Ascorbate is the natural substrate for plant peroxidases

Ascorbate-dependent detoxification of hydrogen peroxide by guaiacol-type peroxidases is increased considerably in the presence of 3,4-dihydroxyphenolic compounds, suggesting that ascorbate is the natural substrate for many types of peroxidase in situ and not just the ascorbate-specific peroxidases. The ascorbate-dependent destruction of hydrogen peroxide in the more acidic cellular compartments such as the vacuole may be an important function of such non-specific peroxidases. The stress-induced production of phenolic compounds mould render the guaiacol peroxidases in other less acidic-cellular sites effective as ascorbate-dependent H2O2-detoxifying enzymes.