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Journal ArticleDOI

Molecular mechanisms of quinone cytotoxicity.

01 Jan 1991-Chemico-Biological Interactions (Elsevier)-Vol. 80, Iss: 1, pp 1-41
TL;DR: The higher redox potential benzoquinones and naphthoquinones are the most cytotoxic presumably because of their higher electrophilicty and thiol reactivity and/or because the quinones or GSH conjugates are more readily reduced to semiquinones which activate oxygen.
About: This article is published in Chemico-Biological Interactions.The article was published on 1991-01-01. It has received 989 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Semiquinone & Redox.
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review examines how target selectivity and antioxidant effectiveness vary for different oxidants and highlights areas where greater understanding is required on the fate of oxidants generated by cellular NADPH oxidases and on the identification of oxidant sensors in cell signaling.
Abstract: There is a vast literature on the generation and effects of reactive oxygen species in biological systems, both in relation to damage they cause and their involvement in cell regulatory and signaling pathways. The biological chemistry of different oxidants is becoming well understood, but it is often unclear how this translates into cellular mechanisms where redox changes have been demonstrated. This review addresses this gap. It examines how target selectivity and antioxidant effectiveness vary for different oxidants. Kinetic considerations of reactivity are used to assess likely targets in cells and how reactions might be influenced by restricted diffusion and compartmentalization. It also highlights areas where greater understanding is required on the fate of oxidants generated by cellular NADPH oxidases and on the identification of oxidant sensors in cell signaling.

2,011 citations


Cites background from "Molecular mechanisms of quinone cyt..."

  • ...of superoxide were otherwise oxidative (for example, with reduced ironsulfur clusters (equation (4); see Box 1)), SOD would decrease hydrogen peroxide production....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The evidence strongly suggests that the numerous mechanisms of quinone toxicity can be correlated with the known pathology of the parent compound(s), including benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, estrogens, and catecholamines.
Abstract: Quinones represent a class of toxicological intermediates which can create a variety of hazardous effects in vivo, including acute cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenesis. The mechanisms by which quinones cause these effects can be quite complex. Quinones are Michael acceptors, and cellular damage can occur through alkylation of crucial cellular proteins and/or DNA. Alternatively, quinones are highly redox active molecules which can redox cycle with their semiquinone radicals, leading to formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and ultimately the hydroxyl radical. Production of ROS can cause severe oxidative stress within cells through the formation of oxidized cellular macromolecules, including lipids, proteins, and DNA. Formation of oxidatively damaged bases such as 8-oxodeoxyguanosine has been associated with aging and carcinogenesis. Furthermore, ROS can activate a number of signaling pathways, including protein kinase C and RAS. This review explore...

1,499 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The major fate of oxidised proteins is catabolism by proteosomal and lysosomal pathways, but some materials appear to be poorly degraded and accumulate within cells, and the accumulation of such damaged material may contribute to a range of human pathologies.

1,230 citations


Cites background from "Molecular mechanisms of quinone cyt..."

  • ...The chemistry of these quinone/semiquinone/diol systems has been reviewed [125,126]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that NRF2 has a significant protective role against pulmonary hyperoxic injury in mice, possibly through transcriptional activation of lung antioxidant defense enzymes.
Abstract: NRF2 is a transcription factor important in the protection against carcinogenesis and oxidative stress through antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcriptional activation of several phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes. This study was designed to determine the role of NRF2 in the pathogenesis of hyperoxic lung injury by comparing pulmonary responses to 95-98% oxygen between mice with site-directed mutation of the gene for NRF2 (Nrf2-/-) and wild-type mice (Nrf2+/+). Pulmonary hyperpermeability, macrophage inflammation, and epithelial injury in Nrf2-/- mice were 7.6-fold, 47%, and 43% greater, respectively, compared with Nrf2+/+ mice after 72 h hyperoxia exposure. Hyperoxia markedly elevated the expression of NRF2 mRNA and DNA-binding activity of NRF2 in the lungs of Nrf2+/+ mice. mRNA expression for ARE- responsive lung antioxidant and phase 2 enzymes was evaluated in both genotypes of mice to identify potential downstream molecular mechanisms of NRF2 in hyperoxic lung responses. Hyperoxia-induced mRNA levels of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-Ya and -Yc subunits, UDP glycosyl transferase (UGT), glutathione peroxidase-2 (GPx2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were significantly lower in Nrf2-/- mice compared with Nrf2+/+ mice. Consistent with differential mRNA expression, NQO1 and total GST activities were significantly lower in Nrf2-/- mice compared with Nrf2+/+ mice after hyperoxia. Results demonstrated that NRF2 has a significant protective role against pulmonary hyperoxic injury in mice, possibly through transcriptional activation of lung antioxidant defense enzymes.

651 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present review is focused on the chemistry of NAC and its interactions and functions at the organ, tissue and cellular levels in an attempt to bridge the gap between its recognized biological activities and chemistry.

614 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the reduction potentials of one-electron couples are used to predict the direction or feasibility of many free-radical reactions in aqueous solutions, including those involving phenols, aromatic amines, indoles, pyrimidines, thiols and phenothiazines.
Abstract: Reduction of an electron acceptor (oxidant), A, or oxidation of an electron donor (reductant), A2 −, is often achieved stepwise v i a one‐electron processes involving the couples A/A⋅− or A⋅−/A2 − (or corresponding prototropic conjugates such as A/AH⋅ or AH⋅/AH2). The intermediate A⋅−(AH⋅) is a free radical. The reduction potentials of such one‐electron couples are of value in predicting the direction or feasibility, and in some instances the rate constants, of many free‐radical reactions.Electrochemical methods have limited applicability in measuring these properties of frequently unstable species, but fast, kinetic spectrophotometry (especially pulse radiolysis) has widespread application in this area. Tables of c a. 1200 values of reduction potentials of c a. 700 one‐electron couples in aqueous solution are presented. The majority of organic oxidants listed are quinones, nitroaryl and bipyridinium compounds. Reductants include phenols, aromatic amines, indoles and pyrimidines, thiols and phenothiazines. Inorganic couples largely involve compounds of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and the halogens. Proteins, enzymes and metals and their complexes are excluded.

1,806 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Increased levels of total iron in the substantia nigra may cause the excessive formation of toxic oxygen radicals, leading to dopamine cell death, in Parkinson's disease.
Abstract: Levels of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and lead were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy in parkinsonian and age-matched control brain tissue There was 31-35% increase in the total iron content of the parkinsonian substantia nigra when compared to control tissue In contrast, in the globus pallidus total iron levels were decreased by 29% in Parkinson's disease There was no change in the total iron levels in any other region of the parkinsonian brain Total copper levels were reduced by 34-45% in the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease; no difference was found in the other brain areas examined Zinc levels were increased in substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease by 50-54%, and the zinc content of the caudate nucleus and lateral putamen was also raised by 18-35% Levels of manganese and lead were unchanged in all areas of the parkinsonian brain studied when compared to control brains, except for a small decrease (20%) in manganese content of the medial putamen Increased levels of total iron in the substantia nigra may cause the excessive formation of toxic oxygen radicals, leading to dopamine cell death

1,089 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: 6-hydroxydopamine and 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine kill cells through the production of H2O2, O2[unknown], and OH·, while for dopamine and dopa the reaction of quinone oxidation products with nucleophiles probably also contributes to their cytotoxicity.
Abstract: The mechanism of cytotoxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine, 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine, dopa, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine was explored by asking whether cytotoxicity was a reflection of the potential for autoxidation of each polyphenol or of the sulfhydryl reactivity of its quinone products. The cytotoxicity of the polyphenols, as measured by inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by C1300 neuroblastoma cells in tissue culture, correlated with the rate of autoxidation, as measured spectrophotometrically or by oxygen electrode studies. Polarographic determinations of the oxidation potentials of the polyphenols were also predictive of cytotoxicity; the most cytotoxic compounds had the most negative half-wave potentials and thus were the most readily oxidized. By contrast, the sulfhydryl reactivity of the quinone oxidation products of the polyphenols, as measured by inhibition of purified calf thymus DNA polymerase α, exhibited an inverse relationship to the cytotoxicity of the polyphenols; the most toxic compounds, 6-hydroxydopamine and 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine, were oxidized to the least reactive quinone products. An alternative mechanism of toxicity was observed with N -acetyldopamine, which was oxidized to 4-(2- N -acetylaminoethyl)-1,2-benzoquinone, a potent sulfhydryl reagent. N -Acetyldopamine was more toxic than predicted by its half-wave potential or its rate of autoxidation. Furthermore, while norepinephrine completely neutralized 6-hydroxydopamine and 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine as cytotoxic agents, the toxicity of N -acetyldopamine was minimally affected. Thus we conclude that 6-hydroxydopamine and 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine kill cells through the production of H2O2, O2[unknown], and OH·, while for dopamine and dopa the reaction of quinone oxidation products with nucleophiles probably also contributes to their cytotoxicity.

969 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the presence of cytotoxic concentrations of menadione rapid changes in intracellular thiol and Ca2+ homeostasis were observed and were associated with alterations in the surface structure of the hepatocytes which may be an early indication of cytOToxicity.

882 citations