Spin-trapping of superoxide ion by a water-soluble, nitroso-aromatic spin-trap

Spin-trapping of superoxide ion, O2-, which is produced from two different sources (OH(-)-DMSO and xanthine-xanthine oxidase systems), was investigated by use of a water-soluble, notroso-aromatic spin trap, sodium 3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzene-sulfonate (DBNBS). It was found that O2- from all sources was easily trapped by DBNBS to yield the stable O2- adduct showing the ESR spectrum consisting of a triplet of a triplet [aN (1) = 12.63 G and aH (2) = 0.71 G]. Hydroperoxy radical (HO2.), which can be generated from the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide with Ce4+ ion, was not trapped by DBNBS. These results indicate that the trapped radical is O2-, but not HO2..