Reductive activity of a manganese-dependent peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

A manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium catalyzed the reduction of cytochrome c in a reaction mixture containing H2O2, Mn(II)-tartrate, and p-hydroquinone. Electron spin resonance studies have shown that the hydroquinone-dependent reductive activity of MnP is due to the benzosemiquinone formed upon the one-electron oxidation of p-hydroquinone by Mn(III)-tartrate, which is formed upon the oxidation of Mn(II) by MnP. The reductive activity increased linearly with an increase in the concentration of p-hydroquinone. The reductive activity was also observed using other hydroquinones such as methylhydroquinone, 2,5-dimethylhydroquinone, and trimethylhydroquinone. The apparent Km values for Mn(II) and H2O2 for the hydroquinone-dependent reductive activity were similar to those for oxidative reactions of MnP. A stoichiometry study showed that about 1.5 mol of cytochrome c was reduced per mole of H2O2 consumed. The stoichiometry decreased with an increase in the concentration of H2O2. The optimal pH for the reductive activity was 5.0, approximately the physiological pH of the fungus. The reduction of cytochrome c was also observed using a quinone and cellobiose:quinone oxidoreductase isolated from the extracellular medium of the fungus.