Autoxidation of Flavocytochrome bg 



529 



Fig. 8, the reaction proceeds at the same rate both in the absence and in the 

 presence of catalase. The enzyme itself was devoid of catalase activity. 



Fig. 8. The effect of the addition of catalase. Abscissa: time in min. Ordinate: 



oxygen consumption. Flavocytochrome b^ added: 4-25 m/imoles. Catalase 



added : 56 m/^moles. 



The Stoichiometry of the Reaction 



Oxidation of lactate by molecular oxygen could proceed either through the 

 reaction 



CH3CHOHCOO- + 02-^ CH3COCOO- + H2O2 (1) 



or through the reaction 



2CH3CHOHCOO- + O2 -> 2CH3COCOO- + 2H2O (2) 



Table 1. Oxidation of lactate by cytochrome b.^ with oxygen 



Determination of the stoichiometry of the reaction. Reaction time: 60 min. 

 Enzyme added: 30 m/<moles 



