Detection of peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals produced by reaction of hydroperoxides with heme-proteins by electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

ESR spin trapping using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) has been used to directly detect alkoxyl radicals (with hyperfine coupling constants aN 1.488, aH 1.600 mT and aN 1.488, aH 1.504 mT for the tBuO. and PhC(CH3)2O. adducts, respectively) and peroxyl radicals (aN 1.448, aH 1.088, aH 0.130 mT and aN 1.456, aH 1.064, aH 0.128 mT for the tBuOO. and PhC(CH3)2OO. adducts, respectively) produced from t-butyl or cumene hydroperoxides by a variety of heme-containing substances (purified cytochrome P-450, metmyoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, cytochrome c, catalase, horseradish peroxidase) and the model compound hematin. The observed species exhibit a complicated dependence on reagent concentrations and time, with maximum concentrations of the peroxyl radical adducts being observed immediately after mixing of the hydroperoxide with low concentrations of the heme-compound. Experiments with inhibitors (CN-, N3-, CO, metyrapone and imidazole) suggest that the major mechanism of peroxyl radical production involves high-valence-state iron complexes in a reaction analogous to the classical peroxidase pathway. The production of alkoxyl radicals is shown to arise mainly from the breakdown of peroxyl radical spin adducts, with direct production from the hydroperoxide being a relatively minor process.