Peroxidase from horseradish

Horseradish peroxidase is isolated from horseradish roots (Amoracia rusticana) and belongs to the ferroprotoporphyrin group of peroxidases. HRP is a single chain polypeptide containing four disulfide bridges. It is a glycoprotein containing 18% carbohydrate. The carbohydrate composition consists of galactose, arabinose, xylose, fucose, mannose, mannosamine, and galactosamine depending upon the specific isozyme. Its molecular weight (~44 kDa) includes the polypeptide chain (33,890 Daltons), hemin plus Ca²⁺ (~700 Daltons), and carbohydrate (~9,400 Daltons). At least seven isozymes of HRP exist. The isoelectric point for horseradish peroxidase isozymes ranges from 3.0 - 9.0.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is isolated from horseradish roots (Amoracia rusticana). It is used in biochemistry applications such as western blots, ELISA and Immunohistochemistry. Horseradish peroxidase is used to amplify a weak signal and increase detectability of a target molecule, such as a protein. Horseradish peroxidase, product P8250, has been used to study nonoral antigens in inflamed gingiva and Ebola virus glycoprotein toxicity.

The enzyme has been used as a comparison during the peroxidase assay of extract from mature tall fescue leaf blades. It has also been used to measure H₂O₂ production.

HRP readily combines with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and the resultant [HRP-H₂O₂] complex can oxidize a wide variety of hydrogen donors. The optimal pH is 6.0-6.5 and the enzyme is most stable in the pH range of 5.0-9.0. HRP can be conjugated to antibodies by several different methods including glutaraldehyde, periodate oxidation, through disulfide bonds, and also via amino and thiol directed cross-linkers. It is smaller and more stable than the enzyme labels β-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase. Hence, it is the most desired label. Also, its glycosylation leads to lower non-specific binding. It is also used for the determination of glucose and peroxides in solution. Sodium azide, cyanide, L-cystine, dichromate, ethylenethiourea, hydroxylamine, sulfide, vanadate, p-aminobenzoic acid, and Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ ions are found to inhibit the enzyme activity.

When incubated with a substrate, horseradish peroxidase produces a coloured, fluorimetric, or luminescent derivative of the labeled molecule, allowing quantification. Horseradish peroxidase has been shown to slightly reduce the level of inhibition in a cydAB mutant.

Preliminary work shows it to contain at least five isoenzymes.

One pyrogallol unit will form 1.0 mg purpurogallin from pyrogallol in 20 sec at pH 6.0 at 20 °C.

The RZ (Reinheitszahl) is the absorbance ratio A₄₀₃/A₂₇₅ determined at 0.5-1.0 mg/ml in deionized water. It is a measure of hemin content, not enzymatic activity. Even preparations with high RZ may have low enzymatic activity.

View more information on peroxidase at www.sigma-aldrich.com/enzymeexplorer.