Oxidation of acetaldehyde by peroxynitrite and hydrogen Peroxide/Iron(II). Production Of acetate, formate, and methyl radicals.

Production of free radicals from acetaldehyde oxidation by enzymes and cellular fractions is a well-known process. The toxic effects of acetaldehyde, however, are usually attributed to its reactions with biomolecules to produce adducts. Here, we demonstrate that hypothetical adducts produced from attack of acetaldehyde by two important biological oxidants, peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide, decompose to produce acetate, formate, and methyl radicals. Acetate, formate, nitrate, and nitrite were characterized and quantified by capillary electrophoresis. Radicals were detected and quantified by the EPR spectra produced in the presence of spin traps 3, 5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzenesulfonic acid and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. Kinetic studies and product analysis were performed at different pHs. The results demonstrate that production of methyl radicals during oxidation of acetaldehyde by hydrogen peroxide was strictly dependent on the presence of iron(II) and occurred via two routes. One involved acetaldehyde attack by the hydroxyl radical to produce the acetyl radical that decomposes to methyl radical and carbon monoxide. The other route involved acetaldehyde attack by deprotonated hydrogen peroxide to produce a hypothetical intermediate that reductively cleaves via the action of present iron(II) to produce radicals. The latter mechanism predominates in the case of peroxynitrite, but radical formation does not require metal ions. Most of the hypothetical adduct produced from acetaldehyde and peroxynitrite (k = 680 M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C) decays to nitrate and regenerates the aldehyde [Uppu, R. M., et al. (1997) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 10, 1331], but about 30% of it produces acetate, formate, and methyl radicals. Part of these oxidized products result from beta-scission and 1,2-shift reactions of the 1-hydroxyethoxyl radical which, together with nitrogen dioxide, freely diffuses from the adduct (20% yields). The results provide yet another example of the metal-independent free radical reactivity of peroxynitrite and may be relevant to the toxic effects associated with heavy drinking and diabetes.