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Interference of calmidazolium with measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential using the tetraphenylphosphonium electrode or the fluorescent probe rhodamine 123.

Calmidazolium (CMZ) is a positively charged, hydrophobic compound used as a calmodulin antagonist. It may cause unspecific effects in mitochondria, e.g., a decrease in membrane potential (deltapsi), swelling, and uncoupling. Several groups have advised against use of CMZ in studying signal transduction in mitochondria. We report here that it interferes with measurement of deltapsi in rat liver mitochondria (RLM) when using the tetraphenyl phosphonium (TPP+) electrode. We also found that CMZ reduces the signal, indicating an apparent drop in deltapsi. CMZ itself gave a signal with the TPP+ electrode in the absence of RLM. At high concentrations, > 10 microM, it also reduced the fluorescence quenching of the probe rhodamine 123. This may be due to an interference with mitochondrial uptake and binding of this positively charged probe or to an uncoupling effect. It is concluded that CMZ and similar positively charged calmodulin antagonists such as trifluoperazine may be used in mitochondria if these interferences are controlled and calibration is carried out under the experimental conditions used.

Animals↗

Energetics of Ehrlich ascites mitochondria: membrane potential of isolated mitochondria and mitochondria within digitonin-permeabilized cells.

Ehrlich ascites tumour cells were treated with digitonin so that they became permeable for low-molecular-weight compounds but, at certain concentrations of digitonin, retained most of their cytoplasmic proteins. Respiration of mitochondria with exogenous substrates and their membrane potential could thus be measured in situ by means of oxygen electrode and tetraphenylphosphonium-sensitive electrode, respectively. The results were compared with data from similar measurements on mitochondria isolated from such digitonin-permeabilized cells. Isolated mitochondria and mitochondria in situ oxidized succinate at similar rates and developed membrane potential of comparable magnitude. Both preparations also exhibited an identical nonlinear relationship between resting state respiration (titrated with a respiratory inhibitor) and the membrane potential. In the cells permeabilized with low concentrations of digitonin (i.e., retaining most of cytoplasmic proteins) and suspended in medium containing NaCl and other major anions and cations at concentrations close to those in mammalian plasma, anaerobiosis did not produce a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, which was collapsed only after a subsequent addition of oligomycin. In this medium, glucose had little effect on either respiration or the membrane potential.

Animals↗

Functional analysis of novel multidrug transporters from human pathogens.

Proteins of the Smr family are the smallest multidrug transporters, about 110 amino acids long, that extrude various drugs in exchange with protons, thereby rendering bacteria resistant to these compounds. One of these proteins, EmrE, is an Escherichia coli protein, which has been cloned based on its ability to confer resistance to ethidium and methyl viologen and which has been extensively characterized. More than 60 genes coding for Smr proteins have been identified in several bacteria based on amino acid sequence similarity to the emrE gene. In this work we have analyzed the sequence similarity among these homologues and identified some distinct signature sequence elements and several fully conserved residues. Five of these homologues, from human pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bordetella pertussis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and from Escherichia coli, were cloned into an E. coli expression system. The proteins were further characterized and show varying degrees of methyl viologen uptake into proteoliposomes and [(3)H]TPP binding in solubilized membranes. The homologues can also form mixed oligomers with EmrE that exhibit intermediate binding characteristics. A comparative study of various homologous proteins provides a tool for deciphering structure-function relationship and monomer-monomer interaction in multidrug transporters and in membrane proteins in general.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An amino acid cluster around the essential Glu-14 is part of the substrate- and proton-binding domain of EmrE, a multidrug transporter from Escherichia coli.

EmrE is a small multidrug transporter (110 amino acids long) from Escherichia coli that extrudes various drugs in exchange with protons, thereby rendering bacteria resistant to these compounds. Glu-14 is the only charged membrane-embedded residue in EmrE and is evolutionarily highly conserved. This residue has an unusually high pK and is an essential part of the binding domain, shared by substrates and protons. The occupancy of the binding domain is mutually exclusive, and, as such, this provides the molecular basis for the coupling between substrate and proton fluxes. Systematic cysteine-scanning mutagenesis of the residues in the transmembrane segment (TM1), where Glu-14 is located, reveals an amino acid cluster on the same face of TM1 as Glu-14 that is part of the substrate- and proton-binding domain. Substitutions at most of these positions yielded either inactive mutants or mutants with modified affinity to substrates. Substitutions at the Ala-10 position, one helix turn away from Glu-14, yielded mutants with modified affinity to protons and thereby impaired in the coupling of substrate and proton fluxes. Taken as a whole, the results strongly support the concept of a common binding site for substrate and protons and stress the importance of one face of TM1 in substrate recognition, binding, and H(+)-coupled transport.

Antiporters↗

Enhancement of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum by a new sulfur compound, tripropylsulfonium bromide.

In the presence of tripropylsulfonium bromide (TPS) (1 X 10(-4) g/ml), a new compound, the phasic contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (5 X 10(-7) g/ml) was consistently enhanced ("TPS effect"). TPS alone increased moderatley the spontaneous movement of the ileum. When the contraction height was calculated as the percentage of that to 5-HT alone, such was observed in the "TPS effect" to be 167.1 +/- 3.6% (mean +/- S.E., n = 80). TPS did not enhance the contraction due to acetylcholine or histamine. The "TPS effect" remained unaffected in the presence of dibenzyline (1 X 10(-7) g/ml), was abolished by morphine(1 X 10(-6) g/ml), tetrodotoxin (2 X 10(-8) g/ml) adenosine (3 X 10(-6) g/ml) and atropine (1 X 10(-7) g/ml) and was not observed under anoxic conditions. Eserine (1 X 10(-8) g/ml) strengthened the "TPS effect" markedly. It is concluded that this effect may be the result of the potentiating effect of TPS on the action of 5-HT through the M receptors, possibly by the facilitation of the acetylcholine-liberation from the nervous tissue.

Acetylcholine↗

Differentiation of O-acetyl and O-carbamoyl esters of N-acetyl-glucosamine by decomposition of their oxonium ions. Application to the structure of the nonreducing terminal residue of Nod factors.

Nod factors are substituted N-acyl chito-oligomers secreted by plant symbiotic bacteria of the Rhizobium family. Substitutions on the oligosaccharide core specify their recognition by host plants. A method using tandem mass spectrometry is proposed to locate the O-acetyl and O-carbamoyl substituents on the nonreducing terminal residue of the chito-oligomers. As model compounds, all the positional isomers of monoacetyl and monocarbamoyl esters of 1-O-methyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine were synthesized. Oxonium ions (MH - CH3OH)+ were generated by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS) and their decomposition was recorded on a tandem magnetic instrument. Large differences were observed in the relative abundances of ions resulting from elimination of water and of the O-ester substituent from metastable oxonium ions. Deuterium exchange reactions indicated parallel elimination pathways involving either exchangeable or carbon-linked hydrogens. The intensity ratios of some of the ions generated by collisions with helium atoms allowed the isomers to be distinguished. The main dissociation routes were identified. Metastable and collision-induced decomposition of the B1 ions from Nod factors of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Azorhizobium caulinodans resembled that of the 6-O-substituted N-acetylglucosamine models. Decomposition of the B1 ion from Mesorhizobium loti and Rhizobium etli Nod factors, was similar to that of 3-O-carbamoyl N-acetyl-glucosamine and different to that of the 4-O isomer. 6-O- and 3-O-carbamoylation specified by the nodU and nolO genes, respectively, of Rhizobium. sp. NGR234 were confirmed.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Determination of transmembrane pH gradients and membrane potentials in liposomes.

Techniques for determining large transbilayer pH gradients (delta pH) and membrane potentials (delta psi) induced in response to delta pH in large unilamellar vesicle liposomal systems by measuring the transbilayer redistribution of radiolabeled compounds have been examined. For liposomes with acidic interiors, it is shown that protocols using radiolabeled methylamine in conjunction with gel filtration procedures to remove untrapped methylamine provide accurate measures of delta pH in most situations. Exceptions include gel state lipid systems, where transbilayer equilibration processes are slow, and situations where the interior buffering capacity is limited. These problems can be circumvented by incubation at elevated temperatures and by using probes with higher specific activities, respectively. Determination of delta pH in vesicles with a basic interior using weak acid probes such as radiolabeled acetate in conjunction with gel filtration was found to be less reliable, and an alternative equilibrium centrifugation protocol is described. In the case of determinations of the membrane potentials induced in response to these pH gradients, probes such as tetraphenylphosphonium and thiocyanate provide relatively accurate measures of the delta psi induced. It is shown that the maximum transmembrane pH gradient that can be stably maintained by an egg phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol 100-nm-diam large unilamellar vesicle is approximately 3.7 units, corresponding to an induced delta psi of 220 mV or transbilayer electrical field of 5 x 10(5) V/cm.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

A single carboxyl mutant of the multidrug transporter EmrE is fully functional.

EmrE, a multidrug transporter from Escherichia coli removes toxic compounds from the cell in exchange with protons. Glu-14 is the only charged residue in the putative membrane domains and is fully conserved in more than 50 homologues of the protein. This residue was shown to be an essential part of the binding site, common to protons and substrate. EmrE bearing a single carboxylic residue, Glu-14, shows uptake and binding properties similar to those of the wild type. This suggests that a small protein bearing only 110 amino acids with a single carboxyl in position 14 is the most basic structure that shows ion-coupled transport activity. The role of Glu-14 in substrate binding was examined by using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, a hydrophobic carbodiimide that is known to react with carboxyls. Tetraphenylphosphonium binding to both wild type and the single carboxyl mutant is inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in a dose-dependent manner. Ethidium and other substrates of EmrE prevent this inhibition with an order of potency in accord with their apparent affinities. This suggests that dicyclohexylcarbodiimide binding is sterically prevented by the substrate, supporting the contention that Glu-14, the reactive residue, is part of the substrate-binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Exploring the role of a unique carboxyl residue in EmrE by mass spectrometry.

EmrE is a small multidrug transporter in Escherichia coli that extrudes various positively charged drugs across the plasma membrane in exchange with protons, thereby rendering cells resistant to these compounds. Biochemical experiments indicate that the basic functional unit of EmrE is a dimer where the common binding site for protons and substrate is formed by the interaction of an essential charged residue (Glu-14) from both EmrE monomers. Carbodiimide modification of EmrE has been studied using functional assays, and the evidence suggests that Glu-14 is the target of the reaction. Here we exploited electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to directly monitor the reaction with each monomer rather than following inactivation of the functional unit. A cyanogen bromide peptide containing Glu-14 allows the extent of modification by the carboxyl-specific modification reagent diisopropylcarbodiimide (DiPC) to be monitored and reveals that peptide 2NPYIYLGGAILAEVIGTTLM(21) is approximately 80% modified in a time-dependent fashion, indicating that each Glu-14 residue in the oligomer is accessible to DiPC. Furthermore, preincubation with tetraphenylphosphonium reduces the reaction of Glu-14 with DiPC by up to 80%. Taken together with other biochemical data, the findings support a "time sharing" mechanism in which both Glu-14 residues in a dimer are involved in tetraphenylphosphonium and H(+) binding.

Antiporters↗

Aqueous solutions that model the cytosol: studies on polarity, chemical reactivity and enzyme kinetics.

Concentrated solutions of a series of organic compounds have been prepared and the effects of these solutes on the properties of the solvent system assessed as a function of their concentration and nature. Polarity, as measured by Reichardt's E(T)(30) probe, exhibits a linear variation with both solute and water concentration for simple solutes. Non-linear behaviour was also observed and is associated with preferential solvation or binding of the E(T)(30) probe molecule by the added solute. The observed trends in polarity are mirrored in the effects of these solutes on chemical reactivity and enzyme kinetics. Environmental effects on the kinetics of hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl dichloroacetate, the hydronium-ion catalysed hydrolysis of 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)-tetrahydropyran, the acyl transfer reaction between 4-nitrophenyl acetate and TRIS, the Diels-Alder reaction between 1,4-naphthoquinone and cyclopentadiene and the trypsin-catalysed hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate are reported and discussed in terms of the properties of the solutes and the mechanistic requirements of these reactions. Linear correlations were observed between the logarithms of the rate constants for the acetal hydrolysis, acyl transfer and Diels-Alder reactions with water concentration. Since the latter varies linearly with E(T)(30), this indicates a linear free energy relationship between solution polarity and chemical reactivity.

Animals↗

Differential sensitivity of the cellular compartments of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to protonophoric uncoupler under fermentative and respiratory energy supply.

The effect of a protonophoric uncoupler (CCCP) on the different cellular compartments was investigated in yeast grown aerobically on lactate. These cells were incubated in a resting cell medium under three conditions; in aerobiosis with lactate or glucose or in anaerobiosis with glucose as energetic substrate. For each condition, in vivo 31P NMR was used to measure pH gradients across vacuolar and plasma membrane and phosphorylated compound levels. Respiratory rate (aerobic conditions) and TPP+ uptake were measured independently. Concerning the polyphosphate metabolism, spontaneous NMR-detected polyphosphate breakdown occurred, in anaerobiosis and in the absence of CCCP. In contrast, in aerobiosis, polyphosphate hydrolysis was induced by addition of either CCCP or a vacuolar membrane ATPase-specific inhibitor, bafilomycin A1. Moreover, polyphosphates were totally absent in a null vacuolar ATPase activity mutant. The vacuolar polyphosphate content depended on two factors: vacuolar pH value, strictly linked to the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase activity, and inorganic phosphate concentration. CCCP was more efficient in dissipating the proton electrochemical gradient across vacuolar and mitochondrial membranes than across the plasma membrane. This discrepancy can be essentially explained by a difference of stimulability of each proton pump involved. As long as the energetic state (measured by NDP + NTP content) remains high, the plasma membrane proton ATPase is able to compensate the proton leak. Moreover, this ATPase contributes only partially to the generation of delta pH. The maintenance of the delta pH across the plasma membrane, that of the energetic state, and the cellular TPP+ uptake depend on the nature of the ATP-producing process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Exploring the binding domain of EmrE, the smallest multidrug transporter.

EmrE is a small multidrug transporter in Escherichia coli that extrudes various positively charged drugs across the plasma membrane in exchange with protons, thereby rendering cells resistant to these compounds. Biochemical experiments indicate that the basic functional unit of EmrE is a dimer where the common binding site for protons and substrate is formed by the interaction of an essential charged residue (Glu14) from both EmrE monomers. Previous studies implied that other residues in the vicinity of Glu14 are part of the binding domain. Alkylation of Cys replacements in the same transmembrane domain inhibits the activity of the protein and this inhibition is fully prevented by substrates of EmrE. To monitor directly the reaction we tested also the extent of modification using fluorescein-5-maleimide. While most residues are not accessible or only partially accessible, four, Y4C, I5C, L7C, and A10C, were modified at least 80%. Furthermore, preincubation with tetraphenylphosphonium reduces the reaction of two of these residues by up to 80%. To study other essential residues we generated functional hetero-oligomers and challenged them with various methane thiosulfonates. Taken together the findings imply the existence of a binding cavity accessible to alkylating reagents where at least three residues from TM1, Tyr40 from TM2, and Trp63 in TM3 are involved in substrate binding.

Antiporters↗

Preliminary structural studies on the multi-ligand-binding domain of the transcription activator, BmrR, from Bacillus subtilis.

In the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, the DNA-binding regulatory protein, BmrR, activates transcription from the multidrug transporter gene, bmr, after binding either rhodamine or tetraphenylphosphonium. These two compounds, which have no structural similarity, are also substrates for the bacterial multidrug transporter. BmrR belongs to the MerR family of transcription activators but differs from the other family members in its ability to bind unrelated small molecule activators. As an initial step in the elucidation of the mechanism by which BmrR recognizes rhodamine and tetraphenylphosphonium and activates transcription, we have crystallized the 144-amino acid-residue carboxy terminal dimerization/ligand-binding domain of the BmrR, named the BRC (BmrR C-terminus). Tetragonal crystals of ligand-free BRC take the space group P4(1)2(1)2, or its enantiomorph P4(3)2(1)2, with unit cell dimensions a = b = 76.3 A, c = 96.0 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees. Diffraction is observed to at least 2.7 A resolution at room temperature. In addition, we determined the secondary structure content of ligand-free and rhodamine-bound BRC by circular dichroism. In the ligand-free form, BRC has considerable beta-sheet content (41%) and little alpha-helix structure (13%). After BRC binds rhodamine, its beta-sheet content increases to 47% while the alpha-helix structure decreases to 11%. The structure of BRC will provide insight not only into its multidrug recognition mechanism but could as well aid in the elucidation of the recognition and efflux mechanisms of Bmr and other bacterial multidrug transporters.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Inhibition of tetraphenylphosphonium-induced NMR-visible lipid accumulation in human breast cells by chlorpromazine.

The effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the lipid accumulation induced by the cationic lipophilic compound tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (TPP) were examined using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), lipid extraction and thin layer chromatography (TLC), and electron microscopy (EM). Chlorpromazine at concentrations of 12 or 25 microM significantly reduced the NMR-visible lipid accumulation induced by a 48-h treatment with 6.25 microM TPP in the human breast cell line, HBL-100, without affecting cell viability. TPP caused threefold increases in whole-cell triglyceride levels that were attenuated by the addition of CPZ. Electron micrographs of TPP-treated HBL-100 cells showed that the destruction of mitochondria was accompanied by the accumulation of lipid droplets and myelinoid bodies. The addition of CPZ to TPP-treated cells reduced the occurrence of lipid droplets but not of mitochondrial destruction. Treatment with CPZ, in the presence or absence of TPP, resulted in large cytoplasmic inclusions indicating the inhibition of lysosomal metabolism. The induction and attenuation of NMR-visible lipids in conjunction with concomitant changes in both intracellular lipid droplets and whole-cell triglyceride levels provides evidence that NMR-visible lipids arise from cytoplasmic neutral lipid droplets. The observation that CPZ, a known inhibitor of lysosomal and cytosolic lipid metabolism, attenuates the formation of neutral triglycerides indicates that lysosomal processing may be a major step in the accumulation of NMR-visible lipid in breast cell lines.

Breast↗

Red wine polyphenolic compounds inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells by preventing the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Moderate consumption of red wine has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. This study examines whether red wine polyphenolic compounds (RWPCs) affect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, a major angiogenic and proatherosclerotic factor in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS AND RESULTS: VEGF mRNA expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis and the release of VEGF by immunoassay in cultured VSMCs. Short-term and long-term exposure of VSMCs to RWPCs inhibited VEGF mRNA expression and release of VEGF in response to platelet-derived growth factor AB (PDGFAB), transforming growth factor-beta1, or thrombin. The PDGFAB-induced expression of VEGF was markedly reduced by SB203580 (inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK]), antioxidants, and diphenylene iodonium (inhibitor of flavin-dependent enzymes), slightly reduced by PD98059 (inhibitor of MEK), and not significantly affected by wortmannin (inhibitor of PI-3-kinase) and L-JNKI (inhibitor of JNK). Short-term and long-term treatment of VSMCs with RWPCs markedly reduced PDGFAB-induced production of reactive oxygen species and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that RWPCs strongly inhibit growth factor-induced VEGF expression in VSMCs by preventing the redox-sensitive activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. The potential antiangiogenic and antiatherosclerotic properties of RWPCs are likely to contribute to cardiovascular protection by preventing the development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Androstadienes↗

Kinetics of protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibition by diphenyleneiodonium derivatives.

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase, the last enzyme of the common branch of the heme and chlorophyll pathways in plants, is the molecular target of diphenyl ether-type herbicides. These compounds inhibit the enzyme competitively with respect to the tetrapyrrole substrate, protoporphyrinogen IX. We used the flavinic nature of protoporphyrinogen oxidase to investigate the reactivity of the enzyme toward the 2,2'-diphenyleneiodonium cation, a known inhibitor of several flavoproteins. Diphenyleneiodonium inhibited the membrane-bound yeast protoporphyrinogen oxidase competitively with molecular oxygen. The typical slow-binding kinetics suggested that the enzyme with a reduced flavin rapidly combined with the inhibitor to form an initial complex which then slowly isomerized to a modified enzyme-inhibitor complex (Ki = 6.75 x 10(-8) M, Ki* = 4.1 x 10(-9) M). This inhibition was strongly pH-dependent and was maximal at pH 8. Substituted diphenyleneiodoniums were synthesized and shown to be even better inhibitors than 2,2'-diphenyleneiodonium: Ki = 4.4 x 10(-8) M and Ki* = 1.3 x 10(-9) M for 4-methyl-2,2'-diphenyleneiodonium, Ki = 2.2 x 10(-8) M and Ki * = 1.1 x 10(-9) M for 6-methyl-2,2'-diphenyleneiodonium, and Ki = 6.4 x 10(-9) M and Ki* = 1.2 x 10(-1)2 M for 4-nitro-2,2'-diphenyleneiodonium. The 4-nitro-2,2'-diphenyleneiodonium was a quasi irreversible inhibitor (k5/k6 > 5000). Diphenyleneiodoniums are a new class of protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors that act via a mechanism very different from that of diphenyl ether-type herbicides and appear to be promising tools for studies on the structure-function relationships of this agronomically important enzyme.

Cations↗

Wound-induced expression of the ferulate 5-hydroxylase gene in Camptotheca acuminata.

The phenylpropanoid pathway plays important roles in plants following exposure to environmental stresses, such as wounding and pathogen attack, which lead to the production of a variety of compounds, including lignin, flavonoids and phytoalexins. Ferulate 5-hydroxylase (F5H) is a cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase that catalyses the hydroxylation of ferulic acid, coniferaldehyde and coniferyl alcohol, leading to sinapic acid and syringyl lignin biosynthesis. We isolated F5H cDNA and genomic DNA from Camptotheca acuminata and investigated the expression pattern of the C. acuminata F5H (CaF5H1) gene in response to wounding. A search against the BLOCKS database of conserved protein motifs indicated that CaF5H1 retains features in common with F5Hs reported from other plants. 5'-flanking region analysis using the PLACE database showed that putative regulatory elements related to various abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought, wounding, low temperature and pathogens, exist in the 5'-flanking region of CaF5H1. Based upon these analysis results, we investigated the expression pattern of CaF5H1 gene in response to wounding and stress-related molecules. Here, we show that CaF5H1 transcripts accumulated in the leaves in response to mechanical wounding or the application of molecules involved in the stress response, such as ethylene, ABA and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The application of salicylic acid and diphenylene iodonium (DPI) inhibited the wound-induced expression of CaF5H1. Taken together, we suggest that wound-induced expression of CaF5H1 may be mediated by MJ and H2O2 and enhanced phenylpropanoid contents via CaF5H1 maybe function in response to various stresses, including wounding, in plants.

Abscisic Acid↗

Reductively activated cleavage of DNA mediated by o, o'-diphenylenehalonium compounds.

o,o'-Diphenylenehalonium (DPH) cations represent a novel class of DNA-affinic compounds characterized by binding constants within the range of 10(5)-10(6) M(-1). The maximum binding capacity of 2-2.5 base pairs per DPH cation and about 30% hypochromic reduction in the optical absorption of DPH cations upon binding to DNA suggest intercalation as a likely binding mode. In a DNA-bound form, DPH cations induce strand breaks upon reduction by radiation-produced electrons in aqueous solutions. In keeping with this mechanism, the cleavage is strongly inhibited by oxygen and is not affected by OH radical scavengers in the bulk. The yields of DPH-mediated base release significantly exceed the yield of base release caused by hydroxyl radical (in the absence of scavenger) in anoxic solutions. The yields are weakly dependent on DNA loading within the range from 5 to 50 base pairs per intercalator, which indicates the ability of excess electrons in DNA to react with a scavenger separated by tens of base pairs from the electron attachment site. The question regarding the mechanism by which the distant reactants reach each other in DNA remains unanswered, although it most likely involves electron hopping rather than a single-step long-distance tunneling. The latter conclusion is based on our finding that the electron affinity of DPH cations does not affect their properties as electron scavengers in DNA as would be expected if the direct long-distance tunneling is involved.

Cations↗