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Glutathione and antioxidants protect microsomes against lipid peroxidation and enzyme inactivation

M L Hu1, A L Tappel

  • 1Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis 95616.

Lipids
|January 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative stress from iron and ascorbate causes lipid peroxidation and inactivates key liver enzymes like aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Antioxidants protect against this damage, highlighting lipid peroxyl radicals

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Lipid peroxidation is a known mechanism of cellular damage.
  • Enzyme function is critical for hepatic (liver) metabolism.
  • The specific roles of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in enzyme inactivation require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between lipid peroxidation and enzyme inactivation in rat liver microsomes.
  • To determine if prior inactivation of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) affects the inactivation of other enzymes.
  • To assess the role of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HN) and lipid peroxyl radicals in oxidative damage to microsomal enzymes.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of rat hepatic microsomes with iron (ferric sulfate) and ascorbate.
  • Measurement of enzyme levels (ALDH, G6Pase, Cyt-P450) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation.
  • Assessment of protection by antioxidants (reduced glutathione, N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, butylated hydroxytoluene) and the effect of ALDH inhibition.

Main Results:

  • Iron and ascorbate caused rapid, concurrent decreases in ALDH, G6Pase, and Cyt-P450 levels, alongside increased TBARS.
  • Antioxidants significantly protected against both lipid peroxidation and enzyme inactivation.
  • ALDH was more susceptible to inactivation than G6Pase, serving as a sensitive marker for oxidative stress. 4-HN showed a minor role in enzyme inactivation.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid peroxyl radicals are crucial mediators of microsomal enzyme inactivation during oxidative stress.
  • Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a sensitive indicator of oxidative damage in hepatic microsomes.
  • Chain-breaking antioxidants effectively prevent oxidative damage to microsomal enzymes.

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