Biomaterial Database

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of the mycotoxin, sporidesmin. I. Generation of superoxide radical by sporidesmin. 1982

R Munday

Sporidesmin (SDMS2), the mycotoxin responsible for 'facial eczema' in ruminants, contains a disulphide group which appears to be intimately involved in its toxic action. The reduced (dithiol) form of sporidesmin has been shown readily to undergo autoxidation in vitro in a reaction which generates superoxide radical (O2-). The autoxidation reaction, which takes place over a wide pH range, is strongly catalysed by trace amounts of copper, although the reaction was inhibited at high concentrations of this metal. Inhibition of the autooxidation of reduced sporidesmin (SDM(SH)2) was also observed in the presence of nickel, cobalt and manganese. Superoxide radical is also generated from SDMS2 itself in a cyclic reduction/autoxidation reaction with glutathione and other thiols; in view of the known toxicity of superoxide and its derivatives, it is suggested that oxygen-free-radicals may be involved in the initiation of the deleterious effects of the mycotoxin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007211	Indoles	Benzopyrroles with the nitrogen at the number one carbon adjacent to the benzyl portion, in contrast to ISOINDOLES which have the nitrogen away from the six-membered ring.
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D009580	Nitroblue Tetrazolium	Colorless to yellow dye that is reducible to blue or black formazan crystals by certain cells; formerly used to distinguish between nonbacterial and bacterial diseases, the latter causing neutrophils to reduce the dye; used to confirm diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease.	Nitro-BT,Nitrotetrazolium Blue,Tetrazolium Nitroblue,Blue, Nitrotetrazolium,Nitroblue, Tetrazolium,Tetrazolium, Nitroblue
D010084	Oxidation-Reduction	A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471).	Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D002621	Chemistry	A basic science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter; and the reactions that occur between substances and the associated energy exchange.
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D005609	Free Radicals	Highly reactive molecules with an unsatisfied electron valence pair. Free radicals are produced in both normal and pathological processes. Free radicals include reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). They are proven or suspected agents of tissue damage in a wide variety of circumstances including radiation, damage from environment chemicals, and aging. Natural and pharmacological prevention of free radical damage is being actively investigated.	Free Radical
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D013173	Sporidesmins	A group of related mycotoxins produced by the pasture fungus Pithomyces chartarum (formerly Sporidesmium bakeri); causes liver damage and facial eczema in cattle and sheep.