N-Oxidation of arylamines to nitrosobenzenes using chloroperoxidase purified from Musa paradisiaca stem juice

N-Oxidation of arylamines to their corresponding nitrosobenzenes using a new chloroperoxidase purified from Musa paradisiaca stem juice has been examined. The enzymatic characteristics of the stem chloroperoxidase using 4-chloroaniline as substrate were determined. The K-m values for 4-chloroaniline and H2O2 were 770 mu M and 154 mu M respectively, while the pH and temperature optima were 4.4 and 30 degrees C respectively. The substrate specificities of the enzyme for the arylamines 3,4-dichloroamine, p-aminobenzoic acid, p-toluidine, p-anisidine, m-anisidine, p-aminophenol, o-aminophenol and m-aminophenol have been characterized. The feasibility of using concentrated M. paradisiaca stem juice for the specific conversion of 4-chloroaniline to 4-chloronitrosobenzene has been demonstrated. This enzyme can be used for the N-oxidation of other arylamines.