Luminol activity of horseradish peroxidase mutants mimicking a proposed binding site for luminol in Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase.

To enhance the oxidation activity for luminol in horseradish peroxidase (HRP), we have prepared three HRP mutants by mimicking a possible binding site for luminol in Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP) which shows 500-fold higher oxidation activity for luminol than native HRP. Spectroscopic studies by (1)H NMR revealed that the chemical shifts of 7-propionate and 8-methyl protons of the heme in cyanide-ligated ARP were deviated upon addition of luminol (4 mM), suggesting that the charged residues, Lys49 and Glu190, which are located near the 7-propionate and 8-methyl groups of the heme, are involved in the specific binding to luminol. The positively charged Lys and negatively charged Glu were introduced into the corresponding positions of Ser35 (S35K) and Gln176 (Q176E) in HRP, respectively, to build the putative binding site for luminol. A double mutant, S35K/Q176E, in which both Ser35 and Gln176 were replaced, was also prepared. Addition of luminol to the HRP mutants induced more pronounced effects on the resonances from the heme substituents and heme environmental residues in the (1)H NMR spectra than that to the wild-type enzyme, indicating that the mutations in this study induced interactions with luminol in the vicinity of the heme. The catalytic efficiencies (V(max)/K(m)) for luminol oxidation of the S35K and S35K/Q176E mutants were 1.5- and 2-fold improved, whereas that of the Q176E mutant was slightly depressed. The increase in luminol activity of the S35K and S35K/Q176E mutants was rather small but significant, suggesting that the electrostatic interactions between the positive charge of Lys35 and the negative charge of luminol can contribute to the effective binding for the luminol oxidation. On the other hand, the negatively charged residue would not be so crucial for the luminol oxidation. The absence of drastic improvement in the luminol activity suggests that introduction of the charged residues into the heme vicinity is not enough to enhance the oxidation activity for luminol as observed for ARP.     

Kinetics of formation of the primary compound (compound I) from hydrogen peroxide and turnip peroxidases.

A kinetic study of the reaction of two turnip peroxidases (P1 and P7) with hydrogen peroxide to form the primary oxidized compound (compound I) has been carried out over the pH range from 2.4 to 10.8. In the neutral and acidic pH regions, the rates depend linearly on hydrogen peroxide concentration whereas at alkaline pH values the rates display saturation kinetics. A compound is made with the cyanide binding reaction to peroxidases since the two reactions are influenced in the same manner by ionization of groups on the native enzymes. Two different ionization processes of peroxidase P1 with pKa values of 3.9 and 10 are required to explain the rate pH profile for the reaction with H2O2. Protonation of the former group and ionization of the latter causes a decrease in the rate of reaction of the enzyme with H2O2. In the case of peroxidase P7 a minimum model involves three ionizable groups with pKa values of 2.5, 4 and 9. Protonation of the former two groups and ionization of the latter lowers the reaction rate. In the pH-independent region, the rate of formation of compound I was measured as a function of temperature. From the Arhenius plots the activation energy for the reaction was calculated to be 2.9 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol for P1 and 5.4 +/- 0.3 kcal/mol for P7. However, the rates are independent of viscosity in glycerol-water mixtures up to 30% glycerol.     

Redox properties of the Fe3+/Fe2+ couple in Arthromyces ramosus class II peroxidase and its cyanide adduct

The thermodynamics of the one-electron reduction of the ferric heme in free and cyanide-bound Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP), a class II plant peroxidase, were determined through spectro-electrochemical experiments. The data were compared with those for class III horseradish peroxidase C (HRP) and its cyanide adduct, and were interpreted in terms of ligand binding features, electrostatic effects and solvent accessible surface area of the heme group and of catalytically relevant residues in the heme distal site. The values for free and cyanide-bound ARP (−0.183 and −0.390 V, respectively, at 25 °C and pH 7) are higher than those for HRP and HRP-CN. ARP features an enthalpic stabilization of the ferrous state and a remarkably negative reduction entropy, which are both unprecedented for heme peroxidases. Once the compensatory contributions of solvent reorganization are partitioned from the measured reduction enthalpy, the resulting protein-based value for ARP turns out to be less positive than that for HRP by +10 kJ mol⁻¹. The smaller stabilization of the oxidized heme in ARP most probably results from the less pronounced anionic character of the proximal histidine, and the decreased polarity in the heme distal site as compared with HRP, as indicated by the X-ray structures. The surprisingly negative value for ARP is the result of peculiar reduction-induced solvent reorganization effects.     

Direct binding of hydroxylamine to the heme iron of Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase. Substrate analogue that inhibits compound I formation in a competetive manner

The interaction of hydroxylamine (HA) with Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP) was investigated by kinetic, spectroscopic, and x-ray crystallographic techniques. HA inhibited the reaction of native ARP with H(2)O(2) in a competitive manner. Electron absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopic studies indicated that pentacoordinate high spin species of native ARP are converted to hexacoordinate low spin species upon the addition of HA, strongly suggesting the occurrence of a direct interaction of HA with ARP heme iron. Kinetic analysis exhibited that the apparent dissociation constant is 6.2 mm at pH 7.0 and that only one HA molecule likely binds to the vicinity of the heme. pH dependence of HA binding suggested that the nitrogen atom of HA could be involved in the interaction with the heme iron. X-ray crystallographic analysis of ARP in complex with HA at 2.0 A resolution revealed that the electron density ascribed to HA is located in the distal pocket between the heme iron and the distal His(56). HA seems to directly interact with the heme iron but is too far away to interact with Arg(52). In HA, it is likely that the nitrogen atom is coordinated to the heme iron and that hydroxyl group is hydrogen bonded to the distal His(56).     

Kinetic studies on the formation and decomposition of compounds II and III. Reactions of lignin peroxidase with H2O2.

The present study characterizes the serial reactions of H2O2 with compounds I and II of lignin peroxidase isozyme H1. These two reactions constitute part of the pathway leading to formation of the oxy complex (compound III) from the ferric enzyme. Compounds II and III are the only complexes observed; no compound III* is observed. Compound III* is proposed to be an adduct of compound III with H2O2, formed from the complexation of compound III with H2O2 (Wariishi, H., and Gold, M. H. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 2070-2077). We provide evidence that demonstrates that the spectral data, on which the formation of compound III* is based, are merely an artifact caused by enzyme instability and, therefore, rule out the existence of compound III*. The reactions of compounds II and III with H2O2 are pH-dependent, similar to that observed for reactions of compounds I and II with the reducing substrate veratryl alcohol. The spontaneous decay of the compound III of lignin peroxidase results in the reduction of ferric cytochrome c. The reduction is inhibited by superoxide dismutase, indicating that superoxide is released during the decay. Therefore, the lignin peroxidase compound III decays to the ferric enzyme through the dissociation of superoxide. This mechanism is identical with that observed with oxymyoglobin and oxyhemoglobin but different from that for horseradish peroxidase. Compound III is capable of reacting with small molecules, such as tetranitromethane (a superoxide scavenger) and fluoride (a ligand for the ferric enzyme), resulting in ferric enzyme and fluoride complex formation, respectively.     

A comparative study of peroxidases from horse radish and Arthromyces ramosus as labels in luminol-mediated chemiluminescent assays.

The properties of a peroxidase from Arthromyces ramosus (ARP) in the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol oxidation have been studied. These were compared with the properties of horse radish peroxidase (HRP) in the cooxidation of luminol and p-iodophenol, the enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) reaction. By means of the stop-flow technique, ARP was shown to have an enzymatic activity toward luminol higher than that toward HRP. ARP can efficiently catalyze luminol oxidation in the absence of substrate enhancer. pH and substrate concentrations were optimized to determine ARP with the highest sensitivity. The detection limit of ARP was 5 x 10(-13) M, the same as that for HRP in the ECL reaction. The data on the use of ARP as a label in enzyme immunoassay of human IgG are presented. ARP was shown to have all the advantages of HRP as a label in chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays: (i) high signal intensity, (ii) slow decay of luminescence, (iii) high signal/noise ratio, and (iv) as a consequence of (i)-(iii), high detection sensitivity. However, the low thermostability of ARP can limit the potential fields of its application.     

Spectral studies with lactoperoxidase and thyroid peroxidase: interconversions between native enzyme, compound II, and compound III

Spectral scans in both the visible (650-450 nm) and the Soret (450-380 nm) regions were recorded for the native enzyme, Compound II, and Compound III of lactoperoxidase and thyroid peroxidase. Compound II for each enzyme (1.7 microM) was prepared by adding a slight excess of H2O2 (6 microM), whereas Compound III was prepared by adding a large excess of H2O2 (200 microM). After these compounds had been formed it was observed that they were slowly reconverted to the native enzyme in the absence of exogenous donors. The pathway of Compound III back to the native enzyme involved Compound II as an intermediate. Reconversion of Compound III to native enzyme was accompanied by the disappearance of H2O2 and generation of O2, with approximately 1 mol of O2 formed for each 2 mol of H2O2 that disappeared. A scheme is proposed to explain these observations, involving intermediate formation of the ferrous enzyme. According to the scheme, Compound III participates in a reaction cycle that effectively converts H2O2 to O2. Iodide markedly affected the interconversions between native enzyme, Compound II, and Compound III for lactoperoxidase and thyroid peroxidase. A low concentration of iodide (4 microM) completely blocked the formation of Compound II when lactoperoxidase or thyroid peroxidase was treated with 6 microM H2O2. When the enzymes were treated with 200 microM H2O2, the same low concentration of iodide completely blocked the formation of Compound III and largely prevented the enzyme degradation that otherwise occurred in the absence of iodide. These effects of iodide are readily explained by (i) the two-electron oxidation of iodide to hypoiodite by Compound I, which bypasses Compound II as an intermediate, and (ii) the rapid oxidation of H2O2 to O2 by the hypoiodite formed in the reaction between Compound I and iodide.     

A comparative study of the purity, enzyme activity, and inactivation by hydrogen peroxide of commercially available horseradish peroxidase isoenzymes A and C

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a commercially important enzyme that is available from a number of supply houses in a variety of grades of purity and isoenzymic combinations. The present article describes a comparative study made on nine HRP preparations. Six of these samples were predominantly composed of basic HRP, pl 8.5, and three of acidic HRP, pl 3.5. Two of the basic preparations were of lower purity than the others. The apparent molar catalytic activity of basic HRP with 0.5 mMABTS and 0.2 mM H(2)O(2) was around 950 s(-1) (about 770 s(-1) for the less pure samples) and with a 5 mM guaiacol and 0.6 mM H(2)O(2) was about 180 s(-1) for all the samples. A similar value (approximately 1000 s(-1)) was observed for acidic HRP but only at higher concentrations of ABTS (20 mM). With 20 mM guaiacol the molar catalytic activity of the acid isoenzyme was 65 s(-1). The apparent K(M) for ABTS of the acidic isoenzyme was 4 mM whereas for the basic isoenzyme it was 0.1 mM. All the enzymes were inactivated by H(2)O(2) when it was supplied as the only substrate. Under these conditions the partition ratio (r = number of catalytic cycles given by the enzyme before its inactivation), apparent dissociation constant (K(l)), and apparent rate constant of inactivation (k(inact)) were about twice as large for the acidic samples (1350, 2.6 mM, 9 . 10(-3) s(-1)) as for the basic (650, 1.3 mM, 5 . 10(-3) s(-1)). The apparent catalytic constant (k(cat)) was 3-4 times larger, and the efficiency of catalysis (k(cat)/K(l)) was double for the acidic isoenzyme, but the efficiency of inactivation (k(inact)/K(l)) was similar. The data obtained provide useful information for those using HRP isoenzymes for biotechnological applications (e.g., biosensors, bioreactors, or assays). (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure of the active site of lignin peroxidase isozyme H2: native enzyme, compound III, and reduced form.

The wood-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium secretes a number of extracellular enzymes called lignin peroxidases which are involved in the degradation of both lignin and a number of persistent environmental pollutants. Lignin peroxidase isozyme H2, a glycosylated protein of approximately 40 kDa, contains a single heme. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been used to probe the local environment of the iron in the active site of resting enzyme, reduced enzyme, and compound III. For the native and reduced forms, respectively, the average Fe-pyrrole nitrogen distances are 2.055 and 2.02 A (+/- 0.015 A); the Fe-proximal nitrogen distance is 1.93 and 1.91 A (+/- 0.02 A) while the Fe-distal ligand distance is 2.17 and 2.10 A (+/- 0.03 A). Although the results are not as well-defined, the active-site structure of compound III is largely 2.02 +/- 0.015 A for the average Fe-pyrrole nitrogen distance, 1.90 +/- 0.02 for the Fe-proximal nitrogen, and 1.74 +/- 0.03 A for the Fe-distal ligand distance. The heme iron-pyrrole nitrogen distance is more expanded in ligninase H2 than in other peroxidases. The possible significance of this is discussed in relation to other heme proteins.     

Reactions of yeast thioredoxin peroxidases I and II with hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite: rate constants by competitive kinetics

Peroxiredoxins are receiving increasing attention as defenders against oxidative damage and sensors of hydrogen peroxide-mediated signaling events. Likely to be critical for both functions is a rapid reaction with hydrogen peroxide, typically with second-order rate constants higher than 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). Until recently, however, the values reported for these rate constants have been in the range of 10(4)-10(5) M(-1) s(-1), including those for cytosolic thioredoxin peroxidases I (Tsa1) and II (Tsa2) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To resolve this apparent paradox, we developed a competitive kinetic approach with horseradish peroxidase to determine the second-order rate constant of the reaction of peroxiredoxins with peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide. This method was validated and allowed for the determination of the second-order rate constant of the reaction of Tsa1 and Tsa2 with peroxynitrite (k approximately 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)) and hydrogen peroxide (k approximately 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)) at pH 7.4, 25 degrees C. It also permitted the determination of the pKa of the peroxidatic cysteine of Tsa1 and Tsa2 (Cys47) as 5.4 and 6.3, respectively. In addition to providing a useful method for studying thiol protein kinetics, our studies add to recent reports challenging the popular belief that peroxiredoxins are poor enzymes toward hydrogen peroxide, as compared with heme and selenium proteins.     

Multiple reprobing of Western blots after inactivation of peroxidase activity by its substrate, hydrogen peroxide

Sequential detections of different proteins on Western blot save time and precious samples. The main problem concerning reprobing is that stripping buffers can unbind both the antibody and the tested antigen. An original reprobing method has been set up based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) inhibition after enhanced chemiluminescence detection. Instead of removing previously fixed antibodies as common stripping buffers do, the HRP activity linked to the secondary antibody is irreversibly inhibited by excess of hydrogen peroxide. A 15-min incubation allows one to perform at least five different sequential detections without losing significant amounts of blotted proteins.     

Lignin peroxidase compound III. Mechanism of formation and decomposition

Lignin peroxidase compound III (LiPIII) was prepared via three procedures: (a) ferrous LiP + O2 (LiPIIIa), (b) ferric LiP + O2-. (LiPIIIb), and (c) LiP compound II + excess H2O2 followed by treatment with catalase (LiPIIIc). LiPIIIa, b, and c each have a Soret maximum at approximately 414 nm and visible bands at 543 and 578 nm. LiPIIIa, b, and c each slowly reverted to native ferric LiP, releasing stoichiometric amounts of O2-. in the process. Electronic absorption spectra of LiPIII reversion to the native enzyme displayed isosbestic points in the visible region at 470, 525, and 597 nm, suggesting a single-step reversion with no intermediates. The LiPIII reversion reactions obeyed first-order kinetics with rate constants of approximately 1.0 X 10(-3) s-1. In the presence of excess peroxide, at pH 3.0, native LiP, LiPII, and LiPIIIa, b, and c are all converted to a unique oxidized species (LiPIII*) with a spectrum displaying visible bands at 543 and 578 nm, but with a Soret maximum at 419 nm, red-shifted 5 nm from that of LiPIII. LiPIII* is bleached and inactivated in the presence of excess H2O2 via a biphasic process. The fast first phase of this bleaching reaction obeys second-order kinetics, with a rate constant of 1.7 X 10(1) M-1 s-1. Addition of veratryl alcohol to LiPIII* results in its rapid reversion to the native enzyme, via an apparent one-step reaction that obeys second-order kinetics with a rate constant of 3.5 X 10(1) M-1 s-1. Stoichiometric amounts of O2-. are released during this reaction. When this reaction was run under conditions that prevented further reactions, HPLC analysis of the products demonstrated that veratryl alcohol was not oxidized. These results suggest that the binding of veratryl alcohol to LiPIII* displaces O2-., thus returning the enzyme to its native state. In contrast, the addition of veratryl alcohol to LiPIII did not affect the rate of spontaneous reversion of LiPIII to the native enzyme.     

Reactions of lignin peroxidase compounds I and II with veratryl alcohol. Transient-state kinetic characterization

Stopped-flow techniques were utilized to investigate the kinetics of the reaction of lignin peroxidase compounds I and II (LiPI and LiPII) with veratryl alcohol (VA). All rate data were collected from single turnover experiments under pseudo first-order conditions. The reaction of LiPI with VA strictly obeys second-order kinetics over the pH range 2.72-5.25 as demonstrated by linear plots of the pseudo first-order rate constants versus concentrations of VA. The second-order rate constants are strongly dependent on pH and range from 2.62 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 (pH 2.72) to 1.45 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 (pH 5.25). The reaction of LiPII and VA exhibits saturation behavior when the observed pseudo first-order rate constants are plotted against VA concentrations. The saturation phenomenon is quantitatively explained by the formation of a 1:1 LiPII-substrate complex. Results of kinetic and rapid scan spectral analyses exclude the formation of a LiPII-VA cation radical complex. The first-order dissociation rate constant and the equilibrium dissociation constant for the LiPII reaction are also pH dependent. Binding of VA to LiPII is controlled by a heme-linked ionizable group of pKa approximately 4.2. The pH profiles of the second-order rate constants for the LiPI reaction and of the first-order dissociation constants for the LiPII reaction both demonstrate two pKa values at approximately 3.0 and approximately 4.2. Protonated oxidized enzyme intermediates are most active, suggesting that only electron transfer, not proton uptake from the reducing substrate, occurs at the enzyme active site. These results are consistent with the one-electron oxidation of VA to an aryl cation radical by LiPI and LiPII.     

Benzene-induced uncoupling of naphthalene dioxygenase activity and enzyme inactivation by production of hydrogen peroxide

Naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) is a multicomponent enzyme system that oxidizes naphthalene to (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-1, 2-dihydronaphthalene with consumption of O2 and two electrons from NAD(P)H. In the presence of benzene, NADH oxidation and O2 utilization were partially uncoupled from substrate oxidation. Approximately 40 to 50% of the consumed O2 was detected as hydrogen peroxide. The rate of benzene-dependent O2 consumption decreased with time, but it was partially increased by the addition of catalase in the course of the O2 consumption by NDO. Detailed experiments showed that the total amount of O2 consumed and the rate of benzene-induced O2 consumption increased in the presence of hydrogen peroxide-scavenging agents, and further addition of the terminal oxygenase component (ISPNAP) of NDO. Kinetic studies showed that ISPNAP was irreversibly inactivated in the reaction that contained benzene, but the inactivation was relieved to a high degree in the presence of catalase and partially relieved in the presence of 0.1 mM ferrous ion. Benzene- and naphthalene-reacted ISPNAP gave almost identical visible absorption spectra. In addition, hydrogen peroxide added at a range of 0.1 to 0.6 mM to the reaction mixtures inactivated the reduced ISPNAP containing mononuclear iron. These results show that hydrogen peroxide released during the uncoupling reaction acts both as an inhibitor of benzene-dependent O2 consumption and as an inactivator of ISPNAP. It is proposed that the irreversible inactivation of ISPNAP occurs by a Fenton-type reaction which forms a strong oxidizing agent, hydroxyl radicals (. OH), from the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with ferrous mononuclear iron at the active site. Furthermore, when [14C]benzene was used as the substrate, cis-benzene 1,2-dihydrodiol formed by NDO was detected. This result shows that NDO also couples a trace amount of benzene to both O2 consumption and NADH oxidation.     

A model of peroxidase activity with inhibition by hydrogen peroxide

The rate of color formation in an activity assay consisting of phenol and hydrogen peroxide as substrates and 4-aminoantipyrine as chromogen is significantly influenced by hydrogen peroxide concentration due to its inhibitory effect on catalytic activity. A steady-state kinetic model describing the dependence of peroxidase activity on hydrogen peroxide concentration is presented. The model was tested for its application to soybean peroxidase (SBP) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reactions based on experimental data which were measured using simple spectrophotometric techniques. The model successfully describes the dependence of enzyme activity for SBP and HRP over a wide range of hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Model parameters may be used to compare the rate of substrate utilization for different peroxidases as well as their susceptibility to compound III formation. The model indicates that SBP tends to form more compound III and is catalytically slower than HRP during the oxidation of phenol.     

A kinetic study on the suicide inactivation of peroxidase by hydrogen peroxide

In the absence of reductant substrates, and with excess H2O2, peroxidase (donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) shows the kinetic behaviour of a suicide inactivation, H2O2 being the suicide substrate. From the complex (compound I-H2O2), a competition is established between two catalytic pathways (the catalase pathway and the compound III-forming pathway), and the suicide inactivation pathway (formation of inactive enzyme). A kinetic analysis of this system allows us to obtain a value for the inactivation constant, ki = (3.92 +/- 0.06) x 10(-3) x s-1. Two partition ratios (r), defined as the number of turnovers given by one mol of enzyme before its inactivation, can be calculated: (a) one for the catalase pathway, rc = 449 +/- 47; (b) the other for the compound III-forming pathway, rCoIII = 2.00 +/- 0.07. Thus, the catalase activity of the enzyme and, also, the protective role of compound III against an H2O2-dependent peroxidase inactivation are both shown to be important.     

Studies on compound I formation of the lignin peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Ligninase, isolated from the wood-destroying fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, catalyzes the oxidation of lignin and lignin-related compounds. Ligninase reacts with H2O2 to form the classical peroxidase intermediates Compounds I and II. We have determined the activation energy of ligninase Compound I formation to be 5.9 kcal/mol. The effect of pH and ionic strength on the rate of ligninase Compound I formation was studied. In contrast to all other peroxidases, no pH effect was observed. This is despite homology of active-site amino acids residues (Tien, M., and Tu, C.-P. D. (1987) Nature 326, 520-523) which are proposed to affect the pH profile of Compound I formation. Ligninase Compound I formation can also be supported by organic peroxides. The second-order rate constants with the organic peroxides are lower, suggesting that H2O2 is the preferred substrate.     

The interaction of bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase with hydrogen peroxide: inactivation of the enzyme.

Bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase was slowly and irreversibly inactivated by hydrogen peroxide. The rate of this inactivation was directly dependent upon the concentrations of both H2O2 and of enzyme, and its second-order rate constant at pH 10.0 and 25 degrees was 6.7 M-1 sec-1. Inactivation was preceded by a bleaching due to rapid reduction of Cu2+ on the enzyme, and following this there was a gradual reappearance of a new absorption in the visible region, which was coincident with the loss of catalytic activity. Inactivation of the enzyme was pH-dependent and indicated an essential ionization whose pKa was approximately 10.2. Replacement of H2O by D2O raised this pKa but did not diminish the catalytic activity of superoxide dismutase, measured at pH 10.0. Several compounds, including xanthine, urate, formate, and azide, protected the enzyme against inactivation by H2O2. Alcohols and benzoate, which scavenge hydroxyl radical, did not protect. Compounds with special affinity for singlet oxygen were similarly ineffective. The data were interpreted in terms of the reduction of the enzyme-bound Cu2+ to Cu+, by H2O2, followed by a Fenton's type reaction of the Cu+ with additional H2O2. This would generate Cu2+-OH- or its ionized equivalent, Cu2+-O--, which could then oxidatively attack an adjacent histidine and thus inactivate the enzyme. Compounds which protected the enzyme could have done so by reacting with the bound oxidant, in competition with the adjacent histidine.     

Effects of 2,4-substituents of deuteroheme upon peroxidase functions. II. Reactions of peroxidases and metmyoglobin with azide, cyanide and fluoride

Artificial horseradish peroxidases and metmyoglobins were reconstituted from their apoproteins and the following unnatural hemes: mesoheme, deuteroheme, hematoheme, chlorocruoroheme, and diacetyldeuteroheme. The electron-withdrawing effects of the 2,4-substituents upon affinities of these hemoproteins for azide, cyanide, and fluoride were investigated. Peroxidase preparations used were acidic (A₁ + A₂) and neutral (B + C) enzymes.The electron withdrawal of the substituents increased the strength of ligaud binding. Plotting the logaritms of dissociation constants for the hemoprotein-ligand complexes against pK₃, a measure of relative basicities for metal-free porphyrins, the Hammett relationship was found to be applicable to this case except for a few. The affinities of deuterohemoproteins for ligands were definitely higher than those expected from the above relationship.The constant ρ, slope of the Hammett equation, varied with the ligand. For any particular ligand, the two peroxidase preparations gave the same ρ value, but it was different from the value for metmyoglobin.