Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications - digital archive 

Abstract

Tulip bulbs (Tulipa fosteriana, L.) contain peroxidases catalyzing the oxidation of the xenobiotics N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitroso-N-methylaniline (NMA). Three anionic (A₁, A₂, A₃) and four cationic (B, C, D, E) peroxidases were purified from this tissue, partially characterized and used for kinetic studies. Demethylation of NDMA and NMA producing formaldehyde is catalyzed by one anionic (A₁) and three cationic (C, D, E) peroxidases. The oxidation of NDMA by tulip peroxidases exhibits the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The apparent Michaelis constant and the maximal velocity values for this substrate were determined. On the other hand, non-Michaelian kinetics for the NMA oxidation were observed with tulip peroxidases. The most abundant cationic peroxidase (peroxidase C) was used for detailed enzymatic studies. In addition to formation of formaldehyde, methylaniline, aniline, 4-aminophenol and phenol were found to be metabolites formed from NMA. Phenol was formed presumably by N-demethylation via a benzenediazonium ion, while methylaniline, aniline and 4-aminophenol were products of denitrosation of the substrate. The efficiencies of plant peroxidases to oxidize NDMA and NMA in vitro are compared with those of cytochromes P450 and discussed.

Keywords: Plants; Exogenous chemicals; N-Demethylation; N-Nitrosamines; Enzyme kinetics; Enzymatic oxidation.