KINETICS OF TERT-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE DECO MPOSITION IN THE ERYTHROCYTE SUSPENSION

The kinetics of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) decomposition was exa mined in erythrocyte suspension from C57B1/6 mice by the chemiluminesc ence method. The reaction with horseradish peroxidase, t-BHP (20 nmol/ ml), and luminol was accompanied by a rapid chemiluminescence increase . The integral value of the chemiluminescence signal correlated with t he t-BHP concenrtation at every moment of time. In the erythrocyte sus pension, the half-life period of t-BHP decomposition was 23.8 sec. The decomposition rate was significantly decreased after pretreatment of the erythrocytes with o-phenanthroline (0.1 mM), EDTA (1 mM), benzohyd roxamic acid (o.1 mM), or adriamycin (30 mu M). These effects were not associated with the changes in the glutathion peroxidase activity and , more likely, could be related to the modification of the membrane ir on-binding sites. The influence of iron chelators on the kinetics of t -BHP decomposition suggests the existence of various Fe-binding sites, that can decompose organic hydroperoxides upon their interaction with cell plasma membranes.