Oscillatory kinetics of the peroxidase-oxidase reaction in an open system. Experimental and theoretical studies.

1. The oscillations in the peroxidase (donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7)-catalyzed reaction between NADH and O2 are undamped when the reaction is carried out in a system open to both substrates and when 2,4-dichlorophenol and methylene blue are present in the solution. 2. The waveform of the oscillations changes when the concentration of peroxidase is varied. 3. The waveforms obtained experimentally can be simulated by a branched chain reaction model in which the branching is quadratic. 4. A correlation between the present knowledge of the reaction and the model can be made by combining well established and hypothetical reaction steps into a few reaction schemes. A selection among schemes however, is not possible at the present time. 5. Compound III participates in the reaction as an active intermediate. This is possible because dichlorophenol stimulates the break down of compound III.