title: Hydrogen peroxide-mediated Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase fragmentation: protection by carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine.
abstract: The fragmentation of human Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was observed during incubation with H(2)O(2). Hydroxyl radical scavengers such as sodium azide, formate and mannitol protected the fragmentation of Cu,Zn-SOD. These results suggested that *OH was implicated in the hydrogen peroxide-mediated Cu,Zn-SOD fragmentation. Carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine have been proposed to act as anti-oxidants in vivo. We investigated whether three compounds could protect the fragmentation of Cu,Zn-SOD induced by H(2)O(2). The results showed that carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine significantly protected the fragmentation of Cu,Zn-SOD. All three compounds also protected the loss of enzyme activity induced by H(2)O(2). Carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine effectively inhibited the formation of *OH by the Cu,Zn-SOD/H(2)O(2) system. These results suggest that carnosine and related compounds can protect the hydrogen peroxide-mediated Cu,Zn-SOD fragmentation through the scavenging of *OH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, Division of Life Sciences, Hallym University, Chunchon, South Korea.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000861:Anserine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002336:Carnosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; C005038:homocarnosine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D002336:Carnosine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000861:Anserine