muramidase and 2-2--azobis(2-amidinopropane)

Chemical and structural alterations to lysozyme (LYSO), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and bovine eye lens proteins (BLP) promoted by peroxyl radicals generated by the thermal decomposition of 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH) under aerobic conditions were investigated. SDS-PAGE analysis of the AAPH-treated proteins revealed the occurrence of protein aggregation, cross-linking, and fragmentation; BLP, which are naturally organized in globular assemblies, were the most affected proteins. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of BLP shows the formation of complex protein aggregates after treatment with AAPH. These structural modifications were accompanied by the formation of protein carbonyl groups and protein hydroperoxides. The yield of carbonyls was lower than that for protein hydroperoxide generation and was unrelated to protein fragmentation. The oxidized proteins were also characterized by significant oxidation of Met, Trp, and Tyr (but not other) residues, and low levels of dityrosine. As the dityrosine yield is too low to account for the observed cross-linking, we propose that aggregation is associated with tryptophan oxidation and Trp-derived cross-links. It is also proposed that Trp oxidation products play a fundamental role in nonrandom fragmentation and carbonyl group formation particularly for LYSO and G6PD. These data point to a complex mechanism of peroxyl-radical mediated modification of proteins with monomeric (LYSO), dimeric (G6PD), and multimeric (BLP) structural organization, which not only results in oxidation of protein side chains but also gives rise to radical-mediated protein cross-links and fragmentation, with Trp species being critical intermediates.

Topics: Amidines; Amino Acids; Animals; Cattle; Crystallins; Dimerization; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Hydrogen Peroxide; Muramidase; Oxidation-Reduction; Peroxides; Protein Carbonylation; Spectrophotometry; Tyrosine

We examined by using 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a radical generator the ability of estrogens to scavenge carbon-centered and peroxyl radicals. Electron spin resonance signals of carbon-centered radicals from AAPH were diminished by catecholestrogens but not by phenolic estrogens, showing that catecholestrogens efficiently scavenged carbon-centered radicals. However, fluorescent decomposition of R-phycoerythrin by AAPH-derived peroxyl radicals was inhibited by catecholestrogens and phenolic estrogens. Evidently, peroxyl radicals were scavenged by catecholestrogens and by phenolic estrogens. However, the scavenging ability of 4-hydroxyestradiol was less than 2-hydroxyestradiol. Strand break of DNA induced by AAPH was inhibited by catecholestrogens, but not by phenolic estrogens under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Inactivation of lysozyme induced by AAPH was completely blocked by 2-hydroxyestradiol under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and by 4-hyroxyestradiol only under anaerobic conditions. Peroxidation of arachidonic acid by AAPH was strongly inhibited by catecholestrogens at low concentrations. Only large amounts of phenolic estrogens markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation. These results show that catecholestrogens were antioxidant against AAPH-induced damage to biological molecules through scavenging both carbon-centered and peroxyl radicals, but phenolic estrogens partially inhibited AAPH-induced damage because they scavenged only peroxyl radicals.

Topics: Amidines; Antioxidants; Arachidonic Acid; DNA Damage; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Estradiol; Estrogens, Catechol; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Lipid Peroxidation; Muramidase; Mutagens; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Peroxides; Phycoerythrin; Plasmids

Oxidative damage to proteins results in biological dysfunctions such as perturbed activity in enzymes, transport proteins, and receptors. Here, we investigated structural damage to proteins induced by free radicals. Structural alterations to lysozyme, human serum albumin (HSA) and beta-lactoglobulin A were monitored by capillary zone electrophoresis. Four well-known antioxidants (quercetin, melatonin, Trolox, and chlorogenic acid) were examined for their ability to inhibit protein damage and to bind to these proteins. Melatonin and chlorogenic acid, which did not bind to any of the three proteins under study, showed scavenging and protective activities well correlated with the amount of free radicals generated. Trolox, which bound only to HSA, was a better protector of HSA than of the two other proteins, indicating that its antioxidant capacity is increased by a shielding effect. Finally, quercetin was a good antioxidant in protecting lysozyme and beta-lactoglobulin A, but its binding to HSA resulted in a pro-oxidant effect that accelerated HSA fragmentation. These results demonstrate that binding of an antioxidant to a protein may potentiate protection or damage depending on the properties of the antioxidant.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Antioxidants; Chlorogenic Acid; Chromans; Drug Interactions; Free Radicals; Lactoglobulins; Melatonin; Muramidase; Oxidation-Reduction; Protective Agents; Protein Binding; Quercetin

The 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH)-induced inactivation and oxidative modification of lysozyme, as determined by the loss of tryptophan-associated fluorescence (TAF) and the increase in dinitrophenylhydrazine-reactive carbonyl groups (CO), were studied in the absence and in the presence of antioxidants. AAPH induced a progressive inactivation of the enzyme and a parallel decrease of its TAF. Both changes were closely correlated (R2 = 0.97); however, the inactivation was only partially associated with an increase in CO. The latter reached maximal values at times half those needed to attain maximal losses in both lysozyme activity and TAF. A stoichiometric comparison reveals that whereas over 74% of the enzyme molecules had lost their activity, only 5% exhibited an increment in CO. CO formation was affected differentially by boldine and trolox. Both antioxidants fully protected against the early inactivation and loss of TAF; however, the increase in CO was completely unaffected by trolox. Exposure of lysozyme to Fe3+/ascorbate induced no loss of activity or TAF, but it led to an accumulation of CO similar to that induced by AAPH. Results indicate that CO formation and lysozyme inactivation are two mechanistically dissociable events and that changes in the former parameter can perfectly occur in the absence of changes in the latter.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Chickens; Free Radicals; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Muramidase; Oxidants; Oxidation-Reduction; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Tryptophan

Sixteen plant-derived or synthetic coumarins with various hydroxyl and other substitutions were tested for their ability to scavenge alkylperoxyl radicals generated in the aqueous phase by the controlled thermolysis of 2,2'-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP). Protection by coumarins against inactivation of lysozyme by the radicals was assayed by measuring the loss of turbidity of suspensions of M. lysodeikticus. Ten of the coumarins were potent scavengers of aqueous peroxyl radicals with activities comparable to n-propyl gallate, desferrioxamine, ferrioxamine and trolox c, yielding IC50 values in the range 21 to 92 micromolar. The presence of 6,7-ortho-dihydroxy functions gave compounds of the greatest potency. Scavenging activity was unrelated to ability to chelate iron ions. The active coumarins are attractive candidates for evaluation as protective agents against disorders in which oxidative stress is implicated.

Topics: Amidines; Coumarins; Free Radical Scavengers; Hot Temperature; Kinetics; Micrococcus; Molecular Structure; Muramidase; Peroxides; Plants; Structure-Activity Relationship

The capacity of carnosine to decrease free radical-induced damage was evaluated using the oxidation of brain homogenates, the 2,2'-azobis-2-amidino propane-induced oxidation of erythrocyte ghost membranes, the radiation induced inactivation of horseradish peroxidase and the 2,2'-azobis-2-amidino propane-induced inactivation of lysozyme. Carnosine addition up to 17 mM did not produce any significant protection in either lipid peroxidation system, as assayed by the oxygen uptake rate. Carnosine addition reduces the intensity of the visible luminescence emitted, apparently due to a dark decomposition of the luminescent intermediates. Carnosine addition protects horseradish peroxidase and lysozyme from free radical mediated inactivation. The mean carnosine concentrations required to inhibit the inactivation rates by 50% were 0.13 mM and 0.6 mM for horseradish peroxidase and lysozyme, respectively.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Brain; Carnosine; Erythrocyte Membrane; Free Radical Scavengers; Gamma Rays; Horseradish Peroxidase; Hot Temperature; Hydroxides; Hydroxyl Radical; Kinetics; Lipid Peroxidation; Luminescent Measurements; Muramidase; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen Consumption; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

1. 2,2'-Azo-bis-amidinopropane (ABAP) thermal decomposition produces free radicals that initiate the lipid peroxidation of erythrocyte ghost membranes. 2. Addition of 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil decreases the rate of the process, both by decreasing consumption of the natural antioxidants of the membranes and by direct interaction with the free radicals involved in the lipid peroxidation. 3. Peroxyl radicals produced in ABAP thermal decomposition inactivate lysozyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and glucose oxidase, in that order. The number of enzyme molecules inactivated per radical introduced into the system increases with enzyme concentration. 4. Competitive studies employing mixtures of enzymes show that the order of reactivity of these enzymes towards the peroxyl radicals is the opposite to that obtained for the rate of enzyme inactivation. It is concluded that inactivation efficiency is determined mainly by the average number of free radicals that must react with an enzyme molecule to produce its inactivation, and that this number is directly related to the molecular weight of the enzyme.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Enzyme Inhibitors; Erythrocyte Membrane; Free Radicals; Glucose Oxidase; Horseradish Peroxidase; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Molecular Weight; Muramidase; Propylthiouracil; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

The inactivation of lysozyme caused by the radicals produced by thermolysis of 2,2'-azo-bis-2-amidinopropane can be prevented by the addition of different compounds that can react with the damaging free radicals. Compounds of high reactivity (propyl gallate, Trolox, cysteine, albumin, ascorbate, and NADH) afford almost total protection until their consumption, resulting in well-defined induction times. The number of radicals trapped by each additive molecule consumed ranges from 3 (propyl gallate) to 0.12 (cysteine). This last value is indicative of chain oxidation of the inhibitor. Uric acid is able to trap nearly 2.2 radicals per added molecule, but even at large (200 microM) concentrations, a residual inactivation of the enzyme is observed, which may be caused by urate-derived radicals. Compounds of lower reactivity (tryptophan, Tempol, hydroquinone, desferrioxamine, diethylhydroxylamine, methionine, histidine, NAD+ and tyrosine) only partially decrease the lysozyme inactivation rates. For these compounds, we calculated the concentration necessary to reduce the enzyme inactivation rate to one half of that observed in the absence of additives. These concentrations range from 9 microM (tryptophan and Tempol) to 5 mM (NAD+).

Topics: Amidines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Hot Temperature; Kinetics; Muramidase; Oxidation-Reduction

Boldine, in low micromolar concentrations, was able to prevent brain homogenate autooxidation, the 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)(AAP)-induced lipid peroxidation of red cell plasma membranes, and the AAP-induced inactivation of lysozyme. These results are indicative of a high reactivity of boldine towards free radicals. The analysis of the boldine effect as a function of incubation times suggests that a metabolite resulting from the interaction of boldine with free radicals also exhibits antioxidant activity, being more efficient than boldine in brain homogenate auto-oxidation and less efficient in lysozyme protection experiments. This behavior may be accounted for in terms of the relative location of the scavengers needed to afford maximal protection.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Antioxidants; Aporphines; Brain Chemistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythrocyte Membrane; Kinetics; Lipid Peroxidation; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Muramidase; Oxygen Consumption; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

Thermolysis of 2,2'-azo-bis-(2-amidinopropane) under air in the presence of lysozyme leads to extensive inactivation of the enzyme. The number of inactivated enzyme molecules per radical produced increases with the enzyme concentration up to values considerably larger than one. Enzyme inactivation is accompanied by extensive tryptophan modification. Over the enzyme concentration range considered (1.7 to 130 microM) nearly 4 tryptophan groups are modified per enzyme molecule inactivated. Both the inactivation and tryptophan modification are prevented by micromolar concentrations of propyl gallate. The results are interpreted in terms of an efficient inactivation of the enzyme by the alkylperoxyl radicals generated by thermolysis of the azocompound.

Topics: Amidines; Free Radicals; Muramidase; Propyl Gallate; Tryptophan