The role of iron chelators and oxygen in the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase-dependent chromium(VI) reduction.

Chromium(VI) reduction was studied in a system composed of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (NADPH-P450 reductase) and different iron chelators and iron sources. In an aerobic phosphate buffer containing iron(II), chromium(VI) was not reduced by the Fe2+ probably because of spontaneous autoxidation of Fe2+, but freshly made Fe2+, added directly to a CrVI-containing buffer, reduced CrVI. Under anaerobic conditions, iron(II) reduced chromium(VI) stoichiometrically. A systemic containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-Fe3+, NADPH-P450 reductase and NADPH effectively reduced chromium(VI) anaerobically. Under aerobic conditions this reaction was inhibited by about 45%. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-Fe3+, which is a poor acceptor of electrons from NADPH-P450 reductase, reduced chromium(VI) only marginally, Mannitol slightly increased the aerobic CrVI reduction. Addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase, which both regenerate some O2, led to inhibition of CrVI reduction. Ferritin, NADPH-P450 reductase and the iron chelators, EDTA and citrate, reduced CrVI, indicating mobilization of Fe2+ from ferritin. Low levels of EDTA (55 mumol l-1) and citrate (100 mumol l-1) in contrast to high levels (5 mmol l-1) did not increase CrVI reduction in microsomes. Using 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethane sulfonic acid buffer instead of phosphate buffer, the CrVI-reducing activity was increased.