Copper(II) ethylenediaminetetraacetate complex does activate hydrogen peroxide in the presence of biological reductants.

The reaction of CuII (edta) (edta: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was studied in the pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. CuII (edta) did not react with H2O2 in the all pH range examined in the absence of biological reductants. CuII (edta), however, could react with H2O2 in the presence of biological reductants such as ascorbic acid, cysteine and NADH to give thibarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substance, regardless of the pH. From these results, it is concluded that CuII (edta) cannot be bound to H2O2 and that the change of the redox potential of Cu2+ ion on ligating with edta may cause CuII (edta) to be unable to oxidize H2O2.     

Production of hydroxyl radical by the synergistic action of fungal laccase and aryl alcohol oxidase

A mechanism for the production of hydroxyl radical (*OH) during the oxidation of hydroquinones by laccase, the ligninolytic enzyme most widely distributed among white-rot fungi, has been demonstrated. Production of Fenton reagent (H2O2 and ferrous ion), leading to *OH formation, was found in reaction mixtures containing Pleurotus eryngii laccase, lignin-derived hydroquinones, and chelated ferric ion. The semiquinones produced by laccase reduced both ferric to ferrous ion and oxygen to superoxide anion radical (O2*-). Dismutation of the latter provided the H2O2 for *OH generation. Although O2*- could also contribute to ferric ion reduction, semiquinone radicals were the main agents accomplishing the reaction. Due to the low extent of semiquinone autoxidation, H2O2 was the limiting reagent in Fenton reaction. The addition of aryl alcohol oxidase and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (the natural H2O2-producing system of P. eryngii) to the laccase reaction greatly increased *OH generation, demonstrating the synergistic action of both enzymes in the process.     

Damage to the bases in DNA induced by hydrogen peroxide and ferric ion chelates

Incubation of a number of ferric ion chelates with H2O2 at pH 7.4 generated a reactive species able to produce chemical modifications of the bases in DNA that are very similar to those produced in DNA by the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system (Aruoma, O.I., Halliwell, B., and Dizdaroglu, M. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 13024-13028). Products were identified and quantitated by the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. Compared with other complexes used, ferric ion-nitrilotriacetic acid produced by far the largest amount of the base products. Typical hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase provided significant decreases in the yields of the products. On this basis, it is proposed that ferric ion complexes react with H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radical; this was also shown using the deoxyribose assay. Inhibition of product formation by superoxide dismutase suggests the involvement of superoxide radical in this reaction. It is likely that hydroxyl radical generated by reaction of the ferric ion-nitrilotriacetic acid complex with H2O2 contributes to the carcinogenicity and nephrotoxicity associated with this chelating agent.     

The Haber-Weiss cycle--70 years later

The chain reactions HO* + H2O2 --> H2O + O2*- + H+ and O2*- + H+ + H2O2 --> O2 + HO* + H2O, commonly known as the Haber-Weiss cycle, were first mentioned by Haber and Willst?tter in 1931. George showed in 1947 that the second reaction is insignificant in comparison to the fast dismutation of superoxide, and this finding appears to have been accepted by Weiss in 1949. In 1970, the Haber-Weiss reaction was revived by Beauchamp and Fridovich to explain the toxicity of superoxide. During the 1970s various groups determined that the rate constant for this reaction is of the order of 1 M(-1) s(-1) or less, which confirmed George's conclusion. The reaction of superoxide with hydrogen peroxide was dropped from the scheme of oxygen toxicity, and superoxide became the source of hydrogen peroxide, which yields hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction, Fe2+ + H2O2 --> Fe3+ + HO- + HO*. In 1994, Kahn and Kasha resurrected the Haber-Weiss reaction again, but this time the oxygen was believed to be in the singlet (1delta(g)) state. As toxicity arises not from a Fenton-catalysed Haber-Weiss reaction, but from the Fenton reaction, the Haber-Weiss reaction should not be mentioned anymore.     

A kinetic study of the reactions between H2O2 and Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase; evidence for an electrostatic control of the reaction rate

H2O2 was shown to reduce the copper ion of native bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (superoxide:superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) (ECu2+) and to oxidize the reduced enzyme (ECu+). The time-course of these processes was monitored by NMR measurement of the longitudinal relaxation rate of the water protons. A steady-state characterized by the same ratio [ECu2+]/[( EC2+] + [ECu+]) was obtained either by starting from the oxidized or the reduced enzyme. The kinetics of these processes appear to be quite complex, since different reactions between H2O2, or its reaction products, and the enzyme-bound copper control the reaction rate. The solution of the differential equations describing the kinetic processes showed that the oxidation and the reduction of the copper ion by H2O2 are first-order with respect to the copper ion itself only when these processes approach the steady-state. The rate constants of the reduction and oxidation reactions were calculated according to these equations and were found to have comparable values which are in the range 5-80 and 5-45 M-1.min-1, respectively, changing the pH from 5.6 to 7 at 0.21 M ionic strength. This result, together with the dependence of the reaction rates on pH and ionic strength, points to HO2- as the reactive species in both processes, and indicates that the electrostatic control of the access of the peroxide to the active site is the rate-determining step of the two redox reactions.     

A pulse-radiolysis study of the catalytic mechanism of the iron-containing superoxide dismutase from Photobacterium leiognathi.

The mechanism of the enzymic reaction of an iron-containing superoxide dismutase purified from the marine bacterium Photobacterium leiognathi was studied by using pulse radiolysis. Measurements of activity were done with two different preparations of enzyme containing either 1.6 or 1.15 g-atom of iron/mol. In both cases, identical values of the second-order rate constant for reaction between superoxide dismutase and the superoxide ion in the pH range 6.2-9.0 (k=5.5 X 10(8) M-1-S-1 at pH 8.0) were found. As with the bovine erythrocuprein, there was no evidence for substrate saturation. The effects of reducing agents (H2O2, sodium ascorbate or CO2 radicals) on the visible and the electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectra of the superoxide dismutase containing 1.6 g-atom of ferric iron/mol indicate that this enzyme contains two different types of iron. Turnover experiments demonstrate that only that fraction of the ferric iron that is reduced by H2O2 is involved in the catalysis, being alternately oxidized and reduced by O2; both the oxidation and the reduction steps have a rate constant equal to that measured under turnover conditions. These results are interpreted by assuming that the superoxide dismutase isolated from the organism contains 1 g-atom of catalytic iron/mol and a variable amount of non-catalytic iron. This interpretation is discused in relation to the stoicheiometry reported for iron-containing superoxide dismutases prepared from several other organisms.     

Superoxide and hydrogen peroxide formation during enzymatic oxidation of DOPA by phenoloxidase

Generation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide during enzymatic oxidation of 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-DL-alanine (DOPA) has been studied. The ability of DOPA to react with O2*- has been revealed. EPR spectrum of DOPA-semiquinone formed upon oxidation of DOPA by O2*- was observed using spin stabilization technique of ortho-semiquinones by Zn2+ ions. Simultaneously, the oxidation of DOPA by O2*- was found to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The analysis of H2O2 formation upon oxidation of DOPA by O2*- using 1-hydroxy-3-carboxy-pyrrolidine (CP-H), and SOD as competitive reagents for superoxide provides consistent values of the rate constant for the reaction between DOPA and O2*- being equal to (3.4+/-0.6)x10(5) M(-1) s(-1).The formation of H2O2 during enzymatic oxidation of DOPA by phenoloxidase (PO) has been shown. The H2O2 production was found to be SOD-sensitive. The inhibition of H2O2 production by SOD was about 25% indicating that H2O2 is produced both from superoxide anion and via two-electron reduction of oxygen at the enzyme. The attempts to detect superoxide production during enzymatic oxidation of DOPA using a number of spin traps failed apparently due to high value of the rate constant for DOPA interaction with O2*-.     

The origin of reactive oxygen species in mouse embryos cultured in vitro.

The increase in production of reactive oxygen species such as H2O2 at the G2/M phase of the second cell cycle may be related to the in vitro block to development of mouse 2-cell embryos. The occurrence of the H2O2 rise is independent of the activation of the embryonic genome and of passage through the S, G2 and M phases of the first cell cycle and G1 and M phases of the second cell cycle, but does require the activation of the unfertilized oocyte. The H2O2 is produced via dismutation of superoxide by the enzyme superoxide dismutase. Production of superoxide via mitochondrial, NADPH-oxidase and xanthine/xanthine oxidase systems has been investigated. The evidence suggests that superoxide, and thereby H2O2, is produced by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, but an involvement of the other superoxide generating systems has not been excluded. The relation between H2O2 and development in vitro is discussed.     

In vivo formation of single-strand breaks in DNA by hydrogen peroxide is mediated by the Haber-Weiss reaction

Phenanthroline and bipyridine, strong chelators of iron, protect DNA from single-strand break formation by H2O2 in human fibroblasts. This fact strongly supports the concept that these DNA single-strand breaks are produced by hydroxyl radicals generated by a Fenton-like reaction between intracellular Fe2+ and H2O2: H2O2 + Fe2+----Fe3+ + OH- + OH: Corroborating this idea is the fact that thiourea, an effective OH radical scavenger, prevents the formation of DNA single-strand breaks by H2O2 in nuclei from human fibroblasts. The copper chelator diethyldithiocarbamate, a strong inhibitor of superoxide dismutase, greatly enhances the in vivo production of DNA single-strand breaks by H2O in fibroblasts. This supports the idea that Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+ by superoxide ion: O divided by 2 + Fe3+----O2 + Fe2+; and therefore that the sum of this reaction and the Fenton reaction, namely the so-called Haber-Weiss reaction, H2O2 + O divided by 2----O2 + OH- + OH; represents the mode whereby OH radical is produced from H2O2 in the cell. EDTA completely protects DNA from single-strand break formation in nuclei. The chelator therefore removes iron from the chromatin, and although the Fe-EDTA complex formed is capable of reacting with H2O2, the OH radical generated under these conditions is not close enough to hit DNA. Therefore iron complexed to chromatin functions as catalyst for the Haber-Weiss reaction in vivo, similarly to the role played by Fe-chelates in vitro.     

Oxidation of 2-nitropropane by horseradish peroxidase. Involvement of hydrogen peroxide and of superoxide in the reaction mechanism

Incubation of aqueous solutions of 2-nitropropane in air causes a slow oxidation reaction that generates H(2)O(2). Purified horseradish peroxidase catalyses the oxidation of such preincubated 2-nitropropane solutions according to the equation: [Formula: see text] The pH optimum is 4.5 and K(m) for 2-nitropropane is 16mm. Other nitroalkanes or nitro-aromatics tested are not oxidized at significant rates by peroxidase. H(2)O(2) or 2,4-dichlorophenol increases the rate of 2-nitropropane oxidation by peroxidase. Catalase inhibits the reaction completely. Superoxide dismutase or mannitol, a scavenger of the hydroxyl radical, OH(.), each inhibits partially. Aniline and guaiacol are also powerful inhibitors of 2-nitropropane oxidation. It is suggested that peroxidase uses the traces of H(2)O(2) generated during preincubation of 2-nitropropane to catalyse oxidation of this substrate into a radical species that can reduce O(2) to the superoxide ion, O(2) (-.).O(2) (-.), or OH(.) derived from it, then appears to react with more nitropropane, generating further radicals and H(2)O(2) to continue the oxidation. Inhibition by aniline and guaiacol seems to be due to a competition for H(2)O(2).     

Kinetic analysis and mechanistic aspects of autoxidation of catechins

A peroxidase-based bioelectrochemical sensor of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and a Clark-type oxygen electrode were applied to continuous monitoring and kinetic analysis of the autoxidation of catechins. Four major catechins in green tea, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin, and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, were used as model compounds. It was found that dioxygen (O(2)) is quantitatively reduced to H(2)O(2). The initial rate of autoxidation is suppressed by superoxide dismutase and H(+), but is independent of buffer capacity. Based on these results, a mechanism of autoxidation is proposed; the initial step is the one-electron oxidation of the B ring of catechins by O(2) to generate a superoxide anion (O(2)(*-)) and a semiquinone radical, as supported in part by electron spin resonance measurements. O(2)(*-) works as a stronger one-electron oxidant than O(2) against catechins and is reduced to H(2)O(2). The semiquinone radical is more susceptible to oxidation with O(2) than fully reduced catechins. The autoxidation rate increases with pH. This behavior can be interpreted in terms of the increase in the stability of O(2)(*-) and the semiquinone radical with increasing pH, rather than the acid dissociation of phenolic groups. Cupric ion enhances autoxidation; most probably it functions as a catalyst of the initial oxidation step of catechins. The product cuprous ion can trigger a Fenton reaction to generate hydroxyl radical. On the other hand, borate ion suppresses autoxidation drastically, due to the strong complex formation with catechins. The biological significance of autoxidation and its effectors are also discussed.     

几种氨基酸─铜（Ⅱ）配合物的超氧化物歧化酶活性

用四氮唑蓝光化学还原法对所合成的ＫＣｕ（ＩＤＡ）（Ｓｅｒ）·２Ｈ２Ｏ、ＫＣｕ（ＩＤＡ）（Ａｌａ）·Ｈ２Ｏ、Ｃｕ（ＩＤＡ）（ｅｎ）、ＫＣｕ（ＩＤＡ）（Ｇｌｙ）·Ｈ２Ｏ和Ｃｕ（ＩＤＡ）·２Ｈ２Ｏ（ＩＤＡ＝Ｎ（羧基甲基）－甘氨酸,Ｓｅｒ＝丝氨酸,Ａｌａ＝丙氨酸,ｅｎ＝乙二胺,Ｇｌｙ＝甘氨酸）等５种氨基酸─铜（Ⅱ）配合物进行了活性测定,发现它们均具有天然超氧化物歧化酶活性,其活性依次为０．３４、０．４５、０．５０、０．５４、０．７２Ｃｕμｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１。     

On the mechanism of the Mn3(+)-induced neurotoxicity of dopamine:prevention of quinone-derived oxygen toxicity by DT diaphorase and superoxide dismutase

Dopamine (DA) is rapidly oxidized by Mn3(+)-pyrophosphate to its cyclized o-quinone (cDAoQ), a reaction which can be prevented by NADH, reduced glutathione (GSH) or ascorbic acid. The oxidation of DA by Mn3+, which appears to be irreversible, results in a decrease in the level of DA, but not in a formation of reactive oxygen species, since oxygen is neither consumed nor required in this reaction. The formation of cDAoQ can initiate the generation of superoxide radicals (O2-.) by reduction-oxidation cycling, i.e. one-electron reduction of the quinone by various NADH- or NADPH-dependent flavoproteins to the semiquinone (QH.), which is readily reoxidized by O2 with the concomitant formation of O2-.. This mechanism is believed to underly the cytotoxicity of many quinones. Two-electron reduction of cDAoQ to the hydroquinone can be catalyzed by the flavoprotein DT diaphorase (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase). This enzyme efficiently maintains DA quinone in its fully reduced state, although some reoxidation of the hydroquinone (QH2) is observed (QH2 + O2----QH. + O2-. + H+; QH. + O2----Q + O2-.). In the presence of Mn3+, generated from Mn2+ by O2-. (Mn2+ + 2H+ + O2-.----Mn3+ + H2O2) formed during the autoxidation of DA hydroquinone, the rate of autoxidation is increased dramatically as is the formation of H2O2. Furthermore, cDAoQ is no longer fully reduced and the steady-state ratio between the hydroquinone and the quinone is dependent on the amount of DT diaphorase present. The generation of Mn3+ is inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD), which catalyzes the disproportionation of O2-. to H2O2 and O2. It is noteworthy that addition of SOD does not only result in a decrease in the amount of H2O2 formed during the regeneration of Mn3+, but, in fact, prevents H2O2 formation. Furthermore, in the presence of this enzyme the consumption of O2 is low, as is the oxidation of NADH, due to autoxidation of the hydroquinone, and the cyclized DA o-quinone is found to be fully reduced. These observations can be explained by the newly-discovered role of SOD as a superoxide:semiquinone (QH.) oxidoreductase catalyzing the following reaction: O2-. + QH. + 2H+----QH2 + O2. Thus, the combination of DT diaphorase and SOD is an efficient system for maintaining cDAoQ in its fully reduced state, a prerequisite for detoxication of the quinone by conjugation with sulfate or glucuronic acid. In addition, only minute amounts of reactive oxygen species will be formed, i.e. by the generation of O2-., which through disproportionation to H2O2 and further reduction by ferrous ions can be converted to the hydroxyl radical (OH.). Absence or low levels of these enzymes may create an oxidative stress on the cell and thereby initiate events leading to cell death.     

Inefficient spin trapping of superoxide in the presence of nitric-oxide: implications for studies on nitric-oxide synthase uncoupling

Uncoupling of nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) by deficiency of the substrate L-arginine or the cofactor (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is known to generate the reactive oxygen species H2O2 and superoxide. Discrimination between these two compounds is usually achieved by spin trapping of superoxide. We measured superoxide formation by uncoupled rat neuronal NOS, which contained one equivalent of tightly bound BH4 per dimer, using 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO) as a spin trap. As expected, the Ca2+-stimulated enzyme exhibited reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity that was accompanied by generation of superoxide and H2O2 in the absence of added L-arginine and BH4. Addition of BH4 (10 microM) did not significantly affect the rate of H2O2 formation but almost completely inhibited the apparent formation of superoxide, suggesting direct formation of H2O2. Although L-arginine (0.1 mM) increased the rate of NADPH oxidation about two-fold, the substrate largely attenuated apparent formation of both superoxide and H2O2, indicating that the spin trap did not efficiently outcompete the reaction between NO and superoxide. The efficiency of DEPMPO to scavenge superoxide in the presence of NO was studied by measuring free NO with a Clark-type electrode under conditions of NO/superoxide cogeneration. Neuronal NOS half-saturated with BH4 and the donor compound 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) were used as enzymatic and nonenzymatic sources of NO/superoxide, respectively. Neither of the two systems gave rise to considerable NO signals in the presence of 50-100 mM DEPMPO, and even at 400 mM the spin trap uncovered less than 50% of the NO release that was detectable in the presence of 5000 U/ml superoxide dismutase. These results indicate that DEPMPO and all other currently available superoxide spin traps do not efficiently outcompete the reaction with NO. In addition, the similar behavior of nNOS and SIN-1 provides further evidence for NO as initial product of the NOS reaction.     

The accumulation of superoxide radical during the aerobic action of xanthine oxidase. A requiem for H2O4.

The action of xanthine oxidase upon acetaldehyde or xanthine at pH 10.2 has been shown to be accompanied by substantial accumulation of O2- during the first few minutes of the reaction. H2O2 decreases this accumulation of O2- presumably because of the Haber-Weiss reaction (H2O2+O2- leads to OH- +OH+O2) and very small amounts of superoxide dismutase eliminate it. This accumulation of O2- was demonstrated in terms of a burst of reduction of cytochrome c, seen when the latter compound was added after aerobic preincubation of xanthine oxidase with its substrate. The kinetic peculiarities of the luminescence seen in the presence of luminol, which previously led to the proposal of H2O4-, can now be satisfactorily explained entirely on the basis of known radical intermediates.     

Superoxide dismutase of the eye: relative functions of superoxide dismutase and catalase in protecting the ocular lens from oxidative damage.

1. Activities of superoxide dismutase (superoxide: superoxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.15.1.1) have been estimated in eye tissues. In rabbit eye, superoxide dismutase is present in corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium, lens, iris, ciliary body and retina. In lens the activity is in capsule epithelium. 2. Copper chelator diethyldithiocarbamate inhibited lens superoxide dismutase in vitro and in vivo in rabbit. 3. H2O2 caused inhibition of superoxide dismutase activity of lens extract, and this inhibition was potentiated by the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole (3-aminotriazole) or NaN3. 3-Aminotriazole or NaN3 had no effect on lens superoxide dismutase. Thus endogenous catalase of lens affords protection to the lens superoxide dismutase from inactivation by H2O2. 4. In rabbit having early cataract (vacuolar stage) induced by feeding-3-aminotriazole, there was a decrease in superoxide dismutase of lens, a fall in ascorbic acid of ocular humors and lens, and a 2--3-Fold increase in H2O2 of aqueous humor and vitreous humor. We conclude that catalase of eye affords protection to the lens from H2O2 and it also protects superoxide dismutase of lens from inactivation by H2O2. Superoxide dismutase, in turn, protects the lens from the superoxide radical, O2.-. It is likely that inhibition of these enzymes may lead to production of the highly reactive oxidant, the hydroxyl radical, under pathological conditions when H2O2 concentration in vivo exceeds physiological limits as in cataract induced by 3-aminotriazole. A scheme of reaction mechanism has been proposed to explain the relative functions of ocular catalase and superoxide dismutase. Such a mechanism may be involved in cataractogenic process in the human.     

Pyridine nucleotide-dependent generation of hydrogen peroxide by a particulate fraction from human neutrophils

The catalytic oxidation of [14C]-formate to 14CO2 was adapted to measure H2O2 formation in cellfree system. Standard curves employing glucose-glucose oxidase and xanthine-xanthine oxidase demonstrated linearity between 14CO2 evolution and enzyme concentration. A particulate fraction from human neutrophils was capable of oxidizing [14C]-formate; this reaction was dependent upon the presence of catalase, reduced pyridine nucleotide, and cellular material. Reaction increased with time of incubation and protein concentration, although not in a strictly linear fashion. The pH optimum was approximately 5.5 NADPH was a significantly better substrate than NADH, although both were capable of generating H2O2. The particulate fraction derived from phagocytizing cells was more active than a corresponding fraction from resting cells with either substrate. H2O2 production was abnormal in particulate fractions derived from 2 patients with chronic granulomatous disease. H2O2 production was markedly inhibited by superoxide dismutase or cytochrome c (scavengers of superoxide anion) but not by scavengers of singlet oxygen or hydroxyl radical. Reaction was greatly stimulated by the addition of manganous ion. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the respiratory burst in human neutrophils is initiated by an oxidase that can utilize either NADPH or NADH but exhibits a marked preference for the former. Further, the inhibitor studies strongly support a mechanism involving an initial enzymatic reaction followed by a self-sustaining free radical reaction involving superoxide anion.     

Bleomycin-dependent damage to the bases in DNA is a minor side reaction.

The antitumor antibiotic bleomycin degrades DNA in the presence of ferric ions and H2O2 or in the presence of ferric ions, oxygen, and ascorbic acid. When DNA degradation is measured as formation of base propenals by the thiobarbituric acid assay, it is not inhibited by superoxide dismutase and scavengers of the hydroxyl radical or by catalase (except that catalase inhibits in the bleomycin/ferric ion/H2O2 system by removing H2O2). Using the technique of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring, we show that DNA degradation is accompanied by formation of small amounts of modified DNA bases. The products formed are identical with those generated when hydroxyl radicals react with DNA bases. Base modification is significantly inhibited by catalase and partially inhibited by scavengers of the hydroxyl radical and by superoxide dismutase. We suggest that the bleomycin-oxo-iron ion complex that cleaves the DNA to form base propenals can decompose in a minor side reaction to generate hydroxyl radical, which accounts for the base modification in DNA. However, hydroxyl radical makes no detectable contribution to the base propenal formation.     

The co-oxidation of ammonia to nitrite during the aerobic xanthine oxidase reaction

The xanthine oxidase reaction causes a co-oxidation of NH3 to NO2-, which was inhibitable by superoxide dismutase, catalase, hydroxyl radical scavengers, or by the chelating agents, desferrioxamine or diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid. Hydroxylamine was oxidized to NO2- much more rapidly than was NH3, and in this case superoxide dismutase or the chelating agents inhibited but catalase or the HO. scavengers did not. Hydrazine was not detectably oxidized to NO2-, and NO2- was not oxidized to NO3-, by the xanthine oxidase reaction. These results are accommodated by a reaction scheme involving (a) the metal-catalyzed production of HO. from O2- + H2O2; (b) the oxidation of H3N to H2N. by OH.; (c) the coupling of H2N. with O2- to yield peroxylamine, which hydrolyzes to hydroxylamine plus H2O2; (d) the metal-catalyzed oxidation of HO-NH2 to (Formula: see text), which couples with O2- to yield (Formula: see text), which finally dehydrates to yield NO2-.     

Scavenging of H2O2 and production of oxygen by horseradish peroxidase

Peroxidases catalyze many reactions, the most common being the utilization of H2O2 to oxidize numerous substrates (peroxidative mode). Peroxidases have also been proposed to produce H2O2 via utilization of NAD(P)H, thus providing oxidant either for the first step of lignification or for the "oxidative burst" associated with plant-pathogen interactions. The current study with horseradish peroxidase characterizes a third type of peroxidase activity that mimics the action of catalase; molecular oxygen is produced at the expense of H2O2 in the absence of other reactants. The oxygen production and H2O2-scavenging activities had temperature coefficients, Q10, of nearly 3 and 2, which is consistent with enzymatic reactions. Both activities were inhibited by autoclaving the enzyme and both activities had fairly broad pH optima in the neutral-to-alkaline region. The apparent Km values for the oxygen production and H2O2-scavenging reactions were near 1.0 mM H2O2. Irreversible inactivation of horseradish peroxidase by exposure to high concentrations of H2O2 coincided with the formation of an absorbance peak at 670 nm. Addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to reaction mixtures accelerated the reaction, suggesting that superoxide intermediates were involved. It appears that horseradish peroxidase is capable of using H2O2 both as an oxidant and as a reductant. A model is proposed and the relevance of the mechanism in plant-bacterial systems is discussed.