Enhancement by catechols of hydroxyl-radical formation in the presence of ferric ions and hydrogen peroxide

The effect of caffeic acid, a kind of catechol, on the Fenton reaction was examined by using the ESR spin trapping technique. Caffeic acid enhanced the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the reaction mixture, which contained caffeic acid, hydrogen peroxide, ferric chloride, EDTA, and potassium phosphate buffer. Chlorogenic acid, which is an ester of caffeic acid with quinic acid, also stimulated the formation of the hydroxyl radicals. Quinic acid did not stimulate the reaction, suggesting that the catechol moiety in chlorogenic acid is essential to the enhancement of the hydroxyl-radical formation. Indeed, other catechols and related compounds such as pyrocatechol, gallic acid, dopamine, and noradrenaline effectively stimulated the formation of the hydroxyl radicals. The above results confirm the idea that the catechol moiety is essential to the enhancement. Ferulic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, and salicylic acid had no effect on the formation of the hydroxyl radicals. The results indicate that the enhancement by the catechols of the formation of hydroxyl radicals is diminished if a methyl ester is formed at the position of the hydroxyl group of the catechol. In the absence of iron chelators such as EDTA, DETAPAC, desferrioxamine, citrate, and ADP, formation of hydroxyl radicals was not detected, suggesting that chelators are essential to the reaction. The enhancement of the formation of hydroxyl radicals is presumably due to the reduction of ferric ions by the catechols. Thus, the catechols may exert deleterious effects on biological systems if chelators such as EDTA, DETAPAC, desferrioxamine, citrate, and ADP are present.     

Mechanisms for survival of bacteria in oxidative stress and iron ions deficiency

The influence of culture medium Fe2+ content on the resistance of Escherichia coli to hydroxyl radicals formed in the presence of Fe2+ and hydrogen peroxide in Fenton reaction was investigated. It was founded that a lack of Fe2+ in a culture medium increased resistance of bacteria to hydroxyl radicals but not to hydrogen peroxide. The suggestion was made that the lack of Fe2+ starts up synthesis of metabolites which inactivate hydroxyl radical or block Fe2+ ions participating in Fenton reaction. The phenomenon under study is considered to be a possible mechanism for survival of bacteria in oxidative stress and iron ions deficiency.     

Catalysis of the Haber-Weiss reaction by iron-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate.

To help settle controversy as to whether the chelating agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) supports or prevents hydroxyl radical production by superoxide/hydrogen peroxide systems, we have reinvestigated the question by spectroscopic, kinetic, and thermodynamic analyses. Potassium superoxide in DMSO was found to reduce Fe(III)DTPA. The rate constant for autoxidation of Fe(II)DTPA was found (by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) to be 3.10 M-1 s-1, which leads to a predicted rate constant for reduction of Fe(III)DTPA by superoxide of 5.9 x 10(3) M-1 s-1 in aqueous solution. This reduction is a necessary requirement for catalytic production of hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction and is confirmed by spin-trapping experiments using DMPO. In the presence of Fe(III)DTPA, the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system generates hydroxyl radicals. The reaction is inhibited by both superoxide dismutase and catalase (indicating that both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide are required for generation of HO.). The generation of hydroxyl radicals (rather than oxidation side-products of DMPO and DMPO adducts) is attested to by the trapping of alpha-hydroxethyl radicals in the presence of 9% ethanol. Generation of HO. upon reaction of H2O2 with Fe(II)DTPA (the Fenton reaction) can be inhibited by catalase, but not superoxide dismutase. The data strongly indicate that iron-DTPA can catalyze the Haber-Weiss reaction.     

Superoxide dismutase inhibits the superoxide-driven Fenton reaction at two different levels. Implications for a wider protective role

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) completely inhibits the damage caused by a ferric-EDTA chelate in the presence of a superoxide-generating system. In this reaction superoxide is enzymically dismuted to hydrogen peroxide. Since hydrogen peroxide and a ferric-EDTA chelate are themselves a hydroxyl radical-generating system, it follows that SOD must also protect against damage done by this reaction. The ability of SOD to inhibit damage to deoxyribose caused by hydrogen peroxide and a ferric-EDTA chelate is experimentally demonstrated in this paper.     

Kinetic studies on spin trapping of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals generated in NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase-paraquat systems. Effect of iron chelates

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies on spin trapping of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) were performed in NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase-paraquat systems at pH 7.4. Spin adduct concentrations were determined by comparing ESR spectra of the adducts with the ESR spectrum of a stable radical solution. Kinetic analysis in the presence of 100 microM desferrioxamine B (deferoxamine) showed that: 1) the oxidation of 1 mol of NADPH produces 2 mol of superoxide ions, all of which can be trapped by DMPO when extrapolated to infinite concentration; 2) the rate constant for the reaction of superoxide with DMPO was 1.2 M-1 s-1; 3) the superoxide spin adduct of DMPO (DMPO-OOH) decays with a half-life of 66 s and the maximum level of DMPO-OOH formed can be calculated by a simple steady state equation; and 4) 2.8% or less of the DMPO-OOH decay occurs through a reaction producing hydroxyl radicals. In the presence of 100 microM EDTA, 5 microM Fe(III) ions nearly completely inhibited the formation of the hydroxyl radical adduct of DMPO (DMPO-OH) as well as the formation of DMPO-OOH and, when 100 microM hydrogen peroxide was present, produced DMPO-OH exclusively. Fe(III)-EDTA is reduced by superoxide and the competition of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the reaction with Fe(II)-EDTA seems to be reflected in the amounts of DMPO-OOH and DMPO-OH detected. These effects of EDTA can be explained from known kinetic data including a rate constant of 6 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 for reduction of DMPO-OOH by Fe(II)-EDTA. The effect of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DETAPAC) on the formation of DMPO-OOH and DMPO-OH was between deferoxamine and EDTA, and about the same as that of endogenous chelator (phosphate).     

Effects of various chemical compounds on spontaneous and hydrogen peroxide-induced reversion in strain TA104 of Salmonella typhimurium.

In experiments designed to determine which active oxygen species contribute to hydrogen peroxide (HP)-induced reversion in strain TA104 of Salmonella typhimurium, 1,10-phenanthroline (an iron chelator, which prevents the formation of hydroxyl radicals from HP and DNA-bound iron by the Fenton reaction), sodium azide (a singlet oxygen scavenger), and potassium iodide (an hydroxyl radical scavenger) inhibited HP-induced reversion. These results indicate that hydroxyl radicals generated from HP by the Fenton reaction, and perhaps singlet oxygen, contribute to HP-induced reversion in TA104. However, reduced glutathione (reduces Fe3+ to Fe2+ and/or HP to water), diethyldithiocarbamic acid (an inhibitor of superoxide dismutase), diethyl maleate (a glutathione scavenger), and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (an inhibitor of catalase) did not inhibit HP-induced reversion in TA104. Thus, superoxide radical anions and HP itself do not appear to be the cause of HP-induced reversion in this strain. In experiments on the effect of 5 common dietary compounds (beta-carotene, retinoic acid, and vitamins A, C and E), chlorophyllin (CHL), and ergothioneine, the frequency of revertants in TA104 increased above the spontaneous frequency in the presence of beta-carotene or vitamin C (about 2-fold) or vitamin A (about 3-fold). The 5 dietary antimutagens and CHL did not inhibit HP-induced reversion in TA104. However, L-ergothioneine inhibited HP-induced reversion in this strain. Therefore, it is likely that L-ergothioneine is a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals or an inhibitor of their formation, and perhaps of singlet oxygen, at the concentrations tested in TA104.     

Ferrous ion-EDTA-stimulated phospholipid peroxidation. A reaction changing from alkoxyl-radical- to hydroxyl-radical-dependent initiation.

The stimulatory effect of ferrous salts on the peroxidation of phospholipids can be enhanced by EDTA when the concentration of Fe2+ in the reaction is greater than that of EDTA. Hydroxyl-radical scavengers do not inhibit peroxidation until the concentrations of Fe2+ and EDTA in the reaction are equal. Lipid peroxidation is then substantially initiated by hydroxyl radicals derived from a Fenton-type reaction requiring hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide radicals appear to play some role in the formation of initiating species.     

Mechanisms of hydroxyl radical formation and ethanol oxidation by ethanol-inducible and other forms of rabbit liver microsomal cytochromes P-450

The hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide, benzene, ketomethiolbutyric acid, deoxyribose, and ethanol, as well as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide formation was quantitated in reconstituted membrane vesicle systems containing purified rabbit liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochromes P-450 LM2, P-450 LMeb , or P-450 LM4, and in vesicle systems devoid of cytochrome P-450. The presence of cytochrome P-450 in the membranes resulted in 4-8-fold higher rates of O-2, H2O2, and hydroxyl radical production, indicating that the oxycytochrome P-450 complex constitutes the major source for superoxide anions liberated in the system, giving as a consequence hydrogen peroxide and also, subsequently, hydroxyl radicals formed in an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction. Depletion of contaminating iron in the incubation systems resulted in small or negligible rates of cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation. However, small amounts (1 microM) of chelated iron (e.g. Fe3+-EDTA) enhanced ethanol oxidation specifically when membranes containing the ethanol and benzene-inducible form of cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome P-450 LMeb ) were used. Introduction of the Fe-EDTA complex into P-450 LMeb -containing incubation systems caused a decrease in hydrogen peroxide formation and a concomitant 6-fold increase in acetaldehyde production; consequently, the rate of NADPH consumption was not affected. In iron-depleted systems containing cytochrome P-450 LM2 or cytochrome P-450 LMeb , an appropriate stoichiometry was attained between the NADPH consumed and the sum of hydrogen peroxide and acetaldehyde produced. Horseradish peroxidase and scavengers of hydroxyl radicals inhibited the cytochrome P-450 LMeb -dependent ethanol oxidation both in the presence and in the absence of Fe-EDTA. The results are not consistent with a specific mechanism for cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation and indicate that hydroxyl radicals, formed in an iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction and in a Fenton reaction, constitute the active oxygen species. Cytochrome P-450-dependent ethanol oxidation under in vivo conditions would, according to this concept, require the presence of non-heme iron and endogenous iron chelators.     

Comparative effectiveness of antioxidants in protecting the bacterial plasmatic membrane from the active froms of oxygen

The effect of hydroxyl radicals OH. generated by the decomposition of H2O2 by Fe2+ ions (Fenton reaction) on the barrier properties of plasma membranes of Escherichia coli cells K-12 was studied by electroorientation spectroscopy. It was found that the administration of hydrogen peroxide led to the disturbance of the barrier properties of plasma membranes only when the cells were preincubated with Fe2+ ions and their constant concentration in the system was maintained by ascorbate or dithiotreitol (150-500 microM). The extent of the toxic action on plasma membranes depended on the concentration of reacting elements and the substance used as a reducer Fe2+. The efficiency of protection of antioxidants of different classes (enzymic, SH-containing, and phenolic compounds) against the toxic action of hydroxyl radicals on plasmatic membranes was shown.     

The Haber-Weiss cycle--70 years later

The chain reactions HO* + H2O2 --> H2O + O2*- + H+ and O2*- + H+ + H2O2 --> O2 + HO* + H2O, commonly known as the Haber-Weiss cycle, were first mentioned by Haber and Willst?tter in 1931. George showed in 1947 that the second reaction is insignificant in comparison to the fast dismutation of superoxide, and this finding appears to have been accepted by Weiss in 1949. In 1970, the Haber-Weiss reaction was revived by Beauchamp and Fridovich to explain the toxicity of superoxide. During the 1970s various groups determined that the rate constant for this reaction is of the order of 1 M(-1) s(-1) or less, which confirmed George's conclusion. The reaction of superoxide with hydrogen peroxide was dropped from the scheme of oxygen toxicity, and superoxide became the source of hydrogen peroxide, which yields hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction, Fe2+ + H2O2 --> Fe3+ + HO- + HO*. In 1994, Kahn and Kasha resurrected the Haber-Weiss reaction again, but this time the oxygen was believed to be in the singlet (1delta(g)) state. As toxicity arises not from a Fenton-catalysed Haber-Weiss reaction, but from the Fenton reaction, the Haber-Weiss reaction should not be mentioned anymore.     

NAD(P)H oxidation elicits anion superoxide formation in radish plasmalemma vesicles

Radish plasmalemma-enriched fractions show an NAD(P)H-ferricyanide or NAD(P)H-cytochrome c oxidoreductase activity which is not influenced by pH in the 4.5-7.5 range. In addition, at pH 4.5-5.0, NAD(P)H elicits an oxygen consumption (NAD(P)H oxidation) inhibited by catalase or superoxide dismutase (SOD), added either before or after NAD(P)H addition. Ferrous ions stimulate NAD(P)H oxidation, which is again inhibited by SOD and catalase. Hydrogen peroxide does not stimulate NADH oxidation, while it does stimulate Fe2+-induced NADH oxidation. NADH oxidation is unaffected by salicylhydroxamic acid and Mn2+, is stimulated by ferulic acid, and inhibited by KCN, EDTA and ascorbic acid. Moreover, NADH induces the conversion of epinephrine to adrenochrome, indicating that anion superoxide is formed during its oxidation. These results provide evidence that radish plasma membranes contain an NAD(P)H-ferricyanide or cytochrome c oxidoreductase and an NAD(P)H oxidase, active only at pH 4.5-5.0, able to induce the formation of anion superoxide, that is then converted to hydrogen peroxide. Ferrous ions, sparking a Fenton reaction, would stimulate NAD(P)H oxidation.     

Nickel (II) Complexes of Histidyl-Peptides as Fenton-Reaction Catalysts

Addition of histidyl-peptides containing the glycyl-glycyl-L-histidyl sequence stimulated the catalysis of Ni(II) hydrogen peroxide reduction. Maximum bleaching of murexide or nitrosodimethylaniline was obtained with glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine. A decrease in the bleaching rates was observed upon addition of SOD or hydroxyl radical scavengers, showing that the hydrogen peroxide/Ni(II)/glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine system generated superoxide anions as well as hydroxyl radicals. In contrast, addition of glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine inhibited the Cu(II) hydrogen peroxide reduction.

When peptides or proteins were exposed to oxygen radicals produced by Ni(II)/glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine catalysis of hydrogen peroxide reduction, the observed effects were similar to those produced by oxygen radicals generated by water radiolysis or by Fe(II) or Cu(II) mediated Fenton-reactions: hydroxylation of phenylalanine, interchange of disulfides, destruction of tryptophans and dityrosine formation.     

Nickel (II) Complexes of Histidyl-Peptides as Fenton-Reaction Catalysts

Addition of histidyl-peptides containing the glycyl-glycyl-L-histidyl sequence stimulated the catalysis of Ni(II) hydrogen peroxide reduction. Maximum bleaching of murexide or nitrosodimethylaniline was obtained with glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine. A decrease in the bleaching rates was observed upon addition of SOD or hydroxyl radical scavengers, showing that the hydrogen peroxide/Ni(II)/glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine system generated superoxide anions as well as hydroxyl radicals. In contrast, addition of glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine inhibited the Cu(II) hydrogen peroxide reduction.

When peptides or proteins were exposed to oxygen radicals produced by Ni(II)/glycyl-glycyl-L-histidine catalysis of hydrogen peroxide reduction, the observed effects were similar to those produced by oxygen radicals generated by water radiolysis or by Fe(II) or Cu(II) mediated Fenton-reactions: hydroxylation of phenylalanine, interchange of disulfides, destruction of tryptophans and dityrosine formation.     

ESR spin-trapping studies on the reaction of Fe2+ ions with H2O2-reactive species in oxygen toxicity in biology

Using ESR spin-trapping techniques with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), we confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry for the formation of hydroxyl radicals with Fe2+ in the Fenton reaction under experimental conditions wherein [H2O2] is 90 microM and [Fe2+] is very low, 1 microM or less. The stoichiometry decreased markedly as the Fe2+ concentration was increased. The efficiency of hydroxyl radical generation varied with the nature of the iron chelators used and increased in the order of phosphate alone approximately ADP less than EDTA less than diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DETAPAC). The second order rate constant for the Fenton reaction was measured to be 2.0 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 for phosphate alone, 8.2 x 10(3) M-1 s-1 for ADP, 1.4 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 for EDTA, and 4.1 x 10(2) M-1 s-1 for DETAPAC. Measuring the radicals formed as spins trapped in the presence of ethanol, we estimated the amount of total oxidizing intermediates formed in the Fenton reaction, which we concluded consists of hydroxyl radicals and an iron species. The oxidizing species of iron which might be assigned as ferryl, FeO2+, or Fe(IV) = O was generated effectively in the presence of ADP even at low Fe2+ concentrations. In general, as the Fe2+ concentration was increased, the ferryl species predominated over the hydroxyl radical except for the case of Fe(II)-DETAPAC, which generated only hydroxyl radicals as the oxidizing species. Three possible pathways are proposed for the Fenton reaction, the dominant ones depending very much on the nature of the iron chelator being used.     

Homogentisic acid autoxidation and oxygen radical generation: implications for the etiology of alkaptonuric arthritis

The metabolic disorder, alkaptonuria, is distinguished by elevated serum levels of 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (homogentisic acid), pigmentation of cartilage and connective tissue and, ultimately, the development of inflammatory arthritis. Oxygen radical generation during homogentisic acid autoxidation was characterized in vitro to assess the likelihood that oxygen radicals act as molecular agents of alkaptonuric arthritis in vivo. For homogentisic acid autoxidized at physiological pH and above, yielding superoxide (O2-)2 and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the homogentisic acid autoxidation rate was oxygen dependent, proportional to homogentisic acid concentration, temperature dependent and pH dependent. Formation of the oxidized product, benzoquinoneacetic acid was inhibited by the reducing agents, NADH, reduced glutathione, and ascorbic acid and accelerated by SOD and manganese-pyrophosphate. Manganese stimulated autoxidation was suppressed by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Homogentisic acid autoxidation stimulated a rapid cooxidation of ascorbic acid at pH 7.45. Hydrogen peroxide was among the products of cooxidation. The combination of homogentisic acid and Fe3+-EDTA stimulated hydroxyl radical (OH.) formation estimated by salicylate hydroxylation. Ferric iron was required for the reaction and Fe3+-EDTA was a better catalyst than either free Fe3+ or Fe3+-DTPA. SOD accelerated OH. production by homogentisic acid as did H2O2, and catalase reversed much of the stimulation by SOD. Catalase alone, and the hydroxyl radical scavengers, thiourea and sodium formate, suppressed salicylate hydroxylation. Homogentisic acid and Fe3+-EDTA also stimulated the degradation of hyaluronic acid, the chief viscous element of synovial fluid. Hyaluronic acid depolymerization was time dependent and proportional to the homogentisic acid concentration up to 100 microM. The level of degradation observed was comparable to that obtained with ascorbic acid at equivalent concentrations. The hydroxyl radical was an active intermediate in depolymerization. Thus, catalase and the hydroxyl radical scavengers, thiourea and dimethyl sulfoxide, almost completely suppressed the depolymerization reaction. The ability of homogentisic acid to generate O2-, H2O2 and OH. through autoxidation and the degradation of hyaluronic acid by homogentisic acid-mediated by OH. production suggests that oxygen radicals play a significant role in the etiology of alkaptonuric arthritis.     

Hydrogen peroxide formation and iron ion oxidoreduction linked to NADH oxidation in radish plasmalemma vesicles

Previously, we showed the presence in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plasmalemma vesicles of an NAD(P)H oxidase, active at pH 4.5-5.0, which elicits the formation of anion superoxide (Vianello and Macrí (1989) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 980, 202-208). In this work, we studied the role of hydrogen peroxide and iron ions upon this oxidase activity. NADH oxidation was stimulated by ferrous ions and, to a lesser extent, by ferric ions. Salicylate and benzoate, two known hydroxyl radical scavengers, inhibited both basal and iron-stimulated NADH oxidase activity. The iron chelators EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and DFA (deferoxamine melysate) at high concentrations (2 mM) inhibited the NADH oxidation, whereas they were ineffective at lower concentrations (80 microM); the subsequent addition of ferrous ions caused a rapid and limited increase of oxygen consumption which later ceased. Hydrogen peroxide was not detected during NADH oxidation but, in the presence of salicylate, its formation was found in significant amounts. NADH oxidase activity was also associated to a Fe2+ oxidation which was only partially inhibited by salicylate. Ferrous ion oxidation was partially inhibited by catalase and prevented by superoxide dismutase, while ferric ion reduction was abolished by catalase and unaffected by superoxide dismutase. These results show that during NADH oxidation iron ions undergo oxidoreduction and that hydrogen peroxide is produced and rapidly consumed. As previously suggested, this oxidation appears linked to the univalent oxidoreduction of iron ions by a reduced flavoprotein of radish plasmalemma which is then converted to a radical form. The latter, reacting with oxygen generates the superoxide anion which dismutases to H2O2. Hydrogen peroxide, through a Fenton's reaction, may react with Fe2+ to produce hydroxyl radicals, or with Fe3+ to generate the superoxide anion.     

Superoxide dismutase enhanced the formation of hydroxyl radicals in a reaction mixture containing xanthone under UVA irradiation

To clarify the effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the formation of hydroxyl radical in a standard reaction mixture containing 15 microM of xanthone, 0.1 M of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), and 45 mM of phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) under UVA irradiation, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements were performed. SOD enhanced the formation of hydroxyl radicals. The formation of hydroxyl radicals was inhibited on the addition of catalase. The rate of hydroxyl radical formation also slowed down under a reduced oxygen concentration, whereas it was stimulated by disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and diethyleneaminepentaacetic acid (DETAPAC). Above findings suggest that O(2), H(2)O(2), and iron ions participate in the reaction. SOD possibly enhances the formation of the hydroxyl radical in reaction mixtures of photosensitizers that can produce O(2)(-.).     

Inhibition of the Fenton reaction by the protein caeruloplasmin and other copper complexes. Assessment of ferroxidase and radical scavenging activities

The copper-containing protein caeruloplasmin is an important biological extracellular protein. By catalysing the oxidation of ferrous ions to the ferric state (ferroxidase activity) it can inhibit lipid peroxidation and the Fenton reaction. This activity is readily destroyed by heat-denaturation. When a ferric-EDTA complex is added to hydrogen peroxide, OH X radicals are formed in a reaction inhibitable by superoxide dismutase (SOD). This reaction is also inhibited by caeruloplasmin both before and after heat-denaturation, suggesting a non-catalytic scavenging role for the protein. A combination of ferroxidase and radical scavenging activities in fluids containing iron complexes and hydrogen peroxide, but no SOD or catalase, would make caeruloplasmin an important extracellular antioxidant.     

The effect of pH on the conversion of superoxide to hydroxyl free radicals

The conversion of superoxide (O-.2) to the hydroxyl (HO.) free radical by superoxide-driven Fenton reactions was measured by the formation of hydroxylated derivatives from benzoate. Among a range of catalysts required for the conversion, the Fe3+EDTA complex was the most effective. The effect of superoxide dismutase and catalase indicated that O-.2 and H2O2 were essential reactants, while the formation of authentic HO. was confirmed by the inhibiting capacities of formate, t-butanol, and mannitol. The conversion of O-.2 to HO. was tested over a broad pH range, and was found to be highest at pH 4.8 whether Fe3+EDTA or free Fe3+ were used as the catalysts. When Fe3+EDTA was used at the optimum pH, every HO. produced required 3.7 O-.2 radicals, close to the theoretical limit of one HO. from every three O-.2 radicals generated.     

Killing of bacillus spores by aqueous dissolved oxygen,ascorbic acid,and copper ions

An approach to decontamination of biological endospores is discussed. Specifically, the performance of an aqueous modified Fenton reagent is examined. A modified Fenton reagent formulation of cupric chloride, ascorbic acid, and sodium chloride is shown to be an effective sporicide under aerobic conditions. The traditional Fenton reaction involves the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radical by aqueous ionic catalysts such as the transition metal ions. Our modified Fenton reaction involves the conversion of aqueous dissolved oxygen to hydrogen peroxide by an ionic catalyst (Cu(2+)) and then subsequent conversion to hydroxyl radicals. Results are given for the modified Fenton reagent deactivating spores of Bacillus globigii. A biocidal mechanism is proposed that is consistent with our experimental results and independently derived information found in the literature. This mechanism requires diffusion of relatively benign species into the interior of the spore, where dissolved O(2) is then converted through a series of reactions which ultimately produce hydroxyl radicals that perform the killing action.