title: Biochemical activation of AZQ [3,6-diaziridinyl-2,5-bis(carboethoxyamino)-1,4-benzoquinone] to its free radical species.
abstract: The aziridinyl quinone 3,6-diaziridinyl-2,5-bis(carboethoxyamino)-1,4-benzoquinone is an antitumor agent that enhances electron flow from reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) to molecular oxygen in rat liver microsomes, rat liver nuclei, and purified NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The process is enzymatic and has an optimum pH of 7.5; NADPH is the preferred cofactor. Electron spin resonance studies show the presence of a free radical semiquinone characterized by five hyperfine lines at g = 2.0046.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001388:Aziridines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001389:Azirines / Q000378:metabolism*; D016227:Benzoquinones; D001711:Biotransformation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005609:Free Radicals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001388:Aziridines; D001389:Azirines; D016227:Benzoquinones; D005609:Free Radicals; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; C029108:diaziquone