Giles GI, Collins CA, Stone TW, Jacob C. Electrochemical and in vitro evaluation of the redox-properties of kynurenine species.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003;
300:719-24. [PMID:
12507509 DOI:
10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02917-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenines are formed as part of the tryptophan metabolism and are known to exhibit pro- and anti-oxidant activities in vitro. The mapping of these biological redox-systems and identification of potential in vivo targets are therefore of great interest in cellular physiology. Here the redox-behavior of different kynurenines and anthranilic acids is evaluated electrochemically and compared to that of simple model compounds. Electrochemical results are correlated with the activity of these compounds in redox-bioassays where 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid and 3-hydroxykynurenine have significant redox-activity. The specific electrochemical redox-behavior of these two compounds, indicating a particular redox-mechanism involving the hydroxyl group, can be used to rationalize these findings. The results indicate that tryptophan metabolites can undergo a range of complex redox-reactions in vivo whose precise nature critically depends on structural details. As a consequence, some of the kynurenines have the potential to contribute to neuronal damage in brain disorders and stroke.
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