Hydrogen Peroxide-Dependent Oxidation of 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine in Vacuoles of Mesophyll Cells of Vicia faba L. Participation of Peroxidase in the Oxidation

Peroxidase activity and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) werefound in vacuoles isolated from mesophyll protoplasts of Viciafaba L. A peroxidase isozyme localized in vacuoles migratedto the cathode during electrophoresis at pH 8.7, indicatingthat the vacuole peroxidase was a basic isozyme. When isolatedvacuoles were treated with 2 mM H₂O₂, dopachrome, a productof oxidation of DOPA, was formed in a reaction that was inhibitedby KCN and NaN₃. These results suggest that DOPA can serve asa donor of electrons to the peroxidase in vacuoles. (Received December 25, 1989; Accepted March 22, 1990)