Xanthine oxidase inactivation by reagents that modify thiol groups.

1. The presence of xanthine was required for the inhibition of bovine milk xanthine oxidase by o-iodosobenzoate, iodoacetamide, hydrogen peroxide or p-chloromercuribenzoate. 2. Inactivation by p-chloromercuribenzoate was very rapid, was reversed by cysteine and was less in the presence of FAD. Lineweaver-Burk plots showed that the inactivation by p-chloromercuribenzoate was competitive with substrate. 3. Inactivation by o-iodosobenzoate, iodoacetamide or hydrogen peroxide could not be reversed by cysteine or xanthine. However, the presence of xanthine during the incubation with inhibitor protected the enzyme against o-iodosobenzoate but not against iodoacetamide or hydrogen peroxide. 4. p-Chloromercuribenzoate protected the enzyme against inactivation by hydrogen peroxide.