The effect of iron to manganese substitution on microperoxidase 8 catalysed peroxidase and cytochrome P450 type of catalysis

 This study describes the catalytic properties of manganese microperoxidase 8 [Mn(III)MP8] compared to iron microperoxidase 8 [Fe(III)MP8]. The mini-enzymes were tested for pH-dependent activity and operational stability in peroxidase-type conversions, using 2-methoxyphenol and 3,3′-dimethoxybenzidine, and in a cytochrome P450-like oxygen transfer reaction converting aniline to para-aminophenol. For the peroxidase type of conversions the Fe to Mn replacement resulted in a less than 10-fold decrease in the activity at optimal pH, whereas the aniline para-hydroxylation is reduced at least 30-fold. In addition it was observed that the peroxidase type of conversions are all fully blocked by ascorbate and that aniline para-hydroxylation by Fe(III)MP8 is increased by ascorbate whereas aniline para-hydroxylation by Mn(III)MP8 is inhibited by ascorbate. Altogether these results indicate that different types of reactive metal oxygen intermediates are involved in the various conversions. Compound I/II, scavenged by ascorbate, may be the reactive species responsible for the peroxidase reactions, the polymerization of aniline and (part of) the oxygen transfer to aniline in the absence of ascorbate. The para-hydroxylation of aniline by Fe(III)MP8, in the presence of ascorbate, must be mediated by another reactive iron-oxo species which could be the electrophilic metal(III) hydroperoxide anion of microperoxidase 8 [M(III)OOH MP8]. The lower oxidative potential of Mn, compared to Fe, may affect the reactivity of both compound I/II and the metal(III) hydroperoxide anion intermediate, explaining the differential effect of the Fe to Mn substitution on the pH-dependent behavior, the rate of catalysis and the operational stability of MP8. Received: 29 September 1998 / Accepted: 16 February 1999