Electron-paramagnetic-resonance studies on a photochemically produced species of horseradish peroxidase compound I.

Strong electron-paramagnetic-resonance signals in the g = 2.00 region were detected after irradiation of horseradish peroxidase Compound I at temperatures of 10 and 100 K. These signals establish the presence of new free-radical species in the peroxidase system. The new species are interpreted in terms of a haem-photosensitized oxidation of the protein's peptide groups close to the Compound I radical site. On warming to room temperature, the radicals decayed irreversibly to a species having a weak asymmetric electron-paramagnetic-resonance signal at 100 K, which could still be observed after incubation at room temperature for more than 1 h.