Iron catalysis of lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis: Regulated enzymatic or random free radical reaction?

Duality of iron as an essential cofactor of many enzymatic metabolic processes and as a catalyst of poorly controlled redox-cycling reactions defines its possible biological beneficial and hazardous role in the body. In this review, we discuss these two "faces" of iron in a newly conceptualized program of regulated cell death, ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a genetically programmed iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by enhanced lipid peroxidation and insufficient capacity of thiol-dependent mechanisms (glutathione peroxidase 4, GPX4) to eliminate hydroperoxy-lipids. We present arguments favoring the enzymatic mechanisms of ferroptotically engaged non-heme iron of 15-lipoxygenases (15-LOX) in complexes with phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1 (PEBP1) as a catalyst of highly selective and specific oxidation reactions of arachidonoyl- (AA) and adrenoyl-phosphatidylethanolamines (PE). We discuss possible role of iron chaperons as control mechanisms for guided iron delivery directly to their "protein clients" thus limiting non-enzymatic redox-cycling reactions. We also consider opportunities of loosely-bound iron to contribute to the production of pro-ferroptotic lipid oxidation products. Finally, we propose a two-stage iron-dependent mechanism for iron in ferroptosis by combining its catalytic role in the 15-LOX-driven production of 15-hydroperoxy-AA-PE (HOO-AA-PE) as well as possible involvement of loosely-bound iron in oxidative cleavage of HOO-AA-PE to oxidatively truncated electrophiles capable of attacking nucleophilic targets in yet to be identified proteins leading to cell demise.

An ESR and HPLC-EC assay for the detection of alkyl radicals.

The correlation of lipid peroxidation with release of alkanes (RH) is considered a noninvasive method for the in vivo evaluation of oxidative stress. The formation of RH is believed to reflect a lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH)-dependent generation of alkoxyl radicals (LO*) that undergo beta-scission with release of alkyl radicals (R*). Alternatively, R* could be spin-trapped with a nitrone before the formation of RH and analyzed by ESR. Extracts from the liver and lung of CCl(4)- and asbestos-treated rats that were previously loaded with nitrones exhibited ESR spectra suggesting the formation of iso-propyl, n-butyl, ethyl, and pentyl radical-derived nitroxides. In biological systems, various nitroxides with indistinguishable ESR spectra could be formed. Hence, experiments with N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) for spin trapping of R* were carried out in which the nitroxides formed were separated and analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detection (EC). The C(1-5) homologous series of PBN nitroxides and hydroxylamines were synthesized, characterized by ESR, GC-MS, and HPLC-EC, and used as HPLC standards. For in vivo generation and spin trapping of R*, rats were loaded with CCl(4) and PBN. The HPLC-EC chromatograms of liver extracts from CCl(4)-treated rats demonstrated the formation of both the nitroxide and hydroxylamine forms of PBN/*CCl(3), as well as the formation of a series of unidentified PBN nitroxides and hydroxylamines. However, formation of PBN adducts with retention times similar to these of the PBN/C(2-5) derivatives was not observed. In conclusion, we could not correlate the production of PBN-detectable alkyl radicals with the reported CCl(4)-dependent production of C(1-5) alkanes. We speculate that the major reason for this is the low steady-state concentrations of R* produced because only a small fraction of LO* undergo beta-scission to release R*.

Preparation and properties of S-nitroso-L-cysteine ethyl ester, an intracellular nitrosating agent.

In this report, a protocol for the preparation of the hydrochloride of S-nitroso-L-cysteine ethyl ester (SNCEE.HCl; 2) is presented. The synthesis of 2 has been targeted because S-nitroso-L-cysteine (SNC; 2b), which is extensively used for trans-S-nitrosation of thiol-containing proteins, has a limited ability of crossing cellular membranes. The nitrosothiol 2 was prepared via direct S-nitrosation of the hydrochloride of L-cysteine ethyl ester (CEE.HCl; 1a) with ethyl nitrite. 2 is relatively stable in crystal form and when neutralized to SNCEE (2a) in aqueous solutions treated with chelators of metal ions. Traces of metal ions, however, triggered the decomposition of 2a to nitric oxide and a S-centered radical, which were detected by ESR spectrometry. In contrast to 2b, 2a is a lipophilic compound that was taken up by human neutrophils. The latter process was paralleled by inhibition of the NADPH oxidase-dependent generation of superoxide anion radicals, presumably via reaction(s) of intracellular trans-S-nitrosation. Intracellular accumulation of S-nitrosothiols was observed with 2a but not with 2b. It is expected that the use of 2a will be advantageous when intracellular reactions of trans-S-nitrosation are to be studied.

Activation of stress-activated protein kinase in osteoarthritic cartilage: evidence for nitric oxide dependence.

OBJECTIVE: We have demonstrated in bovine chondrocytes that nitric oxide (NO) mediates IL1 dependent apoptosis under conditions of oxidant stress. This process is accompanied by activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK; also called stress-activated protein kinase). In these studies we examined activation of JNK in explant cultures of human osteoarthritic cartilage obtained at joint replacement surgery and we characterized the role of peroxynitrite to act as an upstream trigger. DESIGN: A novel technique to isolate chondrocyte proteins (<10% of total cartilage protein) from cartilage specimens was developed. It was used to analyse JNK activation by a western blot technique. To examine the hypothesis that chondrocyte JNK activation is a result of increased peroxynitrite, in vitro experiments were performed in which cultured chondrocytes were incubated with this oxidant. RESULTS: Activated JNK was detected in the cytoplasm of osteoarthritis (OA) affected chondrocytes but not in that of controls. In vitro, chondrocytes produce NO and superoxide anion. IL-1 (48 h), which induces nitric oxide synthase, resulted in an activation of JNK; this effect was reversed by N-monomethylarginine (NMA). TNFalpha treated chondrocytes at 48 h produce superoxide anion (EPR method). Exposure of cells to peroxynitrite led to an accumulation of intracellular oxidants, in association with JNK activation and cell death by apoptosis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that JNK activation is among the IL-1 elicited responses that injure articular chondrocytes and this activation of JNK is dependent on intracellular oxidant formation (including NO peroxynitrite). In addition, the extraction technique here described is a novel method that permits the quantitation and study of proteins such as JNK involved in the signaling pathways of chondrocytes within osteoarthritic cartilage.

Interaction of 1-hydroxyethyl radical with antioxidant enzymes.

There is considerable interest in the role of the 1-hydroxyethyl radical (HER) in the toxic effects of ethanol. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of HER on classical antioxidant enzymes. The interaction of acetaldehyde with hydroxylamine-o-sulfonic acid has been shown to produce 1, 1'-dihydroxyazoethane (DHAE); this compound appears to be highly unstable, and its decomposition leads to the generation of HER. Addition of DHAE into a solution of PBN led to the appearance of the typical EPR spectra of PBN/HER adduct. No PBN/HER spin adduct was detected when DHAE was incubated with 0.1 M PBN in the presence of GSH. In the absence of PBN, DHAE oxidized ascorbic acid to semidehydroascorbyl radical, presumably via an ascorbate-dependent one-electron reduction of HER back to ethanol. Catalase was progressively inactivated by exposure to DHAE-generated HER in a time and HER concentration-dependent manner. Ascorbic acid and PBN gave full protection to catalase against HER-dependent inactivation. The antioxidants 2-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, propylgallate, and alpha-tocopherol-protected catalase against inactivation by 84, 88, and 39%, respectively. Other antioxidant enzymes were also sensitive to exposure to HER. Glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were inactivated by 46, 36, and 39%, respectively, by HER. The results reported here plus previous results showing HER interacts with GSH, ascorbate, and alpha-tocopherol suggest that prolonged generation of HER in cells from animals chronically exposed to ethanol may lower the antioxidant defense status, thereby contributing to mechanisms by which ethanol produces a state of oxidative stress and produces toxicity.

Metabolites of acetaminophen trigger Ca2+ release from liver microsomes.

Release of mitochondrial calcium is believed to play a key role in the toxicity of acetaminophen in biological systems. Elevated cytosolic Ca2+ may also result from activation of calcium releasing channels. The major metabolites of acetaminophen, benzoquinone imine and 1,4-benzoquinone, induced Ca2+ release in isolated rat liver microsomes. The 1,4-benzoquinone-induced release of calcium was suppressed by ryanodine and fully inhibited by reduced glutathione. Concentrations of 1,4-benzoquinone that induced Ca2+ release did not affect the activity of the microsomal Ca2+, Mg2+-APTase. The binding of [3H]ryanodine to liver microsomes, however, was significantly decreased by 1,4-benzoquinone, suggesting a direct interaction of this metabolite with the ryanodine-binding protein (ryanodine receptor). These results suggest that cellular Ca2+ levels may be elevated by acetaminophen by pathways involving, in part, activation of Ca2+ releasing channels such as the ryanodine receptor.

Redox-cycling of iron ions triggers calcium release from liver microsomes.

Elevation of cytosolic calcium levels has been shown to occur via oxidation of critical protein thiols in liver microsomes. Elevated cytosolic Ca2+ may also result from activation of calcium releasing channels. In the presence of NADPH or ascorbic acid, iron ions produced a concentration-dependent release of calcium from liver microsomes. Under anaerobic conditions, the iron-induced release of calcium was inhibited, suggesting that a reaction of oxidation triggers the releasing process. The calcium releasing process at pH 7.0 appears to be highly sensitive to activation by iron ions, as effective concentrations (e.g., 2-5 microM) did not alter the Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase or the phospholipid component of the microsomal membranes. Iron-induced Ca2+-release could occur under conditions in which there was no iron-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation. Under conditions of intense lipid peroxidation, PBN fully prevented the iron-induced accumulation of thiobarbituric reactive reagents without affecting the release of Ca2+, suggesting that lipid peroxidation is not the mechanism by which iron causes release of calcium. Trolox, GSH and high concentrations of ascorbate, however, strongly inhibited the iron-induced calcium release, most likely due to modulation of the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio. While the IP3 receptor system is considered to be the main regulator of calcium release, liver also contains a ryanodine-sensitive calcium releasing store. The iron-induced calcium release at pH 7.0 was blocked by ruthenium red, a specific inhibitor of the ryanodine receptor, and Fe2+ (but not Fe3+) decreased the binding of ryanodine, a specific ligand for the ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel. These results suggest that redox-cycling of iron ions results in an activation of a ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel. Activation of calcium releasing channels by iron may play a role in the evolution of various hepatic disorders that are associated with chronic iron overload in humans.

Interaction of 1-hydroxyethyl radical with glutathione, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol.

Ethanol has been shown to be oxidized to a free radical metabolite, the 1-hydroxyethyl radical (HER). Interaction of HER with cellular antioxidants may contribute to the known ability of ethanol administration to lower levels of GSH and alpha-tocopherol. Experiments were carried out to establish a model system for the generation of HER and to study its interaction with GSH, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol. A standard reaction for formation of azo-compounds using acetaldehyde and hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid was applied for the synthesis of 1,1'-dihydroxyazoethane (CH3CH(OH)-N=N-CH(OH)CH3). Although stable at -70 degrees C, thermal decomposition of this compound at room temperature was shown to produce HER, detected by EPR spectrometry as the PBN/HER or DMPO/HER spin adducts, and validated by computer simulation. GSH, present at the beginning of the experiment, inhibited formation of the PBN/HER signal. However, GSH did not cause any decay of pre-formed PBN/HER spin adduct. GSH was consumed in the presence of the HER-generating system in a reaction largely reversed by addition of NADPH plus glutathione reductase. Ascorbate also inhibited formation of the PBN/HER spin adduct and rapidly reduced the pre-formed adduct. HER amplified the oxidation of ascorbate, which was associated with the formation of the semidehydroascorbyl radical. Alpha-tocopherol was also consumed in the presence of HER. Production of HER in intact HepG2 cells by the redox cycling of 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was associated with consumption of GSH. These data demonstrate the use of a simple chemical system for the controlled, continuous formation of HER and indicate that cellular antioxidants such as GSH, ascorbate, and alpha-tocopherol, interact with HER. The ability of agents such as ascorbate to reduce the PBN/HER spin adduct to EPR-silent product(s) may mask the quantitative detection of HER in biological systems.

Nitric oxide activates skeletal and cardiac ryanodine receptors.

The endothelial-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide (NO.) has been shown to depress force in smooth and cardiac muscles through the activation of guanylyl cyclase and an increase in cGMP. In fast skeletal muscle, NO (i.e. NO-related compounds) elicits a modest decrease in developed force, but in contracting muscles NO increases force by a mechanism independent of cGMP. We now demonstrate an alternative mechanism whereby NO triggers Ca2+ release from skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). NO delivered in the form of NO gas, NONOates (a class of sulfur-free compounds capable of releasing NO), or S-nitrosothiols (R-SNO) oxidized or transnitrosylated regulatory thiols on the release channel (or ryanodine receptor, RyR), resulting in channel opening and Ca2+ release from skeletal and cardiac SR. The process was reversed by sulfhydryl reducing agents which promoted channel closure and Ca2+ reuptake by ATP-driven Ca2+ pumps. NO did not directly alter Ca(2+)-ATPase activity but increased the open probability of RyRs reconstituted in planar bilayers and inhibited [3H]-ryanodine binding to RyRs. The formation of peroxynitrite or thiyl radicals did not account for the reversible R-SNO-dependent activation of RyRs. Ca2+ release induced by nitric oxide free radicals (NO.) was potentiated by cysteine providing compelling evidence that NO. in the presence of O2 formed nitrosylated cysteine followed by the transnitrosation of regulatory thiols on the RyR to activate the channel. These findings demonstrate direct interactions of NO derivatives with RyRs and a new fundamental mechanism to regulate force in striated muscle.

Thiol oxidation and cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of CCl4 triggers Ca2+ release from liver microsomes.

Elevation of cytosolic calcium levels has been shown to occur after exposure to hepatotoxins such as CCl4. This has been associated with inhibition of the Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase which pumps calcium into the endoplasmic reticulum. Elevated cytosolic Ca2+ may also result from activation of calcium releasing channels. In the presence of NADPH, CCl4 produced a concentration-dependent release of calcium from liver microsomes after a lag period. The lag period was shorter with microsomes from pyrazole-treated rats in which CYP2E1 is induced, as compared to saline microsomes. The calcium releasing process appears to be very sensitive to activation by CCl4 as effective concentrations (e.g., 50 microM) did not affect the Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase or produce lipid peroxidation. Inhibition of the CCl4-induced release of calcium by 4-methylpyrazole and by anti-CYP2E1 IgG, and the requirement for NADPH, indicates that CCl4 metabolism is required for the activation of calcium release. The lag period for CCl4-induced release of calcium was associated with the time required to deplete alpha-tocopherol from the microsomal membranes; however, lipid peroxidation was not observed at these levels of CCl4, and the lag period for CCl4-induced release of calcium was shorter under anaerobic than aerobic conditions, suggesting a possible role for CCl3 in the mechanism of activation. Production of CCl3 was observed by ESR spin-trapping experiments with PBN; PBN prevented the CCl4-induced calcium release, presumably by interacting with CCl3 and other reactive species. Calcium release was produced by thiol oxidants such as 2,2'-dithiodipyridine. Lipophilic thiols such as mercaptoethanol or cysteamine could partially reverse the CCl4-induced calcium release, whereas GSH was ineffective. While the IP3 receptor system is considered as the main regulator of calcium release, liver also contains ryanodine-sensitive calcium releasing stores. The CCl4-induced calcium release was blocked by ruthenium red, a specific inhibitor of the ryanodine receptor; ruthenium red did not block CCl4 metabolism to CCl3. CCl4 increased the binding of ryanodine, a specific ligand for the ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel. These results suggest that metabolism of CCl4 to reactive species by cytochrome P450 results in an activation of a ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel, perhaps due to oxidation of lipophilic thiols of the channel. Activation of calcium releasing channels may play a role in the elevated cytosolic calcium levels found in the liver after treatment with hepatotoxins.

Antioxidant paradoxes of phenolic compounds: peroxyl radical scavenger and lipid antioxidant, etoposide (VP-16), inhibits sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase via thiol oxidation by its phenoxyl radical.

The effectiveness of a phenolic antioxidant as a radical scavenger is determined by its reactivity toward peroxyl radicals and also by the reactivity of the anti-oxidant phenoxyl radical toward oxidation substrate. If the phenoxyl radical efficiently interacts with vitally important biomolecules, this interaction may result in oxidative damage rather than antioxidant protection. In the present work, we studied effects of phenoxyl radicals generated from a phenolic antitumor drug, Etoposide (VP-16), on oxidation of thiols and activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes from skeletal muscles. We found that VP-16 is an effective scavenger of peroxyl radicals as judged by its ability to inhibit a water-soluble azo-initiator, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced (i) chemiluminescence (oxidation) of luminol, (ii) fluorescence decay (oxidation) of cis-parinaric acid incorporated in SR membranes, and (iii) peroxidation of SR membrane lipids. VP-16 did not prevent AAPH-induced oxidation of sulfhydryl groups and inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase in SR membranes. Electron spin resonance measurements showed that AAPH-induced VP-16 phenoxyl radicals were reduced by interaction with SR thiols. By using tyrosinase to generate VP-16 phenoxyl radicals as the only source of free radicals in the model system, we found that inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase was accompanied by oxidation of about 5 mol of Ca(2+)-ATPase SH groups per 1 mol of oxidized VP-16. Secondary products of VP-16 oxidation (including VP-16 o-quinone) were not efficient in inhibiting SR Ca(2+)-ATPase. Reduction of VP-16 phenoxyl radicals by ascorbate protected against AAPH- and tyrosinase-induced thiol oxidation and Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibition. The results suggest that efficient phenolic scavengers of peroxyl radicals such as VP-16--which are commonly considered as potent antioxidants--may themselves produce oxidative stress due to secondary reactions of their phenoxyl radicals with thiols.

Reduction of phenoxyl radicals by thioredoxin results in selective oxidation of its SH-groups to disulfides. An antioxidant function of thioredoxin.

Thioredoxin is an important cellular redox buffer. In this report, we describe the reaction of thioredoxin with phenoxyl radicals. The vicinal sulfhydryls of the bis(cysteinyl) active site sequence reduced phenoxyl radicals released in horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of phenol. Redox cycling of phenol was accompanied by selective oxidation of thioredoxin sulfhydryls to disulfides. HPLC/UV-vis measurements showed that the SH:phenol oxidation ratio was 15:1 under the conditions used. At the end of the reaction, oxidized thioredoxin was quantitatively recovered in the reduced form with dithiothreitol. Oxidation of sulfhydryls to sulfoxy derivatives, oxidation of other amino acid residues, and formation of covalent adducts with phenolic metabolites (quinones) were not detected by LC-MS. While the thiyl radical of glutathione was readily detected with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide, no ESR-detectable DMPO-thiyl adducts formed during the oxidation of thioredoxin. Similarly, oxidation of vicinal sulfhydryls of dihydrolipoic acid did not produce DMPO-thiyl spin adducts, indicating that fast intramolecular cyclization to disulfide occurred with thioredoxin. Measurements of the superoxide dismutase-sensitive chemiluminescence response of lucigenin demonstrated that thioredoxin oxidation was accompanied by release of superoxide, most likely via disulfide radical anion-mediated one-electron reduction of oxygen. We propose that formation of disulfides is characteristic of the phenoxyl radical-catalyzed oxidation of vicinal sulfhydryls in both small thiols and disulfide-forming oxidoreductases. Reversibility of the phenoxyl radical-catalyzed modification of thioredoxin may be responsible for its function as an efficient cytosolic antioxidant.

Phenoxyl radical-induced thiol-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species: implications for benzene toxicity.

Mechanisms of phenoxyl radical-induced generation of oxygen radicals potentially involved in toxicity of benzene were studied. We hypothesized that phenoxyl radical intermediates formed from phenolic metabolites of benzene by oxidative enzymes (e.g., peroxidases, tyrosinase) are able to damage biomolecules via (i) oxidation of low-molecular-weight thiols and protein thiols and (ii) thiol-dependent generation of oxygen radicals and subsequent oxidation of DNA. Phenoxyl radicals were generated by the oxidation of phenol by myeloperoxidase+H2O2, horseradish peroxidase+H2O2, or tyrosinase. The reaction of phenolphenoxyl radicals with GSH and dihydrolipoic acid was studied. Our HPLC measurements showed that both thiols reduced the phenoxyl radical back to phenol. This reaction was accompanied by the formation of thiyl radicals (detected by ESR as 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide/glutathione thiyl radical spin adducts) and of superoxide radicals (measured by their chemiluminescence response in the presence of lucigenin). Hydroxylation of 2'-deoxyguanosine to 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine was demonstrated in the course of the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of phenol in the presence of dihydrolipoic acid and Fe(III)-EDTA. Redox-cycling of phenoxyl radicals by thiols produces oxygen radicals which can be responsible for the oxidative damage of DNA by radical intermediates of benzene metabolism.

Endogenous ascorbate regenerates vitamin E in the retina directly and in combination with exogenous dihydrolipoic acid.

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is the major lipid-soluble antioxidant of retinal membranes whose deficiency causes retinal degeneration. Its antioxidant function is realized via scavenging peroxyl radicals as a result of which phenoxyl radicals of alpha-tocopherol are formed. Our hypothesis is that alpha-tocopherol phenoxyl radicals can be reduced by endogenous reductants in the retina, providing for alpha-tocopherol recycling. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that: (i) endogenous ascorbate (vitamin C) in retinal homogenates and in rod outer segments is able to protect endogenous alpha-tocopherol against oxidation induced by UV-irradiation by reducing the phenoxyl radical of alpha-tocopherol, (ii) in the absence of ascorbate, neither endogenous nor exogenously added glutathione (GSH) is efficient in protecting alpha-tocopherol against oxidation; (iii) GSH does not substantially enhance the protective effect of ascorbate against alpha-tocopherol oxidation; (iv) exogenous dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), although inefficient in direct reduction of the alpha-tocopherol phenoxyl radical, is able to enhance the protective effect of ascorbate by regenerating it from dehydroascorbate. Thus, regeneration of alpha-tocopherol from its phenoxyl radical can enhance its antioxidant effectiveness in the retina. The recycling of alpha-tocopherol opens new avenues for pharmacological approaches to enhance antioxidants of the retina.

Ascorbate is the primary reductant of the phenoxyl radical of etoposide in the presence of thiols both in cell homogenates and in model systems.

Phenoxyl radicals are intermediates in the oxidation of phenolic compounds to quinoid derivatives (quinones, quinone methides), which are known to act as ultimate mutagenic, carcinogenic, and cytotoxic agents by directly interacting with macromolecular targets or by generating toxic reactive oxygen species. One-electron reduction of phenoxyl radicals may reverse oxidative activation of phenolic compounds to quinoids, thus preventing their cytotoxic effects. In the present work, we studied interactions of ascorbate, thiols (glutathione, dihydrolipoic acid, and metallothioneins), and combinations thereof with the phenoxyl radical generated by tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of VP-16 [etoposide, 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-9-(4,6-O-ethylidene-beta-D-glucop yra noside)], a hindered phenol widely used as an antitumor drug. We found by liquid chromatography-ionspray mass spectrometry and electron spin resonance (ESR) that tyrosinase caused oxidation of VP-16 to its o-quinone and aromatized derivative via intermediate formation of the phenoxyl radical. Both ascorbate and thiols (GSH, dihydrolipoic acid, and metallothioneins) were able to directly reduce the VP-16 phenoxyl radical and prevent its oxidation. The characteristic ESR signal of the VP-16 phenoxyl radical was quenched by the reductants. The semidehydroascorbyl radical ESR signal was detected in the presence of ascorbate; thiols did not produce signals in the ESR spectra. In combinations, ascorbate plus GSH and ascorbate plus metallothionein acted independently and additively in reducing the VP-16 phenoxyl radical. Ascorbate was more reactive: the VP-16-dependent oxidation of GSH or metallothionein commenced only after complete oxidation of ascorbate. The semidehydroascorbyl radical ESR signal preceded the quenching of the VP-16 phenoxyl radical by GSH and metallothionein. In the presence of ascorbate plus dihydrolipoic acid, ascorbate was also more reactive toward the VP-16 phenoxyl radical than dihydrolipoic acid, but the ascorbate concentration was maintained at the expense of its regeneration from dehydroascorbate by dihydrolipoic acid. In ESR spectra, the semidehydroascorbyl radical ESR signal was continuously detected and then was abruptly substituted by the VP-16 phenoxyl radical signal. When VP-16 and tyrosinase were incubated in the presence of retina or hepatocyte homogenates, a two-phase lag period was observed by ESR for the appearance of the VP-16 radical signal: an ascorbate-dependent part (semidehydroascorbyl radical observable, sensitive to ascorbate oxidase) and thiol-dependent part (no radical signals in the spectra, sensitive to mersalyl acid). About 50% of the thiol-dependent part of the lag period could be accounted for by endogenous GSH (as revealed by treatment with GSH peroxidase+cumene hydroperoxide).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Ascorbate/iron activates Ca(2+)-release channels of skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles reconstituted in lipid bilayers.

Ca(2+)-release channel or ryanodine receptor is known to be involved in physiologic Ca(2+)-release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal and cardiac muscle. A variety of chemical oxidants and in particular SH-oxidizing reagents have been shown to activate Ca2+ release. However, the role of the oxidative modification of the channel in the physiologic mechanism(s) of Ca2+ release and in pathologic states of the muscle remains to be elucidated. Ascorbate/iron redox couple is known to be an efficient generator of oxygen radicals and semidehydroascorbyl radicals. Ascorbate/iron was shown to be released from cardiomyocytes during ischemia-reperfusion and was suggested to be involved in the ischemia-reperfusion injury and cardiomyocyte death. To understand the potential contribution of ascorbate/iron to Ca2+ release mechanism(s), calcium release channels from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were reconstituted in artificial planar bilayers to examine the effects of this redox couple on the channel activity. Ascorbate elicited a transient (about 2 min) but dramatic increase of open-time probability of the channel. At pCa = 7.0, the presence of EGTA blocked ascorbate induced activation of release channels. However, when exogenous iron was added, ascorbate activated Ca2+ release channels, even in the presence of EGTA. ESR measurements demonstrated that semidehydroascorbyl radicals were generated from ascorbate in the absence of EGTA. The semidehydroascorbyl radical ESR signal was quenched by EGTA in the absence (but not in the presence) of exogenous iron. Thus, the production of ascorbyl radicals was associated with increased channel activity. In the presence of heparin, ascorbate plus iron elicited a long-lasting activation of the channel which had conductance gCa2+ = 100 pS characteristic for the ryanodine receptor and which could be blocked by the ryanodine channel inhibitor, ruthenium red. In conclusion the physiologically relevant redox couple--ascorbate/iron--at physiologic concentrations can activate Ca2+ channels in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.

Activation of the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) by heparin and other polyanions is calcium dependent.

Heparin has been used as a potent competitive inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-binding to IP3 receptors and to block IP3-gated calcium channels in bilayer experiments. In contrast to the effect on the IP3-gated channel, heparin (0.1-1 micrograms/ml) opened the Ca release channel (ryanodine receptor). Other polyanions such as pentosan polysulfate and polyvinyl sulfate also activated the Ca release channel. The effect of polyanions on the Ca release channel was Ca dependent. Polyanion addition activated the Ca release channel when free Ca was > 80 nM, but was ineffective when free Ca was < 20 nM. The level of channel activation could be altered by manipulating the free Ca concentration. These results suggest that the polyanions act by increasing the local concentration of Ca near regulatory sites on the channel complex. As most cells have both types of intracellular channels, the opposite effects of the polyanions on the two channel types suggests that addition of polyanions to intact cells may produce multiple effects.

Tyrosinase-induced phenoxyl radicals of etoposide (VP-16): interaction with reductants in model systems, K562 leukemic cell and nuclear homogenates.

Etoposide (VP-16) is an antitumor drug currently in use for the treatment of a number of human cancers. Mechanisms of VP-16 cytotoxicity involve DNA breakage secondary to inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II and/or direct drug-induced DNA strand cleavage. The VP-16 molecule contains a hindered phenolic group which is crucial for its antitumor activity because its oxidation yields reactive metabolites (quinones) capable of irreversible binding to macromolecular targets. VP-16 phenoxyl radical is an essential intermediate in VP-16 oxidative activation and can be either converted to oxidation products or reduced by intracellular reductants to its initial phenolic form. In the present paper we demonstrate that the tyrosinase-induced VP-16 phenoxyl radical could be reduced by ascorbate, glutathione (GSH) and dihydrolipoic acid. These reductants caused a transient disappearance of a characteristic VP-16 phenoxyl radical ESR signal which reappeared after depletion of the reductant. The reductants completely prevented VP-16 oxidation by tyrosinase during the lag-period as measured by high performance liquid chromatography; after the lag-period VP-16 oxidation proceeded with the rate observed in the absence of reductants. In homogenates of human K562 leukemic cells, the tyrosinase-induced VP-16 phenoxyl radical ESR signal could be observed only after a lag-period whose duration was dependent on cell concentration; VP-16 oxidation proceeded in cell homogenates after this lag-period. In homogenates of isolated nuclei, the VP-16 phenoxyl radical and VP-16 oxidation were also detected after a lag-period, which was significantly shorter than that observed for an equivalent amount of cells. In both cell homogenates and in nuclear homogenates, the duration of the lag period could be increased by exogenously added reductants. The duration of the lag-period for the appearance of the VP-16 phenoxyl radical signal in the ESR spectrum can be used as a convenient measure of cellular reductive capacity. Interaction of the VP-16 phenoxyl radical with intracellular reductants may be critical for its metabolic activation and cytotoxic effects.

Iron binding to alpha-tocopherol-containing phospholipid liposomes.

Tocopherols (vitamin E) located in the hydrophobic domains of biological membranes act as chain breaking antioxidants preventing the propagation of free radical reactions of lipid peroxidation. The naturally occurring form, d-alpha tocopherol is an exquisite molecule in that it is intercalated in the membrane in such a way that the hydrophobic tail anchors the molecule positioning the chromanol ring containing the hydroxyl group, which is the essence of its antioxidant function, at the polar hydrocarbon interface of phospholipid membranes. The interaction of this group with water soluble substances is not very well understood. In the present study, an investigation was made of the interaction of ascorbate and ferrous ions (Fe+2) initiators of lipid peroxidation with alpha tocopherol. The results show that tocopherol increases membrane associated iron. The formation of a tocopherol iron complex in the presence of phospholipid liposomes and ascorbate in its reduced form is indicated. These results suggest a new way in which tocopherols act to inhibit lipid peroxidation.