Evidence for endogenous hydrogen peroxide production by E. coli fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase

Aerobic organisms continuously generate internal superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, which can damage enzymes and impair growth. To avoid this problem cells maintain high levels of superoxide dismutases, catalases, and peroxidases. Surprisingly, we do not know the primary sources of these reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. However, in vitro studies have shown that flavoenzymes can inadvertently transfer electrons to oxygen. Therefore, it seems plausible that substantial ROS may be generated when large metabolic fluxes flow through flavoproteins. Such a situation may arise during the catabolism of fatty acids. Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (FadE) is a flavoprotein involved in each turn of the beta-oxidation cycle. In the present study the catabolism of dodecanoic acid specifically impaired the growth of strains that lack enzymes to scavenge hydrogen peroxide. The defect was absent from fadE mutants. Direct measurements confirmed that the beta-oxidation pathway amplified the rate of intracellular hydrogen peroxide formation. Scavenging-proficient cells did not display the FadE-dependent growth defect. Those cells also did not induce the peroxide stress response during dodecanoate catabolism, indicating that the basal defenses are sufficient to cope with moderately elevated peroxide formation. In vitro work still is needed to test whether the ROS evolve specifically from the FadE flavin site and to determine whether superoxide as well as peroxide is released. At present such experiments are challenging because the natural redox partner of FadE has not been identified. This study supports the hypothesis that the degree of internal ROS production can depend upon the type of active metabolism inside cells.