STUDIES OF ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE ON BILIRUBIN FREE RADICALS

The nature of ESR signals derived from bilirubin-Ⅸα has been studied by focusing onthe samples treated with free radical generating and inhibiting systems, i.e. X-XOD, Fe/EDTA, SOD, mannitol/ascorbate, CO, KCN, etc. In all the cases, the stable signals comprisethose originated from semiquinone radical （g = 2.0012） and superoxide free radical （g=2.041, g= 2.0040）. The superoxide is shown binding with certain metal ions chelated bybilirubin. The free radical scavengers are able to destroy these radicals. The kinetic curveof the regeneration of bilirubin radicals has been determined and the reaction follows azero order mechanism. It is likely that both the physiological and toxic actions of bilirubinare related to the characters of its free radicals. Bilirubin is discussed as "active oxygensink" in mammalians.