Photochemical studies on xanthurenic acid

The tryptophan metabolite xanthurenic acid (Xan) has been isolated from aged human cataractous lenses. The photophysical properties of Xan were examined to determine if it is a potential chromophore for age-related cataractogenesis. We found that Xan produces singlet oxygen (psi delta = 0.17 in CD3OD) with the same efficiency as the lenticular chromophore N-formyl kynurenine and quenches singlet oxygen at a rate similar (2.1 x 10(7); CD3OD) to other tryptophan metabolites found in the eye. As the mechanisms of induction of cataracts may also involve redox reactions, the interactions of hydrated electrons (e(aq)-), the azide radical (N3*) and hydroxyl radical (OH*) with Xan were studied using the technique of pulse radiolysis. The reaction rate constants of e(aq)-, N3* and OH* with Xan were found to be of the same order of magnitude as other tryptophan metabolites. The rate constant for reaction of Xan with e(aq)- solvated electrons was found to be diffusion controlled (k = 1.43 x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1); the reaction with N3* was very fast (k = 4.0 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)); and with OH* was also near diffusion controlled (k = 1.0 x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1)). Superoxide O2*- production by irradiated Xan in methanol was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance and substantiated by determining that the enhanced rate of oxygen consumption of Xan irradiated in the presence of furfuryl alcohol was lowered by superoxide dismutase.     

PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF 2-MERCAPTOPYRIDINES. PART 3. EPR STUDY OF PHOTOPRODUCTION OF HYDROXYL RADICALS BY N-HYDROXYPYRIDINE-2-THIONE USING 5,5-DIMETHYL-1-PYRROLINE N-OXIDE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS*

Abstract— N-Hydroxypyridine-2-thione, 2-S-PyrNOH, a potent antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer agent, is photochemically active and upon UV irradiation generates free radicals. We have employed EPR and the spin-trap 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline TV-oxide (DMPO) to investigate the photochemistry in aqueous solutions of 2-S-PyrNOH (used here in the form of a sodium salt, 2-S-PyrNONa). We found that upon photoactivation 2-S-PyrNONa can follow two different pathways: it can produce hydroxyl radicals and/or it can act as a photoreducing agent. The capacity of 2-S-PyrNONa to produce “OH” radicals has been demonstrated by: (1) EPR detection of the DMPO/OH adduct in UV-irradiated samples; (2) inhibition of the DMPO/OH formation by OH scavengers such as methyl alcohol, formate and DMSO and (3) by detection of EPR signals of DMPO adducts with radicals derived from reaction of OH with these inhibitors. The photoreductive capacity of 2-S-PyrNONa was deduced from the observation that the amplitude of the EPR signal of the spin adduct DMPO/OH decreased on UV irradiation in air-free pH 7.0 buffers and that the signal recovered in the dark and after aeration. The ability to generate free radicals upon UV irradiation suggests that 2-S-PyrNONa can be regarded as a potential photocytotoxic agent. This feature may be relevant to the biological action of this compound. Our findings also emphasize that caution should be used when 2-S-PyrNOH is employed as a source of OH radicals in biological or chemical systems.     

Esters of 1-O-Demethylthiocolchicines: Formation of Isomers in Chloroform Solution

1-O-Acetyl-1-O-demethylcolchicine, and acylated 1-O,2-O-didemethylthiocolchicines, in contrast to 2-O-acetyl-, 2-O,3-O-diacetyl- and 3-O-acetyl analogs, showed after standing in CHCl₃ solution significant changes in optical rotation, a duplication of ¹H-NMR signals, and the formation of new isomers on TLC. Solid-state X-ray diffraction of O-acetylated colchinoids and thio analogs, showed out of planar arrangements of the aromatic substituents, but the analysis could not help to explain the structures of the newly formed isomers in CHCl₃ solution.     

Dihydrocercosporin singlet oxygen production and subcellular localization: a possible defense against cercosporin phototoxicity in Cercospora

Fungi in the genus Cercospora produce cercosporin, a potent singlet oxygen (1O2)-generating photosensitizer that plays a critical role in the ability of these fungi to parasitize plants. Although plants, mice, bacteria and many fungi are sensitive to cercosporin, Cercospora species are resistant to its toxicity. The cellular resistance of these fungi to cercosporin has been correlated with fungal cell surface reducing ability and the ability to maintain cercosporin in a chemically reduced state. As a model for reduced cercosporin we employed a reduced, acetylated derivative (hexaacetyl-dihydrocercosporin, HAC) that we tested for 1O2 production in a range of solvents. We found that as a 1O2 photosensitizer, HAC was only moderately effective in organic solvents (phi SO = 0.14-0.18) and very poor in water (phi SO = 0.02-0.04). By contrast, the 1O2 quantum yield of cercosporin itself was unaffected by solvent (phi SO = 0.84-0.97). To investigate the localization of reduced cercosporin in fungal cells, we developed a fluorescence assay using laser scanning confocal microscopy. This assay showed a uniform green fluorescence, indicative of reduced cercosporin, in the cytoplasm of hyphal cells treated with cercosporin. We hypothesize that the main protection mechanism against cercosporin phototoxicity in the fungus consists of transformation of cercosporin to a reduced state and localization of this reduced form in the aqueous compartment of the cell, thus decreasing intracellular 1O2 production to levels that can be tolerated by the fungus. In addition, we have, for the first time, directly detected 1O2 phosphorescence from fungal culture, either stained with the photosensitizer rose bengal or actively synthesizing cercosporin, demonstrating 1O2 production in vivo and from cercosporin in culture.     

Photooxidation of lens alpha-crystallin by hypericin (active ingredient in St. John's Wort)

Hypericin is the active ingredient in the over the counter antidepressant medication St. John's Wort. Hypericin produces singlet oxygen and other excited state intermediates that indicate it should be a very efficient phototoxic agent in the eye. Furthermore it absorbs in the UV and visible range, which means it can potentially damage both the lens and the retina. Lens alpha-crystallin, isolated from calf lenses, was irradiated in the presence of hypericin (5 x 10(-5) M, 10 mM ammonium bicarbonate, pH 7.0) and in the presence and absence of light (> 300 nm, 24 mW/cm2). Hypericin-induced photosensitized photopolymerization as assessed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Further analysis of the oxidative changes occurring in alpha-crystallin using mass spectrometry showed specific oxidation of methionine, tryptophan and histidine residues, which increased with irradiation time. Hypericin did not damage the lens protein in the dark. Damage to alpha-crystallin could undermine the integrity of the lens directly by protein denaturation and indirectly by disturbing chaperone function. Therefore, in the presence of light, hypericin can induce changes in lens protein that could lead to the formation of cataracts. Appropriate precautions should be taken to protect the eye from intense sunlight while on this antidepressant medication.     

THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF HUMAN RETINAL LIPOFUSCIN AS STUDIED BY EPR

Fluorescent material generated in the human retina accumulates within lipofuscin (HLF) granules of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) during aging. We have been investigating the possible light-induced contribution of these fluorophores to various diseases including age-related macular degeneration. Our studies have shown that some of the fluorescent components of HLF are products of the reaction of retinaldehyde with ethanolamine and that synthetic mixtures of this reaction can serve as a useful model for photophysical studies. Previous research by us has demonstrated that irradiation of either natural or synthetic lipofuscin resulted in the formation of a triplet state and possibly a free radical. Here EPR studies were performed to verify the formation of that radical. The UV irradiation of either synthetic or natural human retinal lipofuscin extracts in oxygen-free methanol led to the formation of a 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) spin-trapped carbon-centered radical resulting from either hydrogen atom or electron abstraction from solvent molecules. In the presence of oxygen superoxide was formed, which was observed as a DMPO adduct. It is concluded that certain components of the chloroform-soluble fluorophores of human RPE lipofuscin granules and the fluorescent reaction products of retinaldehyde and ethanolamine are photophysically similar but not the same. Electron or hydrogen abstraction from a substrate by these fluorophores in vivo and the resulting radical products may contribute to the age-related decline of RPE function and blue light damage in the retina.     

NEAR-INFRARED DETECTION OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN PRODUCED BY PHOTOSENSITIZATION WITH PROMAZINE and CHLORPROMAZINE

A sensitive near-infrared detection system has been used to study the steady-state emission of ¹O₂ at 1268 nra produced by promazine (PZ) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) during photo-illumination. Singlet molecular oxygen could be detected in a variety of ordinary and perdeuterated organic solvents, but was not detectable in water or deuterium oxide. The emission was enhanced in the perdeuterated organic solvents and could be eliminated by rigorous degassing or by addition of the singlet oxygen scavenger 2,3-dimethylfuran. Singlet oxygen could not be detected in any of the solvents during irradiation of the sulfoxides of PZ and CPZ. We conclude that in biological systems ¹O₂ production is not a major pathway to phototoxicity for the sulfoxides, while for the parent phenothiazines the formation of ¹O₂ is much more likely to be important in nonpolar environments such as cell membranes than in the aqueous parts of the cell.     

SPECTRAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CURCUMIN

Curcumin, bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-l,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, is a natural yellow-orange dye derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, an East Indian plant. In order to understand the photobiology of curcumin better we have studied the spectral and photochemical properties of both curcumin and 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-3-buten-2-one (hC, half curcumin) in different solvents. In toluene, the absorption spectrum of curcumin contains some structure, which disappears in more polar solvents, e.g. ethanol, acetonitrile. Curcumin fluorescence is a broad band in acetonitrile (λ_max= 524 nm), ethanol (λ_max= 549 nm) or micellar solution (λ_max= 557 nm) but has some structure in toluene (λ_max= 460, 488 nm). The fluorescence quantum yield of curcumin is low in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution (φ= 0.011) but higher in acetonitrile (φ= 0.104). Curcumin produced singlet oxygen upon irradiation (φ > 400 nm) in toluene or acetonitrile (Φ= 0.11 for 50 μM curcumin); in acetonitrile curcumin also quenched ¹O₂ (k_q, = 7 × 10⁶ M^?1 s^?1). Singlet oxygen production was about 10 times lower in alcohols and was hardly detectable when curcumin was solubilized in a D₂O micellar solution of Triton X-100. In SDS micelles containing curcumin no singlet oxygen phosphorescence could be observed. Curcumin photogenerates superoxide in toluene and ethanol, which was detected using the electron paramagnetic resonance/spin-trapping technique with 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline-.N-oxide as a trapping agent. Unidentified carbon-centered radicals were also detected. These findings indicate that the spectral and photochemical properties of curcumin are strongly influenced by solvent. In biological systems, singlet oxygen, superoxide and products of photodegradation may all participate in curcumin phototoxicity depending on the environment of the dye.     

SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CUTANEOUS PHOTOSENSITIZING AGENTS–XVI. ISPERSE BLUE 35

The photochemistry (Type I and II) of the phototoxic textile dye Disperse Blue (DB-35) and its purified components has been studied using electron spin resonance in conjunction with spin trapping technique and the direct detection of singlet oxygen (1O2) luminescence. The main components of DB-35 (which is synthesized by the successive nitration, reduction and methylation of 1,8-dihydroxy-anthraquinone) were separated by HPLC and identified by mass spectrometry and 2-D NMR as 4,5-diamino-1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (4,5-DDHAQ; 62% of total dye) and 2,7-diamino-1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (2,7-DDHAQ; 31% of total dye). Minor components included 2,5-diamino-1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (2,5-DDHAQ) and a monomethylated derivative of either 4,5-DDHAQ or 2,7-DDHAQ. Irradiation (624 nm) of 4,5-DDHAQ and 2,7-DDHAQ in dimethylsulfoxide resulted in the generation of superoxide which was trapped by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). Visible light irradiation of the components in ethanol generated 1O2 with the yields decreasing in the following order: 4,5-DDHAQ greater than 2,5-DDHAQ greater than 2,7-DDHAQ. These findings indicate that upon irradiation by visible light DB-35 can generate active oxygen species which may be responsible for the photocontact dermatitis caused by this dye.     

THE EFFECT OF PROTOPORPHYRIN ON HISTAMINE SECRETION BY RAT PERITONEAL MAST CELLS: A DUAL PHOTOTOXIC REACTION

Abstract— Protoporphyrin-induced phototoxicity in rat peritoneal mast cells was manifested either by inhibition of 48/80-stimulated histamine secretion or by cell lysis. At a protoporphyrin concentration of 100ng/m/ (0.17 μM), histamine secretion was completely inhibited after 30min illumination. After initiation, the inhibited state progressed in the dark, and was irreversible, however, it did not develop into cell lysis. More severe phototoxic reactions in mast cells could not be produced by increasing the PP concentration or the incubation time; however, cell lysis was evoked by increasing the light intensity between 180–950W/m², using a light source with emission maxima in the 350–470nm region. Dual phototoxic effects could also be demonstrated in erythrocytes by manipulating the illumination conditions. Increased resistance to osmotic lysis was seen under moderate conditions, and decreased resistance and cell lysis were seen under severe conditions. In the absence of protoporphyrin, the effect of light alone on mast cells was similar to protoporphyrin-phototoxicity, although the light intensities required were higher both for inhibition (60–130W/m²) and lysis (280–950W/m²). The data therefore indicate that certain cell functions can be specifically disrupted by phototoxic reactions that are not cytotoxic; however, phototoxic reactions that lead to severe membrane protein denaturation and cell lysis also occur. The manifestation of these dual effects depends on the intensity of illumination in the 350–470nm region.