Human neutrophils employ the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system to oxidize alpha-amino acids to a family of reactive aldehydes. Mechanistic studies identifying labile intermediates along the reaction pathway.

We have recently demonstrated that neutrophils oxidize nearly all of the amino acids commonly found in plasma to a corresponding family of aldehydes in high yield. The reaction is mediated by hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the major oxidant generated by the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- system of phagocytes. We now present evidence for the underlying mechanism of this reaction, including the structural requirements and reaction intermediates formed. Utilizing mass spectrometry and isotopically labeled amino acids, we rule out hydrogen atom abstraction from the alpha-carbon as the initial event in aldehyde formation during amino acid oxidation, a pathway known to occur with ionizing radiation. Aldehyde generation from amino acids required the presence of an alpha-amino moiety; beta- and epsilon-amino acids did not form aldehydes upon oxidation by either the myeloperoxidase system or HOCl, generating stable monochloramines instead. UV difference spectroscopy, high pressure liquid chromatography, and multinuclear (1H,15N) NMR spectroscopy established that the conversion of alpha-amino acids into aldehydes begins with generation of an unstable alpha-monochloramine, which subsequently decomposes to yield an aldehyde. Precursor product relationships between alpha-amino acid and alpha-monochloramine, and alpha-monochloramine and aldehyde were confirmed by high pressure liquid chromatography purification of the reaction intermediate and subsequent 1H and 15N NMR spectroscopy. Collectively, these results detail the chemical mechanism and reaction intermediates generated during conversion of amino acids into aldehydes by myeloperoxidase-generated HOCl.