Detection of a C4a-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate in the reaction of a flavoprotein oxidase

This work describes for the first time the identification of a reaction intermediate, C4a-hydroperoxyflavin, during the oxidative half-reaction of a flavoprotein oxidase, pyranose 2-oxidase (P2O) from Trametes multicolor, by using rapid kinetics. The reduced P2O reacted with oxygen with a forward rate constant of 5.8 x 10 (4) M (-1) s (-1) and a reverse rate constant of 2 s (-1), resulting in the formation of a C4a-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate which decayed with a rate constant of 18 s (-1). The absorption spectrum of the intermediate resembled the spectra of flavin-dependent monooxygenases. A hydrophobic cavity formed at the re side of the flavin ring in the closed state structure of P2O may help in stabilizing the intermediate.