title: 1,4-naphthoquinones: from oxidative damage to cellular and inter-cellular signaling.
abstract: Naphthoquinones may cause oxidative stress in exposed cells and, therefore, affect redox signaling. Here, contributions of redox cycling and alkylating properties of quinones (both natural and synthetic, such as plumbagin, juglone, lawsone, menadione, methoxy-naphthoquinones, and others) to cellular and inter-cellular signaling processes are discussed: (i) naphthoquinone-induced Nrf2-dependent modulation of gene expression and its potentially beneficial outcome; (ii) the modulation of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor by naphthoquinones, resulting in altered gap junctional intercellular communication. Generation of reactive oxygen species and modulation of redox signaling are properties of naphthoquinones that render them interesting leads for the development of novel compounds of potential use in various therapeutic settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrigenomics, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str. 29, 07743 Jena, Germany. lars-oliver.klotz@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Lars-Oliver
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, 2055 Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, 11361 87Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland State University, Campus, Building B 2.1., Room 1.13, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C035342:1,4-naphthoquinone