The case for an oxidopyrylium intermediate in the mechanism of quercetin dioxygenases.

The quercetin dioxygenases (QDOs) are unusual metalloenzymes in that they display ring-opening dioxygenase activity with several different first-row transition metal ions which do not undergo redox changes during turnover. The QDOs are also unique in that the substrate binds as an η1-flavonolate rather than the η2 -bidentate mode seen in all reported model complexes. The flavonol substrates were early examples of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) phenomena, in which photoexcitation causes an H-atom exchange between the adjacent hydroxyl and ketone, generating an oxidopyrylium emissive state. These oxidopyryliums undergo ring-opening dioxygenations analogous to the enzymatic reactions. Our hypothesis is that lability of the divalent metal ion may allow access to a reactive oxidopyrylium intermediate via coordination switching from the oxy to ketone position, which allows reaction with O2. In this report, we use a straight-forward methylation strategy to generate a panel of flavonol and thioflavonol derivatives modeling several η1- and η2-coordination modes. Methylation of 3-hydroxythioflavone generates an air stable η1 hydroxopyrylium salt, which undergoes rapid ring-opening dioxygenation by deprotonation or photoexcitation. By comparison, the η1-methoxyflavonol does not react with O2 under any condition. We find that any of the studied flavonol derivatives, η1 or η2, which demonstrates ESIPT-like oxidopyrylium emissions undergo QDO-like ring-opening reactions with dioxygen. The implications of these results concerning the mechanism of QDOs and related dioxygenases is discussed.

The ionophore thiomaltol induces rapid lysosomal accumulation of copper and apoptosis in melanoma.

In this report, we investigate the toxicity of the ionophore thiomaltol (Htma) and Cu salts to melanoma. Divalent metal complexes of thiomaltol display toxicity against A375 melanoma cell culture resulting in a distinct apoptotic response at submicromolar concentrations, with toxicity of Cu(tma)2 > Zn(tma)2 >> Ni(tma)2. In metal-chelated media, Htma treatment shows little toxicity, but the combination with supplemental CuCl2, termed Cu/Htma treatment, results in toxicity that increases with suprastoichiometric concentrations of CuCl2 and correlates with the accumulation of intracellular copper. Electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy of Cu/Htma treated cells shows a rapid accumulation of copper within lysosomes over the course of hours, concurrent with the onset of apoptosis. A buildup of ubiquitinated proteins due to proteasome inhibition is seen on the same timescale and correlates with increases of copper without additional Htma.

Expanding the Reactive Sulfur Metabolome: Intracellular and Efflux Measurements of Small Oxoacids of Sulfur (SOS) and H2S in Human Primary Vascular Cell Culture.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous signaling molecule which is important for cardiovascular health, but its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Here, we report measurements of H2S as well as its oxidized metabolites, termed small oxoacids of sulfur (SOS = HSOH and HOSOH), in four human primary vascular cell lines: smooth muscle and endothelial cells derived from both human arterial and coronary tissues. We use a methodology that targets small molecular weight sulfur species; mass spectrometric analysis allows for species quantification to report cellular concentrations based on an H2S calibration curve. The production of H2S and SOS is orders of magnitude higher in smooth muscle (nanomolar) as compared to endothelial cell lines (picomolar). In all the primary lines measured, the distributions of these three species were HOSOH >H2S > HSOH, with much higher SOS than seen previously in non-vascular cell lines. H2S and SOS were effluxed from smooth muscle cells in higher concentrations than endothelial cells. Aortic smooth muscle cells were used to examine changes under hypoxic growth conditions. Hypoxia caused notable increases in HSOH and ROS, which we attribute to enhanced sulfide quinone oxidase activity that results in reverse electron transport.

Characterization of Endogenous and Extruded H2S and Small Oxoacids of Sulfur (SOS) in Cell Cultures.

This report characterizes and quantifies endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and small oxoacids of sulfur (SOS = HOSH, HOSOH) in a panel of cell lines including human cancer (A375 melanoma cells, HeLa cervical cells) and noncancer (HEK293 embryonic kidney cells), as well as E. coli DH5α and S. cerevisiae S288C. The methodology used is a translation of well-studied nucleophilic and electrophilic traps for cysteine and oxidized cysteines residues to target small molecular weight sulfur species; mass spectrometric analysis allows for species quantification. The observed intracellular concentrations of H2S and SOS vary in different cell types, from nanomolar to femtomolar, typically with H2S > HOSOH > HOSH. We propose the term sulfome, a subset of the metabolome, describing the nonproteinaceous metabolites of H2S; the sulfomic index is as a measure of the S-oxide redox status, which gives a profile of endogenous sulfur at different oxidation states. An important observation is that H2S and SOS were found to be continuously extruded into surrounding media against a concentration gradient, implying an active efflux process. Small molecule inhibition of several H2S generating enzymes suggest that SOS are not derived solely from H2S oxidation. Even after successful inhibition of H2S production, cells maintain constant efflux and repopulate H2S and SOS over time. This work proves that these small sulfur oxoacids are generated in cells of all types, and their efflux implies that they play a role in cell signaling and possibly other vascular physiology attributed to H2S.

Characterization of Polysulfides, Polysulfanes, and Other Unique Species in the Reaction between GSNO and H2S.

Glutathione-based products, GSnX, of the reaction of hydrogen sulfide, H2S, S-nitroso glutathione, and GSNO, at varied stoichiometries have been analyzed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and chemical trapping experiments. A wide variety of glutathione-based species with catenated sulfur chains have been identified including sulfanes (GSSnG), sulfides (GSSnH), and sulfenic acids (GSnOH); sulfinic (GSnO2H) and sulfonic (GSnO3H) acids are also seen in reactions exposed to air. The presence of each species of GSnX within the original reaction mixtures was confirmed using Single Ion Chromatograms (SICs), to demonstrate the separation on the LC column, and given approximate quantification by the peak area of the SIC. Further, confirmation for different GSnX families was obtained by trapping with species-specific reagents. Several unique GSnX families have been characterized, including bridging mixed di- and tetra-valent polysulfanes and internal trithionitrates (GSNHSnH) with polysulfane branches. Competitive trapping experiments suggest that the polysulfane chains are formed via the intermediacy of sulfenic acid species, GSSnOH. In the presence of radical trap vinylcyclopropane (VCP) the relative distributions of polysulfane speciation are relatively unaffected, suggesting that radical coupling is not a dominant pathway. Therefore, we suggest polysulfane catenation occurs via reaction of sulfides with sulfenic acids.

Correction: Kumar, M.R., et al. Characterization of Polysulfides, Polysulfanes, and Other Unique Species in the Reaction between GSNO and H2S. Molecules 2019, 24, 3090.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...].

Oxidative Stress and Arterial Dysfunction in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease characterized by a narrowing of the arteries in the lower extremities. Disease manifestations are the result of more than just reduced blood flow, and include endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and inflammation. Growing evidence suggests that these factors lead to functional impairment and decline in PAD patients. Oxidative stress also plays an important role in the disease, and a growing amount of data suggest a link between arterial dysfunction and oxidative stress. In this review, we present the current evidence for the involvement of endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and inflammation in the pathophysiology of PAD. We also discuss the links between these factors and oxidative stress, with a focus on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Finally, the potential therapeutic role of NOX2 antioxidants for improving arterial function and functional status in PAD patients is explored.

Synthesis of first row transition metal selenomaltol complexes.

We report an efficient, one-step synthesis of the chelator 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-selenopyrone (selenomaltol). Complexes of selenomaltol with Fe(iii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) have been prepared and studied by NMR, X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, EPR and electronic absorption. The Ni(ii) and Cu(ii) complexes show chemically reversible oxidations which are suggested to be ligand-based. Nuclear independent chemical shifts (NICS) analysis is used to compare aromaticity of the heterocyclic rings of selenomaltol and its chelates. The compounds described here should significantly expand the scope and utility of unusual O,Se-donor chelates.

The reaction between GSNO and H2S: On the generation of NO, HNO and N2O.

Several recent reports suggest that HNO may be produced endogenously by reaction of H2S and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). This hypothesis was tested using deoxymyoglobin (MbFeII) to trap the expected HNO released from the target reaction, which should generate the stable HNO adduct, HNO-Mb, under anaerobic conditions. Under numerous experimental conditions, the sole globin product was NO-Mb, as characterized by absorbance, EPR, and NMR spectroscopies. Analogous reactions of GSNO with other biological reductants such as ascorbic acid, dithiothreitol, glutathione, and dithionite also yielded NO-Mb as the sole globin product; however, whereas analogous reduction of GSNO using NaBH4 generates HNO-Mb in high yield. Quantitative GC/MS analyses of reactions of GS15NO with H2S showed that the main reaction product was 15NO, with 15N2 produced at a comparable level to 15N2O. Overall yield of N2O is unchanged by the presence of MbFeII, discounting the intermediacy of either NO or HNO in its formation. Taken together, these results argue against the generation of free HNO as a major pathway in the reactions of GSNO with H2S, and instead imply some as yet uncharacterized intermediates generate the nitrogenic gases.

Mechanistic Investigations of Photoinduced Oxygenation of Ru(II) Bis-bipyridyl Flavonolate Complexes.

We previously reported that a Ru-bound flavonolate model of flavonol dioxygenases, [RuII(bpy)2(3-hydroxyfla)][PF6], photochemically reacts with dioxygen in two different manners. Broad-band excitation generates mixtures of products characteristic of 1,3-addition of dioxygen across the central pyrone ring, as is observed in enzymatic reactions. However, low temperature excitation at wavelengths longer than 400 nm generates a unique Ru-bound 2-benzoatophenylglyoxylate product resulting from a 1,2-dioxetane intermediate. Herein, we investigate this reactivity in a series of Ru(II)bis-bipyridyl flavonolate complexes [RuII(bpy)2(3-hydroxyflaR)][PF6] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; fla = flavonolate; R = p-OMe (1), p-Me (2), p-H (3), p-Cl (4)), and [RuII(bpy)2(5-hydroxyfla)][PF6] (5). The complexes' structures, photophysical and electrochemical properties, and photochemical reactivity with oxygen were investigated in detail. Two different reaction product mixtures, from 1,2- and 1,3-additions of dioxygen, are observed by illumination into distinct excitation/emission manifolds. By analogy to previous reports of excited state intramolecular proton transfer, the two manifolds are attributed to tautomeric diradicals that predict the observed reactivity patterns.

Chemical trapping and characterization of small oxoacids of sulfur (SOS) generated in aqueous oxidations of H2S.

Small oxoacids of sulfur (SOS) are elusive molecules like sulfenic acid, HSOH, and sulfinic acid, HS(O)OH, generated during the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, H2S, in aqueous solution. Unlike their alkyl homologs, there is a little data on their generation and speciation during H2S oxidation. These SOS may exhibit both nucleophilic and electrophilic reactivity, which we attribute to interconversion between S(II) and S(IV) tautomers. We find that SOS may be trapped in situ by derivatization with nucleophilic and electrophilic trapping agents and then characterized by high resolution LC MS. In this report, we compare SOS formation from H2S oxidation by a variety of biologically relevant oxidants. These SOS appear relatively long lived in aqueous solution, and thus may be involved in the observed physiological effects of H2S.

Trapping Reactions of the Sulfenyl and Sulfinyl Tautomers of Sulfenic Acids.

Sulfenic acids react as both nucleophiles and electrophiles, which may be attributable to interconversion between sulfenyl and sulfinyl tautomers. We demonstrate one-pot trapping of both tautomeric forms of glutathione sulfenic acid by LCMS. The sulfinyl tautomers are characterized by reaction with nucleophilic reagents such as dimedone and cyanide, giving unique products that are analogous to corresponding adducts of aldehydes. Likewise, we show that aldehyde reactive reagents such as silyl enol ethers also react with glutathione sulfenic acid to give products characteristic of both sulfenyl and sulfinyl tautomers.

Characterization of the Initial Intermediate Formed during Photoinduced Oxygenation of the Ruthenium(II) Bis(bipyridyl)flavonolate Complex.

A ruthenium(II) flavonolate complex, [Ru(II)(bpy)2fla][BF4], was synthesized to model the reactivity of the flavonol dioxygenases. The treatment of dry CH3CN solutions of [Ru(II)(bpy)2fla][BF4] with dioxygen under light leads to the oxidative O-heterocyclic ring opening of the coordinated substrate flavonolate, resulting in the formation of [Ru(II)(bpy)2(carboxylate)][BF4] (carboxylate = O-benzoylsalicylate or benzoate) species, as determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Moderation of the excitation and temperature allowed isolation and characterization of an intermediate, [Ru(II)(bpy)2bpg][BF4] (bpg = 2-benzoyloxyphenylglyoxylate), generated by the 1,2-addition of dioxygen to the central flavonolate ring.

Amyloids, melanins and oxidative stress in melanomagenesis.

Melanoma has traditionally been viewed as an ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced malignancy. While UV is a common inducing factor, other endogenous stresses such as metal ion accumulation or the melanin pigment itself may provide alternative pathways to melanoma progression. Eumelanosomes within melanoma often exhibit disrupted membranes and fragmented pigment which may be due to alterations in their amyloid-based striated matrix. The melanosomal amyloid can itself be toxic, especially in combination with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated by endogenous NADPH oxidase (NOX) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes, a toxic mix that may initiate melanomagenesis. Further understanding of the loss of the melanosomal organization, the behaviour of the exposed melanin and the induction of ROS/RNS in melanomas may provide critical insights into this deadly disease.

Ligand-based photooxidations of dithiomaltolato complexes of Ru(II) and Zn(II): photolytic CH activation and evidence of singlet oxygen generation and quenching.

The complex [Ru(bpy)2(ttma)](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; ttma = 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-thiopyran-4-thionate, 1, has previously been shown to undergo an unusual C-H activation of the dithiomaltolato ligand upon outer-sphere oxidation. The reaction generated alcohol and aldehyde products 2 and 3 from C-H oxidation of the pendant methyl group. In this report, we demonstrate that the same products are formed upon photolysis of 1 in presence of mild oxidants such as methyl viologen, [Ru(NH3)6](3+) and [Co(NH3)5Cl](2+), which do not oxidize 1 in the dark. This reactivity is engendered only upon excitation into an absorption band attributed to the ttma ligand. Analogous experiments with the homoleptic Zn(ttma)2, 4, also result in reduction of electron acceptors upon excitation of the ttma absorption band. Complexes 1 and 4 exhibit short-lived visible fluorescence and long-lived near-infrared phosphorescence bands. Singlet oxygen is both generated and quenched during aerobic excitation of 1 or 4, but is not involved in the C-H activation process.

Kinetic characterization of a slow-binding inhibitor of Bla2: thiomaltol.

The increasing prevalence of drug resistant bacteria is a pandemic problem. Metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) are one of the main causes of drug resistance due to hydrolysis of ß-lactam antibiotics. Thus, the development of effective inhibitors of MBLs remains urgent. The compound thiomaltol was used as a lead compound to investigate its ability to inhibit metallo-ß-lactamase from Bacillus anthracis (Bla2), which causes anthrax. Kinetic evaluation with nitrocefin as a substrate indicates that thiomaltol inhibits Bla2 in a time-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 290 µM after 20 min preincubation. Progress curve analysis and reversibility tests suggest that thiomaltol is a reversible, slow-binding inhibitor with a K(i) of 85 ± 30 µM. Furthermore, studies on the modality of inhibition and in silico analysis indicate thiomaltol to be a competitive inhibitor. The results demonstrate that thiomaltol is a promising lead compound for slow binding inhibitor design of Bla2.

Synthesis and characterization of lithium oxonitrate (LiNO).

The oxonitrate(1-) anion (NO(-)), the one-electron reduction product of nitric oxide and conjugate base of HNO, has not been synthesized and isolated due to the inherent reactivity of this anion. The large scale synthesis and characterization of a stable NO(-) salt is described here. The lithium salt of oxonitrate (LiNO) was formed by the deprotonation of N-hydroxybenzenesulfonamide with phenyllithium in aprotic, deoxygenated conditions. LiNO exhibited antiferromagnetic paramagnetism as determined by SQUID magnetometry, consistent with a triplet ground state of NO(-). LiNO reacted with HCl to yield nitrous oxide consistent with HNO formation and dimerization. LiNO consumed O(2) in a pH-dependent manner to initially produce peroxynitrite and eventually nitrite. Consistent with the reduction potential of NO, LiNO exhibited an oxidation potential of approximately +0.80 V as determined by reactions with a series of viologen electron acceptors. LiNO also reacted with ferric tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (Fe(TPP)Cl), potassium tetracyanonickelate (K(2)Ni(CN)(4)) and nitrosobenzene in a manner that is identical to other HNO/NO(-) donors. We conclude that the physical and chemical characteristics of LiNO are indistinguishable from the experimentally and theoretically derived data on oxonitrate (1-) anion. The bulk synthesis and isolation of a stable (3)NO(-) salt described here allow the chemical and physical properties of this elusive nitrogen oxide to be thoroughly studied as this once elusive nitrogen oxide is now attainable.

A singular value decomposition approach for kinetic analysis of reactions of HNO with myoglobin.

The reactions of several horse heart myoglobin species with nitrosyl hydride, HNO, derived from Angeli's salt (AS) and Piloty's acid (PA) have been followed by UV-visible, (1)H NMR and EPR spectroscopies. Spectral analysis of myoglobin-derived speciation during the reactions was obtained by using singular value decomposition methods combined with a global analysis to obtain the rate constants of complex sequential reactions. The analysis also provided spectra for the derived absorbers, which allowed self-consistent calibration to the spectra of known myoglobin species. Using this method, the determined rate for trapping of HNO by metmyoglobin, which produces NO-myoglobin, is found to be 2.7 × 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) at pH7.0 and 1.1 × 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) at pH9.4. The reaction of deoxymyoglobin with HNO generates the adduct HNO-myoglobin directly, but is followed by a secondary reaction of that product with HNO yielding NO-myoglobin; the determined bimolecular rate constants for these reactions are 3.7 × 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) and 1.67 × 10(4)M(-1)s(-1) respectively, and are independent of pH. The derived spectrum for HNO-myoglobin is characterized by a Soret absorbance maximum at 423 nm with an extinction coefficient of 1.66 × 10(5)M(-1)cm(-1). The rate constant for unimolecular loss of HNO from HNO-myoglobin was determined by competitive trapping with CO at 8.9 × 10(-5)s(-1), which gives the thermodynamic binding affinity of HNO to deoxymyoglobin as 4.2 × 10(9)M(-1). These results suggest that the formation of HNO-ferrous heme protein adducts represents an important consideration in the biological action of HNO-releasing drugs.

Direct oxygen imaging in titania nanocrystals.

Recently, rutile nanotwins were synthesized using high temperature organic solvent methods, yielding two kinds of common high-quality rutile twinned nanocrystals, (101) and (301) twins, accompanied by minor rutile nanorods (Lu et al 2012 CrystEngComm 14 3120-4). In this report, the atomic structures of the rutile and anatase nanocrystals are directly resolved with no need for calculation or image simulation using atomic resolution STEM techniques. The locations of the oxygen rows in the rutile twins' boundaries are directly determined from both HAADF images and ABF images. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time oxygen columns have been distinguished in rutile twin boundaries using HAADF and BF imaging.