Redox thermodynamics of lactoperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase

Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are important constituents of the innate immunesystem of mammals. These heme enzymes belong to the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily and catalyzethe oxidation of thiocyanate, bromide and nitrite to hypothiocyanate, hypobromous acid and nitrogendioxide that are toxic for invading pathogens. In order to gain a better understanding of the observeddifferences in substrate specificity and oxidation capacity in relation to heme and protein structure, acomprehensive spectro-electrochemical investigation was performed. The reduction potential (E0) ofthe Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple of EPO and LPO was determined to be 126 mV and 176 mV, respectively(25 C, pH 7.0). Variable temperature experiments show that EPO and LPO feature different reductionthermodynamics. In particular, reduction of ferric EPO is enthalpically and entropically disfavored,whereas in LPO the entropic term, which selectively stabilizes the oxidized form, prevails on the enthalpicterm that favors reduction of Fe(III). The data are discussed with respect to the architecture of theheme cavity and the substrate channel. Comparison with published data for myeloperoxidase demonstratesthe effect of heme to protein linkages and heme distortion on the redox chemistry of mammalianperoxidases and in consequence on the enzymatic properties of these physiologically importantoxidoreductases.