Abstract
Bromoperoxidases were found in coralline algae (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) collected from seasides in Japan, and high enzyme activities were observed in Corallina officinalis, Corallina pilulifera and Amphiroa zonata. The optimum pHs of the enzymes from coralline algae were around 6.0. The enzymes were specific for I- and Br-, and did not act on Cl- and F-. The enzymes purified from Corallina pilulifera and Amphiroa ephedraea catalyzed the brominations of phenol and o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in the presence of Br- and H2O2 to form the same product, 2, 4, 6-tribromophenol.
