peroxygenase

A peroxygenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of a substrate using molecular oxygen and a reducing agent. These enzymes belong to the broader class of oxidoreductases. The key characteristic of a peroxygenase is its ability to activate molecular oxygen, often by reducing it to a reactive oxygen species, which then participates in the oxidation reaction. This contrasts with other oxygenases, which may insert oxygen atoms directly into the substrate or facilitate hydroxylation.

The reaction catalyzed by a peroxygenase typically involves the transfer of an oxygen atom from a peroxide substrate to a target molecule. For example, some peroxygenases can utilize hydrogen peroxide as the oxygen source. The specific substrates and products vary depending on the particular enzyme, but common reactions include epoxidation of double bonds, hydroxylation of saturated carbon atoms, and oxidation of sulfur or nitrogen atoms.

Peroxygenases play diverse roles in biological systems. They are found in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. In microorganisms, they can be involved in detoxification, metabolism of xenobiotics, and the synthesis of secondary metabolites. In plants, they are implicated in processes such as lignin degradation and defense mechanisms. Research into peroxygenases is ongoing, with potential applications in industrial biocatalysis, such as in the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, due to their ability to perform selective oxidations under mild conditions.