REDOX STATE OF CYTOCHROME-C IN THE PRESENCE OF THE 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE OXYGEN COUPLE - OSCILLATIONS DEPENDENT ON THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE OR SUPEROXIDE

The reduction of ferricytochrome c in the presence of 6-hydroxydopamine/O2 mixtures was examined under various reaction conditions. As the autoxidation of 6-hdyroxydopamine progressed to completion, there were fluctuations in the net redox reactivity between reducing and oxidizing steady states. This was reflected in a sequence of damped oscillations in the redox state of cytochrome c. Corresponding to the time when 6-hydroxydopamine was 75-100% exhausted, reoxidation of the ferrocytochrome c occurred (prevented by catalase or catalase plus superoxide dismutase). After the H2O2, in turn, was mostly consumed, the next phase commenced in which the cytochrome c became reduced for a 2nd time. This reductive phase was 52% inhibited by superoxide dismutase. In the subsequent and final phase of the process, a progressive oxidation of cytochrome c lasting at least 24 h was observed. Of the initial reduction of ferricytochrome c, at most 37% can be attributed to direct reduction by 6-hydroxydopamine or its seimquinone. This initial net reduction of cytochrome c was inhibited 51% by superoxide dismutase and 41% by catalase. Since either catalase or superoxide dismutase inhibited the autoxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine by at least as much as it slowed the reduction of cytochrome c, their effects in slowing the reduction of cytochrome c resulted largely from the decreased production of those free radicals which reduce ferricytochrome c and only in part from accelerated removal. Elimination of the actions of transition metal ions (whether by passage of the buffer solutions through Chelex 100 resins or by addition of desferrioxamine to the reaction medium) slowed both the reoxidation and rereduction by up to 96%. Addition of mannitol decreased the rate of the 1st reoxidation by 25% and increased the rate of the rereduction by 7%. In general, the oscillations were explicable in terms of changes in the steady state levels of O2- and H2O2, with metal ions playing a major role and hydroxyl radicals a minor role in both the reoxidation and rereduction. [Implication with respect to the presumed neurotoxic role of 6-hydroxydopamine are presented.].