transfer (CT) channel and a non-CT deactivation channel, both leading to formation of O(2)((1)Sigma (g)(+)), O(2)((1) Delta(g)) and O(2)((3)Sigma(g)(-)), compete in the quenching of triplet states by O(2). Recent studies by our group demonstrated that these channels are described by rather simple and general quantitative relations. In the present paper we use the detailed kinetic data on the quenching by O(2) of pi pi* triplet sensitizers of three homologous aromatic series in CCl(4) to derive a parameter, which describes the balance between CT and non-CT deactivation. This quantity, p(CT), is the relative contribution of CT mediated deactivation and is easily calculated for a sensitizer of known triplet energy from its quenching rate constant. The parameter p(CT) quantitatively describes the balance between both deactivation channels without requiring any knowledge of oxidation potentials. It is shown how the variation of p(CT) influences the efficiencies and the rate constants of O(2)((1)Sigma(g)(+)), O(2)((1)Delta(g)) and O(2)((3)Sigma(g)(-)) formation in the quenching process.     

Generation of reactive oxygen species upon strong visible light irradiation of isolated phycobilisomes from Synechocystis PCC 6803

The mechanism of photodegradation of antenna system in cyanobacteria was investigated using spin trapping ESR spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE and HPLC-MS. Exposure of isolated intact phycobilisomes to illumination with strong white light (3500 micromol m(-2) s(-1) photosynthetically active radiation) gave rise to the formation of free radicals, which subsequently led to specific protein degradation as a consequence of reactive oxygen species-induced cleavage of the polypeptide backbone. The use of specific scavengers demonstrated an initial formation of both singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide (O2(-)), most likely after direct reaction of molecular oxygen with the triplet state of phycobiliproteins, generated from intersystem crossing of the excited singlet state. In a second phase carbon-based radicals, detected through the appearance of DMPO-R adducts, were produced either via O2(-) or by direct 1O2 attack on amino acid moieties. Thus photo-induced degradation of intact phycobilisomes in cyanobacteria occurs through a complex process with two independent routes leading to protein damage: one involving superoxide and the other singlet oxygen. This is in contrast to the mechanism found in plants, where damage to the light-harvesting complex proteins has been shown to be mediated entirely by 1O2 generation.     

Kinetic study on the photostability of riboflavin in the presence of barbituric acid

Abstract

The photochemical fate of riboflavin (vitamin B₂) in the presence of barbituric acid was examined employing polarographic detection of dissolved oxygen and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. Under visible light, riboflavin reacts with barbituric acid – the latter being transparent to this type of photo-irradiation – via radicals and reactive oxygen species, such as singlet molecular oxygen [O₂(¹Δ_g)] and superoxide radical anion, which are generated from the excited triplet state of the vitamin. As a result, both the vitamin and barbituric acid are photodegraded. Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the photoreactions of riboflavin in the presence of barbituric acid indicate the excellent quenching ability of the latter towards O₂(¹Δ_g).     

Efficiencies of singlet oxygen production and rate constants for oxygen quenching in the S1 state of dicyanonaphthalenes and related compounds.

The quantum yield of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2) ((1)Delta(g))) production (Phi(Delta)) in the oxygen quenching of photoexcited states for 1,2-dicyanonaphthalene (1,2-DCNN), 1,4-dicyanonaphthalene (1,4-DCNN) and 2,3-dicyanonaphthalene (2,3-DCNN) in cyclohexane, benzene, and acetonitrile was measured using a time-resolved thermal lens (TRTL) technique, in order to determine the efficiency of singlet oxygen ((1)Delta(g)) production in the first excited singlet state (S(1)), (f(Delta)(S)). The efficiencies of singlet oxygen ((1)Delta(g)) production from the lowest triplet state (T(1)), (f(Delta)(T)), were nearly unity for all DCNNs in all the solvents. The values of f(Delta)(S) were fairly large for 1,2-DCNN (0.33-0.57) and 1,4-DCNN (0.33-0.66), but were close to zero for 2,3-DCNN. Rate constants for oxygen quenching in the S(1) state (k(q)(S)) obtained for these compounds were significantly smaller than diffusion-controlled rate constants. The kinetics for processes leading to production and no production of singlet oxygen is discussed on the basis of the values of f(Delta)(S) and k(q)(S). The results obtained regarding phenanthrene (PH), 9-cyanophenanthrene (9-CNPH), pyrene (PY) and 1-cyanopyrene (1-CNPY) are also discussed.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of methoxyphenyl porphyrin derivatives as potential photodynamic agents

A new meso-2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl porphyrin covalently linked to a 2',6'-dinitro-4'-trifluoromethylphenyl group by an amine bond 5 and its metal complex with Cd(II) 6 was prepared. The photodynamic activities of 5 and 6 were evaluated in vitro on Hep-2 cells. A considerable increase in the photocytotoxic effect was found for 6, which has higher singlet molecular oxygen, O(2)((1)Delta(g)), production.     

Antibody-targeted photolysis: in vitro immunological, photophysical, and cytotoxic properties of monoclonal antibody-dextran-Sn(IV) chlorin e6 immunoconjugates.

A set of anti-melanoma immunoconjugates were prepared which contained chlorin e6: antibody molar ratios of 18.9:1, 11.2:1, 6.8:1, and 1.7:1. All immunoconjugates retained antigen binding activity regardless of the chromophore:antibody substitution ratio that was attained. In contrast, the ground-state absorption spectra of the immunoconjugates showed features which appeared to be dependent on the chromophore:antibody molar ratio. In addition, the quantum yield of singlet oxygen generated by the conjugated chromophores was observed to be significantly less than that observed with the unbound dye. Time-resolved absorbance spectroscopy of the chromophore excited triplet state indicated that the loss of singlet oxygen quantum yield resulted from diminished chromophore triplet yield. Analysis of data obtained from in vitro photolysis of target melanoma cells, in combination with that obtained from the immunochemical and photochemical studies, indicates that the observed immunoconjugate phototoxicity can be reasonably quantitatively represented by (1) the ability of the immunoconjugate to bind SK-MEL-2 cell surface antigen, (2) the amount of chromophore localized at the target cells by immunoconjugate binding, (3) the delivered dose of light at 634 nm, and (4) the singlet oxygen quantum yield of the antibody-bound photosensitizer. Though these data argue strongly for photolysis by the cumulative dosage of singlet oxygen at the cell membrane, nonetheless, the concurrent photoinduced release of other cytotoxic agents should not be ruled out.     

Influence of the triplet excited state on the photobleaching kinetics of fluorescein in microscopy.

The investigation in this report aimed at providing photophysical evidence that the long-lived triplet excited state plays an important role in the non-single-exponential photobleaching kinetics of fluorescein in microscopy. Experiments demonstrated that a thiol-containing reducing agent, mercaptoethylamine (MEA or cysteamine), was the most effective, among other commonly known radical quenchers or singlet oxygen scavengers, in suppressing photobleaching of fluorescein while not reducing the fluorescence quantum yield. The protective effect against photobleaching of fluorescein in the bound state was also found in microscopy. The antibleaching effect of MEA let to a series of experiments using time-delayed fluorescence spectroscopy and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The combined results showed that MEA directly quenched the triplet excited state and the semioxidized radical form of fluorescein without affecting the singlet excited state. The triplet lifetime of fluorescein was reduced upon adding MEA. It demonstrated that photobleaching of fluorescein in microscopy is related to the accumulation of the long-lived triplet excited state of fluorescein and that by quenching the triplet excited state and the semioxidized form of fluorescein to restore the dye molecules to the singlet ground state, photobleaching can be reduced.     

Stepwise two-color laser photolysis studies of alpha-cleavage in highly excited triplet states of alpha-acyl-4-phenylphenols.

The photochemical properties of alpha-cleavage of C-O bond in highly excited triplet states (T(n) with n>2) of p-biphenyl acetate and p-biphenyl benzoate (Me-OBP and Ph-OBP) in solution were investigated in comparison with those in the lowest excited singlet and triplet states by using single laser and sequential two-color two-laser photolysis techniques. Upon 266 nm laser photolysis of Me-OBP and Ph-OBP, occurrence of C-O bond cleavage in the excited singlet state was recognized from the observation of the formation of p-phenylphenoxy radical (PPR) in the transient absorption. The quantum yields (Phi(rad)) of the PPR formation were determined to be 0.29 and 0.24 for Me-OBP and Ph-OBP, respectively. Triplet sensitization using acetone (Ac) provided efficient formation of the lowest triplet states (T(1)) of Me-OBP and Ph-OBP, and the molar absorption coefficients of the triplet-triplet absorption were determined. No photochemical reactions were found in the T(1) state. Upon 355 nm laser flash photolysis of the T(1) states of Me-OBP and Ph-OBP, formation of PPR accompanied with decomposition of the triplet state was confirmed in the transient absorption. This observation indicated that alpha-cleavage proceeds in the highly excited triplet state. The quantum yields (Phi(dec)) of the decomposition in the dissociative highly excited triplet state (T(R)) were determined to be 0.25 and 0.15 for Me-OBP and Ph-OBP, respectively. The reaction mechanism for alpha-bond cleavage in the T(R) state was discussed.     

Singlet oxygen damages the function of Photosystem II in isolated thylakoids and in the green alga Chlorella sorokiniana

Photosynthesis Research - Singlet oxygen (1O2) is an important damaging agent, which is produced during illumination by the interaction of the triplet excited state pigment molecules with molecular...     

Kinetics and mechanism of the sensitized photodegradation of lignin model compounds.

The kinetics of the sensitized photodegradation of a variety of well-defined lignin model compounds was studied to determine the mechanisms responsible for lignin's photochemically-mediated oxidation. Monomeric and dimeric models representing lignin's phenolic end groups and nonphenolic dimers representing its inner core were studied. It was determined that the rate constants for the reaction of the deprotonated phenolic models with singlet oxygen (1O2) range from 0.96 to 7.2 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The models were substituted with zero, one, or two electron-donating methoxy groups on both aryl rings and, while the rate constants showed little dependence on the substitution of the nonphenolic ring, the rate constants increased dramatically with increasing methoxy substitution of the phenol. Reaction between these deprotonated models and 1O2 is thus proposed to occur at the phenolate ring. Under neutral conditions, it was observed that the phenolic models react with excited state sensitizer, with this reaction also occuring at the phenol ring. The sum of the rate constants for quenching of and reaction with excited state sensitizer by lignin model compound ranges from 5.4 to 75 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). This study corrects previous reports that attribute the sensitized degradation of neutral lignin model compounds to reaction with 1O2. A nonphenolic aromatic ketone inner-core model was observed to undergo direct photolysis, and its reduced analog was not degraded by direct photolysis or reaction with 1O2 or excited state sensitizer. The oxidized inner-core model was also shown to be able to act as a sensitizer for the degradation of a phenolic lignin model compound.