JBC, Vol. 250, Issue 16, 6496-6502, Aug, 1975
Singlet oxygen production associated with enzyme-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes
M. M. King, E. K. Lai and P. B. McCay
Evidence for the formation of singlet oxygen during the oxidation of NADPH
by liver microsomes is presented. The evidence is based primarily on the
enzyme-dependent formation of dibenzoylethylene from diphenylfuran, a
reaction which is specific for singlet oxygen. The apparent formation of
singlet oxygen is coupled to the occurrence of peroxidation of microsomal
lipid, a phenomenon known to be associated with NADPH oxidation by the
particles. Both the peroxidation of lipid and the apparent formation of
singlet oxygen are related to the amount of Fe3+ present in the system and
the results are consistent with the possibility that the singlet oxygen
formed by this system is derived from the breakdown of lipid peroxides. If
1O2 is formed from breakdown of lipid peroxides, it would be dependent on
O-/-2 formation because superoxide anion has been shown to undergo
reactions in this system which generate extremely reactive free radicals
(probably hydroxyl) that initiate lipid peroxidation. These peroxides are
quite unstable and their degradation may be the source of 1O2. We have
consistently observed that O-/-2 itself is not a reactive radical with
respect to lipids or radical scavengers. Hence, O-/-2 cannot be the radical
which initiates lipid peroxidation on which 1O2 generation appears to
depend. The results may offer at least part of the explanation for the
dietary requirement for alpha-tocopherol which not only scavenges free
radicals but quenches singlet oxygen as well. This report also includes
description of studies indicating that another enzyme, xanthine oxidase,
which forms superoxide anion during its activity under aerobic conditions,
does not form singlet oxygen during its function. This finding is in
contrast to reports of others which indicate that xanthine oxidase activity
does produce 1O2.