title: Photosensitizing action of furocoumarins on membrane components and consequent intracellular events.
abstract: The photodamage induced in membrane components by furocoumarins is reviewed. The oxygen-dependent photoreactions between furocoumarins and cell membrane constituents lead mainly to lipid peroxidation and the formation of cross-linking in ghost proteins, whereas the oxygen-independent photoreactions lead essentially to a C4 cycloaddition between the furocoumarin and the unsaturated fatty acids. In the latter, cycloadducts are formed between the 3,4 double bond of the furocoumarin and the olefinic double bond of the unsaturated fatty acid. The stereochemical structures of these cycloadducts and the reaction mechanism of the cycloaddition are discussed. Finally, the modulation of several membrane systems by furocoumarins and the consequent intracellular events are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dall'Acqua
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008027:Light; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D011564:Furocoumarins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents