Solvent exchangeable protons and the activation of molecular oxygen: the galactose oxidase reaction

The reduction of O2 to H2O2 requires two protons as well as two electrons. Thus, activation of dioxygen reasonably may involve either general or specific acid catalysis. Consequently, the reduction of O2 to H2O2 could exhibit a kinetic solvent isotope effect (KSIE). The reaction catalyzed by the mononuclear Cu(II) enzyme, galactose oxidase does exhibit a KSIE (+1.55). The pL-rate profile exhibits an alkaline shift in D2O which can be attributed to the differential partitioning of H+ versus D+ between bulk water and a metal-bound H2O (delta pKa = +0.19). A variety of spectral evidence places an equatorial, Cu(II)-liganded water molecule at the active site of galactose oxidase. The analysis of the KSIE data is detailed and the potential generality of the function of such metal-bound H2O at other type 2 Cu(II) sites is discussed.