CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GLYCINE-DEPENDENT REDOXCYCLING ACTIVITY IN ANIMAL FLUIDS AND TISSUES USING SPECIFIC INHIBITORS AND ACTIVATORS - EVIDENCE FOR PRESENCE OF PQQ

Pyrroloquinoline quinone, a redox cofactor first isolated from bacteria, efficiently catalyzes the nonenzymatic oxidation of glycine in the presence of nitroblue tetrazolium. We report that certain metalic cations and heterocyclic aromatic cations, like the N-methyl phenazonium cation and aryl-iodonium compounds, strongly and specifically inhibit this redox-cycling activity. The inhibition by metal cations is reversed by Tiron and that of the aromatic cations by Tiron and thyroxine. These inhibitors and activators affect authentic PQQ and the redox-activity of putative PQQ isolated from biological sources in a similar manner. This indicates that pyrroloquinoline quinone occurs naturally in animal tissues and fluids. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.