title: Nonideal behavior of alkoxyphenoxazone compounds (cytochrome P-450 substrates) in aqueous solution.
abstract: Spectral properties of the cytochrome P-450 substrates, methoxy-, ethoxy-, pentoxy-, and benzyloxyphenoxazone (MeOPx, EtOPx, PeOPx, and BzOPx, respectively) were investigated from 350 to 600 nm in ethanol and aqueous buffer. In ethanol, each alkoxyphenoxazone displayed a lambda max at 460 nm and a shoulder around 390 nm. Extinction coefficients (EmM) in ethanol were calculated as MeOPx, 20.5; EtOPx, 20.4; PeOPx, 24.7; and BzOPx, 22.4. In aqueous buffer, only MeOPx obeyed the Lambert-Beer law (lambda max = 480 nm, EmM = 22.1). Three substrates, EtOPx, PeOPx, and BzOPx, displayed anomalous behavior in aqueous solution, wherein the lambda max shifted to lower wavelengths (480-430 nm) and EmM (apparent) decreased as the alkoxyphenoxazone concentration increased. This behavior was dependent on the side chain, and the concentrations at which the spectral changes took place were estimated as: BzOPx, 2 microM; PeOPx, 5 microM; EtOPx, 17 microM; and MeOPx, greater than 20 microM. The blue shift and decreased EmM (apparent) observed for PeOPx at high concentration in aqueous buffer was reversed at high temperature. Unlike EtOPx, PeOPx, and BzOPx, and like MeOPx, hydroxyphenoxazone (resorufin) and unsubstituted phenoxazone obeyed the Lambert-Beer law in aqueous buffer and ethanol. The data suggest that the pentoxy and benzyloxy substituents facilitated a self-association process among the phenoxazones in aqueous solution. The data further show that aqueous solutions should be avoided when spectral data are used to determine alkoxyphenoxazone concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rabovsky
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heflin
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Judy
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sapola
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D010078:Oxazines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010078:Oxazines; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System