Inactivation of peroxidases of rat bone marrow by repeated administration of propylthiouracil is accompanied by a change in the heme structure.

Myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase were isolated from the bone marrow cells of rats treated with or without propylthiouracil (PTU) which caused bone marrow depression. PTU treatment decreased the activity of myeloperoxidase but not of eosinophil peroxidase using guaiacol as the electron donor. However, when KI,N-N'-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and pyrogallol were used as the electron donor, the activity of only eosinophil peroxidase was inhibited by PTU treatment. EPR spectra indicated that the structure of myeloperoxidase surrounding the heme iron changed from a rhombic form into an axial one by the repeated administration of PTU. Therefore, the inactivation of peroxidases by PTU treatment was accompanied by an alteration of their structures surrounding the heme.