Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Identification Of Enzymes Causing Redox Cycling, Causing Oxidative Stress And Damaging Mitochondria, Kiran Sebastian

Honors College Theses

Oxidative stress is thought to contribute to the death of dopamine neurons and the consequential progression of Parkinson’s disease. Redox cycling of quinones, including compounds formed by dopamine oxidation, can lead to oxidative stress and damaging of the mitochondria. Which enzymes catalyze the redox cycling of quinones is unknown, however. Inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (cyanide, rotenone) do not inhibit redox cycling. Mitochondrial NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductases are likely candidates, but dicumarol, a common inhibitor of such enzymes is not effective. We observed that Cibacron Blue does indeed inhibit NADH-dependent redox cycling to an extent. Our data shows that the rate …