Buffer-induced anomalies in the Fenton chemistry of iron and copper

Ferritin-catalyzed consumption of hydrogen peroxide by amine buffers causes the variable Fe2+ to O2 stoichiometry of iron deposition in horse spleen ferritin

Ferritin catalyzes the oxidation of Fe2+ by O2 to form a reconstituted Fe3+ oxy-hydroxide mineral core, but extensive studies have shown that the Fe2+ to O2 stoichiometry changes with experimental conditions. At Fe2+ to horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) ratios greater than 200, an upper limit of Fe2+ to O2 of 4 is typically measured, indicating O2 is reduced to 2H2O. In contrast, a lower limit of Fe2+ to O2 of approximately 2 is measured at low Fe2+ to HoSF ratios, implicating H2O2 as a product of Fe2+ deposition. Stoichiometric amounts of H2O2 have not been measured, and H2O2 is proposed to react with an unknown system component. Evidence is presented that identifies this component as amine buffers, including 3-N-morpholinopropanesulfonic acid (MOPS), which is widely used in ferritin studies. In the presence of non-amine buffers, the Fe2+ to O2 stoichiometry was approximately 4.0, but at high concentrations of amine buffers (0.10 M) the Fe2+ to O2 stoichiometry is approximately 2.5 for iron loadings of eight to 30 Fe2+ per HoSF. Decreasing the concentration of amine buffer to zero resulted in an Fe2+ to O2 stoichiometry of approximately 4. Direct evidence for amine buffer modification during Fe2+ deposition was obtained by comparing authentic and modified buffers using mass spectrometry, NMR, and thin layer chromatography. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, MOPS, and N-methylmorpholine (a MOPS analog) were all rapidly chemically modified during Fe2+ deposition to form N-oxides. Under identical conditions no modification was detected when amine buffer, H2O2, and O2 were combined with Fe2+ or ferritin separately. Thus, a short-lived ferritin intermediate is required for buffer modification by H2O2. Variation of the Fe2+ to O2 stoichiometry versus the Fe2+ to HoSF ratio and the amine buffer concentration are consistent with buffer modification.

Anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant behaviour of bucillamine

Bucillamine (BUC) is used clinically for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the pharmacological action of BUC has been reported as being dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this paper the reactivity of BUC with superoxide anion radical (O(2) (*-)) generated from potassium superoxide/18-crown-6 ether dissolved in DMSO, hydroxyl radical (HO(*)) produced in the Cu(2+)-H(2)O(2) reaction, peroxyl radical (ROO(*)) from 2,2'-azobis (2-amidino-propane) dichloride decomposition, and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) from a mixture of alkaline aqueous H(2)O(2) and acetonitrile, have been investigated. Chemiluminescence, fluorescence, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping techniques and the deoxyribose and oxygen radical absorbance capacity towards ROO(*) (ORAC(ROO)) assays were used to elucidate the anti- and pro-oxidative behaviours of BUC towards ROS. The results indicated that BUC efficiently inhibited chemiluminescence from the O(2) (*-)-generating system at relatively high concentrations (0.5-2 mmol/L); however, at lower concentrations (<0.5 mmol/L) the drug enhanced light emission. The behaviour of BUC was correlated with a capacity to decrease the chemiluminescence signal from the Cu(2+)-H(2)O(2) system; scavenging HO(*) was effective only at high concentrations (1-2 mmol/L) of the drug. Bucillamine also prevented deoxyribose degradation induced by HO(*) in a dose-dependent manner, reaching maximal inhibition (24.5%) at a relative high concentration (1.54 mmol/L). Moreover, BUC reacts with ROO(*); the relative ORAC(ROO) was found to be 0.34 micromol/L Trolox equivalents/micromol sample. The drug showed quenching of (1)O(2)-dependent 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxide radical formation from 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine (e.g. 90% inhibition was found at 1 mmol/L concentration). The results showed that BUC may directly scavenge ROS or inhibit reactions generating them. However, the drug may have pro-oxidant activity under some reaction conditions.

Oxidation of delta-ALA-D and DTT mediated by ascorbic acid: modulation by buffers depends on free iron

Ascorbic acid (AA) is one of the most important endogenous reducing agents and can participate in a variety of cellular events. In vitro, AA can act as a potent oxidant agent in the presence of free metals, promote modifications in protein structures and form reactive oxygen species during its oxidation. We have observed that AA (above 6 mmol/l) inactivates delta-aminolevulinate dehidratase (delta-ALA-D), a sulfhydryl-containing enzyme and that the inhibitory action was considerably decreased when 3-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid buffer (MOPS - pH: 6.8; 100 mmol/l) was used in the delta-ALA-D activity assay instead of potassium phosphate buffer (PB - pH: 6.8; 100 mmol/l). delta-ALA-D inhibition, probably, is mediated by the oxidation of -SH groups caused by the auto-oxidation of AA promoted by metals or another oxidizing system present in liver supernatants. This hypothesis was confirmed by studying dithiothreitol (DTT - 400 micromol/l) oxidation, as a model of enzyme thiols, where we observed that the mechanism underlying DTT and delta-ALA-D oxidation caused by ascorbate is the same. The difference observed between different buffers may be related to the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) that was more accentuated in PB than in MOPS buffer. The presence of ethilenediamintetraacetic acid (EDTA - 100 micromol/l) and Fe(III) (5 micromol/l) stimulated DTT oxidation more in PB than in MOPS buffer. Deferroxamine (DF - 100 micromol/l) considerably decreased DTT oxidation. Catalase (0.4 mg/ml) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD - 300 U/ml) had only a modest effect on DTT oxidation. The present results suggest that delta-ALA-D inhibition by AA is mediated primarily by the oxidized form of AA and reactive oxygen species play only a modest role in the process.

Formation of an oxo-radical of peroxovanadate during reduction of diperoxovanadate with vanadyl sulfate or ferrous sulfate

Formation of oxygen radicals during reduction of H(2)O(2) or diperoxovanadate with vanadyl sulfate or ferrous sulfate was indicated by the 1:2:2:1 electron spin resonance (ESR) signals of the DMPO adduct typical of standard ()OH radical. Signals derived from diperoxovanadate remained unchanged in the presence of ethanol in contrast to those from H(2)O(2). This gave the clue that they represent a different radical, possibly (*)OV(O(2))(2+), formed on breaking a peroxo-bridge of diperoxovanadate complex. The above reaction mixtures evolved dioxygen or, when NADH was present, oxidized it rapidly which was accompanied by consumption of dioxygen. Operation of a cycle of peroxovanadates including this new radical is suggested to explain these redox activities both with vanadyl and ferrous sulfates. It can be triggered by ferrous ions released from cellular stores in the presence of catalytic amounts of peroxovanadates.

Effect of biogenic amines on oxidation of farmorubicin by Fenton-like reagents

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dopa and catecholamines on the generation of oxygen active species during oxidation of farmorubicin by "Fenton-like" reagents using chemiluminescent and spectrophotometric techniques. The tested catechols were found to reduce the light emission accompanying oxidation of farmorubicin by Co(II) + H2O2 and Cu(II) + H2O2 mixtures. The quenching effect was followed by their rapid oxidation to aminochromes possessing toxic activities.