Detection and characterisation of radicals in biological materials using EPR methodology

TY - JOUR

T1 - Detection and characterisation of radicals in biological materials using EPR methodology

AU - Hawkins, Clare Louise

AU - Davies, Michael Jonathan

N1 - Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2014/2

Y1 - 2014/2

N2 - BACKGROUND: Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (also known as electron spin resonance, ESR, spectroscopy) is widely considered to be the "gold standard" for the detection and characterisation of radicals in biological systems.SCOPE OF REVIEW: The article reviews the major positive and negative aspects of EPR spectroscopy and discusses how this technique and associated methodologies can be used to maximise useful information, and minimise artefacts, when used in biological studies. Consideration is given to the direct detection of radicals (at both ambient and low temperature), the use of spin trapping and spin scavenging (e.g. reaction with hydroxylamines), the detection of nitric oxide and the detection and quantification of some transition metal ions (particularly iron and copper) and their environment.MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: When used with care this technique can provide a wealth of valuable information on the presence of radicals and some transition metal ions in biological systems. It can provide definitive information on the identity of the species present and also information on their concentration, structure, mobility and interactions. It is however a technique that has major limitations and the user needs to understand the various pitfalls and shortcoming of the method to avoid making errors.GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: EPR remains the most definitive method of identifying radicals in complex systems and is also a valuable method of examining radical kinetics, concentrations and structure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Current methods to study reactive oxygen species - pros and cons and biophysics of membrane proteins. Guest Editor: Christine Winterbourn.

AB - BACKGROUND: Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (also known as electron spin resonance, ESR, spectroscopy) is widely considered to be the "gold standard" for the detection and characterisation of radicals in biological systems.SCOPE OF REVIEW: The article reviews the major positive and negative aspects of EPR spectroscopy and discusses how this technique and associated methodologies can be used to maximise useful information, and minimise artefacts, when used in biological studies. Consideration is given to the direct detection of radicals (at both ambient and low temperature), the use of spin trapping and spin scavenging (e.g. reaction with hydroxylamines), the detection of nitric oxide and the detection and quantification of some transition metal ions (particularly iron and copper) and their environment.MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: When used with care this technique can provide a wealth of valuable information on the presence of radicals and some transition metal ions in biological systems. It can provide definitive information on the identity of the species present and also information on their concentration, structure, mobility and interactions. It is however a technique that has major limitations and the user needs to understand the various pitfalls and shortcoming of the method to avoid making errors.GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: EPR remains the most definitive method of identifying radicals in complex systems and is also a valuable method of examining radical kinetics, concentrations and structure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Current methods to study reactive oxygen species - pros and cons and biophysics of membrane proteins. Guest Editor: Christine Winterbourn.

KW - Animals

KW - Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy

KW - Free Radicals

KW - Humans

KW - Spin Trapping

U2 - 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.03.034

DO - 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.03.034

M3 - Review

C2 - 23567797

SN - 0304-419X

VL - 1840

SP - 708

EP - 721

JO - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Reviews on Cancer

JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Reviews on Cancer

IS - 2

ER -