Singlet Oxygen Formation Detected by Low-Level Chemiluminescence during Enzymatic Reduction of Prostaglandin G2to H2

Abstract
Addition of arachidonic acid to a suspension of ram vesicular gland microsomes or purified prostaglandin synthase, causes a rapid burst of light emission in the range 600-750 nm, as detected by single-photon counting. Maximal light emission intensity is obtained within 15-30 s after the addition of arachidonic acid and is followed by a rapid decay to the background level. The intensity of chemiluminescence is dependent on the amount of ram vesicular gland microsomes or isolated prostaglandin synthase and arachidonic acid concentration (Km .apprx. 6 .mu.M). Spectral analysis of arachidonic acid-induced photoemission of isolated prostaglandin synthase in the range 600-750 nm showed 2 distinctive peaks at .apprx. 634 and 703 nm. The similar relative intensities of these peaks, along with the lower intensity at .apprx. 668 nm is indicative of singlet O2 dimol emission. Chemiluminescence with arachidonate is enhanced by 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane and inhibited by azide, indomethacin, acetylsalicyclic acid and .beta.-carotene. Cooxygenation substrates such as phenol, hydroquinone and reduced glutathione, inhibited the arachidonic acid-induced chemiluminescence. Dioxygen is a requirement for the observation of singlet O2 dimol emission with arachidonic acid as a substrate for ram vesicular gland microsomes or purified prostaglandin synthase. When prostaglandin [PG] G2 is substituted for arachidonic acid, light emission is not dependent on O2. Singlet O2 can be formed in the dismutation reaction, 2 PGG2 .fwdarw. 2 PGH2 + 1O2, catalyzed by prostaglandin hydroperoxidase.

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