title: Myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of chloroacetonitrile to cyanide.
abstract: Chloroacetonitrile (CAN) is a disinfection by-product of chlorination of drinking water. Epidemiological studies indicate that it might present a potential hazard to human health. The present work provides an evidence for CAN activation to cyanide (CN-) by myeloperoxidase (MPO)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)/chloride (Cl-) system in vitro. Optimum conditions for the oxidation of CAN to CN- were characterized with respect to pH, temperature and time of incubation as well as CAN, MPO, H2O2 and KCl concentrations in incubation mixtures. The kinetic parameters governing the reaction; maximum velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) were assessed. Oxidation of CAN to CN- by NaOCl alone was shown. Addition of the MPO inhibitors; sodium azide (NaN3), 4-amino benzoic acid hydrazine (ABAH) or indomethacin to the reaction mixtures resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of CAN oxidation. Inclusion of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) in the incubation mixtures resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of CAN oxidation and CN- formation. Addition of the sulfhydryl compounds; glutathione (GSH), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), L-cysteine or D-penicillamine significantly enhanced the rate of CN- release. In conclusion, MPO/H2O2/Cl- system has the ability of oxidizing CAN to CN-. The present results represent a novel pathway for CAN activation and might be important in explaining CAN-induced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. abnaim@asu-pharmacy.edu.eg
authors.forename: Ashraf B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Abdel-Naim
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mohamadin
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003486:Cyanides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000097:Acetonitriles; D000975:Antioxidants; D003486:Cyanides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C069277:chloroacetonitrile; D009195:Peroxidase