Peroxidase: a novel pathway for chemical oxidation in human term placenta

Hydrogen peroxide-dependent oxidation of xenobiotics in a crude fraction of human term placental membranes (nuclei, mitochondria and microsomes) was investigated. Guaiacol was employed as a model substrate. The rate of its oxidation was found to be dependent on the concentration of protein, H2O2 and the substrate as well as the pH of the buffer. Several other classical substrates for peroxidases from different sources viz. pyrogallol, benzidine, p-PDA, DMBD, ABTS, TMPD and TMBD and endogenous chemicals such as bilirubin and epinephrine were also found to undergo oxidation. The xenobiotic oxidizing capacity of the membranes was retained by CaCl2 (0.5 M) extract as well as by the partially purified enzyme obtained by affinity (Con A) chromatography. The H2O2-dependent chemical oxidation by the partially purified peroxidase was inhibited by NaN3 and KCN (IC50 values 41 and 23 microM respectively). These results suggest that peroxidase may be a major enzyme in human term placenta capable of oxidation of endogenous chemicals and xenobiotics.