Detection of 2-hydroxyethidium in cellular systems: a unique marker product of superoxide and hydroethidine

J Zielonka, J Vasquez-Vivar, B Kalyanaraman - Nature protocols, 2008 - nature.com
J Zielonka, J Vasquez-Vivar, B Kalyanaraman
Nature protocols, 2008nature.com
Various detection methods of the specific product of reaction of superoxide (O 2•−) with
hydroethidine (HE), namely 2-hydroxyethidium (2-OH-E+), and with its mitochondria-
targeted analog are described. The detailed protocol for quantification of 2-OH-E+, the
unique product of HE/O 2•− in cellular systems, is presented. The procedure includes cell
lysis, protein precipitation using acidified methanol and HPLC analysis of the lysate. Using
this protocol, we determined the intracellular levels of 2-OH-E+ and E+ in the range of 10 …
Abstract
Various detection methods of the specific product of reaction of superoxide (O 2•−) with hydroethidine (HE), namely 2-hydroxyethidium (2-OH-E+), and with its mitochondria-targeted analog are described. The detailed protocol for quantification of 2-OH-E+, the unique product of HE/O 2•− in cellular systems, is presented. The procedure includes cell lysis, protein precipitation using acidified methanol and HPLC analysis of the lysate. Using this protocol, we determined the intracellular levels of 2-OH-E+ and E+ in the range of 10 and 100 pmol per mg protein in unstimulated macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. In addition to HE, 2-OH-E+ and E+, we detected several dimeric products of HE oxidation in cell lysates. As several oxidation products of HE are formed, the superoxide-specific product, 2-OH-E+ needs to be separated from other HE-derived products for unequivocal quantification.
nature.com