The mechanism of spontaneous heme release from horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme A2.

We have investigated the spontaneous release of heme from chromatographically homogeneous horseradish peroxidase A2 at varying temperature, pH and iron ligands. A "biphasic" rate of heme release was observed under all conditions. Upon further purification of HRP A2, a component was isolated that was homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and exhibited a single first order rate of heme release. The rate of the release increased with pH and temperature, decreased in the presence of cyanide and increased slightly in the presence of fluoride. These results are consistent with the idea that the rate of heme release is a measure of the flexibility of the protein lining the heme "pocket" with iron bonding playing a secondary, though important role in heme-protein interactions.