Reduction of a tris(picolyl)amine copper(ii) complex by a polymeric flavo-reductase model in water

An artificial reductase, made by incorporation of FMN cofactors into the locally hydrophobic micro-environment of a modified polyethyleneimine, catalytically reduces Cu(ii) complexes in water.

From “hemoabzymes” to “hemozymes”: towards new biocatalysts for selective oxidations

Two generations of artificial hemoproteins have been obtained: “hemoabzymes”, by non-covalent association of synthetic hemes with monoclonal antibodies raised against these cofactors and “hemozymes”, by non-covalent association of non-relevant proteins with metalloporphyrin derivatives. A review of the different strategies employed as well as their structural and catalytic properties is presented here.

Synthesis and characterization of [Fe(BPMEN)ACC]SbF6: a structural and functional mimic of ACC-oxidase

Miming plants: an original synthesis led to the preparation of the first model of the active site of the ethylene-forming enzyme ACC-oxidase. The prepared complex is a structural and a functional model as it reacts with hydrogen peroxide to produce the phytohormone ethylene.

N-hydroxyguanidines as new heme ligands: UV-visible, EPR, and resonance Raman studies of the interaction of various compounds bearing a C=NOH function with microperoxidase-8

Interaction between microperoxidase-8 (MP8), a water-soluble hemeprotein model, and a wide range of N-aryl and N-alkyl N'-hydroxyguanidines and related compounds has been investigated using UV-visible, EPR, and resonance Raman spectroscopies. All the N-hydroxyguanidines studied bind to the ferric form of MP8 with formation of stable low-spin iron(III) complexes characterized by absorption maxima at 405, 535, and 560 nm. The complex obtained with N-(4-methoxyphenyl) N'-hydroxyguanidine exhibits EPR g-values at 2.55, 2.26, and 1.86. The resonance Raman (RR) spectrum of this complex is also in agreement with an hexacoordinated low-spin iron(III) structure. The dissociation constants (K(s)) of the MP8 complexes with mono- and disubstituted N-hydroxyguanidines vary between 15 and 160 microM at pH 7.4. Amidoximes also form low-spin iron(III) complexes of MP8, although with much larger dissociation constants. Under the same conditions, ketoximes, aldoximes, methoxyguanidines, and guanidines completely fail to form such complexes with MP8. The K(s) values of the MP8-N-hydroxyguanidine complexes decrease as the pH of the solution is increased, and the affinity of the N-hydroxyguanidines toward MP8 increases with the pK(a) of these ligands. Altogether these results show that compounds involving a -C(NHR)=NOH moiety act as good ligands of MP8-Fe(III) with an affinity that depends on the electron-richness of this moiety. The analysis of the EPR spectrum of the MP8-N-hydroxyguanidine complexes according to Taylor's equations shows a strong axial distortion of the iron, typical of those observed for hexacoordinated heme-Fe(III) complexes with at least one pi donor axial ligand (HO(-), RO(-), or RS(-)). These data strongly suggest that N-hydroxyguanidines bind to MP8 iron via their oxygen atom after deprotonation or weakening of their O-H bond. It thus seems that N-hydroxyguanidines could constitute a new class of strong ligands for hemeproteins and iron(III)-porphyrins.

Microperoxidase 8 catalyzed nitration of phenol by nitrogen dioxide radicals

Microperoxidase 8 (MP8) is a heme octapeptide obtained by hydrolytic digestion of horse heart cytochrome c. At pH below 9, the heme iron is axially coordinated to the imidazole side chain of His18 and to a water molecule. Replacement of this weak ligand by H2O2 allows the formation of high-valent iron-oxo species which are responsible for both peroxidase-like and cytochrome P450-like activities of MP8. This paper shows that MP8 is able to catalyze the nitration of phenol by nitrite. The reaction requires H2O2 and is inhibited by ligands having a high affinity for the iron, catalase and radical scavengers. This suggests that the nitrating species could be NO2* radicals formed by the oxidation of nitrite by high-valent iron-oxo species. This new activity of MP8 opens a new access to nitro-aromatic compounds under mild conditions and validates the use of this minienzyme to mimick heme peroxidases, especially in the reactions of NO-derived species with biomolecules under oxidative stress conditions.

Formation of iron(II)-nitrosoalkane complexes: a new activity of microperoxidase 8

Microperoxidase 8 (MP8) is a heme octapeptide, obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of heart cytochrome c, in which a histidine is axially coordinated to the heme iron, and acts as its fifth ligand. It exhibits two kinds of activities: a peroxidase-like activity and a cytochrome P450-like activity. We here show that MP8 is not only able to oxidize various aliphatic and aromatic hydroxylamines with the formation of MP8-Fe(II)-nitrosoalkane or -arene complexes absorbing around 414 nm, but also that these complexes can be obtained by reduction of nitroalkanes. This is the first example of fully characterized iron(II)-metabolite complexes of MP8. Such complexes constitute good models for those obtained upon oxidation of amphetamine or macrolids by cytochromes P450. In addition, this is a new catalytic activity of MP8, which validates the use of this mini-enzyme as a convenient model for hemoproteins of interest in toxicology and pharmacology such as cytochromes P450 and peroxidases.

Studies of the reactivity of artificial peroxidase-like hemoproteins based on antibodies elicited against a specifically designed ortho-carboxy substituted tetraarylporphyrin

The temperature and pH dependence as well as the selectivity of the peroxidase activity of a complex associating a monoclonal antibody 13G10 with its iron(III)-alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-mesotetrakis(ortho-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Fe(ToCPP)) hapten have been studied and compared to those of Fe(ToCPP) alone. It first appears that the peroxidase activity of the 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) complex is remarkably thermostable and remains about 5 times higher than that of Fe(ToCPP) alone until at least 80 degrees C. Secondly, this complex is able to use not only H2O2 as oxidant but also a wide range of hydroperoxides such as alkyl, aralkyl and fatty acid hydroperoxides and catalyze their reduction 2-6-fold faster than Fe(ToCPP) alone. It is also able to catalyze the oxidation by H202 of a variety of reducing cosubstrates such as 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), o-phenylenediamine (OPD), 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine 3-8-fold faster than Fe(ToCPP) alone, the bicyclic aromatic ABTS and TMB being the best reducing cosubstrates. Finally, a pH dependence study, between pH 4.6 and 7.5, of the oxidation of ABTS by H2O2 in the presence of either 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) or Fe(ToCPP) shows that Km(H2O2) values vary very similarly for both catalysts, whereas very different variations are found for the k(cat) values. With Fe(ToCPP) as catalyst the k(cat) value remains constant around 100 min(-1) whereas with the 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) complex, it increases sharply below pH 5 to reach 540 min -1 at pH 4.6. This could be due to the participation of a carboxylic acid side chain of the antibody protein, as a general acid-base catalyst, to the heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of H2O2 leading to the highly reactive iron(V)-oxo intermediate in the peroxidase mechanism. Accordingly, the modification of the carboxylic acid residues of antibody 13G10 by glycinamide leads to a 50% decrease of the peroxidase activity of the 13G10-Fe(ToCPP) complex.

Active site topology of artificial peroxidase-like hemoproteins based on antibodies constructed from a specifically designed ortho-carboxy-substituted tetraarylporphyrin

The topology of the binding site has been studied for two monoclonal antibodies 13G10 and 14H7, elicited against iron(III)-alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-meso-tetrakis(ortho-carboxyphenyl)porph yrin [alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin]], and which exhibit in the presence of this alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] cofactor a peroxidase activity. A comparison of the dissociation constants of the complexes of 13G10 and 14H7 with various tetra-aryl-substituted porphyrin has shown that: (a) the central iron(III) atom of alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] is not recognized by either of the two antibodies; and (b) the ortho-carboxylate substituents of the meso-phenyl rings of alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] are essential for the recognition of the porphyrin by 13G10 and 14H7. Measurement of the dissociation constants for the complexes of 13G10 and 14H7 with the four atropoisomers of (o-COOHPh)4-porphyrinH2 as well as mono- and di-ortho-carboxyphenyl-substituted porphyrins suggests that the three carboxylates in the alpha, alpha, beta position are recognized by both 13G10 and 14H7 with the two in the alpha, beta positions more strongly bound to the antibody protein. Accordingly, the topology of the active site of 13G10 and 14H7 has roughly two-thirds of the alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] cofactor inserted into the binding site of the antibodies, with one of the aryl ring remaining outside. Three of the carboxylates are bound to the protein but no amino acid residue acts as an axial ligand to the iron atom. Chemical modification of lysine, histidine, tryptophan and arginine residues has shown that only modification of arginine residues causes a decrease in both the binding of alpha,alpha,alpha, beta-Fe[(o-COOHPh)4-porphyrin] and the peroxidase activity of both antibodies. Consequently, at least one of the carboxylates of the hapten is bound to an arginine residue and no amino acids such as lysine, histidine or tryptophan participate in the catalysis of the heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of H2O2. In addition, the amino acid sequence of both antibodies not only reveals the presence of arginine residues, which could be those involved in the binding of the carboxylates of the hapten, but also the presence of several amino acids in the complementary determining regions which could bind other carboxylates through a network of H bonds.

Hemoabzymes. Different strategies for obtaining artificial hemoproteins based on antibodies

Besides existing models of chemical or biotechnological origin for hemoproteins like peroxidases and cytochromes P450, catalytic antibodies (Abs) with a metalloporphyrin cofactor represent a promising alternative route to catalysts tailored for selective oxidation reactions. A brief overview of the literature shows that, until now, the first strategy for obtaining such artificial hemoproteins has been to produce antiporphyrin Abs, raised against various free-base, N-substituted, Sn-, Pd-, or Fe-porphyrins. Four of them exhibited, in the presence of the corresponding Fe-porphyrin cofactor, a significant peroxidase activity, with kcat/K(m) values of 10(2) to 5 x 10(3)/M/s. This value remained low when compared to that of peroxidases, probably because neither a proximal ligand of the Fe, nor amino acid residues participating in the catalysis of the heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of H2O2, have been induced in those Abs. This strategy has been shown to be insufficient for the elaboration of effective models of cytochromes P450, because only one set of Abs, raised against meso-tetrakis(para-carboxyvinylphenyl)porphyrin, was reported to catalyze the nonstereoselective oxidation of styrene by iodosyl benzene using a Mn-porphyrin cofactor, and attempts to generate Abs having binding sites for both the substrate and the metalloporphyrin cofactor, using as a hapten a porphyrin covalently linked to the substrate, were not successful. A second strategy is then proposed, which involves the chemical labeling of antisubstrate Abs with a metalloporphyrin. As an example, preliminary results are presented on the covalent linkage of an Fe-porphyrin to an antiestradiol Ab, in order to obtain semisynthetic catalytic Abs able to catalyze the selective oxidation of steroids.

Remarkable ability of horse spleen apoferritin to demetallate hemin and to metallate protoporphyrin IX as a function of pH

In previous studies it has been shown that reaction of crystalline horse spleen apoferritin with hemin leads to a protoporphyrin IX-apoferritin complex [Précigoux et al. (1994) Acta Crystallogr. D50, 739-743]. We show here the following. (i) Hemin binds to two classes of sites in horse spleen apoferritin at pH 8, each with a binding stoichiometry of 0.5 hemin/subunit; protoporphyrin IX also binds to horse spleen apoferritin with an apparent binding stoichiometry of 1 molecule of protoporphyrin IX/subunit. (ii) When Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX binds to apoferritin, there is a pH-dependent loss of the metal ion, extremely slow at alkaline pH values (half-time of weeks) and much more rapid at acidic pH values (half-time of seconds below pH 5.0); maximum rates of demetallation are found at pH 4.0, and at lower pH values they decrease. (iii) Chemical modification of 11 carboxyl groups/subunit in horse spleen apoferritin does not affect hemin binding at alkaline pH values; however, it prevents hemin demetallation at acidic pH values. (iv) Hemin that has been demetallated at acidic pH values can be remetallated by increasing the pH; the rate of remetallation is greater at more alkaline pH values. (v) When around 20 atoms of iron/molecule are incorporated into horse spleen apoferritin and protoporphyrin IX is then bound, iron can subsequently be transferred to the porphyrin at pH 8.0. A mechanism is proposed to explain demetallation of heme, involving attack on the tetrapyrrole nitrogens of the protoporphyrin IX-Fe by protons derived from protein carboxylic acid groups and subsequent complexation of the iron by the corresponding carboxylates and binding of protoporphyrin IX to a preformed pocket in the inner surface of the apoferritin protein shell. The cluster of carboxylates involved is situated at the entrance to the pocket in which the protoporphyrin IX molecule is bound and has been previously identified as the site of iron incorporation into L-chain apoferritins. This appears to be the first example of iron removal and incorporation into porphyrins under relatively mild physiological conditions.

Artificial peroxidase-like hemoproteins based on antibodies constructed from a specifically designed ortho-carboxy substituted tetraarylporphyrin hapten and exhibiting a high affinity for iron-porphyrins

In order to get catalytic antibodies modelling peroxidases BALB/c mice have been immunized with iron(III)-alpha,alpha,alpha,beta-mesotetrakis-orthocarboxypheny l-porphyrin (Fe-(ToCPP))-KLH conjugates. Monoclonal antibodies have been produced by the hybridoma technology. Three antibodies, 2 IgG1 and 1 IgG2a, were found to bind both Fe(ToCPP) and the free base ToCPPH2 with similar binding constants. None of those antibodies was found to bind tetraphenylporphyrin. Those results suggest that the recognition of Fe(ToCPP) by the antibodies was mainly due to the binding of the carboxylate groups to some amino acid residues of the protein. True Kd values of 2.9 x 10(-9) M and 5.5 x 10(-9) M have been determined for the two IgG1-Fe(ToCPP) complexes. Those values are the best ones ever reported for iron-porphyrin-antibody complexes. UV-vis. studies have shown that the two IgG1-Fe(ToCPP) complexes were high-spin hexacoordinate iron(III) complexes, with no amino acid residue binding the iron, whereas the IgG2a-Fe(ToCPP) complex was a low-spin hexacoordinate iron(III) complex with two strong ligands binding the iron atom. Both IgG1-Fe(ToCPP) complexes were found to catalyze the oxidation of 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) 5-fold more efficiently than Fe(ToCPP) alone whereas the binding of IgG2a to this iron-porphyrin had no effect on its catalytic activity. kcat values of 100 min(-1) and 63 min(-1) and kcat/Km values of 105 M(-1) s(-1) and 119 M(-1) s(-1) have been found respectively for the two IgG1-Fe(ToCPP) complexes.

Study of the coordination chemistry of prostaglandin G/H synthase by resonance Raman spectroscopy

Resonance Raman spectra of prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS) in its ferric and ferrous states have been obtained by Soret excitation. In native PGHS, which contained only 0.25 heme/monomeric apoprotein, the ferric heme was in a high-spin hexacoordinated state. The presence of a vibration at 289 cm-1 that was responsive to H(2)16O -> H(2)18O replacement was taken as evidence for the presence of a H-bonded H2O molecule as the sixth ligand of the Fe. A study, by CD and resonance Raman spectroscopy, of heme incorporation into the apoprotein showed that, for heme/protein ratios lower than 0.5, the heme was in the same ferric high-spin hexacoordinated state as in the native enzyme. For heme/protein ratios higher than 0.5, the concomitant formation of two minor species was observed: a low-spin hexacoordinated species which could be due to the axial coordination of a distal histidine to the Fe trans to its proximal histidine ligand; and a high-spin pentacoordinated species that corresponded to non-specific binding of the heme to the apoprotein. In the reduced state, the heme of PGHS contained a high-spin pentacoordinated Fe(II) with a histidine as the proximal ligand. However, this species shifted spontaneously towards a low-spin hexacoordinated Fe(II) species in which the iron was probably coordinated by a distal histidine as the sixth axial ligand. The PGHS Fe(II).CO derivative displayed an Fe-CO stretching mode at 529 cm-1, which is in the range observed for peroxidases. Such a high frequency could be due to H-bonding between the oxygen atom of the CO ligand and the distal histidine, His207. Since this histidine plays an important role, by coordination of Fe(II) or Fe(III) of PGHS and stabilization of the ligands of the Fe, H2O or CO by H-bonding, it is suggested that this histidine could also play a key role in the cleavage of the O-O bond of peroxides by peroxidases.

Reactions of prostaglandin H synthase with monosubstituted hydrazines and diazenes. Formation of iron(II)-diazene and iron(III)-sigma-alkyl or iron(III)-sigma-aryl complexes

The reaction of p-chlorophenylhydrazine with prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) Fe(III) under aerobic conditions leads to a partial destruction of the heme and to a new complex absorbing at 436 nm. This complex is also obtained by reaction of p-chlorophenyldiazene (pClPhN = NH) with PGHS Fe(III) under anaerobic conditions and by oxidation of the PGHS Fe(II)(pClPhN = NH) diazene complex by Fe(CN)6K3. The similarity between those reactions and those of arylhydrazines and aryldiazenes with other hemoproteins such as cytochrome P450 and hemoglobin and myoglobin, as well as the similarities between the spectroscopic and chemical properties of this complex and those of the sigma-aryl complexes of other hemoproteins such as hemoglobin and myoglobin, strongly suggested a PGHS Fe(III)-pClPh structure for this complex. It was completely established after the extraction of its heme, by butan-2-one at 0 degree C under neutral or acidic conditions, which led to the sigma-aryl PGHS-Fe(III)-pClPh complex and to N-phenylprotoporphyrin IX, respectively. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of the PGHS Fe(III) pClPh complex; it includes the reduction of PGHS Fe(III) into PGHS Fe(II) with formation of the diazene pClPhN = NH. This diazene can bind to PGHS Fe(II) or be oxidized with formation of pClPh free radicals. These radicals can react with PGHS Fe(II) to form the PGHS Fe(III)-pClPh complex or with the protein, or may initiate free radical oxidations which could lead to destruction of the heme or of the protein. Other alkylhydrazines or arylhydrazines also react with PGHS Fe(III) under aerobic conditions with the formation of PGHS Fe(III)-R or aryl (Ar) complexes and heme destruction. Alkylhydrazines such as methylhydrazine, which lead to very reactive alkyl radicals, lead to very low amounts of PGHS Fe(III)-R complex and high amounts of heme destruction, whereas arylhydrazines bearing electron-withdrawing substituents such as 3,4-dichlorophenylhydrazine, which lead to stabilized aryl radicals, lead to a high amounts of PGHS Fe(III)-Ar complex and low amounts of heme destruction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Phenylhydrazones as new good substrates for the dioxygenase and peroxidase reactions of prostaglandin synthase: formation of iron(III)-sigma-phenyl complexes

Phenylhydrazones of various aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes or ketones act as good substrates of the dioxygenase reaction of prostaglandin synthase (PGHS). Corresponding alpha-azo hydroperoxides are formed as intermediates with maximum initial rates of O2 consumption between 8 and 230 mol (mol of PGHS)-1 s-1 for benzophenone and hexanal phenylhydrazone, respectively. The Km values for these reactions vary from 100 to 300 microM. These alpha-azo hydroperoxides are then converted to the corresponding alpha-azo alcohols by the peroxidase reaction of PGHS. During such oxidations of phenylhydrazones by PGHS, a new complex of this hemeprotein characterized by peaks at 438 and 556 nm is formed. This complex was obtained both by direct reaction of PGHS Fe(III) with phenyldiazene and by reaction of PGHS Fe(III) with phenylhydrazine in the presence of O2. By analogy to results previously reported for hemoglobin, myoglobin, catalase, and cytochrome P450, this species should be a sigma-phenyl PGHS FeIII-Ph complex. The PGHS FeIII-Ph complex should derive from an oxidation of the intermediate alpha-azo alcohol by PGHS Fe(III), cleavage of the resulting alkoxy radical with formation of a ketone (or aldehyde) and Ph*, and combination of PGHS Fe(II) with Ph*. Such an oxidation of alpha-azo alcohols by lipoxygenase-FeIII with formation of Ph* was reported previously. The formation of Ph* and of PGHS FeIII-Ph is likely the cause of the inhibitory effects previously reported for arylhydrazones toward PGHS.

Formation of prostaglandin synthase-iron-nitrosoalkane inhibitory complexes upon in situ oxidation of N-substituted hydroxylamines

Various N-alkylhydroxylamines such as N-hydroxyamphetamine react with prostaglandin synthase (PGHS) from sheep seminal vesicles, with the formation of new complexes characterized by a Soret peak around 421 nm. These complexes are very stable toward O2 or dithionite but are destroyed upon oxidation by Fe(CN)6K3 with regeneration of starting PGHS-FeIII. Their spectral characteristics, chemical properties, and routes of formation (either by direct oxidation of RNHOH or by in situ reduction of RNO2 in the presence of dithionite) are very similar to those previously reported for nitrosoalkane complexes of hemoglobin-, myoglobin-, and cytochrome P-450-FeII. Their FeII-N(O)R structure was completely confirmed in the case of N-hydroxyamphetamine, both by extraction of the heme complex by butanone and by identification to authentic protoporphyrin IX-FeII-N(O)-amphetamine, and by insertion of this authentic complex into apoPGHS. Phenylhydroxylamine also reacts with PGHS-FeIII to give a PGHS-FeII-N(O)Ph complex which is not stable in the presence of dithionite because of its weaker PGHS-FeII-N(O)R bond when compared to PGHS-FeII-nitrosoalkane complexes. The ability of various N-alkylhydroxylamines to form PGHS-FeII-N(O)R complexes greatly depends upon their hydrophobicity. Actually, CH3NHOH and C2H5NHOH are totally inactive whereas about 10 molar excess of N-hydroxyamphetamine and C6H5NHOH already lead to 50% complex formation. This is in favor of an hydrophobic environment of the heme in PGHS. Finally, PGHS engaged in such FeII-nitrosoalkane complexes completely loses its dioxygenase activity, suggesting that N-substituted hydroxylamines or compounds that can be metabolized in vivo to give such hydroxylamines could act as strong PGHS inhibitors.

In vivo formation of sigma-methyl- and sigma-phenyl-ferric complexes of hemoglobin and liver-cytochrome P-450 upon treatment of rats with methyl- and phenylhydrazine

Ferric sigma-phenyl complexes of hemoglobin and liver cytochrome P-450 are formed in vivo upon administration of C6H5NHNH2 to rats. Small amounts of the sigma-methyl complex of hemoglobin were also detected in vivo upon treatment of rats with CH3NHNH2. At the doses used for CH3NHNH2 (25 and 50 mg/kg) the states and levels of hemoglobin in the blood and spleen, and of cytochrome P-450 in the liver were almost unchanged. On the contrary, C6H5NHNH2 (25-100 mg/kg) led to a decrease of the HbO2 blood level (10-50%), together with an increase in the HbFe(III) level and the appearance of the HbFe(III)-C6H5 complex. The concentration of this complex reaches its maximum value (2 mM) 1 h after C6H5NHNH2 administration (20% of total hemoglobin). At the same time large amounts of HbO2, HbFe(III) and HbFe(III)-C6H5 appeared in the spleen, and remained high up to 24 h after treatment. Treatment of rats with C6H5NHNH2 (25-100 mg/kg) led to a significant decrease in the level of liver cytochrome P-450 (a 70% decrease 2 h after treatment with 100 mg/kg C6H5NHNH2). About 15% of the remaining cytochrome P-450 existed as a cyt.-P-450-Fe(III)-C6H5 complex, a new example of cytochrome P-450-Fe-metabolite complex which is stable in vivo.

Reaction of monosubstituted hydrazines and diazenes with rat-liver cytochrome P450. Formation of ferrous-diazene and ferric sigma-alkyl complexes

The alkyldiazenes RN = NH (R = CH3 or C2H5) react with reduced microsomal cytochrome P450 leading to complexes exhibiting a Soret peak at 446 nm. Upon oxidation of the [cytochrome P450-Fe(II)(CH3N = NH)] complex with limited amounts of dioxygen, a new complex characterized by a Soret peak at 486 nm is formed. The latter complex was also formed upon slow reaction of methyldiazene with microsomal cytochrome P450-Fe(III) or in situ oxidation of methylhydrazine by limited amounts of O2 or ferricyanide. This complex is rapidly destroyed by O2 or ferricyanide in excess and more slowly by excess dithionite in the presence of CO. Reactions of ethyldiazene or benzyldiazene with cytochrome P450-Fe(III) afforded similar complexes characterized by Soret peaks around 480 nm. These results, when compared to those recently described on reactions of monosubstituted hydrazines RNHNH2 and diazenes RN = NH with hemoglobin and iron-porphyrins, are consistent with a [cytochrome P450-Fe(II)(RN = NH)] structure for the 446-nm-absorbing complexes and a sigma-alkyl cytochrome P450-Fe(III)-R structure for the complexes characterized by a Soret peak around 480 nm. They also suggest a sigma-cytochrome P450-Fe(III)-Ph structure for the complex derived from phenylhydrazine oxidation, recently described in the literature. Finally, they provide the first evidence that cytochrome P450-Fe(III)-R complexes are formed upon microsomal oxidation of alkyl or phenylhydrazines.