Role of heme-protein covalent bonds in mammalian peroxidases. Protection of the heme by a single engineered heme-protein link in horseradish peroxidase

Oxidation of SCN-, Br-, and Cl- (X-) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and other plant and fungal peroxidases results in the addition of HOX to the heme vinyl group. This reaction is not observed with lactoperoxidase (LPO), in which the heme is covalently bound to the protein via two ester bonds between carboxylic side chains and heme methyl groups. To test the hypothesis that the heme of LPO and other mammalian peroxidases is protected from vinyl group modification by the hemeprotein covalent bonds, we prepared the F41E mutant of HRP in which the heme is attached to the protein via a covalent bond between Glu41 and the heme 3-methyl. We also examined the E375D mutant of LPO in which only one of the two normal covalent heme links is retained. The prosthetic heme groups of F41E HRP and E375D LPO are essentially not modified by the HOBr produced by these enzymes. The double E375D/D225E mutant of LPO that can form no covalent bonds is inactive and could not be examined. These results unambiguously demonstrate that a single heme-protein link is sufficient to protect the heme from vinyl group modification even in a protein (HRP) that is normally highly susceptible to this reaction. The results directly establish that one function of the covalent heme-protein bonds in mammalian peroxidases is to protect their prosthetic group from their highly reactive metabolic products.     

N-methyltetrahydro-beta-carboline analogs of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxin are oxidized to neurotoxic beta-carbolinium cations by heme peroxidases

2-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (2-Me-THbetaC) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (2,9-diMe-THbetaC) are naturally occurring analogs of the Parkinsonian neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), whereas their corresponding aromatic 2-methyl-beta-carbolinium cations resemble 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) and are considered potential toxins involved in Parkinson's disease (PD). To become toxicants, 2-methyltetrahydro-beta-carbolines need to be oxidized (aromatized) by human metabolic enzymes to pyridinium-like (beta-carbolinium) cations as occur with MPTP/MPP(+) model. In contrast to MPTP, human MAO-A or -B were not able to oxidize 2-Me-THbetaC to pyridinium-like cations. Neither, cytochrome P-450 2D6 or a mixture of six P450 enzymes carried out this oxidation in a significant manner. However, 2-Me-THbetaC and 2,9-diMe-THbetaC were efficiently oxidized by horseradish peroxidase (HRP), lactoperoxidase (LPO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) to 2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-beta-carbolinium cations (2-Me-DHbetaC(+), 2,9-diMe-DHbetaC(+)) as the main products, and detectable amount of 2-methyl-beta-carbolinium cations (2-Me-betaC(+), 2,9-diMe-betaC(+)). The apparent kinetic parameters (k(cat), k(4)) were similar for HRP and LPO and higher for MPO. Peroxidase inhibitors (hydroxylamine, sodium azide, and ascorbic acid) highly reduced or abolished this oxidation. Although MPTP was not oxidized by peroxidases; its intermediate metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridinium cation (MPDP(+)) was efficiently oxidized to MPP(+) by heme peroxidases. It is concluded that heme peroxidases could be key catalysts responsible for the aromatization (bioactivation) of endogenous and naturally occurring N-methyltetrahydro-beta-carbolines and related protoxins to toxic pyridinium-like cations resembling MPP(+), suggesting a role for these enzymes in toxicological and neurotoxicological processes.     

Naturally-occurring tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids derived from tryptophan are oxidized to bioactive β-carboline alkaloids by heme peroxidases

β-Carbolines are indole alkaloids that occur in plants, foods, and endogenously in mammals and humans, and which exhibit potent biological, psychopharmacological and toxicological activities. They form from naturally-occurring tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids arising from tryptophan by still unknown way and mechanism. Results in this research show that heme peroxidases catalyzed the oxidation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines (i.e. 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid) into aromatic β-carbolines (i.e. norharman and harman, respectively). This oxidation followed a typical catalytic cycle of peroxidases through redox intermediates I, II, and ferric enzyme. Both, plant peroxidases (horseradish peroxidase, HRP) and mammalian peroxidases (myeloperoxidase, MPO and lactoperoxidase, LPO) catalyzed the oxidation in an efficient manner as determined by kinetic parameters (V_MAX and K_M). Oxidation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines was inhibited by peroxidase inhibitors such as sodium azide, ascorbic acid, hydroxylamine and excess of H₂O₂. The formation of aromatic β-carbolines by heme peroxidases can help to explain the presence and activity of these compounds in biological systems.     

How Covalent Heme to Protein Bonds Influence the Formation and Reactivity of Redox Intermediates of a Bacterial Peroxidase

The most striking feature of mammalian peroxidases, including myeloperoxidase and lactoperoxidase (LPO) is the existence of covalent bonds between the prosthetic group and the protein, which has a strong impact on their (electronic) structure and biophysical and chemical properties. Recently, a novel bacterial heme peroxidase with high structural and functional similarities to LPO was described. Being released from Escherichia coli, it contains mainly heme b, which can be autocatalytically modified and covalently bound to the protein by incubation with hydrogen peroxide. In the present study, we investigated the reactivity of these two forms in their ferric, compound I and compound II state in a multi-mixing stopped-flow study. Upon heme modification, the reactions between the ferric proteins with cyanide or H₂O₂ were accelerated. Moreover, apparent bimolecular rate constants of the reaction of compound I with iodide, thiocyanate, bromide, and tyrosine increased significantly and became similar to LPO. Kinetic data are discussed and compared with known structure-function relationships of the mammalian peroxidases LPO and myeloperoxidase.     

Redox thermodynamics of lactoperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase

Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are important constituents of the innate immune system of mammals. These heme enzymes belong to the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily and catalyze the oxidation of thiocyanate, bromide and nitrite to hypothiocyanate, hypobromous acid and nitrogen dioxide that are toxic for invading pathogens. In order to gain a better understanding of the observed differences in substrate specificity and oxidation capacity in relation to heme and protein structure, a comprehensive spectro-electrochemical investigation was performed. The reduction potential (E°′) of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple of EPO and LPO was determined to be −126 mV and −176 mV, respectively (25 °C, pH 7.0). Variable temperature experiments show that EPO and LPO feature different reduction thermodynamics. In particular, reduction of ferric EPO is enthalpically and entropically disfavored, whereas in LPO the entropic term, which selectively stabilizes the oxidized form, prevails on the enthalpic term that favors reduction of Fe(III). The data are discussed with respect to the architecture of the heme cavity and the substrate channel. Comparison with published data for myeloperoxidase demonstrates the effect of heme to protein linkages and heme distortion on the redox chemistry of mammalian peroxidases and in consequence on the enzymatic properties of these physiologically important oxidoreductases.     

A Stable Bacterial Peroxidase with Novel Halogenating Activity and an Autocatalytically Linked Heme Prosthetic Group

Reconstructing the phylogenetic relationships of the main evolutionary lines of the mammalian peroxidases lactoperoxidase and myeloperoxidase revealed the presence of novel bacterial heme peroxidase subfamilies. Here, for the first time, an ancestral bacterial heme peroxidase is shown to possess a very high bromide oxidation activity (besides conventional peroxidase activity). The recombinant protein allowed monitoring of the autocatalytic peroxide-driven formation of covalent heme to protein bonds. Thereby, the high spin ferric rhombic heme spectrum became similar to lactoperoxidase, the standard reduction potential of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple shifted to more positive values (−145 ± 10 mV at pH 7), and the conformational and thermal stability of the protein increased significantly. We discuss structure-function relationships of this new peroxidase in relation to its mammalian counterparts and ask for its putative physiological role.     

Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase produces two chlorinating species

We previously reported that the hemes of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP) undergo vinyl and meso-carbon modifications when the enzymes oxidize chloride ion. Here we demonstrate for ARP that, although both modifications exhibit the same pH profile with an optimum at approximately pH 4.0, monochlorodimedone suppresses the vinyl but not meso-carbon modifications. Furthermore, meso-chlorination occurs when ARP reacts with exogenous HOCl, implicating an Fe(III)-O-Cl intermediate in the reaction. These results establish that (a) the chloro species involved in meso-modification differs from that which reacts with the vinyl groups, (b) equilibration of the vinyl modifying species (HOCl) into the medium occurs more rapidly than vinyl group modification, and (c) the oxidation of chloride by ARP produces two reactive species: HOCl, which adds to the heme vinyl but not meso-positions, and a distinct second species that adds to the meso-carbon.     

Redox intermediates of plant and mammalian peroxidases: a comparative transient-kinetic study of their reactivity toward indole derivatives.

A comparative study on the reactivity of five indole derivatives (tryptamine, N-acetyltryptamine, tryptophan, melatonin, and serotonin), with the redox intermediates compound I (k2) and compound II (k3) of the plant enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the two mammalian enzymes lactoperoxidase (LPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), was performed using the sequential-mixing stopped-flow technique. The calculated bimolecular rate constants (k2, k3) revealed substantial differences regarding the oxidazibility of the substrates by redox intermediates at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. With HRP it was shown that k2 and k3 are mainly determined by the reduction potential (Eo') of the substrate with k2 being 7-45 times higher than k3. Compound I of mammalian peroxidases was a much better oxidant than HRP compound I with the consequence that the influence of the indole structure on k2 of LPO and MPO was small varying by a factor of only 88 and 38, respectively, which is in strong contrast to a factor of 160,000 determined for k2 of HRP. Interestingly, the k3 values for all three enzymes were very similar. Oxidation of substrates by mammalian peroxidase compound II is strongly constrained by the nature of the substrate. The k3 values for the five indoles varied by a factor of 3,570 (LPO) and 200,000 (MPO), suggesting that the reduction potential of compound II of mammalian peroxidase is less positive than that of compound I, which is in contrast to the plant enzyme.     

Roles of distal arginine in activity and stability of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase elucidated by kinetic and NMR analysis of the Arg51Gln, -Asn, -Leu, and -Lys mutants

In heme peroxidases, a distal His residue plays an essential role in the initial two electron oxidation of resting state enzyme to compound I by hydrogen peroxide. A distal Arg residue assists in this process. The contributions of the charge, H-bonding capacity, size, and mobility of this Arg residue to Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP) reactivity and stability have been examined by substituting Arg51 with Gln (retains H-bond donor at N epsilon position), Asn (small size, H-bond donor and acceptor), Leu (similar to Asn, but hydrophobic), and Lys (charge and H-bond donor, but at N zeta position). UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor pH-linked heme changes, compound I formation and reduction, fluoride binding, and thermostability. (1)H NMR spectroscopy enabled heme pocket differences in both resting and cyanide-ligated states of the enzymes to be evaluated and compared with wild-type CIP. We found that the H-bonding capacity of distal Arg is key to fast compound I formation and ligand binding to heme, whereas charge is important for lowering the pK(a) of distal His and for the binding and stabilisation of anionic ligands at heme iron. The properties of the distal Arg residue in CIP, cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) differ significantly in their pH induced transitions and dynamics.     

Substrate specificity of rat sera IgG antibodies with peroxidase and oxidoreductase activities

We have recently shown that intact IgGs from the sera of healthy Wistar rats oxidize 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) in the presence and in the absence of H(2)O(2) similar to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Here we demonstrate for the first time that the peroxidase and oxidoreductase activities of IgGs can efficiently oxidize not only DAB but also o-phenylendiamine, phenol, p-dihydroquinone, alpha-naphthol, and NADH but, in contrast to HRP, cannot oxidize adrenalin. In contrast to IgGs, HRP cannot oxidize phenol, p-dihydroquinone, or alpha-naphthol in the absence of H(2)O(2). In contrast to plant and mammalian peroxidases, IgGs were more universal in their metal dependence. The specific wide repertoire of polyclonal peroxidase and oxidoreductase IgGs oxidizing various substances could play an important role in protecting the organism from oxidative stress and serve as an additional natural system destroying different toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic compounds.     

Influence of Igepal reverse micellar and micellar systems on activity and stability of heme peroxidases

The activities of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) entrapped in reverse micelles of Igepal CO-520 in cyclohexane were studied. When the molar ratio of water to surfactant, w ₀ was ≥13, the activity of HRP encapsulated in the water pool of the reverse micelle was comparable with that measured in buffer. For LPO, however, lower activity was observed after its incorporation into the same system.

The activity of the investigated peroxidases was also measured in an aqueous solution of Igepal CO-720 or after incubation with this surfactant. The enzymes became inactivated in an aqueous micellar solution of Igepal CO-720, although this process was reversible.

The stability of HRP and LPO at 37 or 50°C was lower in the micellar systems than in buffer with the exception for HRP in reverse micelles at 50°C.     

Horseradish peroxidase mutants that autocatalytically modify their prosthetic heme group: insights into mammalian peroxidase heme-protein covalent bonds

The mammalian peroxidases, including myeloperoxidase and lactoperoxidase, bind their prosthetic heme covalently through ester bonds to two of the heme methyl groups. These bonds are autocatalytically formed. No other peroxidase is known to form such bonds. To determine whether features other than an appropriately placed carboxylic acid residue are important for covalent heme binding, we have introduced aspartate and/or glutamic acid residues into horseradish peroxidase, a plant enzyme that exhibits essentially no sequence identity with the mammalian peroxidases. Based on superposition of the horseradish peroxidase and myeloperoxidase structures, the mutated residues were Leu(37), Phe(41), Gly(69), and Ser(73). The F41E mutant was isolated with no covalently bound heme, but the heme was completely covalently bound upon incubation with H(2)O(2). As predicted, the modified heme released from the protein was 3-hydroxymethylheme. The S73E mutant did not covalently bind its heme but oxidized it to the 8-hydroxymethyl derivative. The hydroxyl group in this modified heme derived from the medium. The other mutations gave unstable proteins. The rate of compound I formation for the F41E mutant was 100 times faster after covalent bond formation, but the reduction of compound I to compound II was similar with and without the covalent bond. The results clearly establish that an appropriately situated carboxylic acid group is sufficient for covalent heme attachment, strengthen the proposed mechanism, and suggest that covalent heme attachment in the mammalian peroxidases relates to peroxidase biology or stability rather than to intrinsic catalytic properties.     

Thiocyanate modulates the catalytic activity of mammalian peroxidases

We investigated the potential role of the co-substrate, thiocyanate (SCN-), in modulating the catalytic activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and other members of the mammalian peroxidase superfamily (lactoperoxidase (LPO) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)). Pre-incubation of SCN- with MPO generates a more complex biological setting, because SCN- serves as either a substrate or inhibitor, causing diverse impacts on the MPO heme iron microenvironment. Consistent with this hypothesis, the relationship between the association rate constant of nitric oxide binding to MPO-Fe(III) as a function of SCN- concentration is bell-shaped, with a trough comparable with normal SCN- plasma levels. Rapid kinetic measurements indicate that MPO, EPO, and LPO Compound I formation occur at rates slower than complex decay, and its formation serves to simultaneously catalyze SCN- via 1e- and 2e- oxidation pathways. For the three enzymes, Compound II formation is a fundamental feature of catalysis and allows the enzymes to operate at a fraction of their possible maximum activities. MPO and EPO Compound II is relatively stable and decays gradually within minutes to ground state upon H2O2 exhaustion. In contrast, LPO Compound II is unstable and decays within seconds to ground state, suggesting that SCN- may serve as a substrate for Compound II. Compound II formation can be partially or completely prevented by increasing SCN- concentration, depending on the experimental conditions. Collectively, these results illustrate for the first time the potential mechanistic differences of these three enzymes. A modified kinetic model, which incorporates our current findings with the mammalian peroxidases classic cycle, is presented.     

Formation of reactive halide species by myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase

The formation of chloro- and bromohydrins from 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine following incubation with myeloperoxidase or eosinophil peroxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, chloride and/or bromide was analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. These products were only formed below a certain pH threshold value, that increased with increasing halide concentration. Thermodynamic considerations on halide and pH dependencies of reduction potentials of all redox couples showed that the formation of a given reactive halide species in halide oxidation coupled with the reduction of compound I of heme peroxidases is only possible below a certain pH threshold that depends on halide concentration. The comparison of experimentally derived and calculated data revealed that Cl(2), Br(2), or BrCl will primarily be formed by the myeloperoxidase-H(2)O(2)-halide system. However, the eosinophil peroxidase-H(2)O(2)-halide system forms directly HOCl and HOBr.     

Role of Tyr residues on the protein surface of cationic cell-wall-peroxidase (CWPO-C) from poplar: potential oxidation sites for oxidative polymerization of lignin

It was previously reported that an unique peroxidase isoenzyme, cationic cell-wall-bound peroxidase (CWPO-C), from poplar callus oxidizes sinapyl alcohol, ferrocytochrome c and synthetic lignin polymers, unlike other plant peroxidases. Here, the catalytic mechanism of CWPO-C was investigated using chemical modification and homology modeling. The simulated CWPO-C structure predicts that the entrance to the heme pocket of CWPO-C is the same size as those of other plant peroxidases, suggesting that ferrocytochrome c and synthetic lignin polymers cannot interact with the heme of CWPO-C. Since Trp and Tyr residues are redox-active, such residues located on the protein surface were predicted to be active sites for CWPO-C. Modification of CWPO-C Trp residues did not suppress its oxidation activities toward guaiacol and syringaldazine. On the other hand, modification of CWPO-C Tyr residues using tetranitromethane strongly suppressed its oxidation activities toward syringaldazine and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol by 90%, respectively, and also suppressed its guaiacol oxidation activity to a lesser extent. Ferrocytochrome c was not oxidized by Tyr-modified CWPO-C. These results indicate that the Tyr residues in CWPO-C mediate its oxidation of syringyl compounds and high-molecular-weight substrates. Homology modeling indicates that Tyr-177 and Tyr-74 are located near the heme and exposed on the protein surface of CWPO-C. These results suggest that Tyr residues on the protein surface are considered to be important for the oxidation activities of CWPO-C with a wide range of substrates, and potentially unique oxidation sites for the plant peroxidase family.     

Influence of Igepal reverse micellar and micellar systems on activity and stability of heme peroxidases

The activities of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) entrapped in reverse micelles of Igepal CO-520 in cyclohexane were studied. When the molar ratio of water to surfactant, w₀ was ≥13, the activity of HRP encapsulated in the water pool of the reverse micelle was comparable with that measured in buffer. For LPO, however, lower activity was observed after its incorporation into the same system.

The activity of the investigated peroxidases was also measured in an aqueous solution of Igepal CO-720 or after incubation with this surfactant. The enzymes became inactivated in an aqueous micellar solution of Igepal CO-720, although this process was reversible.

The stability of HRP and LPO at 37 or 50°C was lower in the micellar systems than in buffer with the exception for HRP in reverse micelles at 50°C.     

Interaction of aromatic donor molecules with horseradish peroxidase: identification of the binding site and role of heme iron in the binding and activity

The interaction of aromatic substrates with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was studied. Chemical modification of HRP was performed using diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) and for the first time the amino acid involved in binding with these substrates has been identified. The kinetic parameters for this interaction have been calculated and the role of heme iron in the oxidation of aromatic substrates by HRP has been discussed.     

An analysis of substrate binding interactions in the heme peroxidase enzymes: A structural perspective

The interactions of heme peroxidase enzymes with their substrates have been studied for many years, but only in the last decade or so has structural information begun to appear. This review looks at crystal structures for a number of heme peroxidases in complex with a number of (mainly organic) substrates. It examines the nature and location of the binding interaction, and explores functional similarities and differences across the family.     

Activation of lactoperoxidase by heme‐linked protonation and heme‐independent iodide binding

Lactoperoxidase (LPO), a mammalian secretory heme peroxidase, catalyzes the oxidation of thiocyanate by hydrogen peroxide to produce hypothiocyanate, an antibacterial agent. Although LPO is known to be activated at acidic pH and in the presence of iodide, the structural basis of the activation is not well understood. We have examined the effects of pH and iodide concentration on the catalytic activity and the structure of LPO. Electrochemical and colorimetric assays have shown that the catalytic activity is maximized at pH 4.5. The heme Soret absorption band exhibits a small red‐shift at pH 5.0 upon acidification, which is ascribable to a structural transition from a neutral to an acidic form. Resonance Raman spectra suggest that the heme porphyrin core is slightly contracted and the Fe‐His bond is strengthened in the acidic form compared to the neutral form. The structural change of LPO upon activation at acidic pH is similar to that observed for myeloperoxidase, another mammalian heme peroxidase, upon activation at neutral pH. Binding of iodide enhances the catalytic activity of LPO without affecting either the optimum pH of activity or the heme structure, implying that the iodide binding occurs at a protein site away from the heme‐linked protonation site. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 113–120, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com     

植物过氧化物酶超家族的分子结构

过氧化物酶广泛存在于生物中。基于序列相似性比较,可将真菌、细菌和植物来源的过氧化物酶归为一个超家族－植物过氧化物酶超家族。作者对近几年来植物过氧化物酶超家族的分子结构与功能研究进展,从过氧化物酶的辅基（血红素）微循环结构、过氧化物酶超家族的序列结构域,以及酶分子中底物结合位点和Ca^2＋结合位点的结构等方面作了简要评述。