Peroxidase pathways

PGH synthase and the related enzyme lipoxygenase occupy a position at the interface of peroxidase chemistry and free radical chemistry and can clearly trigger metabolic activation by both mechanisms. The peroxidase pathway activates compounds such as diethylstilbestrol and aromatic amines whereas the free radical pathway activates polycyclic hydrocarbons (59). Both pathways require synthesis of hydroperoxide in order to trigger oxidation. 

SCHEME 4.3 Cytochrome P450 and peroxidase pathways to hydroperoxo-ferric intermediate or Compound 0 (5). Ferric cytochrome P450 (1) is reduced to the ferrous state (2), which can hind dioxygen to form oxy-ferrous complex (3). Reduction of this complex results in the formation of peroxo-ferric complex (4), which is protonated to give hydroperoxo-ferric complex (5). The same hydroperoxo-ferric complex is formed in peroxidases and catalases via reaction with hydrogen peroxide. 

The eicosanoids are locally active hormones (autocoids) that are derived from precursor polyunsaturated fatty acids. The rate-limiting step in the synthesis of eicosanoids is the phospholipase-regulated release of arachidonic add from membranes. Arachi-donic acid metabolism may follow one of three possible pathways. In the first, the cydooxygenase- peroxidase pathway leads to the formation of the prostenoids - prostaglandins and thromboxanes. In the second, the lipoxygenase pathway yields the leuko-trienes and lipoxins. A third pathway, the cytochrome P-450 mono oxygenase pathway is also involved in the metabolism of arachidonic add. 

Figure 1. Monooxygenase (peroxygenase) versus peroxidase pathways for reaction of the ferryl species ([Fe=0]" "3) with a substrate RH.

THE PENTOSE PHOSPHATE PATHWAY GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE PROTECT ERYTHROCYTES AGAINST HEMOLYSIS... 

Figure 20-3. Role of the pentose phosphate pathway in the glutathione peroxidase reaction of erythrocytes. (G-S-S-G, oxidized glutathione G-SH, reduced glutathione Se, selenium cofactor.)...

In erythrocytes, the pathway has a major function in preventing hemolysis by providing NADPH to maintain glutathione in the reduced state as the substrate for glutathione peroxidase. 

Figure 23-7. Conversion of arachidonicacid to leukotrienesand lipoxins of series 4 via the lipoxygenase pathway. Some similar conversions occur in series 3 and 5 leukotrienes. (HPETE, hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoate HETE, hydroxyeicosatetraenoate , peroxidase (2), leukotriene A4 epoxide hydrolase , glutathione S-transferase ...

Goszczynski S, A Paszczynski, MB Pasti-Grigsby, RL Crawford, DL Crawford (1994) New pathways for degradation of sulfonated azo dyes by microbial peroxidases of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Streptomyces chromofuscus. J Bacterial YIU. 1339-1347. 

Free radicals are by-products of prostaglandin metabolism and may even regulate the activity of the arachidonate pathway. Arachidonic acid, released from lipids as a result of activation of phospholipases by tissue injury or by hormones, may be metabolized by the prostaglandin or leu-kotriene pathways. The peroxidase-catalysed conversion of prostaglandin G2 to prostaglandin H2 (unstable prostanoids) and the mechanism of hydroperoxy fatty acid to the hydroxy fatty acid conversion both yield oxygen radicals, which can be detected by e.s.r. (Rice-Evans et al., 1991). 

Berglund GI, Carlsson GH, Smith AT, Szoke H, Henriksen A, Hajdu J. 2002. The catal3dic pathway of horseradish peroxidase at high resolution. Nature 417 463. 

Schmidt A., Naujoks-Manteuffel C. and Roth G. (1988). Olfactory and vomeronasal projections and the pathway of the Nervus terminalis in ten species of salamanders — a whole mount study employing the horseradish-peroxidase technique. Cell Tissue Res 251, 45-50. 

SCHEME 10.2 Common pathways of QM formation in biological systems, (a) Stepwise two-electron oxidation by cytochrome P450 or a peroxidase, (b) Enzymatic oxidation of a catechol followed by spontaneous isomerization of the resulting n-quinone. (c) Enzymatic hydrolysis of a phosphate ester followed by base-catalyzed elimination of a leaving group from the benzylic position. 

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