Electron spin resonance spectra of penta- and hexacoordinated nitrosyl iron protoporphyrin IX complexes

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of frozen aqueous solutions of NO · haem · base complexes and NO · haem intercalated into dodecyl sulfate micelles have been measured at 77 K and analyzed for the hyperfine components of ¹⁵NO,¹⁴N-base, ¹⁴N-pyrroles and ⁵⁷Fe which coincide with the principal directions of the g tensor. The influence of the basicity of the nitrogen base on the spin distribution and geometry of the Fe-N-O grouping has been demonstrated by replacing imidazole for pyridine and by comparing the ESR spectra with those obtained for the monomeric insect haemoglobin CTT IV.The comparison of the hyperfine parameters described for the so-called pentacoordinated nitrosyl complex of CTT IV with those of the NO · haem intercalated into detergent micelles has furnished evidence that the ESR spectrum of this conformation state of haemoglobin has to be definitely assigned to a pentacoordinated nitrosyl complex.The a_zz values increase with the following orders: CTT IV (2.98 mT) < imidazole complex (3.04mT) < pyridine complex (3.15mT) for ¹⁵NO, and pyridine complex (0.59 mT) < imidazole complex (0.67 mT) < CTT IV (0.70 mT) for the ¹⁴N-base. This result is in conformity with an increase of the donor and the acceptor strengths of the nitrogen base in trans-position to ¹⁵NO. The a_yy and a_xx components of ¹⁵NO and the ¹⁴N-base are strongly nonequivalent in the nitrosyl haemoglobin CTT IV, and less nonequivalent in the NO · haem · pyridine complex, indicating bending of the Fe-N-O grouping. The hyperfine components of the axial ligands coinciding with the x and y component of the g tensor are nearly equal for the NO · haem · imidazole complex.     

Electron spin resonance spectroscopic detection of oxygen-centred radicals in human serum following exhaustive exercise

Free radicals or oxidants are continuously produced in the body as a consequence of normal energy metabolism. The concentration of free radicals, together with lipid peroxidation, increases in some tissues as a physiological response to exercise – they have also been implicated in a variety of pathologies. The biochemical measurement of free radicals has relied in the main on the indirect assay of oxidative stress by-products. This study presents the first use of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in conjunction with the spin-trapping technique, to measure directly the production of radical species in the venous blood of healthy human volunteers pre- and post-exhaustive aerobic exercise. Evidence is also presented of increased lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity post-exercise. Accepted: 30 October 1997     

Association of sugar-based carboranes with cationic liposomes: an electron spin resonance and light scattering study

The possibility of cationic (di-oleoyltrimethylammonium propane, DOTAP)/(l-α-dioleoylphosphatidyl-ethanolamine, DOPE) liposomes to act as carriers of boronated compounds such as 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaboran(12)-1-ylmethyl](β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside and 1,2-di-(β-d-gluco-pyranosyl-ox)methyl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodeca-borane(12) has been investigated by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) of n-doxyl stearic acids (n-DSA) and Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering (QELS). Both these carboranes have potential use in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), which is a targeted therapy for the treatment of radiation resistant tumors. They were shown to give aggregation both in plain water and in saline solution. Carborane aggregates were, however, disrupted when DOTAP/DOPE liposome solutions were used as dispersing agents. The computer analysis of the ESR spectra from carborane-loaded liposomes allowed to establish an increase of the order degree in the liposome bilayer with increasing carborane concentration, together with a decreased mobility. The same discontinuities of both correlation time and order parameter with respect to temperature variations were observed in carborane-containing and carborane-free liposomes. This suggested that a homogeneous dispersion of nitroxides and carboranes occurred in the liposome bilayer. The ESR line shape analysis proved that no dramatic changes were induced in the liposome environment by carborane insertion. QELS data showed that the overall liposome structure was preserved, with a slight decrease in the mean hydrodynamic radius and increase in polydispersity caused by the guest molecules.     

Electron spin resonance evidence for the formation of free radicals in plants exposed to ozone

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to demonstrate that free radicals are formed in O₃-fumigated plant leaves prior to the formation of visible leaf injury. ESR signals with a g-value of 2.0037 to 2.0043, were observed in pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Feltham first) and bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Pinto) plants that had been fumigated for 4 h with 70–300 nl l⁻¹ of ozone after they had been treated with the spin-trap N- t -butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN). The size of the ESR signals increased with the concentration of ozone used but the nature of the trapped radicals could not be identified. However, further experiments using an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis, arninoethoxyvinyl glycine (AVG), showed that the reaction between ozone and ethylene is the cause for ozone toxicity.     

Plasmodium berghei: Electron spin resonance and lipid analysis of infected mouse erythrocyte membranes

Red blood cells from mice infected with Plasmodium berghei and from uninfected mice were labeled with stable, free radical derivatives of stearic acid. Electron spin resonance spectra of these samples showed that the degree of molecular order in these membranes decreased, and the rate of motion of the probe increased, with increasing levels of parasitemia. Parasitemia increased the ratio of unsaturated to saturated 18-carbon fatty acids, and decreased the percentage of arachidonic acid and of cholesterol. The effects of parasitemia on the membrane properties correlated with decreases in cholesterol/fatty acid ratios.     

Electron spin resonance study on the formation of ascorbate free radical from ascorbate: The effect of dehydroascorbic acid and ferricyanide

Summary Ascorbate free radical is considered to be a substrate for a plasma membrane redox system in eukaryotic cells. Moreover, it might be involved in stimulation of cell proliferation. Ascorbate free radical can be generated by autoxidation of the ascorbate dianion, by transition metal-dependent oxidation of ascorbate, or by an equilibrium reaction of ascorbate with dehydroascorbic acid. In this study, we investigated the formation of ascorbate free radical, at physiological pH, in mixtures of ascorbate and dehydroascorbic acid by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It was found that at ascorbate concentrations lower than 2.5 mM, ascorbate-free radical formation was not dependent on the presence of dehydroascorbic acid. Removal of metal ions by treatment with Chelex 100 showed that autoxidation under these conditions was less than 20%. Therefore, it is concluded that at low ascorbate concentrations generation of ascorbate free radical mainly proceeds through metal-ion-dependent reactions. When ascorbate was present at concentrations higher than 2.5 mM, the presence of dehydroascorbic acid increased the ascorbate free-radical signal intensity. This indicates that under these conditions ascorbate free radical is formed by a disproportionation reaction between ascorbate and dehydroascorbic acid, having aK_equil of 6 × 10^–17 M. Finally, it was found that the presence of excess ferricyanide completely abolished ascorbate free-radical signals, and that the reaction between ascorbate and ferricyanide yields dehydroascorbic acid. We conclude that, for studies under physiological conditions, ascorbate free-radical concentrations cannot be calculated from the disproportionation reaction, but should be determined experimentally.Abbreviations AFR ascorbate free radical - DHA dehydroascorbic acid - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - DTPA diethylenetri-aminepentaacetic acid - TEMPO 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxy     

Electron spin resonance detection of extracellular superoxide anion released by cultured endothelial cells

Objective and Methods Endothelium produces oxygen-derived free radicals which play a major role in vessel wall physiology and pathology. Whereas NO^· production from endothelium has been extensively characterized, little is known about endothelium-derived O^-·₂. In the present study, we determined the O^-·₂ production of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1 pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.

Results An ESR adduct DMPO-OH detected in the supernatant of BAEC after stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 originated from the trapping of extracellular O^-·₂, because coincubation with superoxide dismutase (30 U/ml) completely suppressed the ESR signal, whereas catalase (2000 U/ml) had no effect. A23187 stimulated extracellular O^-·₂ production in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The coenzymes NADH and NADPH both increased the ESR signal, whereas a flavin antagonist, diphenylene iodonium, abolished the ESR signal. Phorbol myristate acetate potentiated, whereas bisindolylmaleimide I inhibited the A23187-stimulated O^-·₂ production, suggesting the involvement of protein kinase C. These signals were not altered L-NAME, a NO-synthase inhibitor, suggesting that the endogenous production of NO^· did not alter O^-·₂ production. Finally, the amount of O^-·₂ generated by A23187-stimulated post-confluent BAEC was one order of magnitude higher than that evoked by rat aortic smooth muscle cells stimulated under the same conditions.     

Concentration dependence of nitroxyl spin probes in liposomal solution: electron spin resonance and overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance studies

In this work, the detailed studies of electron spin resonance (ESR) and overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI) were carried out for permeable nitroxyl spin probe, MC-PROXYL as a function of agent concentration in liposomal solution. In order to compare the impermeable nature of nitroxyl radical, the study was also carried out only at 2?mM concentration of carboxy-PROXYL. The ESR parameters were estimated using L-band and 300?MHz ESR spectrometers. The line width broadening was measured as a function of agent concentration in liposomal solution. The estimated rotational correlation time is proportional to the agent concentration, which indicates that less mobile nature of nitroxyl spin probe in liposomal solution. The partition parameter and permeability values indicate that the diffusion of nitroxyl spin probe distribution into the lipid phase is maximum at 2?mM concentration of MC-PROXYL. The dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) parameters such as DNP factor, longitudinal relaxivity, saturation parameter, leakage factor and coupling factor were estimated for 2?mM MC-PROXYL in 400?mM liposomal dispersion. The spin lattice relaxation time was shortened in liposomal solution, which leads to the high relaxivity. Reduction in coupling factor is due to less interaction between the electron and nuclear spins, which causes the reduction in enhancement. The leakage factor increases with increasing agent concentration. The increase in DNP enhancement was significant up to 2?mM in liposomal solution. These results paves the way for choosing optimum agent concentration and OMRI scan parameters used in intra and extra membrane water by loading the liposome vesicles with a lipid permeable nitroxyl spin probes in OMRI experiments.     

电子自旋共振-自由基捕获技术在生物学中的应用

本文结合作者实验室的工作,简要回顾了电子自旋共振-自由基捕获技术在生物领域的应用,包括新型自由基捕获探针的分子设计与合成,以及该技术在细胞、植物体系中的应用实例,并结合该技术的研究现状初步讨论了它的未来发展前景。     

Electron spin resonance study of the copper(II) complexes of human and dog serum albumins and some peptide analogs

Electron spin resonance spectra of the first Cu(II) complexes of human serum albumin, dog serum albumin, l-aspartyl-l-histidine N-methylamide and glycyl-glycyl-l-histidine N-methylamide have been studied using isotopically pure ⁶⁵Cu in its chloride form. At 77° K, the esr spectra of Cu(II) complex of human serum albumin exhibited only one form of esr signal between pH 6.5 and 11. No intermediate forms were detected. The presence of an equally spaced nine-line superhyperfine structure with spacing ～15 G indicated considerable covalent bonding between Cu(II) and four nitrogen atoms derived from the protein. The esr spectrum form of Cu(II) bound to human serum albumin detected at neutral pH would be consistent with the participation of four nitrogens from the α-NH₂ group, two peptide groups, and the imidazole group of a histidine residue. In contrast, the esr spectra of Cu(II)-dog serum albumin complex showed a transition from a low pH form to a high pH form as the pH was increased to 9.5. These spectral changes were found to be reversible upon lowering the pH. Ligand superhyperfine splittings in the low pH form of the esr signal of Cu(II)-dog albumin were not resolved. The distinct pH dependence of the esr signals observed in human and dog serum albumin complexes could be correlated to their respective optical spectra changes as a function of pH. At room temperature and in the pH range between 6 and 11, the esr spectra of Cu(II) complexes of l-aspartyl-l-alanyl-l-histidine N-methylamide and glycyl-glycyl-l-histidine N-methylamide exhibited a well-resolved nine-line superhyperfine structure indicating metal coordination with four equivalent nitrogen atoms of peptide.     

辽宁金牛山遗址牙釉质样品的电子自旋共振（ESR）测年研究

本文报告金牛山五个牙化石样品的ＥＳＲ法和铀系法对比测年的结果,两者很接近,为２３万年左右。文中着重讨论了ＥＳＲ测年中：简单指数拟合求累积剂量的困难,α射线相对效率和氡逸失系数的实验测定以及选择关于铀加入模式的指导思想等问题,最后探讨了牙釉质样品ＥＳＲ测年的可靠性与应用前景。     

Application of electron spin resonance for evaluation of the level of free radicals in the myometrium in full-term pregnancy with normal labour and uterine inertia

In order to identify and quantify free radicals in the tissues of patients with normal physiological and pathological states of births, we developed a method to evaluate the amount of free radicals in myometrium of subplacental area and from body of uterus, using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Analysis of the concentration of free radicals in the myometrium in full-term pregnancy with normal labour and during uterine inertia was studied. The activities of Ca2+-ATPase, cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase in samples of these tissues were tested too. Low free radical concentrations in these tissues were associated with disturbances in contractile activity of myometrium along with reduction of Ca2+-ATPase, cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase activity. There proved to be an association between the level of free radicals in the tissues and alteration in the physiological processes.     

Stable free radicals in insect cuticles: electron spin resonance spectroscopy reveals differences between melanization and sclerotization

Insect cuticles (exuviae; cast skins) were examined for the first time by ESR spectroscopy for the presence of stable free radicals, as found in melanins. All cuticles, except those from a locust albino strain, irrespective of the presence of melanin, provided single-line signals of varied g-values and linewidths. The ESR signals of melanins, isolated or in cuticles, were characterized by g-values <2.004 and small linewidths in the range of 4-6G, while sclerotized cuticles, lacking melanin, showed g-values >2.004 and broad linewidths of 5-11 G. The melanin spectra were comparable to those reported for eumelanins with indol-based monomers. Minor signals ascribed to pheomelanins were found in several probes. The 'sclerotin' spectra were broader and displayed unresolved hyperfine structure in some cases. As for melanins, the location and environment of the radicals in cuticles giving rise to the two types of ESR spectra could not be assigned. Changes in the radical environment due to insecticide or solvent treatment can be detected by ESR spectroscopy.     

Electron Spin Resonance Studies on the Degradation of Hydroperoxides by Rat Liver Cytosol

Incubation of ¹BuOOH (in the concentration range 200μM to 20mM) with rat liver post-microsomal supernatant in the presence of the spin trap DMPO gives three radical species, which can be observed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The first of these is the ascorbyl radical (which decreases in concentration with time), the other two are identified as spin adducts of alkoxyl and carbon-centred radicals; these latter species increase in concentration with time. Addition of NADH, but not NADPH, led to an increase in concentration of the alkoxyl and carbon-centred radical adducts and a decrease in the concentration of the ascorbyl radical. Results obtained in the presence of iron chelators and other ligands suggest that the generating system is an NADH-dependent enzyme that reduces ¹BuOOH by one-electron to give initially the ¹BUO radical. Results from experiments carried out on dialysed cytosol samples lend support to this conclusion.     

Electron Spin Resonance Studies on the Degradation of Hydroperoxides by Rat Liver Cytosol

Incubation of ¹BuOOH (in the concentration range 200μM to 20mM) with rat liver post-microsomal supernatant in the presence of the spin trap DMPO gives three radical species, which can be observed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The first of these is the ascorbyl radical (which decreases in concentration with time), the other two are identified as spin adducts of alkoxyl and carbon-centred radicals; these latter species increase in concentration with time. Addition of NADH, but not NADPH, led to an increase in concentration of the alkoxyl and carbon-centred radical adducts and a decrease in the concentration of the ascorbyl radical. Results obtained in the presence of iron chelators and other ligands suggest that the generating system is an NADH-dependent enzyme that reduces ¹BuOOH by one-electron to give initially the ¹BUO radical. Results from experiments carried out on dialysed cytosol samples lend support to this conclusion.     

Electron spin resonance and spin trapping technique provide direct evidence that edaravone prevents acute ischemia-reperfusion injury of the liver by limiting free radical-mediated tissue damage

A novel free radical scavenger, 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (edaravone), is used for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and is protective in several animal models of organ injury. We tested whether edaravone is protective against acute liver warm ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat by acting as a radical scavenger. When edaravone was administered prior to ischemia and at the time of initiation of the reperfusion, liver injury was markedly reduced. Production of oxidants in the liver in this model was assessed in vivo by spin-trapping/electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Ischemia/reperfusion caused an increase in free radical adducts rapidly, an effect markedly blocked by edaravone. Furthermore, edaravone treatment blunted ischemia/reperfusion-induced elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines, infiltration of leukocytes and lipid peroxidation in the liver. These results demonstrate that edaravone is an effective blocker of free radicals in vivo in the liver after ischemia/reperfusion, leading to prevention of organ injury by limiting the deleterious effects of free radicals.     

Electron spin resonance study of the role of vitamin E and vitamin C in the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation in a model membrane

The neutral α-tocopheroxyl radicals, generated in monolayers on silica gel containing α-tocopherol and partly autoxidised methyl linoleate at 90°C, were detected and identified by ESR spectroscopy. Addition of ascorbic acid to the monolayer resulted in the complete quenching of the α-tocopheroxyl radical spectrum. This lends support to the view that ascorbate transfers hydrogen to α-tocopheroxyl radicals thus regenerating α-tocopherol.     

Electron Movement Through Proteins and DNA

Nature utilizes the phenomenon of single electron transfer very widely, especially in metallo-proteins. In systems when the metal donor (D) is well separated from the acceptor (A) by polypeptide chains, the transferring electron is presumed to be bonded, in part, by these chains, which may influence the pathway taken. This situation can be probed by radiolytic injection of electrons into proteins at low temperatures. One aim of this brief review is to consider how information derived from such radiolysis studies, and followed by ESR spectroscopy, may possibly impinge on studies of D-A systems. Electrons can also be injected into duplex DNA in this way, and the results are compared with those for proteins. They are also considered in the light of recent studies of D-A electron-transfer via a polynucleotide strand. It seems that such transfers are very efficient, and it is tentatively suggested that Nature may also use this conductivity in some as yet undiscovered systems. © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.     

Muon spin resonance of radicals on surfaces

Polarized positive muons are incorporated as spin labels in organic free radicals adsorbed on large-area surfaces. Two muon spin resonance techniques are introduced which allow the detection of the muonanted species, either in transverse or near avoided crossings of energy levels in longitudinal magnetic fields. The radicals are characterized by their hyperfine interactions, and dynamic information is obtained from the extent of averaging of the hyperfine anisotropy. Because of the high spin polarization the method is extremely sensitive and allows the study of radicals at concentrations down to a single radical in the sample at a given time, and therefore under conditions of high mobility where conventional techniques often fail due to radical termination reactions.