Oxidation of Benzo(a) Pyrene Catalyzed by Phenol Oxidases of AlgaNitella sp. and Potato Tubers

✍ Scribed by Kirso, U. ;Belykh, L. ;Stom, D.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 358 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0323-4320
• DOI: 10.1002/aheh.19810090406

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The kinetics of oxidation of carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene (0.1 nM solution in phosphate buffer) catalyzed by enzyme protein of soil and water plants (potato tubers and alga Nitella sp.) has been studied. The benzo(a)pyrene oxidation rate is determined by the phenoloxidase activity of the enzyme protein from both sources to an equal degree and expressed by the Michaelis‐Menten equation. The values for k~cat~ and apparent K~m~ were (0.97 ± 0.14) Ms^−1^ and 33 ± 6 μM, respectively.

The presence of other compounds (including protein substances) in acetone preparations of potato tubers considerably suppresses its catalytic activity in relation to benzo(a)pyrene.

Consequently, in the polluted biosphere some water plants, such as alga Nitella sp., and potato tuber can transform carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene (BP).

As oxidation products, all three BP‐quinones, i.e. 1,6‐, 3,6‐and 6,12‐diones, were identified.