ascorbic-acid and triethylenediamine

Toxicity of the pesticide quinalphos may comprise secondary, delayed effects by its main metabolite 2-hydroxyquinoxaline (HQO). We demonstrate that HQO can destroy photocatalytically vitamins C and E, catecholamines, serotonin, melatonin, the melatonin metabolite AMK (N(1)-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine), and unsubstituted and substituted anthranilic acids when exposed to visible light. In order to avoid HQO-independent ascorbate oxidation by light and to exclude actions by hydroxyl radicals, experiments on this vitamin were carried out in ethanolic solutions. Other substances tested (vitamin E, melatonin, anthranilic acids) were also photocatalytically destroyed by HQO in ethanol. After product analyses had indicated that HQO was not, or only poorly, degraded in the light, despite its catalytic action on other compounds, we followed directly the time course of HQO and ascorbate concentrations in ethanol. While ascorbate was largely destroyed, no change in HQO was demonstrable within 2 h of incubation. Destruction was not prevented by the singlet oxygen quencher DABCO. Obviously, HQO is capable of undergoing a process of organic redox cycling, perhaps via an intermediate quinoxaline-2-oxyl radical. Health problems from HQO intoxication may not only arise from the loss of valuable biomolecules, such as antioxidant vitamins and biogenic amines, but also from the formation of potentially toxic products. Dimerization and oligomerization are involved in several oxidation processes catalyzed by HQO, especially in the indoleamines, in dopamine, and presumably also in vitamin E. Melatonin oxidation by HQO did not only lead to the well-known - and usually protective - metabolite AFMK (N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine), but also to a high number of additional products, among them dimers and trimers. DABCO did not prevent melatonin destruction, but changed the spectrum of products. Serotonin was preferentially converted to a dimer, which can further oligomerize. Several indole dimers are known to be highly neurotoxic, as well as oxidation products formed from catecholamines via the adrenochrome/noradrenochrome pathway. Destruction of melatonin may cause deficiencies in circadian physiology, in immune functions and in antioxidative protection.

Topics: Amines; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Catalysis; Catecholamines; Dimerization; Dopamine; Ethanol; Free Radical Scavengers; Kynuramine; Light; Melatonin; Models, Chemical; Oxidants; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Piperazines; Quinoxalines; Serotonin; Spectrophotometry; Time Factors; Ultraviolet Rays; Vitamin E; Vitamins

Maize malic enzyme was rapidly inactivated by micromolar concentrations of cupric nitrate in the presence of ascorbate at pH, 5.0. Ascorbate or Cu2+ alone had no effect on enzyme activity. The substrate L-malate or NADP individually provided almost total protection against Cu2+-ascorbate inactivation. The loss of enzyme activity was accompanied by cleavage of the enzyme. The cleaved peptides showed molecular mass of 55 kDa, 48 kDa, 38 kDa, and 14 kDa. Addition of EDTA, histidine and imidazole provided protection. The results of protection experiments with sodium azide, DABCO and catalase suggested that reactive oxygen species were generated resulting in loss of enzyme activity. This was further supported by experiments showing that the rate of enzyme inactivation was higher in D2O than in water. It is suggested that maize malic enzyme is modified by reactive oxygen species like singlet oxygen and H2O2 generated by Cu2+-ascorbate system and the modified amino acid residue(s) may be located at or near the substrate-binding site of the enzyme.

Topics: Amino Acids; Ascorbic Acid; Catalase; Copper; Deuterium Oxide; Edetic Acid; Histidine; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Imidazoles; Malates; NADP; Oxygen; Piperazines; Reactive Oxygen Species; Zea mays

The addition of 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) (100 mM) or 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid (Tiron) (1 mM) to a reaction mixture containing 10 mM linoleic acid (LA), 20% EtOH, and 135 microM dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) as a catalyst suppressed LA peroxidation, but the addition of mannitol (approximately 100 mM), uric acid (100 microM), and catalase (6.5 units) did not. DHA or 2,3-diketo-L-gulonic acid (DKG) accelerated LA peroxidation, but the splitting products of DHA did not affect LA peroxidation. These results suggest that some specific radicals are liberated in the degradation of DHA or DKG.

Topics: 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium Salt; Ascorbic Acid; Benzenesulfonates; Catalysis; Dehydroascorbic Acid; Ethanol; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Linoleic Acids; Lipid Peroxides; Piperazines