Oxidation and Nitration of Tyrosine by Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide: Reaction Mechanisms and Biological and Atmospheric Implications

Abstract

The nitration of tyrosine by atmospheric oxidants, O₃ and NO₂, is an important cause for the spread of allergenic diseases. In the present study, the mechanism and pathways for the reaction of tyrosine with the atmospheric oxidants O₃ and NO₂ are studied using DFT-M06-2X, B3LYP, and B3LYP-D methods with the 6-311+G­(d,p) basis set. The energy barrier for the initial oxidation reactions is also calculated at the CCSD­(T)/6-31+G­(d,p) level of theory. The reaction is studied in gas, aqueous, and lipid media. The initial oxidation of tyrosine by O₃ proceeds by H atom abstraction and addition reactions and leads to the formation of six different intermediates. The subsequent nitration reaction is studied for all the intermediates, and the results show that the nitration affects both the side chain and the aromatic ring of tyrosine. The rate constant of the favorable oxidation and nitration reaction is calculated using variational transition state theory over the temperature range of 278–350 K. The spectral properties of the oxidation and nitration products are calculated at the TD-M06-2X/6-311+G­(d,p) level of theory. The fate of the tyrosine radical intermediate is studied by its reaction with glutathione antioxidant. This study provides an enhanced understanding of the oxidation and nitration of tyrosine by O₃ and NO₂ in the context of improving the air quality and reducing the allergic diseases