Superoxide chain reactions involving

The reaction proceeds as a chain process involving the peroxyl radical and superoxide ion [284],... 

Based on these types of results together with those obtained with other techniques (see, e.g., the work of Heller and coworkers12) the detailed mechanisms of photocatalytic reactions are being worked out. It is becoming apparent that, for several types of organic reactants, superoxide plays an important role. However, for one class of compounds, i.e., aldehydes, superoxide plays almost no role, the mechanism involving molecular oxygen, however, in a complex series of chain reactions. 

Deeble DJ, von Sonntag C (1992) Decarboxylation of 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid induced by the superoxide radical anion a chain reaction. Int J Radiat Biol 62 105 Deeble DJ, Parsons BJ, Phillips GO (1987) Evidence for the addition of the superoxide anion to the anti- oxidant -propyl gallate in aqueous solution. Free Rad Res Commun 2 351-358 Deeble DJ, Parsons BJ, Phillips GO, Schuchmann H-P, von Sonntag C (1988) Superoxide radical reactions in aqueous solutions of pyrogallol and n-propyl gallate the involvement of phenoxyl radicals. A pulse radiolysis study. Int J Radiat Biol 54 179-193 Denisov ET, Denisova TG (1993) The polar effect in the reaction of alkoxy and peroxy radicals with alcohols. Kinet Catal 34 738-744... 

Photosensitized oxidation reactions involve a process in which the excited state of a photosensitizer produces a highly reactive oxygen specie such as an excited singlet oxygen ( O2), a superoxide anion (O2 ) or a free radieal (these are neutral chemical species with an unpaired electron, often represented by a dot as a superscript on the right hand side) such as a hydroxyl radical (OH ). In fact, a photosensitized oxidation reaction often involves a chain reaction as shown below (Niemz, 1996) ... 

In 1977, Kellogg and Fridovich [28] showed that superoxide produced by the XO-acetaldehyde system initiated the oxidation of liposomes and hemolysis of erythrocytes. Lipid peroxidation was inhibited by SOD and catalase but not the hydroxyl radical scavenger mannitol. Gutteridge et al. [29] showed that the superoxide-generating system (aldehyde-XO) oxidized lipid micelles and decomposed deoxyribose. Superoxide and iron ions are apparently involved in the NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in human placental mitochondria [30], Ohyashiki and Nunomura [31] have found that the ferric ion-dependent lipid peroxidation of phospholipid liposomes was enhanced under acidic conditions (from pH 7.4 to 5.5). This reaction was inhibited by SOD, catalase, and hydroxyl radical scavengers. Ohyashiki and Nunomura suggested that superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals participate in the initiation of liposome oxidation. It has also been shown [32] that SOD inhibited the chain oxidation of methyl linoleate (but not methyl oleate) in phosphate buffer. 

Besides the enzyme, the superoxide ion can also be an electron donor. The ion arises as a result of detoxication of xenobiotics (xenobiotics are outsiders, which are involved in the chain of metabolism). Xenobiotics yield anion-radicals by the neutralizing influence of redox proteins. Oxygen (inhaled with air) takes an unpaired electron off from a part of these anion radicals and forms the superoxide ion. The superoxide ion plays its own active role in biochemical reactions. 

The majority of the enzyme-catalyzed reactions discussed so far are oxidative ones. However, reductive electron transfer reactions take place as well. Diaphorase, xanteneoxidase, and other enzymes as well as intestinal flora, aquatic, and skin bacteria—all of them can act as electron donors. Another source of an electron is the superoxide ion. It arises after detoxification of xenobiotics, which are involved in the metabolic chain. Under the neutralizing influence of redox proteins, xenobiotics yield anion-radicals. Oxygen, which is inhaled with air, strips unpaired electrons from these anion-radicals and gives the superoxide ions (Mason and Chignell 1982). 

Copper has an essential role in a number of enzymes, notably those involved in the catalysis of electron transfer and in the transport of dioxygen and the catalysis of its reactions. The latter topic is discussed in Section 62.1.12. Hemocyanin, the copper-containing dioxygen carrier, is considered in Section 62.1.12.3.8, while the important role of copper in oxidases is exemplified in cytochrome oxidase, the terminal member of the mitochondrial electron-transfer chain (62.1.12.4), the multicopper blue oxidases such as laccase, ascorbate oxidase and ceruloplasmin (62.1.12.6) and the non-blue oxidases (62.12.7). Copper is also involved in the Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutases (62.1.12.8.1) and a number of hydroxylases, such as tyrosinase (62.1.12.11.2) and dopamine-jS-hydroxylase (62.1.12.11.3). Tyrosinase and hemocyanin have similar binuclear copper centres. 

In most cells, more than 90% of the oxygen utilized is consumed in the respiratory chain that is coupled to the production of ATP. However, electron transport and oxygen utilization occur in a variety of other reactions, including those catalyzed by oxidases or oxygenases. Xanthine oxidase, an enzyme involved in purine catabolism (Chapter 27), catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine, and of xanthine to uric acid. In these reactions, reducing equivalents are transferred via FAD, and Fe and Mo " ", while the oxygen is converted to superoxide anion (O2) ... 

The autoxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrite also involves a radical chain process (Kono, 1978), and the reaction is carried out at high pH. The assay was originally utilized by Elstner and Heupel (1976) who initiated the autoxidation by O2 generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase reaction. Nitrite formation was determined colorimetrically at 530 nm by diazo coupling with a-naphthylamine and superoxide dismutase was found to inhibit end product formation. Kono (1978) developed the assay further by utilizing nitroblue tetrazolium as the... 

Polymerization, the final step of lignin biosynthesis, is catalyzed by peroxidases which are frequently found in cell walls. Obviously the peroxidases produce HgOg from NAD(P)H involving the superoxide free radical ion as an intermediate of the complex reaction chain. An NAD-specific malate dehydrogenase produces NADH used as electron donor in the formation of HgOg by oxidation of malate. 

Copper provides the essential functional part of a number of enzymes involved in oxidation and reduction reactions, including dopamine P-hydroxylase in the synthesis of noradrenaline and adrenaline, cytochrome oxidase in the electron transport chain (section 3.3.1.2) and superoxide dismutase, one of the enzymes involved in protection against oxygen radicals (section 7.4.3.1). Copper is also important in the oxidation of lysine to form the cross-links in collagen and elastin. In copper deficiency the bones are abnormally fragile, because the abnormal collagen does not permit the normal flexibility of the bone matrix. More importantly, elastin is less elastic than normal and copper deficiency can lead to death following rupture of the aorta. 

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