Ferredoxin-dependent Nitrite Reductase from Spinach Leaves

A ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase from Spinacea oleracea was purified approximately 180-fold, with a specific activity of 285 units/mg protein. This purified enzyme also had methyl viologen-dependent nitrite reductase activity, with a specific activity of 164 units/mg protein. After disc electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gel, the purified enzyme showed one major and one minor protein band.

The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 86,000 from Ultrogel filtration. This purified enzyme in oxidized form had absorption peaks at 278, 390, 573 and 690 nm. The absorbance ratios, A₃₉₀: A₂₇₈ and A₆₇₃: A₃₉₀ were 0.61 and 0.37, respectively.

By applying the purified enzyme to DEAE-Sephadex A–50 column chromatography, the ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase activity was selectively decreased. However, the methyl viologen-dependent nitrite reductase activity was increased, with a specific activity of 391 units/mg protein. This modified enzyme was homogeneous by disc electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gel.     

Methyl Viologen-linked Nitrite Reductase from Bean Roots

Methyl viologen-linked nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.7.1), an enzyme which catalyzes the 6-electron reduction of nitrite to ammonia, was isolated from bean roots. The isolated enzyme was homogeneous by disc electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 62,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the oxidized form, the enzyme had absorption maxima at 280, 397 (Soret band), 535, and 573 nm (α band), indicating that siroheme is directly involved in the catalysis of nitrite reduction. The absorbance ratios, A₃₉₇ : A₂₈₀ and A₅₇₃ : A₃₉₇, were 0.3 and 0.39, respectively. Antiserum to spinach leaf nitrite reductase failed to give a positive Ouchterlony result with bean root nitrite reductase, but this antiserum did inhibit the activity of the latter enzyme.     

Further Characterization of Ferredoxin Nitrite Reductase and the Relationship between the Enzyme and Methyl Viologen-dependent Nitrite Reductase

Ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase of spinach has been further characterized and the relationship between this enzyme and methyl viologen-dependent nitrite reductase studied.

Purified ferredoxin nitrite reductase, having a molecular weight of 86,000, showed 2.5 times higher ferredoxin-dependent activity than methyl viologen-linked activity. Besides 4 mol of labile sulfide the enzyme contained about 2 mol of siroheme per mol. When dithionite, methyl viologen and nitrite were added, ESR signals of a heme nitrosyl complex at g = 2.14, 2.07 and 2.02 were observed. Moreover, hyperfine splitting of the signal due to ¹⁴N nuclear spin was also observed at 2.033, 2.023 and 2.013. The sole addition of hydroxylamine to the ferric enzyme also caused the same but much less intense signals with the hyperfine splitting.

On treatment of the ferredoxin nitrite reductase (native enzyme) with DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography, a modified nitrite reductase having a molecular weight of 61,000 and a protein fraction having an apparent molecular weight of 24,000 were separated. The modified enzyme contained about one mol of siroheme and 4 mol of labile sulfide per mol and showed essentially the same heme ESR signals as the native enzyme. Contrary to the native enzyme, this modified enzyme accepted electrons more efficiently from methyl viologen than ferredoxin and the reduction of nitrite to ammonia catalyzed by the modified enzyme was not stoichiometric. The observed nitrite to ammonia ratio was 1 to less than 0.6. Cyanide at concentrations between 0.02 to 0.2 mm inhibited the activity of the native enzyme almost completely but the modified enzyme was inhibited only partially.

From the results obtained, it is suggested that the native ferredoxin-linked nitrite reductase consists of two components (or subunits) and removal of the light component results in formation of a modified enzyme with increased relative affinity to methyl viologen.     

Rhodococcus sp. RB1 grows in the presence of high nitrate and nitrite concentrations and assimilates nitrate in moderately saline environments

Rhodococcus sp. RB1 was able to thrive in media with up to 0.9 M NaCl or KCl and in the presence of high concentrations of nitrate (up to 0.9 M) and nitrite (up to 60 mM), but only under oxic conditions. An adaptation period was not required for salt tolerance, but a rapid extrusion of K+ and intake of Na+ was observed after addition of 0.5 M NaCl. Nitrate assimilation was limited by the carbon supply, but nitrite was not accumulated in the culture medium, even at nitrate concentrations as high as 0.8 M, thus suggesting that nitrite reduction does not limit nitrate assimilation. The presence of NaCl or KCl did not affect nitrate or nitrite uptake, which were completely inhibited by ammonium or glutamine. Rhodococcus sp. RB1 nitrate reductase had an apparent molecular mass of 142 kDa and used NADH and reduced bromophenol blue or viologens as electron donors, independently of the presence of salt. The enzyme was associated with an NADH-diaphorase activity and was induced by nitrate and repressed by ammonium or glutamine, thus showing typical biochemical and regulatory properties of bacterial assimilatory NADH-nitrate reductases. The enzyme was active in vitro in the presence of 3 M NaCl or KCI, but the maximal activity was observed at 0.5 M salt. Addition of 2 M NaCl increased the optimal temperature of the enzyme from 12 to 32 degrees C, but the optimal pH (10.3) was unaffected.     

Biochemical analysis of mutants defective in nitrate assimilation in Neurospora crassa: evidence for autogenous control by nitrate reductase

Summary A biochemical analysis of mutants altered for nitrate assimilation in Neurospora crassa is described. Mutant alleles at each of the nine nit (nitrate-nonutilizing) loci were assayed for nitrate reductase activity, for three partial activities of nitrate reductase, and for nitrite reductase activity. In each case, the enzyme deficiency was consistent with data obtained from growth tests and complementation tests in previous studies. The mutant strains at these nit loci were also examined for altered regulation of enzyme synthesis. Such exeriments revealed that mutations which affect the structural integrity of the native nitrate reductase molecule can result in constitutive synthesis of this enzyme protein and of nitrite reductase. These results provide very strong evidence that, as in Aspergillus nidulans, nitrate reductase autogenously regulates the pathway of nitrate assimilation. However, only mutants at the nit-2 locus affect the regulation of this pathway by nitrogen metabolite repression.     

The purification and properties of nitrite reductase from higher plants, and its dependence on ferredoxin

1. NADPH-dependent nitrite reductase from the leaves of higher plants was purified at least 70-fold and separated into two enzyme fractions. The first enzyme, a diaphorase with ferredoxin-NADP-reductase activity, is required only to transfer electrons from NADPH to a suitable electron acceptor, which then donates electrons to nitrite reductase proper. 2. Purified nitrite reductase accepted electrons from ferredoxin (the natural donor) or from reduced dyes. Ferredoxin was reduced by illuminated chloroplasts or dithionite, or by NADPH when diaphorase was present. The purified enzyme did not accept electrons directly from NADPH. 3. Ferredoxins purified from maize, spinach or Clostridium were interchangeable in the nitrite-reductase system. 4. Nitrite reductase had K(m) 0.15mm for nitrite. The pH optimum varied with plant and method of assay. The preparation had low sulphite-reductase activity. Ammonia was the product of nitrite reduction. 5. For some plants, the assay of crude preparations with NADPH was limited by diaphorase and the addition of diaphorase gave a better estimate of nitrite-reductase activity. A simple method of assay is described that uses dithionite with benzyl viologen as electron donor.     

Purification and Properties of Nitrite Reductase from Spinach Leaves

Nitrite reductase (EC 1.6.6.4) has been purified 730-fold from spinach leaves. The enzyme catalyzes the reduction of nitrite to ammonia, with the use of reduced form of methyl viologen and ferredoxin. A stoichiometry of one molecule of nitrite reduced per molecule of ammonia formed has been found. KCN at 2.5×10^-4 m inhibited nitrite reductase activity almost completely. Purified enzyme was almost homogeneous by disk electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 61,000 from gel filtration. Nitrite reductase, in the oxidized form, has absorption maxima at 276, 388 and 573 mμ. Both methyl viologen and ferredoxin linked nitrite reductase activities of the enzyme were inactivated on exposure to low ionic strength.     

Synthesis and degradation of nitrite reductase in pea leaves

We have shown in a previous publication (Gupta, Beevers 1983 J Exp Bot 34: 1455-1462) that the level of extractable nitrite reductase activity in pea (Pisum sativum cv Burpeeana) leaves is subject to environmental perturbations. In the current study, we have used rocket immunoelectrophoresis to quantitate the level of nitrite reductase protein in extracts from pea plants subjected to various environmental treatments. The level of nitrite reductase cross-reacting material closely followed the level of assayable nitrite reductase activity. The environmental conditions which enhanced the level of extractable nitrite reductase activity resulted in an increased level of nitrite reductase cross-reacting material in the extracts. In contrast, environmental conditions which resulted in a decrease in the level of extractable nitrite reductase activity produced a decline in cross-reacting material. These results indicate that the environmentally induced modulation of extractable nitrite reductase activity involves alteration of enzyme level and is not mediated by a reversible activation-inactivation of the existing enzyme.     

Bacterial cytochrome c nitrite reductase: new structural and functional aspects

Cytochrome c nitrite reductase catalyzes the six-electron reduction of nitrite to ammonia as a key step within the biological nitrogen cycle. Most recently, the crystal structure of the soluble enzyme from Sulfurospirillum deleyianum could be solved to 1.9 A resolution. This set the basis for new experiments on structural and functional aspects of the pentaheme protein which carries a Ca(2+) ion close to the active site heme. In the crystal, the protein was a homodimer with ten hemes in very close packing. The strong interaction between the nitrite reductase monomers also occurred in solution according to the dependence of the activity on the protein concentration. Addition of Ca(2+) to the enzyme as isolated had a stimulating effect on the activity. Ca(2+) could be removed from the enzyme by treatment with chelating agents such as EGTA or EDTA which led to a decrease in activity. In addition to nitrite, the enzyme converted NO, hydroxylamine and O-methyl hydroxylamine to ammonia at considerable rates. With N2O the activity was much lower; most likely dinitrogen was the product in this case. Cytochrome c nitrite reductase exhibited a remarkably high sulfite reductase activity, with hydrogen sulfide as the product. A paramagnetic Fe(II)-NO, S = 1/2 adduct was identified by rapid freeze EPR spectroscopy under turnover conditions with nitrite. This potential reaction intermediate of the reduction of nitrite to ammonia was also observed with PAPA NONOate and Spermine NONOate.     

Regulation of the nitrate-reducing system enzymes in wild-type and mutant strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardii

Summary Six mutant strains (301, 102, 203, 104, 305, and 307) affected in their nitrate assimilation capability and their corresponding parental wild-type strains (6145c and 21gr) from Chlamydomonas reinhardii have been studied on different nitrogen sources with respect to NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase and its associated activities (NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase and reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase) and to nitrite reductase activity. The mutant strains lack NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase activity in all the nitrogen sources. Mutants 301, 102, 104, and 307 have only NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase activity whereas mutant 305 solely has reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase activity. Both activities are repressible by ammonia but, in contrast to the nitrate reductase complex of wild-type strains, require neither nitrate nor nitrite for their induction. Moreover, the enzyme from mutant 305 is always obtained in active form whereas nitrate reductase from wild-types needs to be reactivated previously with ferricyanide to be fully detected. Wild-type strains and mutants 301, 102, 104, and 307, when properly induced, exhibit an NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase distinguishable electrophoretically from contitutive diaphorases as a rapidly migrating band. Nitrite reductase from wild-type and mutant strains is also repressible by ammonia and does not require nitrate or nitrite for its synthesis. These facts are explained in terms of a regulation of nitrate reductase synthesis by the enzyme itself.     

A heme-C-containing enzyme complex that exhibits nitrate and nitrite reductase activity from the dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Geobacter metallireducens

Nitrate reduction in the dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Geobacter metallireducens was investigated. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activities in nitrate-grown cells were detected only in the membrane fraction. The apparent K _m values for nitrate and nitrite were determined to be 32 and 10 μM, respectively. Growth on nitrate was not inhibited by either tungstate or molybdate at concentrations of 1 mM or less, but was inhibited by both at 10 and 20 mM. Nitrate and nitrite reductase activity in the membrane fraction was not, however, affected by dialysis with 20 mM tungstate. An enzyme complex that exhibited both nitrate and nitrite reductase activity was solubilized from membrane fractions with CHAPS and was partially purified by preparative gel electrophoresis. It was found to be composed of four different polypeptides with molecular masses of 62, 52, 36, and 16 kDa. The 62-kDa polypeptide [a low-midpoint potential (–207 mV), multiheme cytochrome c] exhibited nitrite reductase activity under denaturing conditions. No molybdenum was detected in the complex by plasma-emission mass spectrometry. Received: 26 March 1999 / Accepted: 16 August 1999     

Siroheme: a prosthetic group of the Neurospora crassa assimilatory nitrite reductase.

The Neurospora crassa assimilatory nitrite reductase (EC 1.6.6.4) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of nitrite to ammonia, a 6-electron transfer reaction. Highly purified preparations of this enzyme exhibit absorption spectra which suggest the presence of a heme component (wavelength maxima for oxidized senzyme: 390 and 578 nm). There is a close correspondence between nitrite reductase activity and absorbance at 400 nm when partially purified nitrite reductase preparations are subjected to sucrose gradient centrifugation. In addition, a role for an iron component in the formation of active nitrite reductase is indicated by the fact that nitrate-induced production of nitrite reductase activity in Neurospora mycelia in vivo requires the presence of iron in the induction medium. The heme chromophore present in Neurospora nitrite reductase preparations is reducible by NADPH. Complete reduction, however, requires the presence of added FAD. The NADPH-nitrite reductase activity of the enzyme is also dependent upon addition of FAD. A spectrally unique complex is formed between the heme chromophore and nitrite (or a reduction product thereof) when nitrite is added to NADPH-reducted enzyme. Carbon monoxide forms a complex with the heme chromophore of nitrite reductase with an intense alpha-band maximum at 590 nm and a beta-band of lower intensity at 550 nm. CO is an inhibitor of NADPH-nitrite reductase activity. Spectrophotometrically detectable CO complex formation and Co inhibition of enzyme activity share the following properties...     

Diverse effects of formate on the assimilatory metabolism of nitrate and nitrite inRhizobium

Two strains ofRhizobium, cowpeaRhizobium 32H1 andRhizobium japonicum CB 1809, showed a marked stimulation in growth on addition of formate to the minimal medium containing nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen. The amount of accumulated nitrite and specific nitrate reductase activity was much higher in cultures supplemented with formate than in the control medium. In contrast, growth, consumption of nitrite and specific nitrite reductase activity in minimal medium + nitrite was greatly reduced by the addition of formate. A chlorate resistant mutant (Chl-16) was isolated spontaneously which contained a nitrite reductase which was not inhibited by formate. The results suggest that formate serves as an electron donor for nitrate reductase and inhibits nitrite assimilation inRhizobium     

Factors affecting in vivo nitrate reductase activity in triticale

Factors influencing in vivo nitrate reductase activity in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) primary leaves were investigated. Nitrate reductase activity was found to be a function of reaction time or tissue weight. In the range of 1–10 mm, the optimum slice width for nitrate reductase activity in triticale was found to be 1–2 mm. The optimum exogenous nitrate concentration is 300 mM. Substantial nitrite production was obtained even when exogenous nitrate was omitted from the assay. Of the five low molecular weight organic solvents tested, n-propanol is the most effective in enhancing enzyme activity. The optimum n-propanol concentration is 1% (v/v). The concentration of phosphate buffer (pH 6) does not affect nitrate reductase activity. Enzyme activity drops significantly below or above pH 6. In our system, nitrite production is enhanced by incubating under nitrogen, instead of air. The highest level of in vivo activity of nitrate reductase was found to be 10–15 cm from tip, which is close to the basal meristem of triticale primary leaves. Younger but physiologically mature leaves have higher nitrate reductase activity than old leaves.     

Properties of nitrite reductase from Cucurbita pepo

Nitrite reductase purified to homogeneity from vegetable marrow contains 2 atoms Fe/mol. Enzyme-bound iron exchanged extremely slowly with ⁵⁹-Fe in solution. Acid-acetone extracts of the enzyme have a spectrum which is consistent with the presence of a sirohaem prosthetic group. Inhibition by mersalyl, which partially bleaches the enzyme, is reversible by glutathione only if this is added within a few min of mersalyl. The absorption spectra of the reduced and autoxidised enzyme and of the nitrite, cyanide and CO complexes are described. Amino acid composition data are given. The hydroxylamine reductase activity of the purified enzyme was 0.2% of nitrite reductase activity.     

Aerobic nitrate and nitrite reduction in continuous cultures of Escherichia coli E4

Nitrate and nitrite was reduced by Escherichia coli E4 in a l-lactate (5 mM) limited culture in a chemostat operated at dissolved oxygen concentrations corresponding to 90–100% air saturation. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activity was regulated by the growth rate, and oxygen and nitrate concentrations. At a low growth rate (0.11 h^–1) nitrate and nitrite reductase activities of 200 nmol · mg^–1 protein · min^–1 and 250 nmol · mg^–1 protein · min^–1 were measured, respectively. At a high growth rate (0.55 h^–1) both enzyme activities were considerably lower (25 and 12 nmol mg^–1 · protein · min^–1). The steady state nitrite concentration in the chemostat was controlled by the combined action of the nitrate and nitrite reductase. Both nitrate and nitrite reductase activity were inversely proportional to the growth rate. The nitrite reductase activity decreased faster with growth rate than the nitrate reductase. The chemostat biomass concentration of E. coli E4, with ammonium either solely or combined with nitrate as a source of nitrogen, remained constant throughout all growth rates and was not affected by nitrite concentrations. Contrary to batch, E. coli E4 was able to grow in continuous cultures on nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen. When cultivated with nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen the chemostat biomass concentration is related to the activity of nitrate and nitrite reductase and hence, inversely proportional to growth rate.     

Les nitrate-réductases bactériennes

Résumé M. halodenitrificans possède la nitrate-réductase A. Cet enzyme se trouve sous la forme particulaire dans les extraits bruts. Il ne présente pas un caractère halophile: NaCl, KCl ou CsCl 1 ou 0,5 M ne l'activent pas. NaCl 1 M active cependant la réduction du nitrate en nitrite par les cellules en présence de lactate comme donneur d'électrons. Cet effet n'est pas dû à une action du sel sur la nitrate-réductase. Les cultures anaérobies avec nitrate synthétisent approximativement 7 fois plus d'enzyme que les cultures aérobies sans nitrate.

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Bacterial nitrate reductasesVIII. Preliminary Study of the enzyme of Micrococcus halodenitrificans

Summary M. halodenitrificans has nitrate reductase A. This enzyme appears to be in particulate form in crude extracts. It does not present a halophilic character: 1 or 0.5 M NaCl, KCl, or CsCl does not activate it. However, 1 M NaCl activates the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by cells in the presence of lactate as electron donor. This effect is not due to an action of the salt on nitrate reductase. Anaerobic cultures containing nitrate form approximately 7 times more enzyme than aerobic cultures not containing nitrate.

     

Purification and molecular properties of nitrite reductase from Anabaena sp. 7119

Ferredoxin-nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.7.1.) from the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. 7119 has been purified 763-fold with a specific activity of 21.5 units/nig protein (0.358 μkatals/mg). The enzyme has a molecular mass of 52,000 daltons with a Stokes radius of 3.09 nm and a sedimentation coefficient of 4.07 S. The cellular level of nitrite reductase activity gradually increases in response to the addition of increasing amounts of iron to the culture medium.
When partially purified nitrite reductase preparations are subjected to sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation there is a dose correspondence between nitrite reductase activity and absorbance at 400 nm. This suggests the association of a heme chromophore with the enzyme. Furthermore, the presence of an iron-sulfur center is suggested by a close association of acid-labile sulfide with nitrite reductase activity. Carbon monoxide inhibits nitrite reductase activity. The nature and kinetics of this reaction are comparable to other siroheme-containing nitrite reductases.     

Purification and Characterization of Nitrate Reductase from the Halotolerant Cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanothece halophytica</Emphasis>

Summary Factors affecting the activity of nitrate reductase (E.C.1.7.7.2) from the halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica were investigated. Cells grown in nitrate-containing medium exhibited higher nitrate reductase activity than cells grown in medium in which nitrate was replaced by glutamine. When ammonium was present in the medium instead of nitrate, the activity of nitrate reductase was virtually non-detectable, albeit with normal cell growth. The enzyme was localized mainly in the cytoplasm. The enzyme was purified 406-fold with a specific activity of 40.6 μmol/min/mg protein. SDS-PAGE revealed a subunit molecular mass of 58 kDa. Gel filtration experiments revealed a native molecular mass of 61 kDa. The K _m value for nitrate was 0.46 mM. Both methyl viologen and ferredoxin could serve as electron donor with K _m values of 4.3 mM and 5.2 μM, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by sulfhydryl-reactive agents and cyanide. Nitrite, the product of the enzyme reaction, showed little inhibition. Chlorate, the substrate analog, could moderately inhibit the enzyme activity. NaCl up to 200 mM stimulated the activity of the enzyme whereas enzyme inhibition was observed at ≥300 mM NaCl.