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Title: The oxidation of dehydroascorbic acid and 2,3-diketogulonate by distinct reactive oxygen species

Journal Article · · Biochemical Journal
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Univ. of Edinburgh, Scotland (United Kingdom). Inst. of Molecular Plant Sciences, Edinburgh Cell Wall Group; Univ. of Exeter (United Kingdom). Hatherly Labs., wildFIRE Lab.
  2. Univ. of Edinburgh, Scotland (United Kingdom). Inst. of Molecular Plant Sciences, Edinburgh Cell Wall Group

l-Ascorbate, dehydro-l-ascorbic acid (DHA), and 2,3-diketo-l-gulonate (DKG) can all quench reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants and animals. The vitamin C oxidation products thereby formed are investigated here. DHA and DKG were incubated aerobically at pH 4.7 with peroxide (H2O2), ‘superoxide’ (a ~50:50 mixture of O2 and HO2), hydroxyl radicals (OH, formed in Fenton mixtures), and illuminated riboflavin (generating singlet oxygen, 1O2). Products were monitored electrophoretically. DHA quenched H2O2 far more effectively than superoxide, but the main products in both cases were 4-O-oxalyl-l-threonate (4-OxT) and smaller amounts of 3-OxT and OxA + threonate. H2O2, but not superoxide, also yielded cyclic-OxT. Dilute Fenton mixture almost completely oxidised a 50-fold excess of DHA, indicating that it generated oxidant(s) greatly exceeding the theoretical OH yield; it yielded oxalate, threonate, and OxT. 1O2 had no effect on DHA. DKG was oxidatively decarboxylated by H2O2, Fenton mixture, and 1O2, forming a newly characterised product, 2-oxo-l-threo-pentonate (OTP; ‘2-keto-l-xylonate’). Superoxide yielded negligible OTP. Prolonged H2O2 treatment oxidatively decarboxylated OTP to threonate. Oxidation of DKG by H2O2, Fenton mixture, or 1O2 also gave traces of 4-OxT but no detectable 3-OxT or cyclic-OxT. In conclusion, DHA and DKG yield different oxidation products when attacked by different ROS. DHA is more readily oxidised by H2O2 and superoxide; DKG more readily by 1O2. The diverse products are potential signals, enabling organisms to respond appropriately to diverse stresses. Also, the reaction-product ‘fingerprints’ are analytically useful, indicating which ROS are acting in vivo.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
U.K. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1658353
Journal Information:
Biochemical Journal, Journal Name: Biochemical Journal Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 475; ISSN 0264-6021
Publisher:
Biochemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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