Properties and amino acid composition of pure epoxide hydratase
1. Introduction Rat liver epoxide hydratase [EC 4.2.1.631 which catalyses the conversion of epoxides to trurans-dihydro- diols has been purified to apparent homogeneity as determined by three independent criteria [l] . The preparation obtained was capable of catalysing the hydration of both styrene oxide and the 4,5- (K- region)epoxide of benzo(a)pyrene [ 11. Epoxides of polycyclic hydrocarbons have been implicated as the agents responsible for the cytotoxic and carcinogenic properties of such compounds (for reviews see [2-41). A detailed knowledge of the properties of epoxide hydratase may, therefore, contribute towards an understanding of the mechanisms of cytotoxicity and carcinogenesis.…