Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)

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Huang, X. et al.

The A beta peptide of Alzheimer's disease directly produces hydrogen peroxide through metal ion reduction.

Oxidative stress markers characterize the neuropathology both of Alzheimer's disease and of amyloid-bearing transgenic mice. The neurotoxicity of amyloid A beta peptides has been linked to peroxide generation in cell cultures by an unknown mechanism. We now show that human A beta directly produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by a mechanism that involves the reduction of metal ions, Fe(III) or Cu(II), setting up conditions for Fenton-type chemistry. Spectrophotometric experiments establish that the A beta peptide reduces Fe(III) and Cu(II) to Fe(II) and Cu(I), respectively. Spectrochemical techniques are used to show that molecular oxygen is then trapped by A beta and reduced to H2O2 in a reaction that is driven by substoichiometric amounts of Fe(II) or Cu(I). In the presence of Cu(II) or Fe(III), A beta produces a positive thiobarbituric-reactive substance (TBARS) assay, compatible with the generation of the hydroxyl radical (OH.). The amounts of both reduced metal and TBARS reactivity are greatest when generated by A beta 1-42 >> A beta 1-40 > rat A beta 1-40, a chemical relationship that correlates with the participation of the native peptides in amyloid pathology. These findings indicate that the accumulation of A beta could be a direct source of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease.[1]

References

The A beta peptide of Alzheimer's disease directly produces hydrogen peroxide through metal ion reduction. Huang, X., Atwood, C.S., Hartshorn, M.A., Multhaup, G., Goldstein, L.E., Scarpa, R.C., Cuajungco, M.P., Gray, D.N., Lim, J., Moir, R.D., Tanzi, R.E., Bush, A.I. Biochemistry (1999) [Pubmed]

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