A peroxidase isoenzyme secreted by turnip (Brassica napus) hairy-root cultures:: inactivation by hydrogen peroxide and application in diagnostic kits

We have purified various peroxidase isoenzymes from roots and hairy-root cultures of turnip (Brassica napus) which could potentially be used for commercial applications such as enzyme immunoassays, diagnostic test kits, wastewater treatment and soil remediation. One of them, a basic peroxidase called HR2, was secreted into the medium of turnip hairy-root cultures. HR2 had a pl of 9.6, a molecular mass of 39.3 kDa and showed great thermostability. The inactivation of HR2 by H2O2 in the absence of reductant substrates was studied. Under these conditions H2O2, acted as a suicide substrate. The kinetic constants calculated have been compared with those of a basic isoperoxidase from horseradish (Armoracia sp.) roots (HRP-C), which is commonly used in commercial kits. The results for HR2 indicated that it was more resistant to inactivation because it presented a lower inactivation efficiency and a higher value for the partition ratio (r = 1250) than those described for HRP-C. These results make turnip peroxidase HR2 suitable for use in systems in which high H2O2 concentrations are found. Such an application is demonstrated, namely an enzymic diagnostic kit for determination of uric acid in which HR2 was found to be as efficient as the enzyme originally included in standard kits.