Myocardial phospholipase D (PLD) is primarily localized at the sarcolemmal level and selectively hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine to form phosphatidic acid as part of the signal transduction mechanisms for regulating Ca2+movements in the heart. Since the myocardial cell damage induced by oxidative stress is associated with abnormalities in Ca2+homeostasis and thiol status, we examined the thiol group dependence and the effects of oxidant species on this enzyme. Sarcolemmal membranes isolated from rat heart were exposed to several types of thiol group modifiers. Alkylation withN-ethylmaleimide or methyl methanethiosulfonate, mercaptide formation withp-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid, and thiol-disulfide exchange with 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoate) depressed sarcolemmal PLD activity; in all cases the depression was prevented by dithiothreitol. At different concentrations ofN-ethylmaleimide the PLD depression correlated well (r=0.98) with the decrease in total thiol group content of the membrane. The enzyme activity was not affected by xanthine-xanthine oxidase, a superoxide anion-generating system, but was depressed by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was prevented by catalase as well as by dithiothreitol, but not by d-mannitol. The effect of a hydroxyl radical-generating system (Fenton reaction) could not be assessed because of an interfering direct inhibition by Fe2+. Dithiothreitol was also able to restore PLD activity in H2O2-pretreated membranes and to prevent a severe deactivation of the enzyme by hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Protection by glutathione and inhibition by its oxidized form were also observed. The results indicate that sarcolemmal PLD activity is inhibited by nonradical oxidants H2O2and HOCl through reversible modification of associated thiol groups, which are critical for the enzyme activity. Thus, this enzyme may be controlled by the glutathione redox status of the cardiac cell. The possible relevance for ischemia/reperfusion injury is considered.