title: Lucigenin (bis-N-methylacridinium) as a mediator of superoxide anion production.
abstract: Lucigenin (bis-N-methylacridinium) (Luc2+) has frequently been used for the luminescent detection of O2-. In fact, the pathway leading to this luminescence requires univalent reduction of Luc2+ to LucH.+ followed by formation of an unstable dioxetane by reaction of LucH.+ with O2-. It is now shown that LucH.+ rapidly autooxidizes and so produces O2-. Luc2+ can thus mediate O2- production in systems, such as glucose plus glucose oxidase, in which there is ordinarily no O2- production. Luc2+ luminescence can thus be used as the basis for assaying superoxide dismutase activity but should not be used for measuring, or even detecting, O2-.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Liochev
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fridovich
mesh_terms: D000166:Acridines / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology; D002417:Cattle; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010269:Paraquat / Q000737:chemistry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000166:Acridines; D000838:Anions; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D013481:Superoxides; C033472:10,10'-dimethyl-9,9'-biacridinium; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat