UV-light effects on cytochrome c modulated by the aggregation state of phenothiazines

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 9;8(10):e76857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076857. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The present study shows the factors that modulate the photodamage promoted by phenothiazines. Cytochrome c was irradiated with UV light for 120 min, over a pH range from 4.0 to 8.0, in the absence and in the presence of different concentrations of thioridazine (TR) and fluphenazine (FP). In the absence of phenothiazines, the maximal rate of a Soret band blue shift (nm/min) from 409 to 406 nm was obtained at pH 4.0 (0.028 nm/min). The presence of phenothiazines at the concentration range 10-25 µmol/L amplified and accelerated a cytochrome c blue shift (409 to 405 nm, at a rate = 0.041 nm/min). Above 25 µmol/L, crescent concentrations of phenothiazines contributed to cytochrome c protection with (maximal at 2500 µmol/L). Scanning electronic microscopy revealed the formation of nanostructures. The pH also influenced the effect of low phenothiazine concentrations on cytochrome c. Thus, the predominance of phenothiazine-promoted cytochrome c damage or protection depends on a balance of the following factors: the yield of photo-generated drug cation radicals, which is favored by acidic pH; the stability of the cation radicals, which is favored by the drug aggregation; and the cytochrome c structure, modulated by the pH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytochromes c / chemistry*
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fluphenazine / chemistry*
  • Fluphenazine / pharmacology*
  • Free Radicals / metabolism
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Oxidation-Reduction / radiation effects
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Thioridazine / chemistry*
  • Thioridazine / pharmacology*
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • Free Radicals
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Cytochromes c
  • Thioridazine
  • Fluphenazine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa da UMC (FAEP-UMC), NanoBioMed Brazil Network (CAPES) and the Guggenheim Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.