title: Reaction of vanadium(V) with thiols generates vanadium (IV) and thiyl radicals.
abstract: The in vivo toxicity of vanadium(V) has been found to correlate with the depletion of cellular glutathione and related non-protein thiols. With a view to understanding the mechanism for this observation, we have investigated the oxidation of glutathione, cysteine N-acetylcysteine and penicillamine by vanadium(V), using electron spin resonance (ESR) and ESR spin trapping methodology. The spin trap used was 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline 1-oxide (DMPO). It is found that the oxidation of these thiols by vanadium(V) generates the corresponding thiyl radicals and vanadium- (IV) complexes. The results suggest that free radical reactions play a significant role in the depletion of cellular thiols by vanadium(V) and hence in vanadium(V) toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 26506.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dalal
mesh_terms: D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005609:Free Radicals; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014639:Vanadium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014639:Vanadium