Lethal interaction between hydrogen peroxide and o-phenanthroline in Escherichia coli.

The iron chelator o-phenanthroline enhances the lethal effect of H2O2 about four hundred times in Escherichia coli when both substances are added simultaneously to the culture medium. If o-phenanthroline is added for increasing periods of time prior to the addition of H2O2, there is a shift from this lethal interaction to protection by the chelator about seven hundred times. It is known that the Fe(2+)-o-phenanthroline(I) and Fe(2+)-o-phenanthroline(II) complexes are formed quickly whereas the final and more stable Fe(2+)-o-phenanthroline(III) complex is formed slowly. Moreover, the mono and bis complexes react with H2O2 to produce OH., whereas the tris complex is stable towards H2O2. Therefore, the lethal effect could be explained by the kinetics of reaction of o-phenanthroline with intracellular Fe2+, i.e., the mono and bis complexes are more reactive than intracellular Fe2+.