Solid phase synthesis of mitochondrial triphenylphosphonium-vitamin E metabolite using a lysine linker for reversal of oxidative stress

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53272. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053272. Epub 2013 Jan 14.

Abstract

Mitochondrial targeting of antioxidants has been an area of interest due to the mitochondria's role in producing and metabolizing reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants, especially vitamin E (α-tocopherol), have been conjugated to lipophilic cations to increase their mitochondrial targeting. Synthetic vitamin E analogues have also been produced as an alternative to α-tocopherol. In this paper, we investigated the mitochondrial targeting of a vitamin E metabolite, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (α-CEHC), which is similar in structure to vitamin E analogues. We report a fast and efficient method to conjugate the water-soluble metabolite, α-CEHC, to triphenylphosphonium cation via a lysine linker using solid phase synthesis. The efficacy of the final product (MitoCEHC) to lower oxidative stress was tested in bovine aortic endothelial cells. In addition the ability of MitoCEHC to target the mitochondria was examined in type 2 diabetes db/db mice. The results showed mitochondrial accumulation in vivo and oxidative stress decrease in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromans / chemical synthesis*
  • Chromans / chemistry
  • Lysine / metabolism*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Propionates / chemical synthesis*
  • Propionates / chemistry
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques / methods*
  • Vitamin E / chemical synthesis*
  • Vitamin E / chemistry

Substances

  • Chromans
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Propionates
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Vitamin E
  • 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman
  • Lysine