Toxicity of dioxins: role of an absolute hardness-absolute electronegativity diagram (eta-chi diagram) as a new measure in risk assessment

Potent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity of novel antioxidants, double-stranded tyrosine residues conjugating pyrocatechol

New potent antioxidants conjugating the catechol (=pyrocatechol; pyrCat) group to two N-termini of modified double-stranded tyrosine residues were synthesized and showed radical scavenging activity with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH radical, DPPH˙) as a free radical model, second-order rate constants for the DPPH˙ scavenging reaction, and the results from electron spin resonance (ESR) studies. It was found that the tyrosine (Tyr) residue and pyrCat containing new antioxidants developed in the study have about 3-20 times more potent antioxidative activity than Trolox, pyrCat, and L-ascorbic acid (VC). In order to elucidate the relationship between antioxidant activity and the molecular orbital states, and to design potent antioxidants we present an interesting approach using an absolute hardness (η)-absolute electronegativity (χ) diagram based on chemical hardness. It was shown that quantum chemicals were required to develop potent antioxidants.

Theoretical study of the quantitative structure-activity relationships for the toxicity of dibenzo-p-dioxins

Density functional theory calculations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) were carried out to obtain the electronic descriptors, polarizabilities, and traceless quadrupole moments of 76 PCDD congeners. No simple relationships were found for the electronic descriptors with the relevant aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) binding affinities of PCDDs, which suggests that they alone may not be sufficient to explain the variation in toxicity. However, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) were developed with the polarizabilities and traceless quadrupole moments, explaining about 74% and 59% of variation in AhR binding affinities of PCDDs, respectively. To explain the nature of toxic interaction, a mathematical model based on the ligand-receptor binding and solute-solvent interaction was presented, and then a multiple regression analysis of all the above parameters was performed to evaluate the contributions of the parameters to the bonding affinities. Other data for PCDFs found in the literature were also included in the regression analysis to minimize data over-fitting. The results suggest that dispersion and electrostatic interactions are equally important for the interaction of PCDD/Fs with the AhR.

Stereo structure-controlled and electronic structure-controlled estrogen-like chemicals to design and develop non-estrogenic bisphenol A analogs based on chemical hardness concept

The aim of this study was to elucidate the structure-activity relationship of bisphenol A (BPA) analogs using absolute hardness (eta) and absolute electronegativity (chi) (chemical hardness) and to design a non-estrogen active BPA. To determine the structure-activity relationships of BPA analogs, we investigated MCF-7 cell proliferation stimulated by BPA analogs and an eta-chi diagram based on the electronic structure of the BPA analogs. The results show that the actions of the environmental hormones BPA analogs have two chemical properties; (i) 'stereo structure-controlled' and (ii) 'electronic structure-controlled' estrogen-like chemical activities. Therefore, we designed and synthesized BPA analogs which do not possess these 2 characteristics, ((i) and (ii)), and demonstrate the non-estrogen activity of the analog.

Prediction of endocrine disruptors based on a new structure-activity relationship for sex and environmental hormones using chemical hardness concept

Classification of the relationship between electronic structures and biological activities of endocrine disruptors (so-called environmental hormones) was attempted using the parameters of absolute hardness (eta), absolute electronegativity (chi), and global softness (S), approximately defined as eta=1/2(epsilonLUMO-epsilonHOMO), chi=-1/2(epsilonHOMO+ epsilonLUMO), and S=1/eta, respectively, based on the hardness concept. The strength of binding affinity and toxicity of the chemicals were approximately proportional to the absolute hardness, and laterally toxic chlorinated PCDDs, PCBs, and DDTs are classified as chemically soft. Here we found that the electronic structures of environmental hormones can be classified into four main groups: 17beta-estradiol type (group I), testosterone type (group II), thyroxine type (group III), and HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) type (group IV). Therefore, if we can predict the coordinate (chi, eta) of the electronic structure of one chemical on the eta-chi activity diagram, we would be able to predict the receptor with which the chemicals (environmental hormones) interact. For instance, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) is classified in group II, therefore, it would bind with the thyroid receptor more than the estrogen receptor (group I). It appears that dibutyl phthalate would not interact with estrogen receptor because it does not belong to group I. In addition, the coordinates of these four groups do not complementarily overlap with the electronic structures of 20 natural amino acid residues. The eta-chi activity diagram is a new tool for the prediction of the toxicity and biological activity of environmental hormones.

Activation of respiratory burst in human granulocytes by polychlorinated biphenyls: A structure-activity study

The respiratory burst in human granulocytes activated by 33 different congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was measured as luminol-amplified chemoluminescence. The selection of 20 (training set) compounds was based on multivariate chemical characterization, laying the groundwork for covering the whole chemical series of tetra- through hepta-chlorinated PCBs. In addition 6 congeners were used as a validation set, and 7 were mono- to tri-chlorinated congeners representing low-chlorinated compounds not covered by the training set. Only ortho-substituted biphenyls activate respiratory burst. There is a correlation between activated respiratory burst and the total surface area of congeners up to 230 x 10(-20) m(2). Congeners of larger size show a reduced activity. There is also a correlation between respiratory burst activity and the number of ortho-substituents. Furthermore, there is also a correlation with parameters that describe absolute hardness of the molecule and respiratory burst activity. Congeners with a 2,4, 6-substitution on one biphenyl ring are optimal activators. In conclusion, all three factors, size, rotation, and electronic properties, which are not independent of each other, are important for the activity of the PCBs.