PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - DEAN P. JONES
AU  - DAVID B. MEYER
AU  - BO ANDERSSON
AU  - STEN ORRENIUS
TI  - Conversion of Catalase to the Secondary Catalase-Peroxide Complex (Compound II) by α-Methyldopa
DP  - 1981 Jul 01
TA  - Molecular Pharmacology
PG  - 159--164
VI  - 20
IP  - 1
4099  - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/20/1/159.short
4100  - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/20/1/159.full
SO  - Mol Pharmacol1981 Jul 01; 20
AB  - α-Methyldopa stimulates the conversion of the primary catalase-peroxide complex (Compound I) to the catalytically inactive secondary catalase-peroxide complex (Compound II) in solutions of purified catalase as well as in suspensions of isolated hepatocytes. The rate of Compound II formation is dependent upon both the rate of H2O2 generation and the concentration of α-methyldopa. The catalase-dependent oxidation of α-methyldopa to the corresponding dihydroxyindole nucleus occurs much more rapidly than the formation of Compound II and suggests that the catalase-dependent one-electron oxidation of α-methyldopa may initiate a free radical process. These reactions may be important in α-methyldopa-induced hepatotoxicity.