title: Spectrophotometric assay of superoxide dismutase activity based on the activated autoxidation of a tetracyclic catechol.
abstract: A new spectrophotometric assay of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity is described. The assay is based on the SOD-mediated increase in the rate of autoxidation of 5,6,6a,11b-tetrahydro-3,9,10-trihydroxybenzo[c]fluorene (BXT-01050) in aqueous alkaline solution. This autoxidation yields a chromophore with a maximal absorbance wavelength of 525 nm. The optimized assay of SOD activity is performed at pH 8.8, 37 degrees C, in 50 mM air-saturated 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3- propanediol buffer containing 3 mM boric acid and 0.1 mM diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. The kinetic measurement of 525-nm absorbance is performed for 1 min upon addition of BXT-01050. BXT-01050 is stabilized in stock solution acidified at pH 1.5. The SOD activity is determined from the Vs/Vc ratio of the autoxidation rates measured in the presence (Vs) and in the absence (Vc) of sample. One SOD activity unit (U-525) has been defined as the activity that doubles the autoxidation background (Vs/Vc = 2). The equation that fits the standard curve is the same with all studied SODs. Another reagent, 1,4,6-trimethyl-2-vinylpyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate, directly eliminates interference due to sample mercaptans such as glutathione by means of a very fast alkylation reaction. A fast and reproducible measurement of SOD activity requires only a single determination per sample. At pH 8.8, an optimal assay sensitivity is achieved without strongly affecting the activity of known SODs such as Cu/Zn-, Mn-, or Fe-SOD.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Bioxytech, Z.A. des Petits Carreaux, Bonneuil-sur-Marne, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nebot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moutet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huet
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yadan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaudiere
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005449:Fluorenes; C085893:5,6,6a,11b-tetrahydro-3,9,10-trihydroxybenzo(c)fluorene; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase