Phenylbutazone-dependent epoxidation of 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene. A new mechanism for prostaglandin H synthase-catalyzed oxidations.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone markedly enhances the hydroperoxide-dependent epoxidation of 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene catalyzed by microsomal and Tween-20 solubilized preparations of prostaglandin H synthase. Furthermore, phenylbutazone radically alters the hydroperoxide specificity of 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene epoxidation. In the absence of phenylbutazone, only allylic hydroperoxides are effective in initiating epoxidation, whereas in the presence of phenylbutazone the reaction can be initiated by t-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and hydrogen peroxide. All effects are dependent on the concentration of phenylbutazone present. The primary event is the oxidation of phenylbutazone by prostaglandin H synthase. This pathway yields a peroxy radical of phenylbutazone which appears to be the epoxidizing agent. This activation of a primary substrate by a peroxidase resulting in metabolism of a secondary substrate is analogous to the halogenation reactions catalyzed by chloroperoxidase. This represents a new class of oxidation reactions catalyzed by prostaglandin H synthase.