Acrolein: IV. Evidence for the formation of the cytotoxic aldehyde acrolein from enzymatically oxidized spermine or spermidine

Abstract

Acrolein is formed in significant amounts from enzymatically oxidized spermine or spermidine at 37 °. This was proved by its detection in the vapor phase of incubation mixtures containing plasma amine-oxidase (or calf serum) and spermine or spermidine. Using air or nitrogen as carriers the vapor phase of the incubation mixtures was passed through cold traps with water or ethanol where acrolein was collected by absorption. Identification and quantitation of the absorbed acrolein was carried out by fluorometry, colorimetry, uv spectrophotometry, and by comparison of the ir spectra of its 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative with those obtained from the derivatives of reference solutions of acrolein. Equivalent amounts of putrescine could not be detected in the solutions with the absorbed acrolein. Different pathways are suggested for the resulting intermediate products from enzymatically oxidized spermine at 30 and 37 °, according to the length of the oxidation period.