Catalase-peroxidase

Reaction pathway

Catalase-peroxidase facilitates two types of reactions: A catalase type reaction:

2 H2O2 ⇌ O2 + 2 H2O

where reactive hydrogen peroxide is converted to water and oxygen.

And a peroxidase type reaction:

donor + H2O2 ⇌ oxidized donor + 2 H2O

These reactions occur in multiple steps. Both the catalytic and peroxidic reactions require the same initial step:

1. catalase-peroxidase (Porphyrin-FeIII) + H2O2 → Compound I (Porphyrin+-FeIV=O) + H2O

Here the CP associated porphyrin ferric iron (Fe³⁺) is oxidized by the cleaving of hydrogen peroxide to form Compound I, an oxyferryl (Fe4+) intermediate

The catalytic reaction continues as follows:

2. Compound I + H2O2 → catalase-peroxidase (Porphyrin-FeIII) + H2O + O2

which uses a second hydrogen peroxide molecule to reduce Compound I and returns CP back to its active state.

Then the peroxidic reaction:

3. Compound I + electron donor → Compound II (Porphyrin- -FeIV=OH) + oxidized donor

4. Compound II + electron donor → catalase-peroxidase (Porphyrin-FeIII) + oxidized donor

which requires the addition of alternative electron donor (other than hydrogen peroxide) to return the enzyme to first a second intermediate, Compound II, then its active state in low hydrogen peroxide conditions.

NADH in some organisms may be used as the electron donor in the peroxidic reactions however catalase-peroxidase has also been described to have some role in catalyzing the oxidation of NADH (though less favourable than its other reactions) where:

NADH + O2 + H → NAD+ + H2O2

or NADH + 2O2 → NAD+ + 2O2

Organisms

Catalase-peroxidase has been described in bacteria, fungus and most recently in dinoflagellates.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis CP (mtCP) enzyme is most largely researched catalase-peroxidase because of its role in the activation of the antibiotic Isoniazid (INH). This drug was developed to treat tuberculosis in humans by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in M. tuberculosis. INH is administered in its inactive form and can only be transformed into its active form by the oxidizing ability of a M. tuberculosis specific enzyme, mtCP.

CPs have also been extensively described in the bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Escherichia coli along with being found in many others.

The discovery of catalase-peroxidase in eukaryotic dinoflagellates (e.g., Symbiodinium sp.) is novel, as these enzymes were previously thought to be restricted to prokaryotes and fungi. It is hypothesized that this may have arisen from a horizontal gene transfer or endosymbiotic event, wherein a dinoflagellate incorporated a bacterium possessing the katG gene, which has since persisted functionally in certain species.

Crystal structures

Catalase-peroxidase typically forms homodimers or homotetramers, consisting of identical ~80 kDa subunits. These subunits interact through hydrophobic residues (notably tyrosine and tryptophan) and are stabilized by a characteristic methionine–tyrosine–tryptophan covalent cross-link, which reinforces subunit association.

Each monomer consists of two predominantly α-helical domains:

• The N-terminal domain houses the active site and a heme b prosthetic group.
• The C-terminal domain contributes to structural stability and dimerization.

Two prominent structural loops, LL1 and LL2, are characteristic of catalase-peroxidases. LL1 is stabilized by a conserved amino acid motif: Met–Gly–Leu–Ile–Tyr–Val–Asn–Pro–Glu–Gly.

Active site

The active site of catalase-peroxidase generally includes one tryptophan, two histidines, one arginine, and the heme b iron ligand, coordinated through histidine residues. This site is buried deep within the enzyme and connected to the solvent exterior via a narrow channel formed by the LL1 and LL2 loops. The restricted access to the heme group is thought to regulate substrate binding and minimize uncontrolled peroxide reactions.

How structure ties to function

The intricate heme environment, coupled with the dual-domain organization' and LL1/LL2 channel architecture, allows catalase-peroxidase to efficiently mediate both catalase and peroxidase reactions. The presence of the covalent Met–Tyr–Trp linkage enhances stability under oxidative stress and facilitates rapid electron transfer during compound I formation. The distal conserved tyrosine residue (part of the Met-Tyr-Trp linkage) has been shown to be essential to the specific structure of Catalase-peroxidase as exchanging this residue can convert CPs to a monofunctional peroxidase.

References

References

1. (2004-09-10). "Crystal Structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Catalase-Peroxidase*". Journal of Biological Chemistry.
2. (2000-05-01). "Modulation of the Activities of Catalase−Peroxidase HPI of Escherichia coli by Site-Directed Mutagenesis". Biochemistry.
3. (April 2006). "Probing the structure and bifunctionality of catalase-peroxidase (KatG)". Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry.
4. (2000-08-01). "Catalase-Peroxidase (Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG) Catalysis and Isoniazid Activation". Biochemistry.
5. (2008-03-15). "Comparative study of catalase-peroxidases (KatGs)". Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
6. (2004-10-08). "Catalase-peroxidases (KatG) Exhibit NADH Oxidase Activity *". Journal of Biological Chemistry.
7. (October 2004). "Catalase-peroxidases (KatG) Exhibit NADH Oxidase Activity". Journal of Biological Chemistry.
8. (December 2015). "Transcriptomic characterization of the enzymatic antioxidants FeSOD, MnSOD, APX and KatG in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium". BMC Evolutionary Biology.
9. (2005-12-23). "Role of the Main Access Channel of Catalase-Peroxidase in Catalysis *". Journal of Biological Chemistry.
10. (May 2003). "Total Conversion of Bifunctional Catalase-Peroxidase (KatG) to Monofunctional Peroxidase by Exchange of a Conserved Distal Side Tyrosine". Journal of Biological Chemistry.