Peroxidase-mediated oxidation of l-dopa: A kinetic approach

A kinetic model able to adequately describe the accumulation of p-topaquinone in peroxidase-mediated oxidation of l-dopa was developed, and the rate constants for both enzymatic and non-enzymatic branch were estimated either experimentally or using a computing program for detailed kinetic simulation. It is demonstrated that the accumulation of p-topaquinone in significant amounts occurred in excess of hydrogen peroxide or during auto-oxidation of l-dopa, but changes in the ratio of initial concentrations of the reactants can reduce considerably the production of this intermediate.