ubiquinone-9 and ubiquinol

Mitochondrial disorders are often associated with primary or secondary CoQ10 decrease. In clinical practice, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels are measured to diagnose deficiencies and to direct and monitor supplemental therapy. CoQ10 is reduced by complex I or II and oxidized by complex III in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Therefore, the ratio between the reduced (ubiquinol) and oxidized (ubiquinone) CoQ10 may provide clinically significant information in patients with mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) defects. Here, we exploit mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) with defined defects of the ETC to demonstrate an altered redox ratio in Coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9), the native quinone in these organisms. The percentage of reduced CoQ9 is decreased in complex I (gas-1) and complex II (mev-1) deficient animals, consistent with the diminished activity of these complexes that normally reduce CoQ9. As anticipated, reduced CoQ9 is increased in the complex III deficient mutant (isp-1), since the oxidase activity of the complex is severely defective. These data provide proof of principle of our hypothesis that an altered redox status of CoQ may be present in respiratory complex deficiencies. The assessment of CoQ10 redox status in patients with mitochondrial disorders may be a simple and useful tool to uncover and monitor specific respiratory complex defects.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Caenorhabditis elegans; Disease Models, Animal; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Diseases; Oxidation-Reduction; Ubiquinone

We have studied the interaction of coenzyme Q with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its metabolites, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridinium (MPDP(+)) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)), the real neurotoxin to cause Parkinson's disease. Incubation of MPTP or MPDP(+) with rat brain synaptosomes induced complete reduction of endogenous ubiquinone-9 and ubiquinone-10 to corresponding ubiquinols. The reduction occurred in a time- and MPTP/MPDP(+) concentration-dependent manner. The reduction of ubiquinone induced by MPDP(+) went much faster than that by MPTP. MPTP did not reduce liposome-trapped ubiquinone-10, but MPDP(+) did. The real toxin MPP(+) did not reduce ubiquinone in either of the systems. The reduction by MPTP but not MPDP(+) was completely prevented by pargyline, a type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) inhibitor, in the synaptosomes. The results indicate that involvement of MAO-B is critical for the reduction of ubiquinone by MPTP but that MPDP(+) is a reductant of ubiquinone per se. It is suggested that ubiquinone could be an electron acceptor from MPDP(+) and promote the conversion from MPDP(+) to MPP(+) in vivo, thus accelerating the neurotoxicity of MPTP.

Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; Animals; Biotransformation; Liposomes; Male; Monoamine Oxidase; Neurotoxins; Oxidation-Reduction; Pyridinium Compounds; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Synaptosomes; Ubiquinone

To confirm whether or not cytosolic NADPH-UQ reductase is involved in the recycling of cellular ubiquinol (UQH2) consumed during lipid peroxidation, the effect of a UQ-10 supplement on the NADPH-UQ reductase and cellular defense against oxidative damage in rat livers was investigated. Supplements of UQ-10 for 14 days enhanced the levels of UQH2-10 and NADPH-UQ reductase in rat livers without any appreciable changes in other antioxidant contents and related enzyme activities. However, the injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) into the rats induced lipid peroxidation and decreased the cellular UQH2-10 contents (and increased equivalent amounts of UQ-10), as well as decreasing the ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione (GSH) and alpha-tocopherol contents of the rat livers. Administration of the UQ-10 supplement prior to the CCl4 treatment spared alpha-tocopherol (but not GSH or ascorbic acid), inhibited lipid peroxidation, and thus improved CCl4-induced hepatitis. These findings support the notion that NADPH-UQ reductase in cytosol is the enzyme responsible for the regeneration of UQH2 from UQ formed by lipid peroxidation in cells.

Topics: Animals; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Cytosol; Liver; Male; Microsomes, Liver; Mitochondria, Liver; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); Oxidation-Reduction; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Ubiquinone

In previous studies we have found that a single acute dose of ultraviolet radiation to murine skin causes a large degree of destruction of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants immediately after irradiation. In the present study, we wished to elucidate the recovery of antioxidants after a single dose of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We measured antioxidants and lipid hydroperoxides (as a marker of membrane damage) in murine epidermis and the dermis at 0, 3, 12, 24, 72 and 120 h after exposure to UV radiation (25 J/cm2, UVA+UVB). Lipid hydroperoxides showed the highest values immediately after UV exposure and returned to control values within 24 h in both epidermis and dermis. The activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase showed the lowest activities immediately after UV exposure; superoxide dismutase activities reached a minimum at 3 h postexposure. The pattern of recovery was different for each enzyme and for epidermis and dermis. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased remarkably and recovered slowly. Superoxide dismutase in the dermis recovered full activity by 120 h and in the epidermis by 12 h. Catalase activity in both epidermis and dermis had returned to only 50% of control activity at 120 h, although the epidermis showed a temporary increase (to 93%) at 24 h. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were slightly decreased immediately after irradiation, recovered to 100% at 3 h and then increased to 200-250% in both the epidermis and the dermis at various times; values had returned to 100% in epidermis by 120 h but remained elevated in dermis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Catalase; Dehydroascorbic Acid; Epidermis; Female; Glutathione; Glutathione Disulfide; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Reductase; Lipid Peroxides; Mice; Mice, Hairless; Radiation Dosage; Skin; Superoxide Dismutase; Time Factors; Ubiquinone; Ultraviolet Rays; Vitamin E