title: Failure of benzene and phenol to serve as substrates for the peroxidatic action of catalase.
abstract: Evidence from several reports in the literature indicates a possible role for catalase in the metabolism of benzene. To investigate possible peroxidatic activity of catalase on benzene or its major metabolite, phenol, we employed an in vitro assay system that had been used previously to study the peroxidation of ethanol by catalase. Under conditions identical to those used to demonstrate catalase-mediated ethanol peroxidation we observed no peroxidase activity of catalase toward either benzene or phenol. We conclude that catalase is not involved in benzene metabolism and make the observation that, to date, no aromatic compounds have been demonstrated to be substrates for the peroxidatic mode of action of catalase.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Sciences Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York 14642.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sichak
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010544:Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D001554:Benzene