Protein-derived Radicals

Free Radical Metabolism Group

Oxidative damage to tissues by hydrogen peroxide has become a recurring theme as a mechanism for the induction of a variety of medical conditions including myocardial ischemia, cancer, inflammation and aging. Proteins are a target of such damage. Most heme-containing proteins have peroxidase activity that can cause oxidative damage to a variety of biological molecules, including itself and membrane lipids. The Free Radical Metabolism Group is in the process of investigating a series of protein-derived radicals formed by myoglobin, hemoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase that utilizes the group’s new immunological-spin trapping techniques.

The group has produced polyclonal antibodies that bind specifically to the spin trap/protein adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The antibodies were produced in rabbits immunized against the hapten, 5,5-dimethyl-2-octanoic acid-1-pyrroline N-oxide (OA-DMPO). OA-DMPO is a structural analog of DMPO with an additional carbon chain terminating in a carboxyl-group for amide linking. Antigens were synthesized by reacting OA-DMPO with chicken egg albumin via the carbodiimide method for amidation. Titer of the rabbit serum was determined using ELISA techniques. The polyclonal antibodies screened positive for protein-DMPO nitrone adducts produced on BSA via Fenton chemistry and adducts produced on metmyoglobin as a result of self-peroxidation by hydrogen peroxide.