Evidence for H2O2 as the product of reduction of oxygen by alternative oxidase in mitochondria from potato tubers

Oxygen consumption by alternative oxidase (AOX), present in mitochondria of many angiosperms, is known to be cyanide-resistant in contrast to cytochrome oxidase. Its activity in potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum L.) was induced following chilling treatment at 4 °C. About half of the total O₂ consumption of succinate oxidation in such mitochondria was found to be sensitive to SHAM, a known inhibitor of AOX activity. Addition of catalase to the reaction mixture of AOX during the reaction decreased the rate of SHAM-sensitive oxygen consumption by nearly half, and addition at the end of the reaction released nearly half of the consumed oxygen by AOX, both typical of catalase action on H₂O₂. These findings with catalase suggest that the product of reduction of AOX is H₂O₂ and not H₂O, as previously surmised. In potatoes subjected to chill stress (4 °C) for periods of 3, 5 and ?8 days the activity of AOX in mitochondria increased progressively with a corresponding increase in the AOX protein detected by immunoblot of the protein.     

The overexpression of an alternative oxidase gene triggers ozone sensitivity in tobacco plants

The alternative oxidase (AOX) of plant mitochondria transfers electrons from the ubiquinione pool to oxygen without energy conservation and prevents the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when the ubiquinone pool is over-reduced. Thus, AOX may be involved in plant acclimation to a number of oxidative stresses. To test this hypothesis, we exposed wild-type (WT) Xanthi tobacco plants as well as Xanthi plants transformed with the Bright Yellow tobacco AOX1a cDNA with enhanced (SN21 and SN29), and decreased (SN10) AOX capacity to an acute ozone (O3) fumigation. As a result of 5 h of O3 exposition (250 nL L(-1)), SN21 and SN29 plants surprisingly showed localized leaf damage, whereas SN10, similarly to WT plants, was undamaged. In keeping with this observation, WT and SN21 plants differed in their response to O3)for the expression profiles of catalase 1 (CAT1), catalase 2 (CAT2), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes, and for the activity of these antioxidant enzymes, which were induced in WT. Concomitantly, although ozone induced H2O2 accumulation in WT and in all transgenic lines, only in transgenics with high AOX capacity the H2O2 level in the post-fumigation period was high. The alternative pathway of WT plants was strongly stimulated by O3, whereas in SN21 plants, the respiratory capacity was always high across the treatment. The present results show that, far from exerting a protective role, the overexpression of AOX triggers an increased O3 sensitivity in tobacco plants. We hypothesize that the AOX overexpression results in a decrease of mitochondrial ROS level that in turn alters the defensive mitochondrial to nucleus signalling pathway that activates ROS scavenging systems.     

Kinetic evaluation of catalase and peroxygenase activities of tyrosinase

Tyrosinase is a copper monooxygenase containing a coupled dinuclear copper active site (type-3 copper), which catalyzes oxygenation of phenols (phenolase activity) as well as dehydrogenation of catechols (catecholase activity) using O(2) as the oxidant. In this study, catalase activity (conversion of H(2)O(2) to (1/2)O(2) and H(2)O) and peroxygenase activity (H(2)O(2)-dependent oxygenation of substrates) of mushroom tyrosinase have been examined kinetically by using amperometric O(2) and H(2)O(2) sensors. The catalase activity has been examined by monitoring the initial rate of O(2) production from H(2)O(2) in the presence of a catalytic amount of tyrosinase in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) at 25 degrees C under initially anaerobic conditions. It has been found that the catalase activity of mushroom tyrosinase is three-order of magnitude greater than that of mollusk hemocyanin. The higher catalase activity of tyrosinase could be attributed to easier accessibility of H(2)O(2) to the dinuclear copper site of tyrosinase. Mushroom tyrosinase has also been demonstrated for the first time to catalyze oxygenation reaction of phenols with H(2)O(2) (peroxygenase activity). The reaction has been investigated kinetically by monitoring the H(2)O(2) consumption rate in 0.5 M borate buffer (pH 7.0) under aerobic conditions. Similarity of the substituent effects of a series of p-substituted phenols in the peroxygenase reaction with H(2)O(2) to those in the phenolase reaction with O(2) as well as the absence of kinetic deuterium isotope effect with a perdeuterated substrate (p-Cl-C(6)D(4)OH vs p-Cl-C(6)H(4)OH) clearly demonstrated that the oxygenation mechanisms of phenols in both systems are the same, that is, the electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction by a (micro-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo)dicopper(II) intermediate of oxy-tyrosinase.     

The characteristics of the `peroxidatic'' reaction of catalase in ethanol oxidation

Ethanol oxidation by rat liver catalase (the ;peroxidatic' reaction) was studied quantitatively with respect to the rate of H(2)O(2) generation, catalase haem concentration, ethanol concentration and the steady-state concentration of the catalase-H(2)O(2) intermediate (Compound I). At a low ratio of H(2)O(2)-generation rate to catalase haem concentration, the rate of ethanol oxidation was independent of the catalase haem concentration. The magnitude of the inhibition of ethanol oxidation by cyanide was not paralleled by the formation of the catalase-cyanide complex and was altered greatly by varying either the ethanol concentration or the ratio of the rate of H(2)O(2) generation to catalase haem concentration. The ethanol concentration producing a half-maximal activity was also dependent on the ratio of the H(2)O(2)-generation rate to catalase haem concentration. These phenomena are explained by changes in the proportion of the ;catalatic' and ;peroxidatic' reactions in the overall H(2)O(2)-decomposition reaction. There was a correlation between the proportion of the ;peroxidatic' reaction in the overall catalase reaction and the steady-state concentration of the catalase-H(2)O(2) intermediate. Regardless of the concentration of ethanol and the rate of H(2)O(2) generation, a half-saturation of the steady state of the catalase-H(2)O(2) intermediate indicated that about 45% of the H(2)O(2) was being utilized by the ethanol-oxidation reaction. The results reported show that the experimental results in the study on the ;microsomal ethanol-oxidation system' may be reinterpreted and the catalase ;peroxidatic' reaction provides a quantitative explanation for the activity hitherto attributed to the ;microsomal ethanol-oxidation system'.     

H2O2对热带假丝酵母醇氧化酶的影响及其作用机理分析

考察了H2 O2 对热带假丝酵母代谢烷烃生产二元酸过程中醇氧化酶 (fattyalcoholoxidase ,AOX)的影响。研究表明 :2mmol L和 5mmol L的H2 O2 对AOX的比酶活有明显的促进作用 ,分别比对照提高了 68 2 %和 82 9%。研究还发现 ,H2 O2 是以超氧阴离子自由基等形式在胞内存在 ,并对H2 O2 在代谢过程中的作用机理进行了分析。     

The relationship between a novel NAD(P)H oxidase activity of ovoperoxidase and the CN- -resistant respiratory burst that follows fertilization of sea urchin eggs

The extracellular protein coat of the sea urchin egg is cross-linked after fertilization via dityrosyl linkages made by an exocytosed ovoperoxidase. The source of oxidant for this reaction is unknown, but eggs produce H2O2 in amounts equivalent to the cyanide-insensitive O2 uptake "respiratory burst" that follows fertilization. Several possible H2O2-forming oxidase activities, including glucose, xanthine, fatty acyl, and fatty-acyl CoA oxidases, were absent from the egg cortex. However, an NAD(P)H-O2 oxidoreductase activity was found in the egg cortex and was completely accounted for by ovoperoxidase. Homogeneous ovoperoxidase exhibits two types of NAD(P)H oxidase activity. One of these activities is similar to that of horseradish peroxidase and lactoperoxidase; it is dependent on Mn2+ ions and catalytic amounts of phenols, such as 2,4-dichlorophenol and N-acetyltyrosinamide, and is greater than 95% inhibited by 0.1 mM cyanide. A second, novel oxidase activity utilizes Ca2+ and an unidentified, heat-stable, Mr less than 1000 factor that can be extracted by ethanol from egg homogenates. This NADH oxidase activity is only 40% inhibited by 0.1 mM cyanide and is maximally stimulated by 10 mM Ca2+. It has an apparent Km for NADH of 50 microM. The stoichiometry of NADH:O2 consumption is 1.6:1, but approaches 2:1 in the presence of 20 micrograms/ml superoxide dismutase or 200 micrograms/ml catalase. This indicates that complete reduction of O2 to water occurs and that the reaction does not produce H2O2 stoichiometrically. However, nearly complete inhibition of the reaction by higher catalase concentrations suggests that H2O2 is an intermediate. The properties of this novel oxidase activity suggest that it may play such a role in vivo.     

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid as a substrate of peroxidase: conditions for oxygen consumption, hydroperoxide generation and ethylene production

Conditions in which 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) functions as a substrate of peroxidase have been investigated by measuring oxygen consumption in the reaction medium and the production of ethylene. In both cases, the presence of Mn2+ and either H2O2 or the activated form of peroxidase, namely compound I of peroxidase, was found to be essential. Both oxygen consumption and ethylene production were dependent on enzyme concentration, the optimum ACC/Mn2+ ratio being 1:1. Oxygen consumption in a system with ACC, Mn2+ and compound I showed an enzyme-dependent lag phase and then proceeded to total depletion, suggesting that the system itself generates hydroperoxides that completed the catalytic cycle of the enzyme. The presence of these hydroperoxides in the reaction medium was detected by a colorimetric method. High H2O2 concentration progressively decreased oxygen consumption, the same effect being produced by catalase. Ethylene production was oxygen dependent, mediated by ACC-free radicals and gave a poor yield. The results suggest that the fate of these ACC-free radicals determines the yield in ethylene. These radicals must be oxidized immediately, otherwise their stabilization to hydroperoxides would prevent ethylene production.     

Monooxygenase activities of dioxygenases. Benzphetamine demethylation and aniline hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Benzphetamine demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities were determined with various hemoproteins including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in a cytochrome P-450-like reconstituted system containing NADPH, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and O2. The highest specific activities, almost comparable to those of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, were detected with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase from the rabbit intestine. The indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-catalyzed benzphetamine demethylation reaction was inhibited by catalase but not by superoxide dismutase. Exogenous H2O2 or organic hydroperoxides was able to replace the reducing system and O2. The stoichiometry of H2O2 added to the product formed was essentially unity. These results indicate that the dioxygenase catalyzes the demethylation reaction by the so-called "peroxygenation" mechanism using H2O2 generated in the reconstituted system. On the other hand, the dioxygenase-catalyzed aniline hydroxylation reaction was not only completely inhibited by catalase but also suppressed by superoxide dismutase by about 60%. Although the O2- and H2O2-generating system (e.g. hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase) was also active as the reducing system, neither exogenous H2O2 nor the generation of O2- in the presence of catalase supported the hydroxylation reaction, indicating that both H2O2 and O2- were essential for the hydroxylation reaction. However, typical scavengers for hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen were not inhibitory. These results suggest that a unique, as yet unidentified active oxygen species generated by H2O2 and O2- participates in the dioxygenase-mediated aniline hydroxylation reaction.     

Alternative oxidase modulates leaf mitochondrial concentrations of superoxide and nitric oxide

? The nonenergy-conserving alternative oxidase (AOX) has been hypothesized to modulate the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in plant mitochondria but there is sparse direct in planta evidence to support this. ? Laser scanning fluorescent confocal microscopy and biochemical methods were used to directly estimate in planta leaf concentrations of superoxide (O2(-)), nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in wildtype (Wt) tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and transgenic tobacco with altered amounts of AOX. ? We found that plants lacking AOX have increased concentrations of leaf mitochondrial-localized O2(-) and leaf NO in comparison to the Wt, while leaf concentrations of H(2)O(2) were similar or lower in the AOX-suppressed plants. ? Based on our results, we suggest that AOX respiration acts to reduce the generation of ROS and RNS in plant mitochondria by dampening the leak of single electrons from the electron transport chain to O(2) or nitrite. This may represent a universal role for AOX in plants. More work is now needed to establish the functional implications of this role, such as during abiotic and biotic stress.     

Melatonin directly scavenges hydrogen peroxide: a potentially new metabolic pathway of melatonin biotransformation

A potential new metabolic pathway of melatonin biotransformation is described in this investigation. Melatonin was found to directly scavenge hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) to form N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine and, thereafter this compound could be enzymatically converted to N(1)-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine by catalase. The structures of these kynuramines were identified using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry. This is the first report to reveal a possible physiological association between melatonin, H(2)O(2), catalase, and kynuramines. Melatonin scavenges H(2)O(2) in a concentration-dependent manner. This reaction appears to exhibit two distinguishable phases. In the rapid reaction phase, the interaction between melatonin and H(2)O(2) reaches equilibrium rapidly (within 5 s). The rate constant for this phase was calculated to be 2.3 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1). Thereafter, the relative equilibrium of melatonin and H(2)O(2) was sustained for roughly 1 h, at which time the content of H(2)O(2) decreased gradually over a several hour period, identified as the slow reaction phase. These observations suggest that melatonin, a ubiquitously distributed small nonenzymatic molecule, might serve to directly detoxify H(2)O(2) in living organisms. H(2)O(2) and melatonin are present in all subcellular compartments; thus, presumably, one important function of melatonin may be complementary in function to catalase and glutathione peroxidase in keeping intracellular H(2)O(2) concentrations at steady-state levels.     

Significance of catalase in peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA beta-oxidation: NADH oxidation by acetoacetyl-CoA and H2O2

To clarify the significance of catalase in peroxisomes, we have examined the effect of aminotriazole treatment of rats on the activity of beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase in liver peroxisomes. When the effect of H2O2 on the dehydrogenase activity was examined using an extract of liver peroxisomes from aminotriazole-treated rats, the acetoacetyl-CoA-dependent oxidation of NADH was found to increase considerably on the addition of dilute H2O2. Such an effect of H2O2 was not seen on the beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA-dependent reduction of NAD nor with extracts from untreated animals. We then noticed that similar NADH oxidation was caused non-enzymatically by a mixture of acetoacetyl-CoA and H2O2. The oxidation was dependent on both acetoacetyl-CoA and H2O2, and was blocked by scavengers of oxyradicals such as ascorbate and ethanol. Degradation products formed during the reaction of acetoacetyl-CoA with H2O2 had no NADH oxidizing activity, indicating that effective oxidant(s) were generated during the reaction of H2O2 with acetoacetyl-CoA. No other fatty acyl-CoA so far examined nor acetoacetate could replace acetoacetyl-CoA in this reaction. Therefore, if H2O2 were to be accumulated in peroxisomes, it would decrease both NADH and acetoacetyl-CoA, thus affecting the fatty acyl-CoA beta-oxidation system. These results, together with our previous finding that peroxisomal thiolase was significantly inactivated by H2O2 [Hashimoto, F. & Hayashi, H. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 921, 142-150] suggest that the role of catalase in peroxisomes is at least in part to protect the fatty acyl-CoA beta-oxidation system from the deleterious action of H2O2.     

Enzymatic oxidation of mercury vapor by erythrocytes

The formation of glutathione radicals, the evolution of nascent oxygen or the peroxidatic reaction with catalase complex I are considered as possible mechanisms for the oxidation of mercury vapor by red blood cells. To select among these, the uptake of atomic mercury by erythrocytes from different species was studied and related to their various activities of catalase (hydrogenperoxide : hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione peroxidase (glutathione : hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.9). A slow and continuous infusion of diluted H2O2 was used to maintain steady concentrations of complex I. 1% red cell supsensions were found most suitable showing high rates of Hg uptake and yielding still enough cells for subsequent determinations. The results indicate that the oxidation of mercury depends upon the H2O2-generation rate and upon the specific acticity of red-cell catalase. The oxidation occurred in a range of the catalase-H2O2 reaction where the evolution of oxygen could be excluded. Compounds reacting with complex I were shown to be effective inhibitors of the mercury uptake. GSH-peroxidase did not participate in the oxidation but rather, was found to inhibit it by competing with catalase for hydrogen peroxide. These findings support the view that elemental mercury is oxidized in erythrocytes by a peroxidatic reaction with complex I only.     

D-Penicillamine: analysis of the mechanism of copper-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide generation

Recent studies have suggested that the inhibition of lymphocyte mitogenesis by D-penicillamine in the presence of copper could be mediated by the formation and action of hydrogen peroxide. To explore this possibility further, we first sought evidence of H2O2 generation by D-penicillamine in a cell-free system by a) measurement of copper-catalyzed D-penicillamine oxidation and the requirement for oxygen in this process; b) direct measurement of H2O2 formation during D-penicillamine oxidation by the peroxidase-mediated oxidation of fluorescent scopoletin; and c) evaluation of the possible synthesis of O2- during D-penicillamine oxidation. The addition of copper to D-penicillamine in physiologic buffer catalyzed D-penicillamine oxidation in a dose-dependent fashion. D-penicillamine oxidation was accompanied by O2 consumption with a molar ratio of approximately 2:1, but did not occur under anaerobic conditions. Furthermore, D-penicillamine oxidation resulted in the formation of amounts of H2O2 stoichiometrically equivalent to oxygen consumption (i.e., 1:1). Copper-catalyzed D-penicillamine oxidation caused reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium in a reaction blocked by superoxide dismutase, suggesting the formation of O2-. Additional studies confirmed that D-penicillamine inhibited PHA-induced mitogenesis of lymphocytes in the presence of copper, and that catalase protected the cells from this action. Furthermore, when polymorphonuclear leukocytes were incubated with D-penicillamine plus copper, hexose monophosphate shunt activity increased up to threefold with abrogation of this stimulation by catalase. None of the effects of D-penicillamine plus copper on cells were diminished by hydroxyl radical scavengers mannitol or benzoate. These results are consistent with oxygen-dependent copper-catalyzed oxidation of D-penicillamine in aqueous solutions leading to the formation of O2- and H2O2. H2O2 produced by this reaction can inhibit lymphocyte mitogenesis and stimulate neutrophil hexose monophosphate shunt activity in vitro and may be relevant to the therapeutic effects of D-penicillamine in vivo.     

Kinetic studies of iron deposition in horse spleen ferritin using H2O2 and O2 as oxidants

The reaction of horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) with Fe2+ at pH 6.5 and 7.5 using O2, H2O2 and 1:1 a mixture of both showed that the iron deposition reaction using H2O2 is approximately 20- to 50-fold faster than the reaction with O2 alone. When H2O2 was added during the iron deposition reaction initiated with O2 as oxidant, Fe2+ was preferentially oxidized by H2O2, consistent with the above kinetic measurements. Both the O2 and H2O2 reactions were well defined from 15 to 40 degrees C from which activation parameters were determined. The iron deposition reaction was also studied using O2 as oxidant in the presence and absence of catalase using both stopped-flow and pumped-flow measurements. The presence of catalase decreased the rate of iron deposition by approximately 1.5-fold, and gave slightly smaller absorbance changes than in its absence. From the rate constants for the O2 (0.044 s(-1)) and H2O2 (0.67 s(-1)) iron-deposition reactions at pH 7.5, simulations of steady-state H2O2 concentrations were computed to be 0.45 microM. This low value and reported Fe2+/O2 values of 2.0-2.5 are consistent with H2O2 rapidly reacting by an alternate but unidentified pathway involving a system component such as the protein shell or the mineral core as previously postulated [Biochemistry 22 (1983) 876; Biochemistry 40 (2001) 10832].     

Hyperoside prevents oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in lung fibroblast cells via an antioxidant effect

We elucidated the cytoprotective effects of hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell damage. We found that hyperoside scavenged the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) detected by fluorescence spectrometry, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. In addition, we found that hyperoside scavenged the hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction (FeSO4)+H2O2) in a cell-free system, which was detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. Hyperoside was found to inhibit H2O2-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) cells, as shown by decreased apoptotic nuclear fragmentation, decreased sub-G(1) cell population, and decreased DNA fragmentation. In addition, hyperoside pretreatment inhibited the H2O2-induced activation of caspase-3 measured in terms of levels of cleaved caspase-3. Hyperoside prevented H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation as well as protein carbonyl. In addition, hyperoside prevented the H2O2-induced cellular DNA damage, which was established by comet tail, and phospho histone H2A.X expression. Furthermore, hyperoside increased the catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Conversely, the catalase inhibitor abolished the cytoprotective effect of hyperoside from H2O2-induced cell damage. In conclusion, hyperoside was shown to possess cytoprotective properties against oxidative stress by scavenging intracellular ROS and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity.     

An alternative respiratory pathway on Candida krusei: implications on susceptibility profile and oxidative stress

Our aim was to detect the presence of an alternative oxidase (AOX) in Candida krusei clinical strains and its influence on fluconazole susceptibility and in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Candida krusei clinical isolates were tested to evaluate the presence of AOX. Debaromyces hansenii 2968 (AOX positive) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4742 (AOX negative) were used as control strains. Measurements of oxygen consumption were performed in the presence of 1?mM KCN, an inhibitor of the classical respiratory chain, and 5?mM salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). AOX expression was monitored by Western blotting using an AOX monoclonal antibody. Interactions between fluconazole and SHAM were performed using checkerboard assay. ROS production was evaluated in the presence of SHAM plus fluconazole, H(2) O(2) , menadione, or plumbagin. AOX was present in all C.?krusei tested. The combination of fluconazole with SHAM resulted in an indifferent effect. In the presence of SHAM, the treatment with ROS inductors or fluconazole increased ROS production, except in the AOX-negative strain. An alternative respiratory pathway resistant to cyanide is described for the first time as a characteristic of C.?krusei species. This AOX is unrelated to fluconazole resistance; however, it protects C.?krusei from oxidative stress.     

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.     

Myeloperoxidase-oxidase oxidation of cysteamine.

Cysteamine oxidation was shown to be catalysed by nanomolar concentrations of myeloperoxidase in a peroxidase-oxidase reaction, i.e. an O2-consuming oxidation of a compound catalysed by peroxidase without H2O2 addition. When auto-oxidation of the thiol was prevented by the metal-ion chelator diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid, native, but not heat-inactivated, myeloperoxidase induced changes in the u.v.-light-absorption spectrum of cysteamine. These changes were consistent with disulphide (cystamine) formation. Concomitantly, O2 was consumed and superoxide radical anion formation could be detected by Nitro Blue Tetrazolium reduction. Both superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibited the reaction, whereas the hydroxyl-radical scavengers mannitol and ethanol did not. O2 consumption increased with increasing pH (between pH 6.0 and 8.0), and 50% inhibition was exhibited by about 3 mM-NaCl at pH 7.0 and by about 100 mM-NaCl at pH 8.0. Cysteamine was about 5 times as active (in terms of increased O2 consumption at pH 7.5) as the previously reported peroxidase-oxidase substrates NADPH, dihydroxyfumaric acid and indol-3-ylacetic acid. A possible reaction pathway for the myeloperoxidase-oxidase oxidation of cysteamine is discussed. These results indicate that cysteamine is a very useful substrate for studies on myeloperoxidase-oxidase activity.     

Oxygen Metabolism in Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum, although able to grow in the presence of oxygen, was found to retain a completely anaerobic metabolism. Thus, L. plantarum did not consume detectable amounts of oxygen and did not contain measureable amounts of those enzyme activities which serve to protect anaerobic cells against the lethality of O(2) (-) and of H(2)O(2). Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase appeared to be absent from these cells. L. plantarum was unusually resistant towards hyperbaric oxygen, indicating that it did not reduce oxygen even when exposed to high concentrations of this gas. A photochemical reaction mixture, known to generate O(2) (-), did kill L. plantarum. The lethality was diminished by superoxide dismutase, catalase, or mannitol and was augmented by H(2)O(2). This suggests that the lethal agent generated in the photochemical system was primarily OH., generated from the reaction of O(2) (-) with H(2)O(2).