Syncatalytic modification of chicken liver xanthine dehydrogenase by hydrogen peroxide. The nature of the reaction.

Xanthine dehydrogenase engaged in catalyzing the oxidation of substrate by oxygen is repidly inactivated by the hydrogen peroxide generated during the reaction. Experimental evidence shows that peroxide reacts more readily with the reduced than with the oxidized form of the enzyme. Inactivation results from modification of the cyanolysable sulfur present at the molybdenum center.