The Formation of Verdohaemochrome from Pyridine Protohaemichrome by Extracts of Red Algae and of Liver

Abstract

The degradation of pyridine protohemichrome by the liver and algal extracts is a coupled oxidation with low-molecular-weight reductant(s), very similar to the coupled oxidation of h( michrome with ascorbate. However, the active factors from both liver and Porphyra umbilicalis were more than twice as active in verdohemochrome formation as ascorbate solutions of the same reducing power and were far more active than cysteine. Although NADPH on its own did not degrade pyridine hemi-chrome, it enhanced the effect of active factor, presumably by regenerating it by reduction during the coupled oxidation.