Mechanism of reaction of selenium elimination in diacetophenonyl selenide under the action of reduced glutathione

Products of reaction between the organoselenium xenobiotic, diacetophenonyl selenide (1,5-diphenyl-3-selenapenta-1,5-dione), and reduced glutathione at different molar ratios and pH values were studied by HPLC and TLC. Reaction intermediates, S-(acetophenylselenyl)glutathione and glutathione selenodisulfide, and reaction products, acetophenone and hydroselenide anion, were detected. The reaction scheme proposed earlier was confirmed.     

Iron(0) nanoparticles mediated direct conversion of aryl/heteroaryl amines to chalcogenides via in situ diazotization

A simple procedure for the synthesis of organo-chalcogenides has been developed by the reaction of aryl/heteroaryl amines with di-aryl/heteroaryl dichalcogenides in the presence of ^tBuONO and Fe(0) nanoparticles. The reaction proceeds via in situ diazotization followed by chalcogenation. A series of functionalized diaryl/aryl heteroaryl/diheteroaryl/aryl-alkyl selenides, sulfides and tellurides have been obtained by this procedure. Significantly, using this procedure 2,4-dinitroaniline is converted to (2,4-dinitrophenyl)(phenyl)selane which is known as thioredoxin reductase (TR) and glutathione reductase (GR) inhibitor. The reaction goes by a radical pathway and a plausible mechanism has been suggested.     

(Z,Z)-Selanediylbis(2-propenamides): Novel Class of Organoselenium Compounds with High Glutathione Peroxidase-Like Activity. Regio- and Stereoselective Reaction of Sodium Selenide with 3-Trimethylsilyl-2-propynamides

The efficient regio- and stereoselective synthesis of (Z,Z)-3,3′-selanediylbis(2-propenamides) in 76–93% yields was developed based on the reaction of sodium selenide with 3-trimethylsilyl-2-propynamides. (Z,Z)-3,3′-Selanediylbis(2-propenamides) are a novel class of organoselenium compounds. To date, not a single representative of 3,3′-selanediylbis(2-propenamides) has been described in the literature. Studying glutathione peroxidase-like properties by a model reaction showed that the activity of the obtained products significantly varies depending on the organic moieties in the amide group. Divinyl selenide, which contains two lipophilic cyclohexyl substituents in the amide group, exhibits very high glutathione peroxidase-like activity and this compound is considerably superior to other products in this respect.     

Organotellurium-bridged cyclodextrin dimers as artificial glutathione peroxidase models

To elucidate the importance of the goodness of fit in complexes between substrates and glutathione peroxidise (GPX) mimics, we examined the decomposition of a variety of structurally distinct hydroperoxides at the expense of glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by 2,2′-ditellurobis(2-deoxy-γ-cyclodextrin) (2-Te-γ-CD), and by the corresponding derivatives of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and α-cyclodextrin. The good fit of the cumene group into the γ-CD binding cavity reflected the result of well-defined reaction geometry, leading to the most excellent peroxidase activity with high substrate specificity. Furthermore, the catalytic constant and the combination with the best binding also exhibited the highest regioselectivity in the substrate decomposition. Saturation kinetics were observed and the catalytic reaction agreed with a ping-pong mechanism, in analogy with natural GPX, and might exert its thiol peroxidase activity via tellurol, tellurenic acid, and tellurosulfide. The stoichiometry of the inclusion complex was determined to be of 2:1 host-to-guest. The value of stability constant K _c for (2-Te-γ-CD)₂/GSH at room temperature was calculated to be 3.815?×?10⁴?M^?2, which suggested that 2-Te-γ-CD had a moderate ability to bind GSH. Importantly, the proposed mode of the (2-TeCD)₂/GSH complex was the possible important noncovalent interactions between enzymes and substrates in influencing catalysis and binding.     

Analysis of reduced glutathione using a reaction with 2,4′-dichloro-1-(naphthyl-4-ethoxy)-s-triazine (EDTN)

A fluorescent adduct was formed between 2,4-dichloro-l-(naphthyl-4-ethoxy)-s-triazine (EDTN) and reduced glutathione in a reaction at 37 °C and pH 9.2. This reaction was used as the basis of an assay for reduced glutathione. The fluorescence was examined at an excitation wavelength of 319 nm and an emission wavelength of 425 nm after extraction of residual unreacted EDTN with methylene dichloride and subsequent dilution of the aqueous phase with ethanol containing 0.01 percent Triton X-100. The reaction rate was low at pH 7 but was accelerated by addition of preparations containing the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase. The adduct gave a discrete peak using isocratic elution with HPLC on a Nova-pak C₁₈ 3 m reverse phase column and a solvent system of methanol: 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 6.3 (4060). An analytical concentration range of 24 to 240 M reduced glutathione was obtained with an ultraviolet detection system but the concentration range was 7.5 to 75 M when a fluorescence detection system was used. Adducts of other mercapturic acid pathway thiol compounds were not formed at 37 °C under the conditions used and hence did not interfere in the assay. They were formed by heating EDTN and the respective thiol compound at 60 °C for 30 min and they clearly separated from the reduced glutathione compound on HPLC analysis. A strong reaction was observed with digitonin while solutions of tyrosine, at 10 mM concentration, also reacted but these reactants are unlikely to interfere with reduced glutathione analysis in biological systems. When adduct formation was used to estimate reduced glutathione concentrations in some mammalian and plant tissues the reaction using 2,4-dichloro-l-(naphthyl-4-ethoxy)-s-triazine and HPLC separation gave the same results as ano-phthaldialdehyde assay for liver and muscle but the HPLC method gave slightly lower values for other mammalian and plant tissues. The differences were attributed to other material in the tissue extracts which was fluorescing at the same wavelengths as the reduced glutathione adduct.     

Utility of solution electrochemistry mass spectrometry for investigating the formation and detection of biologically important conjugates of acetaminophen

On-line formation and detection of glutathione and cysteine conjugates of acetaminophen were accomplished by the interfacing of a coulometric electrochemical cell with a thermospray mass spectrometer in a flow-injection experiment using a liquid chromatographic pump. Formation of the conjugates occurred only after acetaminophen was oxidized electrochemically by a two-electron transfer to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine and reacted in a mixing tee with either glutathione or cysteine. The newly formed conjugate was detected by thermospray mass spectrometry by observing the [M + H]+ ion for the acetaminophen-glutathione conjugate at m/z 457, or the [M + H]+ ion for the acetaminophen cysteine conjugate at m/z 271. Both the glutathione and cysteine conjugates produced a common fragment ion at m/z 184. The on-line reaction of glutathione and electrochemically generated N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine was monitored at varying pH. At pH 8.5 the ion intensity for the acetaminophen-glutathione conjugate was greater than at lower pH, indicating that lower proton concentration enhanced the reaction of glutathione with N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine. This on-line electrochemical-thermospray mass spectrometric method demonstrated that acetaminophen conjugates may be formed and detected in the time frame of 1 s.     

Renewable sol-gel carbon ceramic electrodes modified with a Ru-complex for the amperometric detection of l-cysteine and glutathione

A renewable three-dimensional chemically modified carbon ceramic electrode containing Ru [(tpy)(bpy)Cl] PF₆ was constructed by sol-gel technique. It exhibits an excellent electro-catalytic activity for oxidation of l-cysteine and glutathione at pH range 2-8. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the chemically modified electrode. The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for l-cysteine and glutathione by hydrodynamic amperometry. Optimum pH value for detection is 2 for both l-cysteine and glutathione. The catalytic rate constants for l-cysteine and glutathione were determined, which were about 2.1×10³ and 2.5×10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. Under the optimized condition the calibration curves are linear in the concentration range 5-685 and 5-700 μM for l-cysteine and glutathione determination, respectively. The detection limit (S/N=3) and sensitivity is 1 μM, 5 nA/μM for l-cysteine and 1 μM, 7.8 nA/μM for glutathione. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the amperogram's currents with five injections of l-cysteine or glutathione at concentration range of linear calibration is <1.5%. The advantages of this amperometric detector are: high sensitivity, good catalytic effect, short response time (t<3 s), remarkable long-term stability, simplicity of preparation and reproducibility of surface fouling (RSD for six successive polishing is 3.31%). This sensor can be used as a chromatographic detector for analysis of l-cysteine and glutathione.     

Reaction of aziridinecar☐ylic acids with thiols in aqueous solution. the formation of β-amino acid

Enantiomers of 3-methyl-2-aziridinecar☐ylic acids (1-d and 1-l) and 2-aziridinecar☐ylic acids (2-d and 2-l) reacted easily with thiophenol, cysteine and glutathione in aqueous solution or in sodium phosphate buffer solution at room temperature and gave predominantly β-amino acid derivatives with sulfur substituents at their α-position.From 1-d and thiophenol, (2S, 3R)-3-amino-2-phenylthiobutanoic acid (3-d) was produced predominantly. In order to confirm the structure, 3-d was converted to (3S, 4R)-3-phenylthio-4-methylazetidin-2-one (5) using the Ohno reaction. The configurations of 3-d and 6 were determined by X-ray diffraction and ¹³C NMR spectrum analysis, respectively. We concluded that the ring-opening reaction of unactivated aziridinecar☐yhc acids with thiols in aqueous solution occurred predominantly on C-2 of the aziridine ring with inversion of the configuration at this position. The reaction offers a good route for stereoselective synthesis of peptides or β-lactam derivatives.     

Highly sensitive spectrofluorimetric assay of glutathione in vegetables

A highly sensitive and simple spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of reduced glutathione based on the fluorescence quenching effect of glutathione on the hemoglobin-catalyzed reaction of H₂O₂ with L-tyrosine was developed. The concentration of glutathione is linear with the fluorescence quenching (??F) of system under the optimal experimental conditions. The calibration graph is linear in the range 6.25 × 10^?9 to 3.75 × 10^?6 M with the detection limit of 2.23 × 10^?9 M. This method can be used for the determination of glutathione in vegetables with satisfactory results.     

Site-selective and covalent labelling of the cysteine-containing peptide glutathione with a ferrocenyl group

Site-specific labelling of the cysteine-containing peptide glutathione with a ferrocene group was achieved by reaction with ferrocenylmethanol in aqueous acidic medium. The resulting peptide was shown to be a potent competitive inhibitor of the biologically important enzyme glutathione-(S)-transferase. This approach may prove general for the labelling of proteins with ferrocene.     

One-step synthesis of N-acetylcysteine and glutathione derivatives using the Ugi reaction

Fully protected natural and unnatural N-acetylcysteine, dipeptide Cys-Gly, glutathione, and homoglutathione derivatives were synthesized by the Ugi four-component reaction using various benzylthio aldehydes and ketones as carbonyl building blocks. The scope and limitations of the method were investigated. Formation of imidazoline by-products in the Ugi reaction was discussed. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol was shown to be a superior reaction media than methanol in some reactions. Also, the 4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octyl derivative (OBO-ester) of isocyanoacetic acid was shown to be superior to use than ethyl isocyanoacetate as a peptide synthesis precursor in cases when higher reactivity of an isocyanide is required.     

冬凌草甲素和冬凌草乙素与谷胱苷肽的迈克尔加成反应

采用紫外光谱动力学方法测定了抗肿瘤对映贝壳杉烯二萜冬凌草甲素和冬凌草乙素与谷胱苷肽迈克尔加成反应的级数、速率常数和平衡常数.结果表明,冬凌草甲素和冬凌草乙素与与谷胱苷肽迈克尔加成反应符合二级动力学方程,25℃下的速率常数分别为16.196 0L·(mol·s)-1和7.480 5L·(mol·s)-1,平衡常数分别为177.98L/mol和85.60L/mol.冬凌草甲素与谷胱苷肽迈克尔加成反应速率和反应程度均比冬凌草乙素的大得多,反应活性更好.对映贝壳杉烯二萜通过与机体发生迈克尔加成反应而产生抗肿瘤作用;因此,冬凌草甲素可能比冬凌草乙素具有更好的抗肿瘤活性.     

Flow-injection determination of glutathione with amperometric monitoring of the enzymatic reaction

Glutathione sulfhydryl oxidase is immobilized on oxirane-acrylic beads (Eupegit-C) and packed in a small column. The simple system for glutathione comprises the immobilized enzyme column and a flow-through membrane-covered platinum/silver/silver chloride electrode pair for detection of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration graph for glutathione was linear from 0.05 to 1.0 mM for 200-μl samples. The assay took 3 min. The relative standard deviation for 0.5 mM glutathione was 2% (n=10).     

Glutathione oxidase-like activity of glass beads, silica gel and anion-exchange resin modified with cobalt(III)-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine

Silica gel and glass beads were modified by using acid chloride of metal–tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine (M–TCPP) through a peptide bond, and an anion-exchange resin with M–TCPP by ion-exchange reaction and physical adsorption. The carriers modified with Co³⁺–TCPP proved to accelerate the redox reaction which is catalyzed by glutathione oxidase (GSHOx), while those modified with Mn³⁺–TCPP exhibited no activity. Formation of GS-SG and hydrogen peroxide was confirmed by means of mass spectroscopy and colored reaction, respectively. The silica gel modified with Co³⁺–TCPP exhibited the strongest activity among the tested carriers, and was expected to be useful practically as a solid catalyst for the determination of glutathione.     

Development of a fluorescence-based microtiter plate method for the measurement of glutathione in yeast

The present work was aimed to the development of a fluorescence assay using the universal 96-well microplate format, for the measurement of reduced glutathione (GSH) in yeast cells. The method relies upon the reaction between GSH and a highly selective fluorogenic probe, i.e. naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA). The optimization of the method included the extraction step of GSH from cultured yeast cells in a cold perchloric acid solution, derivatization conditions (10-min reaction at pH 8.6 and at 20 ± 2 °C in darkness) and stability studies of the resulting fluorescent adduct. Full selectivity was observed versus other endogenous thiols (except for γ-glutamylcysteine), glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and enzymatic reducing reagents of GSSG. Linearity was verified in the range 0.3-6.5 μM (R² > 0.98) and limits of quantification and detection were 0.3 and 0.05 μM, respectively. Relative standard deviation corresponding to repeatability (n = 3) and inter-day precision (n = 5) were 2.8 and 6.1%, respectively. Mean GSH recovery from cell extracts was 95%. The method appeared highly correlated (R² = 0.96) with a previously reported HPLC method.The method was then applied to the monitoring of GSH in the yeast strain Kluyveromyces lactis during its growth period and in the presence of an inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis. The method presents the main advantage of a high throughput for the measurement of biological samples. The extent of the method to the study of the redox couple GSSG/GSH by including an enzymatic reduction step and the enhancement of the fluorescence signal using cyclodextrins were discussed.     

Enzymatic Production of Glutathione Coupling with an ATP Regeneration System Based on Polyphosphate Kinase

Glutathione (GSH) is an important reducing agent in the living cells. It is synthesized by a two-step reaction and requires two molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for one molecule GSH. The enzymatic cascade reaction in vitro is a promising approach to achieve a high titer and limit side reactions; although, a cost-effective phosphate donor for ATP regeneration is required. Triphosphate (PolyP₍₃₎), tetraphosphate (PolyP₍₄₎), and hexametaphosphate (PolyP₍₆₎) were investigated in this study. Triphosphate inhibited the bifunctional GSH synthetase (GshF) from Streptococcus agalactiae, while no significant inhibition was observed by adding hexametaphosphate. The polyphosphate kinase from Corynebacterium glutamicum was hence investigated to use hexametaphosphate for regeneration of ATP. Further, the orthogonal experiment, which includes seven factors (buffer concentration, pH value, ADP concentration, GshF dosage, polyphosphate kinase (PPK) dosage, reaction temperature, substrate ratio of amino acid, and reaction times), indicated that the capacity of buffer is the most significant factor of the reaction conditions for enzymatic production of glutathione coupling with a PPK-based ATP regeneration system. After optimizing the Mg²⁺ concentration, the reaction was scaled up to 250 mL in a stirred reactor with pH feedback control to stabilize the pH value of reaction system and nitrogen protection to avoid the oxidation of product. A yield of 12.32 g/L was achieved. This work provided a potential GshF-based enzymatic way coupling the PPK-based ATP regeneration to product GSH in the optimal conditions towards cost-effectiveness at the industrial scale.     

Specific thiol determination by micellar electrokinetic chromatography and on-column detection reaction with 2,2'-dipyridyldisulfide

A new method for specific determination of glutathione using micellar electrokinetic chromatography and on-column reaction with 2,2'-dipyridyldisulfide is described. 2,2'-Dipyridyldisulfide and a sample of glutathione are injected consecutively into the capillary as two discrete plugs separated with a short plug of background electrolyte. Due to the differences in the mobilities of the 2,2'-dipyridyldisulfide and glutathione, on-column mixing and reaction occur. Glutathione is in this reaction quantitatively transformed into a mixed disulfide concomitantly with formation of an equimolar amount of the 2-thiopyridone which is further separated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography and determined spectrophotometrically at 343 nm. The concentration of glutathione is thus estimated indirectly from the result of 2-thiopyridone determination.     

Electrochemical Determination of Glutathione

Procedures were developed for determining glutathione by voltammetry and coulometric titration with electrogenerated oxidants using the biamperometric indication of the titration end-point. Possible mechanisms of the glutathione reaction with electrogenerated halogens are discussed. Microgram amounts of glutathione can be determined in model solutions with an RSD of 1–2%. The oxidation wave of glutathione in the voltammogram is observed at 0.95 V. At higher glutathione concentrations, the wave takes the shape of a peak. Glutathione concentration in the range between 9.15 × 10^–5 and 2.14 × 10^–3 M is a linear function of its oxidation wave height at a stationary platinum electrode in a 0.05 M H₂SO₄ solution. The determination limit for glutathione is 1.9 × 10^–5 M. The procedures for determining glutathione in human blood were proposed.     

The Copper(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Glutathione

The kinetics and mechanisms of the copper(II)‐catalyzed GSH (glutathione) oxidation are examined in the light of its biological importance and in the use of blood and/or saliva samples for GSH monitoring. The rates of the free thiol consumption were measured spectrophotometrically by reaction with DTNB (5,5′‐dithiobis‐(2‐nitrobenzoic acid)), showing that GSH is not auto‐oxidized by oxygen in the absence of a catalyst. In the presence of Cu²⁺, reactions with two timescales were observed. The first step (short timescale) involves the fast formation of a copper–glutathione complex by the cysteine thiol. The second step (longer timescale) is the overall oxidation of GSH to GSSG (glutathione disulfide) catalyzed by copper(II). When the initial concentrations of GSH are at least threefold in excess of Cu²⁺, the rate law is deduced to be ?d[thiol]/dt=k[copper–glutathione complex][O₂]^0.5[H₂O₂]^?0.5. The 0.5^th reaction order with respect to O₂ reveals a pre‐equilibrium prior to the rate‐determining step of the GSSG formation. In contrast to [Cu²⁺] and [O₂], the rate of the reactions decreases with increasing concentrations of GSH. This inverse relationship is proposed to be a result of the competing formation of an inactive form of the copper–glutathione complex (binding to glutamic and/or glycine moieties).