Phospholipid autoxidation

Elementary processes triggered in curcumin molecule by gas-phase resonance electron attachment and by photoexcitation in solution

Electron-driven processes in isolated curcumin (CUR) molecules are studied by means of dissociative electron attachment (DEA) spectroscopy under gas-phase conditions. Elementary photostimulated reactions initiated in CUR molecules under UV irradiation are studied using the chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization method in an acetonitrile solvent. Density functional theory is applied to elucidate the energetics of fragmentation of CUR by low-energy (0-15 eV) resonance electron attachment and to characterize various CUR radical forms. The adiabatic electron affinity of CUR molecule is experimentally estimated to be about 1 eV. An extra electron attachment to the π1* LUMO and π2* molecular orbitals is responsible for the most intense DEA signals observed at thermal electron energy. The most abundant long-lived (hundreds of micro- to milliseconds) molecular negative ions CUR- are detected not only at the thermal energy of incident electrons but also at 0.6 eV, which is due to the formation of the π3* and π4* temporary negative ion states predicted to lie around 1 eV. Proton-assisted electron transfer between CUR molecules is registered under UV irradiation. The formation of both radical-anions and radical-cations of CUR is found to be more favorable in its enol form. The present findings shed some light on the elementary processes triggered in CUR by electrons and photons and, therefore, can be useful to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for a variety of biological effects produced by CUR.

OH radical reactions with the hydrophilic component of sphingolipids

In this work, using the example of model compounds, we studied the reactions resulting from the interaction of OH radicals with the hydrophilic part of sphingolipids. We compared the stopped-flow EPR spectroscopy and pulse radiolysis with optical detection methods to characterize radical intermediates formed in the reaction of OH radicals with glycerol, serinol and N-boc-serinol. Quantum chemical calculations were also performed to help interpret the observed experimental data. It was shown that H-abstraction from the terminal carbon atom is the main process that is realized for all the studied compounds. The presence of the unsubstituted amino group (-NH2) is seen to completely change the reaction properties of serinol in comparison with those observed in glycerol and N-boc serinol.

Structural and functional changes in RNAse A originating from tyrosine and histidine cross-linking and oxidation induced by singlet oxygen and peroxyl radicals

Oxidation can be induced by multiple processes in biological samples, with proteins being important targets due to their high abundance and reactivity. Oxidant reactions with proteins are not comprehensively understood, but it is known that structural and functional changes may be a cause, or a consequence, of disease. The mechanisms of oxidation of the model protein RNAse A by singlet oxygen (¹O₂) were examined and compared to peroxyl radical (ROO^•) oxidation, both common biological oxidants. This protein is a prototypic member of the RNAse family that exhibits antiviral activity by cleaving single-stranded RNA. RNAse A lacks tryptophan and cysteine residues which are major oxidant targets, but contains multiple histidine, tyrosine and methionine residues; these were therefore hypothesized to be the major sites of damage. ¹O₂ and ROO^• induce different patterns and extents of damage; both induce cross-links and side-chain oxidation, and ¹O₂ exposure modulates enzymatic activity. Multiple products have been characterized including methionine sulfoxide and sulfone, alcohols, DOPA, 2-oxohistidine, histidine-derived ring-opened species and inter- and intra-molecular cross-links (di-tyrosine, histidine-lysine, histidine-arginine, tyrosine-lysine). In addition to methionine modification, which appears not to be causative to activity loss, singlet oxygen also induces alteration to specific histidine, tyrosine and proline residues, including modification and cross-linking of the active site histidine, His12. The high homology among the RNAse family suggests that similar modifications may occur in humans, and be associated with the increased risk of viral infections in people with diabetes, as markers for ¹O₂ have been found in early stages of this pathology.

Peroxyl radical- and photo-oxidation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase generates cross-links and functional changes via oxidation of tyrosine and tryptophan residues

Protein oxidation is a frequent event as a result of the high abundance of proteins in biological samples and the multiple processes that generate oxidants. The reactions that occur are complex and poorly understood, but can generate major structural and functional changes on proteins. Current data indicate that pathophysiological processes and multiple human diseases are associated with the accumulation of damaged proteins. In this study we investigated the mechanisms and consequences of exposure of the key metabolic enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) to peroxyl radicals (ROO^•) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂), with particular emphasis on the role of Trp and Tyr residues in protein cross-linking and fragmentation. Cross-links and high molecular mass aggregates were detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting using specific antibodies. Amino acid analysis has provided evidence for Trp and Tyr consumption and formation of oxygenated products (diols, peroxides, N-formylkynurenine, kynurenine) from Trp, and di-tyrosine (from Tyr). Mass spectrometric data obtained after trypsin-digestion in the presence of H₂¹⁶O and H₂¹⁸O, has allowed the mapping of specific cross-linked residues and their locations. These data indicate that specific Tyr-Trp and di-Tyr cross-links are formed from residues that are proximal and surface-accessible, and that the extent of Trp oxidation varies markedly between sites. Limited modification at other residues is also detected. These data indicate that Trp and Tyr residues are readily modified by ROO^• and ¹O₂ with this giving products that impact significantly on protein structure and function. The formation of such cross-links may help rationalize the accumulation of damaged proteins in vivo.

Do cinnamylideneacetophenones have antioxidant properties and a protective effect toward the oxidation of phosphatidylcholines?

Cinnamylideneacetophenones (CA) are an important group of α,β,γ,δ-diunsaturated ketones that have been widely used in a variety of synthetic transformations. Biological studies concerning these compounds are scarce and refer mainly to antiviral and antibacterial evaluations. Curcumin (CR), a natural polyphenol, is a yellow pigment extracted from the plant Curcuma longa, which is one of the major spices used in the Indian culinary. It has been reported that CR has cancer chemopreventive properties in a range of animal models of chemical carcinogenesis, along with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Inspired by the biological activity shown by CR and their structural resemblance with CA, it was considered to study the ability of the latter molecules to inhibit lipid oxidation induced by the hydroxyl radical (Fenton reaction) by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) using phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes as a model of cell membrane. Compound 4, holding a methylated hydroxy group in the position R(2), and CR showed similar effects in inhibiting lipid peroxidation. In the presence of 7, the extension of oxidation was higher than the one verified in all other compounds. Other methodologies, namely DPPH radical scavenging and oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) assays, were performed to complement and clarify the results attained by oxidation of PC monitored by ESI-MS and to evaluate the antioxidant profile of compounds. For both assays, compound 7 showed to be rather efficient due to its specific structure. This derivative can form a quite stable allylic radical by abstraction of a hydrogen atom which accounts for these results.

Addition products of alpha-tocopherol with lipid-derived free radicals

The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with lipid-derived free radicals have been reviewed. Free radical scavenging reactions of alpha-tocopherol take place via the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical as an intermediate. If a suitable free radical is present, an addition product can be formed from the coupling of the free radical with the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical. The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with lipid-peroxyl radicals are 8a-(lipid-dioxy)-alpha-tocopherones, which are hydrolyzed to alpha-tocopherylquinone. On the other hand, the carbon-centered radicals of lipids prefer to react with the phenoxyl radical of alpha-tocopherol to form 6-O-lipid-alpha-tocopherol under anaerobic conditions. The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with peroxyl radicals (epoxylinoleoyl-peroxyl radicals) produced from cholesteryl ester and phosphatidylcholine were detected in the peroxidized human plasma using a high-sensitive HPLC procedure with postcolumn reduction and electrochemical detection. Thus, the formation of these addition products provides us with much information on the antioxidant function of vitamin E in biological systems.

Iron-catalyzed reaction products of alpha-tocopherol with 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (13S)-hydroperoxide

Alpha-tocopherol was reacted with 1-palmitoyl-2-[(9Z,11E)-(S)-13-hydroperoxy-9,11-octadecadienoyl]-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (13-PLPC-OOH) in the presence of a lipid-soluble iron chelate, Fe(III) acetylacetonate, in methanol at 37 degrees C. The reaction product was isolated and identified as a mixture of 1-palmitoyl-2-[(10E)-(12S,13S)-9-(8a-dioxy-alpha-tocopherone)-12,13-epoxy-10-octadecenoyl]-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine and 1-palmitoyl-2-[(9Z)-(12S,13S)-11-(8a-dioxy-alpha-tocopherone)-12,13-epoxy-9-octadecenoyl]-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (TOO-epoxyPLPC), in which the 12,13-epoxyperoxyl radicals derived from 13-PLPC-OOH attacked the 8a-position of the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical. The iron and ascorbate-catalyzed reaction of 13-PLPC-OOH with alpha-tocopherol in phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes was assessed by measuring the reaction products of alpha-tocopherol. When 13-PLPC-OOH and alpha-tocopherol were added in saturated dimyristoyl-PC liposomes, the products were TOO-epoxyPLPC, alpha-tocopherylquinone, and epoxy-alpha-tocopherylquinones. In 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-PC (PLPC) liposomes, alpha-tocopherol could react with both the 13-PLPC-OOH derived 12,13-epoxyperoxyl radicals and the PLPC-derived peroxyl radicals and formed the addition products together with alpha-tocopherylquinone and epoxy-alpha-tocopherylquinones. Therefore, the iron-catalyzed decomposition of phospholipid hydroperoxides primarily produces epoxyperoxyl radicals, which react with the 8a-carbon centered radical of alpha-tocopherol in liposomal systems.

On the antioxidant mechanism of curcumin: classical methods are needed to determine antioxidant mechanism and activity

[reaction: see structure] The antioxidant activity of curcumin (1, 7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) was determined by inhibition of controlled initiation of styrene oxidation. Synthetic nonphenolic curcuminoids exhibited no antioxidant activity; therefore, curcumin is a classical phenolic chain-breaking antioxidant, donating H atoms from the phenolic groups not the CH(2) group as has been suggested (Jovanovic et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 9677). The antioxidant activities of o-methoxyphenols are decreased in hydrogen bond accepting media.

Preparation and characterization of 8a-(phosphatidylcholine-dioxy)-alpha-tocopherones and their formation during the peroxidation of phosphatidylcholine in liposomes

alpha-Tocopherol was reacted with the phosphatidylcholines (PCs), 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-sn-PC (PLPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-linolenoyl-3-sn-PC, 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-3-sn-PC (PAPC) and 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-3-sn-PC, in the presence of the free radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), at 37 degrees C. The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with the PC peroxyl radicals were isolated and identified as 8a-(PC-dioxy)-alpha-tocopherones, in which the peroxyl radicals derived from each PC molecule attacked the 8a-position of the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical. The antioxidative efficiency of alpha-tocopherol against the peroxidation of PLPC and PAPC in liposomes was assessed by the formation of the reaction products of alpha-tocopherol. When alpha-tocopherol was oxidized in the presence of the water-soluble free radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, epoxy-alpha-tocopherylquinones were mainly produced together with 8a-(PC-dioxy)-alpha-tocopherones and alpha-tocopherylquinone. The yield of alpha-tocopherylquinone was increased by treating each sample with dilute acid which indicates the presence of tocopherone precursors other than the 8a-(PC-dioxy)-alpha-tocopherones. The same products were also detected from iron-dependent peroxidation, although the yields were very low.

Hydrogen peroxide production by red blood cells

Red blood cells are frequently employed in studies of oxidative stress. Technical difficulties have previously prevented the measurement of H2O2 production by red blood cells, except during exposure to certain drugs or toxicants. We now show that a combination of glutathione depletion and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (aminotriazole) treatment can be used to measure the endogenous generation of H2O2 by red blood cells. In our studies, aminotriazole was used as an H2O2 dependent (irreversible) catalase inhibitor, and catalase inhibition was used as an indirect measure of H2O2 production. Our results indicate that H2O2 is generated at a rate of 1.36 +/- 0.2 microM/h (3.9 +/- 0.6 nmol.h-1.g Hb-1), and that the steady-state red blood cell concentration of H2O2 is approximately 2 x 10(-10) M. Kinetic comparisons of H2O2 production and oxyhemoglobin autooxidation (which generates O2.- that dismutases to H2O2) indicate that the latter is probably the main source of H2O2 in red blood cells.

Action of ebselen as an antioxidant against lipid peroxidation

The action of ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzoisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) as an antioxidant was studied under various conditions to clarify how it prevents oxidative damage. It did not react with diphenylpicrylhydrazyl nor did it suppress the oxidation of methyl linoleate in acetonitrile solution or in aqueous dispersions induced by free radical initiator, suggesting that ebselen does not act as a potent radical scavenging antioxidant. On the other hand, it suppressed the oxidation of methyl linoleate emulsions in aqueous dispersions induced by iron. It also suppressed the spontaneous oxidation of rat brain and liver homogenates, but it did not suppress the oxidation of these homogenates induced by a free radical initiator. It was also found that ebselen reduced the fatty acid hydroperoxides to their corresponding alcohols and this reaction was enhanced by the presence of glutathione. These results suggest that ebselen acts as an antioxidant by reducing hydroperoxides, but that it does not act as a radical-scavenging antioxidant.

Detection of radicals produced by reaction of hydroperoxides with rat liver microsomal fractions

EPR spin trapping using the spin traps 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and 3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzene sulphonic acid (DBNBS) has been employed to examine the generation of radicals produced on reaction of a number of primary, secondary and lipid hydroperoxides with rat liver microsomal fractions in both the presence and absence of reducing equivalents. Two major mechanisms of radical generation have been elucidated. In the absence of NADPH or NADH, oxidative degradation of the hydroperoxide occurs to give initially a peroxyl radical which in the majority of cases can be detected as a spin adduct to DMPO; these radicals can undergo further reactions which result in the generation of alkoxyl and carbon-centered radicals. In the presence of NADPH (and to a lesser extent NADH) alkoxyl radicals are generated directly via reductive cleavage of the hydroperoxide. These alkoxyl radicals undergo further fragmentation and rearrangement reactions to give carbon-centered species which can be identified by trapping with DBNBS. The type of transformation that occurs is highly dependent on the structure of the alkoxyl radical with species arising from beta-scission, 1,2-hydrogen shifts and ring closure reactions being identified; these processes are in accord with previous chemical studies and are characteristic of alkoxyl radicals present in free solution. Studies using specific enzyme inhibitors and metal-ion chelators suggest that most of the radical generation occurs via a catalytic process involving haem proteins and in particular cytochrome P-450. An unusual species (an acyl radical) is observed with lipid hydroperoxides; this is believed to arise via a cage reaction after beta-scission of an initial alkoxyl radical.

Radiation inactivation of ion channels formed by gramicidin A. Protection by lipid double bonds and by alpha-tocopherol

The conductance induced by the channel-forming peptide gramicidin A in lipid membranes is reduced by many orders of magnitude on exposure of the membrane and its aqueous environment to ionizing radiation. This results from an interaction of free radicals of water radiolysis with the tryptophan residues of gramicidin A. The sensitivity of the ion channels towards irradiation is strongly reduced in the presence of either vitamin E or of highly unsaturated lipids. An increase of the D37 dose up to a factor of 50 was found. The phenomena are interpreted via a reduction of the effective concentration of free radicals (such as OH.) in the membrane by reaction with unsaturated fatty acid residues or with vitamin E.

Photodynamic lipid peroxidation in biological systems

Oxidative degradation of cell membrane lipids in the presence of molecular oxygen, a sensitizing agent and exciting light is termed photodynamic lipid peroxidation (photoperoxidation). Like other types of lipid peroxidation, photoperoxidation is detrimental to membrane structure and function, and could play a role in many of the toxic as well as therapeutic effects of photodynamic action. Recent advances in our understanding of photoperoxidation and its biomedical implications are reviewed in this article. Specific areas of interest include (a) reaction mechanisms; (b) methods of detection and quantitation; and (c) cellular defenses (enzymatic and non-enzymatic).

A method for the comparative assessment of antioxidants as peroxyl radical scavengers

Antioxidants which are peroxyl radical scavengers have been compared in a model of lipid peroxidation based on the oxidation of a suspension of linoleic acid initiated by a thermolabile azo compound. By analysing the effect of antioxidant concentration on linoleic acid peroxidation we have defined the constant kAH which characterises the rate of the reaction of the antioxidant with the peroxyl radical. This allows quantitative comparison of the efficiency of different antioxidants as peroxyl radical scavengers. By using an initiation system which is not iron dependent we were able to show that the iron chelators desferrioxamine, BW A4C and U74500A are also peroxyl radical scavengers.

Does oxygen free radical increased formation explain long term complications of diabetes mellitus?

Oxygen free radicals (OFR) can form by reaction of glycated proteins with molecular oxygen. We hypothesize that this mechanism operates in tissues of diabetic patients when their content of glycated proteins is significantly increased. OFR are harmful to polyunsaturated fatty acids of lipid membranes, proteins, sugars and DNA. The most significant complications of diabetes, for example polyneuritis, retinopathy, microangiopathy, perforating ulcers, impaired healing, may depend on the excessive production of OFR by glycated proteins. Clues to these effects may be deduced from the decrease of glutathione stores in red blood cells, and the increases of lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde formation, all of which have been documented to occur in the course of diabetes mellitus.

Hydrolysis of a fluorescent substance formed from an oxidized phospholipid and an amino compound by phospholipase A2

Phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide produced a fluorescent substance (FS-III) through reaction with 1-amino-pentane after preincubation with heme methyl ester as a model system. The FS-III was retained at the 2-position of the glycerol backbone of phosphatidylcholine without breakdown into low molecular weight compounds. Phosphatidylcholine oxidized by catalysis with ferrous ion and ascorbic acid also produced the same fluorescent substance (FS-III). Phospholipase A2 specifically hydrolyzed the FS-III attached to the phospholipid, making it possible to elute the same fluorescent substance (FS-II) as that obtained from oxidized methyl linoleate. The release of FS-II by hydrolysis of FS-III attached to phospholipid increased with greater phospholipase A2 activity. It is suggested that, with aging, the accumulation of fluorescent lipofuscin pigments in biomembranes may be related to changes in the peroxidized phospholipid content and that phospholipase A2 may play a role in decreasing the formation and accumulation of fluorescent phospholipids in biomembranes.

Preferential hydrolysis of peroxidized phospholipid by lysosomal phospholipase C

The susceptibility of partially peroxidized liposomes of 2-[1-14C] linoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine ([14C]PE) to hydrolysis by cellular phospholipases was examined. [14C]PE was peroxidized by exposure to air at 37 degrees C, resulting in the formation of more polar derivatives, as determined by thin-layer chromatographic analysis. Hydrolysis of these partially peroxidized liposomes by lysosomal phospholipase C associated with cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, and by rat liver lysosomal phospholipase C, was greater than hydrolysis of non-peroxidized liposomes. By contrast, hydrolysis of liposomes by purified human synovial fluid phospholipase A2 or bacterial phospholipase C was almost completely inhibited by partial peroxidation of PE. Lysosomal phospholipase C preferentially hydrolyzed the peroxidized component of the lipid substrate which had accumulated during autoxidation. The major product recovered under these conditions was 2-monoacylglycerol, indicating sequential degradation by phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase. Liposomes peroxidized at pH 7.0 were more susceptible to hydrolysis by lysosomal phospholipases C than were liposomes peroxidized at pH 5.0, in spite of greater production of polar lipid after peroxidation at pH 5.0. Sodium bisulfite, an antioxidant and an inhibitor of lysosomal phospholipases, prevented: (1) lipid autoxidation, (2) hydrolysis of both non-peroxidized and peroxidized liposomes by sarcoplasmic reticulum and (3) loss of lipid phosphorus from endogenous lipids when sarcoplasmic reticulum was incubated at pH 5.0. These studies show that lipid peroxidation may modulate the susceptibility of phospholipid to attack by specific phospholipases, and may therefore be an important determinant in membrane dysfunction during injury. Preservation of membrane structural and functional integrity by antioxidants may result from inhibition of lipid peroxidation, which in turn may modulate cellular phospholipase activity.

Fluorescence formation from hydroperoxide of phosphatidylcholine with amino compound

The hydroperoxides of methyl linoleate, 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine and trilinolein each produced similar fluorescent substances through reaction with amino compounds after decomposition by heme methyl ester. Fluorescent substances formed from methyl linoleate with 1-aminopentane revealed characteristic fluorescence peaks on HPLC, while those obtained from 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine and trilinolein were not eluted under the same conditions. However, when both of these fluorescent substances were transesterified to methyl ester, the same fluorescence peaks were observed. This result suggests that fluorescent substances formed from oxidized membrane lipids with amino compounds remain attached to phospholipids without being released from their glycerol backbone.

Antioxidants in relation to lipid peroxidation

The role of antioxidants in lipid peroxidation is reviewed. Specifically, the rate and mechanism of inhibition of lipid peroxidation by water-soluble and lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidants have been discussed.