On the mechanism of the tetrahydropteridine cofactor oxidation in aerobic and H2O2-peroxydase media.

It is commonly postulated that the enzymatic hydroxylation of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan involves the concomitant oxidation of a tetrahydropteridinic cofactor to an unstable quinonoid product, converted to the initial compound under the catalytic action of dihydropteridine reductase. We now report UV, NMR, mass spectrum and spectroscopic studies of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6,7-dimethyl-5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydropteridine oxidation process either by atmospheric O2 or by the H2O2-peroxidase system. No quinonoid form was visualized and, moreover, the spectral characteristics of UV absorbance spectra, initially reported as specific for the quinonoid form, are related to other oxidation products whose formation is explained here.