Mechanism of autooxidation for hemoglobins and myoglobins. Promotion of superoxide production by protons and anions.
WJ Wallace, RA Houtchens, JC Maxwell… - Journal of Biological …, 1982 - ASBMB
Several hemoglobins and bovine myoglobin are shown to undergo autooxidation reactions
promoted by anions. The reduced protein in the presence of oxygen and anion yields the
anion complex of the oxidized (Met) species and a second product that is almost certainly
superoxide. The second product can be detected by its reduction of cytochrome c3+ at the
same rates and in the same amount as the Met species. Anions are increasingly effective as
promoters in the same order as their strengths as nucleophiles, eg Cl-less than F-less than …
promoted by anions. The reduced protein in the presence of oxygen and anion yields the
anion complex of the oxidized (Met) species and a second product that is almost certainly
superoxide. The second product can be detected by its reduction of cytochrome c3+ at the
same rates and in the same amount as the Met species. Anions are increasingly effective as
promoters in the same order as their strengths as nucleophiles, eg Cl-less than F-less than …