Relation between thyroid peroxidase, H2O2 generating system and NADPH-dependent reductase activities in thyroid particulate fractions.

In thyroid gland, iodination takes place on the apical plasma membrane and requires the presence of the thyroid peroxidase and H2O2 generating system. H2O2 generation and NBT (nitro blue tetrazolium) reductase activity (both of which are NADPH-dependent) as well as peroxidase activity were compared for their respective orientations in membrane vesicles. The possible role of NADPH-NBT reductase activity in H2O2 generation was also examined. Results favor the conclusion that thyroid peroxidase is oriented towards the luminal side of the vesicles, whereas the NADPH site of NADPH oxidase-dependent H2O2 generation is located on the external side of the same or of different vesicles. Furthermore, it is shown that different NADPH-NBT reductase activities are present on both the outer and inner surfaces of the membrane vesicles, and that none of these activities is able to produce either H2O2 or O-2. The idea that a multi-component complex is involved in H2O2 generation is discussed, and a model is proposed which takes into account the possible spatial separation of the thyroid peroxidase site from the NADPH site of this H2O2 generation system on the apical membrane of the thyrocyte.