Flavins, radical generation

These include the mitochondrial respiratory chain, key enzymes in fatty acid and amino acid oxidation, and the citric acid cycle. Reoxidation of the reduced flavin in oxygenases and mixed-function oxidases proceeds by way of formation of the flavin radical and flavin hydroperoxide, with the intermediate generation of superoxide and perhydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. Because of this, flavin oxidases make a significant contribution to the total oxidant stress of the body. 

The reaction is more complex than it appears. As soon as a small amount of oxidized flavin is formed, it reacts with reduced flavin to generate flavin radicals F1H (Eq. 15-27). The latter react rapidly with 02 each donating an electron to form superoxide anion radicals 02 (Eq. 15-30a) which can then combine with flavin radicals (Eq. 15-30b).284... 

Mager HIX, Sazou D, Liu YH, Tu S-C, Kadish KM. Reversible one-electron generation of 4 5-substituted flavin radical cations Models for a postulated key intermediate in bacterial bioluminescence. J Am Chem Soc 1988 110 3759-62. 

Silverman and Zieske have rationalized how a protein nucleophile other than flavin is involved in MAO inactivation reactions, and why different inactivator compounds specifically react with flavin, protein amino acids, or both (100). Hydrogen atom donation from a cysteine residue to the flavin semiquinone radical would produce a thiyl radical, which could then capture the primary or secondary alkyl radical generated on cyclopropyl ring opening from the amine radical cation of the inactivator. The hydrogen atom abstraction reaction between the flavin and active site amino acid may be an equilibrium process such that either species could be present at any turnover. Hence, a combination of steric constraints and proximity to either the flavin semiquinone radical or the thiol radical will determine the site of adduct formation for a particular inactivator structure. A two-dimensional representation is shown in Scheme 23 (compounds 40-42), which illustrates the proposed equilibrium between the flavin semiquinone radical and amino acid as well as the proposed intermediates for the inactivation of MAO by A-(l-methylcyclopropyl)benzylamine 40 (104), rrradical center relative to the particular protein radical is consistent with proposed site of attachment of inactivator to protein 40 is near the flavin radical, such that exclusive flavin attachment occurs, 41 is positioned closer to the amino... 

Role of Flavins in Hydrogen Peroxide Formation. Flavins may function as photosensitizers through photoelectron ejection (16). If this process is occurring in seawater, the only significant reaction of e (aq) would be with 0 to produce 0.. Disproportionation of 0 would generate 2 2 other reactive product would probably be the flavin radical cation. 

Using the photo CIDNP method, resonances from particular amino acid side chains (tyrosine, histidine and tryptophan) can be selectively enhanced when these residues are situated at the surface of the protein. To this end a flavin dye, added to the sanq>le, is photo excited in the NMR probe by an argon laser. In this way triplet state flavin is generated, which in the case of tyrosine residues is able to abstract the phenolic hydrogen atom. Consequently a radical pair is formed (reaction 2 below) which reversibly yields flavin and tyrosine (reaction 3 below). 

He/minthosporium (15). The mode of action is considered to be inhibition of the enzyme NADPH-cytochrome C reductase, which results in the generation of free radicals and/or peroxide derivatives of flavin which oxidize adjacent unsaturated fatty acids to dismpt membrane integrity (16) (see Enzyme inhibitors). 

Flavin redox states in a dual flavin enzyme. (Left) Single-electron reduction of the isoalloxazine ring generates the semiquinone radical, while reduction by two electrons generates the fully reduced species. (Right) Five possible oxidation levels of a dual flavin enzyme, where the FMN reduction potential is held at a more positive value relative U) FAD. The flavins can theoretically accept a maximum of four electrons obtained from two NADPH. However, in NADPH-cytochrome P450, reductase, full reduction of the flavins is not normally reached when NADPH serves as the reductant. 

Inasmuch as flavins can accommodate two electrons but possess a relatively stable one-electron intermediate, an obvious question which can be asked of any flavin-mediated two electron redox reaction is whether or not the mechanism includes the radical species on a direct line between reactants and products. The mere observation of semiquinones in a reaction mixture is not sufficient evidence for their intermediacy, due to the existence of side reactions such as comproportionation (F -I- FH2 2 FH-) which can generate radicals rapidly. Bruice has discussed this question from a physical-organic point of view and concluded that there must exist a competition between one-electron and two-electron processes and that the actual mechanism should be determined mainly by the free energy of formation of substrate radical and the nucleophilicity of the substrate. Bruice has analyzed a variety of systems which he feels should proceed via one-electron mechanisms among these are quinone and carbonyl group reduction by FH2... 

Pyruvate oxidase. The soluble flavoprotein pyruvate oxidase, which was discussed briefly in Chapter 14 (Fig. 14-2, Eq. 14-22), acts together with a membrane-bound electron transport system to convert pyruvate to acetyl phosphate and C02.319 Thiamin diphosphate is needed by this enzyme but lipoic acid is not. The flavin probably dehydrogenates the thiamin-bound intermediate to 2-acetylthiamin as shown in Eq. 15-34. The electron acceptor is the bound FAD and the reaction may occur in two steps as shown with a thiamin diphosphate radical intermediate.3193 Reaction with inorganic phosphate generates the energy storage metabolite acetyl phosphate. 

Reoxidation of reduced flavin coenzymes is the major source of oxygen radicals in the body, and riboflavin is also capable of generating reactive oxygen species nonenzymically. As protection against this, there is very strict control over the body content of riboflavin. Absorption is limited, and any in excess of requirements is rapidly excreted. 

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