title: Oxidation of 4-methylcatechol: implications for the oxidation of catecholamines.
abstract: At alkaline pH, 4-methylcatechol oxidizes more rapidly than the related catecholamines: dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. This oxidation is not inhibited by superoxide dismutase or catalase, indicating that O2 itself is the oxidant, but the reduction potential of O2/O2-* is too low for it to oxidize 4-methylcatechol directly. Instead, O2 oxidizes the 4-methylcatechol semiquinone, which is formed by comproportionation of 4-methylcatechol and its o-quinone. Aniline reacts very quickly with the o-quinone and thus stops the comproportionation reaction that oxidizes 4-methylcatechol to the semiquinone. Oxidation of 4-methylcatechol then requires superoxide, and in the presence of aniline, oxidation of 4-methylcatechol by O2 is inhibited by superoxide dismutase. When catecholamines oxidize, the side chain amine inserts into the catechol o-quinone, forming a bicyclic compound. By eliminating the quinone, this ring closure prevents comproportionation and the consequent oxidation of catecholamines by O2. It also prevents reaction of the quinone with other compounds and the formation of potentially toxic products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Houde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sader
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vadhavkar
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Njus
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000737:chemistry; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D002396:Catechols / Q000737:chemistry*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D016227:Benzoquinones; D002395:Catecholamines; D002396:Catechols; C018599:4-methylcatechol; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C023650:aniline; D004298:Dopamine