O. I. Shadyro

Radiation-induced peroxidation and fragmentation of lipids in a model membrane

Purpose : To ascertain the possibility of fragmentation processes in lipid membranes when acted upon with γ-radiation under various conditions, and to evaluate fragmentation processes quantitatively in comparison with the lipid peroxidation processes. Materials and methods : Phospholipids as components of multilamellar liposomes exposed to 137 Cs γ-rays at dose-rates of 0.06 and 0.33 Gy s -1 in the dose range 0-18 kGy. Peroxidation products were determined spectrophotometrically and fragmentation products were analysed using thin-layer chromatography and GLC methods. Results : Phosphatidylglycerol containing unsaturated fatty acid residues and free hydroxyl groups underwent both peroxidation and fragmentation when its aqueous dispersions were treated with ionizing radiation. γ-Radiolysis of multilamellar liposomes led to the formation of peroxidation products, as well as phosphatidic acid and hydroxyacetone, fragmentation products of the initial lipid. Comparable radiation-chemical yields of conjugated-diene products and phosphatidic acid indicate that the probabilities of oxidation and fragmentation processes to occur are approximately equal in this case. In contrast to lipid peroxidation, lipid fragmentation is not accelerated but suppressed by oxygen and appears to be a prevailing process in de-aerated solutions. The phosphatidic acid formed as a result of phosphatidylglycerol fragmentation can intensify the lipid peroxidation. Conclusions : Treatment of lipid membranes with ionizing radiation leads to the destructive processes within both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moiety of lipids.

Quinones as free-radical fragmentation inhibitors in biologically important molecules

Effects of a number of quinones and diphenols of various structures on free-radical fragmentation processes taking place in f -diols, glycerol, 2-aminoethanol, glycero-1-phosphate, ethylene glycol monobutyrate, maltose, and some lipids were investigated. Quinone additions have been found to change the direction of free-radical transformations of the compounds cited above by inhibiting formation of the respective fragmentation products owing to oxidation of radicals of the starting compounds. The results obtained and literature data available allow a suggestion to be made that the system quinone/diphenol is able to not only deactivate or generate such active species as O 2 ” m but also control the realization probability of free-radical processes of peroxidation and fragmentation in biologically important molecules.

Radiation-induced fragmentation of cardiolipin in a model membrane.

Purpose: To obtain evidence for the possibility of free‐radical fragmentation of cardiolipin under the action of ionizing radiation as measured by its aqueous dispersion from liposomes. Materials and methods: Liposomes of tetramyristoylcardiolipin (TMCL) were exposed to γ‐rays from 60Co or 137Cs sources at doses between 1 and 24 kGy. Fragmentation products were identified using thin‐layer chromatography and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). Results: Using MALDI‐TOF MS and thin‐layer chromatography, it was shown that γ‐irradiation of liposomes consisting of TMCL was accompanied by free‐radical fragmentation of the lipid to form dimiristoylphosphatidic acid and dimiristoylphosphatidyl hydroxyacetone. The yields of dimiristoylphosphatidic acid were greater than those of dimiristoylphosphatidyl hydroxyacetone, and formation of the named compounds was inhibited by dissolved oxygen. Conclusion: It is shown for the first time that on γ‐irradiation, cardiolipin can undergo free‐radical fragmentation in its polar component.

C-N bond cleavage reactions on the radiolysis of amino-containing organic compounds and their derivatives in aqueous solutions.

Purpose : To investigate regularities observed in the course of reactions involving cleavage of C-N bonds on the radiolysis of amino-containing organic compounds and their derivatives in aqueous solutions. Materials and methods : Aqueous solutions of amino-containing compounds, saturated with Ar or O 2, were exposed to γ-radiation from a 137 Cs source. The absorbed dose-rate was 0.33 Gy s −1, the absorbed dose range was 0.1-7.5 kGy. Analyses for ammonia and amino-containing organic compounds were performed using an amino acid analyser, and analyses for other radiolysis products were made by gas-liquid chromatography. Results : The presence of a hydroxyl group in the β-position to the amino group promotes deamination of amino alcohols, amino acids, di- and tripeptides, these processes being associated with the possible occurrence of monomolecular fragmentation of the respective radicals. Oxygen inhibits the deamination of α, β-amino alcohols and hydroxyl-containing amino acids. The presence of alkyl substituents in the amino group favours C-N bond cleavage on the radiolysis of amino alcohols, whereas the presence of an acyl group sharply suppresses this process. Replacement of the hydroxyl group in molecules of the initial amino alcohols by a hydrogen atom (i.e. a changeover to alkylamines) or by a methoxy group decreases the efficiency of deamination sharply. The presence of hydroxyl groups in side residues of di- and tripeptides promotes destruction of the peptide chain with formation of amides of amino acids, while suppression of deamination and main chain destruction processes in these compounds is observed in the presence of oxygen. Conclusions : The most effective processes leading to the C-N bond cleavage on the radiolysis of aqueous solutions of amino-containing organic compounds are those in which the key role is played by reactions of monomolecular decomposition of radicals of the initial compounds.

Effects of Phenolic Compounds on Reactions Involving Various Organic Radicals

Investigation of effects produced by 26 various phenol and diphenol derivatives, including industrial and natural antioxidants (ionol, bis-phenol 2246, α-tocopherol), on final product yields of radiation-induced free-radical processes involving peroxyl, alkyl, α-hydroxyalkyl and α,β-dihydroxyalkyl radicals has been performed. Ionol and bis-phenol 2246 have been shown to be more effective than α-tocopherol or diphenol derivatives in suppressing hydrocarbon oxidation processes. At the same time, α-tocopherol and its water-soluble analogues, as well as diphenol-based substances, are more effective than phenol derivatives in regulating various homolytic processes involving carbon-centered radicals. This fact can be accounted for by taking into consideration the contribution to formation of the final product set and the respective yields made by semiquinone radicals and compounds with quinoid structure arising in the course of homolytic transformations in systems containing diphenol derivatives.

Reactions of Arylamine and Aminophenol Derivatives, and Riboflavin with Organic Radicals

Based on product yield data on radiolysis of hexane, ethanol and 3 M aqueous ethylene glycol solutions, the ability of a number of arylamine, aminophenol and quinonimine derivatives to affect processes involving peroxyl, alkyl or α-hydroxyalkyl radicals was assessed. It has been shown that the introduction of a hydroxyl group into aromatic amine structure enhances its antioxidant performance and makes it significantly more reactive with respect to carbon-centered organic radicals. Replacement of the hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group by a methyl group decreases the anti-radical activity of aminophenols drastically. Compounds containing (or capable of forming) a quinonimine moiety interact with alkyl or α-hydroxyalkyl radicals most effectively, suppressing recombination and fragmentation reactions of the latter. In the sequence: aromatic amines--aminophenols--quinonimines, a trend towards enhancement of the ability of the compounds studied to react with carbon-centered radicals was noted. Also, this study presents for the first time evidence of riboflavin reactivity with respect to organic radicals.

Formation of phosphatidic acid in stressed mitochondria.

Mitochondria are an important intracellular source of ROS as well as a sensitive target for oxidative damage under certain pathological conditions such as iron or copper overload. Mitochondrial membranes are rich in the tetraacyl phospholipid cardiolipin. Its integrity is important for efficient oxidative phosphorylation. Mouse liver mitochondria were subjected to oxidative stress by the Cu(2+)(Fe(2+))/H(2)O(2)/ascorbate system. Phosphatidic acid was detected in oxidized mitochondria, but not in unperturbed mitochondria. The Cu(2+)/H(2)O(2)/and (or not) ascorbate system caused the formation of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylhydroxyacetone in cardiolipin liposomes. These products proceed via an HO*-radical induced fragmentation taking place in the polar moiety of cardiolipin. Mass spectrometry analysis of phosphatidic acid newly formed in mitochondria revealed that it has been derived from fragmentation of cardiolipin. Thus, free-radical fragmentation of cardiolipin in its polar part with the formation of phosphatidic acid is a likely mechanism that damages mitochondria under conditions of oxidative stress.

Synthesis and study of antiviral and anti-radical properties of aminophenol derivatives

A number of sterically-hindered o-aminophenol derivatives have been synthesized, and their antiviral activity in parallel with reactivity towards commonly encountered free-radical intermediates was investigated. Of the compounds tested, the highest activity in suppressing replication of Herpes simplex type l viruses was displayed by N-acyl and N-aryl derivatives of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-aminophenol, which were able to interact with organic free radicals and, at the same time, manifested low reactivity towards reactive oxygen species.

Manifestation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the IR spectra of bioactive aminophenols

The intermolecular interactions in solutions of aminophenols in CCl4 are studied by the methods of IR Fourier spectroscopy. If the hydroxyl groups of aminophenol molecules occupy the ortho positions with respect to the amino groups of the molecules, the hydroxyl and amino groups are involved in intramolecular interactions with the formation of hydrogen bonds O-H...N and N-H...O. The introduction of two additional tert-butyl groups into the structure of the aminophenol molecule facilitates the formation of O-H...N bonds and impedes the formation of N-H...O bonds. The occurrence of the carbonyl group in the structure of aminophenols leads to the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds O-H...O=C. The introduction of the methyl groups into carbonyl-containing aminophenols transforms the O-H...O=C bond into the hydrogen bond N-H...O=C.

Synthesis and Properties of 11-(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-2- hydroxyphenylcarbamoyl)undecanoic Acid, a New Amphiphilic Antioxidant

Based on the membrane addressing concept, designing and synthesis of 11-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenylcarbamoyl)undecanoic acid have been carried out. Antioxidant properties of the prepared compound were investigated in comparison with its non-amphiphilic analogues.