Superoxide‐dependent formation of hydroxyl radical catalyzed by transferrin

Abstract

Hydroxyl radicals are generated in the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system in the presence of iron-saturated transferrin isolated from human serum. This has been demonstrated by colorimetrically measuring the hydroxylation of salicylic acid and by EPR using the spin trap DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide). A Fenton-type Harber-Weiss reaction catalyzed by transferrin is proposed.