The Oxidation of Sulphide by the Haem Compounds From the Blood of Arenicola Marina

Abstract

Blood from Arenicola marina has been shown to contain an active catalyst of sulphide oxidation. This activity is associated with the respiratory pigments. Purified native haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin from this animal have similar activity in this respect to the analogous mammalian respiratory pigments and to mammalian hemiglobin. The oxidation product of Arenicola haemoglobin (the brown pigment) which is formed under conditions which might be expected to produce a hemiglobin is, in contrast, a very active catalyst of sulphide oxidation.