NEAR UV‐INDUCED FREE RADICALS IN OCULAR LENS, STUDIED BY ESR AND SPIN TRAPPING

Abstract
An electron spin resonance (ESR) study on UV-photolysis of human and canine lens nuclei was carried out at room temperature. (1) At least two kinds of free radical signals, a narrow signal and a broad one, were detected at around g=2.004. The later is similar to that observed upon irradiation of a model solution containing both tryptophan and cysteine. (2) Two spin adducts were detected upon irradiation of canine lens in the presence of a spin trapping reagent (DMPO, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide), i.e. a spin adduct of sulphur-centered radical (most likely glutahione thiyl radical) and the protonated adduct of solvated electron (presumably due to photo-ionization of tryptophan). (3) A tentative and simplified reaction mechanism of UV-induced damage is discussed on the basis of these observations.
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