Oxidation of Escherichia coli sulfhydryl components by the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide-iodide antimicrobial system.

The chemical modification of bacterial components was studied following incubation of Escherichia coli with the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-iodide (I(-)) antimicrobial system or with iodine (I(2)). The oxidation of cell sulfhydryls and the iodination of cell components were measured. Both the peroxidase system and I(2) oxidized sulfhydryls. When the I(-) concentration in the peroxidase system was greater than 100 muM, the peroxidase system and I(2) were equivalent. That is, sulfhydryl oxidation or killing per mole of H(2)O(2) equaled that per mole of I(2). These results were consistent with peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of I(-) to yield 1 mol of I(2) per mol of H(2)O(2). Sulfhydryls were oxidized to yield sulfenic acids and free I(-). With I(-) concentrations in the range of 10 to 100 muM, the amount of sulfhydryls oxidized by the peroxidase system could exceed the amount of I(-). Because the oxidation of sulfhydryls to sulfenic acids did not consume I(-), one I(-) ion could participate in the oxidation of many sulfhydryls. With I(-) concentrations lower than 10 muM, complete oxidation of sulfhydryls was not obtained. Incorporation of I(-) into iodinated derivatives of bacterial components partly depleted the system of I(-) and limited the formation of I(2). These results indicated that antimicrobial activity was due to peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of I(-) to I(2), followed by I(2) oxidation of cell components. There was a direct relationship between sulfhydryl oxidation and antimicrobial action. Although iodination of bacterial components accompanied sulfhydryl oxidation, the amount of I(-) incorporation was not directly related to antimicrobial action. Also, incorporation of I(-) interfered with antimicrobial action at low I(-) concentrations.