dihydroresorufin and 5-5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide

The photosensitized reduction of resorufin (RSF), the fluorescent product of Amplex Red, was investigated using electron spin resonance (ESR), optical absorption/fluorescence, and oxygen consumption measurements. Anaerobic reaction of RSF in the presence of the electron donor reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) demonstrated that during visible light irradiation (λ > 300 nm), RSF underwent one-electron reduction to produce a semiquinoneimine-type anion radical (RSF(•) ‾) as demonstrated by direct ESR. Spin-trapping studies of incubations containing RSF, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and NADH demonstrated, under irradiation with visible light, the production of the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-sensitive DMPO/(•)OOH adduct. Both absorption and fluorescence spectra of RSF in the presence of NADH demonstrated that the RSF(•) ‾ was further reduced during irradiation with formation of its colorless dihydroquinoneimine form, dihydroresorufin (RSFH₂). Both RSF(•) ‾ and RSFH₂, when formed in an aerobic system, were immediately oxidized by oxygen, which regenerated the dye and formed superoxide. Oxygen consumption measurements with a Clark-type oxygen electrode showed that molecular oxygen was consumed in a light-dependent process. The suppression of oxygen consumption by addition of SOD or catalase further confirmed the production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Topics: Benzoquinones; Cyclic N-Oxides; Fluorescent Dyes; Hydrogen Peroxide; Light; NAD; Oxazines; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Photosensitizing Agents; Reactive Oxygen Species; Staining and Labeling; Superoxide Dismutase