Transport and metabolic degradation of hydrogen peroxide in Chara corallina: model calculations and measurements with the pressure probe suggest transport of H2O2 across water channels

A mathematical model is presented that describes permeation of hydrogen per oxide across a cell membrane and the implications of solute decomposition b y catalase inside the cell. The model was checked and analysed by means of a numerical calculation that raised predictions for measured osmotic pressu re relaxation curves. Predictions were tested with isolated internodal cell s of Chara corallina, a model system for investigating interactions between water and solute transport in plant cells. Series of biphasic osmotic pres sure relaxation curves with different concentrations of H2O2 Of UP to 350 m ol m(-3) are presented. A detailed description of determination of permeabi lity (P-s) and reflection coefficients (sigma (3)) for H2O2 is given in the presence of the chemical reaction in the cell. Mean values were P-s=(3.6 /- 1.0) 10(-6) m s(-1) and sigma (s)=(0.33+/-0.12) (+/-SD, N=6 cells). Besi des transport properties, coefficients for the catalase reaction following a Michaelis-Menten type of kinetics were determined. Mean values of the Mic haelis constant (k(M)) and the maximum late of decomposition (V-max) were k (M) = (85 +/- 55) mol m(-3) and v(max)=(49 +/- 40) nmol (s cell)(-1), respe ctively. The absolute values of P-S and sigma (s) of H2O2 indicated that hy drogen peroxide, a molecule with chemical properties close to that of water , uses water channels (aquaporins) to cross the cell membrane rapidly. When water channels were inhibited with the blocker mercuric chloride (HgCl2), the permeabilities of both water and H2O2 were substantially reduced. In fa ct, for the latter, it was not measurable. It is suggested that some of the water channels in Chara (and, perhaps, in other species) serve as 'peroxop orins' rather than as 'aquaporins'.