The prosthetic group of milk lactoperoxidase is protoheme IX

Asp-225 and glu-375 in autocatalytic attachment of the prosthetic heme group of lactoperoxidase

The heme in lactoperoxidase is attached to the protein by ester bonds between the heme 1- and 5-methyl groups and Glu-375 and Asp-275, respectively. To investigate the cross-linking process, we have examined the D225E, E375D, and D225E/E375D mutants of bovine lactoperoxidase. The heme in the E375D mutant is only partially covalently bound, but exposure to H(2)O(2) results in complete covalent binding and a fully active protein. Digestion of this mutant shows that the heme is primarily bound through its 5-methyl group. Excess H(2)O(2) increases the proportion of the doubly linked species without augmenting enzyme activity. The D225E mutant has little covalently bound heme and a much lower activity, neither of which are significantly increased by the addition of heme and H(2)O(2). The heme is linked to this protein through a single bond to the 1-methyl group. The D225E/E375D mutant has no covalently bound heme and no activity. A small amount of iron 1-hydroxymethylprotoporphyrin IX is obtained from the wild-type enzyme along with the predominant dihydroxylated derivative. The results establish that a single covalent link suffices to achieve maximum catalytic activity and suggest that the 5-hydroxymethyl bond may form before the 1-hydroxymethyl bond.

Lactoperoxidase: physico-chemical properties, occurrence, mechanism of action and applications

Lactoperoxidase (LP) is one of the most prominent enzymes in bovine milk and catalyses the inactivation of a wide range of micro-organisms in the lactoperoxidase system (LP-s). LP-systems are also identified as natural antimicrobial systems in human secretions such as saliva, tear-fluid and milk and are found to be harmless to mammalian cells. The detailed molecular structure of LP is identified and the major products generated by the LP-s and their antimicrobial action have been elucidated for the greater part. In this paper several aspects of bovine LP and LP-s are discussed, including physico-chemical properties, occurrence in milk and colostrum and mechanisms of action. Since the introduction of industrial processes for the isolation of LP from milk and whey the interest in this enzyme has increased considerably and attention will be paid to potential and actual applications of LP-systems as biopreservatives in food and other products.

Bovine lactoperoxidase and its recombinant: comparison of structure and some biochemical properties

Biochemical properties of bovine lactoperoxidase isolated from milk and recombinant bovine lactoperoxidase expressed by Chinese hamster ovary cells were compared. The natural and recombinant lactoperoxidases showed the same conformational features as determined by circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The alpha-helix, beta-structure, and unordered structure contents were found to be 17. 8, 54.2, and 28.0% for the natural lactoperoxidase and 18.6, 50.1, and 31.3% for the recombinant lactoperoxidase, respectively. The microenvironments of aromatic amino acid residues in both lactoperoxidases seemed to be the same, although the CD spectral band due to the Soret band differed slightly. A difference in the pH-dependent spectral changes of absorbance at 413 nm was observed. From a pepsin hydrolysate of lactoperoxidase, a heme-binding peptide was isolated by reverse-phase HPLC and its amino acid sequence was examined.

Determination of the carbohydrate composition and the disulfide bond linkages of bovine lactoperoxidase by mass spectrometry

The extent and distribution of N-glycosylation and the nature of most of the disulfide bond linkages were determined for bovine lactoperoxidase through proteolytic and glycolytic digestions combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis. In addition, 98% of the primary sequence of the protein was confirmed. All five of the asparagines present in sequons were found to be glycosylated, predominantly by high mannose and complex structures. Six disulfide bonds were assigned, including Cys 32-Cys 45, Cys 146-Cys 156, Cys 150-Cys 174, Cys 254-Cys 265, Cys 473-Cys 530 and Cys 571-Cys 596.

The heme prosthetic group of lactoperoxidase. Structural characteristics of heme l and heme l-peptides

The heme prosthetic group from the bovine milk enzyme lactoperoxidase (LPO), termed heme l, is isolated through an approach that combines proteolytic hydrolysis and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic separation of the resulting digest. Application of different proteases yields either a peptide-bound heme (with trypsin and chymotrypsin) or a peptide-free heme (with proteinase K). Both heme l and heme l-peptide species were investigated by paramagnetic 1H NMR spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry, and peptide sequence analysis. Paramagnetic 1H NMR experiments on the low spin bis(cyano)-Fe(III)heme l complex conclusively define the heme l structure as a 1,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) derivative of heme b. The electrospray mass spectrum of heme l confirms the two-site hydroxyl functionalization on this heme. Paramagnetic 1H NMR spectra of the high spin bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)-Fe(III) complexes of the isolated heme species provide information regarding peptide content. Sequence analyses of peptides released from two heme l-peptide species by base hydrolysis suggest that heme-protein ester linkages in lactoperoxidase occur between the two hydroxyl groups of heme l and the carboxylic side chains of glutamate 275 and aspartate 125. These results confirm the earlier reported structural proposal (Rae, T. D., and Goff, H. M. (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 2103-2104).

Oxidation of phenolic compounds by lactoperoxidase. Evidence for the presence of a low-potential compound II during catalytic turnover

The lactoperoxidase (LPO)-catalyzed oxidation of p-phenols by hydrogen peroxide has been studied. The behavior of the enzyme differs from that of other peroxidases in this reaction. In particular LPO shows several catalytic intermediates during the catalytic cycle because of its capability to delocalize an oxidizing equivalent on a protein amino acid residue. In the phenol oxidation the enzyme Compound I species, containing an iron-oxo and a protein radical, uses the iron-oxo group at acidic pH and the protein radical in neutral or basic medium. Kinetic and spectroscopic studies indicate that the ionization state of an amino acid residue with pKa 5.8 +/- 0.2, probably the distal histidine, controls the enzyme intermediate forms at different pH. LPO undergoes inactivation during the oxidation of phenols. The inactivation is reversible and depends on the easy formation of Compound III even at low oxidant concentration. The inactivation is due to the substrate redox potential since the best substrate is that with lowest redox potential, while the worst substrate has the highest potential. This strongly indicates that Compound II, formed during catalytic turnover, has a low redox potential, making easier its oxidation by hydrogen peroxide to Compound III. The dependence of LPO activity on the phenols redox potential suggests that the protein radical where an oxidizing equivalent can be localized is a tyrosyl residue.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the chromosomal gene for human lactoperoxidase

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is an oxidoreductase secreted into milk, and plays an important role in protecting the lactating mammary gland and the intestinal tract of the newborn infants against pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, the human LPO chromosomal gene was molecularly cloned, and its gene organization was determined. The human LPO gene was found to be arranged with the myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene in a tail-to-tail manner. Similar to the human MPO and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) genes, the human LPO gene is split by 11 introns and spans 28 kb. Unlike most introns in mammalian gene, the 5' splice donor sequence of intron 11 starts with GC instead of GT. When the minigene comprised of exon 11, intron 11 and exon 12 of the human LPO gene was introduced into COS cells, the correct splicing of the intron was found, suggesting the intron 11 of the human LPO gene is functional. The coding sequence of human LPO consists of 2136 bp, and codes for a protein of 712 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of human LPO has 51% similarity with those of both human MPO and EPO, suggesting that these peroxidase genes have evolved from a common ancestral gene. On the other hand, the nucleotide sequences of the 5' promoter regions of these peroxidase genes exhibit no similarity among them, which agrees with their tissue-specific expression.

EDTA inhibits lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodide oxidation by acting as an electron-donor and interacting near the iodide binding site

Ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) inhibits lactoperoxidase (LPO)-catalyzed rate of iodide oxidation in concentration and pH-dependent manner. A plot of log Kiapp values against various pH yields a sigmoidal curve from which an ionisable group of pKa value 6.0 could be ascertained for controlling the inhibition of catalytically active LPO by EDTA. Kinetic studies indicate that EDTA competitively inhibits iodide oxidation by acting as an electron donor. EDTA al so reduces LPO-compound-11 to the native ferric state by one-electron transfer as evidenced by the spectral shift from 428 to 412 nm. Optical difference spectroscopic studies indicate that EDTA binds to LPO with the apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 12 +/- 2 mM at pH 6.5. A plot of log KD values against various pH produces a sigmoidal curve from which an ionisable group of LPO having pKa = 5.47 could be calculated, deprotonation of which favours EDTA binding. EDTA also binds to LPO-CN-complex indicating its binding site away from heme iron centre. The KD of LPO-EDTA complex is significantly increased (62 +/- 5 mM) by iodide suggesting that EDTA binds close to the iodide binding site. EDTA also increases the KD value of LPO-hydroquinone complex from 62 +/- 5 mM to 200 +/- 21 mM indicating that EDTA and aromatic donor binding sites are also close. We suggest that EDTA inhibits iodide oxidation competitively as an electron donor by interacting at or near the iodide binding site and these sites are close to the aromatic donor binding site.

Oscillations in the peroxidase-oxidase reaction: a comparison of different peroxidases

The nonlinear behavior of the peroxidase-oxidase reaction was studied using structurally different peroxidases. For the first time sustained oscillations with peroxidases other than horseradish peroxidase in a single-enzyme system were observed. All peroxidases that showed significant oxidase activity were able to generate sustained oscillations. When adjusting the overall reaction rate, either of the two modifiers 2,4-dichlorophenol or Methylene blue could be omitted from the reaction. Due to the observation of different enzyme intermediates when using different peroxidases, we conclude that the mechanisms responsible for oscillatory kinetics may vary from one peroxidase to the other.

Spectral analysis of lactoperoxidase. Evidence for a common heme in mammalian peroxidases

The identity of the non-extractable heme of mammalian lactoperoxidase (LPO) has remained unsolved for over 40 years. Accepted possibilities include a constrained heme b or an 8-thiomethylene-modified heme b. Recent studies of myeloperoxidase (MPO) (Fenna, R., Zeng, J., and Davey, C. (1995) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 316, 653-656; Taylor, K. L., Strobel, F., Yue, K. T., Ram, P., Pohl, J., Woods, A. S., and Kinkade, J. M., Jr. (1995) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 316, 635-642) suggest possible prosthetic group similarities between MPO and LPO. To address heme identity for LPO, we used comparative magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy of LPO versus myoglobin (Mb), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and MPO. MCD spectra of native Fe3+-LPO and Fe3+-CN--LPO are approximately 10 nm red shifted from analogous forms of Mb and HRP, including the formate-Mb adduct. MCD spectra of native LPO and MPO are opposite in sign, and MCD spectra of their cyanoadducts also differ. These data indicate the LPO heme is distinct from heme b of Mb and HRP as well as from "heme m" of MPO. From this work and literature analysis, we suggest that the non-extractable "heme l" of LPO has the two vinyl groups of heme b but lacks the 2-sulfonium-vinyl linkage of heme m. The observed red shifts in LPO spectra may derive from ester linkages to protein as for MPO. Strong spectral analogies between LPO and mammalian peroxidases (e.g. from saliva, eosinophils, thyroid, intestine) indicate similar prosthetic heme moieties.

Evidence for the high-spin heme iron in both stable and unstable reduced forms of lactoperoxidase: low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism data

The unstable and stable ferrous lactoperoxidase at pH 6.0, 7.0 and 10.2 have been analysed using optical absorption and variable temperature MCD spectroscopy. The evidence is given that two high-spin forms of ferrous. LPO are always observed when the enzyme is reduced in a buffer-glycerol mixture at low temperature (ca. -20 degrees C) at which no spectral changes are seen for a long time after the reduction. Form 1 (the absorption band, 450 nm) dominates significantly over form 2 (the absorption band, 435 nm), but a relative content of form 2 increases on lowering the pH value. An annealing of the unstable LPO at high temperatures is followed by complete irreversible conversion of form 1 to form 2. In addition, at least one low-spin ferrous form exists in temperature-dependent equilibrium with the high-spin form(s) in both stable and unstable ferrous LPO. The reversible increase of its content is observed at least down to 140 K, suggesting that minor structural changes are sufficient for reaching the heme iron by a distal amino acid residue (presumably a histidine).

Selenium-containing peroxidases of germinating barley

Germinating barley grown on an artificial medium was exposed to 75Se-selenite for 8 d. Then the leaves were homogenized and proteins were separated by means of Sephadex G-150 filtration, followed by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. Each fraction collected was assayed for total protein, radioactivity, and peroxidase activity. In barley leaves, three protein peaks (peaks no. I, II, and III) with peroxidase activity could be separated by Sephadex G 150 filtration. Each fraction was then further separated on DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. Thus, peaks I and II were resolved by DEAE-Sepharose into one major and two minor peaks of radioactivity. However, only the major peak showed peroxidase activity. Peak III was resolved from the gel filtration on the DEAE-sepharose into one major and four minor peaks of radioactivity. The major and three of the minor radioactivity peaks contained peroxidase activity. The protein fractions were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of separated proteins were estimated by means of molecular markers, and 75Se radioactivity was evaluated by autoradiography. Thus, gel filtration peak I contained four bands with mol wts of 128, 116, 100, and 89 kDa. Of these, the 89 kDa protein contained selenium. Peak II contained three protein bands with mol wts 79.4, 59.6, and 59.9. The 59.6 band was a selenoprotein. Peak III contained four protein bands (and some very weak bands). The four major bands had mol wts of 38.6, 31.6, 30.2, and 29.2 kDa. The last mentioned band was a selenoprotein.

Isolation of thyroid peroxidase from patients with Graves' disease and comparison with animal peroxidases

1. Human thyroid peroxidase (TPO) was isolated from 280-640 g of pooled thyroid tissue resected from patients with Graves' disease. 2. Isolation was performed by an improved and simplified method. 3. The Reinheit Zahl (A412/A280) of the final preparations was in the range of 0.16-0.32. 4. The spectroscopic and enzymatic properties of Graves' TPO were compared with those of porcine TPO and bovine LPO, revealing closer resemblance to the former. 5. Graves' TPO may provide a useful substitute for normal TPO, which is very difficult to isolate.

The vanadium chloroperoxidase from the fungus, Curvularia inaequalis. Evidence for the involvement of a histidine residue in the binding of vanadate

The binding of vanadate to the novel vanadium chloroperoxidase from C. inaequalis was investigated. Reconstitution experiments of apo-chloroperoxidase by vanadate at different pH values showed that in the pH 6-7 range an acid/base group is present which affects the binding of the vanadate. It is proposed that this group is a histidine. This hypothesis was tested by specifically modifying this residue using diethylpyrocarbonate. In the apo-enzyme 9 histidines were modified, whereas in the holo-enzyme 6 histidines were modified. Modification with diethylpyrocarbonate had no effect on the chlorinating activity of the holo-enzyme, but when the apo-enzyme was modified the reactivation by vanadate was strongly inhibited. We conclude that histidine in the active site of chloroperoxidase is involved in the binding of vanadate.

Distinct heme active-site structure in lactoperoxidase revealed by resonance Raman spectroscopy

Low-frequency resonance Raman spectra of the cyanide and carbon monoxide adducts of lactoperoxidase are obtained with Soret excitation. The nu(Fe-CN) and delta(Fe-C-N) modes are detected at 360 and 453 cm-1, respectively. Upon the isotopic substitution of 13C14N, 12C15N, and 13C15N, the band at 453 cm-1 in the natural abundance adduct shifts to 448, 452, and 445 cm-1, while the 360-cm-1 peak shifts to 358, 357, and 356 cm-1, respectively. The 360-cm-1 band is shifted to 355 cm-1 when the pH is changed from 7.0 to 10.5. On the basis of a previous normal-mode analysis of the cyanoferric adduct of myeloperoxidase, a bent Fe-C-N linkage is suggested for the cyanide adduct of lactoperoxidase. The nu(Fe-CN) (374 cm-1) and delta(Fe-C-N) (480 cm-1) modes are observed for the cyanide adduct of reduced lactoperoxidase. For the carbon monoxide adduct, the nu(Fe-CO) (533 cm-1) and delta(Fe-C-O) (578 cm-1) modes at pH 7.0 are observed to shift to 498 and 570 cm-1 as the pH is raised from 7.0 to 10.0. The strong intensity of delta(Fe-C-O) at both acid and alkaline pHs, along with a suggested bent structure of the Fe-C-N moiety, implies a narrow heme pocket for lactoperoxidase.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, calcium content, and anion coordination studies of bovine and goat lactoperoxidase

Bovine lactoperoxidase from two purebred strains and a commercial source as well as lactoperoxidase isolated from Alpine goat milk were examined by proton NMR spectroscopy for structural comparison of the heme site. Hyperfine shifted proton NMR spectra for both the native enzymes and cyanide complexes were equivalent for the protein obtained from the four separate sources. Activity assays (guaiacol and iodide ion oxidations) were also employed to compare the enzyme from various sources. Bovine lactoperoxidase was shown to contain 1.5 +/- 0.1 calcium ions per heme unit. Lactoperoxidase complexes with nitrite ion and thiocyanate ion were characterized for comparison with the cyanide complex. The nitrite complex exhibits a proton NMR hyperfine shift pattern at ambient temperature consistent with a low-spin ferric formulation. Interaction of lactoperoxidase with thiocyanate ion was monitored by NMR and EPR spectroscopy. Proton NMR spectra of lactoperoxidase in the presence of excess thiocyanate ion illustrated the retention of a high-spin ferric configuration consistent with predominant binding of the physiological thiocyanate substrate at a non-heme site at room temperature. However, EPR spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures revealed the existence of a low-spin lactoperoxidase thiocyanate complex. This result may be explained by low-affinity ambient temperature thiocyanate heme binding that is greatly enhanced at liquid helium temperature.

An extended X-ray absorption fine structure investigation of the structure of the active site of lactoperoxidase

Native lactoperoxidase, compound III, and the reduced forms (at pH 6 and 9) were studied using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Native lactoperoxidase has four pyrrole nitrogen ligands at an average distance of 2.04 +/- 0.01 A, a proximal ligand at 1.91 +/- 0.02 A, and a sixth (distal) ligand at 2.16 +/- 0.03 A. Lactoperoxidase native enzyme has a first coordination shell structure that is similar to that of native lignin peroxidase [Sinclair, R., Yamazaki, I., Bumpus, J., Brock, B., Chang, C.-S., Albo, A., & Powers, L. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 4892-4900] and different from that of horseradish peroxidase [Chance, B., Powers, L., Ching, Y., Poulos, T., Schonbaum, G., Yamazaki, I., & Paul, K. (1984) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 235, 596-611]. Similarly, lactoperoxidase compound III resembles lignin peroxidase compound III. The five-coordinated ferrous form was stable at pH 9, but at pH 6 it was rapidly converted to the six-coordinated form with a distal ligand at 2.18 +/- 0.03 A. No evidence typical of changes in spin state was obtained at the different pH values.

The chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis; a novel vanadium enzyme

The presence of vanadium-containing bromoperoxidases in various types of seaweed is well-documented. We now report that the terrestrial fungus Curvularia inaequalis excretes a novel chloroperoxidase which also contains vanadium as a prosthetic group. The chloroperoxidase is excreted in the medium as the only protein and is, therefore, almost purely obtained. Atomic absorption spectroscopy measurements showed that the chloroperoxidase contained vanadium, which was essential for enzymatic activity, in a stoichiometry of 1 mol vanadium per mol of enzyme. When the fungus was grown in media containing low concentrations of vanadate (VO4(3-)) or when vanadate was absent, the enzyme was excreted in an apoform. Addition of vanadate to the apoenzyme purified from the medium, dialyzed holo-enzyme or growth medium led to incorporation of the metal and to a subsequent increase in specific activity from 0.7 to about 7.5 units/mg. The reduced enzyme showed an axially symmetric EPR spectrum (g(o) = 1.971, Ao = 91.7 x 10(-4) cm-1) with 16 hyperfine lines that is essentially the same as the EPR spectrum of the vanadium-containing bromoperoxidase of the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum. This demonstrates that the active sites in the two enzymes are very similar. The chlorinating and brominating activities of the chloroperoxidase from C. inaequalis were also studied and compared to those of the vanadium bromoperoxidase from A. nodosum. The chlorinating reaction catalyzed by the chloroperoxidase had a pH optimum around 5.5 and the Km for Cl- was small (0.25 mM at pH 4.5), but the logarithm of its value increased linearly with increasing pH. At high bromide concentrations, the pH optima of chloroperoxidase and bromoperoxidase in the brominating reaction were about the same (5.5). However, at low bromide concentrations the pH optimum of the chloroperoxidase was at higher pH values than that of the bromoperoxidase.

Human salivary peroxidase and bovine lactoperoxidase are cross-reactive

Peroxidases are abundant in nature, and the primary function of mammalian peroxidases is to catalyze the peroxidation of halides and pseudohalides. Previous studies have shown that antibodies raised against bovine lactoperoxidase moderately cross-react with human salivary peroxidase, a feature that has been used in the present study to examine epitopes common to the antigen and human salivary peroxidase. Polyclonal antibodies against a highly purified preparation of bovine lactoperoxidase were raised in rabbits, and their properties were examined. In double-immunodiffusion experiments, the two enzymes showed partial identity, and in competitive radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lactoperoxidase replaced the labeled and coated antigen, while salivary peroxidase did not. However, salivary peroxidase from human and rat saliva samples and the purified enzyme in its non-reduced, reduced, and de-glycosylated forms were recognized by these antibodies, as analyzed by Western blot analysis and immunodetection. The major activity of these antibodies was directed against the protein core of the antigen. Immunodetection of the peptide fragments of bovine lactoperoxidase and human salivary peroxidase revealed structural differences in the two enzymes. These antibodies also precipitated an in vitro translation product from rat-parotid-gland cell lysate that, on SDS-PAGE, compared favorably with the expected molecular weight of a de-glycosylated peroxidase. The antibodies partly inhibited the enzyme activity of salivary peroxidase and the peroxidase in rat parotid gland lysate, but the enzyme activity of lactoperoxidase was not affected by addition of anti-lactoperoxidase IgG between 25 and 400 micrograms/mL. The enzyme activity remained unchanged in all samples when pre-immune IgG was used.

Molecular cloning of cDNAs encoding bovine and human lactoperoxidase

Peptide sequences obtained from cyanogen bromide fragments of bovine lactoperoxidase (bLPO) were used to design oligonucleotide probes for library screening. These probes were used to screen a cDNA library constructed from bovine mammary tissue. Three overlapping clones were obtained, the longest of which (T3) contained a reading frame of 712 amino acid residues. The encoded amino acid sequence was homologous to those recently reported for myelo-, thyro-, and eosinophil peroxidases. Two possible amino termini of the mature enzyme were identified, and the predicted mature protein matched previous molecular weight estimates of 78,500. Of eight bovine tissues tested, transcription of T3 sequences were detected in mammary tissue only. Using the bLPO cDNA as a probe, a single hybridizing clone was found in a human mammary gland cDNA library. This clone (M1) encoded the carboxy-terminal 324 residues of a peroxidase distinct from the other three known human peroxidases, and was closely related to bLPO. This result confirms the presence of at least one distinct lactoperoxidase in humans.

A nuclear Overhauser effect investigation of the molecular and electronic structure of the heme crevice in lactoperoxidase

The proton homonuclear nuclear Overhauser effect, NOE, in conjunction with paramagnetic-induced dipolar relaxation, is utilized to assign resonances and to probe the molecular and electronic structures of the heme cavity in the low-spin cyanide complex of resting-state bovine lactoperoxidase, LPO-CN. Predominantly primary NOEs were detected in spite of the large molecular weight (approximately 78 x 10(3)) of the enzyme, which demonstrates again the advantage of paramagnetism suppressing spin diffusion in large proteins. Both of the nonlabile ring protons of a coordinated histidine are located at resonance positions consistent with a deprotonated imidazole. Several methylene proton pairs are identified, of which the most strongly hyperfine-shifted pair is assigned to the unusual chemically functionalized 8-(mercaptomethylene) group of the prosthetic group [Nichol, A. W., Angel, L. A., Moon, T., & Clezy, P. S. (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 147-150]. The large 8-(mercaptomethylene) proton contact shifts relative to that of the only resolved heme methyl signal are rationalized by the additive perturbations on the rhombic asymmetry of the functionalization of the 8-position and the alignment of the axial histidyl imidazole projection along a vector passing through pyrrole A and C of the prosthetic group. Such a stereochemistry is consistent with the resolution of only a single heme methyl group, 3-CH3, as observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Binding of aromatic donor molecules to lactoperoxidase: proton NMR and optical difference spectroscopic studies

The interaction of aromatic donor molecules with lactoperoxidase (LPO) was studied using 1H-NMR and optical difference spectroscopy techniques. pH dependence of substrate proton resonance line-widths indicated that the binding was facilitated by protonation of an amino acid residue (with pKa of 6.1) which is presumably a distal histidine. Dissociation constants evaluated from both optical difference spectroscopy and 1H-NMR relaxation measurements were found to be an order of magnitude larger than those for binding to horse radish peroxidase (HRP), indicating relatively weak binding of the donors to LPO. The dissociation constants evaluated in presence of excess of I- and SCN- showed a considerable increase in their values, indicating that the iodide and thiocyanate ions compete for binding at the same site. The dissociation constant of the substrate binding was, however, not affected by cyanide binding to the ferric centre of LPO. All these results indicate that the organic substrates bind to LPO away from the ferric center. Comparison of the dissociation constants between the different substrates suggested that hydrogen bonding of the donors with the distal histidine amino acid, and hydrophobic interaction between the donors and the active site contribute significantly towards the associating forces. Free energy, entropy and enthalpy changes associated with the LPO-substrate equilibrium have been evaluated. These thermodynamic parameters were found to be all negative and relatively low compared to those for binding to HRP. The distances of the substrate protons from the ferric center were found to be in the range 9.4-11.1 A which are 2-3 A larger than those reported for the HRP-substrate complexes. These structural informations suggest that the heme in LPO may be more deeply buried in the heme crevice than that in the HRP.

Binding of thiocyanate to lactoperoxidase: 1H and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance studies

The binding of thiocyanate to lactoperoxidase (LPO) has been investigated by 1H and 15N NMR spectroscopy. 1H NMR of LPO shows that the major broad heme methyl proton resonance at about 61 ppm is shifted upfield by addition of the thiocyanate, indicating binding of the thiocyanate to the enzyme. The pH dependence of line width of 15N resonance of SC15N- in the presence of the enzyme has revealed that the binding of the thiocyanate to the enzyme is facilitated by protonation of an ionizable group (with pKa of 6.4), which is presumably distal histidine. Dissociation constants (KD) of SC15N-/LPO, SC15N-/LPO/I-, and SC15N-/LPO/CN- equilibria have been determined by 15N T1 measurements and found to be 90 +/- 5, 173 +/- 20, and 83 +/- 6 mM, respectively. On the basis of these values of KD, it is suggested that the iodide ion inhibits the binding of the thiocyanate but cyanide ion does not. The thiocyanate is shown to bind at the same site of LPO as iodide does, but the binding is considerably weaker and is away from the ferric ion. The distance of 15N of the bound thiocyanate ion from the iron is determined to be 7.2 +/- 0.2 A from the 15N T1 measurements.

Magnetic resonance spectral characterization of the heme active site of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase

Examination of the peroxidase isolated from the inkcap Basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus shows that the 42,000-dalton enzyme contains a protoheme IX prosthetic group. Reactivity assays and the electronic absorption spectra of native Coprinus peroxidase and several of its ligand complexes indicate that this enzyme has characteristics similar to those reported for horseradish peroxidase. In this paper, we characterize the H2O2-oxidized forms of Coprinus peroxidase compounds I, II, and III by electronic absorption and magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of this Coprinus peroxidase indicate the presence of high-spin Fe(III) in the native protein and a number of differences between the heme site of Coprinus peroxidase and horseradish peroxidase. Carbon-13 (of the ferrous CO adduct) and nitrogen-15 (of the cyanide complex) NMR studies together with proton NMR studies of the native and cyanide-complexed Coprinus peroxidase are consistent with coordination of a proximal histidine ligand. The EPR spectrum of the ferrous NO complex is also reported. Protein reconstitution with deuterated hemin has facilitated the assignment of the heme methyl resonances in the proton NMR spectrum.

Vanadate activation of bromoperoxidase from Corallina officinalis

A nonheme bromoperoxidase has been purified to homogeneity from the red seaweed Corallina officinalis. Like the corresponding enzyme previously reported from C. pilulifera, this bromoperoxidase contains a significant amount of nonheme iron. However, it is vanadate ion and not iron that activates the enzyme, and maximal activity is achieved with stoichiometric vanadium incorporation. The absence of competition between vanadium and iron suggests that they occupy distinct binding sites in the protein. A correlation between vanadium content and catalytic activity indicates that less than 12 percent of the maximal activity of the enzyme can be derived from metals other than vanadium.

Leukocytic oxygen activation and microbicidal oxidative toxins

Following a brief introduction of cellular response to stimulation comprising leukocyte activation, three major areas are discussed: (1) the neutrophil oxidase; (2) myeloperoxidase (MPO)-dependent oxidative microbicidal reactions; and (3) MPO-independent oxidative reactions. Topics included in section (A) are current views on the activation mechanism, redox composition, structural and topographic organization of the oxidase, and its respiratory products. In section (B), emphasis is placed on recent research on cidal mechanisms of HOCl, including the oxidative biochemistry of active chlorine compounds, identification of sites of lesions in bacteria, and attendant metabolic consequences. In section (C), we review the (bio)chemistry of H2O2 and .OH microbicidal reactions, with particular attention being given to addressing the controversial issue of probe methods to identify .OH radical and critical assessment of the recent proposal that MPO-independent killing arises from site-specific metal-catalyzed Fenton-type chemistry.

Proton and iodine-127 nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the binding of iodide by lactoperoxidase

Interaction of an iodide ion with lactoperoxidase was studied by the use of 1H NMR, 127I NMR, and optical difference spectrum techniques. 1H NMR spectra demonstrated that a major broad hyperfine-shifted signal at about 60 ppm, which is ascribed to the heme peripheral methyl protons, was shifted toward high field by adding KI, indicating the binding of iodide to the active site of the enzyme; the dissociation constant was estimated to be 38 mM at pH 6.1. The binding was further detected by 127I NMR, showing no competition with cyanide. Both 1H NMR and 127I NMR revealed that the binding of iodide to the enzyme is facilitated by the protonation of an ionizable group with a pKa value of 6.0-6.8, which is presumably the distal histidyl residue. Optical difference spectra showed that the binding of an aromatic donor molecule to the enzyme is slightly but distinctly affected by adding KI. On the basis of these results, it was suggested that an iodide ion binds to lactoperoxidase outside the heme crevice but at the position close enough to interact with the distal histidyl residue which possibly mediates electron transport in the iodide oxidation reaction.

Lactoperoxidase haem, an iron-porphyrin thiol

The haem prosthetic group of lactoperoxidase can be prepared from the enzyme in high yield by reductive cleavage with mercaptoethanol in 8 M-urea under mild conditions. The product yields porphyrins, after removal of iron, which show visible spectroscopic properties similar to protoporphyrin but are considerably more polar. In the presence of iodoacetamide, a different product is obtained by reductive cleavage. The proton n.m.r. and mass spectra of this compound indicate that the prosthetic group of the enzyme is the iron complex of 18-mercaptomethyl-2,7,12-trimethyl-3,8-divinylporphyrin-13,17-d ipropionic acid. It is proposed that the unusual strength of binding of the prosthetic group to the apoprotein is due to formation of a disulphide bond from a cysteine residue to the porphyrin thiol.

Proton magnetic resonance of the bovine spleen green heme-protein

The ferric spleen green heme-protein exhibits hyperfine-shifted proton resonances between 90 and 20 ppm for the high-spin resting form and the chloride complex, and between 46 and -9.4 ppm for the low-spin nitrite complex. The proton NMR spectral profile of the enzyme is similar to that of lactoperoxidase, but different from those of common heme-proteins. The appearance of a resonance at 76 ppm in the ferrous enzyme shows the presence of a proximal histidine residue linked to the iron. The proton relaxation rates of bulk water indicate that chloride binds to the sixth position of the iron in the chloride complex of the enzyme.

Structural characterization of lactoperoxidase in the heme environment by proton NMR spectroscopy

The heme environmental structures of lactoperoxidase (LP) have been studied by the use of hyperfine-shifted proton NMR and optical absorption spectra. The NMR spectra of the enzyme in native and cyanide forms in H2O indicated that the fifth ligand of the heme iron is the histidyl imidazole with an anionic character and that the sixth coordination site is possibly vacant. These structural characteristics are quite similar to those of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), suggesting that these may be prerequisite to peroxidase activity. The pH dependences of the spectra of LP in cyanide and azide forms showed the presence of two ionizable groups with pK values of 6 and 7.4 in the heme vicinity, which is consistent with the kinetic results. The group with pK = 7.4 is associated with azide binding to LP in a slow NMR exchange limit, which is in contrast to the fast entry of azide to HRP.

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.

Identification of myeloperoxidase in human colostrum

The properties of a peroxidase in human colostrum were studied using antiserum against human myeloperoxidase. The peroxidase in human colostrum gave a single precipitin line against the antiserum on double immunodiffusion, and this precipitin line fused completely with the precipitin line formed between myeloperoxidase and the antiserum. The peroxidase activity in human colostrum was precipitated completely with anti-myeloperoxidase IgG, like myeloperoxidase activity. The peroxidase of colostral whey was purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme consisted of two subunits of Mr 59,000 and 15,000, corresponding in size to the two subunits of myeloperoxidase. Immunostaining of a protein blot from a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel also showed that the peroxidase in the whey extract consisted of the same two subunits as myeloperoxidase. These results indicate that the peroxidase of human colostrum is identical with myeloperoxidase.

High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of lactoperoxidase

The first high resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra are reported for the native ferric and ferric cyano complexes of bovine lactoperoxidase. The spectrum of the native species exhibits broad heme signals in a far downfield region characteristic of the high-spin ferric state. The low-spin cyano complex yields a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum with signals as far as 68.5 ppm downfield and as far as -28 ppm upfield of the tetramethylsilane reference. These peak positions are anomalous with respect to those seen only as far as 35 ppm downfield in other cyano hemoprotein complexes. An extreme asymmetry in the unpaired spin delocalization pattern of the iron porphyrin is suggested. The unusual proton nuclear magnetic resonance properties parallel distinctive optical spectral properties and the exceptional resistance to heme displacement from the enzyme. Lactoperoxidase utilized in these studies was isolated from raw milk and purified by an improved, rapid chromatographic procedure.

Resonance Raman characterization of the heme prosthetic group in eosinophil peroxidase

The resonance-enhanced Raman spectrum of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) from horse and human eosinophils is reported. Based upon the spectral energies, distribution and depolarization ratios of the high-frequency skeletal modes and upon the presence of weak bands assignable to vinyl substituent groups, we conclude that the heme prosthetic group is high-spin, 6 coordinate protoporphyrin. The Raman spectrum reveals clear differences from lactoperoxidase (LPO), an enzyme which appears nearly structurally isomorphous by other physical techniques; the data indicate a stronger axial 6th ligand in EPO. Mechanistic implications are discussed in relation to LPO and myeloperoxidase, an enzyme present in neutrophils and monocytes which contains a unique functional active-site chlorin.

Comparison of heme environments and proximal ligands in peroxidases and other hemoproteins through carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of carbon monoxide complexes

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance signals for the carbon monoxide ligand in ferrous complexes of horseradish peroxidase, lactoperoxidase, and chloroperoxidase are located respectively at 209.1, 208.3, and 200.8 parts per million from the tetramethylsilane reference. On the basis of previous hemoprotein and model compound studies these resonance positions are consistent with coordination of a proximal histidine ligand in horseradish peroxidase and lactoperoxidase, and coordination of a cysteinyl mercaptide ligand in chloroperoxidase. Carbonyl chemical shift values for acidic and basic horseradish peroxidase isoenzymes are very similar.

The nitrosyl compounds of ferrous animal haloperoxidases

Human myeloperoxidase, human eosinophil peroxidase and bovine lactoperoxidase (donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) reduced with ascorbic acid form nitrosyl compounds which show rhombic EPR signals centered at g = 2. Using 14NO (IN = 1), the central resonance signal exhibited a hyperfine structure of nine lines originating from a triplet with a small hyperfine splitting (AII(zeta) = 0.69 mT for myeloperoxidase and 0.73 mT for eosinophil peroxidase and lactoperoxidase) superimposed upon a triplet with a larger hyperfine splitting (AI(zeta) = 2.34, 2.32 and 2.09 mT for myeloperoxidase, eosinophil peroxidase and lactoperoxidase, respectively). Using 15NO (IN = 1/2), the nitrosyl compound of ferrous myeloperoxidase and ferrous lactoperoxidase showed a doublet of triplets superimposed upon the central resonance signal. These results demonstrate that a nitrogen nucleus is present at the fifth ligand position of the haem iron in these peroxidases.

Some properties of human eosinophil peroxidase, a comparison with other peroxidases

Eosinophil peroxidase (donor:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) was isolated from outdated human white blood cells. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 71000 +/- 1000. The enzyme is composed of two subunits, of Mr 58000 and 14000, in a 1:1 stoichiometry. Amino-acid analyses showed that eosinophil peroxidase has a high content of the amino acids arginine, leucine and aspartic acid. The millimolar absorbance coefficient of the Soret band at 412 nm of eosinophil peroxidase was determined. Three independent methods yield a value for epsilon 412nm of 110 +/- 4 mm-1 X cm-1. Purified eosinophil peroxidase showed a homogeneous high-spin EPR signal with rhombic symmetry (gx = 6.50; gy = 5.40; gz = 1.982) for the haem group. EPR spectroscopy of low-spin cyanide and azide derivatives of eosinophil peroxidase, lactoperoxidase, myeloperoxidase and catalase revealed that the haem-ligand structure of eosinophil peroxidase is closely related to lactoperoxidase, whereas that of myeloperoxidase shows great resemblance to catalase.

Assignment of the axial ligands of the haem in milk lactoperoxidase using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy

The absorption and MCD spectra of ferric lactoperoxidase from milk and its cyanide and fluoride derivatives have been measured in the near infrared and visible wavelength regions both at room temperature and at 4.2 K. By comparison with the MCD spectra of haemoproteins of known axial ligation, which also contain protohaem IX, it has been possible to arrive at suggestions for the axial ligation in lactoperoxidase. At room temperature oxidized lactoperoxidase has the haem iron in the high-spin state, and the results indicate that the proximal ligand of the haem iron is a histidine imidazole and that the sixth ligand is probably a carboxylate ion. At 4.2 K oxidized lactoperoxidase converts almost totally to a low-spin form, changing the sixth ligand to a histidine imidazole, which is in the imidazolate form.

Different molecular forms of human salivary lactoperoxidase

The two different molecular forms shown to exist probably represent a monomer and an aggregate. The pI of lactoperoxidase (8.1) did not change during aggregation. The presence of substrate (SCN-) could cause some disaggregation suggesting that the mechanism of the dissociation is influenced by the substrate. Purified milk lactoperoxidase had a similar chromatographic pattern to salivary lactoperoxidase. Another peroxidase with pI 4.3 occurs in whole saliva but not in parotid secretions, and is possibly of leukocytic origin. However, its characteristics differ from those of neutrophil myeloperoxidase but resemble those of peroxidase of inflammatory exudate and gingival fluid.