Chapter 12: Myeloperoxidase: Structure and Function of the Green Heme Peroxidase of Neutrophils

Myeloperoxidase is an abundant heme enzyme of neutrophils that plays a vital role in host defense. It has the exceptional ability to use hydrogen peroxide to oxidize chloride to chlorine bleach, which kills all pathogens. This strong oxidant is also implicated in numerous inflammatory diseases. We will outline the structure of myeloperoxidase and its complex enzymology to give an appreciation of how it accomplishes oxidation of chloride and produces an array of reactive free radicals. This information is important to understand how this multifaceted enzyme protects us against infection but also exacerbates inflammatory tissue damage.