The involvement of biological quinones in the formation of hydroxyl radicals via the Haber-Weiss reaction

The present investigation was made to evaluate biologically relevant quinones as possible catalysts in the generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals. ESR spectra demonstrated that menadione, plastoquinone, and ubiquinone derivatives could all be reduced to their semiquinone forms by electron transfer from superoxide radicals. Reductive homolytic cleavage of H₂O₂ was observed to be dependent upon the presence of semiquinones in the reaction medium. Our data strongly support the concept that quinones normally involved in physiological processes may also play a role as catalysts of the Haber-Weiss reaction in the biological generation of hydroxyl radicals.     

Role of quinone reductases in extracellular redox cycling in lichenized ascomycetes

Our previous work showed that many lichenized Ascomycetes can generate hydroxyl radicals using quinone-based extracellular redox cycling. During cycling, hydroquinones must be formed and subsequently regenerated from quinones using a quinone reductase (QR). However, we also showed that no simple correlation exists between QR activity and rates of hydroxyl radical formation. To further investigate the role of QR in hydroxyl radical formation, three model lichen species, Leptogium furfuraceum, Lasallia pustulata and Peltigera membranacea were selected for further investigation. All possessed QR activity and could metabolize quinones, and both Leptogium furfuraceum and Lasallia pustulata actively produced hydroxyl radicals. By contrast, P. membranacea produced almost no hydroxyl radicals, and although the lichen readily metabolized quinones, no hydroquinone production was detected. Peltigera had laccase (LAC) activity that was c. 50 times higher than in the other two species, suggesting that LAC rapidly oxidizes the hydroquinones, preventing radical formation deriving from auto-oxidation. It appears that in some lichens hydroxyl radical formation is blocked by the presence of high redox enzyme activity. QR from P. didactyla was studied further and found to display similar properties to the enzyme from free-living fungi, although it possessed an unusually high molecular mass (c. 62 kDa).     

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of the generation of reactive oxygen species catalysed by transition metals and quinoid redox cycling by inhalable ambient particulate matter

A range of epidemiological studies in the 1990s showed that exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is associated with adverse health effects in the respiratory system and increased morbidity and mortality rates. Oxidative stress has emerged as a pivotal mechanism that underlies the toxic pulmonary effects of PM. A key question from a variety of studies was whether the adverse health effects of PM are mediated by the carbonaceous particles of their reactive chemical compounds adsorbed into the particles. Experimental evidence showed that PM contains redox-active transition metals, redox cycling quinoids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which act synergistically to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Fine PM has the ability to penetrate deep into the respiratory tree where it overcomes the antioxidant defences in the fluid lining of the lungs by the oxidative action of ROS. From a previous study [Valavanidis A, Salika A, Theodoropoulou A. Generation of hydroxyl radicals by urban suspended particulate air matter. The role of iron ions. Atmospher Environ 2000; 34 : 2379-2386], we established that ferrous ions in PM play an important role in the generation of hydroxyl radicals in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In the present study, we investigated the synergistic effect of transition metals and persistent quinoid and semiquinone radicals for the generation of ROS without the presence of H2O2. We experimented with airborne particulate matter, such as TSPs (total suspended particulates), fresh automobile exhaust particles (diesel, DEP and gasoline, GEP) and fresh wood smoke soot. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), we examined the quantities of persistent free radicals, characteristic of a mixture of quinoid radicals with different structures and a carbonaceous core of carbon-centred radicals. We extracted, separated and analysed the quinoid compounds by EPR at alkaline solution (pH 9.5) and by TLC. Also, we studied the direct production of superoxide anion and the damaging hydroxyl radical in aqueous and in DMSO suspensions of PM without H2O2. From these results, it is suggested that the cytotoxic and carcinogenic potential of PM can be partly the result of redox cycling of persistent quinoid radicals, which generate large amounts of ROS. In the second phase, the water-soluble fraction of PM elicits DNA damage via reactive transition metal-dependent formation of hydroxyl radicals, implicating an important role for hydrogen peroxide. Together, these data indicate the importance of mechanisms involving redox cycling of quinones and Fenton-type reactions by transition metals in the generation of ROS. These results are supported by recent studies indicating cytotoxic effects, especially mitochondrial damage, by PM extracts and differential mechanisms of cell killing by redox cycling quinones.     

Redox cycling of potential antitumor aziridinyl quinones

The formation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) during redox cycling of newly synthesized potential antitumor 2,5-bis (1-aziridinyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (BABQ) derivatives has been studied by assaying the production of ROI (superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide) by xanthine oxidase in the presence of BABQ derivatives. At low concentrations (< 10 microM) some BABQ derivatives turned out to inhibit the production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by xanthine oxidase, while the effect on the xanthine-oxidase-induced production of hydrogen peroxide was much less pronounced. Induction of DNA strand breaks by reactive oxygen species generated by xanthine oxidase was also inhibited by BABQ derivatives. The DNA damage was comparable to the amount of hydroxyl radicals produced. The inhibiting effect on hydroxyl radical production can be explained as a consequence of the lowered level of superoxide, which disrupts the Haber-Weiss reaction sequence. The inhibitory effect of BABQ derivatives on superoxide formation correlated with their one-electron reduction potentials: BABQ derivatives with a high reduction potential scavenge superoxide anion radicals produced by xanthine oxidase, leading to reduced BABQ species and production of hydrogen peroxide from reoxidation of reduced BABQ. This study, using a unique series of BABQ derivatives with an extended range of reduction potentials, demonstrates that the formation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by bioreductively activated antitumor quinones can in principle be uncoupled from alkylating activity.     

Oxidation of the substituted catechols dihydroxyphenylalanine methyl ester and trihydroxyphenylalanine by lactoperoxidase and its compounds

The reactions of native lactoperoxidase and its compound II with two substituted catechols have been investigated by ESR spin stabilization and spin trapping and by rapid scan and conventional spectrophotometric techniques. The catechols are Dopa methyl ester (dihydroxyphenylalanine methyl ester) and 6-hydroxy-Dopa (trihydroxyphenylalanine). o-Semiquinone radicals are formed in the anaerobic reaction of Dopa methyl ester with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by native lactoperoxidase. The comparable anaerobic reaction of 6-hydroxy-Dopa appears to produce hydroxyl radicals in an unusual reaction. Compound II is reduced back to native lactoperoxidase by both catechols. The reaction between Dopa methyl ester and compound II undergoes an oscillation. The results on the overall lactoperoxidase cycle indicate two successive one-electron reductions of the peroxidase intermediates back to the native enzyme. The resulting free radical formation of o- and p-semiquinones and subsequent formation of stable quinones and Dopachromes is dependent upon the stereochemical arrangement of the catechol hydroxyl groups.     

Reactivity of ubiquinones and ubiquinols with free radicals

The reactivity of quinones 1-4 and of the corresponding quinols 5-8 towards carbon- and oxygen-centred radicals were studied. All quinones bearing at least one nuclear position free, readily react with alkyl and phenyl radicals to afford the alkylated quinones 12-24; however, quinones 1 and 3 reacted with 2-cyano-2-propyl radical to yield products (the mono- and di-ethers 9-11) derived from the attack on the carbonylic oxygen. The reactions carried out on quinones with the benzoyloxy radical led to no reaction products and in the case of Q₁₀, the isoprenic chain also remained unchanged. Quinols 5-8 reacted only with oxygencentred radicals (benzoyloxy and 2-cyano-2-propylperoxy radicals) to give the corresponding quinones. The isoprenic chain of Q₁₀ did not undergo attack even with peroxy radicals. Carbon-centred radicals resulted unable to abstract hydrogen from the studied quinols.     

Myricitrin as a substrate and inhibitor of myeloperoxidase: implications for the pharmacological effects of flavonoids

Flavonoids are increasingly being ingested by the general population as chemotherapeutic and anti-inflammatory agents. They are potentially toxic because of their conversion to free radicals and reactive quinones by peroxidases. Little detailed information is available on how flavonoids interact with myeloperoxidase, which is the predominant peroxidase present at sites of inflammation. This enzyme uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidize chloride to hypochlorous acid, as well as to produce an array of reactive free radicals from organic substrates. We investigated how the flavonoid myricitrin is oxidized by myeloperoxidase and how it affects the activities of this enzyme. Myricitrin was readily oxidized by myeloperoxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Its main oxidation product was a dimer that underwent further oxidation. In the presence of glutathione, myricitrin was oxidized to a hydroquinone that was conjugated to glutathione. When myeloperoxidase oxidized myricitrin and related flavonoids it became irreversibly inactivated. The number of hydroxyl groups in the B ring of the flavonoids and the presence of a free hydroxyl m-phenol group in the A ring were important for the inhibitory effects. Less enzyme inactivation occurred in the presence of chloride. Neutrophils also oxidized myricitrin to dimers in a reaction that was partially dependent on myeloperoxidase. Myricitrin did not affect the production of hypochlorous acid by neutrophils. We conclude that myricitrin will be oxidized by neutrophils at sites of inflammation to produce reactive free radicals and quinones. It is unlikely to affect hypochlorous acid production by neutrophils.     

Coppier ion-dependent oxy-radical mediated DNA damage from dihydroxy derivative of etoposide

The dihydroxy etoposide, a metabolite of the clinically active anticancer drug, VP-16, induced extensive DNA damage in the presence of copper ions. While superoxide dismutase was without any effect on the DNA damage, catalase and inhibitors of free hydroxyl radicals inhibited the DNA degradation, indicating that hydroxyl radicals were responsible for this drug-Cu-dependent DNA damage.     

Copper ion-dependent oxy-radical mediated DNA damage from dihydroxy derivative of etoposide

The dihydroxy etoposide, a metabolite of the clinically active anticancer drug, VP-16, induced extensive DNA damage in the presence of copper ions. While superoxide dismutase was without any effect on the DNA damage, catalase and inhibitors of free hydroxyl radicals inhibited the DNA degradation, indicating that hydroxyl radicals were responsible for this drug-Cu-dependent DNA damage.     

不依赖于过渡金属离子的卤代醌介导的新型有机类Fenton反应机理

卤代醌是许多卤芳香持久有机污染物的致癌代谢产物和饮用水消毒副产物。羟基自由基(.OH)被公认为生物系统中最具活性的活性氧物种,能导致生物体内DNA等生物大分子的氧化损伤。目前,最被广泛接受的.OH产生机理是过渡金属离子催化的Fenton反应。综合采用电子自旋共振二级自旋捕获和其他分析方法,发现四氯苯醌和其它卤代醌皆可通过不依赖于过渡金属离子的途径,显著促进氢过氧化物(H2O2或有机氢过氧化物)的分解而产生.OH或烷氧自由基,并首次检测到一种新型的、以碳为中心的醌自由基。基于以上研究,提出一类不依赖于过渡金属离子的卤代醌介导的新型有机类Fenton反应机理。     

Lymphocytes can produce respiratory burst and oxygen radicals as polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The respiratory burst and production of oxygen radicals by lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was studied and compared with that of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin trapping technique. Superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals spin adducts of DMPO were detected in the stimulated PMN system, but only hydroxyl radical spin adducts of DMPO were detected in the stimulated lymphocyte system. It was proved by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase that the hydroxyl radicals produced in the stimulated lymphocyte system came from superoxide anions, just like the hydroxyl radicals produced in the stimulated PMN.     

Lymphocytes can produce respiratory burst and oxygen radicals as polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The respiratory burst and production of oxygen radicals by lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was studied and compared with that of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin trapping technique. Superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals spin adducts of DMPO were detected in the stimulated PMN system, but only hydroxyl radical spin adducts of DMPO were detected in the stimulated lymphocyte system. It was proved by Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase that the hydroxyl radicals produced in the stimulated lymphocyte system came from Superoxide anions, just like the hydroxyl radicals produced in the stimulated PMN.     

Reactivity of ubiquinones and ubiquinols with free radicals

The reactivity of quinones 1–4 and of the corresponding quinols 5–8 towards carbon- and oxygen-centred radicals were studied. All quinones bearing at least one nuclear position free, readily react with alkyl and phenyl radicals to afford the alkylated quinones 12–24; however, quinones 1 and 3 reacted with 2-cyano-2-propyl radical to yield products (the mono- and di-ethers 9–11) derived from the attack on the carbonylic oxygen. The reactions carried out on quinones with the benzoyloxy radical led to no reaction products and in the case of Q₁₀, the isoprenic chain also remained unchanged. Quinols 5–8 reacted only with oxygencentred radicals (benzoyloxy and 2-cyano-2-propylperoxy radicals) to give the corresponding quinones. The isoprenic chain of Q₁₀ did not undergo attack even with peroxy radicals. Carbon-centred radicals resulted unable to abstract hydrogen from the studied quinols.     

Generation of oxygen free radicals in thyroid cells and inhibition of thyroid peroxidase

We examined whether superoxide (O(2)(-)) is produced as a precursor of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in cultured thyroid cells using the cytochrome c method and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. No O(2)(-) or its related radicals was detected in thyroid cells under the physiological condition. The presence of quinone, 2,3-dimethoxy-l-naphthoquinone (DMNQ), or 2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone (menadione), in the medium produced O(2)(-) and hydroxyl radicals (OH*); the amount of H(2)O(2) generation was also increased. Incubation of follicles with DMNQ or menadione inhibited iodine organification (a step of thyroid hormone formation) and its catalytic enzyme, thyroid peroxidase (TPO). This inhibition should be caused by reactive oxygen species because the two quinones, particularly DMNQ, exert their effect through the generation of reactive oxygen species. It is speculated that the site-specific inactivation of TPO might have occurred at the heme-linked histidine residue of the TPO molecule, a critical amino acid for enzyme activity because OH* (vicious free radicals) can be formed at the iron-linked amino acid. TPO mRNA level and electrophoretic mobility of TPO were not inhibited by quinones. Our study suggests that thyroid H(2)O(2) is produced by divalent reduction of oxygen without O(2)(-) generation. If thyroid cells happen to be exposed to significant amount of reactive oxygen species, TPO and subsequent thyroid hormone formation are inhibited.     

Hydroxyl radical generation by oligonucleotide derivatives of anthracycline antibiotic and synthetic quinone.

For the first time the covalent binding of anticancer anthracycline drugs and their potential synthetic analogs to oligonucleotides of different sequences is proposed for obtaining site-specific DNA scission in systems in vitro and in vivo. New compounds such as daunomycin (Dm) and synthetic naphthoquinone (NQ), covalently bound to the heptadeoxynucleotide of pCCAAACA (Dm-pN7) and decadeoxythymidilate (pT10p-NQ), have been obtained. These oligonucleotide derivatives can form specific complexes with complementary oligonucleotide sequences; these compounds and their complementary complexes can be reduced by purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), it has been shown that in aerobic conditions Dm-pN7 and pT10p-NQ are capable of generating OH radicals with and without complementary oligonucleotides. The chemical stability of the compounds in redox reactions has been studied. Oligonucleotide derivatives of natural and synthetic quinones capable of generating OH radicals seem to be a promising tool for site-specific scission of DNA in solution and in cells.     

Crystal structures, antioxidation and DNA binding properties of Yb(III) complexes with Schiff-base ligands derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carbaldehyde and four aroylhydrazines

X-ray crystal and other structural analyses indicate that Yb(III) and all four newly synthesized ligands can form a binuclear Yb(III) complex with a 1:1 metal to ligand stoichiometry by octacoordination at the Yb(III) center. Investigations of DNA binding properties show that all the ligands and Yb(III) complexes can bind to Calf thymus DNA through intercalations with the binding constants at the order of magnitude 10⁵–10⁷ M⁻¹, but Yb(III) complexes present stronger affinities to DNA than ligands. All the ligands and Yb(III) complexes may be used as potential anticancer drugs. Investigations of antioxidation properties show that all the ligands and Yb(III) complexes have strong scavenging effects for hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals but Yb(III) complexes show stronger scavenging effects for hydroxyl radicals than ligands. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Characterization of free radicals produced during oxidation of etoposide (VP-16) and its catechol and quinone derivatives. An ESR Study

Spectroscopic evidence for the radical-mediated metabolism of VP-16, VP-16 catechol, and VP-16 quinone during enzymatic oxidation and autoxidation has been obtained. Autoxidation of the catechol yields the primary semiquinone together with the primary molecular product VP-16 quinone, which subsequently undergoes hydrolytic oxidation to form secondary quinones and semiquinones. Both primary and secondary phenoxyl radicals were detected during peroxidatic oxidation of VP-16. Neither the primary nor the secondary radicals react with DNA at a detectable rate. Evidence for the production of hydroxyl radical during iron-catalyzed oxidation of VP-16 catechol was obtained. These free radical reactions may have implications for the mechanism of antitumor action of VP-16.     

Apoptosis-inducing neurotoxicity of dopamine and its metabolites via reactive quinone generation in neuroblastoma cells

Neurotoxic properties of L-dopa and dopamine (DA)-related compounds were assessed in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells with reference to their structural relationship. L-Dopa and its metabolites containing two free hydroxyl residues on their benzene ring showed toxicity in the cell, which was prevented by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH), but not by catalase. Furthermore, a synthetic derivative of DA, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenethylamine (HMPE) containing methoxy residue at position 4 in the benzene ring, exerted partial cytotoxicity, which was not prevented by SOD, GSH or catalase. However, the metabolites containing methoxy residue at position 3 failed to show a toxic effect in the SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, DA induced apoptotic cell death, which was observed by nuclear and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining and measurement of caspase-3 activity; this compound up-regulated apoptotic factor p53 while down-regulating anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. In the cell-free in vitro electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry, DA possessing two hydroxyl groups showed generation of DA-semiquinone radicals, which were markedly prevented by addition of SOD or GSH but not by catalase. On the other hand, methylation of one of the hydroxyl residues on the benzene ring of DA converted DA to an unoxidizable compound (3-MT or HMPE), and caused it to lose the property to produce semiquinone radicals. It has been previously reported that SOD acting as a superoxide:semiquinone oxidoreductase prevents quinone formation, and that reduced GSH through forming a complex with DA-quinone prevents quinone binding to the thiol group of the intact protein. Therefore, the present results suggest that DA and its metabolites containing two hydroxyl residues exert cytotoxicity mainly due to generation of highly reactive quinones.     

Modeling binding kinetics at the Q(A) site in bacterial reaction centers

Bacterial reaction centers (RCs) catalyze a series of electron-transfer reactions reducing a neutral quinone to a bound, anionic semiquinone. The dissociation constants and association rates of 13 tailless neutral and anionic benzo- and naphthoquinones for the Q(A) site were measured and compared. The K(d) values for these quinones range from 0.08 to 90 microM. For the eight neutral quinones, including duroquinone (DQ) and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (UQ(0)), the quinone concentration and solvent viscosity dependence of the association rate indicate a second-order rate-determining step. The association rate constants (k(on)) range from 10(5) to 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Association and dissociation rate constants were determined at pH values above the hydroxyl pK(a) for five hydroxyl naphthoquinones. These negatively charged compounds are competitive inhibitors for the Q(A) site. While the neutral quinones reach equilibrium in milliseconds, anionic hydroxyl quinones with similar K(d) values take minutes to bind or dissociate. These slow rates are independent of ionic strength, solvent viscosity, and quinone concentration, indicating a first-order rate-limiting step. The anionic semiquinone, formed by forward electron transfer at the Q(A) site, also dissociates slowly. It is not possible to measure the association rate of the unstable semiquinone. However, as the protein creates kinetic barriers for binding and releasing anionic hydroxyl quinones without greatly increasing the affinity relative to neutral quinones, it is suggested that the Q(A) site may do the same for anionic semiquinone. Thus, the slow semiquinone dissociation may not indicate significant thermodynamic stabilization of the reduced species in the Q(A) site.     

Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid.

Exogenous hydroxyl radical treatments increased the levels of beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) in grass pea seedlings. Lipid peroxidation initiated by hydroxyl radicals can be alleviated when grass pea seedlings were pretreated with exogenous ODAP, suggesting that ODAP might act as an hydroxyl radical scavenger in vivo. Competing with salicylate for hydroxyl radicals in the hydroxyl radical generating/detecting system, ODAP's in vitro hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity was assessed to confirm this result, and the role of ODAP as an effective hydroxyl radical scavenger is discussed.