Partial purification and kinetics of indoleacetic Acid oxidase from tobacco roots

Extracts from roots of Nicotiana tabacum L var. Bottom Special contain oxidative enzymes capable of rapid degradation of indoleacetic acid (IAA) in the presence of Mn²⁺ and 2, 4-dichlorophenol. Purification of IAA oxidase was attempted by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation and elution through a column of SE-Sephadex. Two distinct fractions, both causing rapid oxidation of IAA in the absence of H₂O₂, were obtained. One fraction exhibited high peroxidase activity when guaiacol was used as the electron donor; the other did not oxidase guaiacol. Both enzyme fractions caused similar changes in the UV spectrum of IAA; absorption at 280 mμ was reduced, while major absorption peaks appeared at 254 and 247 mμ. The kinetics of IAA oxidation by both fractions were followed by measuring the increase in absorption at 247 mμ. The peroxidase-containing fraction showed no lag or a slight lag which could be eliminated by addition of H₂O₂ (3 μmoles/ml). The peroxidase-free fraction showed a longer lag, but addition of similar amounts of H₂O₂ inhibited the rate of IAA oxidation and did not remove the lag. With purified preparations, IAA oxidation was stimulated only at low concentrations of H₂O₂ (0.03 μmole/ml). A comparison of K_m values for IAA oxidation by the peroxidase-containing and peroxidase-free fractions suggests that tobacco roots contain an IAA oxidase which may have higher affinity for IAA and may be more specific than the general peroxidase system previously described from other plant sources. A similar oxidase is present in commercial preparations of horseradish peroxidase. It is suggested that oxidation of IAA by horseradish peroxidase may be due to a more specific component.