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Quinones
Kinds of Quinones Terms modified by Quinones Selected AbstractsChemInform Abstract: A Novel Sesquiterpene Quinone from Hainan Sponge Dysidea villosa.CHEMINFORM, Issue 21 2009Yan Li Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source] ChemInform Abstract: On Condensation Reactions of Aceanthrene Quinone: Novel Heterocycles.CHEMINFORM, Issue 19 2002Atef M. Amer Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source] Behavior of PQQ Glucose Dehydrogenase on Prussian Blue-Modified Carbon ElectrodeELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 13 2008Valdas Laurinavicius Abstract Glucose sensitive biosensor containing pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent glucose dehydrogenase immobilized on Prussian blue (PB)-modified graphite electrode was designed. Properties of the biosensor were investigated in the cathodic and anodic response detection regions. It was shown, that anodic response of the biosensor is sum of two signals: direct electron transport from reduced PQQ to the electrode and by formation of the PQQ-oxygen-PB-carbon ternary complex. Cathodic response of the biosensor is based on the oxidation of the reduced PQQ by PB-oxygen-PB complex. Electrochemical regeneration of the enzyme does not produce free hydrogen peroxide. [source] Electrode Reactions of Catechol at Tyrosinase-Immobilized Latex SuspensionsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 8 2004Patsamon Rijiravanich Abstract Tyrosinase was immobilized on polystyrene latex particles in order to control amounts of the enzyme. The tyrosinase-coated latex particles were composed of the core polystyrene and four successive coating layers: polystyrene sulfonate, polyallylamine, tyrosinase and polyallylamine again, built up by the layer-by-layer technique. They showed catalytic currents for the enzymatic oxidation of catechol to o -quinone. The enzyme activity per particle was evaluated as 2.3×10,7 units from UV absorption of o -quinone. The relation between the catalytic current and the concentration of catechol leads to a Michaelis-Menten type kinetic equation. The layer-by-layer method was found to have a deactivating effect on enzyme catalysis. In spite of this, the catechol oxidation current was larger than the current from free tyrosinase at a common value of enzyme units per volume. This is ascribed to strong adsorption of the latex particles on the electrode, leading to the enhancement of the local concentration of tyrosinase. [source] Off the Back or on the Side: Comparison of meso and 2-Substituted Donor-Acceptor Difluoroborondipyrromethene (Bodipy) DyadsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 15 2010Andrew C. Benniston Abstract The preparation of several difluoroborondipyrromethene (Bodipy) dyads is described incorporating covalently attached hydroquinone/quinone groups at the 2-position (BD-SHQ, BD-SQ, BD-SPHQ, BD-SPQ). The compounds, currently under investigation as chemical sensors for reactive oxygen species, show various levels of fluorescence depending on the oxidation state of the appended group. The 19F NMR spectrum for BD-SHQ in CDCl3 at room temperature reveals the two fluorines are inequivalent on the NMR timescale. In contrast, the 19F NMR spectrum for the counterpart quinone compound, BD-SQ, is consistent with two equivalent fluorine atoms. The two results are interpreted as the quinone is free to rotate around the connector bond, whereas this motion is restricted for the hydroquinone group and makes the fluorines chemically inequivalent. Cyclic voltammograms recorded for all derivatives in CH2Cl2 electrolyte solution are consistent with typical Bodipy-based redox chemistry; the potentials of which depend on factors such as presence of the phenylene spacer and oxidation state of the appended group. A comparison of the electrochemical behaviour with the counterpart meso derivatives reveals some interesting trends which are associated with the location of the HOMO/LUMOs. The absorption profiles for the compounds in CH3CN are again consistent with Bodipy-based derivatives, though there are some subtle differences in the band-shapes of the closely-coupled systems. In particular, the absorption spectra for the dyad, BD-SQ, in a wide range of solvents are appreciably broader than for BD-SHQ. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy performed on the hydroquinone derivatives, BD-SHQ and its meso analogue is interpreted as electron transfer occurs from the hydroquinone unit to the first-excited singlet (S1) state of the Bodipy center, followed by ultrafast charge recombination to reinstate the ground state. The coupling of OH vibrations to the return electron transfer process is invoked to explain the lack of clear identification of the charge-separated state in the transient records. [source] Adapted DAX-8 fractionation method for dissolved organic matter (DOM) from soils: development, calibration with test components and application to contrasting soil solutionsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009F. Amery Summary Most methods to fractionate natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) rely on sorption of acidified DOM samples onto XAD-8 or DAX-8 resin. Procedural differences among methods are large and their interpretation is limited because there is a lack of calibration with DOM model molecules. An automated column-based DOM fractionation method was set up for 10-ml DOM samples, dividing DOM into hydrophilic (HPI), hydrophobic acid (HPOA) and hydrophobic neutral (HPON) fractions. Fifteen DOM model components were tested in isolation and in combination. Three reference DOM samples of the International Humic Substances Society were included to facilitate comparison with other methods. Aliphatic low-molecular-weight acids (LMWAs) and carbohydrates were classified as HPI DOM, but some LMWAs showed also a partial HPO character. Aromatic LMWAs and polyphenols partitioned in the HPOA fraction, menadione (quinone) and geraniol (terpenoid) in HPON DOM. Molecules with log Kow > 0.5 had negligible HPI fractions. The HPO molecules except geraniol had specific UV absorbance (SUVA, measure for aromaticity) >3 litres g,1 cm,1 while HPI molecules had SUVA values <3 litres g,1 cm,1. Distributions of DOM from eight soils ranged from 31 to 72% HPI, 25 to 46% HPOA and 2 to 28% HPON of total dissolved organic carbon. The SUVA of the HPI DOM was consistently smaller compared with the HPOA DOM. The SUVA of the natural DOM samples was not explained statistically by fractionation and the variation coefficient of SUVA among samples was not reduced by fractionation. Hence, fractionation did not reduce the variability in this DOM property, which casts some doubts on the practical role of DOM fractionation in predicting DOM properties. [source] Sulfide : quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) from the lugworm Arenicola marina shows cyanide- and thioredoxin-dependent activityFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008Ursula Theissen The lugworm Arenicola marina inhabits marine sediments in which sulfide concentrations can reach up to 2 mm. Although sulfide is a potent toxin for humans and most animals, because it inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase at micromolar concentrations, A. marina can use electrons from sulfide for mitochondrial ATP production. In bacteria, electron transfer from sulfide to quinone is catalyzed by the membrane-bound flavoprotein sulfide : quinone oxidoreductase (SQR). A cDNA from A. marina was isolated and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which lacks endogenous SQR. The heterologous enzyme was active in mitochondrial membranes. After affinity purification, Arenicola SQR isolated from yeast mitochondria reduced decyl-ubiquinone (Km = 6.4 ,m) after the addition of sulfide (Km = 23 ,m) only in the presence of cyanide (Km = 2.6 mm). The end product of the reaction was thiocyanate. When cyanide was substituted by Escherichia coli thioredoxin and sulfite, SQR exhibited one-tenth of the cyanide-dependent activity. Six amino acids known to be essential for bacterial SQR were exchanged by site-directed mutagenesis. None of the mutant enzymes was active after expression in yeast, implicating these amino acids in the catalytic mechanism of the eukaryotic enzyme. [source] Inhibition of ,-synuclein fibrillization by dopamine analogs via reaction with the amino groups of ,-synucleinFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 14 2005Implication for dopaminergic neurodegeneration Fibrillization of ,-synuclein (,-Syn) is closely associated with the formation of Lewy bodies in neurons and dopamine (DA) is a potent inhibitor for the process, which is implicated in the causative pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). To elucidate any molecular mechanism that may have biological relevance, we tested the inhibitory abilities of DA and several analogs including chemically synthetic and natural polyphenols in vitro. The MS and NMR characterizations strongly demonstrate that DA and its analogs inhibit ,-Syn fibrillization by a mechanism where the oxidation products (quinones) of DA analogs react with the amino groups of ,-Syn chain, generating ,-Syn,quinone adducts. It is likely that the amino groups of ,-Syn undergo nucleophilic attack on the quinone moiety of DA analogs to form imino bonds. The covalently cross-linked ,-Syn adducts by DA are primarily large molecular mass oligomers, while those by catechol and p -benzoquinone (or hydroquinone) are largely monomers or dimers. The DA quinoprotein retains the same cytotoxicity as the intact ,-Syn, suggesting that the oligomeric intermediates are the major elements that are toxic to the neuronal cells. This finding implies that the reaction of ,-Syn with DA is relevant to the selective dopaminergic loss in PD. [source] Exploring the primary electron acceptor (QA)-site of the bacterial reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroidesFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2002Binding mode of vitamin K derivatives The functional replacement of the primary ubiquinone (QA) in the photosynthetic reaction center (RC) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides with synthetic vitamin K derivatives has provided a powerful tool to investigate the electron transfer mechanism. To investigate the binding mode of these quinones to the QA binding site we have determined the binding free energy and charge recombination rate from QA, to D+ (kAD) of 29 different 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives with systematically altered structures. The most striking result was that none of the eight tested compounds carrying methyl groups in both positions 5 and 8 of the aromatic ring exhibited functional binding. To understand the binding properties of these quinones on a molecular level, the structures of the reaction center-naphthoquinone complexes were predicted with ligand docking calculations. All protein,ligand structures show hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl oxygens of the quinone and AlaM260 and HisM219 as found for the native ubiquinone-10 in the X-ray structure. The center-to-center distance between the naphthoquinones at QA and the native ubiquinone-10 at QB (the secondary electron acceptor) is essentially the same, compared to the native structure. A detailed analysis of the docking calculations reveals that 5,8-disubstitution prohibits binding due to steric clashes of the 5-methyl group with the backbone atoms of AlaM260 and AlaM249. The experimentally determined binding free energies were reproduced with an rmsd of ,,4 kJ·mol,1 in most cases providing a valuable tool for the design of new artificial electron acceptors and inhibitors. [source] Inactivation of pqq genes of Enterobacter intermedium 60-2G reduces antifungal activity and induction of systemic resistanceFEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2008Song Hee Han Abstract Enterobacter intermedium 60-2G, a phosphate solubilizing bacterium, has the ability to induce systemic resistance in plants against soft rot pathogen Erwinia carotovora. Glucose dehydrogenase, an enzyme that utilizes pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) as a cofactor, is required for the synthesis of gluconic acid by E. intermedium 60-2G. Here, we report that the pqqA and pqqB genes are required for phosphate solubilization and induced systemic resistance against a soft rot pathogen in tobacco. Mutations in either the pqqA or pqqB gene abolished the production of 2-ketogluconic acid and eliminated the ability of E. intermedium to solubilize hydroxyapatite. Addition of gluconic acid to the growth media restored the ability of the pqqA mutant to produce 2-ketogluconic acid. Interestingly, both pqqA and pqqB mutants of E. intermedium lost their ability to inhibit the growth of the rice pathogen Magnaporthe grisea KI-409. Additionally, induced systemic resistance against the soft rot pathogen was attenuated in the pqq mutants. These functions were restored by complementation with the wild-type pqq gene cluster. Our findings suggest that PQQ plays an important function in beneficial traits including phosphate solubilization, antifungal activity, and induced systemic resistance of E. intermedium, possibly by acting as a cofactor for several enzymes including glucose dehydrogenase. [source] The Bifidogenic Growth Stimulator Inhibits the Growth and Respiration of Helicobacter pyloriHELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2010Kumiko Nagata Abstract Background:, Triple therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and a proton-pump inhibitor is a common therapeutic strategy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). However, frequent appearance of clarithromycin-resistant strains is a therapeutic challenge. While various quinones are known to specifically inhibit the growth of H. pylori, the quinone 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA) produced by Propionibacterium has strong stimulating effect on Bifidobacterium. We were interested to see whether DHNA could inhibit the growth of H. pylori in in vitro or in vivo experimental setting. Materials and Methods:, The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of DHNA was determined by the agar dilution method. The inhibitory action of DHNA on the respiratory activity was measured by using an oxygen electrode. Germ-free mice infected with H. pylori were given DHNA in free drinking water containing 100 ,g/mL for 7 days. Results:, DHNA inhibited H. pylori growth at low MIC values, 1.6,3.2 ,g/mL. Likewise, DHNA inhibited clinical isolates of H. pylori, resistant to clarithromycin. However, DHNA did not inhibit other Gram negative or anaerobic bacteria in the normal flora of the human intestine. Both H. pylori cellular respiration and adenosine 5,-triphosphate (ATP) generation were dose-dependently inhibited by DHNA. Similarly, the culture filtrates of propionibacterial strains inhibited the growth of H. pylori, and oral administration of DHNA could eradicate H. pylori in the infected germ-free mice. Conclusions:, The bifidogenic growth stimulator DHNA specifically inhibited the growth of H. pylori including clarithromycin-resistant strains in vitro and its colonization activity in vivo. The bactericidal activity of DHNA was via inhibition of cellular respiration. These actions of DHNA may have clinical relevance in the eradication of H. pylori. [source] DPPH (=,2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl,=,2,2-Diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) Radical-Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid Esters (=,3,4-Dihydroxybenzoates) in Alcohols: Formation of Bis-alcohol AdductHELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, Issue 4 2006Shizuka Saito Abstract Protocatechuic acid esters (=,3,4-dihydroxybenzoates) scavenge ca. 5,equiv. of radical in alcoholic solvents, whereas they consume only 2,equiv. of radical in nonalcoholic solvents. While the high radical-scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents as compared to that in nonalcoholic solvents is due to a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule at C(2) of an intermediate o -quinone structure, thus regenerating a catechol (=,benzene-1,2-diol) structure, it is still unclear why protocatechuic acid esters scavenge more than 4,equiv. of radical (C(2) refers to the protocatechuic acid numbering). Therefore, to elucidate the oxidation mechanism beyond the formation of the C(2) alcohol adduct, 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester (4), the C(2) MeOH adduct, which is an oxidation product of methyl protocatechuate (1) in MeOH, was oxidized by the DPPH radical (=,2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) or o -chloranil (=,3,4,5,6-tetrachlorocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-dione) in CD3OD/(D6)acetone 3,:,1). The oxidation mixtures were directly analyzed by NMR. Oxidation with both the DPPH radical and o -chloranil produced a C(2),C(6) bis-methanol adduct (7), which could scavenge additional 2,equiv. of radical. Calculations of LUMO electron densities of o -quinones corroborated the regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohol molecules with o -quinones. Our results strongly suggest that the regeneration of a catechol structure via a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule with a o -quinone is a key reaction for the high radical-scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents. [source] Mechanism of metabolic activation and DNA adduct formation by the human carcinogen diethylstilbestrol: The defining link to natural estrogensINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2009Muhammad Saeed Abstract Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a human carcinogen, based on sufficient epidemiological evidence. DES is mainly metabolized to its catechol, 3,-hydroxyDES (3,-OH-DES), which can further oxidize to DES-3,,4,-quinone (DES-3,,4,-Q). Similarly to estradiol-3,4-quinone, the reaction of DES-3,,4,-Q with DNA would form the depurinating 3,-OH-DES-6,-N3Ade and 3,-OH-DES-6,-N7Gua adducts. To prove this hypothesis, synthesis of DES-3,,4,-Q by oxidation of 3,-OH-DES with Ag2O was tried; this failed due to instantaneous formation of a spiro -quinone. Oxidation of 3,-OH-DES by lactoperoxidase or tyrosinase in the presence of DNA led to the formation of 3,-OH-DES-6,-N3Ade and 3,-OH-DES-6,-N7Gua adducts. These adducts were tentatively identified by LC-MS/MS as 3,-OH-DES-6,-N3Ade, m/z = 418 [M+H]+, and 3,-OH-DES-6,-N7Gua, m/z = 434 [M+H]+. Demonstration of their structures derived from their oxidation by MnO2 to the DES quinone adducts and subsequent tautomerization to the dienestrol (DIES) catechol adducts, which are identical to the standard 3,-OH-DIES-6,-N3Ade, m/z = 416 [M+H]+, and 3,-OH-DIES-6,-N7Gua, m/z = 432 [M+H]+, adducts. The reaction of DIES-3,,4,-Q or lactoperoxidase-activated 3,-OH-DIES with DNA did not produce any depurinating adducts, due to the dienic chain being perpendicular to the phenyl planes, which impedes the intercalation of DIES into the DNA. Enzymic oxidation of 3,-OH-DES suggests that the catechol of DES intercalates into DNA and is then oxidized to its quinone to yield N3Ade and N7Gua adducts. These results suggest that the common denominator of tumor initiation by the synthetic estrogen DES and the natural estrogen estradiol is formation of their catechol quinones, which react with DNA to afford the depurinating N3Ade and N7Gua adducts. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cytotoxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyl hydroquinone metabolites in rat hepatocytesJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Katie Chan Abstract Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that exhibit various toxic effects in animals and exposed human populations. The molecular mechanisms of PCB toxicity have been attributed to the toxicological properties of its metabolites, such as hydroquinones, formed by cytochrome-P-450 oxidation. The effects of PCB hydroquinone metabolites towards freshly isolated rat hepatocytes were investigated. Hydroquinones can be oxidized to semiquinones and/or quinone metabolites. These metabolites can conjugate glutathione or can oxidize glutathione as a result of redox cycling. This depletes hepatocyte glutathione, which can inhibit cellular defence mechanisms, causing cell death and an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. However in the following, glutathione-depleted hepatocytes became more resistant to the hydroquinone metabolites of PCBs. This suggested that their glutathione conjugates were toxic and that there was a third type of quinone toxicity mechanism which involved a hydrogen peroxide-accelerated autoxidation of the hydroquinones to form toxic electrophilic quinone and semiquinone,glutathione conjugates. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Evidence for redox cycling of lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) in the presence of the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase systemJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2003A. M. Osman Abstract This study reports that lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) undergoes redox cycling in the presence of the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system. The rate of cytochrome c reduction obtained in the presence of 80 µM lawsone was almost three times the rate of cytochrome c reduction measured in its absence. This increase in the rate of cytochrome c reduction was partially inhibited by superoxide dismutase, suggesting the involvement of O2,, in this process. It is remarkable to note that, even though lawsone is considered to be a non-redox-cycling quinone in vitro, this quinone was shown to be more toxic in vivo in rats than menadione, causing haemolytic anemia of an oxidative nature and renal damage. The view that this quinone is a non-redox-cycling quinone was based on the inability of one-electron-transferring ,avoenzymes such as NADPH-cytochrome c reductase to reduce this naphthoquinone. Our ,nding that lawsone, like menadione, undergoes redox cycling in the presence of the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system could explain the observed oxidative damage of tissues in,icted by this quinone in rats in vivo. Such an observation therefore reconciles the in vivo toxicity results of this naphthoquinone with those of in vitro experiments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Direct hydride transfer in the reaction mechanism of quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases: a quantum mechanical investigationJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 15 2001A. Jongejan Abstract Oxidation of alcohols by direct hydride transfer to the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) cofactor of quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases has been studied using ab initio quantum mechanical methods. Energies and geometries were calculated at the 6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Comparison of the results obtained for PQQ and several derivatives with available structural and spectroscopic data served to judge the feasibility of the calculations. The role of calcium in the enzymatic reaction mechanism has been investigated. Transition state searches have been conducted at the semiempirical and STO-3G(d) level of theory. It is concluded that hydride transfer from the C,-position of the substrate alcohol (or aldehyde) directly to the C(5) carbon of PQQ is energetically feasible. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1732,1749, 2001 [source] Changes in endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins and aldolase A in cells exposed to dopamineJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008April A. Dukes Abstract In Parkinson's disease, oxidative stress is implicated in protein misfolding and aggregation, which may activate the unfolded protein response by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Dopamine (DA) can initiate oxidative stress via H2O2 formation by DA metabolism and by oxidation into DA quinone. We have previously shown that DA quinone induces oxidative protein modification, mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro, and dopaminergic cell toxicity in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we used cysteine- and lysine-reactive fluorescent dyes with 2D difference in-gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and peptide mass fingerprint analysis to identify proteins in PC12 cell mitochondrial-enriched fractions that were altered in abundance following DA exposure (150 ,M, 16 h). Quantitative changes in proteins labeled with fluorescent dyes indicated increases in a subset of proteins after DA exposure: calreticulin, ERp29, ERp99, Grp58, Grp78, Grp94 and Orp150 (149,260%), and decreased levels of aldolase A (39,42%). Changes in levels of several proteins detected by 2D difference in-gel electrophoresis were confirmed by western blot. Using this unbiased proteomics approach, our findings demonstrated that in PC12 cells, DA exposure leads to a cellular response indicative of ER stress prior to the onset of cell death, providing a potential link between DA and the unfolded protein response in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. [source] Iron accelerates the conversion of dopamine-oxidized intermediates into melanin and provides protection in SH-SY5Y cellsJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2005Yasuhiko Izumi Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), and it has been suggested that dopamine is one of the main endogenous toxins in the genesis of PD. We demonstrated that thiol antioxidants (the reduced form of glutathione, N -acetyl-L-cysteine, and L-cysteine), which conjugate with one dopamine oxidation intermediate, o -quinone, provided almost complete protection from dopamine-mediated toxicity in SH-SY5Y, a human neuroblastoma cell line. In contrast, catalase partially provided protection against cell death caused by dopamine. These data suggest that the generation of dopamine oxidation intermediates, rather than hydrogen peroxide, plays a pivotal role in dopamine-induced toxicity. Iron accumulated in the SN of patients with PD can cause dopaminergic neuronal degeneration by enhancing oxidative stress. However, we found that iron reduced the total amounts of dopamine oxidation intermediates and enhanced the formation of melanin, a final product of dopamine oxidation. Also, addition of iron inhibited dopamine-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that iron can provide protection when it accelerates the conversion of dopamine oxidation intermediates. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] p -quinone mediates 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic neuronal death and ferrous iron accelerates the conversion of p -quinone into melanin extracellularlyJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005Yasuhiko Izumi Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a dopaminergic neurotoxin, is detected in human brains and the urine of PD patients. Using SH-SY5Y, a human neuroblastoma cell line, we demonstrated that 6-OHDA toxicity was determined by the amount of p -quinone produced in 6-OHDA auto-oxidation rather than by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione (GSH), which conjugated with p -quinone, provided significant protection whereas catalase, which detoxified hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions, failed to block cell death caused by 6-OHDA. Although iron accumulated in the SN of patients with PD can cause dopaminergic neuronal degeneration by enhancing oxidative stress, we found that extracellular ferrous iron promoted the formation of melanin and reduced the amount of p -quinone. The addition of ferrous iron to the culture medium inhibited caspase-3 activation and apoptotic nuclear morphologic changes and blocked 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and primary cultured mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. These data suggested that generation of p -quinone played a pivotal role in 6-OHDA-induced toxicity and extracellular iron in contrast to intracellular iron was protective rather than harmful because it accelerated the conversion of p -quinone into melanin. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Extended Car,Parrinello molecular dynamics and electronic g -tensors study of benzosemiquinone radical anion,MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue S1 2005James R. Asher Abstract Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations of benzoquinone and benzosemiquinone radical anion in both aqueous solution and the gas phase have been carried out at ambient conditions. Hydrogen bonding is considerably more extensive to the anionic than to the neutral aqueous system. In addition to the conventional hydrogen bonding to the carbonyl oxygen atoms, T-stacked hydrogen bonding to the , -system is statistically and energetically significant for the semiquinone anion but not for the neutral quinone. EPR g -tensors have been calculated at DFT level for snapshots taken at regular intervals from the gas-phase and solution semiquinone anion trajectories. Different criteria for extraction of semiquinone/water clusters from the solution trajectory give insight into the effects of different interactions on the g -tensor, as does correlation of the g -tensor with statistically significant hydrogen-bond configurations identified along the trajectories. Comparison of gas-phase and solution results indicates opposite directions of direct electronic and indirect structural influences of hydrogen bonding on g -tensors. Short-time oscillations in gx along the trajectory are due mainly to CO bond vibrations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Photo-induced cross-linking mechanism in azide,novolac negative photoresists: molecular level investigation using NMR spectroscopyMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2003Debmalya Roy Abstract Negative photoresists are composed of a photoactive component (aromatic azides/bisazides) and cyclized rubber or novolac resin dissolved in an organic solvent. Hydrogen abstraction and/or insertion reaction of the reactive nitrene intermediate formed during photoirradiation of the azide result in a cross-linked network of the novolac resin. The molecular weight of novolac resin in the exposed part of the photoresist film thus increases compared with that of the unexposed part. This makes the exposed part insoluble in the alkaline developer. Exploiting this change in physical property, a pattern can be transferred to a substrate from a mask. A better understanding of the exact mechanism of cross-linking reactions is very important to the design of a high-performing negative photoresist. A quinone,imine-type complex has been proposed earlier involving the aromatic moiety of novolac resin as the reaction site. A more recent study focuses the attack of nitrene on the methylenic bridge and hydroxyl group of novolac resins, which were found to be responsible for the cross-linking reaction along with the aromatic moiety of novolac resin. However, in our study no evidence was found for the involvement of a methylenic hydrogen or aromatic moiety of novolac resin in the cross-linking reaction. The 1H NMR, 13C NMR and DEPT-135 spectra before and after photolysis indicate that the cross-linking site is predominantly the hydroxyl group of novolac resin. Multiple reaction sites of attack for the nitrene intermediate have been demonstrated in cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL)-based novolac resin by 1H NMR spectroscopy, which in turn further increases the cross-linked network in the exposed part of a negative photoresist. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Enhanced rat sciatic nerve regeneration through silicon tubes filled with pyrroloquinoline quinoneMICROSURGERY, Issue 4 2005Shiqing Liu M.D. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an antioxidant that also stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and secretion. In an earlier pilot study in our laboratory, Schwann cell growth was accelerated, and NGF mRNA expression and NGF secretion were promoted. The present study was designed to explore the possible nerve-inducing effect of PQQ on a nerve tube model over a 1-cm segmental deficit. An 8-mm sciatic nerve deficit was created in a rat model and bridged by a 1-cm silicone tube. Then,10 ,l of 0.03 mmol/l PQQ were perfused into the silicone chamber in the PQQ group. The same volume of normal saline was delivered in the control group. Each animal underwent functional observation (SFI) at 2-week intervals and electrophysiological studies at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks. Histological and morphometrical analyses were performed at the end of the experiment, 12 weeks after tube implantation. Using a digital image-analysis system, thickness of the myelin sheath was measured, and total numbers of regenerated axons were counted. There was a significant difference in SFI, electrophysiological index (motor-nerve conduct velocity and amplitude of activity potential), and morphometrical results (regenerated axon number and thickness of myelin sheath) in nerve regeneration between the PQQ group and controls (P < 0.05). More mature, high-density, newly regenerated nerve was observed in the PQQ group. We conclude that PQQ is a potent enhancer for the regeneration of peripheral nerves. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 25:329,337, 2005. [source] A novel substitution I381V in the sterol 14,-demethylase (CYP51) of Mycosphaerella graminicola is differentially selected by azole fungicidesMOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2007B. A. FRAAIJE SUMMARY The recent reduction in the efficacy of azole fungicides in controlling Septoria leaf blotch of wheat, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola, has prompted concerns over possible development of resistance, particularly in light of the recent emergence of widespread resistance to quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs). We have recently implicated alterations in the target-encoding sterol 14,-demethylase protein (CYP51), and over-expression of genes encoding efflux pumps, in reducing sensitivity to the azole class of sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) in M. graminicola. Here we report on the prevalence and selection of two CYP51 alterations, substitution I381V and deletion of codons 459 and 460 (,Y459/G460), in populations of M. graminicola. Neither alteration has previously been identified in human or plant pathogenic fungi resistant to azoles. The presence of ,Y459/G460 showed a continuous distribution of EC50 values across isolates with either I381 or V381, and had no measurable effect on azole sensitivity. Data linking fungicide sensitivity with the presence of I381V in M. graminicola show for the first time that a particular CYP51 alteration is differentially selected by different azoles in field populations of a plant pathogen. Substitution I381V although not an absolute requirement for reduced azole sensitivity, is selected by tebuconazole and difenoconazole treatment, suggesting an adaptive advantage in the presence of these two compounds. Prochloraz treatments appeared to select negatively for I381V, whereas other azole treatments did not or only weakly impacted on the prevalence of this substitution. These findings suggest treatments with different members of the azole class of fungicides could offer a resistance management strategy. [source] Photosensitizing Properties of Triplet ,-Lapachones in Acetonitrile SolutionPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009José Carlos Netto-Ferreira The photochemical reactivity of ,-lapachone (1), nor -,-lapachone (2) and 1,2-naphthoquinone (3) towards amino acids and nucleobases or nucleosides has been examined employing the nanosecond laser flash photolysis technique. Excitation (, = 355 nm) of degassed solutions of 1,3, in acetonitrile, resulted in the formation of their corresponding triplet excited states. These transients were efficiently quenched by l -tryptophan, l -tryptophan methyl ester, l -tyrosine, l -tyrosine methyl ester and l -cysteine (kq , 109 L mol,1 s,1). For l -tryptophan, l -tyrosine and their methyl esters new transients were formed in the quenching process, which were assigned to the corresponding radical pair resulting from an initial electron transfer from the amino acids or their esters to the excited quinone, followed by a fast proton transfer. No measurable quenching rate constants could be observed in the presence of thymine and thymidine. On the other hand, efficient rate constants were obtained when 1,3 were quenched by 2,-deoxyguanosine (kq , 109 L mol,1 s,1). The quantum efficiency of singlet oxygen (1O2) formation from 1 to 3 was determined employing time-resolved near-IR emission studies upon laser excitation and showed considerably high values in all cases (,, = 0.6), which are fully in accord with the ,,* character of these triplets in acetonitrile. [source] Photosensitized Oxidation of Hypoxanthine and Xanthine by Aluminum Phthalocyanine Tetrasulfonate.PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 20084-benzoquinone, 5-Dichloro-diaziridinyl-, Role of the Alkylating Quinone Photoirradiation of nitrogen-saturated aqueous solutions containing aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AlPcS4) at 675 nm in the presence of 2,5-dichloro-diaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinone (AZDClQ) and hypoxanthine (HX) produces the oxidized HX derivatives, xanthine (X) and uric acid (UA). Concentrations of the AZDClQ semiquinone, X and UA increase at the expense of HX with an increase in irradiation time. Almost negligible decomposition of HX, as well as very low amounts of X, are detected if photolysis occurs under identical conditions but in the absence of AZDClQ. Addition of calf-thymus DNA produces quinone-DNA covalent adducts after photolysis of anaerobic samples containing quinone, DNA and AlPcS4, in the presence or absence of HX and at pH 5.5. However, larger amounts of quinone-DNA adducts are detected if HX is present. The results presented here could have applications in the photodynamic treatment of hypoxic tissues such as solid tumors, under conditions of high HX concentration, where Type-I pathways could be more important than singlet oxygen generation. [source] Structural Studies of Bleached Melanin by Synchrotron Small-angle X-ray Scattering,PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Kenneth C. Littrell ABSTRACT Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to measure the effects of chemical bleaching on the size and morphology of tyrosine-derived synthetic melanin dispersed in aqueous media. The average size as measured by the radius of gyration of the melanin particles in solution, at neutral to mildly basic pH, decreases from 16.5 to 12.5 Å with increased bleaching. The melanin particles exhibit scattering characteristic of sheet-like structures with a thickness of approximately 11 Å at all but the highest levels of bleaching. The scattering data are well described by the form factor for scattering from a pancake-like circular cylinder. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that unbleached melanin, at neutral to mildly basic pH, is a planar aggregate of 6- to 10-nm-sized melanin protomolecules, hydrogen bonded through their quinone and phenolic perimeters. The observed decrease in melanin particle size with increased bleaching is interpreted as evidence for deaggregation, most probably the result of oxidative disruption of hydrogen bonds and an increase in the number of charged, carboxylic acid groups, whereby the melanin aggregates disassociate into units composed of decreasing numbers of protomolecules. [source] Mechanistic Studies of Catechol Generation from Secondary Quinone Amines Relevant to Indole Formation and Tyrosinase ActivationPIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH, Issue 4 2003Edward J. Land The biological significance of the spontaneous cyclization and redox reactions of ortho -quinone amines is that these appear to be the mechanism of formation of the indolic components of melanin and are also involved in the autoactivation of tyrosinase. We have previously shown that activation of tyrosinase is prevented by the formation of a cyclic betaine from a tertiary amine analogue. Evidence is presented to show that cyclization of ortho -quinones by Michael addition also occurs in the oxidation of secondary catecholamines. Three varieties of cyclic product have been detected and their formation is influenced by the nature of the N -substituent. Five-membered betaine rings form directly and, although six- and seven-membered rings also form, a transient spiro isomer of the ortho -quinone was in some cases detected as an intermediate. The heterocyclic products formed as betaines undergo redox exchange with residual quinone to form the corresponding aminochromes. We have established the kinetic constants of these reactions, either directly by pulse radiolysis measurements or by inference using a computer model of the reaction pathway to fit the observed data. To investigate the potential biological applications of this chemistry the system was also examined by tyrosinase-catalysed oxidation of the catecholamine substrates in which there is re-oxidation of the catechol formed by the redox exchange reaction and enables measurement of oxygen utilization stoichiometry. We show that the redox exchange reaction is unaffected by side-chain modification whereas cyclization is dependent on both electronic and steric factors. In the light of these studies we conclude that the failure of tertiary amine-derived betaines to undergo redox exchange, and thus block in vitro activation of tyrosinase, is due to the absence of a second exchangeable proton. [source] Structural characteristics of p - t -Octylphenol formaldehyde resole resins using molecular simulationPOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 2 2002Sung-Seen Choi Abstract p-t-Octylphenol formaldehyde resole resins have two linkage types of methylene- and dimethylene ether-linkages and have three terminal types of hydrogen, methylol, and o-methylene quinone. Variation of structural characteristics of the resins due to different types of linkages and terminals were studied using molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics. The structural characteristics of the methylene-bridged resins were intramolecular hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups of the adjacent p-t-octylphenols. In the dimethylene ether-bridged resin, the intramolecular hydrogen bonds between oxygen atoms of the dimethylene ether-linkages and hydroxyl groups of the neighboring phenolic units were found. For the resins with both methylol terminals, one of both terminals of the resins was hidden at the center of the molecule when the resin size is large. The number of hydrogen bonds in the resins with the methylol terminal was larger than for the resins with the o-methylene quinone terminal. Variation of the structural characteristics of the resins by dehydration of the terminal methylol was discussed. Using the calculated results, dissociation of the dimethylene ether linkage and crosslinking reaction of rubber chains by the resin were explained. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Characterization of covalent addition products of chlorogenic acid quinone with amino acid derivatives in model systems and apple juice by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 4 2008Susanne Schilling High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) was used to study the covalent interactions between chlorogenic acid (CQA) quinone and two amino acid derivatives, tert -butyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine and N -acetyl-L-cysteine. In a model system at pH 7.0, the formation of covalent addition products was demonstrated for both derivatives. The addition product of CQA dimer and tert -butyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine was characterized by LC/MSn as a benzacridine structure. For N -acetyl-L-cysteine, mono- and diaddition products at the thiol group with CQA quinone were found. In apple juice at pH 3.6, covalent interactions of CQA quinone were observed only with N -acetyl-L-cysteine. Taking together these results and those reported by other groups it can be concluded that covalent interactions of amino side chains with phenolic compounds could contribute to the reduction of the allergenic potential of certain food proteins. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Neuroprotective effects of zonisamide target astrocyteANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 2 2010Masato Asanuma MD Objective Recent double-blind, controlled trials in Japan showed that the antiepileptic agent zonisamide (ZNS) improves the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Glutathione (GSH) exerts antioxidative activity through quenching reactive oxygen species and dopamine quinone. GSH depletion within dopaminergic neurons impairs mitochondrial complex I activity, followed by age-dependent nigrostriatal neurodegeneration. This study examined changes in GSH and GSH synthesis-related molecules, and the neuroprotective effects of ZNS on dopaminergic neurodegeneration using 6-hydroxydopamine,injected hemiparkinsonian mice brain and cultured neurons or astrocytes. Methods and Results ZNS increased both the cell number and GSH levels in astroglial C6 cells, but not in dopaminergic neuronal CATH.a cells. Repeated injections of ZNS (30mg/kg intraperitoneally) for 14 days also significantly increased GSH levels and S100,-positive astrocytes in mouse basal ganglia. Repeated ZNS injections (30mg/kg) for 7 days in the hemiparkinsonian mice increased the expression of cystine/glutamate exchange transporter xCT in activated astrocytes, which supply cysteine to neurons for GSH synthesis. Treatment of these mice with ZNS also increased GSH levels and completely suppressed striatal levodopa,induced quinone formation. Reduction of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in the lesioned side of hemiparkinsonian mice was significantly abrogated by repeated injections of ZNS with or without adjunctive levodopa starting 3 weeks after 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning. Interpretation These results provide new pharmacological evidence for the effects of ZNS. ZNS markedly increased GSH levels by enhancing the astroglial cystine transport system and/or astroglial proliferation via S100, production or secretion. ZNS acts as a neuroprotectant against oxidative stress and progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:239,249 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||