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L Cabrini

Publications and source records attributed to L Cabrini.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Ubiquinol prevents alpha-tocopherol consumption during liposome peroxidation.

In this study we investigated whether alpha-tocopherol can be spared by ubiquinol-3 during autoxidation of multilamellar liposome. A lipophilic azocompound, 2,2'-azobis-(2,4-dimethyl-valeronitrile), was chosen to initiate liposome autoxidation. The effect of either alpha-tocopherol, ubiquinol-3, or a mixture of them was compared. Rates of conjugated diene formation and concomitant disappearance of the two antioxidants was measured. Since the inhibition rate constant for the scavenging of peroxyl radical for alpha-tocopherol was higher than that for quinol-3, it was concluded that alpha-tocopherol is regenerated by ubiquinol-3.

Free Radicals↗
PubMed1990

The influence of pH on OH. scavenger inhibition of damage to deoxyribose by Fenton reaction.

Hydroxyl radicals (OH.) can be formed in aqueous solution by direct reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with ferrous salt (Fenton reaction). OH. damage to deoxyribose, measured as formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material, was evaluated at different pHs to study the mechanism of action of classical OH. scavengers. OH. scavenger effect on Fe2+ oxidation was also evaluated in the same experimental conditions. In the absence of OH. scavengers, OH. damage to deoxyribose is higher at acidic compared to neutral and moderately basic pH. At acidic pH deoxiribose is per se able to inhibit Fe2+ oxidation by H2O2. Most of OH. scavengers tested inhibit deoxyribose damage and Fe2+ oxidation in a similar manner: both inhibitions are most relevant at acidic pH and decrease by increasing the pH. These results are not due to OH. scavenger inhibition of Fenton reaction. The influence of pH on the parameters studied appears to be due to the competition of deoxyribose and OH. scavengers for iron. These results suggest the prominent role of iron binding in the degradation of deoxyribose and in the OH. scavenging ability of different compounds. Results obtained with triethylenetetramine, a iron chelator with a low rate constant with OH., confirm that both deoxyribose and the OH. scavengers interact with iron bringing about a site specific Fenton reaction; that the OH. formed at these sites oxidize these molecules to their radical forms which in turn reduce the Fe3+ produced by Fenton reaction. The results presented indicate that most of classical OH. scavengers exert their effect predominantly by preventing the site specific reaction between Fe2+ and H2O2 on the deoxyribose molecule.

Copper↗
PubMed1989

The influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on spermine inhibition of lipoperoxidation. Studies on liposomes prepared with microsomal and mitochondrial phospholipids of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and rat liver.

1. Composition of phospholipids extracted from different organelles of European sea bass liver was determined and compared with that of phospholipids extracted from the same organelles of rat liver. 2. Spermine binding to the vesicles prepared from microsomal and mitochondrial phospholipids and their aggregation was studied: these parameters indicate that only the presence of acidic phospholipids and not their unsaturation was essential for polyamine action. 3. No correlation exists between polyunsaturated fatty acid and spermine inhibition of lipid peroxidation. In fact microsomal phospholipids, which have a low content of acidic phospholipids, and a prevalent presence of phosphatidylinositol, are not protected by spermine. 4. Mitochondrial phospholipids, which have high content of cardiolipin, elicit the capability of spermine to inhibit lipid peroxidation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Buffers can modulate the effect of sonication on egg lecithin liposomes.

When model membranes are prepared by ultrasonic irradiation of polyunsaturated phospholipids, radical production can induce a partial degradation of the polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains and the formation of lipid hydroperoxides. A suitable buffer employed during liposome preparation, like Hepes or Tris, is able to exhibit a protective effect against lipid peroxidation. Hepes has been found to be the most effective: a 10 mM concentration provides a 70% protection after 30 min sonication. Tris, in the same conditions, exhibits a 50% protection. These findings may be explained on the basis of the rate constants of these organic buffers with hydroxyl radicals.

Buffers↗
PubMed1989

Lipid peroxidation. Definition of experimental conditions for selective study of the propagation and termination phases.

To find experimental conditions to selectively study the propagation phase of lipoperoxidation we studied the lipoperoxidation, catalyzed by FeCl2, of liposomes in a buffering condition where Fe2+ autoxidation and oxygen active species generation does not occur. Liposomes from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, prepared by vortex mixing, do not oxidize Fe2+; on the contrary they oxidize Fe2+ when prepared by ultrasonic irradiation. Dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes prepared by ultrasonic irradiation do not oxidize Fe2+. During sonication polyunsaturated fatty acid residues autoxidize and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) are generated. Only when LOOH are present in the liposomes Fe2+ oxidizes and its rate of oxidation depends on the amount of LOOH in the assay. The reaction results in the generation of both LOOH and thiobarbituric acid reactive material (TBAR); it is inhibited by butylated hydroxytoluene and has a acidic pH optimum; it is not inhibited by catalase and OH scavengers. The reaction studied, thus, appears to be the chain branching and propagation phase of lipoperoxidation. When we studied the dependence of Fe2+ oxidation, LOOH and TBAR generation on FeCl2 concentration, we observed that at high FeCl2 concentrations the termination phase of lipoperoxidation was prevalent. Thus, by selecting the appropriate FeCl2 concentration the proposed experimental system allows study of either the propagation or the termination phase of lipoperoxidation.

Ferrous Compounds↗
PubMed1987

Effect of oxygen free radicals on ubiquinone in aqueous solution and phospholipid vesicles.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the direct effect of oxygen free radicals produced by ultrasonic irradiation on ubiquinone and to compare the efficiency with which the antioxidant can compete with these radicals when it is both in aqueous solution and within the lipid bilayer. The main product obtained after insonation of aqueous solutions of ubiquinone-0 was ubiquinol, moreover some degradation occurred. The direct electron donor responsible for most of the ubiquinol generated by ultrasonic irradiation appeared to be superoxide radical. Addition reactions of hydroxyl radicals with aromatic ring structure led probably to degradation products of ubiquinone, which were not identified. Experiments were also performed to evaluate the efficiency with which ubiquinone-3 could react with oxygen radicals when it was within the lipid bilayer. The effect of presence or absence of a net surface charge was studied selecting a suitable bilayer including dimyristylphosphatidic acid or stearylamine in uncharged dimyristylphosphatidylcholine vesicles. In these systems hydroxyl radicals did not represent a potential danger for the antioxidant, the reaction between superoxide and ubiquinone-3 instead was significant only in positively charged membranes and gave rise to ubiquinol. It is suggested that ubiquinone acts as an antioxidant by stopping the propagation reaction.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1986

The influence of poly(ethylene glycol) 6000 on spermine-induced aggregation of liposomes.

Poly(ethylene glycol) 6000 affected the aggregation of mixed liposomes induced by spermine. It lowered the concentration of spermine causing 50% maximal aggregation, accelerated the rate and increased the extent of aggregation. The effect was inversely proportional to the density of the acidic phospholipid in the vesicles. These effects were not due either to poly(ethylene glycol) 6000-induced permanent structural modification of the liposome or increased binding of spermine to the vesicles. These findings are discussed in relation to a decreased hydration force caused by the ability of poly(ethylene glycol) 6000 to alter the water of hydration of the phospholipid polar groups in the liposome.

Drug Synergism↗
PubMed1986

Antioxidant behaviour of ubiquinone and beta-carotene incorporated in model membranes.

Experiments with model membranes, in which ubiquinone was incorporated, were performed in order to clarify the mechanism by which ubiquinone can prevent or control chain lipid peroxidation in biomembranes. Comparing the behavior of ubiquinone-containing vesicles with beta-carotene containing vesicles we suggest that a possible explanation of the ubiquinone antioxidant effect could be to scavenge singlet oxygen and to affect structurally the lipid bilayer inhibiting hydroperoxide decomposition.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1985

Effect of ubiquinone extraction on the reaction of the mitochondrial bc1 complex with ferricyanide.

Depletion of endogenous ubiquinone by pentane extraction of mitochondrial membranes lowered succinate-ferricyanide reductase activity, whereas quinone reincorporation restored the enzymatic activity as well as antimycin sensitivity. The oxidant-induced cytochrome b extrareduction, normally found upon ferricyanide pulse in intact mitochondria in the presence of antimycin, was lost in ubiquinone-depleted membranes, even if cytochrome c was added. Readdition of ubiquinone-2 restored the oxidant-induced extrareduction with an apparent half saturation at 1 mol/mol bc1 complex saturating at about 5 mol/mol. These findings demonstrate a requirement for the ubiquinone pool of the cytochrome b extrareduction. Since the initial rates of cytochrome b reoxidation upon ferricyanide addition, in the presence of antimycin, did not saturate by any ferricyanide concentration in ubiquinone-depleted mitochondria, a direct chemical reaction between ferricyanide and reduced cytochrome b was postulated. The fact that such direct reaction is much faster in ubiquinone-depleted mitochondria may explain the lower antimycin sensitivity of the succinate ferricyanide reductase activity after removal of endogenous ubiquinone.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Determination of the polyamine content of rat heart mitochondria by the use of heparin-sepharose.

Heparin-sepharose has been utilized to remove polyamines adsorbed to the cytoplasmic surface of rat heart mitochondria. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: Heparin-sepharose removes 90% of the spermine, 98% of the spermidine, and 98% of the putrescine adsorbed. Polyamine contents of chromatographed mitochondria amount to 2.66 and 0.36 nmol spermine and spermidine, respectively, per mg of mitochondrial protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Antioxidative effect of ubiquinones on mitochondrial membranes.

Peroxidation of mitochondria occurs extensively in ubiquinone-depleted membranes. Reincorporation into the membranes of either the physiological ubiquinone or a short-chain homologue protects mitochondria against peroxidation. The ability to prevent this phenomenon is more evident in mitochondria that have incorporated ubiquinone-3 and might be ascribed to an ordering structural effect on the lipid bilayer.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Polyamine binding to phospholipid vesicles and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

A study of the possible mechanism of inhibition by polyamines of lipid peroxidation was made utilizing vesicles prepared with mixed soy bean phospholipids. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1) Polyamines inhibit lipid peroxidation only when bound to the negative charges on vesicle surface. 2) Polyamines inhibit lipid peroxidation at concentrations lower than those required to cause precipitation of the vesicles and similar to those required for formation of the polyamine/phospholipid vesicle complex. 3) Spermine bound to vesicles, in contrast to free spermine, highly decreases the reactivity of both Fe2+ and Fe3+ versus superoxide.

Cations, Divalent↗
PubMed1984

On the mechanism of inhibition of NADH oxidase by ubiquinone-3.

The combined effects of rotenone and ubiquinone-3 on the kinetics of NADH dehydrogenase and NADH oxidase have been investigated. The two inhibitors do not show additivity; on the other hand, ubiquinone-3, when preincubated with the enzyme, partially removes rotenone sensitivity. The inhibition of NADH oxidase by ubiquinone-3 is the result of at least two combined effects: the competition of the less active ubiquinone-3 with endogenous ubiquinone-10 in the acceptor site of the dehydrogenase, and a nonspecific action on the structure of complex I. The latter effect is perhaps mediated by a physical change of the phospholipid bilayer similar to that observed with agents such as butanol, perturbing lipid-protein interactions in the membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Representative applications of heparin-sepharose in the removal of polyamines from biological materials.

Many experimental systems would greatly benefit from the availability of a simple and effective technique to remove polyamines from biological materials. We have examined the possibility of utilizing heparin-sepharose in the removal of polyamines from rat heart mitochondria, DNA-spermine complex, and fetal calf serum. Heparin-sepharose removes 90% of spermine adsorbed to the cytoplasmic surface of rat heart mitochondria. Heparin-sepharose almost totally removes spermine from DNA-spermine complex, leaving less than 0.003 mol spermine/mol DNA phosphorus. Heparin-sepharose is highly effective in removing spermine and spermidine (99.5 and 95% adsorbed, respectively) from fetal calf serum. Under the same experimental conditions only 50% of putrescine is adsorbed. A higher amount of resin corresponding to an increased capacity for putrescine must be used to achieve a satisfactory removal of putrescine.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Heparin-sepharose as a tool in the subcellular fractionation of a polyamine-rich organ (rat ventral prostate).

Heparin-sepharose forms complexes with putrescine, spermidine, and spermine and indirect measurements of its affinity for polyamines gives values similar to those obtained with free heparin. A direct measurement of the binding of heparin-sepharose to spermine gives an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.5 X 10(-6)M spermine. Unlike free heparin, heparin-sepharose does not cause either disruption of the nuclei or more sutble modifications able to modify their sedimentation behavior. The heparin-sepharose polyamine complex formed by the addition of heparin-sepharose to the homogenate can easily be removed and the homogenate can be processed according to normal schedules. Heparin-sepharose is able to sequester 85% of the exchangeable spermine present in the homogenate of rat ventral prostate. The distribution of the marker enzyme galactosyltransferase (Golgi apparatus) on a sucrose density gradient was followed to assess the usefulness of heparin-sepharose in minimizing the aggregation of cellular organelles brought about by polyamines.

Animals↗