Ferryl protonation in oxoiron(IV) porphyrins and its role in oxygen transfer.

Ferryl porphyrins, P-Fe(IV)═O, are central reactive intermediates in the catalytic cycles of numerous heme proteins and a variety of model systems. There has been considerable interest in elucidating factors, such as terminal oxo basicity, that may control ferryl reactivity. Here, the sulfonated, water-soluble ferryl porphyrin complexes tetramesitylporphyrin, oxoFe(IV)TMPS (FeTMPS-II), its 2,6-dichlorophenyl analogue, oxoFe(IV)TDClPS (FeTDClPS-II), and two other analogues are shown to be protonated under turnover conditions to produce the corresponding bis-aqua-iron(III) porphyrin cation radicals. The results reveal a novel internal electromeric equilibrium, P-Fe(IV)═O ⇆ P(+)-Fe(III)(OH2)2. Reversible pKa values in the range of 4-6.3 have been measured for this process by pH-jump, UV-vis spectroscopy. Ferryl protonation has important ramifications for C-H bond cleavage reactions mediated by oxoiron(IV) porphyrin cation radicals in protic media. Both solvent O-H and substrate C-H deuterium kinetic isotope effects are observed for these reactions, indicating that hydrocarbon oxidation by these oxoiron(IV) porphyrin cation radicals occurs via a solvent proton-coupled hydrogen atom transfer from the substrate that has not been previously described. The effective FeO-H bond dissociation energies for FeTMPS-II and FeTDClPS-II were estimated from similar kinetic reactivities of the corresponding oxoFe(IV)TMPS(+) and oxoFe(IV)TDClPS(+) species to be ∼92-94 kcal/mol. Similar values were calculated from the two-proton P(+)-Fe(III)(OH2)2 pKa(obs) and the porphyrin oxidation potentials, despite a 230 mV range for the iron porphyrins examined. Thus, the iron porphyrin with the lower ring oxidation potential has a compensating higher basicity of the ferryl oxygen. The solvent-derived proton adds significantly to the driving force for C-H bond scission.

A highly reactive p450 model compound I.

The detection and kinetic characterization of a cytochrome P450 model compound I, [OFe(IV)-4-TMPyP](+) (1), in aqueous solution shows extraordinary reaction rates for C-H hydroxylations. Stopped-flow spectrophotometric monitoring of the oxidation of Fe(III)-4-TMPyP with mCPBA revealed the intermediate 1, which displays a weak, blue-shifted Soret band at 402 nm and an absorbance at 673 nm, typical of a porphyrin pi-radical cation. This intermediate was subsequently transformed into the well-characterized OFe(IV)-4-TMPyP. Global analysis afforded a second-order rate constant k(1) = (1.59 +/- 0.06) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for the formation of 1 followed by a first-order decay with k(2) = 8.8 +/- 0.1 s(-1). (1)H and (13)C NMR determined 9-xanthydrol to be the major product (approximately 90% yield) of xanthene oxidation by 1. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry carried out in 47.5% (18)OH(2) indicated 21% (18)O incorporation, consistent with an oxygen-rebound reaction scenario. Xanthene/xanthene-d(2) revealed a modest kinetic isotope effect, k(H)/k(D) = 2.1. Xanthene hydroxylation by 1 occurred with a very large second-order rate constant k(3) = (3.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Similar reactions of fluorene-4-carboxylic acid and 4-isopropyl- and 4-ethylbenzoic acid also gave high rates for C-H hydroxylation that correlated well with the scissile C-H bond energy, indicating a homolytic hydrogen abstraction transition state. Mapping the observed rate constants for C-H bond cleavage onto the Brønsted-Evans-Polanyi relationship for similar substrates determined the H-OFe(IV)-4-TMPyP bond dissociation energy to be approximately 100 kcal/mol. The high kinetic reactivity observed for 1 is suggested to result from a high porphyrin redox potential and spin-state-crossing phenomena. More generally, subtle charge modulation at the active site may result in high reactivity of a cytochrome P450 compound I.

Evaluation of the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst Fe(III) tetra-mesitylporphyrin octasulfonate on peripheral neuropathy in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes.

Whereas the important role of free radicals in diabetes-associated complications is well established, the contributions of the highly reactive oxidant peroxynitrite have not been properly explored. The present study used a pharmacological approach to evaluate the role of peroxynitrite in peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Control and STZ-diabetic mice were maintained with or without treatment with the potent peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst Fe(III) tetramesitylporphyrin octasulfonate (FeTMPS), at doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg/day in the drinking water for 3 weeks after an initial 3 weeks without treatment. Mice with a 6-week duration of diabetes developed clearly manifest motor (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) deficits, thermal hypoalgesia (paw withdrawal, tail-flick, and hot plate tests), mechanical hypoalgesia (tail pressure Randall-Sellito test), tactile allodynia (flexible von Frey filament test), and approximately 44% loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers. They also had increased nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in sciatic nerve, grey matter of the spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion neurons. FeTMPS treatment alleviated or essentially corrected (at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day) MNCV and SNCV deficits, and was associated with less severe small sensory nerve fiber dysfunction and degeneration. Nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion neurons in peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst-treated diabetic mice was markedly reduced. In conclusion, peroxynitrite contributes to large motor, large sensory, and small sensory fiber neuropathy in streptozotocin-diabetic mice. The findings provide rationale for development of potent peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.

Nitrosative stress and peripheral diabetic neuropathy in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice.

Nitrosative stress contributes to nerve conduction slowing, thermal hypoalgesia, and impaired nitrergic innervation in animal models of Type 1 diabetes. The role for reactive nitrogen species in Type 2 diabetes-associated neuropathy remains unexplored. This study evaluated the role for nitrosative stress in functional and structural neuropathic changes in ob/ob mice, a model of Type 2 diabetes with mild hyperglycemia and obesity. Two structurally diverse peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts, Fe(III) tetrakis-2-(N-triethylene glycol monomethyl ether)-pyridyl porphyrin (FP15) and Fe(III) tetra-mesitylporphyrin octasulfonate (FeTMPS), were administered to control and 8-week-old ob/ob mice for 3 weeks at the doses of 5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) (FP15) and 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1) (FeTMPS). The 11-week-old ob/ob mice developed motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and hind-limb digital sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) deficits, thermal hypoalgesia, tactile allodynia, and a remarkable ( approximately 78%) loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers. They also had increased nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in the sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion neurons. Treatment with two structurally diverse peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts was associated with restoration of normal MNCV and SNCV, and alleviation of thermal hypoalgesia. Tactile response thresholds increased in response to peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst treatment, but still remained approximately 2.7- to 3.2-fold lower compared with non-diabetic controls. Intraepidermal nerve fiber loss was not alleviated by either FP15 or FeTMPS. Nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia of peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst-treated ob/ob mice were essentially normal. In conclusion, nitrosative stress plays an important role in functional abnormalities associated with large motor, large sensory, and small sensory fiber neuropathy, but not in small sensory nerve fiber degeneration, in this animal model. Peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts alleviate Type 2 diabetes-associated sensory nerve dysfunction, likely by mechanism(s) not involving arrest of degenerative changes or enhanced regeneration of small sensory nerve fibers.