Photodynamic production of superoxide in vitro by altertoxins in the presence of reducing agents.
Superoxide production by the three 4,9-dihydroxyperylene-3,10-quinone fungal toxins, altertoxins I, II, and III, was stimulated on illumination with broad-spectrum light. As determined previously for cercosporin, superoxide production by illuminated altertoxins was increased by the addition of the reducing substances ergothioneine or urate; ascorbate also effectively increased superoxide production. Illuminated urate alone engendered some superoxide production.
Hartman
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Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, and Division of Contaminants Chemistry, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC 20204.
Suzuki
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CK
Stack
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ME