Oscillatory kinetics of the peroxidase-oxidase reaction in an open system. Experimental and theoretical studies

Multiple steady states and oscillatory behavior of a compartmentalized phosphofructokinase system

This paper discusses interacting diffusion and reaction in an open enzyme system. The enzyme, rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase (PFK; ATP:D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11), is inhibited strongly by excess of the substrate ATP. Metabolites diffuse through an inert membrane separating the enzyme from the bulk reacting medium. We demonstrate that such a simple system is able to account for the existence of both oscillatory behavior (limit cycle) and multiple steady states (hysteresis) as well as for the sudden transitions between stable and periodic behaviors. Experimental evidence for time oscillations is given.

Experimental evidence and theoretical discussion for long-term oscillations of phosphofructokinase in a compartmentalized system

The activity of rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.11) has been followed as a function of time under conditions where the enzyme is separated from the bulk solution by an inert membrane. An enzymatic coupling assay allows continuous measurement of the variations in NADH concentration, which is directly related to the enzyme catalytic activity. For given concentrations of substrates (ATP and Fru6P) in the outside reservoir and a given ratio between diffusion coefficients of both substrates, the activity of phosphofructokinase exhibits an oscillatory behavior during a period of about 5 h. The phenomenon is explained in terms of coupling between diffusion of metabolites and non-linear enzyme reaction.

Electrical excitability of artificial enzyme membranes. III. Hysteresis and oscillations observed with immobilized acetylcholinesterase membranes

Experimental evidence for memory and oscillations in artificial acetylcholinesterase membranes is presented. When acetylcholine is injected on one side of an artificial proteinic membrane bearing acetylcholinesterase, a potential difference is recorded as a function of time. The steady-state potential due to the enzyme activity for increasing and decreasing substrate concentrations exhibits a hysteresis loop. The non-linearity of the enzyme reaction coupled with the diffusion constraints cause also some instabilities, such as oscillations of the membrane potential.

The formation of hydrogen cyanide from histidine in the presence of amino acid oxidase and peroxidase

Conditions were sought to increase the yield of HCN from L-histidine incubated with L-amino acid oxidase (L-amino acid:oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.3.2) from snake venom, and horseradish peroxidase (donor:hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7). Small amounts of histidine and high buffer concentrations favored high HCN yields, which reached a maximum of 72%. Imidazole 4-aldehyde and imidazole 4-carboxylic acid were identified among the reaction products, together with CO2, NH3, H2O2 and imidazole acetic acid. The CO2 formed was equal to the histidine oxidized, and to the sum of NH3 plus HCN formed. The production of HCN was associated with an increased O2 uptake, which was established from the beginning of the reaction, with no apparent lag and ranged from 1.2 to 1.6 mumol extra O2 taken up/mumol HCN formed. The system was inhibited by catalase, but added superoxide dismutase caused a small stimulation of both HCN production and O2 consumption, and a larger stimulation of H2O2 accumulation. Added hydroxylamine was cooxidized to nitrite in an amount equimolar with the HCN formed. This nitrite formation was inhibited by superoxide dismutase. The facts could be interpreted in terms of superoxide anion formation during the HCN-producing reaction. cytochrome c, heme, or ferricyanide could be substituted for peroxidase, but were less effective. The initial rates of HCN formation from phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan were higher, but the eventual yields of HCN from these amino acids were lower than those from histidine.

The oscillating peroxidase-oxidase reaction in an open system. Analysis of the reaction mechanism

1. The oscillations in the peroxidase-oxidase reaction in an open system with NADH as the hydrogen donor are caused by the reaction starting and stopping at critical concentrations of the substrates O2 and NADH. The existence of such critical concentrations is typical of branched chain reactions. 2. The critical concentrations of O2 and NADH that determine the initiation of the reaction are mutually dependent. 3. The branching reactions that determine these critical concentrations involve compounds I and II. 4. Superoxide may be involved in the branching reactions by reacting with NADH and ferriperoxidase. At pH 5.1 the rate constant for the latter reaction is determined as 1.5 . 10(5) M-1 . s-1, whereas for the former reaction only an upper limit for the rate constant of 3.5 . 10(4) M-1 . s-1 could be estimated. These relatively low rate constants suggest that alternative branching reactions may also be involved.