Peroxidase from horseradish

Horseradish peroxidase is isolated from horseradish roots (Amoracia rusticana) and belongs to the ferroprotoporphyrin group of peroxidases. HRP is a single chain polypeptide containing four disulfide bridges. It is a glycoprotein containing 18% carbohydrate. The carbohydrate composition consists of galactose, arabinose, xylose, fucose, mannose, mannosamine, and galactosamine depending upon the specific isozyme. Its molecular weight (~44 kDa) includes the polypeptide chain (33,890 Daltons), hemin plus Ca²⁺ (~700 Daltons), and carbohydrate (~9,400 Daltons). At least seven isozymes of HRP exist. The isoelectric point for horseradish peroxidase isozymes ranges from 3.0 - 9.0.

Peroxidase from horseradish has been used:

• in fecal starch analysis
• to measure plasma glucose levels by Trinder method
• to incubate feruloylated arabinoxylan fractions and also to evaluate oxidative coupling
• in the detection of glycoproteins

HRP readily combines with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and the resultant [HRP-H₂O₂] complex can oxidize a wide variety of hydrogen donors. The optimal pH is 6.0-6.5 and the enzyme is most stable in the pH range of 5.0-9.0. HRP can be conjugated to antibodies by several different methods including glutaraldehyde, periodate oxidation, through disulfide bonds, and also via amino and thiol directed cross-linkers. It is smaller and more stable than the enzyme labels β-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase.Hence, it is the most desired label. Also, its glycosylation leads to lower non-specific binding. It is also used for the determination of glucose and peroxides in solution. Sodium azide, cyanide, L-cystine, dichromate, ethylenethiourea, hydroxylamine, sulfide, vanadate, p-aminobenzoic acid, and Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ ions are known to inhibit the enzyme activity.

When incubated with a substrate, horseradish peroxidase produces a coloured, fluorimetric, or luminescent derivative of the labeled molecule, allowing quantification.

The RZ (Reinheitszahl) is the absorbance ratio A₄₀₃/A₂₇₅ determined at 0.5-1.0 mg/ml in deionized water. It is a measure of hemin content, not enzymatic activity. Even preparations with high RZ may have low enzymatic activity.

One pyrogallol unit will form 1.0 mg purpurogallin from pyrogallol in 20 sec at pH 6.0 at 20 °C.

View more information on peroxidase at www.sigma-aldrich.com/enzymeexplorer.