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Bleomycin A2: a ferrous oxidase.
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1979
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Redox SignalingBiosynthesisBiotransformationBiochemistryBleomycin DegradationNatural SciencesBiocatalysisNatural Product BiosynthesisBleomycin A2MicrobiologyStreptomyces VerticullusIonic StrengthMedicineRedox BiologyOxidative Stress
The bleomycins are polypeptides produced by Streptomyces verticullus and are used in chemotherapy of various malignancies. We find that bleomycin A 2 catalyzes the oxidation of Fe ++ to Fe +++ and reduces oxygen. The reaction follows classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Vmax = 0.27 µmole/min/ml, Km = 1.8 mM). One mole of bleomycin A 2 turns over approximately 5,000 moles Fe ++ /min. This catalytic activity of bleomycin A 2 is heat insensitive and strongly dependent on pH, buffer and ionic strength, and is unaffected by DNA. This enzyme-like action may be involved in the bleomycin degradation of DNA.