Hydrogen peroxide produced by two amino acid oxidases mediates antibacterial actions.

The antibacterial actions of two amino acid oxidases, a D-amino acid oxidase from hog kidney and a L-amino acid oxidase from the venom of Agkistrodon halys, were investigated, demonstrating that both enzymes were able to inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and that hydrogen peroxide, a product of their enzymatic reactions, was the antibacterial factor. However, hydrogen peroxide generated in the enzymatic reactions was not sufficient to explain the degree to which bacterial growth was inhibited. A fluorescence labeling assay showed that both of these two enzymes could bind to the surfaces of bacteria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the antibacterial activity of the D-amino acid oxidases.