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Updated: Jun 6, 2025

Free Radicals in Chemical Biology: from Chemical Behavior to Biomarker Development
Published on: April 15, 2013
Adrenochrome formation during photochemical decomposition of "caged" epinephrine derivatives
Ezhena S Starodubtseva1, Tatyana Yu Karogodina1,2, Mikhail A Panfilov2
1Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Abstract:
Control of biological activity with light is a fascinating idea. "Caged" compounds, molecules modified with photolabile protecting group, are one of the instruments for this purpose. Adrenergic receptors are essential regulators of neuronal, endocrine, cardiovascular, vegetative, and metabolic functions. These receptors are largely used as pharmacologic targets. Photolabile "caged" analogs of adrenergic receptor agonists has been reported more than 30 years ago. We report that the photolysis of epinephrine analogs, apart from liberation of the epinephrine, is accompanied by a formation of significant amount of adrenochrome, a compound with neuro- and cardiotoxic effect.
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