• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1998

Peroxidase has been isolated to apparent homogeneity from earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephacryl S-2000 gel filtration, CM-cellulose cation exchange chromatography and native-PAGE elution. Some of its enzymatic characteristics were examined. The optimum pH for gruaiacol oxidation of earthworm peroxidase was determined to be 6.0, and the $K_{m}$ values against guaiacol and $H_2O_2$ were 1.25 mM and 3.4mM, respectively. When various compounds were tested as the possible substrates of the enzyme, o-dianisidine was used as the substrate. However, earthworm peroxidase could not oxidize esculetin and ferulic acid as substrates, suggesting the different characteristics of the enzyme from plant peroxidases. The optimum pH for veratryl alcohol and $H_2O_2$ oxidation was determined to be 2.5 when lignin peroxidation activity was examined. The $K_{m}$ values for veratryl alcohol and $H_2O_2$ were 0.02 mM and 0.13 mM, respectively. Furthermore, the earthworm peroxidase could oxidize phenoxyherbicides such as 2,4-D, 2,4-DP and MCPA as substrates. The optimum pHs for 2,4-D, 2,4-DP and MCPA were determined to be 4.0, 2.0 and 2.0, respectively. The most available substrate was 2,4-DP, followed by MCPA and 2,4-D when their peroxidation activities were compared.