D-AMINO ACID OXIDASE IN LEUKOCYTES: A POSSIBLE D-AMINO-ACID-LINKED ANTIMICROBIAL SYSTEM*

  1. Martin J. Cline and
  2. Robert I. Lehrer
  1. CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MEDICAL CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO
  2. DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MEDICAL CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO

Abstract

D-Amino acid oxidase has been identified within the granule fraction of human neutrophilic leukocytes. Leukocyte homogenates and purified kidney D-amino acid oxidase can utilize either isolated D-amino acids or some species of bacteria as substrates for the generation of hydrogen peroxide. When linked to leukocyte myeloperoxidase in vitro, purified D-amino acid oxidase constitutes a system lethal for certain bacteria. It is proposed that leukocyte D-amino acid oxidase and myeloperoxidase constitute a biochemically specific system for the recognition and killing of certain microorganisms.

Footnotes

  • ↵ * This work was supported by U.S. Public Health Service grant CA-07723 and by cancer research funds of the University of California.

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  1. PNAS 1969-03 vol. 62 no. 3 756-763
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