[Inhibitory action of divalent copper compounds on cumene hydroperoxide oxidative demethylation of N,N-dimethylaniline by cytochrome P-450].

The inhibitory action of divalent copper compounds on hydroperoxide-dependent oxidative demethylation of N,N-demethylaniline involving rabbit liver microsomes and highly purified cytochrome P-450 has been studied. CuCl2 is a non-competitive inhibitor, whereas copper tyrosine and lysine complexes are characterized by a mixed type inhibition. The inhibitory action of copper complexes is based on a decrease of cumene hydroperoxide concentration. The reaction results in formation of RO and RO2 radicals destroying cytochrome P-450 CuCl2 (0,001 M) also destroys cytochrome P-450 in the absence of cumene hydroperoxide; the destruction process is characterized by two phases with different rate constants. The nature of the inhibitory action of CuCl2 on N,N-demethylaniline oxidation by hydroperoxides is discussed.