Geoffrey F. Kelso

Selective targeting of a redox-active ubiquinone to mitochondria within cells : antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties

With the recognition of the central role of mitochondria in apoptosis, there is a need to develop specific tools to manipulate mitochondrial function within cells. Here we report on the development of a novel antioxidant that selectively blocks mitochondrial oxidative damage, enabling the roles of mitochondrial oxidative stress in different types of cell death to be inferred. This antioxidant, named mitoQ, is a ubiquinone derivative targeted to mitochondria by covalent attachment to a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation through an aliphatic carbon chain. Due to the large mitochondrial membrane potential, the cation was accumulated within mitochondria inside cells, where the ubiquinone moiety inserted into the lipid bilayer and was reduced by the respiratory chain. The ubiquinol derivative thus formed was an effective antioxidant that prevented lipid peroxidation and protected mitochondria from oxidative damage. After detoxifying a reactive oxygen species, the ubiquinol moiety was regenerated by the respiratory chain enabling its antioxidant activity to be recycled. In cell culture studies, the mitochondrially localized antioxidant protected mammalian cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis but not from apoptosis induced by staurosporine or tumor necrosis factor-α. This was compared with untargeted ubiquinone analogs, which were ineffective in preventing apoptosis. These results suggest that mitochondrial oxidative stress may be a critical step in apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide but not for apoptosis induced by staurosporine or tumor necrosis factor-α. We have shown that selectively manipulating mitochondrial antioxidant status with targeted and recyclable antioxidants is a feasible approach to investigate the role of mitochondrial oxidative damage in apoptotic cell death. This approach will have further applications in investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in a range of experimental models.

Lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cations as tools in mitochondrial bioenergetics and free radical biology.

Lipophilic phosphonium cations were first used to investigate mitochondrial biology by Vladimir Skulachev and colleagues in the late 1960s. Since then, these molecules have become important tools for exploring mitochondrial bioenergetics and free radical biology. Here we review why these molecules are useful in mitochondrial research and outline some of the ways in which they are now being utilized.

Prevention of Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage Using Targeted Antioxidants

Mitochondrial‐targeted antioxidants that selectively block mitochondrial oxidative damage and prevent some types of cell death have been developed. These antioxidants are ubiquinone and tocopherol derivatives and are targeted to mitochondria by covalent attachment to a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation. Because of the large mitochondrial membrane potential, these cations accumulated within mitochondria inside cells, where the antioxidant moiety prevents lipid peroxidation and protects mitochondria from oxidative damage. The mitochondrially localized ubiquinone also protected mammalian cells from hydrogen peroxide‐induced apoptosis while an untargeted ubiquinone analogue was ineffective against apoptosis. When fed to mice these compounds accumulated within the brain, heart, and liver; therefore, using these mitochondrial‐targeted antioxidants may help investigations of the role of mitochondrial oxidative damage in animal models of aging.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Triphenylphosphonium-conjugated Peroxidase Mimetic INSIGHTS INTO THE INTERACTION OF EBSELEN WITH MITOCHONDRIA

Mitochondrial production of peroxides is a critical event in both pathology and redox signaling. Consequently their selective degradation within mitochondria is of considerable interest. Here we have explored the interaction of the peroxidase mimetic ebselen with mitochondria. We were particularly interested in whether ebselen was activated by mitochondrial glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin, in determining whether an ebselen moiety could be targeted to mitochondria by conjugating it to a lipophilic cation, and in exploring the nature of ebselen binding to mitochondrial proteins. To achieve these goals we synthesized 2-[4-(4-triphenylphosphoniobutoxy) phenyl]-1,2-benzisoselenazol)-3(2H)-one iodide (MitoPeroxidase), which contains an ebselen moiety covalently linked to a triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation. The fixed positive charge of TPP facilitated mass spectrometric analysis, which showed that the ebselen moiety was reduced by GSH to the selenol form and that subsequent reaction with a peroxide reformed the ebselen moiety. MitoPeroxidase and ebselen were effective antioxidants that degraded phospholipid hydroperoxides, prevented lipid peroxidation, and protected mitochondria from oxidative damage. Both peroxidase mimetics required activation by mitochondrial GSH or thioredoxin to be effective antioxidants. Surprisingly, conjugation to the TPP cation led to only a slight increase in the uptake of ebselen by mitochondria due to covalent binding of the ebselen moiety to proteins. Using antiserum against the TPP moiety we visualized those proteins covalently attached to the ebselen moiety. This analysis indicated that much of the ebselen present within mitochondria is bound to protein thiols through reversible selenenylsulfide bonds. Both MitoPeroxidase and ebselen decreased apoptosis induced by oxidative stress, suggesting that they can decrease mitochondrial oxidative stress. This exploration has led to new insights into the behavior of peroxidase mimetics within mitochondria and to their use in investigating mitochondrial oxidative damage.

Mitochondrially targeted antioxidants and thiol reagents.

Mitochondrial oxidative damage and dysfunction contributes to a number of cell pathologies. To investigate how this damage affects cell function we have developed mitochondrially targeted antioxidants and thiol reagents by covalently linking them to lipophilic cations. The cation drives the selective accumulation of these reagents into mitochondria within cells where the antioxidants decrease oxidative damage and the thiol reagents enable measurement of the redox status of thiol proteins. In conjunction with cell and animal models of apoptosis, oxidative damage, and nitric oxide signaling, these molecules may provide new insights into the roles of mitochondria in human pathologies.

Targeting Coenzyme Q Derivatives to Mitochondria

Publisher Summary This chapter analyzes the approaches to target coenzyme Q derivatives to mitochondria. Coenzyme Q is an essential electron carrier and an important antioxidant in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Manipulating coenzyme Q content within mitochondria may help in understanding its functions and exploring its therapeutic potential. One way to increase the mitochondrial concentration of coenzyme Q is to administer it to isolated mitochondria, cells, or organisms, but the hydrophobicity of native coenzyme Q and its consequent low solubility and bioavailability limit this approach. The hydrophobicity of coenzyme Q is due to the long isoprenoid chain at ring position 6. Less hydrophobic but still active derivatives of coenzyme Q can be made by replacing the carbon chain with more water soluble moieties. The chapter describes the concepts related to synthesis and handling of mitochondria-targeted coenzyme Q derivatives. The chapter also discusses the incorporation of radioactive and stable isotopes into mitochondria-targeted coenzyme Q derivatives. The chapter elaborates the modifying and measuring coenzyme Q redox state. The chapter provides a brief about experiments with mitochondria-targeted coenzyme Q derivatives. The chapter provides an analysis of mitochondrial uptake of mito Q and locationof targeted coenzyme Q derivatives within mitochondria.

Pulse radiolysis investigation on the mechanism of the catalytic action of Mn(II)-pentaazamacrocycle compounds as superoxide dismutase mimetics.

The mechanism for the catalytic dismutation of superoxide by the Mn(II) pentaazamacrocyclic compound M40403 ([manganese(II) dichloro-(4 R,9 R,14 R,19 R)-3,10,13,20,26 pentaazatetracyclo [20.3.1.0 (4,9).0 (14,9)] hexacosa-1(26),-22(23),24-triene], SODm1) and two 2,21-dimethyl analogues has been investigated using pulse radiolysis. The initial rate of reaction between superoxide and the manganese compounds was found to be dependent on structure and pH, with the resulting transient adducts possessing spectral characteristics of the metal center being oxidized to Mn(III). Values for the p K a of the transient adducts (p K a = 5.65 +/- 0.05; 5.3 +/- 0.1 and <5 for SODm1, SODm2 and SODm3, respectively) were obtained from spectrophotometric and conductivity measurements. Reaction of these transient adducts with further superoxide was highly structure dependent with the 2 S,21 S-dimethyl derivative (SODm2) being highly catalytically active at pH 7.4 ( k cat = 2.35 x 10 (8) M (-1) s (-1)) compared to SODm1 ( k cat = 3.55 x 10 (6) M (-1) s (-1)). In contrast the 2 R,21 R-dimethyl derivative (SODm3) showed no dismutation catalysis at all. The reaction rates of the initial complexes with HO 2 (*) were significantly lower than with O 2 (*-), and it is proposed that O 2 (*-) is the main reactant in the catalytic cycle at pH 7.4. Variable temperature studies revealed major differences in the thermodynamics of the catalytic cycles involving SODm2 or SODm1. In the case of SODm2, the observed high entropic contribution to the activation energy is indicative of ligand conformational changes during the catalytic step. These results have provided the basis for a new mechanism for the catalytic dismutation of superoxide by Mn(II)-pentaazamacrocycle SOD mimetics.

Recent Developments in Chemical Synthesis with Biocatalysts in Ionic Liquids

Over the past decade, a variety of ionic liquids have emerged as greener solvents for use in the chemical manufacturing industries. Their unique properties have attracted the interest of chemists worldwide to employ them as replacement for conventional solvents in a diverse range of chemical transformations including biotransformations. Biocatalysts are often regarded as green catalysts compared to conventional chemical catalysts in organic synthesis owing to their properties of low toxicity, biodegradability, excellent selectivity and good catalytic performance under mild reaction conditions. Similarly, a selected number of specific ionic liquids can be considered as greener solvents superior to organic solvents owing to their negligible vapor pressure, low flammability, low toxicity and ability to dissolve a wide range of organic and biological substances, including proteins. A combination of biocatalysts and ionic liquids thus appears to be a logical and promising opportunity for industrial use as an alternative to conventional organic chemistry processes employing organic solvents. This article provides an overview of recent developments in this field with special emphasis on the application of more sustainable enzyme-catalyzed reactions and separation processes employing ionic liquids, driven by advances in fundamental knowledge, process optimization and industrial deployment.

A Mitochondria-Targeted Macrocyclic Mn(II) Superoxide Dismutase Mimetic

Superoxide (O(2)(·-)) is the proximal mitochondrial reactive oxygen species underlying pathology and redox signaling. This central role prioritizes development of a mitochondria-targeted reagent selective for controlling O(2)(·-). We have conjugated a mitochondria-targeting triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation to a O(2)(·-)-selective pentaaza macrocyclic Mn(II) superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic to make MitoSOD, a mitochondria-targeted SOD mimetic. MitoSOD showed rapid and extensive membrane potential-dependent uptake into mitochondria without loss of Mn and retained SOD activity. Pulse radiolysis measurements confirmed that MitoSOD was a very effective catalytic SOD mimetic. MitoSOD also catalyzes the ascorbate-dependent reduction of O(2)(·-). The combination of mitochondrial uptake and O(2)(·-) scavenging by MitoSOD decreased inactivation of the matrix enzyme aconitase caused by O(2)(·-). MitoSOD is an effective mitochondria-targeted macrocyclic SOD mimetic that selectively protects mitochondria from O(2)(·-) damage.

Studies on the oxidative N-demethylation of atropine, thebaine and oxycodone using a FeIII-TAML catalyst

The reaction pathway and selectivity of the oxidative N-demethylation of the alkaloid atropine with H2O2 using a FeIII-TAML catalyst has been investigated. The conversion of atropine in ethanol with aqueous H2O2 produces noratropine as the main product and N-formyl-noratropine and other atropine derivatives involving carbon-hydroxylated tropane species as minor by-products. Comparative reactivity studies with noratropine, N-formyl-noratropine and atropine N-oxide demonstrated that the FeIII-TAML catalyses the N-demethylation of atropine by a biomimetic oxidation pathway involving the formation and then decomposition of a N-hydroxymethylnoratropine intermediate. The reaction selectivity for atropine N-demethylation versus N-methyl oxidation to N-formyl-noratropine was found to be sensitive to the structure of the alcohol co-solvent, the rate of H2O2 addition and the concentration of water, whereas temperature mainly affected the atropine conversion efficiency. The use of tert-butyl or cumene hydroperoxide as oxidants shifted the reaction selectivity toward N-methyl oxidation compared to aqueous H2O2. Various inorganic oxidants were found to be ineffective. The FeIII-TAML also catalysed the N-demethylation of the opiate alkaloids thebaine and oxycodone with aqueous H2O2 in higher conversion efficiencies compared to atropine but with lower selectivity. These investigations thus document key mechanistic features of the FeIII-TAML-catalysed N-demethylation of these alkaloids and provide insight into how this benign catalytic system could find broader utilisation for N-demethylation in general.