Detection of peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals produced by reaction of hydroperoxides with heme-proteins by electron spin resonance spectroscopy

ESR spin trapping using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) has been used to directly detect alkoxyl radicals (with hyperfine coupling constants aN 1.488, aH 1.600 mT and aN 1.488, aH 1.504 mT for the tBuO. and PhC(CH3)2O. adducts, respectively) and peroxyl radicals (aN 1.448, aH 1.088, aH 0.130 mT and aN 1.456, aH 1.064, aH 0.128 mT for the tBuOO. and PhC(CH3)2OO. adducts, respectively) produced from t-butyl or cumene hydroperoxides by a variety of heme-containing substances (purified cytochrome P-450, metmyoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, cytochrome c, catalase, horseradish peroxidase) and the model compound hematin. The observed species exhibit a complicated dependence on reagent concentrations and time, with maximum concentrations of the peroxyl radical adducts being observed immediately after mixing of the hydroperoxide with low concentrations of the heme-compound. Experiments with inhibitors (CN-, N3-, CO, metyrapone and imidazole) suggest that the major mechanism of peroxyl radical production involves high-valence-state iron complexes in a reaction analogous to the classical peroxidase pathway. The production of alkoxyl radicals is shown to arise mainly from the breakdown of peroxyl radical spin adducts, with direct production from the hydroperoxide being a relatively minor process.     

The NoH value in EPR spin trapping: a new parameter for the identification of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide spin adducts.

The ratio of the nitrogen to hydrogen hyperfine splittings (aN/aH) of spin adducts derived from the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) has been found to be a useful parameter for adduct identification. For example, this parameter makes it possible to distinguish between the superoxide (aN/aH = 1.22-1.26) and peroxyl (aN/aH = 1.33-1.40) radical adducts of DMPO in aqueous solution. Since the aN to aH ratio corrects for minor differences in EPR spectrometer calibration, it is a more reproducible parameter than the aN and aH values themselves.     

Photodegradation of hyaluronic acid: EPR and size exclusion chromatography study.

Photochemically induced radical reactions involving the lateral sequences and the end macromolecular chain groups of hyaluronic acid in aqueous solutions at 293K were studied by EPR spin trapping technique with DMPO (5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide). In the first 1-10 minutes of irradiation EPR indicates spin adducts of two carbon centered radicals with the splitting constants of aN = 1.60 mT, aH = 2.51 mT and aN = 1.56 mT, aH = 2.28 mT. After longer irradiation time (over 10 minutes) dominate two further DMPO adducts of radicals centered on hetero-atoms with splitting constants of aN = 1.44 mT, aH = 1.60 mT and of aN = 1.49 mT, aH = 1.49 mT. Simultaneously, molecular weight followed by SEC decreases, suggesting that UV irradiation leads to the breaking of interglycosidic bonds of hyaluronic acid main macromolecular chain.     

EPR detection of lipid-derived free radicals from PUFA, LDL, and cell oxidations

We have used the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) and EPR to detect lipid-derived radicals (Ld*) during peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and cells (K-562 and MCF-7). All oxygen-centered radical adducts of DMPO from our oxidizable targets have short lifetimes (<20 min). We hypothesized that the short lifetimes of these spin adducts are due in part to their reaction with radicals formed during lipid peroxidation. We proposed that stopping the lipid peroxidation processes by separating oxidation-mediator from oxidation-substrate with an appropriate extraction would stabilize the spin adducts. To test this hypothesis we used ethyl acetate to extract the lipid-derived radical adducts of DMPO (DMPO/Ld*) from an oxidizing docosahexaenioc acid (DHA) solution; Folch extraction was used for LDL and cell experiments. The lifetimes of DMPO spin adducts post-extraction are much longer (>10 h) than the spin adducts detected without extraction. In iron-mediated DHA oxidation we observed three DMPO adducts in the aqueous phase and two in the organic phase. The aqueous phase contains DMPO/HO* aN approximately aH approximately 14.8 G) and two carbon-centered radical adducts (aN1 approximately 15.8 G, aH1 approximately 22.6 G; aN2 approximately 15.2 G, aH2 approximately 18.9 G). The organic phase contains two long-chain lipid radical adducts (aN approximately 13.5 G, aH approximately 10.2 G; and aN approximately 12.8 G; aH approximately 6.85 G, 1.9 G). We conclude that extraction significantly increases the lifetimes of the spin adducts, allowing detection of a variety of lipid-derived radicals by EPR.     

DMPO-Alkyl radical spin trapping: an in situ radiolysis steady-state ESR study

Short-lived free radicals formed in the reaction of 11 substrates and radiolytically produced hydroxyl radicals were trapped successfully with 5, 5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) in dilute aqueous solution. The in situ radiolysis steady-state ESR spectra of the spin adducts were analyzed to determine accurate ESR parameters for these spin adducts in a uniform environment. Parent alkyl radicals include methyl, ethyl, 1-propyl and 2-propyl (1-methylethyl). Hydroxyalkyl parent radicals were hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxy-2-propyl (1-methyl-1-hydroxyethyl), 1-hydroxypropyl and 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl. Carboxyl radical (carbon dioxide anion, formate radical) and sulfite anion radical were the sigma radicals studied. The DMPO spin adduct of 1-propyl was identified for the first time. For most spin adducts, g factors were also determined for the first time. In DMPO spin adducts of hydroxyalkyl radicals, nitrogen and C(2)-proton hyperfine coupling constants are smaller than those of alkyl radical adducts; the hydroxyalkyl spin adducts possess larger g values than their unsubstituted counterparts. These changes are ascribed to the spread of pi conjugation to include the hydroxyl group. Strong evidence of spin addend-aminoxyl group interaction can be seen in the asymmetrical line shapes in the hydroxyethyl and the hydroxypropyl spin adducts.     

Trapping of free radicals with direct in vivo EPR detection: a comparison of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide and 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as spin traps for HO* and SO4*-.

To spin trap hydroxyl radical (HO*) with in vivo detection of the resultant radical adducts, the use of two spin traps, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO) (10 mmol/kg) has been compared. In mice treatment with 5-aminolevulinic acid and Fe3+ resulted in detection of adducts of hydroxyl radicals (HO*), but only with use of DEPMPO. Similarly, 'HO* adducts' generated via nucleophilic substitution of SO4*- adducts formed in vivo could be observed only when using DEPMPO as the spin trap. The reasons for the differences observed between DEPMPO and DMPO are likely due to different in vivo lifetimes of their hydroxyl radical adducts. These results seem to be the first direct in vivo EPR detection of hydroxyl radical adducts.     

A study of photochemically-generated protein radical spin adducts on bovine serum albumin: the detection of genuine spin-trapping and artefactual,non-radical addition in the same molecule

Summary

Photo-oxidation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by porphyrins produces protein-centred radicals that can be spin trapped by 3, 5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzenesulphonic acid (DBNBS) and 5, 5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). In the case of DMPO, a thiyl radical from the Cys-34 residue is trapped, whereas with DBNBS signals from both this thiyl and tertiary carbon-centred species are observed. However, specific chemical modification of the Cys-34 residue, in combination with dual-isotope spin-trapping techniques, shows that the signal assigned to the Cys-34 thiyl adduct with DBNBS is a nitroxide artefact resulting from sequential (non-radical) nucleophilic addition and oxidation. In contrast, both the Cys-34 thiyl DMPO adduct and the tertiary carbon-centred DBNBS adducts result from genuine spintrapping. This study shows that such artefacts can be detected—even with anisotropic EPR spectra—through the use of appropriately substituted spin-traps, and that nitroso spin-traps need to be employed with great care in systems containing free thiol groups.     

Alkyl free radicals from the beta-scission of fatty acid alkoxyl radicals as detected by spin trapping in a lipoxygenase system

2-Methyl-2-nitrosopropane (tNB)-radical adducts from incubation mixtures of fatty acids and soybean lipoxygenase in borate buffer (pH 9.0) were measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). In addition to the previously reported six-line signal of secondary carbon-centered radicals (RCHR'), a weak signal submerged in the baseline was detected after the peroxidation phase was finished. We propose that this radical is a decomposition product formed via beta-scission of fatty acid alkoxyl radicals. EPR spectra of tNB-radical adducts formed in mixtures of either linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, or 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid with lipoxygenase exhibited hyperfine structure characteristic of tNB/.CH2CH2-R with hyperfine coupling constants: aN = 17.1 G; aH beta = 11.2 G (2H); and aH gamma = 0.6 G (2H). In the case of linolenic acid, this radical tNB/.CH=CH-R' with hyperfine coupling constants: aN = 17.1 G; aH beta = 10.9 G (2H); aH gamma = 1.1 G; and aH delta = 0.5 G. In accord with the decomposition scheme of hydroperoxides derived from unsaturated fatty acids, the radical adducts tNB/.CH2CH2-R and tNB/.CH2-CH=CH-R' were assigned as the pentyl and 2-pentenyl radicals, respectively.     

Synthesis and biochemical applications of a solid cyclic nitrone spin trap: a relatively superior trap for detecting superoxide anions and glutathiyl radicals

A novel cyclic nitrone spin trap, 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl 5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (BMPO) as a pure white solid has been synthesized for the first time. BMPO offers several advantages over the existing spin traps in the detection and characterization of thiyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anions in biological systems. The corresponding BMPO adducts exhibit distinct and characteristic electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral patterns. Unlike the 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO)-derived superoxide adduct, the BMPO superoxide adduct does not non-enzymatically decompose to the BMPO hydroxyl adduct. This feature is clearly perceived as a definite advantage of BMPO in its biological applications. In addition, the ESR spectrum of the BMPO glutathionyl adduct (BMPO/*SG) does not fully overlap with the spectrum of its hydroxyl adduct. This spectral feature is again distinctly different from that of DMPO because the ESR spectral lines of DMPO glutathionyl and hydroxyl radical adducts largely overlap. Finally, the ESR spectra of BMPO-derived adducts exhibit a much higher signal-to-noise ratio in biological systems. These favorable chemical and spectroscopic features make BMPO ideal for the detection of superoxide anions, hydroxyl and thiyl radicals in biochemical oxidation and reduction.     

Vanadyl-induced Fenton-like reaction in RNA. An ESR and spin trapping study.

Vanadyl (VO2+) complexed to RNA reacts with hydrogen peroxide in a Fenton-like manner producing hydroxyl radicals (.OH). The hydroxyl radicals can be spin trapped with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) forming the DMPO-OH spin adduct. In addition, in the presence of ethanol the formation of the hydroxyethyl radical adduct of DMPO (DMPO-ETOH) confirms the production of hydroxyl radicals by the RNA/VO2+ complex. When the reaction between the RNA/VO2+ complex and H2O2 is carried out in the presence of the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP), radicals produced in the reaction of .OH with RNA are trapped. Base hydrolysis of the MNP-RNA adducts (pH 12) followed by a reduction in the pH to pH 7 after hydrolysis is complete, yields an MNP adduct with a well-resolved ESR spectrum identical to the ESR spectrum obtained from analogous experiments with poly U. The ESR spectrum consists of a triplet of sextets (aN = 1.48 mT, a beta N = 0.25 mT and a beta H = 0.14 mT), indicating that the unpaired nitroxide electron interacts with the nuclei of a beta-nitrogen and beta-hydrogen. The results suggest that the .OH generated in the RNA/VO2+ reaction with H2O2 add to the C(5) carbon of uracil forming a C(6) carbon centered radical. This radical is subsequently spin trapped by MNP.     

Detection of lipid radicals by electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping using intact cells enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping was used to detect lipid-derived free radicals generated by iron-induced oxidative stress in intact cells. Using the spin trap alpha-(4-pyridyl 1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN), carbon-centered radical adducts were detected. These lipid-derived free radicals were formed during incubation of ferrous iron with U937 cells that were enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). The EPR spectra exhibited apparent hyperfine splittings characteristic of a POBN/alkyl radical, aN = 15.63 +/- 0.06 G and aH = 2.66 +/- 0.03 G, generated as a result of beta-scission of alkoxyl radicals. Spin adduct formation depended on the FeSO4 content of the incubation medium and the number of 22:6-enriched cells present; when the cells were enriched with oleic acid (18:1n-9), spin adducts were not detected. This is the first direct demonstration, using EPR, of a lipid-derived radical formed in intact cells in response to oxidant stress.     

Evaluation of DEPMPO as a spin trapping agent in biological systems

Cellular toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and the in vitro and in vivo stability of the SO3*- spin adduct of the spin trap, 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-n-oxide (DEPMPO), was investigated, and the results were compared with those of the widely used spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). Similar to DMPO, DEPMPO was quickly taken up (<15 min) after intraperitoneal injection, and distributed evenly in the liver, heart, and blood of the mice. In the presence of ascorbate the in vitro stability of the adduct DEPMPO/SO3*- was 7 times better than DMPO/SO3*-. Under in vivo conditions, the spin adduct DEPMPO/SO3*- was 2-4 times more stable than DMPO/ SO3*-, depending on the route of administration of the adducts. Using a low frequency EPR spectrometer, we were able to observe the spin trapped SO3*- radical both with DMPO and DEPMPO directly in the intact mouse. DEPMPO had a detectable spin adduct signal at a concentration as low as 1 mM, as compared to 5 mM for DMPO. We conclude that DEPMPO is potentially a good candidate for trapping radicals in functioning biological systems, and represents an improvement over the commonly used trap DMPO.     

Interaction of tert-butyl hydroperoxide with hypochlorous acid. A spin trapping and chemiluminescence study

The formation of radical species during the reaction of ter-tbutyl hydroperoxide and hypochlorous acid has been investigated by spin trapping and chemiluminescence. A superposition of two signals appeared incubating tert-butyl hydroperoxide with hypochlorous acid in the presence of the spin trap alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN). The first signal (aN = 1.537 mT, aH beta = 0.148 mT) was an oxidation product of POBN caused by the action of hypochlorous acid. The second spin adduct (aN = 1.484 mT, aH beta = 0.233 mT) was derived from a radical species that was formed in the result of reaction of tert-butyl hydroperoxide with hypochlorous acid. Similarly, a superposition of two signals was also obtained using the spin trap N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN). tert-Butyl hydroperoxide was also treated with Fe2+ or Ce4+ in the presence of POBN. Using Fe2+ a spin adduct with a N = 1.633 mT and aH beta = 0.276 mT was observed. The major spin adduct formed with Ce4+ was characterised by a N = 1.480 mT and aH beta = 0.233 mT. The reaction of tert-butyl hydroperoxide with hypochlorous acid was accompanied by a light emission, that time profile and intensity were identical to those emission using Ce4+. The addition of Fe2+ to tert-butyl hydroperoxide yielded a much smaller chemiluminescence. Thus, tert-butyl hydroperoxide yielded in its reaction with hypochlorous acid or Ce4+ the same spin adduct and the same luminescence profile. Because Ce4+ is known to oxidize organic hydroperoxides to peroxyl radical species, it can be concluded that a similar reaction takes place in the case of hypochlorous acid.     

The Effects of Myoglobin and Apomyoglobin on the Formation and Stability of the Hydroxyl Radical Adduct of 5,5'-Dimethyl-1-Pyrroline-N-Oxide

When aqueous solutions of the spin trap 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) are treated with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of either Fe or light, the hydroxyl radical adduct DMPO-OH is formed, with a characteristic 4 line ESR spectrum. When oxy- or metmyoglobin is added to such a system the initial yield and the halife of DMPO-OH are reduced, and at high myoglobin concentrations (about 0.1 mmol dm ^-l3) DMPO-OH becomes undetectable. Using the stable nitroxide 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy-N-oxyl (TMPO) for comparison it was found that neither hydrogen peroxide nor myoglobin alone caused a loss of signal, but together a marked loss of signal was induced. From the evidence of these and other experiments it was concluded that the DMPO-OH adduct reacts with hydrogen peroxide and myoglobin to give non-paramagnetic products, and hence that the use of the DMPO spin trap to detect hydroxyl or other active radicals in systems containing physiological concentrations of myoglobin may give misleading results.     

The interaction of hypochlorite with fatty acid hydroperoxides results in the generation of free radicals

The interaction of hypochlorite with linoleic acid hydroperoxides was studied by the coumarin C-525-enhanced chemiluminescence and ESR spin trapping techniques. Linoleic acid hydroperoxide was obtained in the reaction of lipoxygenase and linoleic acid. Alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxyl)-N-tert Butylnitron was used as a spin trap. It was shown that the addition of hypochlorite to the incubation media containing linoleic acid and lipoxygenase resulted in an intensive chemiluminescence flash. The intensity of this flash correlated with the hydroperoxide concentration. The analysis of ESR spectra of spin adducts produced in the reaction of hypochlorite with linoleic acid hydroperoxide showed the presence of O-centered, most likely peroxyl, radical with the splitting constants alphabetaH = 0.260 mT aN = 1.662 mT and C-centered penthyl radical with the splitting constants alphabetaH = 0.260 mT; aN = 1.662 mT. These data suggest that hypochlorite produced by phagocytes in vivo can induce the generation of free O- and C-centered radicals, promoters of free radical processes.     

Immuno-spin trapping analyses of DNA radicals

Immuno-spin trapping is a highly sensitive method for detecting DNA radicals in biological systems. This technique involves three main steps: (i) in situ and real-time trapping of DNA radicals with the nitrone spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), thus forming DMPO-DNA nitrone adducts (referred to here as nitrone adducts); (ii) purification of nitrone adducts; and (iii) analysis of nitrone adducts by heterogeneous immunoassays using Abs against DMPO. In experiments, DMPO is added prior to the formation of free radicals. It diffuses easily through all cell compartments and is present when DNA free radicals are formed as a result of oxidative damage. Due to its low toxicity, DMPO can be used in cells at high enough concentrations to out-compete the normal reactions of DNA radicals, thus ensuring a high yield of DNA nitrone adducts. Because both protein and DNA nitrone adducts are formed, it is important that the DNA be pure in order to avoid misinterpretations. Depending on the model under study, this protocol can be completed in as few as 6 h.     

Identifying the site of spin trapping in proteins by a combination of liquid chromatography, ELISA, and off-line tandem mass spectrometry

An off-line mass spectrometry method that combines immuno-spin trapping and chromatographic procedures has been developed for selective detection of the nitrone spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) covalently attached to proteins, an attachment which occurs only subsequent to DMPO trapping of free radicals. In this technique, the protein-DMPO nitrone adducts are digested to peptides with proteolytic agents, peptides from the enzymatic digest are separated by HPLC, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using polyclonal anti-DMPO nitrone antiserum are used to detect the eluted HPLC fractions that contain DMPO nitrone adducts. The fractions showing positive ELISA signals are then concentrated and characterized by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). This method, which constitutes the first liquid chromatography-ELISA-mass spectrometry (LC-ELISA-MS)-based strategy for selective identification of DMPO-trapped protein residues in complex peptide mixtures, facilitates location and preparative fractionation of DMPO nitrone adducts for further structural characterization. The strategy is demonstrated for human hemoglobin, horse heart myoglobin, and sperm whale myoglobin, three globin proteins known to form DMPO-trappable protein radicals on treatment with H(2)O(2). The results demonstrate the power of the new experimental strategy to select DMPO-labeled peptides and identify sites of DMPO covalent attachments.     

Studies on the photolytic breakdown of hydroperoxides and peroxidized fatty acids by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Spin trapping of alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals in organic solvents.

Spin trapping using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) has been used to detect and distinguish between the carbon-centred, alkoxyl, and peroxyl radicals produced during the photolytic decomposition of hydroperoxides. Photolysis of tert-butyl and cumene hydroperoxides, and peroxidized fatty acids, in toluene, with low levels of u.v. light, is shown to lead to the initial production of alkoxyl radicals by homolysis of the oxygen-oxygen bond. Subsequent reaction of these radicals with excess hydroperoxide leads, by hydrogen abstraction, to the production of peroxyl radicals that can be detected as their corresponding adducts with the spin trap. Subsequent breakdown of these adducts produces alkoxyl radicals and a further species that is believed to be the oxidized spin-trap radical 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidone-2-oxyl. No evidence was obtained at low hydroperoxide concentrations, with either the cumene or lipid alkoxyl radicals, for the occurrence of beta-scission reactions; the production of low levels of carbon-centred radicals is believed to be due to the alternative reactions of hydrogen abstraction, ring closure, and/or 1,2 hydrogen shifts. Analogous experiments with 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (TMPO) led only to the trapping of alkoxyl radicals with no evidence for peroxyl radical adducts, this is presumably due to a decreased rate of radical addition because of increased steric hindrance.     

Metabolism of diethylstilbestrol by horseradish peroxidase and prostaglandin-H synthase. Generation of a free radical intermediate and its interaction with glutathione

Diethylstilbestrol is carcinogenic in rodents and in humans and its peroxidatic oxidation in utero has been associated with its carcinogenic activity. Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of [14C]diethylstilbestrol and [14C]diethylstilbestrol analogs induced binding of radiolabel to DNA only when the compound contained a free hydroxy group (Metzler, M., and Epe, B. (1984) Chem. Biol. Interact. 50, 351-360). We have found that horseradish peroxidase or prostaglandin-H synthase-catalyzed oxidation of diethylstilbestrol in the presence of the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide caused the generation of an ESR signal indicative of a free radical intermediate (aN = 14.9 G, aH = 18.3 G). The identity of the trapped radical could not be identified on the basis of published hyperfine coupling constants, but the observation that horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 1-naphthol produced an identical ESR signal suggests that the radical was either a phenoxy or phenoxy-derived radical. During horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of diethylstilbestrol in the presence of glutathione the thiol reduced the diethylstilbestrol radical to generate a thiyl radical. This was shown by a thiol-dependent oxygen uptake during horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of diethylstilbestrol and the observation of an ESR signal consistent with 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide-glutathionyl radical adduct formation. A diethylstilbestrol analog devoid of free hydroxy groups, namely diethylstilbestrol dipropionate, did not produce an ESR signal above control levels during horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed metabolism in the presence of 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide. Thus, free radicals are formed during peroxidatic oxidation of diethylstilbestrol and must be considered as possible determinants of the genotoxic activity of this compound.     

Fatty acid radical formation in rats administered oxidized fatty acids: in vivo spin trapping investigation.

We report in vivo evidence for fatty acid-derived free radical metabolite formation in bile of rats dosed with spin traps and oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). When rats were dosed with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and oxidized PUFA, the DMPO thiyl radical adduct was formed due to a reaction between oxidized PUFA and/or its metabolites with biliary glutathione. In vitro experiments were performed to determine the conditions necessary for the elimination of radical adduct formation by ex vivo reactions. Fatty acid-derived radical adducts of alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN) were detected in vivo in bile samples collected into a mixture of iodoacetamide, desferrioxamine, and glutathione peroxidase. Upon the administration of oxidized 13C-algal fatty acids and 4-POBN, the EPR spectrum of the radical adducts present in the bile exhibited hyperfine couplings due to 13C. Our data demonstrate that the carbon-centered radical adducts observed in in vivo experiments are unequivocally derived from oxidized PUFA. This in vivo evidence for PUFA-derived free radical formation supports the proposal that processes involving free radicals may be the molecular basis for the previously described cytotoxicity of dietary oxidized PUFA.