Lactoperoxidase, peroxide, thiocyanate antimicrobial system: correlation of sulfhydryl oxidation with antimicrobial action. 1978

E L Thomas, and T M Aune

The antimicrobial activity of the lactoperoxidase, peroxide, thiocyanate system against Escherichia coli was directly related to the oxidation of bacterial sulfhydryls. Lactoperoxidase catalyzed the oxidation of thiocyanate, which resulted in the accumulation of hypothiocyanite ion, OSCN-. A portion of the bacterial sulfhydryls were oxidized by OSCN- to yield sulfenic acid and sulfenyl thiocyanate derivatives. The remaining sulfhydryls were not oxidized, although OSCN- was present in large excess. The oxidation of sulfhydryls to sulfenyl derivatives inhibited bacterial respiration. This inhibition could be reversed by adding sulfhydryl compounds to reduce the sulfenyl derivatives and the excess OSCN-. Also, this inhibition could be reversed by washing the cells so as to remove the excess unreacted OSCN-. After washing, the bacteria underwent a time-dependent recovery of their sulfhydryl content. This recovery resulted in recovery of the ability to respire. The inhibited cells were viable if diluted and plated shortly after the incubation with the lactoperoxidase, peroxide, thiocyanate system. On the other hand, long-term incubation in the presence of the excess OSCN- resulted in loss of viability. Also, the inhibition of respiration became irreversible. During this long-term incubation, the excess OSCN- was consumed and the sulfenyl derivatives disappeared.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007784 Lactoperoxidase An enzyme derived from cow's milk. It catalyzes the radioiodination of tyrosine and its derivatives and of peptides containing tyrosine.
D010084 Oxidation-Reduction A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471). Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D010101 Oxygen Consumption The rate at which oxygen is used by a tissue; microliters of oxygen STPD used per milligram of tissue per hour; the rate at which oxygen enters the blood from alveolar gas, equal in the steady state to the consumption of oxygen by tissue metabolism throughout the body. (Stedman, 25th ed, p346) Consumption, Oxygen,Consumptions, Oxygen,Oxygen Consumptions
D010544 Peroxidases Ovoperoxidase
D004229 Dithiothreitol A reagent commonly used in biochemical studies as a protective agent to prevent the oxidation of SH (thiol) groups and for reducing disulphides to dithiols. Cleland Reagent,Cleland's Reagent,Sputolysin,Clelands Reagent,Reagent, Cleland,Reagent, Cleland's
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D013438 Sulfhydryl Compounds Compounds containing the -SH radical. Mercaptan,Mercapto Compounds,Sulfhydryl Compound,Thiol,Thiols,Mercaptans,Compound, Sulfhydryl,Compounds, Mercapto,Compounds, Sulfhydryl
D013861 Thiocyanates Organic derivatives of thiocyanic acid which contain the general formula R-SCN. Rhodanate,Rhodanates

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