EFFECTS OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE AND CATALASE DURING REDUCTION OF ADRENOCHROME BY DT-DIAPHORASE AND NADPH-CYTOCHROME P450 REDUCTASE

NADPH-cytochrome(1) P450 reductase and DT-diaphorase catalyze the one- and two-electron reduction of adrenochrome to its o-semiquinone and o-hydroquinone, respectively. Under aerobic conditions both adrenochrome o-semiquinone and o-hydroquinone proved to be unstable, undergoing autoxidation with concomitant oxygen consumption and continuous NADPH and NADH oxidation. Molecular oxygen was found to play a predominant role in autoxidation of o-semiquinone during reduction of adrenochrome catalyzed by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. In addition, molecular oxygen, in the presence of manganese, was found to be responsible for the majority of autoxidation of o-semiquinone. However, the role of superoxide radicals in the autoxidation of leucoadrenochrome during the reduction of adrenochrome by DT-diaphorase was found to be predominant, Catalase differed significantly with respect to NADPH and NADH oxidation during reduction of adrenochrome catalyzed by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and DT-diaphorase, Catalase increased NADPH oxidation slightly, while NADH oxidation was inhibited during reduction of adrenochrome by NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase and DT-diaphorase, respectively, The presence of manganese in the incubation mixture was found to increase the prooxidant role of catalase on autoxidation during one-electron reduction of aminochrome catalyzed by NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase, A marked difference in the inhibitory effect of superoxide dismutase on oxygen consumption during adrenochrome reduction catalyzed by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and DT-diaphorase was also observed, A possible mechanism for reduction of adrenochrome by NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and DT-diaphorase and a role for superoxide dismutase and catalase are proposed. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.