The ability of oxyhaemoglobin and methaemoglobin to generate hydroxyl radicals (OH.) from H2O2 has been investigated using deoxyribose and phenylalanine as ‘detector molecules’ for OH.. An excess of H2O2 degrades methaemoglobin, releasing iron ions that react with H2O2 to form a species that appears to be OH.. Oxyhaemoglobin reacts with low concentrations of H2O2 to form a ‘reactive species’ that degrades deoxyribose but does not hydroxylate phenylalanine. This ‘reactive species’ is less amenable to scavenging by certain scavengers (salicylate, phenylalanine, arginine) than is OH., but it appears more reactive than OH. is to others (Hepes, urea). The ability of haemoglobin to generate not only this ‘reactive species’, but also OH. in the presence of H2O2 may account for the damaging effects of free haemoglobin in the brain, the eye, and at sites of inflammation.
