On the repair of oxidative damage to apoferritin: a model study with the flavonoids quercetin and rutin in aerated and deaerated solutions

Abstract

Ferritin (Ft) impairment through ^?O₂^–, H₂O₂, and ^?OH production occurs in the cases of ketoses, diabetes mellitus, acute intermittent porphyria and tyrosinemia. In addition to ^?Trp and TyrO^? radical production, ferrous iron liberation and Ft synthesis stimulation, site-specific oxidation reactions are induced leading to toxic iron accumulation in organs with high Ft content, for example, liver and brain. To elucidate the potential pathways to Ft recovery, repair of oxidative damage to horse spleen apoferritin (apoFt) and Ft by quercetin (QH) or rutin (RH) was studied in the presence and absence of oxygen. ^?Trp and TyrO^? radicals were produced in pulse radiolysis through apoFt oxidation by ^?Br₂^– radicals. QH and RH bind to apoFt on eight sites with binding constants of ?80,000 and ?32,000 M^?1, respectively. In deaerated solutions, a repair of apoFt radicals is observed involving both bound and free flavonoids. This repair occurs by a fast intra- and a slow inter-molecular electron transfer from bound and free flavonoids, respectively. With QH, the rate constants are 10⁴ s^–1 and 3.5 × 10⁷ M^–1 s^–1 for the intra- and intermolecular repair reactions, respectively. Oxygen does not interfere with repair of apoFt or Ft by bound QH but inhibits 90% of Ft repair by RH. These results taken together indicate that flavonoid antioxidants may help alleviate Ft impairment in diseases involving an oxidative stress.     

Drugs with susceptible sites for free radical induced oxidative transformations: the case of a penicillin

Penicillins, as bactericidal antibiotics, have been widely used to treat infections for several decades. Their structure contains both aromatic and thioether moieties susceptible to free radical oxidation. The ^?OH induced oxidation mechanism of amoxicillin was investigated by pulse radiolysis techniques and by final product analysis performed after steady-state γ-irradiation. The predominant sites of the ^?OH attack are suggested to be the thioether group, initially yielding an ^?OH adduct to the sulfur, and the aromatic ring. This adduct to the sulfur converts to sulfur radical cation, which has three competitive reaction paths: (1) by deprotonation at the adjacent carbon α-(alkylthio)alkyl radicals form, which undergo disproportionation leading presumably to sulfoxide as main product; (2) via the pseudo-Kolbe mechanism it may transform to α-aminoalkyl radicals; (3) the radical cation can be stabilized through intramolecular S.˙.O bond formation. The reaction mechanism suggests the presence of a short-living and a stabilized (via hydrogen bonding) long-living ^?OH adduct to the sulfur. The three-electron bonded dimers of amoxicillin were not formed owing to steric hindrance. Thiyl radicals were also present in equilibrium with α-aminoalkyl radicals. In the presence of dissolved oxygen, aromatic ring hydroxylation occurred along with complex reactions resulting in e.g. oxidation of the methyl groups. The formation of the sulfoxide is especially effective in the presence of dissolved oxygen, under anaerobic condition, however, it is also generated owing to H₂O₂ and α-(alkylthio)alkyl radicals. The thioether moiety appears to be more sensitive to oxidation compared to the aromatic ring in case of amoxicillin.     

Radical scavenging and electron-transfer reactions in Polyporus Versicolor laccase: A pulse radiolysis study

The interaction of the radicals OH^?, t-BuO^?, e_aq^?, CO₂^XXX and O₂^XXX with the copper oxidase. laccase. from Polyporus, has been studied by the pulse-radiolysis technique. Each of these radicals formed transient adducts with a broad absorption maximum around 310 nm. Analysis of the optical properties and of the very fast rates of formation of these compounds shows that each radical interacts with a limited number of sites on the polypeplide part of the protein amongst R-S-S-R. histidine and aromatic residues. Interaction with the carbonyl group of some of the peptide bonds is also possible. The few target sites are probably hit simultaneously and electron transfer between these sites may also occur. In all cases, in a subsequent step, intramolecular electron transfer from the polypeptide radical adducts leads to a partial reduction of the blue type-1 Cu²⁺ with rates varying between 10³ and 10⁴ s^?1. Further reduction of the type-1 Cu²⁺ occurs through a slow intermolecular reaction between two laccase radical transient adducts. In the case of CO^XXX₂ and O^XXX₂, this slow reduction could alternatively be due to an intermolecular reaction between laccase and CO^XXX₂ or O^XXX₂. The oxidant radicals OH^?. Br^XXX₂ and (SCN)^XXX₂, which formed radical adducts with fully ascorbate-reduced laccase, did not induce any type-1 copper reoxidation.     

Proton transfer in and polarizability of hydrogen bonds coupled with conformational changes in proteins. II. IR investigation of polyhistidine with various carboxylic acids

Polyhistidine-carboxylic acid systems are studied by ir spectroscopy. It is shown that OH ?N ? O^?…H⁺N bonds formed between carboxylic groups and histidine residues are easily polarizable proton-transfer hydrogen bonds when the pK_a of the protonated histidine residues is about 2.8 units larger than that of the carboxylic groups. From these results it bis concluded that OH ?N ? O^? ?H⁺N bonds between glutamic or aspartic acid histidine residues in proteins may be easily polarizable proton-transfer bonds. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that water molecules shift the proton-transfer equilibria in these hydrogen bonds in favor of the polar structure, i.e., due to water or polar environments OH ?N ? O^? ?H⁺N bonds with smaller ΔpK_a values become easily polarizable proton-transfer hydrogen bonds. A consideration of the amide bands of polyhistidine shows that it can be present in five different conformations. It is shown that these conformational changes are strongly related to the degree of proton transfer. Hence, the degree of proton transfer, the degree of hydration, and conformation are not independent of each other, but are strongly coupled. Further proof for the interdependence of proton transfer and conformational changes are hysteresis effects, which are observed with studies of polyhistidine dependent on carboxylic acid, adsorption and desorption. OH ?N ? O^? ?H⁺N bonds between aspartic and glutamic acid and histidine residues are present in hemoglobin, in ribonucleases, and in proteases, whereby this type of bond is preferentially found in the active centers of these enzymes. It is pointed out that hydrogen bonds with such interaction properties should be of great significance for structure and especially functions of proteins in which they are present.     

Mechanism of radiation-induced reactions in aqueous solution of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid: Effects of concentration,gas and additive on fluorescent product yield

Abstract

The radiation-induced reactions of a water-soluble coumarin derivative, coumarin-3-carboxyl acid (C3CA), have been investigated in aqueous solutions by pulse radiolysis with a 35 MeV electron beam, final product analysis following ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiations and deterministic model simulations. Pulse radiolysis revealed that C3CA reacted with both hydroxyl radicals (^?OH) and hydrated electrons (e^? _aq) with near diffusion-controlled rate constants of 6.8 × 10⁹ and 2.1 × 10¹⁰ M^?1 s^?1, respectively. The reactivity of C3CA towards O₂^{? ?} was not confirmed by pulse radiolysis. Production of the fluorescent molecule, 7-hydroxy-coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (7OH-C3CA), was confirmed by final product analysis with a fluorescence spectrometer coupled to a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. Production yields of 7OH-C3CA following ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiations depended on the irradiation conditions and ranged from 0.025 to 0.18 (100 eV) ^?1. Yield varied with saturating gas, additive and C3CA concentration, implying the presence of at least two pathways capable of providing 7OH-C3CA as a stable product following the scavenging reaction of C3CA with ^?OH, including a peroxidation/elimination sequence and a disproportionation pathway. A reaction mechanism for the two pathways was proposed and incorporated into a deterministic simulation, showing that the mechanism can explain experimentally measured 7OH-C3CA yields with a constant conversion factor of 4.7% from ^?OH scavenging to 7OH-C3CA production, unless t-BuOH was added.     

Superoxide poisons mononuclear iron enzymes by causing mismetallation

Superoxide (O₂^?) is a primary agent of intracellular oxidative stress. Genetic studies in many organisms have confirmed that excess O₂^? disrupts metabolism, but to date only a small family of [4Fe‐4S] dehydratases have been identified as direct targets. This investigation reveals that in Escherichia coli O₂^? also poisons a broader cohort of non‐redox enzymes that employ ferrous iron atoms as catalytic cofactors. These enzymes were inactivated by O₂^? both in vitro and in vivo. Although the enzymes are known targets of hydrogen peroxide, the outcome with O₂^? differs substantially. When purified enzymes were damaged by O₂^? in vitro, activity could be completely restored by iron addition, indicating that the O₂^? treatment generated an apoprotein without damaging the protein polypeptide. Superoxide stress inside cells caused the progressive mismetallation of these enzymes with zinc, which confers little activity. When O₂^? stress was terminated, cells gradually restored activity by extracting zinc from the proteins. The overloading of cells with zinc caused mismetallation even without O₂^? stress. These results support a model in which O₂^? repeatedly excises iron from these enzymes, allowing zinc to compete with iron for remetallation of their apoprotein forms. This action substantially expands the physiological imprint of O₂^? stress.     

Proton polarizability and proton transfer in histidine-phosphate hydrogen bonds as a function of cations present: ir investigations

(L -His)_n- dihydrogen phosphate systems are studied by ir spectroscopy in the presence of various cations and as a function of the degree of hydration. Ir continua indicate that (I) OH … N ? O^?…H⁺N (IIR) hydrogen bonds are formed and that these bonds show high proton polarizability, which increases from the Li⁺ to the K⁺ system. In the K⁺?system, His-P_i-P_i chains are formed, showing particularly high proton polarizability due to collective proton motion within both hydrogen bonds. The OH N ? O^?…H^?N equilibria are determined from ir bands. With the Li⁺ system, 55% of the protons are present at the histidine residues; this percentage is smaller with the Na⁺ system (41%), and amounts to only 32% with the K⁺ system. With the increasing degree of hydration the removal of the degeneracy of ν_as?PO^2?₃ vanishes, indicating loosening of the cations from the phosphates. Nevertheless, the hydrogen bond acceptor O atom becomes more negative; a shift of the equilibrium to the right is observed in the OH… N ? O^?…H⁺N bond. This is explained by the strong interaction of the dipole of the hydrogen bonds with the water molecules. All these results show that protons can be shifted easily in these hydrogen bonds due to their high proton polarizability. The transfer equilibria can be controlled easily by local electrical fields. In addition, these results may be of significance when phosphates interact with proteins.     

Use of Fenton's Reagent for the Degradation of TCE in Aqueous Systems and Soil Slurries

Fenton's reaction is comprised of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) catalyzed by iron, producing the hydroxyl radical (·OH), a strong oxidant. ·OH in turn may react with H₂O₂ and iron and is capable of destroying a wide range of organic contaminants. In this laboratory study, Fenton's reaction was observed in aqueous and soil slurry systems using trichloroethylene (TCE) as the target contaminant, with the goal of maximizing TCE degradation while minimizing H₂O₂ degradation. Fenton's reaction triggers a complex matrix of reactions involving ·OH, H₂O₂, iron, TCE, and soil organics. In soil slurries with a high fraction of organic carbon (f_OC), iron tends to sorb to soil organics and/or particles. In aqueous systems the optimal ratio of H₂O₂:Fe²⁺:TCE to degrade TCE in a timely fashion, minimize costs, and minimize H₂O₂ degradation is 300?mg/L: 25?mg/L: 60?mg/L (19:1:1 molar ratio), while soil slurries with a f_OC up to approximately 1% and a soil:water ratio of 1:5 (weight ratio) require about ten times the amount of H₂O₂, the optimal ratio being 3000?mg/L: 5?mg/L: 60?mg/L (190:0.2:1 molar ratio). TCE degradation rates were observed to decrease in soil slurries with higher f_OC because of competition by soil organic matter, which appears to act as a sink for ·OH. H₂O₂ degradation rates tended to increase in soil slurries with higher f_OC, most likely due to increased demand for ·OH by soil organics, increased available iron and other oxidation processes.     

Proton translocation in hydrogen bonds with large proton polarizability formed between a Schiff base and phenols

OH…N ? O^?…H⁺N hydrogen bonds formed between N-all-transretinylidene butylamine (Schiff base) and phenols (1:1) are studied by IR spectroscopy. It is shown that both proton limiting structures of these hydrogen bonds have the same weight with Δ pK_a (50%) = (pK_a protonated Schiff base minus pK_a phenol) = 5.5. With the largely symmetrical systems, continua demonstrate that these hydrogen bonds show great proton polarizability. In the Schiff base + tyrosine system in a non-polar solvent the residence time of the proton at the tyrosine residue is much larger than that at the Schiff base. In CH₂CCl₂ these hydrogen bonds show, however, still proton polarizability, i.e., the position of the proton transfer equilibrium OH…N ? O^?…H⁺N is shifted to and fro as function of the nature of the environment of this hydrogen bond. Consequences regarding bacteriorhodopsin are discussed.     

In Vztro Scavenger Effect of Dihydroquinoline Type Derivatives in Different Free Radical Generating Systems

The non-toxic and water soluble dihydroquinoline type antioxidants: CH 402 (Na-2,2-dimethyl-l.2-dihydroquinoline-4-yl methane sulphonate) and MTDQ-DA (6.6-methylene bis 2.2-dimethyl-4-methane sulphonicacid: Na-1.2-dihydroquinoline) were studied in various in vitro tests in which oxygen free radicals were generated. Both compounds were shown to scavenge superoxide radical anions O^?₂ produced in aqueous solution by pulse radiolysis with rate constants k (O^?₂ + MTDQ-DA) = 4.10⁸dm³ mol^?1s^?1 and k(O^?₂ +CH402) = 1.5.10⁷dm³ mol^?1s ^?1. CH 402 and MTDQ-DA reduced the H₂O₂ produced in the glucose-glucose oxidase reaction, which was detected by the luminol + hemin reaction with a chemilumi-nometric method. The dihydroquinoline type substrates inhibited the NADPH-induced and Fe^{3 +}—stimulated lipid peroxidation and the ascorbic acid-induced non-enzymatic peroxidation pathways in microsomal fractions of rat and mouse liver.     

Chemical speciation of oxalato complexes of indium(III)

Abstract

Chemical speciation of binary complexes of indium(III) with oxalic acid has been investigated pH metrically at 303 K and at an ionic strength of 0.2 mol dm^?3. The approximate formation constants have been calculated with the computer program SCPHD utilizing the experimental data obtained by monitoring H⁺ ion concentration. The formation constants thus obtained are refined with the computer program, MINIQUAD75 using primary alkalimetric data. The selection of the best-fit chemical model is based on the statistical parameters and residual analysis. The major complexes formed are In(C₂O₄)₂^?, In(C₂O₄)₃^3?, [In(C₂O₄)₂OH]^2? and [In(C₂O₄)₂ (OH)₂]^3?. The distribution patterns of the different species with the pH values showed that In(C₂O₄)₂^? is the predominant species.     

Egg Yolk Phosvitin Inhibits Hydroxyl Radical Formation from the Fenton Reaction

Phosvitin, a phosphoprotein known as an iron-carrier in egg yolk, binds almost all the yolk iron. In this study, we investigated the effect of phosvitin on Fe(II)-catalyzed hydroxyl radical (^?OH) formation from H₂O₂ in the Fenton reaction system. Using electron spin resonance (ESR) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and deoxyribose degradation assays, we observed by both assays that phosvitin more effectively inhibited ^?OH formation than iron-binding proteins such as ferritin and transferrin. The effectiveness of phosvitin was related to the iron concentration, indicating that phosvitin acts as an antioxidant by chelating iron ions. Phosvitin accelerates Fe(II) autoxidation and thus decreases the availability of Fe(II) for participation in the ^?OH-generating Fenton reaction. Furthermore, using the plasmid DNA strand breakage assay, phosvitin protected DNA against oxidative damage induced by Fe(II) and H₂O₂. These results provide insight into the mechanism of protection of the developing embryo against iron-dependent oxidative damage in ovo.     

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.     

Mechanism for the depolymerization of cellulose under alkaline conditions

The mechanism for the hydroxyl-radical-induced depolymerization of cellulose under alkaline conditions in air was investigated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level as well as electron transfer theory. The pathway for the depolymerization of cellulose was obtained theoretically and H abstraction from the C(3) atom of the pyran ring during the cleavage of the glucosidic bond was found to be the rate-limiting step due to its high energy barrier (16.81 kcal/mol) and low reaction rate constant (4.623?×?10⁴ mol L^?1 s^?1). Calculations of the electron transfer between O₂ and the saccharide radical performed with the HARLEM software package revealed that following the H abstraction, the oxygen molecule approaches C(2) on the saccharide radical and obtains an electron from the radical, even though no bond forms between the oxygen molecule and the radical. The rate constant for electron transfer could be as high as 1.572?×?10¹¹ s^?1. Furthermore, an enol intermediate is obtained during the final stage of the depolymerization.     

Endogenous Superoxide Dismutase Levels Regulate Iron-Dependent Hydroxyl Radical Formation in Escherichia coli Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide

Aerobic organisms contain antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, to protect them from both direct and indirect effects of reactive oxygen species, such as O₂^·− and H₂O₂. Previous work by others has shown that Escherichia coli mutants lacking SOD not only are more susceptible to DNA damage and killing by H₂O₂ but also contain larger pools of intracellular free iron. The present study investigated if SOD-deficient E. coli cells are exposed to increased levels of hydroxyl radical (^·OH) as a consequence of the reaction of H₂O₂ with this increased iron pool. When the parental E. coli strain AB1157 was exposed to H₂O₂ in the presence of an α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl-nitrone (4-POBN)–ethanol spin-trapping system, the 4-POBN–^·CH(CH₃)OH spin adduct was detectable by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, indicating ^·OH production. When the isogenic E. coli mutant JI132, lacking both Fe- and Mn-containing SODs, was exposed to H₂O₂ in a similar manner, the magnitude of ^·OH spin trapped was significantly greater than with the control strain. Preincubation of the bacteria with the iron chelator deferoxamine markedly inhibited the magnitude of ^·OH spin trapped. Exogenous SOD failed to inhibit ^·OH formation, indicating the need for intracellular SOD. Redox-active iron, defined as EPR-detectable ascorbyl radical, was greater in the SOD-deficient strain than in the control strain. These studies (i) extend recent data from others demonstrating increased levels of iron in E. coli SOD mutants and (ii) support the hypothesis that a resulting increase in ^·OH formation generated by Fenton chemistry is responsible for the observed enhancement of DNA damage and the increased susceptibility to H₂O₂-mediated killing seen in these mutants lacking SOD.     

Proton transfer and polarizability of hydrogen bonds in proteins coupled with conformational changes. I. Infrared investigation of poly(glutamic acid) with various N Bases

The nature of hydrogen bonds formed between carboxylic acid residues and histidine residues in proteins is studied by ir spectroscopy. Poly(glutamic acid) [(Glu)_n] is investigated with various monomer N bases. The position of the proton transfer equilibrium OH…?N ? O^?…?H⁺N is determined considering the bands of the carboxylic group. It is shown that largely symmetrical double minimum energy surfaces are present in the OH…?N ? O^?…?H⁺N bonds when the pK_a of the protonated N base is two values larger than that of the carboxylic groups of (Glu)_n. Hence OH…?N ? O^?…?H⁺N bonds between glutamic and aspartic acid residues and histidine residues in proteins may be easily polarizable proton transfer hydrogen bonds. The polarizability of these bonds is one to two orders of magnitude larger than usual electron polarizabilities; therefore, these bonds strongly interact with their environment. It is demonstrated that water molecules shift these proton transfer equilibria in favor of the polar proton boundary structure. The access of water molecules to such bonds in proteins and therefore the position of this proton transfer equilibrium is dependent on conformation. The amide bands show that (Glu)_n is α-helical with all systems. The only exception is the (Glu)_n-n-propylamine system. When this system is hydrated (Glu)_n is α-helical, too. When it is dried, however, (Glu)_n forms antiparallel β-structure. This conformational transition, dependent on degree of hydration, is reversible. An excess of n-propylamine has the same effect on conformation as hydration.     

Pulse-radiolytic investigations of catechols and catecholamines II. Reactions of Tiron with oxygen radical species

Transient spectra and kinetic data of Tiron (1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulphonic acid) are reported, obtained after pulse-radiolytic oxidation by hydroxyl radicals (°OH), superoxide anions (O₂^?) or a combination of both oxygen radicals. The rate constant with °OH radicals was determined at 1.0·10⁹ M^?1·s^?1. Contrary to a previous report (Greenstock, C.L. and Miller, R.W. (1975) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 396, 11–16), the rate constant with O₂^? of 1.0·10⁷ M^?1·s^?1 is lower by one order of magnitude; also the semiquinone absorbs at 300 nm rather than at 400 nm. The ratio of the rate constants with °OH and O₂^? of 100 again demonstrates that any oxidation reaction by the latter radical is unspecific due to the more efficient reaction of °OH radicals, leading to the same products with catechol compounds.     

Copper ions and hydrogen peroxide form hypochlorite from NaCl thereby mimicking myeloperoxidase

Sea urchins have elaborated multiple defenses to assure monospermic fertilization. In this work, we have concentrated on a study of the mechanism(s) by which hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) prevents polyspermy in Arbacia punctulata. We found that it is not H₂O₂ but probably hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite (HOCl/OCl^?) derived from H₂O₂ that is toxic to the supernumerary sperm. The spermicidal activity of H₂O₂ is potentiated by at least one order of magnitude by cupric ions (Cu²⁺). This increased toxicity is not due to the formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) because ·OH scavengers did not counteract the activity of Cu²⁺. More-over, substitution of Cu²⁺ by ferrous ions (Fe²⁺), which are known to cause formation of ·OH from H₂O₂, had no effect on fertilization even at 10²?10³ times higher concentrations. In contrast, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), an HOCl/OCl^? scavenger, totally reversed the toxic effects of Cu²⁺. Furthermore, we found that HOCl/OCl^? is generated in solutions of H₂O₂ and Cu²⁺ in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl and that its accumulation is abolished by AT. Thus it is possible that the antifertility properties of copper are due to its ability to mediate formation of HOCl/OCl^?. HOCl/OCl^? generated by Cu²⁺ from H₂O₂ and Cl^?, a low concentration of exogenously added HOCl/OCl^?, or increased concentrations of H₂O₂ has similar inhibitory effects on the fertilization process in sea urchins. Therefore, we suggest that polyspermy is prevented by the action of a myeloperoxidase that affects the formation of HOCl/OCl^? from the Cl^? present in sea water through reaction with H₂O₂ generated by the newly fertilized egg.     

Oxy Radicals in the Eye Tissues of Rabbits After Diquat In Vivo

It is our hypothesis that oxygen free radicals are the triggering agents in cataractogenesis. However, besides H₂O₂ there is no direct evidence of generation of oxy radicals in the eye tissues. Due to extremely short life of O^?₂, and OH. it is not possible to measure their cellular steady state levels. We found that indirect spectrophotometric techniques based on superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction for estimation of O^?₂. salicylate hydroxylation for OH. and peroxidase catalysed reoxidation of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol for H₂O₂ were suitable, sensitive and reproducible for measurements of the reactive species of O₂ produced in the eye tissues by oxy radical enhancer, diquat in the rabbit eye in vivo, After a single intravitreal injection of 60,120 or 300 nmole diquat in the right eyes, there was a dose-dependent rise in O^?₂ levels, 106–265 fold in the aqueous humor, 34–87 fold in the vitreous humor, 6–19 fold in the lens, and 43–88 fold in the retina as compared to 0.16 μM. 0.21 μM, 2.47 nmole/g and 5.56 nmole/g in tissues of the normal eyes, respectively. There were similar increases of OH * in the eye tissues, and of H₂O₂ in the aqueous humor and vitreous humor after diquat injection.

We propose that endogenous reductants of the eye tissues univalently reduce diquat to its free radical which spontaneously reacts with O₂ generaiing O^?₂, in excessive amounts, further giving rise to H₂O₂ and OH triggering cataractogenesis.     

Structurally symmetrical,easily polarizable hydrogen bonds between side chains in proteins and proton-conducting mechanisms. III

(L -Cys)_n, (L -Lys)_n, and (L -Glu)_n were studied by ir spectroscopy in terms of their degree of deprotonation or protonation. It is shown that structurally symmetrical, easily polarizable SH ?S^? ? ^?S ?HS, N⁺H ?N ? N ?H⁺N, and OH ?O^? ? ^?O ?HO hydrogen bonds are formed between the side chains. The different wave number distributions of the ir continua caused by these hydrogen bonds show that the barrier in the double-minimum proton potential decreases in the series of these hydrogen bonds. The stability of these hydrogen bonds against hydration increases in this series. The OH ?O^? ? ^?O ?HO bonds are not broken by small amounts of water. With (L -Cys)_n the formation of easily polarizable hydrogen bonds and a β-structure–coil transition are strongly interdependent. As a result of this coupling effect, the β-structure–coil transition becomes cooperative. With (L -Glu)_n, the formation of the polarizable hydrogen bonds and the observed conformational change are independent processes. The (L -Glu)_n conformation changes from α-helix to coil only if more than 80% of the residues are deprotonated. Finally, on the basis of the various types of easily polarizable hydrogen bonds, charge shifts in active centers of enzymes and the proton-conducting mechanism through hydrophobic regions of biological membranes are discussed.