No detectable reaction of the anion radical metabolite of nitrofurans with reduced glutathione or macromolecules

The initial metabolite formed by most mammalian nitroreductases is the nitro anion free radical. We, as well as others, have proposed that nitroheterocyclic anion radicals covalently bind to protein, DNA, or thiol compounds such as reduced glutathione (GSH). Our results indicate that even at 100 mM GSH does not affect the steady-state concentration of the nitro anion free radical of N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]acetamide (NFTA) in rat hepatic microsomal or xanthine oxidase incubations. The steady-state ESR amplitude of the anion radical is also unchanged by the addition of BSA or DNA. Similar results are obtained with nitrofurazone and nitrofurantoin. The reactive chemical species which binds to tissue macromolecules and GSH upon the reduction of nitrofurans remains unknown, but the anion free radical metabolite can be excluded from consideration.