title: Influence and role of metal ions in enzymatic catalysis with e.c. 1.2.3.2. xanthine oxidase Application to trace analysis.
abstract: The effect of metal ions on the reductive half-reaction of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in the catalytic conversion of xanthine into uric acid has been studied spectrophotometrically in Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7.4, 37 +/- 0.1 degrees and ionic strength 0.04M. Some metal ions display inhibitor properties, the sequence of inhibiting efficiency being Ag(I) > Hg(II) > Cu(II) > Cr(VI) > V(V) > Au(III) > Tl(I) and for these the I(50) values were determined. Only Tl(I), V(V) and Cu(II) showed reversible inhibition and therefore for these the mechanisms were assessed [competitive for V(V) and Tl(I); uncompetitive for Cu(II)]. The conditional inhibition constants (K(i)) were also determined. The effect of EDTA for protection of the enzyme against metal inhibition, and for its reactivation after inhibition, was also investigated. Utilization of the linear relationship between relative enzyme activity and inhibitor concentration allowed sensitive and selective (though not specific) determination of Ag(I) and Hg(II) (10(-9)-10(-8)M), and of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) (10(-7)-10(-6)M), the maximum relative error being +/- 4%. For a few metal ions, e.g., Ag(I) and Cr(VI), in the presence of EDTA, a certain specificity is observed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Chimico "G. Ciamician" dell'Università, Scuola di Specializzazione in Chimica Analitica, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ghe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carati