Nitroxides scavenge myeloperoxidase-catalyzed thiyl radicals in model systems and in cells

Nitroxide radicals possess important antioxidant activity in live tissues because of their ability to scavenge reactive radicals. Despite the fact that, in cells, damaging free radicals are primarily quenched by glutathione (GSH) with subsequent formation of harmful glutathionyl radical (GS(*)), interactions of nitroxide radicals with GS(*) and thiols have not been studied in detail. In addition, intracellular metabolic pathways leading to the formation of secondary amines from nitroxides are unknown. Here we report that GS(*) radicals react efficiently and irreversibly with nitroxides to produce secondary amines. We developed a sensitive method for the detection of GS(*) based on their specific interaction with Ac-Tempo, a nonfluorescent conjugate of fluorogenic acridine with paramagnetic nitroxide Tempo, and used it to characterize interactions between nitroxide and thiyl radicals generated through phenoxyl radical recycling by peroxidase. During reaction of Ac-Tempo with GS(*), Tempo EPR signals decayed and acridine fluorescence concurrently increased. DMPO and PBN, spin traps for GS(*), inhibited this interaction. Using combined HPLC and mass spectrometry, we determined that 90% of the Ac-Tempo was converted into fluorescent acridine (Ac)-piperidine; GSH was primarily oxidized into sulfonic acid. In myeloperoxidase-rich HL-60 cells, Ac-piperidine fluorescence was observed upon stimulation of GS(*) generation by H(2)O(2) and phenol. Development of fluorescence was prevented by preincubation of cells with the thiol-blocking reagent N-ethylmaleimide as well as with peroxidase inhibitiors. Furthermore, Ac-Tempo preserved intracellular GSH and protected cells from phenol/GS(*) toxicity, suggesting a new mechanism for the free-radical scavenging activity of nitroxides in live cells.     

The vibrational group frequency of the N-O* stretching band of nitroxide stable free radicals

The group frequency of the N-O radical stretching vibration has received scant attention in the literature. The few existing treatments of the vibrational spectroscopy of nitroxides are incomplete at best and potentially misleading to workers in the field. To close this gap in the available knowledge, the existing literature on the vibrational spectra of nitroxide stable free radicals is critically reviewed with particular reference to the wavenumber position of the N-O stretching vibration, nu(N-O). Poor evidentiary bases for the assignment nu(N-O) were found in many instances. Ab initio Density Field Theory calculations using a model chemistry of UB3LYP at the 6-311++G(d,p) level were performed to obtain a theoretical band position of nu(N-O) for comparison with the published data. Large discrepancies between the theoretical and experimental values were found for the radical 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrrolin-1-yloxyl, which currently sets the lower limit of the accepted wavenumber range of nu(N-O), as well as for the nitronyl and iminyl nitroxides. The wavenumber position of nu(N-O) was found to occur in the range 1450-1420cm(-1) for 5-membered cyclic nitroxides and 1395-1340cm(-1) for 6-membered cyclic and acyclic nitroxides. In nitronyl nitroxides, the symmetric stretching vibration occurs in the region 1470cm(-1), but coupling to other modes makes specific band assignments problematic for the nitronyl nitroxide group.     

The influence of solid-state molecular organization on the reaction paths of thiyl radicals.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the effect of solid-state molecular organization on the reaction of thiyl radicals with thiols. In an irradiated C18H37SH/thiourea clathrate, the conversion of thiyl to perthiyl radicals is substantial, due to the head-to-head arrangement of the reactants within the channels and the suppression of other possible competing reactions due to hindrance by the clathrate walls. The perthiyl radical was identified using EPR analysis of its molecular dynamics within the clathrate channels. Irradiated polyethylene film containing 30% C18H37SH afforded a negligible conversion of thiyl to perthiyl radicals because of the random distribution of reactants. These results suggest that in the absence of favorable structure-control effects, the reaction between RS* and RSH is unimportant with respect to other competing reactions. Perthiyl radicals are also the major product in the vacuum solid-state radiolysis of lysozyme. A proposal of the mechanism involved in all cases is based on the equilibrium RS* + RSH <==> RSS*(H)R, followed by the irreversible conversion of the sulfuranyl radical to the perthiyl radical. As the equilibrium is strongly shifted to the left, the intermediate sulfuranyl radicals were not detected, but the lack of other competing reactions for the thiyl radicals caused the formation of perthiyl radicals to become the major path in the clathrate and in solid lysozyme radiolysis.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance and spin trapping investigations of the photoreactivity of human lens proteins

Oxidation of cysteine, glutathione and ascorbate by photoexcited proteins from normal and cataractous lenses was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance in combination with spin trapping. We report that illumination of these proteins in pH 7 buffer with light > 300 nm in the presence of thiols (RSH) and a spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), afforded DMPO/S-cysteine and DMPO/SG adducts, suggesting the formation of the corresponding thiyl radicals. In a nonbuffered aqueous solution, illumination of the proteins and glutathione also produced superoxide detected as a DMPO/O2H adduct. Irradiation of these proteins in the presence of ascorbate generated ascorbate radical. We conclude that chromophores present in the natural normal and cataractous lenses are capable of initiating photooxidative processes involving endogenous thiols and ascorbic acid. This observation may be pertinent to UV-induced development of cataract.     

Gas‐phase radical–radical recombination reactions of nitroxides with substituted phenyl radicals

Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry has been used to examine gas‐phase reactions of four different nitroxide free radicals with eight positively charged pyridyl and phenyl radicals (some containing a Cl, F, or CF₃ substituent). All the radicals reacted rapidly (near collision rate) with nitroxides by radical–radical recombination. However, some of the radicals were also able to abstract a hydrogen atom from the nitroxide. The results establish that the efficiency (k_reaction/k_collision) of hydrogen atom abstraction varies with the electrophilicity of the radical, and hence is attributable to polar effects (a lowering of the transition‐state energy by an increase in its polar character). The efficiency of the recombination reaction is not sensitive to substituents, presumably due to a very low reaction barrier. Even so, after radical–radical recombination has occurred, the nitroxide adduct was found to fragment in different ways depending on the structure of the radical. For example, a cationic fragment was eliminated from the adducts of the more electrophilic radicals via oxygen anion abstraction by the radical (i.e., the nitroxide adduct cleaves heterolytically), whereas adducts of the less electrophilic radicals predominantly fragmented via homolytic cleavage (oxygen atom abstraction). Therefore, differences in the product branching ratios were found to be attributable to polar factors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 216–229 2004     

Gas-Phase Reactivity of Peptide Thiyl (RS•), Perthiyl (RSS•), and Sulfinyl (RSO•) Radical Ions Formed from Atmospheric Pressure Ion/Radical Reactions

In this study, we demonstrated the formation of gas-phase peptide perthiyl (RSS?) and thiyl (RS?) radical ions besides sulfinyl radical (RSO?) ions from atmospheric pressure (AP) ion/radical reactions of peptides containing inter-chain disulfide bonds. The identity of perthiyl radical was verified from characteristic 65 Da (?SSH) loss in collision-induced dissociation (CID). This signature loss was further used to assess the purity of peptide perthiyl radical ions formed from AP ion/radical reactions. Ion/molecule reactions combined with CID were carried out to confirm the formation of thiyl radical. Transmission mode ion/molecule reactions in collision cell (q2) were developed as a fast means to estimate the population of peptide thiyl radical ions. The reactivity of peptide thiyl, perthiyl, and sulfinyl radical ions was evaluated based on ion/molecule reactions toward organic disulfides, allyl iodide, organic thiol, and oxygen, which followed in order of thiyl (RS?) > perthiyl (RSS?) > sulfinyl (RSO?). The gas-phase reactivity of these three types of sulfur-based radicals is consistent with literature reports from solution studies.      

One-electron oxidation of acetohydroxamic acid: the intermediacy of nitroxyl and peroxynitrite

The pharmacological effects of hydroxamate derivatives have been attributed not only to metal chelation or enzyme inhibition but also to their ability to serve as nitroxyl (HNO/NO(-)) and nitric oxide (NO) donors. However, the mechanism underlying the formation of these reactive nitrogen species is not clear and requires further elucidation. In the present study, one-electron oxidation of acetohydroxamic acid (aceto-HX) by (?)OH, (?)N(3), (?)NO(2), CO(3)(?-), and O(2)(?-) radicals was investigated using pulse radiolysis. It is demonstrated that only (?)OH, (?)N(3), and CO(3)(?-) radicals attack effectively and selectively the deprotonated form of the hydroxamate moiety, yielding the respective transient nitroxide radical. This nitroxide radical is a weak acid (CH(3)C(O)NHO(?), pK(a) = 9.1), which decays via a pH-dependent second-order reaction, 2k(2CH(3)C(O)NO(?-)) = (5.6 ± 0.4) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) (I = 0.002 M), 2k(CH(3)C(O)NO(?-) + CH(3)C(O)NHO(?)) = (8.3 ± 0.5) × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)), and 2k(2CH(3)C(O)NHO(?)) = (8.7 ± 1.3) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The second-order decomposition of the nitroxide yields transient species, one of which decomposes via a first-order reaction whose rate increases linearly upon increasing [CH(3)C(O)NHO(-)] or [OH(-)]. One-electron oxidation of aceto-HX under anoxia does not give rise to nitrite even after exposure to O(2), indicating that NO is not formed during the decomposition of the nitroxide radical. The presence of oxidants such as Tempol or O(2) during CH(3)C(O)NO(?-) decomposition had no effect on the reaction kinetics. Nevertheless, in the presence of Temopl, which does not react with NO but does with HNO, the formation of the hydroxylamine Tempol-H was observed. In the presence of O(2), about 60% of CH(3)C(O)NO(?-) yields ONOO(-), indicating that 30% NO(-) is formed in this system. It is concluded that under pulse radiolysis conditions, the transient nitroxide radicals derived from one-electron oxidation of aceto-HX decompose bimoleculary via a complex mechanism forming nitroxyl rather than NO.     

Kinetics of superoxide-initiated reaction of nitroxides with cysteine

Kinetics of the reduction of nitroxides with cysteine in the presence of a source of superoxide radicals was studied. The reactivity of nitroxides in this process is determined by the reduction potential of the N-oxoammonium cation / nitroxide pair. The rate-limiting step of the reaction is the nitroxide oxidation by the hydroperoxyl radical to the N-oxoammonium cation.

     

Evaluation of the “radical sink” hypothesis from a chemical-kinetic viewpoint

Radicals produced in cellular systems are frequently “repaired” by thiols, but the sulphur-centred (thiyl) radical resulting has to “sink” its unpaired electron in other reactions. It has been suggested that superoxide is the major radical sink, via thiyl conjugation with thiolate and electron transfer to oxygen. It is argued here, from chemical kinetic data largely obtained by pulse radiolysis methods, that ascorbate probably provides the major radical sink when radicals are produced in most mammalian tissues at typical physiological pH.     

Kinetics and mechanism of hydroxyl radical and OH-adduct radical reactions with nitroxides and with their hydroxylamines

Stable nitroxide radicals are potent antioxidants and are among the most effective non-thiol radioprotectants, although they react with hydroxyl radicals more slowly than typical phenolic antioxidants or thiols. Surprisingly, the reduced forms of cyclic nitroxides, cyclic hydroxylamines, are better reductants yet have no radioprotective activity. To clarify the reason for this difference, we studied the kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of nitroxides and their hydroxylamines with (*)OH radicals and with OH-adducts by using pulse radiolysis, fluorimetric determination of phenolic radiation products, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometric determination of nitroxide concentrations following radiolysis. Competition kinetics with phenylalanine as a reference compound in pulse radiolysis experiments yielded rate constants of (4.5 +/- 0.4) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) for the reaction of (*)OH radical with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TPO), 4-hydroxy-TPO (4-OH-TPO), and 4-oxo-TPO (4-O-TPO), (3.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) for deuterated 4-O-TPO, and (1.0 +/- 0.1) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) for the hydroxylamine 4-OH-TPO-H. The kinetic isotope effect suggests the occurrence of both (*)OH addition to the aminoxyl moiety of 4-O-TPO and H-atom abstraction from the 2- or 6-methyl groups or from the 3- and 5-methylene positions. This conclusion was further supported by final product analysis, which demonstrated that (*)OH partially oxidizes 4-O-TPO to the corresponding oxoammonium cation. The rate constants for the reactions of the nitroxides with the OH-adducts of phenylalanine and terephthalate have been determined to be near 4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), whereas the hydroxylamine reacted at least 50 times slower, if at all. These findings indicate that the reactivity toward (*)OH does not explain the differences between the radioprotective activities of nitroxides and hydroxylamines. Instead, the radioprotective activity of nitroxides, but not of hydroxylamines, can be partially attributed to their ability to detoxify OH-derived secondary radicals.     

Structure-activity relationship of cyclic nitroxides as SOD mimics and scavengers of nitrogen dioxide and carbonate radicals

Synthetic nitroxide antioxidants attenuate oxidative damage in various experimental models. Their protective effect reportedly depends on ring size and ring substituents and is greater for nitroxides having lower oxidation potential. The present study focuses on the kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of piperidine, pyrrolidine and oxazolidine nitroxides with HO2*/O2*-, *NO2 and CO3*- radicals, which are key intermediates in many inflammatory and degenerative diseases. It is demonstrated that nitroxides are the most efficient scavengers of *NO2 at physiological pH (k = (3-9) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) and among the most effective metal-independent scavengers of CO3*- radicals (k = (2 - 6) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)). Their reactivity toward HO2*, though not toward *NO2 and CO3*-, depends on the nature of the ring side-chain and particularly on the ring-size. All nitroxide derivatives react slowly with O2*- and are relatively inefficient SOD mimics at physiological pH. Even piperidine nitroxides, having the highest SOD-like activity, demonstrate a catalytic activity of about 1000-fold lower than that of native SOD at pH 7.4. The present results do not indicate any correlation between the kinetics of HO2*/O2*-, *NO2 and CO3*- removal by nitroxides and their protective activity against biological oxidative stress and emphasize the importance of target-oriented nitroxides, i.e., interaction between the biological target and specific nitroxides.     

Mechanisms of photochemical reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-benzoquinones with thiols

The mechanisms of quinone reduction by thiols containing α-hydrogen atoms were established using chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization effects. It was found that substituents in the quinone nucleus change the nature of the primary radical pair. In the photolysis of 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1), the radical pair consists of semiquinone and thioalkyl radicals, whereas in the case of 2,6-diphenyl-1,4-benzoquinone (2), the radical pair is composed of semiquinone and thiyl radicals. Quinone 2 is readily photolyzed with any thiol to give dibenzofuran derivative as the final products.     

Dichroisme circulaire de radicaux libres nitroxydes : Application de la regle des octants

Conditions for the application of an octant rule to the CD of optically active nitroxides free radicals are discussed. CD of seven various substituted exazinic nitroxides derived from (+)-pulegone, with known absolute configuration and of two other nitroxides derived from D- homo 17a-azasteroids have been measured. The oxazinic radicals have a locked conformation, and CD results are well interpreted using an octant rule similar to the one for the ketones. Application of this rule to the steroidal radicals with the nitroxide group in the D-ring does not lead to a non ambiguous determination of its conformation.     

Kinetics and mechanism of peroxyl radical reactions with nitroxides

Cyclic nitroxides (>NO*) are stable radicals of diverse size, charge, lipophilicility, and cell permeability, which provide protection against oxidative stress via various mechanisms including SOD-mimic activity, oxidation of reduced transition metals and detoxification of oxygen- and nitrogen-centered radicals. However, there is no agreement regarding the reaction of nitroxides with peroxyl radicals, and many controversies in the literature exist. The question of whether nitroxides can protect by scavenging peroxyl radicals is important because peroxyl radicals are formed in biological systems. To further elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying the antioxidative effects of nitroxides, we studied by pulse radiolysis the reaction kinetics of piperidine, pyrrolidine, and oxazolidine nitroxides with several alkyl peroxyl radicals. It is demonstrated that nitroxides mainly reduce alkyl peroxyl radicals forming the respective oxoammonium cations (>N+=O). The most efficient scavenger of peroxyl radicals is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TPO), which has the lowest oxidation potential among the nitroxides tested in the present study. The rate constants of peroxyl reduction are in the order CH2(OH)OO*>CH3OO*>t-BuOO*, which correlate with the oxidation potential of these peroxyl radicals. The rate constants for TPO vary between 2.8x10(7) and 1.0x10(8) M-1 s-1 and for 3-carbamoylproxyl (3-CP) between 8.1x10(5) and 9.0x10(6) M-1 s-1. The efficacy of protection of nitroxides against inactivation of glucose oxidase caused by peroxyl radicals was studied. The results demonstrate a clear correlation between the kinetic features of the nitroxides and their ability to inhibit biological damage inflicted by peroxyl radicals.     

A Study of the Nitroso Spin Adducts of the Pentacarbonyl Rhenium Radical

Nitrosobenzene (NB) and nitroso-tetr-butane (NtB) were used to trap the photogenerated rhenium pentacarbonyl radical. Self trapped radicals and spin adducts were studied in detail by EPR spectroscopy. In methylene chloride, both nitroxide and anilino spin adducts can be observed with NtB at ?30°. In contrast, only the nitroxide spin adduct of nitrosobenzene was observed in either hexane, or methylene chloride solution. This solvent controlled spin adduct chemistry, can be explained in terms of the solute-solvent interaction.     

Perylene-based profluorescent nitroxides for the rapid monitoring of polyester degradation upon weathering: An assessment

A profluorescent nitroxide possessing an isoindoline nitroxide moiety linked to a perylene fluorophore was developed to monitor radical mediated degradation of melamine-formaldehyde crosslinked polyester coil coatings in an industry standard accelerated weathering tester. Trapping of polyester-derived radicals (most likely C-radicals) that are generated during polymer degradation leads to fluorescent closed-shell alkoxy amines, which was used to obtain time-dependent degradation profiles to assess the relative stability of different polyesters towards weathering. The nitroxide probe couples excellent thermal stability and satisfactory photostability with high sensitivity and enables detection of free radical damage in polyesters under conditions that mimic exposure to the environment on a time scale of hours rather than months or years required by other testing methods. There are indications that the profluorescent nitroxide undergoes partial photo-degradation in the absence of polymer-derived radicals. Unexpectedly, it was also found that UV-induced fragmentation of the NO–C bond in closed-shell alkoxy amines leads to regeneration of the profluorescent nitroxide and the respective C-radical. The maximum fluorescence intensity that could be achieved with a given probe concentration is therefore not only determined by the amount of polyester radicals formed during accelerated weathering, but also by the light-driven side reactions of the profluorescent nitroxide and the corresponding alkoxy amine radical trapping products. Studies to determine the optimum probe concentration in the polymer matrix revealed that aggregation and re-absorption effects lowered the fluorescence intensity at higher concentrations of the profluorescent nitroxide, but too low probe concentrations, where these effects would be avoided, were not sufficient to trap the amount of polyester radicals formed upon weathering. The optimized experimental conditions were used to assess the impact of temperature and UV irradiance on polymer degradation during accelerated weathering.     

Determination of the rate constants of recombination of macroradicals and stable radicals via the competitive-inhibition method

The rate constants of recombination, k _X, of propagating radicals with nitroxides in pseudoliving radical polymerization are determined via the competitive-inhibition method with the use of ESR spectroscopy. This method is applicable to determination of k _X in the reactions of propagating radicals of styrene, acrylic acid, and methyl methacrylate with two stable radicals, the nitroxide diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl nitroxide and the phenoxide galvinoxyl. The values of k _X determined at 50°C increase in the following sequence: diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl nitroxide-TEMPO-galvinoxyl. The selectivity of the low-activity propagating radicals of styrene in reactions with stable radicals is shown.     

过氧亚硝酸诱导生成硫中心自由基的荧光表征

将4-羟基-2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶氮氧自由基用于标记9-羧基-吖啶,得到自旋标记荧光探针4-(9-吖啶酯)-2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶氮氧自由基. 以谷胱甘肽作为蛋白质肽模型,研究了活性氧过氧亚硝酸诱导其损伤产生的硫中心自由基的荧光表征. 自旋标记荧光探针为弱荧光物质,当与硫中心自由基作用后,导致其荧光增强,从而可对硫中心自由基进行表征.     

脂族酰基过氧化物分解动力学的研究X: 过氧化酰热分解反应的自旋捕获ESR研究

用亚硝基丁烷(TNB)、亚硝基苯和C-苯基-N-叔丁基硝酮作为自旋捕获剂来捕获和检出一些二酰基过氧化物类化合物分解时形成的短命烷基自由基. 报导了烷基自由基对自旋捕获剂加成的氮氧化物自由基的电子自旋共振谱, 并观察到2,4,4-三甲基戊基自由基中α-CH2的氢是非对映和非等价的. 据此, 认为与这一类自由基的加合物产生的电子自旋共振谱与其它类型自由基是不同的.     

Atmospheric chemistry of 4:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (n-C4F9CH2CH2OH): products and mechanism of Cl atom initiated oxidation in the presence of NOx

Smog chamber/FTIR techniques were used to study the Cl atom initiated oxidation of 4:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (C(4)F(9)CH(2)CH(2)OH, 4:2 FTOH) in the presence of NO(x) in 700 Torr of N(2)/O(2) diluent at 296 K. Chemical activation effects play an important role in the atmospheric chemistry of the peroxy, and possibly the alkoxy, radicals derived from 4:2 FTOH. Cl atoms react with C(4)F(9)CH(2)CH(2)OH to give C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(*)HOH radicals which add O(2) to give chemically activated alpha-hydroxyperoxy radicals, [C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(OO(*))HOH]*. In 700 Torr of N(2)/O(2) at 296 K, approximately 50% of the [C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(OO(*))HOH]* radicals decompose "promptly" to give HO(2) radicals and C(4)F(9)CH(2)CHO, the remaining [C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(OO(*))HOH]* radicals undergo collisional deactivation to give thermalized peroxy radicals, C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(OO(*))HOH. Decomposition to HO(2) and C(4)F(9)CH(2)CHO is the dominant atmospheric fate of the thermalized peroxy radicals. In the presence of excess NO, the thermalized peroxy radicals react to give C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(O(*))HOH radicals which then decompose at a rate >2.5 x 10(6) s(-1) to give HC(O)OH and the alkyl radical C(4)F(9)CH(2)(*). The primary products of 4:2 FTOH oxidation in the presence of excess NO(x) are C(4)F(9)CH(2)CHO, C(4)F(9)CHO, and HCOOH. Secondary products include C(4)F(9)CH(2)C(O)O(2)NO(2), C(4)F(9)C(O)O(2)NO(2), and COF(2). In contrast to experiments conducted in the absence of NO(x), there was no evidence (<2% yield) for the formation of the perfluorinated acid C(4)F(9)C(O)OH. The results are discussed with regard to the atmospheric chemistry of fluorotelomer alcohols.