Lactoperoxidase, a dithionite ion dismutase

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).

The role of hydroxyl radicals in irreversible inactivation of lactoperoxidase by excess H2O2. A spin-trapping/ESR and absorption spectroscopy study

H2O2 is catalytically metabolized by ferric lactoperoxidase (LPO)----compound (cpd) I----cpd II----ferric LPO cycles. An excess of the substrate, however, is degraded by a ferric LPO----cpd I----cpd II----cpd III----ferrous LPO----ferric LPO cycle. This latter pathway leads to the partial or total irreversible inactivation of the enzyme depending on the excess of H2O2 (H. Jenzer, W. Jones, and H. Kohler (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 15550-15556). Spin-trapping/ESR data indicate that in the course of the reaction superoxide (HO2./O2-) and hydroxyl radicals (OH.) are formed. Since many substances known to scavenge radicals, such as a spin trap (e.g., 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide) desferrioxamine, albumin, or mannitol, do not prevent enzyme inactivation, we conclude that OH. generation is a site-specific reaction at or near the active center of LPO where bulky scavenger molecules may not be able to penetrate. We suggest the formation of OH. by a Fenton-like reaction between H2O2 and the intermediate ferrous state of the enzyme, which substitutes for Fe2+ in the Fenton reaction. OH. is a powerful oxidant which in turn may attack rapidly the nearest partner available, either H2O2 to produce HO2. and H2O, or the prosthetic group to give rise to oxidative cleavage of the porphyrin ring structure of the heme moiety of LPO and thus to the liberation of iron.

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.