Iron enhancement of ascorbate toxicity

Frank K. Higson*, Ron Kohen, Mordechai Chevion

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Iron has been shown to enhance ascorbate-induced damage to both acetylcholine esterase and E. coli B in a manner analogous to previous studies with ascorbate and copper ions. It is suggested that the mechanism of damage entails interaction of iron with biological macromolecules, followed by its reduction by ascorbate. Subsequently, the iron (11) could participate in generating hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide via the Fenton reaction, which in turn, could damage biomolecules in a site-specific and multiple hit fashion. The high abundance of iron in biological systems, especially in certain storage disorders, may indicate an important toxicological role of the combination of iron and ascorbate.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)107-115
Number of pages9
JournalFree Radical Research
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine esterase
  • Cell killing
  • Enzyme inactivation
  • Free radicals
  • Hydro gen peroxide
  • Iron toxicity
  • Vitamin C

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