Generation of reactive oxygen species by hydroxypyridone compound/iron complexes

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Prooxidant properties of iron-binding hydroxypyridone compounds including deferiprone and mimosine were analyzed.

Methods: Hydroxypyridone/iron-dependent production of reactive oxygen species was evidenced by the inactivation of aconitase, the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress in permeabilized yeast cells.

Results and Discussion: Deferiprone and mimosine produced reactive oxygen species in the presence of ferrous sulfate. The inactivation required sodium azide the inhibitor of catalase, and addition of TEMPOL, a scavenger of superoxide radical, protected aconitase from the inactivation, suggesting that the superoxide radical produced from the hydroxypyridone/iron complex is responsible for the inactivation of aconitase. A principal role of superoxide radical was further supported by the finding that the hydroxypyridone/iron complex can inactivate aconitase in the presence of cyanide the inhibitor of superoxide dismutase. Deferiprone and mimosine stimulated the Fe²⁺ oxidation, resulting in the one-electron reduction of oxygen to form superoxide anion, which can inactivate aconitase by oxidizing the prosthetic iron-sulfur cluster. Mimosine further stimulated the ascorbate/iron-dependent formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine in DNA.

Conclusion: Biological toxicity of mimosine and deferiprone reported previously can be accounted for by the prooxidant properties of hydroxypyridone compounds: coordination complex with iron generates reactive oxygen species resulting in the disturbance of mitochondrial energy metabolism and DNA damage.

KEYWORDS:

• Hydroxypyridone
• mimosine‌
• deferiprone
• iron
• reactive oxygen species
• DNA damage
• hydrogen peroxide‌
• superoxide

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).