Evidence for the Addition of the Superoxide Anion to the Anti-Oxidant n-Propyl Gallate in Aqueous Solution

n-Propyl gallate reacts with the superoxide radical anion in aqueous solution (k = 5.1 × 10⁵ mol^?1 dm³s^?1). The spectrum of the transient species so formed has been measured (absorbance maximum at 550nm, ? = 1360mol^?1dm³cm^?1). Electron or H atom transfer processes as well as proton abstraction have been excluded as possible mechanisms, and it is proposed that an addition reaction takes place.     

植物中超氧阴离子自由基测定方法的改进

通过对植物超氧阴离子自由基测定反应中动力学曲线的分析, 确定了最佳的反应介质、反应参数和羟胺浓度, 以三氯甲烷代替乙醚作为植物色素萃取试剂, 克服了植物超氧阴离子测定中存在的诸多问题, 提高了测定结果的准确性、重复性和可比性。     

儿茶素对超氧阴离子自由基的清除及其自氧化作用研究

采用NBT光还原法证实了儿茶素具有清除O—·2 的作用 ,确定了儿茶素自氧化作用的最佳测定波长 ,并探讨了儿茶素溶液浓度和 pH对其自氧化作用的影响。     

Evidence for Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase in Mollicutes and Release of Reactive Oxygen Species

The presence of superoxide dismutase was demonstrated in 21 strains of mollicutes, including achuloplas-mas, mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas. Additionally, catalase activities were demonstrated in nearly 50% of the cell lysates. whereas no peroxide activities were detectable. The production of O₂-and H₂O₂ with glucose as substrate was demonstrated for 8 strains of 10 strains tested. Anaerobic mycoplasmas showed the highest amount of radical production, whereas superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were in the range of activities estimated for aerobic mollicutes. Some pathogenic strains additionally released compounds into the culture medium, which stimulated O₂-production by PMNs.     

Evidence for the Involvement of Loosely Bound Plastosemiquinones in Superoxide Anion Radical Production in Photosystem II

Recent evidence has indicated the presence of novel plastoquinone-binding sites, Q_C and Q_D, in photosystem II (PSII). Here, we investigated the potential involvement of loosely bound plastosemiquinones in superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−) formation in spinach PSII membranes using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping spectroscopy. Illumination of PSII membranes in the presence of the spin trap EMPO (5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) resulted in the formation of O₂^•−, which was monitored by the appearance of EMPO-OOH adduct EPR signal. Addition of exogenous short-chain plastoquinone to PSII membranes markedly enhanced the EMPO-OOH adduct EPR signal. Both in the unsupplemented and plastoquinone-supplemented PSII membranes, the EMPO-OOH adduct EPR signal was suppressed by 50% when the urea-type herbicide DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) was bound at the Q_B site. However, the EMPO-OOH adduct EPR signal was enhanced by binding of the phenolic-type herbicide dinoseb (2,4-dinitro-6-sec-butylphenol) at the Q_D site. Both in the unsupplemented and plastoquinone-supplemented PSII membranes, DCMU and dinoseb inhibited photoreduction of the high-potential form of cytochrome b₅₅₉ (cyt b₅₅₉). Based on these results, we propose that O₂^•− is formed via the reduction of molecular oxygen by plastosemiquinones formed through one-electron reduction of plastoquinone at the Q_B site and one-electron oxidation of plastoquinol by cyt b₅₅₉ at the Q_C site. On the contrary, the involvement of a plastosemiquinone formed via the one-electron oxidation of plastoquinol by cyt b₅₅₉ at the Q_D site seems to be ambiguous. In spite of the fact that the existence of Q_C and Q_D sites is not generally accepted yet, the present study provided more spectroscopic data on the potential functional role of these new plastoquinone-binding sites.     

Superoxide Anion,the Main Species of ROS in the Development of ARDS Induced by Oleic Acid

It is believed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a very important role in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the mechanism has not been so clear, owing to the absence of direct measurable (experimental) data. In majority of the medical studies on free radicals, the analysis of ROS has generally been done by the way of measuring their secondary and breakdown products. In our study, we used electron spin resonance (ESR), a sensitive and accurate technique to detect ROS directly and also used some other sensitive techniques including ultra-weak luminescence and chemical luminescence to identify the species and relative amount of ROS. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was pre-administrated in ARDS rats to verify the results from the above studies and explore the possibility of the clinical application of SOD in ARDS. The spectra of ESR showed that the concentration of ROS increased at 10?min and reached a summit at 30?min after injection of oleic acid (OA), then dropped gradually. The scavenging effects of different scavenging agents on ROS by the analysis of ultra-weak luminescence proved that superoxide anion was the main species of ROS in the development of OA-induced ARDS. Moreover, the results of quantified measure of superoxide anion by chemical luminescence also showed the accordant tendency exhibited in ESR measurement. The pre-treatment of SOD might distinctly inhibit the production of superoxide anion, obviously improve the blood gas status, lung wet/dry ratio and lung/body ratio in ARDS rats. It is suggested that ROS may play a key role in the initiation phase of ARDS, while superoxide anion may be a leading actor in this process and SOD could effectively protect rats from ARDS. These results may provide helpful information for the treatment and prevention of ARDS.     

超氧自由基对谷氨酸摄取的抑制及Ebselen的保护

超氧自由基对谷氨酸摄取的抑制及Ｅｂｓｅｌｅｎ的保护易永杨祥良徐辉碧＊（华中理工大学化学系,武汉４３００７４）赵西龙张亨山秦钰慧（中国预防医学科学院环境卫生监测所毒理室,北京１０００２１）关键词大脑皮层突触体;谷氨酸摄取;Ｎａ＋,Ｋ＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ;超...     

干旱胁迫对空心莲子草抗氧化酶活性和组织学的影响

目的:空心莲子草是一种水旱两栖植物,对其抗旱性的研究越来越受到重视。初步探讨空心莲子草的抗旱机理,为进一步的分子生物学实验奠定基础。方法:采用干旱胁迫的方法,测定空心莲子草的根和叶中抗氧化酶类(SOD、POD、CAT等)的活性变化,并对其组织学的变化进行分析比较。结果:在干旱胁迫下,空心莲子草总抗氧化能力一直增大,抗氧化酶活性是先增大后减小。干旱胁迫下根中抗氧化酶的活性比叶中的活性要高,总抗氧化能力也较强。经组织学比较发现,干旱胁迫后根和叶的组织细胞变小,并有少量细胞坏死。结论:空心莲子草具有较强的抗旱性,表现在干旱胁迫时根和叶能合成大量的抗氧化酶以抵抗干旱胁迫给机体带来的伤害作用,并且总抗氧化能力一直处于较高的水平。     

Possible Involvement of Anti-Oxidant Enzymes in the Cross-Tolerance of the Germination/Growth of Wheat Seeds to Salinity and Heat Stress

The germination/growth of wheat （Triticum aestivum L. cv. Zimai 1） seeds and changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX）, and catalase （CAT）, as well as in the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances （TBARS）, in response to salt and heat stress, as well as cross-stress, were investigated in the present study. With increasing temperature and decreasing water potential caused by NaCI solution, the germination percentage of seeds and the fresh weight of seedlings decreased markedly, SOD activity increased, activities of APX and CAT decreased distinctly, and the TBARS content increased gradually. Seeds pretreated at 33℃ for different times displayed increased tolerance to subsequent salt stress, enhanced SOD, APX, and CAT activities, and decreased TBARS content. Seeds pretreated at -0.8 MPa NaCI for different times displayed increased tolerance to subsequent heat stress and marked increases in SOD, APX, and CAT activities, which were associated with decreased TBARS content. It is considered that the common component in the cross-tolerance of the germination and growth of wheat seeds to salinity and heat stress is the anti-oxidant enzyme system.     

川芎嗪对PC12细胞氧糖剥夺后细胞内抗超氧阴离子能力和过氧化氢的影响

目的:探讨川芎嗪(Tetramethylpyrazine,TMP)对PC12细胞氧糖剥夺/复氧复糖损伤后细胞内抗超氧阴离子能力和过氧化氢(H2O2)的影响.方法:建立PC12细胞氧糖剥夺(Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation,OGD)模型,复氧复糖给予不同浓度(0.01、0.02、0.04、0.08、0.16、0.32、0.64、1.28、2.56、5.12、10.24 μmol/L)的川芎嗪,培养24 h后行MTT和LDH的检测.采用四甲基偶氮唑(Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium,MTT)比色检测细胞生存率,并检测细胞内抗超氧阴离子能力和过氧化氢.结果:氧糖剥夺可明显降低PC12细胞活性(55.05％),而川芎嗪可以显著提高PC12细胞活性,其作用呈现一定的剂量—效应相关性.复氧复糖后给予0.16 μmol/L川芎嗪可以提高PC12细胞的活性到75.38％.氧糖剥夺/复氧复糖后6h、24h,TMP组(川芎嗪组)抗超氧阴离子能力明显高于OGD组(模型组)(P＜0.05),而H2O2的含量TMP组明显低于OGD组(P＜0.05).结论:川芎嗪可能提高抗超氧阴离子能力,减少H2O2的产生,从而减轻PC12细胞氧糖剥夺/复氧复糖损伤,具有较好的治疗作用.     

Note from the Biological Stain Commission: Certification of Wright Stain Solution

DNA fluorochrome staining with Hoechst 33258 bisbenzimide is commonly used for detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures. Photobleaching of Hoechst 33258 is pronounced under the conditions of intense illumination, high magnification and resolution required for detection of mycoplasmas. To reduce photobleaching we investigated the effects of some antioxidant molecules, p-phenylenediamine (PPD), n-propyl gallate (NPG) and 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane (DABCO), which are known to reduce the fading rate of fluorescein. Mycoplasma-contaminated cell monolayers were stained with Hoechst 33258 and mounted in glycerol containing different amounts of antioxidant additives. The cells were examined in an epifluorescence microscope, and the emitted light intensity was recorded. Results showed that PPD and, to a lower degree, NPG, retarded the photobleaching of Hoechst 33258-stained cells, whereas DABCO was not effective. However, fluorescence half-life was increased about three-fold by NPG and almost 20-fold by PPD. The rate of fluorescence fading of Hoechst 33258 can therefore be retarded by PPD, with obvious advantages for reading and photographic recording of results.     

Determination of the Superoxide Dismutase-Like Activity of Cimetidine-Cu(II) Complexes

Using the direct method of pulse radiolysis to determine the superoxide dismutase like activity of copper(II) cimetidine complexes, it was found that the reaction rate constant with O^?₂, k_cat, was (8.5 ± 0.5) × 10⁸ M^?1s^?1 independent of the cimetidine concentrations present in excess of 50–200 μM over the metal. The results suggest that either the 1:1 ligand to metal complex does not catalyze O^?₂ dismutation at a comparable rate to that of the 2:1 complex, or that the stability constant of the last species is much higher than that determined earlier by Kimura el al.,¹ and only the 2:1 species is present in the solutions. With the indirect methods of cytochrome c and NBT for determining the ability of these complexes to catalyze O^?₂ dismutation, these compounds exhibited a much lower SOD activity. and k_cat was determined to be (5.0 ± 0.3) × 10⁶ and (7.± 0.4) × 10¹ M^?1s^?1. respectively using the two assays.     

Superoxide Triggers an Acid Burst in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Condition the Environment of Glucose-starved Cells

Although yeast cells grown in abundant glucose tend to acidify their extracellular environment, they raise the pH of the environment when starved for glucose or when grown strictly with non-fermentable carbon sources. Following prolonged periods in this alkaline phase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells will switch to producing acid. The mechanisms and rationale for this “acid burst” were unknown. Herein we provide strong evidence for the role of mitochondrial superoxide in initiating the acid burst. Yeast mutants lacking the mitochondrial matrix superoxide dismutase (SOD2) enzyme, but not the cytosolic Cu,Zn-SOD1 enzyme, exhibited marked acceleration in production of acid on non-fermentable carbon sources. Acid production is also dramatically enhanced by the superoxide-producing agent, paraquat. Conversely, the acid burst is eliminated by boosting cellular levels of Mn-antioxidant mimics of SOD. We demonstrate that the acid burst is dependent on the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase Ald4p. Our data are consistent with a model in which mitochondrial superoxide damage to Fe-S enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle leads to acetate buildup by Ald4p. The resultant expulsion of acetate into the extracellular environment can provide a new carbon source to glucose-starved cells and enhance growth of yeast. By triggering production of organic acids, mitochondrial superoxide has the potential to promote cell population growth under nutrient depravation stress.     

A Reinvestigation of the Reaction of Desferrioxamine with Superoxide Radicals. A Pulse Radiolysis Study

The reaction of desferrioxamine with superoxide has been studied using the pulse radiolysis technique. The decay of O₂^- was not accelerated in the presence of up to 4 × 10^-4 M desferrioxamine at physiological pH. The rate constant was found to be lower than 2 × 10⁴ M^-1 S^-1. In acid solutions the rate constant of the reaction between desferrioxamine and HO₂ was found to be lower than 10₅ M^-1 S^-1. The reaction was not studied in alkaline solutions due to the high absorbance of desferrioxamine in the U. V. region. The pK of desferrioxamine was determined to be 9.2 ± 0.05.     

Superoxide Anion Production and Expression of gp91phox and p47phox Are Increased in Glomeruli and Proximal Tubules of Cisplatin‐Treated Rats

The chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin has some side effects including nephrotoxicity that has been associated with reactive oxygen species production, particularly superoxide anion. The major source of superoxide anion is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase. However, the specific segment of the nephron in which superoxide anion is produced has not been identified. Rats were sacrificed 72 h after cisplatin injection (7.5 mg/kg), and kidneys were obtained to isolate glomeruli and proximal and distal tubules. Cisplatin induced superoxide anion production in glomeruli and proximal tubules but not in distal tubules. This enhanced superoxide anion production was prevented by diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Consistently, this effect was associated with the increased expression of gp91^phox and p47^phox, subunits of NADPH oxidase. The enhanced superoxide anion production in glomeruli and proximal tubules, associated with the increased expression of gp91^phox and p47^phox, is involved in the oxidative stress in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity.     

Decreased Production of the Superoxide Anion Radical in Neutrophils Exposed to a Near-Null Magnetic Field

Biophysics - This paper reports that pre-incubation of a neutrophil suspension in the presence of a near-null magnetic field produced using a system of magnetic shields (a residual constant...     

New Aspects in the Free-Radical Chemistry of Pyrimidine Nucleobases

The contribution will cover three aspects:

i) It has been known for some time that OH radicals and H atoms react with the pyrimidines by adding to the C(5)-C(6) double bond, but only the u.v.-spectra of the sum of these radicals have been reported so far. It will be shown how to arrive at the individual spectra of the C(5) and the C(6) adduct radicals.

ii) α-Hydroxyalkyl radicals are known to inactivate biologically active DNA. In contrast to the electrophilic radicals H and OH they are nucleophilic and the hydroxymethyl radicals add exclusively at the C(6) position of 1,3-dimethyluracil (k ～ 10⁴dm³ mol^?1 s^?1). In the corresponding thymine derivative this reaction also occurs, but one third of the hydroxymethyl radicals abstract an H-atom from the C(5)-methyl group thereby forming an allylic radical. In the course of these reactions pyrimidines with an exocyclic double bond are formed. These products react much more rapidly with hydroxymethyl radicals than the starting material leading to highly hydroxymethylated material at very low doses.

iii) The direct effect of ionizing radiation which would produce a pyrimidine base radical cation can be mimicked by reacting the pyrimidine with SO₄^?, a very good electron acceptor. In water, the radical cation of 1,3-dimethyluracil is rapidly (t_1/2 2μs) converted into the C(5) OH adduct radical. In the presence of peroxodisulphate a chain reaction sets in which leads to the cis-glycol.

The relevance of these findings to radiobiological aspects of nucleic acid research will be discussed.     

Studies of the Cellular Distribution of Superoxide Disrnutases in Adult and Fetal Rat Tissues

Activities of three types of superoxide dismutase in tissue fractions were significantly lower in fetal and adult brain and fetal limb preparations than in fetal and adult heart preparations. An exception was the cyto-plasmic fraction of adult brain that had levels of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase activity comparable to those in cytoplasmic fractions of heart. In addition, Mn superoxide dismutase activity appeared to be very low in all fetal mitochondrial matrix fractions and cytoplasmic fractions as well as in adult brain. Finally, the results of these studies emphasize the importance of two antioxidant defense systems in the tissues studied, one associated with the mitochondrial electron transport system and the other, the cytosolic Cu, Zn enzyme.