A chemiluminescent probe specific for singlet oxygen

We have synthesized a methoxyvinylpyrene (MVP) in order to model the mechanism for the observed microsomal chemiluminescence of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol, the proximate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene. This MVP analog has been found to be a highly efficient and specific chemiluminescent probe for picomole quantities of singlet oxygen and singlet oxygen equivalents, and it produces significant chemiluminescence when reacted with cytochrome P-450 enzymes.

Myeloperoxidase singlet molecular oxygen generation detected by direct infrared electronic emission

Myeloperoxidase in micromolar concentrations reacting with half-millimolar stock solution H2O2 in acetate buffer containing KBr and in 50% D2O (pH + pD = 4.5) at 298 K is shown to generate singlet delta molecular oxygen efficiently. The near infrared electronic emission of singlet oxygen at 1268 nm is detected directly by novel ultrasensitive IR spectrophotometer equipment. The quantum efficiency of singlet oxygen generation by the MPO X Br- X H2O2 reaction is shown to be comparable with that of the standard chemical reaction OCl- X H2O2 at identical peroxide concentrations.

Singlet oxygen production by chloroperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide systems

Singlet oxygen production in the chloroperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide system was studied using 1268 nm chemiluminescence. With chloride or bromide ions, singlet oxygen is produced by the mechanism (formula; see text) (formula; see text) where X- is chloride or bromide ion. Under conditions where there is high enzyme activity and when Reaction B is fast relative to Reaction A, singlet oxygen is produced in near stoichiometric amounts. In contrast, when Reaction A is fast relative to Reaction B, oxidized halogen species (chlorine and hypochlorous acid for chloride ion; bromide, tribromide ion, and hypobromous acid for bromide ion) are the principle reaction products. With iodide ion, no 1268 nm chemiluminescence was detected. Past studies have shown that iodine and iodate ion are the major end products of this system.

Studies on the possible involvement of singlet oxygen and superoxide anion radicals in the cyclo-oxygenase reaction

The influence of several naphthalene and furan derivatives which are potent singlet oxygen (1O2) acceptors on two prostaglandin synthetase preparations derived from bovine seminal vesicles or rat kidney medulla was studied. Also the effects on the formation of superoxide anion radicals (O2-.) were measured to give further evidence for or against the possible involvement of 1O2 or O2-. in the cyclo-oxygenase reaction. The data we have attained make an essential role of these activated oxygen species as initiators of the cyclo-oxygenase reaction unlikely and thereby support the hypothesis that cyclo-oxygenation during prostaglandin biosynthesis is a lipoxygenase type of reaction.

Singlet oxygen in copper-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte membranes

Lipid hydroperoxide was generated in human erythrocyte membranes by irradiation with near ultraviolet (UV) light in the presence of a photosensitizer, hematoporphyrin, but no production of 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive materials (malonaldehyde and its precursors) was detected. Incubation of the irradiated membranes with CuSO4 led to increased levels of hydroperoxide and formation of malonaldehyde. Hydroperoxides were essential for initiating the Cu(II)-catalyzed peroxidation as no significant activity was observed with nonirradiated membranes and Cu(II) unless an organic peroxide, either t-butyl hydroperoxide or cumene hydroperoxide, was added. Catalytic activity was also found with Fe(II), but not with other metal ions tested. The peroxidation catalyzed with Cu(II) was partially inhibited by several singlet oxygen quenchers but was not affected by superoxide dismutase, catalase or OH radical scavengers. The possible involvement of singlet oxygen in the Cu(II)-catalyzed peroxidation reaction was further supported by a 3-fold enhancement of malonaldehyde production in D2O.

Quenching of singlet oxygen by D-alpha-tocopherol in human granulocytes

The ability of D-alpha-tocopherol to act as a quencher of (1)0(2) (singlet oxygen) was tested with a biological source of (1)0(2), namely the phagocytosis activated myeloperoxidase contained in the homogenate of human circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes. With this system, the (1)0(2) quenching efficiency of exogenously added D-alpha-tocopherol was estimated from its inhibitory effect on the luminol amplified chemiluminescence. This inhibitory effect was dose dependent. D-alpha-tocopherol was also efficient in quenching the chemiluminescence generated through the H2O2-horseradish system. In both systems the quenching effect may be almost entirely "physical", since very little tocopherol was destroyed when compared to the relatively large amount of H2O2 consumed.

Production of active oxygen species (1O2 and O2-.) by psoralens and ultraviolet radiation (320-400 nm)

Furocoumarins (psoralens) are potent skin photosensitizing agents that are used in combination with long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (320-400 nm) in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases. Twelve linear and angular psoralens, capable of forming monofunctional and bifunctional adducts with DNA, were examined with a view to elucidate the role of 1O2 and O2-. in evoking skin photosensitization reactions and skin carcinogenesis. The results showed that both linear psoralens (capable of forming interstrand cross-links) and isopsoralens (angular, monofunctional type) and 3-carbethoxypsoralen (a linear and monofunctional type) produced 1O2 and O2-., although at varying degrees. Psoralen and 3-carbethoxypsoralen produced 1O2 greater than isopsoralens (angelicins). However, nonphotosensitizing angelicin, 5-methylangelicin, and 4,8-dimethyl-5'-carboxypsoralen produced 1O2 greater than 8-methoxypsoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen. The three monofunctional angelicin derivatives (isopsoralens) produced more O2-. than 8-methoxypsoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen, and 3,4'-dimethyl-8-methoxypsoralen. 3-Carbethoxypsoralen, a potent generator of 1O2 and a moderate producer of O2-., was highly photolabile. Until recently, skin photosensitization reactions (erythema, edema, damage to DNA or the membrane of cutaneous cells, the inhibition of scheduled DNA synthesis and skin carcinogenesis, etc.) were believed to involve photocyclo-addition of psoralens to DNA mediated by a type-I or anoxic reaction (a sensitizer-substrate interaction through the transfer of hydrogen atoms or electrons, but no direct involvement of molecular oxygen). Oxygen-dependent sensitized photodynamic reactions of type-II, involving the production of reactive oxygen (1O2 and O2-.), were believed not to mediate psoralen photosensitization reactions. We suggest that 1O2 and O2-. may also participate in skin photosensitization and cell membrane-damaging reactions. The fact that certain monofunctional isopsoralens produce 1O2 and O2-. at rates comparable to or better than bifunctional psoralens suggests that these reactive moieties of oxygen could play a major role in explaining their recently observed carcinogenic property and cell membrane-damaging reactions (e.g., edema or inflammation, etc.).

Measurement of oxidizing radicals by polymorphonuclear leukocytes

O2 radicals are important in health and disease. The most commonly used ways of identifying O2 radicals in PMN are described above. Several shortcomings exist in these methods reflecting the unusual, complex nature of O2 radical biochemistry. Some general principles include (1) O2 radicals are very short-lived, reacting with many other compounds and each other quickly. (2) There are no highly specific assays for O2 radicals. (3) Highly specific scavengers of O2 radicals also do not exist. (4) No methods have been found to detect and quantitate O2 radicals in vivo. (5) Solubility and membrane permeability of various scavengers and/or test reagents may affect the measurement of O2 radicals in PMN and other biological systems. In general, the best approach to measurement of O2 radicals involves using the best assay available and showing that the reaction is inhibited by scavengers in proportion to their reactivity with the specific O2 radical being assayed.

Singlet oxygen as a possible factor in human senile nuclear cataract development

The effects of photodynamically generated singlet oxygen on lens crystallins were investigated. This highly reactive oxidant can produce in crystallins in vitro the oxidative modifications characteristic of proteins from aging and cataractous lens. Additionally species capable of producing singlet oxygen in the presence of near UV radiation are shown to be present in human lenses. These findings are discussed with respect to a possible role of singlet oxygen in the etiology of human senile nuclear cataracts.

Photophysical, photochemical and photobiological studies of 4'-methylangelicins, potential agents for photochemotherapy

In order to study the relationship between certain photophysical and photochemical properties of furocoumarins and their photobiological activities, the quantum yields of the formation of excited triplet states, the capacity to generate singlet oxygen in vitro and the effect of oxygen on photoinduced cell killing and on the induction of cytoplasmic "petite" mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were determined for a series of 4'-methylangelicins and 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs). The capacity to generate singlet oxygen, in good agreement with the photophysical data, correlates well with the oxygen effect observed on the lethality of Saccharomyces cerevisiae shown by the various compounds and followed the ranking order 3-CPs greater than 4',4-dimethylangelicin greater than 4'-methylangelicin greater than 4',5-dimethylangelicin. On the other hand the oxygen effect on the induction of cytoplasmic "petite" mutations on yeast appears much less pronounced than that shown on survival. Concerning other photobiological properties previously studied no correlation was observed between the capacity to generate singlet oxygen in vitro and the skin photosensitizing activity of the compounds. Moreover, the generation of singlet oxygen by furocoumarins does not appear as the main cause for the photoinduction of skin tumors in mice.

Role of singlet oxygen in the degradation of hyaluronic acid

To investigate the effect of singlet oxygen on the molecular properties of hyaluronic acid, the polymer was irradiated in the presence of a dye sensitizer for singlet oxygen. Viscosity and circular dichroism techniques were used to monitor these changes. The relative viscosity of the polymer solution decreased steadily with increasing duration of irradiation, indicating an apparent decrease in molecular weight of hyaluronic acid. Circular dichroism measurements of the irradiated sample, however, did not show any appreciable change in the secondary structure, but do suggest that the generated singlet oxygen changes the tertiary structure and that this change is followed by a minor depolymerization.

L-ascorbic acid quenching of singlet delta molecular oxygen in aqueous media: generalized antioxidant property of vitamin C

L-ascorbic acid quenches singlet (1 delta g) molecular oxygen in aqueous media (pH 6.8 for [1H]H2O and pD 7.2 for [2H]D2O) as measured directly by monitoring (0,0) 1 delta g leads to 3 sigma-g emission at 1.28 micron. Singlet oxygen was generated at room temperature in the solutions via photosensitization of sodium chrysene sulfonate; this sulfonated polycyclic hydrocarbon was synthesized to provide a water soluble chromophore inert to usual dye-ascorbate photobleaching. A marked isotope effect is found; kHQ2O is 3.3 times faster than kDQ2O, suggesting ascorbic acid is chemically quenching singlet oxygen.

Photosensitized effects of furocoumarins: the possible role of singlet oxygen

The capacity of various furocoumarins to generate singlet oxygen in aqueous solution has been determined. The antiproliferative and the skin-photosensitizing activities of the same furocoumarins did not show any correlation with the capacity to generate the singlet oxygen, while these photobiological properties could be correlated with the capacity of furocoumarins to induce photolesions to the DNA.

[Photogeneration of singlet oxygen by psoralens]

Photosensitized luminescence of singlet (1 delta g) molecular oxygen with the maximum at 1272 nm has been found in solutions of psoralen, angelicin and 8-methoxypsoralen in CCl4. The luminescence excitation spectra, quantum yields of generation (gamma g) and rate constants of quenching (Kq) of 1 delta g by psoralens have been measured. The gamma g values 0,0055, 0,0026, 0,002 and Kq values 9 X 10(3), 11 X 10(3) and 12 X X 10(3) have been obtained for psoralen, angelicin and 8-methoxypsoralen, respectively. The role of 1 delta g in a photobiological action of psoralens is discussed.

Determinants of the production of active oxygen species by granulocytes and macrophages

Under certain conditions, phagocytic leukocytes generate considerable quantities of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, as well as small quantities of hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen. These activated forms of oxygen are involved in the antibacterial, antiparasitic and antitumour functions of the cells. Important factors in the production of the different oxygen species are the nature of the stimulant and the animal species from which the cells are derived; in addition, macrophages exist in various metabolically modulated states within the organism. The oxidases involved in this process are localized in the leukocyte plasmalemma, where they catalyse the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides; a cytochrome may also be involved in the electron transport. Other oxidases are also present in certain species; for example, guinea pig cells contain aldehyde oxidase. Active forms of oxygen can attack bacteria and other foreign bodies inside the phagocytic vacuole or outside the cell. Peroxidase may play a critical role, chiefly in granulocytes. In this kind of multienzyme system, it is self evident that different genetic defects can lead to the same phenotypic end results, e.g. Chronic Granulomatous Disease in children, and other biochemical disorders.

[Mechanisms of the damaging effect of fluorescent dyes on the retina]

Mechanisms of the photo-damage of a fluorescent dye (methylene blue) and of the protective action of antioxidants and quenchers of singlet oxygen on the outer retinal rod segments (ORRS) and retinal function in situ and in vivo were studied. The methylene blue-induced formation of singlet oxygen in the ORRS resulted in accumulation of lipid peroxidation products, oligomerization of rhodopsin, and in a decrease in rhodopsin thermal resistance. Modification of the lipid and protein components of the visual cells by singlet oxygen inhibited the electrical activity of both isolated frog retina in situ and rabbit retina in vivo (waves a and b on the electroretinogram). The antioxidants (alpha-naphthol, alpha-tocopherol, 4-methyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) and singlet oxygen quenchers, [1,4-diazabicyclo (2,2,2)octane] and alpha-tocopherol prevented the damaging effects of the fluorescent dye induced by singlet oxygen formation.