Les peroxyrédoxines à deux cystéines typiques (2-Cys Prx) sont impliquées dans la résistance des cellules au stress oxydant associé à H2O2, en réduisant H2O2 en H2O. En parallèle, ces enzymes participent à la transduction du signal dépendant de H2O2 en tant que second messager, via leur état rédox. La suroxydation sous forme d’acide sulfinique des 2-Cys Prx typiques eucaryotes est une modification posttraductionnelle qui inactive l’activité peroxydase, permettant de réguler le passage du message cellulaire H2O2-dépendant. La réduction de cette espèce oxydée est essentielle pour la viabilité des cellules. Cette réaction est catalysée par les sulfirédoxines (Srx). Les études réalisées ont permis de caractériser le mécanisme catalytique de Srx de S. cerevisiae qui consiste en : 1) l’activation de la fonction acide sulfinique sous forme d’anhydride phosphoryl sulfinique, par transfert direct du phosphate ? de l’ATP ; 2) la réduction de la fonction acide sulfinique activée par attaque de la Cys catalytique de Srx, ce qui conduit à un intermédiaire covalent thiosulfinate Prx/Srx ; 3) le recyclage de Srx avec la libération de PrxSOH. Au niveau du recyclage de l’activité Srx, deux classes de Srx peuvent être définies, celle à deux Cys et celle à une Cys. La classe de Srx à deux Cys, composée jusqu’à présent de Srx de levures, possède une Cys de recyclage qui attaque le thiosulfinate au niveau de la Cys de Srx, libérant la PrxSOH et la Srx oxydée sous forme de pont disulfure intramoléculaire. Cette forme oxydée de Srx est ensuite reconnue et réduite par la thiorédoxine. La classe de Srx à une Cys dont font partie les Srx de mammifères, ne possédant pas de Cys de recyclage, passe par un mécanisme de recyclage impliquant un réducteur autre que la Trx, qui reduit directement la fonction thiosulfinate, et dont la nature reste à déterminer. / Typical two-cysteine peroxiredoxines are involved in cell resistance against H2O2-induced oxidative stress, by reducing H2O2 in H2O. Furthermore, these enzymes take part in H2O2 signalling, which is transmitted and regulated by their redox state. The eukaryotic typical 2-Cys Prxs are subject to post-translational modification under sulfinic acid oxidation state, which inactivates have lost their peroxidase activity and thus regulates allows the passage of H2O2-dependent cellular message. Reduction of the sulfinic acid oxidation state is essential for the cell viability. Sulfiredoxin (Srx) catalyzes this reduction. These research studies demonstrated that the catalytic mechanism of Srx occurs in three steps: first, the sulfinic acid is activated as a sulfinyl phosphoryl anhydride intermediate by a direct transfer of the ?-phosphate of ATP; second, the activated sulfinic acid intermediate is reduced via attack of the catalytic Cys of Srx, which leads to formation of a thiosulfinate intermediate and; third Srx, is recycled with concomitant release of the PrxSOH product of the reaction. Two classes of Srx could be defined depending on the mechanism of Srx recycling. The class comprising yeast Srxs have one recycling Cys. This Cys attacks the thiosulfinate intermediate, resulting in PrxSOH release and formation of an oxidized Srx intermediate. This oxidized species, with an intramolecular disulfide bond, is recognized and reduced by thioredoxin. In the class comprising Srx devoid of recycling Cys, which includes the mammalian Srxs, Srx is recycled by a reducer distinct from thioredoxin, which reduces directly the thiosulfinate function.

Abstract The metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells is a research area that has not been intensively pursued. It is generally believed that cancer cells are persistently oxidative stressed. The consequence of this phenomenon will result in changes of the characteristic of a cancer cell. Whether or not the oxidative stress has a role in regulating the metastatic potential of a cancer cell is a research area that has been totally neglected. Using a group of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with distinct disparity in their differentiation status, established by their morphological observation and the abilities of synthesizing at least 15 plasma proteins, as the experimental model, we proposed to investigate the possibility that the constitutive oxidative stress status of these HCC cells may be modulated by their differentiation status. As a result, varying degrees of oxidative stress status of these cells will affect the propensity of expression of a few redox-sensitive transcription factors, such as NF-kB and AP-1, which may eventually modulate the metastasis- related gene expression. If these proposed hypotheses turn out to be true, we will then investigate the underlying mechanism(s) associated with the phenomena observed. Firstly, we demonstrated previously (Liu et al., 2000) that the total antioxidative capacity (as expressed by the composite propensities of expressing 4 antioxidant enzymes and the intracellular glutathione contents) as well as GSH/GSSG ratios of the HCC cells we studied were excellently correlated with their differentiation status, with an order of HepG2 > Hep3B > J5 > SK-Hep-I. To further confirm this observed phenomenon, we quantified the steady state mRNA expressions of the four antioxidant enzymes by duplex RT-PCR method. In this study, we further confirmed that well-differentiated HCC cells, such as HepG2 and Hep3B expressed higher levels of extracellular GPx (eGPx) and catalase mRNAs. Conversely, the expression of mRNA for both enzymes in a poorly-differentiated HCC cells, such as SK-Hep-I and Mahlavu, was trace or even negligible. Since GSH biosynthesis is controlled by g-glutamylcysteine synthetase (g-GCS), a rate-limiting enzyme composing of a catalytic heavy subunit ( gGCS h ) and a regulatory light subunit ( gGCSl) ,we wanted to further substantiate that differentiation status-mediated upregulation of GSH is regulated by this enzyme. We demonstrated that the g-GCSh expression was again differentiation status regulated, established by using either a HPLC or a duplex RT-PCR method. The order of ranking for the expression of g-GCS was HepG2 > Hep3B > J5 > SK-Hep-I. In contrast, we found that g-GCSl mRNA seemed not to be influenced by the differentiation status. It has been documented that the transcription factors NF-kB and AP-1 are redox-sensitive. Thus, we wanted to see if both transcription factors could constitutively be activated. Also, is the expression propensity of these transcription factors modulated by the oxidative stress status of these HCC cells? Using EMSA and supershift techniques, we demonstrated that varying degrees of expressions of both transcription factors can be seen, with an order of expression propensity of SK-Hep-I > Mahlavu > J5 > Hep3B > HepG2. Having known that both NF-kB and AP-1 could modulate a group of metastasis-related gene expression, we then investigate if the constitutive metastatic potential of these HCC cells can be varied depending upon how extensive the expression propensity of both NF-kB and AP-1, we used a panel of markers for evaluating the metastatic potential, namely: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and an adhesion molecular E-cadherin. Using both activity and duplex RT-PCR methods, we demonstrated that only a poorly differentiated HCC cells were capable of expressing MMPs (SK-Hep-I predominately expressed a large amount of MMP-9 and mRNA; Mahlavu predominately expressed MMP-2 along with a trace amount of MMP-9). HepG2, Hep3B and J5 were completely devoid of MMP expression. Using ELISA assay, we measured the secretion of IL-8 in the culture media by these HCC cells and demonstrated that the propensity of secretion having an order of SK-Hep-I > HepG2 > Hep3B (J5 and Mahlavu expressed only a trace amount). Next, we used western blotting and duplex RT-PCR techniques to demonstrate that the expressions of E-cadherin were predominately existed in only well-differentiated cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. J5, Mahlavu and SK-Hep-I were all devoid of expression. Finally, for the purpose of demonstrating that the intracellular oxidative stress status does have a role in regulating the above-mentioned metastasis-related gene expression, we transfected g-GCSh cDNA to SK-Hep-I cell and obtained a cell type, termed GCS 30, in which its g-GCSh activity, mRNA and GSH content has been proved to be higher than its untransfected counterpart, SK-Hep-I. We then measured the oxidative stress status of GCS 30 using DCFDA-flowcytometric method. From our data, we did demonstrate that the oxidative-stress status of GCS 30 was shown to be decreased as compared to its counterpart. However, we were surprised to find out that GSH/GSSG ratio remained unchange in GCS-30 as compared to SK-Hep-I cells. Using EMSA technique, we showed that GCS 30 cells only exhibited relative strong binding activity to NF-kB, but not for AP-1 binding. Surprisingly, we found that the MMPs activities in GCS 30 cells were relatively comparable to SK-Hep-I, indicating that MMP expression might be regulated by a pathway other than AP-1. The mechanism(s) underlying this observed phenomenon await further clarification.

The chemistry of a series of para-hydroquinones substituted in the 2,5-positions with a proton accepting amine group has been investigated. The p-hydroquinones are designed with bis-bidentate coordination pockets allowing for the bridging of two metals and extended multimetallic complexes. Several aspects of the hydroquinones chemistry was examined, including the redox behaviour and properties of the hydroquinones while in their free forms, complexed to palladium and complexed to boron. The redox properties of para-hydroquinones which contain intramolecular hydrogen bonds as indicated by X-ray structural and spectroscopic data were examined. The cyclic voltammograms of some of these hydroquinones indicated they could be oxidized reversibly to give dicationic benzoquinones. The oxidized forms have been chemically isolated and characterized for the first time. Characterization data of the dicationic benzoquinones revealed the OH protons are transferred intramolecularly to the adjacent nitrogen bases. Spectroscopic solution data for the p-benzoquinone dications suggests that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the redox related p-hydroquinone are no longer present. A correlation between the oxidation potential of the 2,5-substituted-p-hydroquinone and base strength of the nitrogen substituent was shown to exist. The bis-bidentate p-hydroquinones were coordinated to palladium resulting in dinuclear complexes. The non-innocence of the ligand was preserved upon coordination but the complexes are oxidized at more positive potentials in comparison to the analogous p-benzoquinone species. Two of the palladium complexes were chemically oxidized resulting in the semiquinone radical redox state of the ligand. The EPR and UV-vis spectroscopy of the radical p-semiquinone palladium complexes indicates their properties are similar to o-semiquinone palladium complexes. The bis-bidentate p-hydroquinones and some related ligands were also coordinated to the main group element, boron. Cyclic voltammetry of the boron complexes revealed the redox properties of the bridging p-hydroquinone were perturbed and redox processes occurred at even more positive potentials in comparison to the analogous palladium complexes. The dinuclear boron complexes were highly fluorescent with quantum yields calculated to be in the range of 0.36-0.52. These boron complexes incorporated an uncommon ancillary ligand, acetate. The acetate ligand was found to be advantageous for the solubility and fluorescence properties for one of the boron compounds in comparison to the analogous boron complex incorporating the more commonly used fluorine ancillary ligand. / Graduate / 0490 / 0488 / 0485

No description available.

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of {AnO₂}ⁿ⁺ complexes containing multidentate ligand environments is reported. Three novel {UO₂}²⁺ complexes (1-3) containing N₃O₂ linear pentadentate ligands have been prepared and crystallographically characterised. NMR spectroscopy has been able to show that 1-3 are stable with respect to ligand exchange, in a range of solvents. The strength of the O=U=O unit has been probed by vibrational spectroscopy and 1-3 exhibit some of the weakest O=U=O ν₁ stretching modes reported (802-805 cm⁻¹). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) of 1-3 in various solvents (0.1 M [Bu₄N][PF₆]) has been performed and indicate the position and reversibility of the {UO₂}²⁺/{UO₂}⁺ redox couple has been found to be subtly dependent on the solvation environment. {UO₂}²⁺ complexes (4-6) have been prepared by subtle modification of reaction conditions using a rigid N₂O₂S linear pentadentate ligand. Characterisation by X-Ray diffraction reveals different monometallic systems, where 4 and 5 are solely bound to the O₂ donors of the ligand and 6 exhibits uranyl binding through all of the donor atoms in the N₂O₂S cavity. ¹H NMR spectroscopy shows 5 exhibits intramolecular rearrangement on the NMR timescale in DCM, but undergoes intermolecular ligand exchange in more coordinating solvents (DMSO, py). Cyclic voltammetry of 5 in DCM (0.1 M [Bu₄N][PF₆]) also indicates that rearrangements and/or ligand exchange processes may occur at rate comparable to that of the CV studies. Complex 6 exhibits stability with respect to ligand exchange or rearrangement in various solvents and shows comparable solvation environment dependency of the {UO₂}²⁺/{UO₂}⁺ redox couple, relative to 1-3. Three monometallic {UO₂}²⁺ complexes (7-9) have been prepared using a rigid tetradentate N₂O₂ ligand. A dimetallic {UO₂}²⁺ complex (10) where two {UO₂}²⁺ are linked by a 4,4'-bipyridine bridge, has been formed by controlled ligand exchange. Vibrational spectroscopy shows the presence of the O=U=O ν₁ stretch in both the Raman and infrared spectra for 7-10, likely to be caused by distortion of the ligand about the UO₂}²⁺ equatorial plane causing a change in dipole for the O=U=O ν₁ stretching mode. A synthetic and spectroscopic study of neptunyl coordination to N₃O₂ linear pentadentate ligands has been made. Adopting a similar method that was successfully employed in the synthesis of 1-3, resulted in the reduction of {NpO₂}²⁺ to {NpO₂}⁺, giving a series of complexes (11-13). Complex 13 has been crystallographically characterised and shows a monometallic {NpO₂}⁺ complex which is bound to all of the atoms in the N₃O₂ cavity.

Two main Arabidopsis thimet oligopeptidases (AtTOP) involved in stress responses are: (1) thimet metalloendopeptidase 1 (TOP1), found in the mitochondria and chloroplasts, annotated as At5g65620, and (2) thimet metalloendopeptidase 2 (TOP2), found in the cytosol annotated as At5g10540. Both AtTOP1 and AtTOP2 are located on chromosome 5 and share high homology. AtTOP1 and AtTOP2 are zincin-like metalloendopeptidases with the characteristic HEXXH active motif of the M3 clan. Their peptidase activity is related to the oxidative stress triggered by plant immune responses. AtTOPs are involved in plant immune responses through a mechanism regulated by Salicylic Acid (SA); both AtTOP1 and AtTOP2 bind plant SA, which inhibits their peptidase activities. However, we engineered a series of mutations to identify which cysteines are responsible for TOPs dimerization and other oxidative, structureunction related events. Each of the cysteine in TOPs (i.e., six cysteines in TOP1, and four cysteines in TOP2) were independently mutated to alanine, as a single mutant. The dynamics of the oxidative dimerization processes were measured using gel filtration and native gel methods to quantify the dimerization process of both native and mutant TOPs under variable redox potentials ex vivo and in vitro at various GSH/GSSG and DTTox/DTTred ratios, with the underlying hypothesis that the TOP dimerization and enzymatic activities are regulated by changes in the disulfide bond formation that is linked to cellular redox environments. Overall our results indicate that TOP1 is sensitive to changes in the redox environment, while TOP2 is not. The monomer/dimer ratio of TOP1 in solution is higher under highly reducing conditions compared to mildly and highly oxidative environments. Two TOP1 cysteines control the formation of dimers, one located in its N-terminal signal peptide (C52) and the other located in the peptidase domain (C611). These findings bring a mechanistic understanding of TOP1 and TOP2 functions in the plant immune response.

Redox regulation and homeostasis are critically important in the regulation of cell function; however, there are significant challenges in quantitatively measuring and monitoring intracellular redox potentials. The work in this thesis details a novel approach to intracellular redox monitoring. The approach is based on the use of nanosensors, which comprise molecules capable of sensing the local redox potential, assembled on gold nanoshells. Since the Raman spectra of the sensor molecules change depending on their oxidation state, and since the nanoshells allow a large enhancement of the Raman scattering, intracellular potential can be calculated by simple optical measurements. A full description of the design, fabrication and characterisation (spectroscopic and electrochemical) of the nanosensors is provided within. The ability to deliver nanosensors into cells in a controllable fashion was confirmed using electron microscopy. Results from a range of assays are also presented which reveal that introduction of nanosensors does not result in any cytotoxicity. Sensor utility in monitoring redox potentials as cells responded to physiological and superphysiological oxidative and reductive stimuli was investigated. Importantly, the capability of the nanosensors in monitoring intracellular potentials in a reversible, non-invasive manner, and over a previously unattainable potential range, is demonstrated.

Mecanismos redox estão envolvidos em diversos processos, como sobrevivência, proliferação e diferenciação celular, pela modulação da atividade de quinases, fosfatases e fatores de transcrição, entre outros, através da modificação oxidativa e reversível de resíduos de cisteína. Neste trabalho, nós estudamos processos redox subjacentes a diferenciação osteogênica induzida por BMP2, utilizando linhagens de células MC3T3-E1. Nosso objetivo foi investigar modificações redox como possíveis moduladores do processo de diferenciação osteogênica. Para isso, nós primeiramente caracterizamos a diferenciação osteogênica nas células MC3T3-E1 após o tratamento com BMP2, através da expressão do marcador osteogênico Osteocalcina, da fosforilação do complexo Smad 1/5/8 e da deposição de matriz extracelular calcificada. Análises de expressão gênica por qPCR mostraram que o tratamento com BMP2 resultou no aumento de expressão de NOX4, o que provavelmente leva ao aumento na produção de peróxido de hidrogênio intracelular. Nós investigamos também a modulação de peroxiredoxinas nesse processo e análises de expressão gênica mostraram que não há alterações nos níveis de expressão de Prx1 e 2 durante a diferenciação, mas os ensaios de western blot redox indicam que a Prx1 pode ser oxidada após o tratamento com BMP2, de maneira dose dependente. Outras análises in vitro mostram que células expostas a N-acetilcisteína (NAC) e PEG-catalase apresentam diferenciação osteogênica prejudicada, detectada por baixos níveis de deposição de matriz extracelular calcificada, comparado com células não-tratadas. Além disso, a fosforilação de Smad 1/5/8 são reduzidas nessas condições. Nossos dados sugerem que processos redox podem modular a sinalização celular durante o processo de diferenciação osteogência / Redox mechanisms are involved in several processes, such as cell survival, proliferation and differentiation, among other ways by modulating kinases, phosphatases and transcription factors activity that can occur through reversible and oxidative modification of cysteine residues. We were interested in studying redox processes underlying osteogenic differentiation induced by BMP-2, using MC3T3-E1 cell lineage. Our objective was to investigate redox modifications as possible modulators of the osteogenic differentiation process. We first characterized osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells upon BMP2 treatment, through gene expression of the osteogenic marker Osteocalcin, Smad 1/5/8 (belonging to the BMP-2 pathway) protein phosphorylation and extracellular matrix calcification. Gene expression analysis by qPCR showed that BMP2 treatment resulted in NOX4 upregulation, which probably also leads to hydrogen peroxide production. We have investigated peroxiredoxin modulation in this process, and gene expression analysis shows no significant change in peroxiredoxin 1 and 2 expression levels, but redox western blotting assays indicate that Prx1 can be oxidized after BMP2 treatment, in a dose dependent manner. In vitro analysis shows that cells exposed to N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and PEG-catalase display impaired osteogenic differentiation, detected by lower levels of calcified extracellular matrix deposition compared with non-treated cells. Moreover, phosphorylation of Smad 1/5/8 complex is reduced under these redox treatments. Our data suggest that redox pathways can modulate cell signaling during the osteogenic differentiation process

O proteassomo é o componente do sistema Ubiquitina-Proteassomo (UPS), responsável pela degradação de proteínas intracelulares marcadas com cauda de ubiquitina. No entanto, a unidade catalítica do proteassomo (20SPT), destituída de unidades regulatórias, é capaz de degradar proteínas de maneira ubiquitina-independente. Diversas modificações pós-traducionais já foram descritas para o 20SPT, incluindo a S-glutatiolação. De acordo com Demasi e col., (2003) o 20SPT da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae possui a atividade tipo-quimiotripsina modulada por glutationa e o mecanismo de glutatiolação implica na formação do intermediário ácido sulfênico. No presente trabalho, identificamos por espectrometria de massas (MS/MS) um total de sete resíduos diferentes de cisteína glutatiolados no 20SPT, sendo seis in vitro por incubação com GSH e três in vivo, extraído de células crescidas até atingir fase estacionária tardia em meio rico. Analisando a estrutura 3D do 20SPT, observou-se que os resíduos de cisteína glutatiolados não estão localizados na entrada da câmara catalítica nem próximos aos sítios-ativos, indicando um mecanismo alostérico da modulação da atividade proteassomal. O proteassomo glutatiolado extraído de leveduras é capaz de degradar proteínas oxidadas de maneira mais eficiente que o proteassomo reduzido por DTT, e ainda, esta degradação gera perfis peptídicos diferenciados por utilizar distintamente as atividades sítio-especificas, como visualizado por análises de HPLC e MS/MS. Por microscopia eletrônica verificamos a conformação aberta da câmara catalítica do proteassomo glutatiolado, sendo esta imediatamente fechada pela remoção da glutationa do 20SPT na presença de DTT. Caracterizamos ainda, enzimas reponsáveis pela desglutatiolação do 20SPT, capazes de recuperar as atividades proteassomais que haviam sido diminuídas pela glutatiolação: as oxidoredutases glutarredoxina 2 e as tiorredoxinas citosólicas. O mecanismo ainda inclui a hidrólise dessas oxidorredutases, fenômeno também verificado para diversas proteínas da suprafamília tiorredoxina, provavelmente devido a propriedades estruturais desta família. A glutatiolação do proteassomo apresenta-se como uma nova modificação pós-traducional de ocorrência fisiológica dependente do estado redox celular. Esta modificação promove aumento da atividade proteolítica, sugerindo uma função antioxidante atuante na remoção de proteínas oxidadas durante desafios oxidativos / The proteasome is the protease of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) responsible for the breakdown of intracellular ubiquitin-tagged proteins. However, the catalytic particle of the proteasome (20SPT) is capable of hydrolyzing some substrates in an ubiquitin-independent fashion. The S-glutathiolation of the 20SPT was described among several post-translational modifications and according to Demasi et. al. (2003), the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by glutathione. The mechanism of S-glutathiolation is dependent on the formation of the sulfenic acid intermediate in the cisteine residues of the 20SPT. In this present work, we identified in vitro and in vivo, a total of seven different S-glutathiolated proteasomal cysteine residues by mass spectrometry studies (MS/MS) and, by analyzing the 3D structure of the 20SPT, the modified cysteine residues are not located either on the entrance of the catalytic core or near to the active sites, indicating an allosteric mechanism of proteasomal modulation. During protein degradation, the natively S-glutathiolated 20SPT produces different patterns of peptide products when compared to the DTT-reduced particle through distinct site-specific cleavage of the protein substrates, as herein demonstrated by HPLC and MS/MS analyses. Furthermore, by electron microscopy, we showed that the entrance of the natively glutathiolated 20SPT is in the open conformation that immediately shifts to the closed conformation in the presence of DTT. We have also characterized the deglutathiolase role of the oxidoreductases Glutaredoxin 2 and Citosolic Thioredoxins 1 and 2 which recover the partially inhibited 20SPT activities. The deglutathiolation mechanism also includes the oxidoreductase degradation dependent on the 20SPT activation. The proteasome Sglutathiolation emerges as a new physiological post-translational modification correlated to the cellular redox state. Moreover, the S-glutathiolation of the 20SPT increases its proteolytic activity suggesting an antioxidant role by removing oxidized proteins generated during oxidative challenges.

O manganês é um elemento traço essencial, porém existe uma preocupação com seus potenciais efeitos neurotóxicos associados à exposição a níveis excessivos, podendo provocar uma síndrome conhecida como manganismo, cujos sintomas são semelhantes aos da doença de Parkinson. A maioria dos trabalhos envolvendo manganês usa espécies de Mn(II), mas sabe-se que Mn(III) é acumulado em maior quantidade no cérebro. Nesse sentido, foi feito um estudo dos danos oxidativos e de toxicidade provocados por três complexos de Mn(III): citrato, pirofosfato e salicilenodiamina (respectivamente MnCit, MnPPi e EUK8). Para tanto, as três espécies foram sintetizadas e caracterizadas por métodos espectroscópicos. Em seguida foram determinadas suas capacidades pró-oxidantes sobre os seguintes marcadores: dihidrorodamina (DHR), tirosina (Tyr), albumina (BSA) e dopamina (DA). Finalmente, seu efeito sobre células cerebelares e da cepa HeLa estressada por meio de irradiação UV também foi avaliado, e foi usado ascorbato na tentativa de tratar o dano sobre células HeLa. O teste com a DHR também foi feito em presença de H2O2 e ascorbato. A capacidade pró-oxidante testada por fluorescência da DHR sugere que o ascorbato atua como anti-oxidante. Além disso, MnCit e MnPPi (mas não EUK8), quando na presença de H2O2, são menos oxidantes. O mesmo comportamento foi percebido nas medidas de fluorescência de Tyr. A carbonilação da BSA, verificada pela absorbância do seu marcador (DNPH), seria indício de capacidade oxidante dos complexos, mas não percebeu-se variação significativa de grupos C=O na proteína após tratamento com espécies de Mn(III), mesmo em amostras com H2O2, embora notem-se as mesmas tendências apresentadas pelos complexos com DHR e Tyr. Estudos de oxidação de DA por luminescência tiveram resultados inconclusivos, mas dados mais concretos em testes com medidas de absorbância de soluções de DA e fluorescência de misturas de DA com DHR indicaram que DA é preferencialmente oxidada por todos os compostos. A viabilidade celular de culturas de células neuronais granulares (CGC) mostrou pouca diferença entre as toxicidades dos compostos, mas verifica-se uma relação inversamente proporcional entre as toxicidades e lipofilicidades dos complexos. O mesmo não ocorre nos experimentos com HeLa, cuja viabilidade foi avaliada por contagem de colônias após fixação e coloração das células, pois nesse caso o EUK8 se mostrou o mais tóxico dos três. Além disso, ao contrário do observado com a DHR, o ascorbato teve ação pró-oxidante, e, aparentemente, houve um efeito sinérgico negativo entre os complexos e a radiação UV. Tratamento com o quelante p-aminossalicilato só foi eficaz na recuperação das culturas para amostras não irradiadas. / Manganese is an essential trace element, however there is considerable concern regarding its neurological effects when in excess, giving rise to a condition termed manganism which is characterized by Parkinson disease-like symptoms. Most evaluations of manganese toxicity use poorly defined Mn(II) species, although Mn(III) is known to accumulate preferentially in the brain. Therefore, in this work we proposed a study of oxidative damage and citotoxicity of Mn(III) derivatives of citrate, pyrophosphate and salycilenediamine (respectively, MnCit, MnPPi and EUK8). The species were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Their pro-oxidant abilities were assessed over markers of oxidant activity dihydrorhodamine (DHR), tyrosine (Tyr), albumin (BSA) and dopamine (DA). In addition, their effect over granular cerebral cells (CGC) and HeLa cells stressed by ultraviolet irradiation was studied, and treated with ascorbate. Tests with DHR were repeated treating the samples with H2O2 and ascorbate. Pro-oxidant ability tested by both DHR and Tyr fluorescence suggest that ascorbate is antioxidant towards Mn(III)-induced oxidative damage. MnCit and MnPPi (but not EUK8), when in presence of peroxide, are less oxidants. An analogous trend was observed for BSA, although without statistical significance. Evaluation of DA formation by luminescence was inconclusive, but competition studies of DA+DHR mixtures indicated that DA is preferentially oxidized by all the complexes. To CGC, little difference was observed for the toxicities of the complexes. An inverse relationship of toxicity and lipophilicity has been observed. However this was not observed for HeLa cells, to which EUK8 was more toxic. In addition, and in opposition to the DHR solution study, ascorbate was found to be pro-oxidant. A negative synergic effect was observed between complex doses and irradiation. Treatment of the cells with paraaminosalicylate was beneficial only for non-irradiated cells.