NADPH oxidation catalyzed by the peroxidase/H2O2 system. Guaiacol-mediated and scopoletin-mediated oxidation of NADPH to NADPH+.

We have examined the respective roles played by guaiacol and scopoletin in NADPH oxidation catalyzed by the peroxidase/H2O2 system. It was shown that NADPH was not oxidized by either the horseradish or lactoperoxidase/H2O2 systems alone; oxidation occurred immediately after the addition of guaiacol or scopoletin. In both cases, the oxidation product was enzymatically active NADP+. Differences were observed in the NADPH oxidation mechanism depending on whether guaiacol or scopoletin was the mediator molecule. In guaiacol-mediated NADPH oxidation, the stoichiometry between H2O2 and oxidized NADPH was about 1; superoxide dismutase did not affect the oxidation rate. In scopoletin-mediated oxidation, the stoichiometry was much higher (1:14 in the present experiments); superoxide dismutase considerably increased the oxidation rate. It is concluded that catalysis of NADPH oxidation by the horse radish peroxidase/H2O2 system requires the presence of a mediator molecule. The NADPH oxidation mechanism depends on the intermediary oxidation state of this molecule.