Peroxidase catalytic cycle of MCM-41-entrapped microperoxidase-11 as a mechanism for phenol oxidation

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2007 Oct;7(10):3643-52. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2007.853.

Abstract

The encapsulation of microperoxidases (MPs) into molecular sieves with controlled pore size, such as the mesoporous silica MCM-41, represents a nanotechnology strategy to control the catalytic properties of MPs and mimic the enzymatic activity of hemoproteins. In this work, the ferric microperoxidase-11 (MP-11), obtained from trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of horse-heart cytochrome c, was entrapped in MCM-41, thus resulting in a catalyst (Fe(III)MP11MCM41) with catalase and monooxygenase properties. The entrapment of MP-11 inside MCM-41 was confirmed by elemental analysis and UV-visible spectrum, with a red shift in the Soret band indicating that the heme group was in a hydrophobic microenvironment. Similarly to catalase, the catalyst Fe(III)MP11MCM41 exhibited specificity for hydrogen peroxide to be converted to a high-valence oxidized intermediate, Compound II. Also mimicking catalase, the cleavage of hydrogen peroxide by MP11MCM41 resulted in O2 production detected by a Clark electrode. Phenol was able to act as reducing agent of MP11MCM41 Compound II leading to the completion of a peroxidase cycle, as confirmed by UV-visible spectrometry and EPR measurements. The analysis of the reaction products by high performance liquid chromatogram coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) revealed 2,4-dihydroxyphenol as the product of phenol oxidation by MP11MCM41. Therefore, in addition to catalase activity, the catalyst MP11MCM41 also displayed monooxygenase properties, which was possible because the MP-11 heme iron promotes homolytic cleavage of the hydrogen peroxide generating hydroxyl radicals. With such characteristics, MCM-41-entrapped MP-11 is a promising catalyst for nanobiotechnological devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Catalysis
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Enzymes, Immobilized / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Particle Size
  • Peroxidases / chemistry*
  • Peroxidases / ultrastructure*
  • Phenol / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Enzymes, Immobilized
  • MCM-41
  • Phenol
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Peroxidases
  • microperoxidase