Generation of reactive species and fate of thiols during peroxidase-catalyzed metabolic activation of aromatic amines and phenols.

The horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed oxidation of p-phenetidine and acetaminophen was investigated. Studies using the spin probe 2-ethyl-1-hydroxy-2,5,5-trimethyl-3-oxazolidine (OXANOH) suggested these oxidations involve the generation of substrate-derived free radicals. This was confirmed by using glutathione (GSH) in these incubations in the presence of the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). DMPO-glutathionyl radical adducts were observed using EPR spectroscopy during HRP-catalyzed oxidation of both p-phenetidine and acetaminophen. Investigations of oxygen uptake and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) formation during HRP-catalyzed oxidations of p-phenetidine and acetaminophen suggested that further reactions of the glutathionyl radical involve glutathione peroxysulfenyl radical and glutathione sulfenyl hydroperoxide production. Quinonoid products of the peroxidatic oxidations of p-phenetidine and acetaminophen, and their interaction with GSH via both conjugation and redox mechanisms are described. The relevance of these reactions of GSH with reactive species as detoxification mechanisms is discussed.