On the function and mechanism of action of peroxidases

The role of superoxide radicals in lactoperoxidase-catalysed H2O2-metabolism and in irreversible enzyme inactivation

Irreversible inactivation of lactoperoxidase in the presence of excess H2O2 has been investigated. Serial overlay absorption spectra of the Soret region show that the rate and total amount of enzyme inactivation depend on the proton concentration. Perhydroxyl or superoxide radicals (HO.2 or O-2) cannot be established as the inactivating species in this mechanism, but they influence the rate of reconversion of the intermediate lactoperoxidase-compound III back to the resting ferric form of the enzyme.

The role of compound III in reversible and irreversible inactivation of lactoperoxidase

In the presence of iodide (I-, 10 mM) and hydrogen peroxide in a large excess (H2O2, 0.1-10 mM) catalytic amounts of lactoperoxidase (2 nM) are very rapidly irreversibly inactivated without forming compound III (cpd III). In contrast, in the absence of I- cpd III is formed and inactivation proceeds very slowly. Increasing the enzyme concentration up to the micromolar range significantly accelerates the rate of inactivation. The present data reveal that irreversible inactivation of the enzyme involves cleavage of the prosthetic group and liberation of heme iron. The rate of enzyme destruction is well correlated with the production of molecular oxygen (O2), which originates from the oxidation of excess H2O2. Since H2O2 and O2 per se do not affect the heme moiety of the peroxidase, we suggest that the damaging species may be a primary intermediate of the H2O2 oxidation, such as oxygen in its excited singlet state (1 delta gO2), superoxide radicals (O-.2), or consequently formed hydroxyl radicals (OH.).

Reduction of lactoperoxidase by the dithionite anion monomer

The reduction of lactoperoxidase with sodium dithionite has been studied by means of stopped-flow spectrophotometry in an anaerobic system. Under pseudo-first-order conditions the rate constant was found to be linearly dependent on the square root of the dithionite concentration, which confirms the monomeric radical, SO2- as the reducing species. The second-order rate constant is moderately influenced by increased ionic strength but drastically increased at lower pH. The pH dependence supports the previously suggested existence of a carboxyl group, essential to the different enzymatic functions of lactoperoxidase. The second-order rate constant for the reduction of lactoperoxidase at pH 7.0 (kappa 1 = 1.3 X 10(5) M-1 s-1) was about three times higher than the rate constant for the reduction of cyanide-bound lactoperoxidase and two times the rate constant for the reduction of the fluoride-lactoperoxidase complex.

Hemes and hemoproteins. 1: Preparation and analysis of the heme-containing octapeptide (microperoxidase-8) and identification of the monomeric form in aqueous solution

The heme-octapeptide from cytochrome c, Microperoxidase-8 (MP-8), was prepared by peptic and tryptic digestion of horse heart cytochrome c and purified by gel permeation chromatography in about 50% yield. Conditions for the identification of MP-8 by TLC and analysis by HPLC are described. Study of the concentration-dependence of the absorption spectrum showed that at concentrations of less than or equal to 2.5 X 10(-5) M in aqueous solution at pH 7, 25 degrees C and mu = 0.1, MP-8 exists as an equilibrium mixture of monomers and dimers with KD = 1.17 +/- 0.02 X 10(5) M-1, decreasing to 1.21 +/- 0.02 X 10(4) M-1 and 2.16 +/- 0.21 X 10(3) M-1 in 20% and 50% (v/v) methanol:water mixtures, respectively. Comparison of the Soret region spectrum of monomeric MP-8 with other hemoproteins suggests that it is six-coordinate in aqueous solution with water and His as axial ligands.

Role of molecular oxygen in lignin peroxidase reactions

Homogeneous lignin peroxidase (diarylpropane oxygenase) oxidized veratryl alcohol to veratryl aldehyde under anaerobic conditions in the presence of either H2O2, m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA), or p-nitroperoxybenzoic acid (pNPBA). Lignin peroxidase also oxidized the 1-(3',4'-diethoxyphenyl)-1,2-dihydroxy-(4"-methoxyphenyl)-propane I under anaerobic conditions in the presence of mCPBA to yield 3,4-diethoxybenzaldehyde III and 1-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-dihydroxyethane IV. In contrast to what occurs under aerobic conditions, under anaerobic conditions no 2-hydroxy-1-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-1-oxoethane V was obtained. During the diarylpropane I cleavage under anaerobic conditions, 18O from H2(18)O was incorporated into the alpha-position of the phenylglycol IV. Lignin peroxidase also hydroxylated 1-(4'-ethoxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)propane II at the alpha-position to yield 1-(4'-ethoxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-1-hydroxypropane VI under anaerobic conditions in the presence of mCPBA. During the phenylpropane II hydroxylation under anaerobic conditions, 18O from H2(18)O was incorporated into the alpha-position of VI. These results are rationalized according to a mechanism involving an initial one-electron oxidation of the diarylpropane I by the lignin peroxidase compound I to form a benzene pi cation radical which undergoes alpha, beta cleavage to produce a benzaldehyde and a C6C2 benzylic radical. The latter is then attacked by O2 to form a hydroperoxy radical which may decompose through a tetroxide to form the phenylglycol IV and phenylketol V. Under anaerobic conditions the C6C2 benzylic radical is probably oxidized to a carbonium ion which would be subsequently attacked by H2O to yield the phenylglycol V.

Comparison of ligninase-I and peroxidase-M2 from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Ligninase-I (Mr 42,000-43,000; carbohydrate, 21%) and peroxidase-M2 (Mr 45,000-47,000; carbohydrate, 17%), two representative, hydrogen peroxide-dependent extracellular enzymes produced by ligninolytic cultures of the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767, were purified and their properties compared. Spectroscopic studies showed that both native enzymes are heme proteins containing protoporphyrin IX. EPR spectroscopy indicated that iron ions are coordinated with the enzymes' prosthetic groups as high-spin ferriheme complexes. We confirmed reports of others that the ligninase-hydrogen peroxide complex (activated enzyme) reverts to its native state on addition of dithionite or one of the enzyme's substrates (e.g., veratryl alcohol); however, we found that the peroxidase-M2-hydrogen peroxide complex required Mn2+ ions to accomplish a similar cycle. The peroxidase oxidized Mn2+ to a higher oxidation state, and the oxidized Mn acted as a diffusible catalyst able to oxidize numerous organic substrates. Unlike ligninase-I which is found free extracellularly, peroxidase-M2 appears to be associated closely with the fungal mycelium. In its peroxidatic reactions, ligninase-I oxidizes a variety of nonphenolic and phenolic lignin model compounds. In the presence of Mn2+, peroxidase-M2 oxidizes numerous phenolic compounds, especially syringyl (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) and vinyl side-chain substituted substrates. Also, the peroxidase-Mn2+ system (without hydrogen peroxide) expresses oxidase activity against NADPH, GSH, dithiothreitol, and dihydroxymaleic acid, forming hydrogen peroxide at the expense of oxygen. Both enzymes were believed to play roles in lignin degradation, and these are discussed.

Enzymatic reduction of 5-phenyl-4-pentenyl-hydroperoxide: detection of peroxidases and identification of peroxidase reducing substrates

5-Phenyl-4-pentenyl-hydroperoxide (PPHP) is reduced to 5-phenyl-4-pentenyl-alcohol (PPA) by plant and animal peroxidases in the presence of reducing substrates. PPHP and PPA are rapidly isolated with solid phase extraction, separated by isocratic reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and quantitated with a fixed-wave-length ultraviolet detector. The procedure described is suitable for detecting peroxide-reducing enzymes, determining the kinetic properties of heme- and non-heme-containing peroxidases, and evaluating oxidizable compounds as reducing substrates for peroxidases. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and phenol reduce PPHP with a Km for phenol of 252 microM and a turnover number of 1.05 X 10(4) min-1. Under similar conditions, the Km of HRP for PPHP is 18 microM in the oxidation of guaiacol. A series of 21 compounds was evaluated for the ability to serve as reducing substrates for HRP. The results indicate that the procedure described can not only identify compounds that are reducing substrates but also rank them for relative activity. This may provide a new method with which to identify novel antithrombotic, antimetastatic, or anti-inflammatory drugs as well as to detect and characterize mammalian peroxidases.

Purification and characterization of an extracellular Mn(II)-dependent peroxidase from the lignin-degrading basidiomycete, Phanerochaete chrysosporium

A Mn(II)-dependent peroxidase found in the extracellular medium of ligninolytic cultures of the white rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, was purified by DEAE-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography, Blue Agarose chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis indicated that the homogeneous protein has an Mr of 46,000. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme indicates the presence of a heme prosthetic group. The pyridine hemochrome absorption spectrum indicates that the enzyme contained one molecule of heme as iron protoporphyrin IX. The absorption maximum of the native enzyme (406 nm) shifted to 433 nm in the reduced enzyme and to 423 nm in the reduced-CO complex. Both CN- and N-3 readily bind to the native enzyme, indicating an available coordination site and that the heme iron is high spin. The absorption spectrum of the H2O2 enzyme complex, maximum at 420 nm, is similar to that of horseradish peroxidase compound II. P. chrysosporium peroxidase activity is dependent on Mn(II), with maximal activity attained above 100 microM. The enzyme is also stimulated to varying degrees by alpha-hydroxy acids (e.g., malic, lactic) and protein (e.g., gelatin, albumin). The peroxidase is capable of oxidizing NADH and a wide variety of dyes, including Poly B-411 and Poly R-481. Several of the substrates (indigo trisulfonate, NADH, Poly B-411, variamine blue RT salt, and Poly R-481) are oxidized by this Mn(II)-dependent peroxidase at considerably faster rates than those catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase. The enzyme rapidly oxidizes Mn(II) to Mn(III); the latter was detected by the characteristic absorption spectrum of its pyrophosphate complex. Inhibition of the oxidation of the substrate diammonium 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethyl-6-benzothiazolinesulfonate) (ABTS) by Na-pyrophosphate suggests that Mn(III) plays a role in the enzyme mechanism.

Multiple molecular forms of diarylpropane oxygenase, an H2O2-requiring, lignin-degrading enzyme from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Three different molecular forms of the H2O2-requiring heme enzyme, diarylpropane oxygenase, were isolated from the extracellular medium of Na-acetate buffered, agitated cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Forms I, II, and III were separated by DEAE-Sepharose and further purified on Sephadex G-100. Absorption maxima of the native, reduced, and a variety of ligand complexes of the three enzyme forms are essentially identical, indicating similar heme environments. All forms also have similar, but not identical, reactivity. The homogeneous proteins oxidized a diarylpropane, an olefin, a beta-aryl ether dimer, a phenylpropane, phenylpropane diols, and veratryl alcohol. Identical products were produced from each form. However, the specific activities of the three homogeneous enzymes for veratryl alcohol oxidation were 18.75, 11.80, and 8.48 mumol min-1 mg-1. In the presence of one equivalent of H2O2 the Soret maximum of diarylpropane oxygenase II shifted from 408 to 418 nm, and two additional maxima appeared at 526 and 553 nm, indicating the presence of an Fe(IV)-oxo species equivalent to horseradish peroxidase II. This oxidized species could be reduced back to the native form by veratryl alcohol and several reducing agents (e.g., Na2S2O4, NH2NH2, thiourea, or NADH). The molecular weights of diarylpropane oxygenases I, II, and III were approximately 39,000, 41,000, and 43,000, respectively. The major form (II) (85% of the activity) contained approximately 6% neutral carbohydrate. The affinity of the forms for concanavalin A-agarose suggests that they all are glycoenzymes.

High-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of chloride peroxidase: identification of new forms of the enzyme

Chloride peroxidase from the mold Caldariomyces fumago in the native high-spin iron(III) and low-spin cyanoiron (III) states has been subjected to high-field proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic measurements. Signals shifted well outside the diamagnetic envelope by the paramagnetic iron(III) center are surprisingly insensitive to pH changes over the range from pH 3 to pH 7. The previously identified major form of chloride peroxidase (form A) and the minor form (B) show very similar chemical shift patterns. Of greatest significance, however, is the discovery that each of the separable forms of the enzyme exhibits splitting of porphyrin ring methyl resonances. The appearance of two sets of signals in both native and cyanide-complexed enzyme is best explained by the existence of two additional forms of the A and B isoenzymes. Structural differences for the newly identified forms of chloride peroxidase must be located in the vicinity of the heme prosthetic group.

Autocatalytic oxidation of hemoglobin induced by nitrite: activation and chemical inhibition

The nitrite ion is a direct causative agent for methemoglobinemia. Oxidation of hemoglobin to methemoglobin under aerobic conditions is induced by nitrite, catalyzed by methemoglobin in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and inhibited by chemical reagents ranging from cysteine and ascorbic acid to sulfite. The stoichiometry of nitrate production is dependent on the initial [NO2-]/[HbO2] ratio, but reaches a limiting value of 1:1 [NO3-]: [Hb+] when [NO2-]/[HbO2] greater than 8. Ascorbic acid is an exceptionally effective inhibitor for the autocatalytic oxidation, but its use does not affect the stoichiometry of nitrate formation. Sulfite reduces nitrate production to a level that is half that observed in its absence. These chemical inhibitors act upon the rapid autocatalytic stage for hemoglobin oxidation, but they do not influence the slow direct oxidation of hemoglobin by nitrite. The autocatalytic stage for hemoglobin oxidation results from nitrogen dioxide formed from nitrite through the peroxidase activity of methemoglobin. Peroxide and methemoglobin are formed during the initiation stage by electron transfer from nitrite that is kinetically first order in oxyhemoglobin and in nitrite.

On the mechanism of peroxidase-catalyzed chemiluminescence from isobutyraldehyde

The reaction of isobutyraldehyde with dissolved oxygen catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase has been studied from the standpoint of determining the rate-limiting factor under a variety of conditions. Chemiluminescence from the product triplet acetone and rate of oxygen uptake were determined in simultaneous experiments. The reaction is initiated by the peracid obtained from the uncatalyzed autoxidation of the aldehyde; and under certain conditions the amount of peracid is also rate-limiting in the steady-state portion of the reaction. Under other conditions the total amount of enzyme and under still others the rate of formation of enol from the parent aldehyde controls the rate.

Heme models of peroxidase enzymes: deuteroferriheme-catalyzed chlorination of monochlorodimedone by sodium chlorite

The iron(III) complex of deuteroporphyrin(IX), deuteroferriheme, catalyzes the chlorination, by sodium chlorite, of the active methylene compound monochlorodimedone (MCD) to dichlorodimedone. Rate studies, carried out on a stopped-flow spectrophotometric time scale, show the chlorination to be zero-order in MCD, first-order in ClO2- and to display a complex dependence on heme. The active chlorinating agent is believed to be hypochlorite, OCl-, formed as a result of the initial two-electron oxidation of heme to peroxidatic intermediate by chlorite ion. This scheme is supported by the fact that the normal (4:1) heme:ClO2- molar stoichiometry is reduced in the presence of MCD to values approaching 2:1. This suggests that MCD is an effective scavenger of OCl-, which, in the absence of active methylene compound, serves as a two-electron oxidant of heme. The zero-order dependence of rate on MCD is attributed to the slow formation of OCl-, consequent to a mechanism in which the rate-limiting step is viewed to be the regeneration of free heme from peroxidatic intermediate, probably via a catalatic pathway. Support for such a mechanism is provided by the fact that addition of ascorbate greatly enhances the rate of MCD chlorination, presumably by accelerating the rate of heme regeneration via perioxidation reduction of the heme intermediate.

Steady-state kinetics of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of inorganic reductants by hydrogen peroxide

Rates of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (ferrocytochrome c:hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.5) catalyzed oxidation of bis(tripyridine)cobalt(II) ion, penta(amine)pyridineruthenium(II) ion and ferrocyanide ion by hydrogen peroxide have been found to obey the empirical equation: (formula; see text) in the pH range 5 to 8, and at saturating H2O2 concentrations. [( S] and [CcP] are the concentrations of the reductant and the enzyme, respectively.) Values of k2 were found to be independent of the reductant. The term k0[S] is only significant with the cobalt and ruthenium complexes at high pH. The mechanism proposed to account for this rate equation differs significantly from previous mechanistic proposals. In particular, the rate data require the assignment of the rate-limiting step at high substrate concentrations to a slow electron-transfer within the enzyme, and not, as previously suggested, to saturation of substrate binding to the enzyme. Also, the term k0[S] implies that the reactive substrates, including the natural substrate (yeast cytochrome c), react with the hydrogen peroxide-heme complex and not with the radical species formed by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in the absence of reductants.

High-pressure effect on the equilibrium and kinetics of cyanide binding to chloroperoxidase

The kinetics of cyanide binding to chloroperoxidase were studied using a high-pressure stopped-flow technique at 25 degrees C and pH 4.7 in a pressure range from 1 to 1000 bar. The activation volume change for the association reaction is delta V not equal to + = -2.5 +/- 0.5 ml/mol. The total reaction volume change, determined from the pressure dependence of the equilibrium constant, is delta V degrees = -17.8 +/- 1.3 ml/mol. The effect of temperature was studied at 1 bar yielding delta H not equal to + = 29 +/- 1 kJ/mol, delta S not equal to + = -58 +/- 4 J/mol per K. Equilibrium studies give delta H degrees = -41 +/- 3 kJ/mol and delta S degrees = -59 +/- 10 J/mol per K. Possible contributions to the binding process are discussed: changes in spin state, bond formation and conformation changes in the protein. An activation volume analog of the Hammond postulate is considered.

Ligational effects on reduction of myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase by inorganic reagents

Previous studies of the reduction of metmyoglobin and adducts by dithionite have been extended to horseradish peroxidase and its complexes. In addition, the reduction of metmyoglobin, horseradish peroxidase and adducts by a much bulkier reactant, cobalt(II) sepulchrate has been studied. Similar patterns of kinetic behavior were observed, namely, direct reduction of cyanide and imidazole adducts of the iron(III) proteins and indirect (via dissociation) reduction of the fluoride adduct. In the reduction of horseradish ferriperoxidase by cobalt(II) sepulchrate, three steps are observed and the spectral properties of the intermediate(s) and their kinetic behavior delineated. The final product is ferroperoxidase confirmed by spectral properties and its behavior on oxygenation. Reduction of cytochrome c(III) and Hipip by cobalt(II) sepulchrate appears to be a uniphasic reaction and second-order rate constants have been determined.

Absorption spectra of cytochrome P450CAM in the reaction with peroxy acids

The reaction of Fe(III) cytochrome P450CAM with m-chloroperbenzoic acid was studied by rapid scanning absorption spectroscopy. Native low-spin enzyme produced spectra characteristic of two reaction phases that were marked by time intervals with isosbestic positions. The high-spin enzyme substrate complex yielded a series of Soret-region spectra whose properties were dependent on peracid concentration. The simplest model describing the results was a sequence of at least two spectral intermediates, that were not entirely homologous with data measured in reactions with microsomal P450LM2. Comparisons with related heme protein states indicate higher Fe(IV) oxidation levels provide a plausible interpretation of the P450CAM spectra.

Structure of horseradish peroxidase compound I. Kinetic evidence for the incorporation of one oxygen atom from the oxidizing substrate into the enzyme

The kinetics of the reaction between horseradish peroxidase and p-nitroperbenzoic acid to form compound I have been studied at 25 degrees C in phosphate buffer pH 7.2 and ionic strength of 0.11 M by transient-state and steady-state methods. The second-order rate constant for compound I formation obtained by stopped-flow measurements at 403 nm is (3.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(7) M-1 s-1. For the disappearance of p-nitroperbenzoic acid and appearance of p-nitrobenzoic acid using steady-state kinetics measured at 265 nm the rate constant is (3.0 +/- 0.6) x 10(7) M-1 s-1. The results provide an independent confirmation that one and only one oxygen atom is incorporated from the oxidizing substrate into compound I.