Redox reactions of heme proteins with flavonoids.

Proteins containing heme groups perform a variety of important functions in living organisms. The heme groups are involved in catalyzing oxidation/reduction reactions, in electron transfer, and in binding small molecules, like oxygen or nitric oxide. Flavonoids, low molecular weight plant polyphenols, are ubiquitous components of human diet. They are also components of many plant extracts used in herbal medicine as well as of food supplements. Due to their relatively low reduction potential, flavonoids are prone to oxidation. This paper provides a review of redox reactions of various heme proteins, including catalase, some peroxidases, cytochrome P450, cytochrome c, myoglobin, and hemoglobin with flavonoids. Potential biological significance of these reactions is discussed, in particular when flavonoids are delivered to the body at pharmacological doses.

The role of catalases in the prevention/promotion of oxidative stress.

Catalases, heme enzymes which catalyze decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, are important members of the antioxidant defense system of cells of almost all aerobic organisms. However, recent studies suggest that catalase may be involved in various other processes in the cell. The paper provides a review of reactions of catalases with their main substrate, hydrogen peroxide, and with oxidizing species such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, and singlet oxygen. A number of these individuals are formed under oxidative eustress (good stress) as well as distress (bad stress), while others only under conditions of oxidative distress. Potential biological significance of the reactions of mammalian as well as bacterial catalases with oxidizing species is discussed. The majority of these reactions inhibit catalase. Authors emphasize that catalase inhibition, which may lead to significant increase of the local concentration of hydrogen peroxide, may be detrimental to the neighboring tissues, but in some pathological states (e.g. the defense directed against pathogenic bacteria rich in catalase, or induction of apoptosis of cancer cells which possess membrane-associated catalase) it may be beneficial for the host organism.

Interactions of nitrite with catalase: Enzyme activity and reaction kinetics studies.

Catalase, a heme enzyme, which catalyzes decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, is one of the main enzymes of the antioxidant defense system of the cell. Nitrite, used as a food preservative has long been regarded as a harmful compound due to its ability to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Recently, much evidence has been presented that nitrite plays a protective role as a nitric oxide donor under hypoxic conditions. In this work the effect of nitrite on the catalytic reactions of catalase was studied. Catalase was inhibited by nitrite, and this process was pH-dependent. IC50 values varied from about 1µM at pH5.0 to about 150µM of nitrite at pH7.4. The presence of chloride significantly enhanced nitrite-induced catalase inhibition, in agreement with earlier observations. The kinetics of the reactions of nitrite with ferric catalase, its redox intermediate, Compound I, and catalase inactive form, Compound II, was also studied. Possible mechanisms of nitrite-induced catalase inhibition are analyzed and the biological consequences of the reactions of catalase with nitrite are discussed.

Oxidation of flavonoids by hypochlorous acid: reaction kinetics and antioxidant activity studies.

Flavonoids, plant polyphenols, ubiquitous components of human diet, are excellent antioxidants. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), produced by activated neutrophils, is highly reactive chlorinating and oxidizing species. It has been reported earlier that flavonoids are chlorinated by HOCl. Here we show that flavonoids from flavonol subclass are also oxidized by HOCl, but only if the latter is in a large molar excess (≥ 10). The kinetics of this reaction was studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry, at different pH. We found that flavonols were oxidized by HOCl with the rate constants of the order of 10(4)-10(5) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.5. Antioxidant activity of HOCl-modified flavonoids was measured by 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method. Slightly higher antioxidant activity, compared to parent compounds, was observed for flavonols after their reaction with equimolar or moderate excess of HOCl whereas flavonols treated with high molar excess of HOCl exhibited decrease in antioxidant activity. The mechanism of flavonoid reaction with HOCl at physiological pH is proposed, and biological consequences of this reaction are discussed.

Do pH and flavonoids influence hypochlorous acid-induced catalase inhibition and heme modification?

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), highly reactive oxidizing and chlorinating species, is formed in the immune response to invading pathogens by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with chloride catalyzed by the enzyme myeloperoxidase. Catalase, an important antioxidant enzyme, catalyzing decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, hampers in vitro HOCl formation, but is also one of the main targets for HOCl. In this work we have investigated HOCl-induced catalase inhibition at different pH, and the influence of flavonoids (catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin) on this process. It has been shown that HOCl-induced catalase inhibition is independent on pH in the range 6.0-7.4. Preincubation of catalase with epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin before HOCl treatment enhances the degree of catalase inhibition, whereas catechin does not affect this process. Our rapid kinetic measurements of absorption changes around the heme group have revealed that heme modification by HOCl is mainly due to secondary, intramolecular processes. The presence of flavonoids, which reduce active catalase intermediate, Compound I to inactive Compound II have not influenced the kinetics of HOCl-induced heme modification. Possible mechanisms of the reaction of hypochlorous acid with catalase are proposed and the biological consequences are discussed.

The kinetics of the reaction of nitrogen dioxide with iron(II)- and iron(III) cytochrome c.

The reactions of NO2 with both oxidized and reduced cytochrome c at pH 7.2 and 7.4, respectively, and with N-acetyltyrosine amide and N-acetyltryptophan amide at pH 7.3 were studied by pulse radiolysis at 23 °C. NO2 oxidizes N-acetyltyrosine amide and N-acetyltryptophan amide with rate constants of (3.1±0.3)×10(5) and (1.1±0.1)×10(6) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. With iron(III)cytochrome c, the reaction involves only its amino acids, because no changes in the visible spectrum of cytochrome c are observed. The second-order rate constant is (5.8±0.7)×10(6) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.2. NO2 oxidizes iron(II)cytochrome c with a second-order rate constant of (6.6±0.5)×10(7) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.4; formation of iron(III)cytochrome c is quantitative. Based on these rate constants, we propose that the reaction with iron(II)cytochrome c proceeds via a mechanism in which 90% of NO2 oxidizes the iron center directly-most probably via reaction at the solvent-accessible heme edge-whereas 10% oxidizes the amino acid residues to the corresponding radicals, which, in turn, oxidize iron(II). Iron(II)cytochrome c is also oxidized by peroxynitrite in the presence of CO2 to iron(III)cytochrome c, with a yield of ~60% relative to peroxynitrite. Our results indicate that, in vivo, NO2 will attack preferentially the reduced form of cytochrome c; protein damage is expected to be marginal, the consequence of formation of amino acid radicals on iron(III)cytochrome c.

Catalase is inhibited by flavonoids.

Catalases, heme enzymes, which catalyze decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, belong to the antioxidant defense system of the cell. In this work we have shown that catalase from bovine liver is inhibited by flavonoids. The inhibition is, at least partially, due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between catalase and flavonoids. In the presence of some flavonoids the formation of unreactive catalase compound II has been detected. The most potent catalase inhibitors among the tested flavonoids have appeared myricetin, epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate. The relationship between the degree of enzyme inhibition and molecular structure of flavonoids has been analyzed.

Hypochlorous acid-induced heme damage of hemoglobin and its inhibition by flavonoids.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), produced by activated neutrophils, is highly reactive oxidizing and chlorinating agent of biologically relevant molecules. Hemoglobin (Hb), present in large amounts inside red blood cells, is the main target for HOCl in these cells. In this work heme damage of hemoglobin induced by hypochlorous acid in the absence and presence of some popular dietary flavonoids, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin has been studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Hypochlorous acid, being in a large molar excess to hemoglobin, initiates modifications of the heme group of oxy- as well as of methemoglobin, which eventually leads to heme damage. Flavonoids present at concentrations comparable with that of hemoglobin inhibit these processes. The kinetics of the reactions of the investigated flavonoids with HOCl has been also studied and the rate constants of the order of 10(5)M(-1)s(-1) have been found. It is concluded that under conditions used in this study the inhibition of Hb heme damage by flavonoids results from the competition of these compounds with hemoglobin towards HOCl and/or from the formation of Hb-flavonoid complex in which heme group is more resistant against HOCl-induced damage.

Interactions of anionic surfactants with methemoglobin.

Interactions of two anionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) at concentrations below and above critical micelle concentration with methemoglobin (metHb) have been investigated by conventional as well as by stopped-flow absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of metHb in AOT reverse micelles have been also analyzed. Both surfactants in their monomeric form convert metHb to reversible hemichrome. This is connected with a diminution of peroxidase-like activity of metHb and with an increase of the susceptibility of heme for a damage by H(2)O(2). In micellar solutions of AOT and SDS as well as in AOT reverse micelles pentacoordinated ferric species seems to be the predominant form of this protein. It has been concluded, basing on a kinetic analysis, that conformational changes in the heme environment of metHb as induced by both surfactants occur independently of the alterations in the tertiary structure of this protein.

[Oxidative stress induced by peroxynitrite]. / Nadtlenoazotyn jako czynnik wywolujacy stres oksydacyjny.

Peroxynitrite which is formed in vivo under oxidative stress in a diffusion-controlled reaction between *NO and O2*- is a strong oxidizingand nitrating agent. It has been suggested that peroxynitrite is involved in the development of a variety of pathological conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Several physiological routes for peroxynitrite decomposition have been found up to date. Among natural catalytical scavengers of peroxynitrite are peroxiredoxins, catalase, some peroxidases, methemoglobin and myoglobin. Reactions with synthetic perxynitite scavengers have been also studied. Successful results have been obtained for Mn(II), Mn(III) and Fe(III)-porphyrin.

Catalytic scavenging of peroxynitrite by lactoperoxidase in the absence and presence of bicarbonate.

The kinetics of the reaction of lactoperoxidase with peroxynitrite was studied under neutral and acidic pH. Lactoperoxidase catalyses peroxynitrite decay with the rate constant, k(c), increasing with decreasing pH. The values of k(c) obtained at pH 7.1, 6.1 and 5.1 are (1.9+/-0.1)x10(6), (5.0+/-0.1)x10(6) and (8.5+/-0.2)x10(6) M(-1)s(-1), respectively. This tendency means that peroxynitrous acid is the species involved in the reaction with the catalytic centre of lactoperoxidase. Lactoperoxidase is also able to scavenge peroxynitrite in the presence of bicarbonate with the rate constant identical, within experimental error, to that measured in the absence of bicarbonate. It is thus concluded that CO(3)-(.)/(.)NO(.2) radicals formed in the system do not inactivate LPO. The mechanism of the catalytic scavenging of peroxynitrite by LPO is proposed. The physiological relevance of this reaction is discussed.

Flavonoids as reductants of ferryl hemoglobin.

The ferryl derivatives of hemoglobin are products of the reactions of oxy- and methemoglobin with hydrogen peroxide. Ferryl hemoglobins, either with or without a radical site on the protein moiety, are oxidizing species. Plant polyphenols, flavonoids, have been shown to act as antioxidants in vivo and in vitro. Reactions of met- and oxyhemoglobin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catechin, quercetin and rutin were studied. These flavonoids accelerated reduction of ferryl hemoglobin to methemoglobin. The rate constants of the reactions of ferryl hemoglobin with catechin, quercetin and rutin were in the order of 10(2) M(-1) s(-1), i.e. similar to the rate constants of ferryl hemoglobin with intracellular reducing compounds like urate or ascorbate. The beneficial effect of flavonoids against oxidative damage of hemoglobin caused by hydroperoxides, reported in the literature, is probably, at least in part, connected with the ability of flavonoids to scavenge ferryl hemoglobin.

Catalytic scavenging of peroxynitrite by catalase.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)/ONOOH), the product of the diffusion controlled reaction between nitric oxide (*NO) and superoxide anion (O(2)(-)*), is a strong oxidizing and nitrating agent. Several heme proteins react rapidly with peroxynitrite, some of them catalyze its decomposition. In this work we found, contrary to previous reports, that catalase, a ferriheme enzyme, catalytically scavenges peroxynitrite. The second-order reaction rate constants of peroxynitrite decay catalyzed by catalase increase with decreasing pH and are equal to (2.7+/-0.2) x 10(6), (1.7+/-0.1) x 10(6) and (0.8+/-0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) at pH 6.1, 7.1 and 8.0, respectively. This dependence suggests that peroxynitrous acid, ONOOH, is the species that reacts with heme center of catalase. The possible reaction mechanisms of the decay of peroxynitrite catalyzed by catalase and physiological relevance of this reaction are discussed.

Kinetic studies of the reaction of heme-thiolate enzyme chloroperoxidase with peroxynitrite.

The kinetics of the reaction of chloroperoxidase with peroxynitrite was studied under neutral and acidic pH by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Chloroperoxidase catalyzed peroxynitrite decay with the rate constant, k(c,) increasing with decreasing pH. The values of k(c) obtained at pH 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 were equal to: (1.96+/-0.03)x10(6), (1.63+/-0.04)x10(6) and (0.71+/-0.01)x10(6)M(-1)s(-1), respectively. Chloroperoxidase was converted to compound II by peroxynitrite with pH-dependent rate constants: (12.3+/-0.4)x10(6) and (3.8+/-0.3)x10(6)M(-1)s(-1) at pH 5.1 and 7.1, respectively. After most of peroxynitrite had disappeared, the conversion of compound II into the ferric form of chloroperoxidase was observed. The recovery of the native enzyme was completed within 1s and 5s at pH 5.1 and 7.1, respectively. The possible reaction mechanisms of the catalytic decomposition of peroxynitrite by chloroperoxidase are discussed.

Does the peroxidase-like activity of sodium dodecyl sulphate-modified cytochrome c increase after peroxynitrite or radiation treatment?

The peroxidase-like activity of cytochrome c is considerably increased by unfolding of the protein. The enhancement of the activity is due to the higher reaction rate of unfolded cytochrome c with hydrogen peroxide, which is the rate-determining step in the peroxidase cycle of cytochrome c (Gebicka, L., 2001, Res Chem Intermed 27, 717-23). In this study we checked whether combined action of two unfolding factors, SDS and peroxynitrite or radiation (hydroxyl radicals), increases the peroxidase-like activity of cytochrome c more than any single treatment alone. Peroxynitrite reacts with SDS-modified cytochrome c in the same way as with native cytochrome c, via intermediate radical products, *OH/*NO2, arising from peroxynitrite homolysis. We found that SDS-modified cytochrome c is much more sensitive to oxidative damage than the native protein. Partial unfolding of cytochrome c by SDS causes the peroxide substrate to have a better access to the heme center. On the other hand, the amino acids located in the vicinity of the active site and/or heme group become accessible for oxidizing radicals. The overall effect observed is that the peroxidase-like activity of SDS-modified cytochrome c decreases with an increase of the concentration of the oxidizing species (peroxynitrite or radiolytically generated hydroxyl radicals). The damage of SDS-modified cytochrome c caused by irradiation is much more significant than that observed after peroxynitrite treatment.

Activity and stability of catalase in nonionic micellar and reverse micellar systems.

Catalase activity and stability in the presence of simple micelles of Brij 35 and entrapped in reverse micelles of Brij 30 have been studied. The enzyme retains full activity in aqueous micellar solution of Brij 35. Catalase exhibits "superactivity" in reverse micelles composed of 0.1 M Brij 30 in dodecane, n-heptane or isooctane, and significantly lowers the activity in decaline. The incorporation of catalase into Brij 30 reverse micelles enhances its stability at 50 degrees C. However, the stability of catalase incubated at 37 degrees C in micellar and reverse micellar solutions is lower than that in homogeneous aqueous solution.

Antioxidant properties of newly synthesized N-propargylamine derivatives of nitroxyl: a comparison with deprenyl.

In our search for novel, low-toxic, cell-penetrable and neuroprotective antioxidants, we have designed a number of novel N-propargylamine derivatives of nitroxyl, named "JSAKs". The reactivity and antioxidative potency of two selected JSAKs and their parent nitroxyl against reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined in vitro, in a cell-free gamma-radiolysis and in model Fenton-type reaction systems and compared with those of deprenyl, the investigated member of adjunct therapies in clinical neurology. The efficiency of JSAKs to suppress the oxidative degradation of a model target (deoxyribose), deprenyl and dopamine, caused by hydroxyl radical (*OH) was also investigated. The data demonstrated that the novel compounds, JSAKs, can act as promising antioxidants and protectors of targets against ROS toxicity, thus, providing a sound chemical basis for further comparative investigations of their activity in vivo. The findings were discussed from a mechanistic point of view as well as in terms of the structure-dependent, comprehensive properties of JSAKs as dual-function compounds: antioxidants and anti-apoptotic propargylamines. The novel class of N-propargylamine nitroxyls, JSAKs, may have potential implications for the experimental therapies of Parkinson's disease, where ROS mediate deleterious effects, because these compounds have an ability to either block or reduce the progression of neurotoxic cascade of brain damage.

Mechanism of peroxynitrite interaction with cytochrome c.

Kinetics of the reaction of peroxynitrite with ferric cytochrome c in the absence and presence of bicarbonate was studied. It was found that the heme iron in ferric cytochrome c does not react directly with peroxynitrite. The rates of the absorbance changes in the Soret region of cytochrome c spectrum caused by peroxynitrite or peroxynitrite/bicarbonate were the same as the rate of spontaneous isomerization of peroxynitrite or as the rate of the reaction of peroxynitrite with bicarbonate, respectively. This means that intermediate products of peroxynitrite decomposition, (.)OH/(.)NO(2) or, in the presence of bicarbonate, CO(3)(-)(.)/(.)NO(2), are the species responsible for the absorbance changes in the Soret band of cytochrome c. Modifications of the heme center of cytochrome c by radiolytically produced radicals, (.)OH, (.)NO(2) or CO(3)(-)(.), were also studied. The absorbance changes in the Soret band caused by radiolytically produced (.)OH or CO(3)(-)(.) were much more significant that those observed after peroxynitrite treatment, compared under similar concentrations of radicals. (.)NO(2) produced radiolytically did not interact with the heme center of cytochrome c. Cytochrome c exhibited an increased peroxidase-like activity after reaction with peroxynitrite as well as with radiolytically produced (.)OH, (.)NO(2) or CO(3)(-)(.) radicals. This means that modification of protein structure: oxidation of amino acids and/or tyrosine nitration, facilitates reaction of H(2)O(2) with the heme iron of cytochrome c, followed by reaction with the second substrate.

Synthesis and antioxidant activity evaluation of novel antiparkinsonian agents, aminoadamantane derivatives of nitroxyl free radical.

Two new analogues of the antiparkinsonian drug 1-aminoadamantane: 4-(1-adamantylamino)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl and 4-(1-adamantylammonio)-1-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinium dihydrochloride have been synthesized. Their antioxidant activity towards reactive oxygen species (ROS: (z.rad;)OH and O(2)(z.rad;-)) have been evaluated in three test systems. The compound with nitroxide substituent displays higher anti-oxidative capacity than those containing hydroxylamine. The in vivo study of ROS-involving 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-rat model of induced parkinsonism was undertaken to ascertain the neuroprotective ability of the novel synthesized compounds-antioxidants. The data clearly shows that the nitroxide free radical moiety of the molecule is necessary for their neuroprotective action on dopaminergic neurons under the applied conditions of deep oxidative stress caused by the neurotoxin (MPTP). The new synthesized analogues may find application in treatment of parkinsonian syndromes, either to block or to reduce the ROS-mediated neuronal damage and death.