Formation Of Semiquinone Radicals Research Articles

Characterization of the quinone reductase activity of the ferric reductase B protein from Paracoccus denitrificans

The ferric reductase B (FerB) protein of Paracoccus denitrificans exhibits activity of an NAD(P)H: Fe(III) chelate, chromate and quinone oxidoreductase. Sequence analysis places FerB in a family of soluble flavin-containing quinone reductases. The enzyme reduces a range of quinone substrates, including derivatives of 1,4-benzoquinone and 1,2- and 1,4-naphthoquinone, via a ping-pong kinetic mechanism. Dicoumarol and Cibacron Blue 3GA are competitive inhibitors of NADH oxidation. In the case of benzoquinones, FerB apparently acts through a two-electron transfer process, whereas in the case of naphthoquinones, one-electron reduction takes place resulting in the formation of semiquinone radicals. A ferB mutant strain exhibited an increased resistance to 1,4-naphthoquinone, attributable to the absence of the FerB-mediated redox cycling. The ferB promoter displayed a high basal activity throughout the growth of P. denitrificans, which could not be further enhanced by addition of different types of naphthoquinones. This indicates that the ferB gene is expressed constitutively.

A Comparative Study of the Radical-scavenging Activity of the Phenolcarboxylic Acids Caffeic Acid, p-Coumaric Acid, Chlorogenic Acid and Ferulic Acid, With or Without 2-Mercaptoethanol, a Thiol, Using the Induction Period Method

Phenolcarboxylic acid antioxidants do not act in vivo as radical-scavengers in isolation, but rather together with GSH (glutathione), a coantioxidant, they constitute an intricate antioxidant network. Caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid with or without 2-mercaptoethanol (ME), as a substitute for GSH, was investigated by the induction period (IP) method for polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by thermal decomposition of 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN, a source of alkyl radicals, R.) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO, a source of peroxy radicals, PhCOO.) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Upon PhCOO. radical scavenging, the stoichiometric factors (n, number of free radical trapped by one mole of antioxidant) for caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid were 2.4, 1.8, 1.7 and 0.9, whereas upon R. radical scavenging, the corresponding values were 1.3, 1.2, 1.0 and 0.8, respectively. Antioxidants with n values close to 2 suggest the stepwise formation of semiquinone radicals and quinones. By contrast, those with n values close to 1 suggest the formation of dimers after single-electron oxidation, possibly due to recombination of corresponding aryloxy radicals. The ratio of the rate constant of inhibition to that of propagation (kinh/kp) declined in the order chlorogenic acid > p-coumaric acid > ferulic acid > caffeic acid. The ratio of the observed IP for the phenolcarboxylic acid/2-mercapto-ethanol (ME) mixture (1:1 molar ratio) (A) to the calculated IP (the simple sum of phenol acid antioxidant and ME) (B) was investigated. Upon R. scavenging, the caffeic acid or p-coumaric acid/ME mixture was A/B>1, particularly the former was 1.2, suggesting a synergic effect. By contrast, upon PhCOO. scavenging, the corresponding mixture was A/B <1, particularly the latter was 0.7, suggesting an antagonistic effect. Upon both radicals scavenging, the A/B for the ferulic acid or chlorogenic acid/ME mixture was approximately 1. The reported beneficial antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid may be related to their prooxidant-antioxidant balance in the presence of GSH.

Baicalein Induction of Hydroxyl Radical Formation via 12-Lipoxygenase in Human Platelets: An ESR Study

The pro-oxidant activities of baicalein, morin, myricetin, quercetin, and rutin were examined in various cell-containing systems including human platelets, rat vascular smooth muscle cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human THP-1 cells, and fibroblast cells. Electron spin resonance (ESR) results showed that only baicalein generated hydroxyl radicals in a resting human platelet suspension, whereas the other flavonoids showed no effects on any of the resting cell systems. A low concentration of arachidonic acid (AA) increased the intensity of hydroxyl radicals, but a high concentration inhibited it. Collagen and thrombin, platelet aggregatory agents that can cause the release of AA by platelets, enhanced baicalein-induced hydroxyl radical formation, whereas ADP and U44619 showed no significant effects. Quinacrine and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic trifluoromethyl ketone, both PLA2 inhibitors, significantly attenuated baicalein-induced hydroxyl radical formation. These results suggest that baicalein-induced hydroxyl radical formation is associated with AA metabolite enzymes in human platelets. The formation of hydroxyl radicals was significantly inhibited by lipoxygenase inhibitors including nordihydroguaiaretic acid, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and hinokitiol, but was not affected by desferroxamine or the heme protein inhibitors KCN and NaN3. On the other hand, semiquinone free radicals were generated when baicalein was incubated with horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 or platelets/AA. The semiquinone radicals formed in the platelets/AA system could be extensively inhibited by desferroxamine, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, KCN, and NaN3, indicating that prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS)-peroxidase may be involved. The results of this study led to the proposal that baicalein induces hydroxyl radical formation via 12-lipoxygenase and induces semiquinone radical formation via PGHS-peroxidase in human platelets.

Involvement of Semiquinone Radicals in the in Vitro Cytotoxicity of Cigarette Mainstream Smoke

Free radicals in cigarette smoke have attracted a great deal of attention because they are hypothesized to be responsible in part for several of the pathologies related to smoking. Hydroquinone, catechol, and their methyl-substituted derivatives are abundant in the particulate phase of cigarette smoke, and they are known precursors of semiquinone radicals. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of these dihydroxybenzenes was determined using the neutral red uptake (NRU) assay, and their radical-forming capacity was determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). All of the dihydroxybenzenes studied were found to generate appreciable amounts of semiquinone radicals when dissolved in the cell culture medium employed in the NRU assay. Hydroquinone exhibited by far the highest capacity to form semiquinone radicals at physiological pH, even though it is not the most cytotoxic dihydroxybenzene. Methyl-substituted dihydroxybenzenes were found to be more cytotoxic than either hydroquinone or catechol. The formation of semiquinone radicals via auto-oxidation of the dihydroxybenzenes was found to be dependent on the reduction potential of the corresponding quinone/semiquinone radical redox couple. The capacity to generate semiquinone radicals was found to be insufficient to explain the variance in the cytotoxicity among the dihydroxybenzenes in our study; consequently, other mechanisms of toxicity must also be involved. The observed interactions between 2,6-dimethylhydroquinone and hydroquinone in the cytotoxicity assay and EPR analysis suggest that care needs to be taken when the bioactivity of cigarette smoke constituents is evaluated, i.e., the effect of the cigarette smoke complex matrix on the activity of the single constituent studied must be taken into consideration.

Anti-Cancer Activities of 1,4-Naphthoquinones: A QSAR Study

Quinone moieties are present in many drugs such as anthracyclines, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, mitomycin, mitoxantrones and saintopin, which are used clinically in the therapy of solid cancers. The cytotoxic effects of these quinones are mainly due to the following two factors: (i) inhibition of DNA topoisomerase-II and, (ii) formation of semiquinone radical that can transfer an electron to oxygen to produce super oxide, which is catalyzed by flavoenzymes such as NADPH-cytochrome-P-450 reductase. Both semiquinone and super oxide of quinones can generate the hydroxyl radical, which is the cause of DNA strand breaks. 1,4-naphthoquinone contains two quinone groups that have the ability to accept one or two electrons to form the corresponding radical anion or di-anion species. It is probably dependent on the quinone redox cycling that yields "reactive oxygen species" (ROS) as well as arylation reactions, which is common to quinones for biological relevance. In the present review, an attempt has been made to collect the cytotoxicity data on different series of 1,4-naphthoquinones against four different cancer cell lines that are L1210, A549, SNU-1, and K562, which were acquired by using identical method, and has been discussed in terms of QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships) to understand the chemical-biological interactions. QSAR results have shown that the cytotoxic activities of 1,4-naphthoquinones depend largely on their hydrophobicity.

Phenolic Compounds in Red Oak and Sugar Maple Leaves Have Prooxidant Activities in the Midgut Fluids of Malacosoma disstria and Orgyia leucostigma Caterpillars

Phenolic compounds are generally believed to be key components of the oxidative defenses of plants against pathogens and herbivores. However, phenolic oxidation in the gut fluids of insect herbivores has rarely been demonstrated, and some phenolics could act as antioxidants rather than prooxidants. We compared the overall activities of the phenolic compounds in red oak (Quercus rubra) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves in the midgut fluids of two caterpillar species, Malacosoma disstria (phenolic-sensitive) and Orgyia leucostigma (phenolic-tolerant). Three hypotheses were examined: (1) ingested sugar maple leaves produce higher levels of semiquinone radicals (from phenolic oxidation) in caterpillar midgut fluids than do red oak leaves; (2) O. leucostigma maintains lower levels of phenolic oxidation in its midgut fluids than does M. disstria; and (3) phenolic compounds in tree leaves have overall prooxidant activities in the midgut fluids of caterpillars. Sugar maple leaves had significantly lower ascorbate: phenolic ratios than did red oak leaves, suggesting that phenolics in maple would oxidize more readily than those in oak. As expected, semiquinone radicals were at higher steady-state levels in the midgut fluids of both caterpillar species when they fed on sugar maple than on red oak, consistent with the first hypothesis. Higher semiquinone radical levels were also found in M. disstria than in O. leucostigma, consistent with the second hypothesis. Finally, semiquinone radical formation was positively associated with two markers of oxidation (protein carbonyls and total peroxides). These results suggest that the complex mixtures of phenolics in red oak and sugar maple leaves have overall prooxidant activities in the midgut fluids of M. disstria and O. leucostigma caterpillars. We conclude that the oxidative defenses of trees vary substantially between species, with those in sugar maple leaves being especially active, even in phenolic-tolerant herbivore species.

Leucoisoprenochrome-o-semiquinone Formation in Freshly Isolated Adult Rat Cardiomyocytes

Sustained high levels of circulating catecholamines can lead to cardiotoxicity. There is increasing evidence that this process may result from metal-catalyzed catecholamine oxidation into semiquinones, quinones, and aminochromes. We have previously shown that Cu2+-induced oxidation of isoproterenol into isoprenochrome induces toxic effects in isolated cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to characterize the isoproterenol oxidation process and to locate the formation of semiquinone radicals in cardiomyocyte suspensions. Freshly isolated rat cardiomyocytes were incubated with 1 or 10 mM isoproterenol and 20 microM Cu2+ for 4 h. The formation of an isoproterenol oxidation radical was detected in the extracellular medium, cells, membranes, and heavy organelles by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. An electron spin resonance signal assigned to leucoisoprenochrome-o-semiquinone increased in a time-dependent manner in the extracellular medium. A second electron spin resonance signal, characteristic of an immobilized radical, was also found in the cardiomyocytes. The latter was attributed to leucoisoprenochrome-o-semiquinone immobilized on cellular components such as membranes, cytoskeleton, nucleus, and heavy organelles. In addition, the levels of leucoisoprenochrome-o-semiquinone decreased in the presence of glutathione. Computer simulations of the experimental spectra indicate the formation of two distinct isomeric leucoisoprenochrome-o-semiquinone radicals during isoproterenol oxidation. The present study shows that the isoproterenol oxidation in isolated rat cardiomyocytes correlates with the formation of leucoisoprenochrome-o-semiquinone in the cells and in the extracellular medium, suggesting that it might be involved in cardiotoxicity induced by the oxidation of catecholamines.

Phenol and catechol induce prehemolytic and hemolytic changes in human erythrocytes

The toxic potency of two industrially used compounds (phenol and catechol) was studied in human blood cells in vitro. Catechol was found to be a more harmful toxin than phenol, since it provokes statistically significant changes in the function of erythrocytes even at low doses. Most of the changes was statistically significant for the doses of 50 ppm of catechol and 250 ppm of phenol. Both compounds induced methaemoglobin formation, glutathione depletion and conversion of oxyhaemoglobin to methaemoglobin, which is associated with superoxide anion production and lead to formation of ferryl hemoglobin, hydrogen peroxide or hydroxyl radicals. It is known that oxidation of catechol leads to formation of semiquinone radicals. Semiquinones are able to bind to nucleophilic residues like SH or NH 2 of proteins and these macromolecules may undergo inactivation. We observed among especially susceptible to action of catechol are catalase (CAT) (100 ppm) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (250 ppm). Decrease of the activity of catalase and SOD by catechol induced radical species formation. This lead to inhibition of another protective enzymes such as glutathione- S-transferase (500 ppm), glutathione reductase (1000 ppm), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity (1000 ppm). Cytotoxicity of phenol or catechol was noted as hemolysis. Haemoglobin liberated from erythrocytes in this process may further generate oxygen free radicals and subsequently initiate enzymes damage. It seems to be essential that in phenol and catechol toxicity special role play damages of heme proteins and other proteins molecule, and damages of lipids are not so important.

Chemical and photochemical electron transfer of new helianthrone derivatives: aspects of their photodynamic activity.

Helianthrones 2-4 are a new class of synthetic photosensitizers, which have a molecular skeleton related to that of hypericin. We established that irradiation of heliantrones with visible light leads to the formation of semiquinone radicals and reactive oxygen species. The structures of the paramagnetic anion species produced by electron transfer were calculated on the density functional level and investigated by cyclovoltammetry, UV/vis, and EPR/ENDOR spectroscopy. As with hypericin, the pi system of the helianthrones was found to be considerably deviated from planarity, and, upon electron transfer, deprotonation in the bay region occurs. The structure of the semiquinone radicals was found to be identical in THF, DMF, and aqueous buffered solutions regardless of the means by which reduction was achieved. Semiquinone radicals can be formed via self-electron transfer between the excited state and the ground state or via electron transfer from an electron donor to the excited state of helianthrone. Therefore, the presence of an electron donor significantly enhanced the photogeneration of semiquinone and superoxide radical. The kinetic studies showed that no significant photochemical destruction of helianthrones occurred upon irradiation. Generation of superoxide and singlet oxygen upon irradiation of helianthrones was established by spin trapping techniques. This shows that both type I and type II mechanisms are of importance for the photodynamic action of these compounds.

Diphenol radical cations and semiquinone radicals as direct products of the free electron transfer from catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone to parent solvent radical cations

In the pulse radiolysis of solutions of catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone in n-butylchloride, dihydroxybenzene radical cations (40%) as well as semiquinone radicals (60%) are observed as direct synchronously formed products of the electron transfer from the solvent parent ions to the solute. This is explained in terms of free electron transfer succeeding in nearly every encounter of the reactants, which in the case of the studied dihydroxybenzenes involves femtosecond molecular dynamics effects. The rotation of the C–OH bond causes cycling of the molecule through transient conformations also exhibiting different electron distributions. From the more chemical point of view, the diphenol radical cations represent the first and till now unknown intermediates of oxidative semiquinone radical formation.

Stable free radicals as ubiquitous components of red wines

A stable ESR signal, centred at g = 2.0037 ± 0.0002, characterised by a single resonance and assignable to a free radical, was found in all the bottled red wines, both commercial and experimental, that we have examined. The radical concentration was calculated to be in the range of 5–82 nM. After exposure of the wines to air for a few minutes a two fold increase of the ESR signal, followed by a slow decrease with time, was observed. The intensity of ESR signal in experimental red wines, was found to increase with the ageing of the wines and was strictly correlated to the total content of polyphenols. The formation of semiquinone radicals of polyphenols is suggested as one possible mechanism leading to the presence of stable free radicals in red wines.

Mechanisms of beneficial effects of probucol in adriamycin cardiomyopathy.

Probucol, a lipid-lowering drug, has been shown to offer protection against adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy. In order to define the mechanism of this protection, we examined changes in antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in hearts as well as lipids in hearts and plasma from rats treated with either adriamycin or adriamycin and probucol with appropriate controls. Any potential free radical quenching as well as growth inhibitory effects of probucol were also examined using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in culture. In animal model, adriamycin caused a significant depression in glutathione peroxidase and increased plasma and cardiac lipids as well as lipid peroxidation. Probucol treatment modulated adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathic changes and increased glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. In the presence of adriamycin under hypoxic conditions, formation of adriamycin semiquinone radical was detected by ESR. The cell growth in these cultures was also inhibited by adriamycin in a dose-dependent manner. Probucol had no effect on adriamycin-induced growth inhibition as well as formation of semiquinone radicals. It is proposed that probucol protection against adriamycin cardiomyopathy is mediated by increased antioxidants and lipid-lowering without any effect on free radical production.

Characterization of the triplet charge-transfer state of 4-amino-N-methylphthalimide in aprotic and protic media by laser flash photolysis

The intermediate charge-transfer (CT) transients of 4-amino-N-methylphthalimide (4-AMP) have been attempted to be characterized mainly by laser flash photolysis and other steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies. Previously, the singlet intramolecular-charge-transfer (ICT) states have been investigated for various phthalimides using fluorescence techniques. This is probably the first attempt to identify the triplet state of CT transients of 4-AMP by laser flash photolysis studies. The various photophysical parameters have been estimated in different aprotic, protic and heterogeneous media to differentiate the types of CT character in the different media. In aprotic solvents ICT predominates but in protic media the formation of a twisted intramolecular-charge-transfer (TICT) state from the ICT state is facilitated owing to reduction of the torsional barrier. Hence, in polar protic solvents some of the non-radiative deactivation channels, especially internal conversion (IC) from the excited singlet state to the ground state, become effective, which reduces the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of the singlet ICT species. Moreover, in protic and micellar media, formation of semiquinone radical takes place through hydrogen abstraction from the media by triplet 4-AMP as further confirmed by application of an external magnetic field.

Comparison of Chemically and Electrochemically Prepared Polyaniline Films. 2. Optical Properties

Relaxation phenomena in thin polyaniline films synthesized chemically and electrochemically are investigated by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy. It is shown that the relaxation process carried out from the electrochemically oxidized or electrochemically reduced states of the polyaniline always proceeds toward the emeraldine state. The relaxation process in acid is governed by disproportionation and formation of semiquinone radicals. The changes in the population density of the polaronic states within the polaronic band allows determination of the change in the oxidation state and consequently the change in the position of the Fermi energy level. The formation of polaronic states is ascertained by diffusion of ions from or into the polyaniline matrix in solution and within the polymer in air. 40 refs., 11 figs., 1 tab.

Plasma membrane redox and regulation of cell growth

Gene expression can be activated by external oxidants which are reduced at the cell surface by plasma membrane electron transport. The signals generated in response to the plasma membrane electron transport include activation of proton release, internal calcium changes, and change in reductant/oxidant ratio in the cytosol. H2O2 generated in response to ligands which bind to plasma membrane receptors can also activate protein tyrosine kinases and gene expression. Inhibition of oxygen radical generation at the cell surface in response to the mitogen, phorbol myristate acetate by retinoic acid is consistent with a role for the plasma membrane electron transport as the source for H2O2 in Balb 3T3 cells. Agents which affect the binding of coenzyme Q to redox sites in the plasma membrane electron transport may increase formation of semiquinone radicals in the membrane which can be a source of oxygen radicals and H2O2. The generation of H2O2 by transformed cells indicates that oncogene product expression in the plasma membrane may also increase quinone-based oxygen radical generation.

Photosensitization with anticancer agents 20—EPR studies on the photodynamic action of phleichrome: Formation of semiquinone radical and activated oxygen species on illumination with visible light

When phleichrome was illuminated with visible light, the semiquinone radical, singlet oxygen, and superoxide anion radical were detected. The formation of the semiquinone radical and activated oxygen species and the transformations and competitions between them depend on quinone and oxygen concentration, duration and intensity of illumination, and the nature of the substrate. In anaerobic solution, the semiquinone radical was predominantly photoproduced via the self-electron transfer between the excited and ground species. In contrast, in aerobic solution, singlet oxygen is the principal product in the photosensitization of phleichrome. In addition to singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical is also generated by the quinones upon illumination in aerobic solution, but to a lesser extent. The generation of the superoxide anion is significantly enhanced by the presence of electron donors.

Photosensitization with anticancer agents 19. EPR studies of photodynamic action of calphostin C: Formation of semiquinone radical and activated oxygen on illumination with visible light

When calphostin C was illuminated with visible light, the semiquinone radical, singlet oxygen, and superoxide anion radical were detected. The formation of the semiquinone radical and activated oxygen species and the transformations and competitions between them depend upon the quinone and oxygen concentrations, time and intensity of illumination, and the nature of the substrate. In anaerobic solution, the semiquinone radical was predominantly photoproduced via the self-electron transfer between the excited and ground species. In aerobic solution, singlet oxygen is the principal product in the photosensitization of calphostin C. In addition to singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical is also generated by the quinones upon illumination in aerobic solution, but to a lesser extent than singlet oxygen. The superoxide anion is produced via the reduction of oxygen by the semiquinone radical, and this process is significantly enhanced by the presence of electron donors.

Photosensitization with anticancer agents: 15. Perylenequinonoid pigments as potential photodynamic therapeutic agents: Formation of semiquinone radicals and reactive oxygen species on illumination

Visible light illumination of solutions of perylenequinonoid pigments generates the corresponding semiquinone radicals, singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide. In anaerobic solution, the semiquinone radicals are predominantly photoproduced via the self-electron transfer between the excited and ground state species. In aerobic solution, singlet oxygen is the principal product in the photosensitization of perylenequinonoid pigments. The 3,10-dihydroxy-4,9-perylenequinonoid chromophore was shown to be the necessary structural requirement for the generation of singlet oxygen, and the side-chains of the quinones had little effect on the production of singlet oxygen. This conclusion is useful in the development of more efficient photodynamic therapeutic agents than natural perylenequinonoid pigments themselves. Such agents should ideally contain the 3,10-dihydroxy-4,9-perylenequinonoid chromophore to produce singlet oxygen together with appropriate elaborated side-chains to permit the selective localization of the sensitizer in tumor tissue. In addition to singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical is generated by the perylenequinones on illumination in aerobic solution, but to a lesser extent than singlet oxygen, via the reduction of oxygen by the corresponding semiquinone radicals. This latter process is significantly enhanced by the presence of electron donors.

Photosensitization with anticancer agents 17. EPR studies of photodynamic action of hypericin: Formation of semiquinone radical and activated oxygen species on illumination

When hypericin was illuminated with 580 nm light in aqueous solution, the semiquinone radical, singlet oxygen, and superoxide anoin radical were detected. The formation of the semiquinone radical and activated oxygen species and the transformation and competition between them depend on the quinone and oxygen concentrations, irradiation time and intensity, and the nature of substrate. In anaerobic solution containing a high concentration of the quinone, the semiquinone radical was predominantly photoproduced. In contrast, in aerobic solution, singlet oxygen is the principal product in the photosensitization of hypericin. Besides singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical is generated by the quinone on illumination in aerobic solution via the reduction of oxygen by the semiquinone radical, but to a lesser extent than singlet oxygen. The generation of superoxide anion radical is significantly enhanced by the presence of electron donors.

The role of prostaglandin H synthase-mediated metabolism in the induction of oxidative DNA damage by BHA metabolites.

The carcinogenicity of the phenolic food antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole may be related to its oxidative biotransformation in vivo. In order to determine the ability of BHA, 2-tert-butyl(1,4)hydroquinone (TBHQ) and 2-tert-butyl(1,4)paraquinone (TBQ) to induce oxidative DNA damage, biological inactivation of single-stranded bacteriophage phi X-174 DNA, as well as induction of 7-hydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in dG by these compounds was studied in vitro, in the presence and absence of peroxidases. Both test systems showed that BHA and TBQ (probably due to lack of reductase activity in vitro) were not capable of inducting oxidative DNA damage. TBHQ, however, appeared to be a strong inactivator of phage DNA as well as a potent inducer of 8-oxodG formation. Addition of radical scavengers showed that this damage was due to formation of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. Addition of iron chelators and metal ions showed that the one-electron oxidations of TBHQ via the semiquinone radical into TBQ are toxic via the formation of oxygen radicals and are not directly due to the hydroquinone itself or the formation of semiquinone radicals. Although peroxidation of TBHQ by prostaglandin H synthase (PHS) is indicated to result in a superoxide anion burst, this is not accompanied by an increase in oxidative DNA damage in vitro. This might be due to the use of hydrogen peroxide as a substrate by PHS itself, consequently resulting in less formation of hydroxyl radicals. Oxidation of TBHQ by lipoxygenases showed that no semiquinone radicals or oxygen radicals were formed, probably due to a two-electron oxidation of TBHQ directly into TBQ. The present results indicate that metabolic activation of BHA yielding reactive oxygen species may induce a carcinogenic potential, since the BHA metabolite TBHQ, appeared to be a strong inducer of oxidative DNA damage.