Calcium-induced lens protein aggregation accelerated by reactive oxygen species photosensitized in the presence of hydroxykynurenines.

Photo-oxidation with 3-OH L-kynurenine O-beta-glucoside or 3-OH L-kynurenine accelerates the aggregation of water-soluble protein in the rat lens due to the presence of calcium ion. The present report demonstrates that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion mediate a large part of the photodynamic acceleration with hydroxykynurenine compounds. In addition, 3-OH L-kynurenine O-beta-glucoside seems to photosensitize more of the two reactive oxygen species than 3-OH L-kynurenine. The findings are discussed together with other photodynamic effects of hydroxykynurenine compounds.