THE ROLE OF O2- IN THE CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF LUMINOL* |
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Authors: | E. K. Hodgson I. Fridovich |
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Affiliation: | Department of Biochemistry, Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Abstract— The chemiluminescence of luminol in buffered aqueous solutions is inhibited by superoxide dismutase. This occurs whether the luminescence is induced by ferricyanide, persulfate, hypochlorite, or by the action of xanthine oxidase on xanthine. Since superoxide dismutase inhibits reactions which involve O2-, we conclude that this radical is a constant factor in the chemiluminescence of luminol in aqueous solutions. The kinetics of light production are discussed in terms of hypothetical mechanisms that fit the available data. The strong luminescence of luminol in aprotic solvents or in aqueous systems containing relatively high concentrations of H2O2 could not be explored in this way, because superoxide dismutase is inactive under such conditions. |
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