Inactivation of Creatine Kinase Induced by Stilbene Derivatives

Compounds acting as antioxidants to lipids often have a prooxidant effect on DNA or protein. In this study, inactivation of creatine kinase was examined as an indicator of protein damage induced by antioxidative stilbene derivatives, including diethylstilboestrol, resveratrol and tamoxifen, with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide (horseradish peroxidase‐H 2 O 2 ). Diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol, but not tamoxifen, rapidly inactivated creatine kinase. Also, creatine kinase in heart homogenate was inactivated by diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol. Tamoxifen, which has no phenolic hydroxyl groups in its structure, was about 10 times less active in protecting lipids and creatine kinase than diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol, suggesting that phenolic hydroxyl groups in diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol of stilbene derivatives are anti‐ and pro‐oxidative. Absorption spectra of these stilbene derivatives rapidly changed during the reaction with horseradish peroxidase‐H 2 O 2 . Diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol free radicals emitted electron spin resonance signals and creatine kinase effectively diminished the electron spin resonance signals. These results suggest that free radicals of diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol formed through reaction with horseradish peroxidase‐H 2 O 2 inactivated creatine kinase. Presumably, oxidation of essential cysteine and tryptophan residues lead to inactivation of creatine kinase. Other enzymes, including alcohol dehydrogenase and cholinesterase, were also sharply inhibited by diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol with horseradish peroxidase‐H 2 O 2 . Free radicals of diethylstilboestrol and resveratrol seem to mediate between anti‐ and prooxidative actions.