Mechanistic features of lignin peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of substituted phenols and 1,2-dimethoxyarenes

The steady state kinetic parameters K-m and k(cat) for the oxidation of phenolic substrates by lignin peroxidase correlated with the presteady state kinetic parameters K-d and k for the reaction of the enzyme intermediate compound II with the substrates, indicating that the latter is the rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle. ln K-m and ln K-d values for phenolic substrates correlated with redox properties, unlike ln kcat and ln k. This finding suggests that in contrast to horseradish peroxidase, electron transfer is not the rate-limiting step during oxidation by lignin peroxidase compound II. A mechanism is proposed for lignin peroxidase compound II reactions consisting of an equilibrium electron transfer step followed by a subsequent rate-limiting step. Analysis of the correlation coefficients for linear relationships between ln K-d and ln K-m and different calculated redox parameters supports a mechanism in which the acidic forms of phenols are oxidized by lignin peroxidase and electron transfer is coupled with proton transfer. 1,2-Dimethoxyarenes did not comply with the trend for phenolic substrates, which may be a result of more than one substrate binding site on lignin peroxidase and/or alternative binding modes. This behavior was supported by analogue studies with the 1,2-dimethoxyarenes veratric acid and veratryl aldehyde, both of which are not oxidized by lignin peroxidase. Inclusion of either had little effect on the rate of oxidation of phenolic substrates yet resulted in a decrease in the oxidation rate of 1,2-dimethoxyarene substrates, which was considerable for veratryl alcohol and less pronounced for 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylalcohol and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid, in particular in the presence of veratric acid.