Nitric oxide as an antioxidant.

Benzoate monohydroxy compounds, and in particular salicylate, were produced during interaction of ferrous complexes with hydrogen peroxide (Fenton reaction) in a N2 environment. These reactions were inhibited when Fe complexes were flushed, prior to the addition in the model system, by nitric oxide. Methionine oxidation to ethylene by Fenton reagents was also inhibited by nitric oxide. Myoglobin in several forms such as metmyoglobin, oxymyoglobin, and nitric oxide-myoglobin were interacted with an equimolar concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Spectra changes in the visible region and the changes in membrane (microsomes) lipid peroxidation by the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) were determined. The results showed that metmyoglobin and oxymyoglobin were activated by H2O2 to ferryl myoglobin, which initiates membrane lipid peroxidation; but not nitric oxide-myoglobin, which, during interaction with H2O2, did not form ferryl but metmyoglobin which only poorly affected lipid peroxidation. It is assumed that nitric oxide, liganded to ferrous complexes, acts to prevent the prooxidative reaction of these complexes with H2O2.     

A mechanistic study of the formation of hydroxyl radicals induced by horseradish peroxidase with NADH

During the oxidation of NADH by horseradish peroxidase (HRP-Fe(3+)), superoxide (O(-)(2)) is produced, and HRP-Fe(3+) is converted to compound III. Superoxide dismutase inhibited both the generation of O(-)(2) and the formation of compound III. In contrast, catalase inhibited only the generation of O(-)(2). Under anaerobic conditions, the formation of compound III did not occur in the presence of NADH, thus indicating that compound III is produced via formation of a ternary complex consisting of HRP-Fe(3+), NADH and oxygen. The generation of hydroxyl radicals was dependent upon O(-)(2) and H(2)O(2) produced by HRP-Fe(3+)-NADH. The reaction of compound III with H(2)O(2) caused the formation of compound II without generation of hydroxyl radicals. Only HRP-Fe(3+)-NADH (but not K(+)O(-)(2) and xanthine oxidase-hypoxanthine) was able to induce the conversion of metmyoglobin to oxymyoglobin, thus suggesting the participation of a ternary complex made up of HRP-Fe(2+…)O(2)(…)NAD(.) (but not free O(-)(2) or H(2)O(2)) in the conversion of metmyoglobin to oxymyoglobin. It appears that a cyclic pathway is formed between HRP-Fe(3+), compound III and compound II in the presence of NADH under aerobic conditions, and a ternary complex plays the central roles in the generation of O(-)(2) and hydroxyl radicals.     

Oxidation of oxymyoglobin to metmyoglobin with hydrogen peroxide: involvement of ferryl intermediate

Hydrogen peroxide, one of the potent oxidants in muscle tissues, can induce very rapid oxidation of oxymyoglobin (MbO2) to metmyoglobin (metMb) with an apparent rate constant of 7.5 X 10(4) h-1 M-1 (i.e., 20.8 s-1 M-1) over the wide pH range of 5.5-10.2 in 0.1 M buffer at 25 degrees C. Its molecular mechanism, however, is quite different from that of the autoxidation of MbO2 to metMb. Kinetic analysis has revealed that the hydrogen peroxide oxidation proceeds through the formation of ferryl-Mb(IV) from deoxy-Mb(II), which is in equilibrium with MbO2, by a two-equivalent oxidation with H2O2. Once the ferryl species is formed, it reacts rapidly with another deoxy-Mb(II) in a bimolecular fashion so as to yield 2 mol of metMb(III). Under physiological conditions, the rate-determining step was the oxidation of the deoxy species by H2O2, its rate constant being estimated to be on the order of 3.6 X 10(3) s-1 M-1 at 25 degrees C. These findings leads us to the view that a good supply of dioxygen provides rather an important defense against the oxidation of myoglobin with hydrogen peroxide in cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues.     

Suicide-peroxide inactivation of microperoxidase-11: a kinetic study

The kinetics of microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) in the oxidation reaction of guaiacol (AH) by hydrogen peroxide was studied, taking into account the inactivation of enzyme during reaction by its suicide substrate, H2O2. Concentrations of substrates were so selected that: 1) the reaction was first-order in relation to benign substrate, AH and 2) high ratio of suicide substrate to the benign substrate, [H2O2] > [AH]. Validation and reliability of the obtained kinetic equations were evaluated in various nonlinear and linear forms. Fitting of experimental data into the obtained integrated equation showed a close match between the kinetic model and the experimental results. Indeed, a similar mechanism to horseradish peroxidase was found for the suicide-peroxide inactivation of MP-11. Kinetic parameters of inactivation including the intact activity of MP-11, alphai, and the apparent inactivation rate constant, ki, were obtained as 0.282 +/- 0.006 min(-1) and 0.497 +/- 0.013(-1) min at [H2O2] = 1.0 mM, 27 degrees C, phosphate buffer 5.0 mM, pH = 7.0. Results showed that inactivation of microperoxidase as a peroxidase model enzyme can occur even at low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (0.4 mM).     

Inhibition and inactivation of horseradish peroxidase by thiourea

The kinetics of horseradish peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7)-catalyzed oxidation of o-dianisidine by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of thiourea were studied. At the first, fast step of this process thiourea acts as a competitive reversible inhibitor with respect to o-dianisidine (Ki = 0.22 mM). The formation of a thiourea-peroxidase complex was determined by the increase in the absorbance at A495 and A638 of the enzyme. The dissociation constant for the peroxidase-thiourea complex is equal to 2.0-2.7 mM. Thiourea is not a specific substrate of peroxidase during the oxidation reaction by H2O2, but is an oxidase substrate (although not a very active one) of peroxidase. The irreversible inactivation of the enzyme during its incubation with thiourea was studied. The first-order inactivation rate constant (kin) was shown to increase with a fall in the enzyme concentration. The curve of the dependence of kin on the initial concentration of thiourea shows a maximum at 5-7 mM. The enzyme inactivation is due to its modification by intermediate free radical products of thiourea oxidation. The inhibitors of the free radical reactions (o-dianisidine) protect the enzyme against inactivation. The degree of inactivation depends on concentrations and ratio of thiourea and peroxidase. A possible mechanism of peroxidase interaction with thiourea is discussed.     

The peroxidase activity of cytochrome c-550 from Paracoccus versutus.

Next to their natural electron transport capacities, c-type cytochromes possess low peroxidase and cytochrome P-450 activities in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. These catalytic properties, in combination with their structural robustness and covalently bound cofactor make cytochromes c potentially useful peroxidase mimics. This study reports on the peroxidase activity of cytochrome c-550 from Paracoccus versutus and the loss of this activity in presence of H2O2. The rate-determining step in the peroxidase reaction of cytochrome c-550 is the formation of a reactive intermediate, following binding of peroxide to the haem iron. The reaction rate is very low compared to horseradish peroxidase (approximately one millionth), because of the poor accessibility of the haem iron for H2O2, and the lack of a base catalyst such as the distal His of the peroxidases. This is corroborated by the linear dependence of the reaction rate on the peroxide concentration up to at least 1 M H2O2. Steady-state conversion of a reducing substrate, guaiacol, is preceded by an activation phase, which is ascribed to the build-up of amino-acid radicals on the protein. The inactivation kinetics in the absence of reducing substrate are mono-exponential and shown to be concurrent with haem degradation up to 25 mM H2O2 (pH 8.0). At still higher peroxide concentrations, inactivation kinetics are biphasic, as a result of a remarkable protective effect of H2O2, involving the formation of superoxide and ferrocytochrome c-550.     

Kinetics of the reaction of superoxide anion with ferric horseradish peroxidase

Reaction of horseradish peroxidase A2 and C with superoxide anion (O2-) has been studied using pulse radiolysis technique. Peroxidase C formed Compound I and an oxy form of the enzyme due to reaction of ferric enzyme with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and O2-, respectively. At low concentrations of O2- (less than 1 mM), O2- reacted with ferric peroxidase C nearly quantitatively and formation of H2O2 was negligible. The rate constant for the reaction was found to be increased below pH 6 and this phenomenon can be explained by assuming that HO2 reacts with peroxidase C more rapidly than O2-. In contrast the formation of oxyperoxidase could not be detected in the case of peroxidase A2 after the pulse, and only Compound I of the enzyme was formed. Peroxidase A2, however, produced the oxy form upon aerobic addition of NADH, suggesting that O2- can also react with peroxidase A2 to form the oxy form. The results at present indicate that the rate constant for the reaction of O2- with peroxidase A2 is smaller than 103 M-1.s-1.     

Co-oxidation of salicylate and cholesterol during the oxidation of metmyoglobin by H2O2

The reaction between metmyoglobin and H2O2 proceeds with oxidation of the hemo-protein iron to a higher valence state and consumption of the peroxide. This reaction is further associated with (a) O2 evolution; (b) hydroxylation of the aromatic compound salicylate to yield a set of dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detection); (c) autoxidation of cholesterol with formation of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-alpha-cholest-6-ene-5-hydroperoxide; and (d) formation of electronically excited states detected by low-level chemiluminescence. The heterolytic scission of the O-O bond of hydroperoxides by metmyoglobin causes the formation of an oxidizing equivalent capable of promoting peroxidation of linoleate and arachidonate (as indicated by the parallel formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material and an enhancement of chemiluminescence intensity). The identity of the oxidizing equivalent(s) is discussed in terms of the formation of a relatively stable higher state of oxidation of heme Fe (FeIV-OH or FeV = O) as well as on possible intermediate species derived during the decomposition of H2O2 by metmyoglobin, such as HO.and 1O2. These species might be involved either simultaneously or sequentially in the peroxidation of fatty acids as well as in the tissue damage associated with the formation of H2O2 in ischemic-reperfusion states.     

Metmyoglobin Oxidation during Electron Transport Reactions in Mitochondria

Studies of the intracellular role of myoglobin were carried out by recording spectrophotometric changes in acid metmyoglobin and oxymyoglobin during electron transport reactions with mitochondria prepared from pigeon heart muscle by the method of Chance and Hagihara. The absorption peak of metmyoglobin at 409 mµ disappeared when substrate was added to normal or antimycin-inhibited preparations, and was replaced by a new maximum at 423 to 424 mµ, identified as due to the oxidation to ferrylmyoglobin. Further investigation revealed that the oxidation of metmyoglobin took place with the simultaneous oxidation of reduced flavoprotein. Hydrogen peroxide, formed by the reaction of reduced flavoprotein with oxygen, was considered to be the probable intermediate for the oxidation of metmyoglobin in experiments in which catalase was added as a competitor for the oxidant. When DPNH was added to the reaction mixture, the reductant acted to resynthesize the ferri-derivative by reaction with ferrylmyoglobin. Oxymyoglobin could not be used in place of metmyoglobin in these systems. Under the experimental conditions, oxymyoglobin dissociated when dissolved oxygen was depleted from the medium by enzyme oxidations; the resultant ferromyoglobin underwent oxidation to metmyoglobin.     

Metabolism of ketone bodies, oleate and glucose in lymphocytes of the rat.

Isolated incubated lymphocytes utilized acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate or oleate at about 0.5 mumol/min per g dry wt. These rates were not markedly affected by concanavalin A or by starvation of the donor animal. When ketone bodies replaced glucose in the culture medium, they could not support lymphocyte proliferation when cells were cultured for 48 h. Addition of oleate (0.5 mM) to isolated lymphocytes increased the rate of O2 consumption markedly, suggesting that it could contribute about 30% to O2 consumption. The rate of oleate uptake and the stimulated rate of O2 consumption were maximal at 0.5 M-oleate; this is in contrast with the effect in some other tissues, in which the rate of fatty acid oxidation is linear with concentration up to about 2 mM. Since the normal plasma concentration of fatty acid in the fed state is about 0.5 mM, this suggests that lymphocytes can utilize fatty acids at a maximal rate in the fed state. Ketone bodies or oleate decreased the rate of glucose utilization by incubated lymphocytes; ketone bodies decreased the rate of pyruvate oxidation and increased the intracellular concentration of hexose monophosphate and citrate, suggesting that 6-phosphofructokinase is inhibited by citrate, and hexokinase by glucose 6-phosphate. These effects may be important not so much in conserving glucose in the whole animal but in maintaining the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates necessary for biosynthetic processes during proliferation.     

Ozonation of lysozyme in the presence of oleate in reverse micelles of sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate.

Ozone is shown to react with lysozyme in reverse micelles formed by 0.1 M sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate and 1.2-3 M water (pH 7.4) in isooctane solvent. The reaction of ozone is assessed by the oxidation of tryptophan residues in the protein to N-formylkynurenine. Cosolubilization of oleate in lysozyme-containing reverse micellar solutions at concentrations of 0.5-10 mM results in a progressive inhibition (19% to 82%) of the oxidation of tryptophan residues with a concentration for 50% inhibition around 2 mM. At this concentration of oleate, the magnitude of inhibition is independent of the micelle size and concentration, the overall interfacial area of reverse micelles, and the amount of ozone employed. These findings are discussed in terms of competitive reactions of ozone with unsaturated fatty acids and proteins in the lung lining fluid and in biological membranes.     

The oxygen-evolving complex requires chloride to prevent hydrogen peroxide formation.

Illumination of PSII core preparations can cause the production of H2O2 at rates which approach 60 mumol of H2O2 (mg of Chl.h)-1. The rate of peroxide production is maximal at pH 7.2 at low sucrose concentrations and at concentrations of Cl- (1.5-3.0 mM) that limit the rate of the oxidation of water to O2. The rate of H2O2 production increased with pH from pH 6.8 to 7.2 and was inversely proportional to the oxidation of water to O2 from pH 6.8 to 7.5. While EDTA does not inhibit H2O2 production, this reaction is abolished by 5 mM NH2OH and inhibited by the same concentrations of NH3 that affect water oxidation which indicates that the oxygen-evolving complex is responsible for the production of peroxide generated upon illumination of PSII core preparations. These results support a mechanism in which bound Cl- in the S2 state is displaced by OH- ions which are then oxidized by the OEC to form H2O2. Thus, the OEC requires Cl- to prevent access to the active site of the OEC until four oxidizing equivalents can be generated to allow the oxidation of water to O2.     

Fatty acid-dependent ethanol metabolism

Rates of ethanol oxidation by perfused livers from fasted female rats were decreased from 82 +/- 8 to 11 +/- 7 mumol/g/hr by 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase. The subsequent addition of fatty acids of various chain lengths in the presence of 4-methylpyrazole increased rates of ethanol uptake markedly. Palmitate (1 mM) increased rates of ethanol oxidation to 95 +/- 8 mumol/g/hr, while octanoate and oleate increased rates to 58 +/- 11 and 68 +/- 15 mumol/g/hr, respectively. Hexanoate, a short-chain fatty acid oxidized predominantly in the mitochondria, had no effect. Addition of oleate also increased the steady-state level of catalase-H2O2. Pretreatment of rats for 1.5 hours with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (1.0 g/kg), an inhibitor of catalase, prevented the ethanol-dependent decrease in the steady-state level of catalase-H2O2 completely. Under these conditions, aminotriazole decreased rates of ethanol oxidation by about 50% and blocked the stimulation of ethanol oxidation by fatty acids. Oleate decreased rates of aniline hydroxylation by about 50%, indicating that cytochrome P450 is not involved in the stimulation of ethanol uptake by fatty acids. Furthermore, oleate stimulated ethanol uptake in livers from ADH-negative deermice indicating that fatty acids do not simply displace 4-methylpyrazole from alcohol dehydrogenase. It is concluded that the stimulation of ethanol oxidation by fatty acids is due to increased H2O2 supplied by the peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids for the catalase-H2O2 peroxidation pathway.     

Mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in liver homogenates and isolated hepatocytes from control and clofibrate-treated rats.

Mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation were compared in whole liver homogenates. Oxidation of 0.2 mM palmitoyl-CoA or oleate by mitochondria increased rapidly with increasing molar substrate:albumin ratios and became saturated at ratios below 3, while peroxisomal oxidation increased more slowly and continued to rise to reach maximal activity in the absence of albumin. Under the latter condition mitochondrial oxidation was severely depressed. In homogenates from normal liver peroxisomal oxidation was lower than mitochondrial oxidation at all ratios tested except when albumin was absent. In contrast with mitochondrial oxidation, peroxisomal oxidation did not produce ketones, was cyanide-insensitive, was not dependent on carnitine, and was not inhibited by (+)-octanoylcarnitine, malonyl-CoA and 4-pentenoate. Mitochondrial oxidation was inhibited by CoASH concentrations that were optimal for peroxisomal oxidation. In the presence of albumin, peroxisomal oxidation was stimulated by Triton X-100 but unaffected by freeze-thawing; both treatments suppressed mitochondrial oxidation. Clofibrate treatment increased mitochondrial and peroxisomal oxidation 2- and 6- to 8-fold, respectively. Peroxisomal oxidation remained unchanged in starvation and diabetes. Fatty acid oxidation was severely depressed by cyanide and (+)-octanoylcarnitine in hepatocytes from normal rats. Hepatocytes from clofibrate-treated rats, which displayed a 3- to 4-fold increase in fatty acid oxidation, were less inhibited by (+)-octanoylcarnitine. Hydrogen peroxide production was severalfold higher in hepatocytes from treated animals oxidizing fatty acids than in control hepatocytes. Assuming that all H2O2 produced during fatty acid oxidation was due to peroxisomal oxidation, it was calculated that the contribution of the peroxisomes to fatty acid oxidation was less than 10% both in cells from control and clofibrate-treated animals.     

Rate enhancement of the internal electron transfer in cytochrome c oxidase by the formation of a peroxide complex; its implication on the reaction mechanism of cytochrome c oxidase

The oxidation of reduced cytochrome c oxidase by hydrogen peroxide was investigated with stopped-flow methods. It was reported by us previously (A.C.F. Gorren, H. Dekker and R. Wever (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 852, 81-92) that at low H2O2 concentrations cytochrome a is oxidised simultaneously with cytochrome a3, but that at higher H2O2 concentrations the oxidation of cytochrome a is slower than that of cytochrome a3. We now report that for high peroxide concentrations (10-45 mM) the oxidation rate of cytochrome a increased linearly with the concentration of H2O2 (k = 700 M-1.S-1). Upon extrapolation to zero H2O2 concentration an intercept with a value of 16 s-1 (at 20 degrees C and pH 7.4) was found. A reaction sequence is described to explain these results; according to this model the rate constant (16 S-1) at zero H2O2 concentration represents the true value of the rate of electron transfer from cytochrome a to cytochrome a3 when the a3-CuB site is oxidised and unligated. However, when a complex of hydrogen peroxide with oxidised cytochrome a3 is formed, this rate is strongly enhanced. The slope (700 M-1.S-1) would then represent the rate of cytochrome a3(3+)-H2O2 complex formation. From experiments in which the pH was varied, we conclude that the reaction of H2O2 with cytochrome a3(2+) is independent of pH, whereas the electron-transfer rate from cytochrome a to cytochrome a3 gradually decreases with increasing pH. From the temperature dependence we could calculate values of 23 kJ.mol-1 and 45 kJ.mol-1 for the activation energies of the oxidations by H2O2 of cytochrome a3(2+) and cytochrome a2+, respectively. The similarity of the values that were obtained for cytochrome a oxidation both with H2O2 and with O2 as the electron acceptor suggests that the reactions share the same mechanism. In 2H2O the reactions studied decreased in rate. For the reaction of 2H2O2 with reduced cytochrome a3 in 2H2O, a small effect was found (15% decrease in rate constant). However, the internal electron-transfer rate from cytochrome a to cytochrome a3 decreased by 50%, Our results suggest that the internal electron transfer is associated with proton translocation.     

Accelerated CuZn-SOD-mediated oxidation and reduction in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) is a cytosolic, antioxidant enzyme that scavenges potentially damaging superoxide radical (()O(2)(-)). Under the proper conditions, CuZn-SOD also catalyzes the oxidation and reduction of certain small molecules. Here, we demonstrate that increased exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), a by-product of the ()O(2)(-) scavenging reaction, dramatically increases the ability of CuZn-SOD to oxidize melatonin and reduce S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). After a 15min in vitro incubation with CuZn-SOD and 1mM H(2)O(2), 76% of the melatonin was oxidized, compared to 52% with 0.25mM H(2)O(2), and just 9% without H(2)O(2). Pre-incubation with 1mM H(2)O(2) resulted in a 100% increase in the rate of GSNO breakdown by CuZn-SOD in the presence of glutathione (GSH) compared to untreated CuZn-SOD. Collectively, these data suggest that even small increases in intracellular H(2)O(2) levels may result in the oxidation and/or reduction of small molecules critical for proper cellular function.     

Effect of thiocyanate on the peroxidase and pseudocatalase activities of Leishmania major ascorbate peroxidase

We report here that the Leishmania major ascorbate peroxidase (LmAPX), having similarity with plant ascorbate peroxidase, catalyzes the oxidation of suboptimal concentration of ascorbate to monodehydroascorbate (MDA) at physiological pH in the presence of added H(2)O(2) with concurrent evolution of O(2). This pseudocatalatic degradation of H(2)O(2) to O(2) is solely dependent on ascorbate and is blocked by a spin trap, alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), indicating the involvement of free radical species in the reaction process. LmAPX thus appears to catalyze ascorbate oxidation by its peroxidase activity, first generating MDA and H(2)O with subsequent regeneration of ascorbate by the reduction of MDA with H(2)O(2) evolving O(2) through the intermediate formation of O(2)(-). Interestingly, both peroxidase and ascorbate-dependent pseudocatalatic activity of LmAPX are reversibly inhibited by SCN(-) in a concentration dependent manner. Spectral studies indicate that ascorbate cannot reduce LmAPX compound II to the native enzyme in presence of SCN(-). Further kinetic studies indicate that SCN(-) itself is not oxidized by LmAPX but inhibits both ascorbate and guaiacol oxidation, which suggests that SCN(-) blocks initial peroxidase activity with ascorbate rather than subsequent nonenzymatic pseudocatalatic degradation of H(2)O(2) to O(2). Binding studies by optical difference spectroscopy indicate that SCN(-) binds LmAPX (Kd = 100 +/- 10 mM) near the heme edge. Thus, unlike mammalian peroxidases, SCN(-) acts as an inhibitor for Leishmania peroxidase to block ascorbate oxidation and subsequent pseudocatalase activity.     

The role of compound III in reversible and irreversible inactivation of lactoperoxidase

In the presence of iodide (I-, 10 mM) and hydrogen peroxide in a large excess (H2O2, 0.1-10 mM) catalytic amounts of lactoperoxidase (2 nM) are very rapidly irreversibly inactivated without forming compound III (cpd III). In contrast, in the absence of I- cpd III is formed and inactivation proceeds very slowly. Increasing the enzyme concentration up to the micromolar range significantly accelerates the rate of inactivation. The present data reveal that irreversible inactivation of the enzyme involves cleavage of the prosthetic group and liberation of heme iron. The rate of enzyme destruction is well correlated with the production of molecular oxygen (O2), which originates from the oxidation of excess H2O2. Since H2O2 and O2 per se do not affect the heme moiety of the peroxidase, we suggest that the damaging species may be a primary intermediate of the H2O2 oxidation, such as oxygen in its excited singlet state (1 delta gO2), superoxide radicals (O-.2), or consequently formed hydroxyl radicals (OH.).     

Circadian rhythms in myocardial metabolism and contractile function: influence of workload and oleate

Multiple extracardiac stimuli, such as workload and circulating nutrients (e.g., fatty acids), known to influence myocardial metabolism and contractile function exhibit marked circadian rhythms. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the rat heart exhibits circadian rhythms in its responsiveness to changes in workload and/or fatty acid (oleate) availability. Thus, hearts were isolated from male Wistar rats (housed during a 12:12-h light-dark cycle: lights on at 9 AM) at 9 AM, 3 PM, 9 PM, and 3 AM and perfused in the working mode ex vivo with 5 mM glucose plus either 0.4 or 0.8 mM oleate. Following 20-min perfusion at normal workload (i.e., 100 cm H(2)O afterload), hearts were challenged with increased workload (140 cm H(2)O afterload plus 1 microM epinephrine). In the presence of 0.4 mM oleate, myocardial metabolism exhibited a marked circadian rhythm, with decreased rates of glucose oxidation, increased rates of lactate release, decreased glycogenolysis capacity, and increased channeling of oleate into nonoxidative pathways during the light phase. Rat hearts also exhibited a modest circadian rhythm in responsiveness to the workload challenge when perfused in the presence of 0.4 mM oleate, with increased myocardial oxygen consumption at the dark-to-light phase transition. However, rat hearts perfused in the presence of 0.8 mM oleate exhibited a markedly blunted contractile function response to the workload challenge during the light phase. In conclusion, these studies expose marked circadian rhythmicities in myocardial oxidative and nonoxidative metabolism as well as responsiveness of the rat heart to changes in workload and fatty acid availability.     

Redox cycling of myoglobin and ascorbate: a potential protective mechanism against oxidative reperfusion injury in muscle

Metmyoglobin catalyzes the decomposition of H2O2 as well as other hydroperoxides by using ascorbic acid as a substrate. The ratio of H2O2 reduced to ascorbate oxidized is close to one, whereas the rate of oxidation is directly proportional to both H2O2 and metmyoglobin concentrations. Ascorbate also prevents the protein modifications and the O2 evolution that accompany the reaction of metmyoglobin with hydroperoxides. In the absence of ascorbate, myoglobin and H2O2 promote the peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and, thus, may cause damage to cellular constituents. However, lipid peroxidation is inhibited in the presence of ascorbate and, for this reason, it is suggested that this heme protein functions in the opposite manner. The redox cycling of myoglobin by ascorbate may act as an important electron "sink" and defense mechanism against peroxides during oxidative challenge to muscle.