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Myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophil peroxidase, lactoperoxidase, and thyroid peroxidase are heme-containing oxidoreductases (EC 1.7.1.11), which bind ligands and/or undergo a series of redox reactions. Though sharing functional and structural homology, reflecting their phylogenetic origin, differences are observed regarding their spectral features, substrate specificities, redox properties, and kinetics of interconversion of the relevant redox intermediates ferric and ferrous peroxidase, compound I, compound II, and compound III. Depending on substrate availability, these heme enzymes path through the halogenation cycle and/or the peroxidase cycle and/or act as poor (pseudo-)catalases. Based on the published crystal structures of free MPO and its complexes with cyanide, bromide and thiocyanate as well as on sequence analysis and modeling, we critically discuss structure-function relationships. This analysis highlights similarities and distinguishing features within the mammalian peroxidases and intents to provide the molecular and enzymatic basis to understand the prominent role of these heme enzymes in host defense against infection, hormone biosynthesis, and pathogenesis.

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is found in mucosal surfaces and exocrine secretions including milk, tears and saliva and has physiological significance in antimicrobial defense. Its predominant physiological role is to convert hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate in hypothiocyanite. In this study, the standard reduction potentials of all redox couples involved in the halogenation and peroxidase cycle of LPO have been determined by multi-mixing stopped-flow spectroscopy. The standard reduction potentials of the redox couples compound I/native LPO, compound I/compound II of LPO, and compound II/native LPO are (1.09 +/- 0.01) V, (1.14 +/- 0.02) V, and (1.04 +/- 0.02) V, respectively, at pH 7 and 25 degrees C. Thus, for the first time, a full description of these important thermodynamic parameters of lactoperoxidase has been performed, allowing a better understanding in the substantial differences in the oxidation of two- and one-electron donors by LPO and other members of the mammalian heme peroxidase superfamily.

In human myeloperoxidase the heme is covalently attached to the protein via two ester linkages between the carboxyl groups of Glu242 and Asp94 and modified methyl groups on pyrrole rings A and C of the heme as well as a sulfonium ion linkage between the sulfur atom of Met243 and the beta-carbon of the vinyl group on pyrrole ring A. In the present study, wild-type recombinant myeloperoxidase (recMPO) and the variant Glu242Gln were produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells and investigated in a comparative sequential-mixing stopped-flow study in order to elucidate the role of the Glu242-heme ester linkage in the individual reaction steps of both the halogenation and peroxidase cycle. Disruption of the ester bond increased heme flexibility, blue shifted the UV-vis spectrum, and, compared with recMPO, decelerated cyanide binding (1.25 x 10(4) versus 1.6 x 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at pH 7 and 25 degrees C) as well as compound I formation mediated by either hydrogen peroxide (7.8 x 10(5) versus 1.9 x 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)) or hypochlorous acid (7.5 x 10(5) versus 2.3 x 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)). The overall chlorination and bromination activity of Glu242Gln was 2.0% and 24% of recMPO. The apparent bimolecular rate constants of compound I reduction by chloride (65 M(-)(1) s(-)(1)), bromide (5.4 x 10(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)), iodide (6.4 x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)), and thiocyanate (2.2 x10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)) were 500, 25, 21, and 63 times decreased compared with recMPO. By contrast, Glu242Gln compound I reduction by tyrosine was only 5.4 times decreased, whereas tyrosine-mediated compound II reduction was 60 times slower compared with recMPO. The effects of exchange of Glu242 on electron transfer reactions are discussed.

With the exception of catalase-peroxidases, heme peroxidases show no significant ability to oxidize hydrogen peroxide and are trapped and inactivated in the compound III form by H2O2 in the absence of one-electron donors. Interestingly, some KatG variants, which lost the catalatic activity, form compound III easily. Here, we compared the kinetics of interconversion of ferrous enzymes, compound II and compound III of wild-type Synechocystis KatG, the variant Y249F, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). It is shown that dioxygen binding to ferrous KatG and Y249F is reversible and monophasic with apparent bimolecular rate constants of (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (pH 7, 25 degrees C), similar to HRP. The dissociation constants (KD) of the ferrous-dioxygen were calculated to be 84 microm (wild-type KatG) and 129 microm (Y249F), higher than that in HRP (1.9 microm). Ferrous Y249F and HRP can also heterolytically cleave hydrogen peroxide, forming water and an oxoferryl-type compound II at similar rates ((2.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (pH 7, 25 degrees C)). Significant differences were observed in the H2O2-mediated conversion of compound II to compound III as well as in the spectral features of compound II. When compared with HRP and other heme peroxidases, in Y249F, this reaction is significantly faster ((1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1))). Ferrous wild-type KatG was also rapidly converted by hydrogen peroxide in a two-phasic reaction via compound II to compound III (approximately 2.0 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), the latter being also efficiently transformed to ferric KatG. These findings are discussed with respect to a proposed mechanism for the catalatic activity.

Three genes encoding heme hydroperoxidases (katA, katB, and katC) have been identified in the soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. The recombinant proteins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in order toachieve a spectral and kinetic characterization. The three proteins contain heme b with high-spin Fe(III). KatB is an acidic bifunctional homodimeric catalase-peroxidase exhibiting both catalase (k c a t = 2400 s - 1 ) and peroxidase activity and having a high affinity for hydrogen peroxide (apparent K M = 1.6 mM). KatA and KatC are acidic monofunctional homotetrameric catalases. Although different in size (KatA is a small subunit catalase while KatC is a large subunit catalase) both enzymes exhibit the same heme type and a similar affinity for H 2 O 2 (apparent K M values of 160 and 150 mM). However, the turnover rate of KatA (k c a t = 279000 s - 1 ) exceeds that of KatC (k c a t = 3100 s - 1 ) significantly. The kinetic parameters are in good agreement with the physiological role of these heme proteins. KatB is the housekeeping hydroperoxidase exhibiting the highest affinity for hydrogen peroxide, while KatA has the lowest H 2 O 2 affinity but the highest k c a t /K M value (1.75 x 10 6 M - 1 s - 1 ), in agreement with the hydrogen peroxide inducibility of the encoding gene. Moreover, the lower catalytic efficiency of KatC (2.1 × 10 4 M - 1 s - 1 ) appears to be enough for growing in the stationary phase and/or under heat or salt stress (conditions that are known to favor katC expression).

Structural and biochemical characterization of aspartate 152 at the distal heme side of catalase-peroxidase (KatG) from Synechocystis PCC 6803 reveals an important functional role for this residue. In the wild-type protein, the side chain carboxyl group of Asp152 is 7.8 A apart from the heme iron and is hydrogen-bonded to two water molecules and a KatG-specific large loop. We have prepared the site-specific variants Asp152Asn, Asp152Ser, Asp152Trp, and Pro151Ala. Exchange of Asp152 exhibited dramatic consequences on the bifunctional activity of this unique peroxidase. The turnover number of catalase activity of Asp152Asn is 2.7%, Asp152Ser 5.7%, and Asp152Trp is 0.6% of wild-type activity. By contrast, the peroxidase activity of the Asp152 variants was 2-7 times higher than that of wild-type KatG or Pro151Ala. The KatG-specific pH profile of the catalase activity was completely different in these variants and exchange of Asp152 made it possible to follow the transition of the ferric enzyme to the redox intermediate compound I by hydrogen peroxide spectroscopically and to determine the corresponding bimolecular rate constant to be 7.5 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) (pH 7 and 15 degrees C). The reactivity of compound I toward aromatic one-electron donors was enhanced in the Asp152 variants compared with the wild-type protein, whereas the reactivity toward hydrogen peroxide was dramatically decreased. A mechanism for the hydrogen peroxide oxidation, which is different from monofunctional catalases and involves the distal residues Trp122 and Asp152, is proposed.

Catalase-peroxidases (KatGs) are unique in exhibiting an overwhelming catalase activity and a peroxidase activity of broad specificity. Similar to other peroxidases the distal histidine in KatGs forms a hydrogen bond with an adjacent conserved asparagine. To investigate the catalytic role(s) of this potential hydrogen bond in the bifunctional activity of KatGs, Asn153 in Synechocystis KatG was replaced with either Ala (Asn153fiAla) or Asp (Asn153fiAsp). Both variants exhibit an overall peroxidase activity similar with wild-type KatG. Cyanide binding is monophasic, however, the second-order binding rates are reduced to 5.4% (Asn153fiAla) and 9.5% (Asn153fiAsp) of the value of native KatG [(4.8 ± 0.4) · 10 5 M )1 AEs )1 at pH 7 and 15 � C]. The turnover number of catalase activity of Asn153fiAla is 6% and that of Asn153fiAsp is 16.5% of wild-type activity. Stopped-flow analysis of the reaction of the ferric forms with H2O2 suggest that exchange of Asn did not shift significantly the ratio of rates of H2O2-mediated compound I formation and reduction. Both rates seem to be reduced most probably because (a) the lower basicity of His123 hampers its function as acid-base catalyst and (b) Asn153 is part of an extended KatG-typical H-bond network, the integrity of which seems to be essential to provide optimal conditions for binding and oxidation of the second H2O2 molecule necessary in the catalase reaction.

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is found in mucosal surfaces and exocrine secretions, including milk, tears, and saliva, and has physiological significance in antimicrobial defense which involves (pseudo-) halide oxidation. This study for the first time presents transient kinetic measurements of the reactivity of its competent redox intermediate compound I with halides and thiocyanate, using the sequential stopped-flow technique. Compound I was produced with either H(2)O(2) [(1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)] or hypochlorous acid [(3.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1) (s-1)]. At pH 7 and 15 degrees C, the two-electron reduction of compound I to native LPO by bromide and iodide has a second-order rate constant of (4.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and (1.2 +/- 0.04) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. With thiocyanate the reaction is extremely fast (2.0 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)), whereas chloride cannot function as electron donor. The results are discussed with respect to known kinetic data of homologous mammalian peroxidases and to the physiological role of LPO in antimicrobial defense.

Spectral and kinetic features of the redox intermediates of human recombinant unprocessed monomeric myeloperoxidase (recMPO), purified from an engineered Chinese hamster ovary cell line, were studied by the multi-mixing stopped-flow technique. Both the ferric protein and compounds I and II showed essentially the same kinetic behavior as the mature dimeric protein (MPO) isolated from polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Firstly, hydrogen peroxide mediated both oxidation of ferric recMPO to compound I (1.9 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), pH 7 and 15 degrees C) and reduction of compound I to compound II (3.0 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), pH 7 and 15 degrees C). With chloride, bromide, iodide and thiocyanate compound I was reduced back to the ferric enzyme (3.6 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), 1.4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), 1.4 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and 1.4 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), respectively), whereas the endogenous one-electron donor ascorbate mediated transformation of compound I to compound II (2.3 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)) and of compound II back to the resting enzyme (5.0 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)). Comparing the data of this study with those known from the mature enzyme strongly suggests that the processing of the precursor enzyme (recMPO) into the mature form occurs without structural changes at the active site and that the subunits in the mature dimeric enzyme work independently.

The reaction of human myeloperoxidase (MPO) with hypochlorous acid (HOCl) was investigated by conventional stopped-flow spectroscopy at pH 5, 7, and 9. In the reaction of MPO with HOCl, compound I is formed. Its formation is strongly dependent on pH. HOCl (rather than OCl-) reacts with the unprotonated enzyme in its ferric state. Apparent second-order rate constants were determined to be 8.1 x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1) (pH 5), 2.0 x 10(8) M(-1)s(-1) (pH 7) and 2.0 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1) (pH 9) at 15 degrees C. Furthermore, the kinetics and spectra of the reactions of halides and thiocyanate and of physiologically relevant one-electron donors (ascorbate, nitrite, tyrosine and hydrogen peroxide) with this compound I were investigated using the sequential-mixing technique. The results show conclusively that the redox intermediates formed upon addition of either hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorous acid to native MPO exhibit the same spectral features and reactivities and thus are identical. In stopped-flow investigations, the MPO/HOCl system has some advantage since: (i) in contrast to H2O2, HOCl cannot function as a one-electron donor of compound I; and (ii) MPO can easily be prevented from cycling by addition of methionine as HOCl scavenger. As a consequence, the observed absorbance changes are bigger and errors in data analysis are smaller.

Nitric oxide-derived oxidants (e.g., peroxynitrite) are believed to participate in antimicrobial activities as part of normal host defenses but also in oxidative tissue injury in inflammatory disorders. A similar role is ascribed to the heme enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO), the most abundant protein of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which are the terminal phagocytosing effector cells of the innate immune system. Concomitant production of peroxynitrite and release of millimolar MPO are characteristic events during phagocytosis. In order to understand the mode of interaction between MPO and peroxynitrite, we have performed a comprehensive stopped-flow investigation of the reaction between all physiological relevant redox intermediates of MPO and peroxynitrite. Both iron(III) MPO and iron(II) MPO are rapidly converted to compound II by peroxynitrite in monophasic reactions with calculated rate constants of (6.8+/-0.1) x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1) and (1.3+/-0.2) x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1), respectively (pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C). Besides these one- and two-electron reduction reactions of peroxynitrite, which produce nitrogen dioxide and nitrite, a one-electron oxidation to the oxoperoxonitrogen radical must occur in the fast monophasic transition of compound I to compound II mediated by peroxynitrite at pH 7.0 [(7.6+/-0.1) x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1)]. In addition, peroxynitrite induced a steady-state transition from compound III to compound II with a rate of (1.0+/-0.3) x 10(4) M(-1)s(-1). Thus, the interconversion among the various oxidation states of MPO that is prompted by peroxynitrite is remarkable. Reaction mechanisms are proposed and the physiological relevance is discussed.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the most powerful oxidant produced by human neutrophils and contributes to the damage caused by these inflammatory cells. It is produced from H2O2 and chloride by the heme enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). Based on findings that betalains provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, we performed the present kinetic study on the interaction between the betalains, betanin and indicaxanthin, with the redox intermediates, compound I and compound II of MPO, and its major cytotoxic product HOCl. It is shown that both betalains are good peroxidase substrates for MPO and function as one-electron reductants of its redox intermediates, compound I and compound II. Compound I is reduced to compound II with a second-order rate constant of (1.5+/-0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) (betanin) and (1.1+/-0.2) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) (indicaxanthin), respectively, at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. Formation of ferric (native) MPO from compound II occurs with a second-order rate constant of (1.1+/-0.1) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (betanin) and (2.9+/-0.1) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (indicaxanthin), respectively. In addition, both betalains can effectively scavenge hypochlorous acid with determined rates of (1.8+/-0.2) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) (betanin) and (7.7+/-0.1) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) (indicaxanthin) at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. At neutral pH and depending on their concentration, both betalains can exhibit a stimulating and inhibitory effect on the chlorination activity of MPO, whereas at pH 5.0 only inhibitory effects were observed even at micromolar concentrations. These findings are discussed with respect to our knowledge of the enzymatic mechanisms of MPO.

With the exception of catalase-peroxidases, heme peroxidases show no significant ability to oxidize hydrogen peroxide and are trapped and inactivated in the compound III form by H2O2 in the absence of one-electron donors. Interestingly, some KatG variants, which lost the catalatic activity, form compound III easily. Here, we compared the kinetics of interconversion of ferrous enzymes, compound II and compound III of wild-type Synechocystis KatG, the variant Y249F, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). It is shown that dioxygen binding to ferrous KatG and Y249F is reversible and monophasic with apparent bimolecular rate constants of (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and (1.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (pH 7, 25 degrees C), similar to HRP. The dissociation constants (KD) of the ferrous-dioxygen were calculated to be 84 microm (wild-type KatG) and 129 microm (Y249F), higher than that in HRP (1.9 microm). Ferrous Y249F and HRP can also heterolytically cleave hydrogen peroxide, forming water and an oxoferryl-type compound II at similar rates ((2.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) (pH 7, 25 degrees C)). Significant differences were observed in the H2O2-mediated conversion of compound II to compound III as well as in the spectral features of compound II. When compared with HRP and other heme peroxidases, in Y249F, this reaction is significantly faster ((1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1))). Ferrous wild-type KatG was also rapidly converted by hydrogen peroxide in a two-phasic reaction via compound II to compound III (approximately 2.0 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), the latter being also efficiently transformed to ferric KatG. These findings are discussed with respect to a proposed mechanism for the catalatic activity.

Myeloperoxidase plays a fundamental role in oxidant production by neutrophils. It uses hydrogen peroxide and chloride to catalyze the production of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which contributes to both bacterial killing and oxidative injury of host tissue. Thus, MPO is an interesting target for anti-inflammatory therapy. Here, based on the extraordinary and MPO-specific redox properties of its intermediates compound I and compound II, we present a rational approach in selection and design of reversible inhibitors of HOCl production mediated by MPO. In detail, indole and tryptamine derivatives were investigated for their ability to reduce compounds I and II and to affect the chlorinating activity of MPO. It is shown that these aromatic one-electron donors bound to the hydrophobic pocket at the distal heme cavity and were oxidized efficiently by compound I (k3), which has a one-electron reduction potential of 1.35 V. By contrast, compound II (E degrees ' of the compound II/ferric couple is 0.97 V) reduction (k4) was extremely slow. As a consequence compound II, which does not participate in the halogenation cycle, accumulated. The extent of chlorinating activity inhibition (IC50) was related to the k3/k4 ratio. The most efficient inhibitors were 5-fluorotryptamine and 5-chlorotryptamine with IC50 of 0.79 microM and 0.73 microM and k3/k4 ratios of 386,000 and 224,000, respectively. The reversible mechanism of inhibition is discussed with respect to the enzymology of MPO and the development of drugs against HOCl-dependent tissue damage.

Myeloperoxidase, eosinophil peroxidase and lactoperoxidase are heme-containing oxidoreductases, which undergo a series of redox reactions. Though sharing functional and structural homology, reflecting their phylogenetic origin, differences are observed regarding their spectral features, substrate specificities, redox properties and kinetics of interconversion of the relevant redox intermediates ferric and ferrous peroxidase, compound I, compound II and compound III. Depending on substrate availability, these heme enzymes path through the halogenation cycle and/or the peroxidase cycle and/or act as poor (pseudo-) catalases.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), which is involved in host defence and inflammation, is a unique peroxidase in having a globin-like standard reduction potential of the ferric/ferrous couple. Intravacuolar and exogenous MPO released from stimulated neutrophils has been shown to exist in the oxyferrous form, called compound III. To investigate the reactivity of ferrous MPO with molecular oxygen, a stopped-flow kinetic analysis was performed. In the absence of dioxygen, ferrous MPO decays to ferric MPO (0.04 s −1 at pH 8 versus 1.4 s −1 at pH 5). At pH 7.0 and 25 °C, compound III formation (i.e., binding of dioxygen to ferrous MPO) occurs with a rate constant of (1.1 ± 0.1) × 10 4 M −1 s −1 . The rate doubles at pH 5.0 and oxygen binding is reversible. At pH 7.0, the dissociation equilibrium constant of the oxyferrous form is (173 ± 12) μM. The rate constant of dioxygen dissociation from compound III is much higher than conversion of compound III to ferric MPO (which is not affected by the oxygen concentration). This allows an efficient transition of compound III to redox intermediates which actually participate in the peroxidase or halogenation cycle of MPO.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is one of the essential components of the antimicrobial systems of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. It is unique in having a globin-like standard reduction potential of the ferric/ferrous couple. Here, it is shown that ferrous MPO heterolytically cleaves hydrogen peroxide forming water and oxyferryl MPO (compound II). The two-electron oxidation reaction follows second-order kinetics with the apparent bimolecular rate constant being (6.8 ± 0.6) × 10 4 M −1 s −1 at pH 7.0. After depletion of (micromolar) H 2 O 2 compound II slowly decays to ferric MPO, whereas upon addition of millimolar H 2 O 2 to ferrous MPO, compound III (oxyperoxidase) is formed in a sequence of two reactions involving compound II formation and its direct reaction with H 2 O 2 , which also follows second-order kinetics [(78 ± 2) M −1 s −1 at pH 7.0]. It is discussed how these reactions contribute to the interconversion of compound II and compound III and could explain the catalase activity of MPO.

Catalase-peroxidases (KatGs) are unique in exhibiting an overwhelming catalase activity and a peroxidase activity of broad specificity. Similar to other peroxidases the distal histidine in KatGs forms a hydrogen bond with an adjacent conserved asparagine. To investigate the catalytic role(s) of this potential hydrogen bond in the bifunctional activity of KatGs, Asn153 in Synechocystis KatG was replaced with either Ala (Asn153--Ala) or Asp (Asn153--Asp). Both variants exhibit an overall peroxidase activity similar with wild-type KatG. Cyanide binding is monophasic, however, the second-order binding rates are reduced to 5.4% (Asn153--Ala) and 9.5% (Asn153--Asp) of the value of native KatG [(4.8 +/- 0.4) x 105 m-1.s-1 at pH 7 and 15 degrees C]. The turnover number of catalase activity of Asn153--Ala is 6% and that of Asn153--Asp is 16.5% of wild-type activity. Stopped-flow analysis of the reaction of the ferric forms with H2O2 suggest that exchange of Asn did not shift significantly the ratio of rates of H2O2-mediated compound I formation and reduction. Both rates seem to be reduced most probably because (a) the lower basicity of His123 hampers its function as acid-base catalyst and (b) Asn153 is part of an extended KatG-typical H-bond network, the integrity of which seems to be essential to provide optimal conditions for binding and oxidation of the second H2O2 molecule necessary in the catalase reaction.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an important component of the neutrophil's antimicrobial armory and has been implicated in promoting tissue damage in numerous inflammatory diseases. For the first time the standard reduction potential of the redox couple compound II/native enzyme has been determined to be (0.97+/-0.01)V at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. This was achieved by rapid mixing of preformed compound II with either tyrosine or nitrite by using the sequential-mixing stopped-flow technique and measuring spectrophotometrically the concentrations of the reacting species and products at equilibrium. Using the recently determined standard reduction potential for the couple compound I/native enzyme (1.16 V), the reduction potential of the couple compound I/compound II was calculated to be 1.35 V at pH 7 and 25 degrees C. These data reveal substantial differences between the two known heme peroxidase superfamilies and reflect the dramatic differences observed in the oxidisability of substrates by the MPO redox intermediates compound I and compound II.

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 oxidizability of the substrates by redox intermediates at pH 7.0 and 25°C. With HRP it was shown that k2 and k3 are mainly determined by the reduction potential (E°′) 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 stronly 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.

Eosinophil peroxidase, the major granule protein in eosinophils, is the least studied human peroxidase. Here, we have performed spectral and kinetic measurements to study the nature of eosinophil peroxidase intermediates, compounds I and II, and their reduction by the endogenous one-electron donors ascorbate and tyrosine using the sequential-mixing stopped-flow technique. We demonstrate that the peroxidase cycle of eosinophil peroxidase involves a ferryl/porphyrin radical compound I and a ferryl compound II. In the absence of electron donors, compound I is shown to be transformed to a species with a compound II-like spectrum. In the presence of ascorbate or tyrosine compound I is reduced to compound II with a second-order rate constant of (1.0+/-0.2)x10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and (3.5+/-0.2)x10(5) M(-1) s(-1), respectively (pH 7.0, 15 degrees C). Compound II is then reduced by ascorbate and tyrosine to native enzyme with a second-order rate constant of (6.7+/-0.06)x10(3) M(-1) s(-1) and (2.7+/-0.06)x10(4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. This study revealed that eosinophil peroxidase compounds I and II are able to react with tyrosine and ascorbate via one-electron oxidations and therefore generate monodehydroascorbate and tyrosyl radicals. The relatively fast rates of the compound I reduction demonstrate that these reactions may take place in vivo and are physiologically relevant.

The reaction of native myeloperoxidase (MPO) and its redox intermediate compound I with hydrogen peroxide, ethyl hydroperoxide, peroxyacetic acid, t -butyl hydroperoxide, 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and cumene hydroperoxide was studied by multi-mixing stopped-flow techniques. Hydroperoxides are decomposed by MPO by two mechanisms. Firstly, the hydroperoxide undergoes a two-electron reduction to its corresponding alcohol and heme iron is oxidized to compound I. At pH 7 and 15°C, the rate constant of the reaction between 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and ferric MPO was similar to that with hydrogen peroxide (1.8×10 7 M −1 s −1 and 1.4×10 7 M −1 s −1 , respectively). With the exception of t -butyl hydroperoxide, the rates of compound I formation varied between 5.2×10 5 M −1 s −1 and 2.7×10 6 M −1 s −1 . Secondly, compound I can abstract hydrogen from these peroxides, producing peroxyl radicals and compound II. Compound I reduction is shown to be more than two orders of magnitude slower than compound I formation. Again, with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid this reaction is most effective (6.6×10 4 M −1 s −1 at pH 7 and 15°C). Both reactions are controlled by the same ionizable group (average p K a of about 4.0) which has to be in its conjugated base form for reaction.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is the most abundant protein in neutrophils and plays a central role in microbial killing and inflammatory tissue damage. Because most of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs contain a thiol group, it is necessary to understand how these substrates are oxidized by MPO. We have performed transient kinetic measurements to study the oxidation of 14 aliphatic and aromatic mono- and dithiols by the MPO intermediates, Compound I (k3) and Compound II (k4), using sequential mixing stopped-flow techniques. The one-electron reduction of Compound I by aromatic thiols (e.g. methimidazole, 2-mercaptopurine and 6-mercaptopurine) varied by less than a factor of seven (between 1.39 +/- 0.12 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and 9.16 +/- 1.63 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), whereas reduction by aliphatic thiols was demonstrated to depend on their overall net charge and hydrophobic character and not on the percentage of thiol deprotonation or redox potential. Cysteamine, cysteine methyl ester, cysteine ethyl ester and alpha-lipoic acid showed k3 values comparable to aromatic thiols, whereas a free carboxy group (e.g. cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione) diminished k3 dramatically. The one-electron reduction of Compound II was far more constrained by the nature of the substrate. Reduction by methimidazole, 2-mercaptopurine and 6-mercaptopurine showed second-order rate constants (k4) of 1.33 +/- 0.08 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1), 5.25 +/- 0.07 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) and 3.03 +/- 0.07 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). Even at high concentrations cysteine, penicillamine and glutathione could not reduce Compound II, whereas cysteamine (4.27 +/- 0.05 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)), cysteine methyl ester (8.14 +/- 0.08 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)), cysteine ethyl ester (3.76 +/- 0.17 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)) and alpha-lipoic acid (4.78 +/- 0.07 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)) were demonstrated to reduce Compound II and thus could be expected to be oxidized by MPO without co-substrates.