Effect of histidine-containing dipeptides on the free-radical fragmentation of biologically active phospho derivatives of glycerol

Abstract

The effects of carnosine, anserine, and glycyl-histidine on the free-radical fragmentation of glycero-1-phosphate and dimiristoyl phosphatidylglycerol induced by γ-radiation or Fe2+(Cu2+)-containing systems have been studied. The histidine-containing dipeptides (HCDs) exert a radioprotector effect on the fragmentation; this effect depends on the concentration of O2 and reaches a maximum in deaerated systems (by a factor of ~1.7). The HCDs can be antior prooxidants under the conditions of the Fe2+(Cu2+)-mediated generation of HO· radicals. Carnosine exhibits protector properties in a dose-dependent manner regardless of the inductor. Carnosine more effectively inhibits Cu2+-induced fragmentation (by a factor of 2–2.5) than the Fe2+-mediated process (by a factor of 1.4).