Mass spectral evidence for carbonate-anion-radical-induced posttranslational modification of tryptophan to kynurenine in human Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase.

Previously, we showed that oxidation of tryptophan-32 (Trp-32) residue was crucial for H(2)O(2)/bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-))-dependent covalent aggregation of human Cu,Zn SOD1 (hSOD1). The carbonate anion radical (CO(3)(-))-induced oxidation of Trp-32 to kynurenine-type oxidation products was proposed to cause the aggregation of hSOD1. Here we used the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy, and liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy methods to characterize products. Results show that a peptide region (31-36) of hSOD1 containing the Trp-32 residue (VWGSIK) is oxidatively modified to the N-formylkynurenine (NFK)- and kynurenine (Kyn)-containing peptides (V(NFK)GSIK) and (V(Kyn)GSIK) during HCO(-)-dependent peroxidase activity of hSOD1. Also, UV photolysis of a cobalt complex that generates authentic CO(3)(-) radical induced a similar product profile from hSOD1. Similar products were obtained using a synthetic peptide with the same amino acid sequence (i.e., VWGSIK). We propose a mechanism involving a tryptophanyl radical for CO(3)(-)-induced oxidation of Trp-32 residue (VWGSIK) in hSOD1 to V(NFK)GSIK and V(Kyn)GSIK.