Superoxide reactivity

Ghiladi RA, Medzihradszky KF, Rusnak FM et al (2005) Correlation between isoniazid resistance and superoxide reactivity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG. J Am Chem Soc 127 13428-13442... 

Contents Introduction and Principles. - The Reaction of Dichlorocarbene With Olefins. - Reactions of Dichlorocarbene With Non-Olefinic Substrates. -Dibromocarbene and Other Carbenes. - Synthesis of Ethers. - Synthesis of Esters. - Reactions of Cyanide Ion. - Reactions of Superoxide Ions. - Reactions of Other Nucleophiles. - Alkylation Reactions. - Oxidation Reactions. - Reduction Techniques. - Preparation and Reactions of Sulfur Containing Substrates. -Ylids. - Altered Reactivity. - Addendum Recent Developments in Phase Transfer Catalysis. 

One of the important consequences of neuronal stimulation is increased neuronal aerobic metabolism which produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can oxidize several biomoiecules (carbohydrates, DNA, lipids, and proteins). Thus, even oxygen, which is essential for aerobic life, may be potentially toxic to cells. Addition of one electron to molecular oxygen (O,) generates a free radical [O2)) the superoxide anion. This is converted through activation of an enzyme, superoxide dismurase, to hydrogen peroxide (H-iO,), which is, in turn, the source of the hydroxyl radical (OH). Usually catalase... 

Few kinetic studies of the decompositions of higher oxides have been reported one probable reason is that the preparation of pure samples of these highly reactive compounds is difficult. Accordingly, interest has been largely restricted to the most readily available substances which are the alkali and alkaline earth peroxides (02-), superoxides (02) and ozonides (03). Some of these may be hydrated. E values reported [656] for the dehydrations of M02 8 H20 (288—313 K) were 96, 163 and 63 kJ mole-1 for the Ca, Sr and Ba compounds, respectively. 

Reduced flavoproteins and complex III may undergo side reactions directly with dioxygen, to a limited extent, forming highly reactive and toxic products, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide. 

Normally, these reactive species are destroyed by protective enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase in mitochondria and cytosol and catalase in peroxisomes, but if a tissue has been anoxic the respiratory chain is very reduced and reoxygenation allows dangerous amounts to be formed. Muscle also contains significant quantities of the dipeptide, camosine ((J-alanylhistidine) (10—25 mM). The functions of camosine are obscure although it has been suggested to be an effective antioxidant (Pavlov et al., 1993). 

Several powerful oxidants are produced during the course of metabolism, in both blood cells and most other cells of the body. These include superoxide (02 ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxyl radicals (ROO ), and hydroxyl radicals (OH ). The last is a particularly reactive molecule and can react with proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other molecules to alter their structure and produce tissue damage. The reactions listed in Table 52-4 play an important role in forming these oxidants and in disposing of them each of these reactions will now be considered in turn. 

In a study directed to the analysis of the role of Fe and the generation of H2O2 in Escherichia coli (McCormick et al. 1998), hydroxyl radicals were specihcally trapped by reaction with ethanol to give the a-hydroxyethyl radical. This formed a stable adduct with a-(4-pyridyl-l-oxide)-iV-t-butyl nitroxide that was not formed either by superoxide or hydroxyl radicals. The role of redox-reactive iron is to use EPR to analyze the EPR-detectable ascorbyl radicals. 

Although this mechanism could explain the inertness of di-t-butyl sulphide towards oxidation due to the absence of a-hydrogen atoms, it was later ruled out by Tezuka and coworkers They found that diphenyl sulphoxide was also formed when diphenyl sulphide was photolyzed in the presence of oxygen in methylene chloride or in benzene as a solvent. This implies that a-hydrogen is not necessary for the formation of the sulphoxide. It was proposed that a possible reactive intermediate arising from the excited complex 64 would be either a singlet oxygen, a pair of superoxide anion radical and the cation radical of sulphide 68 or zwitterionic and/or biradical species such as 69 or 70 (equation 35). 

Underneath this layer of superoxide a layer of oxide KgO is formed. The interaction between potassium and its superoxide is violent and causes the metal to combust the intermediate layer acts as a protection. Contact between both compounds happens when the metal is cut. This slow oxidation is avoided by keeping potassium under anhydrous xylene. It is possible that many dangerous reactions may be in fact due to the exceptional reactivity of the superoxide. 

Figure 3.4 Amplification of the reactivity of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide.

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