2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase, a novel type of flavoenzyme. Purification and some properties of the enzyme

A novel aerobic mechanism of 2-aminobenzoate metabolism was proposed in a denitrifying Pseudomonas species. 2-Aminobenzoic acid is activated in a coenzyme-A-ligase reaction to 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA and this intermediate is dearomatized by a unique enzyme, tentatively named 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase. This paper describes the purification and some molecular, kinetic and spectral properties of this flavoenzyme which catalyzes the hydroxylation and reduction of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA to an unknown non-aromatic compound. 2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA monooxygenase/reductase was purified 25-fold to a specific activity of 25 mumol.min-1.mg-1 protein using ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose anion-exchange, hydroxylapatite and Mono Q FPLC anion-exchange chromatography. Superose 6 gel filtration for estimation of molecular mass resulted in one symmetrical protein peak corresponding to a molecular mass of 170 kDa. Several experimental data suggest that the protein is probably an alpha 2 dimer; however, it may exist in three dimeric forms, alpha alpha, alpha alpha' and alpha' alpha', where alpha' may be a subunit with a different conformation. Approximately 2 mol noncovalently bound FAD/mol enzyme was found, which in the absence of O2 was reduced by NADH. The enzyme was specific for the substrates 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA (Km less than or equal to 25 microM) and O2 (Km less than or equal to 5 microM), but less specific for the reduced pyridine nucleotides NADH (Km = 42 microM) or NADPH [Km = 500 microM; Vmax (NADH)/Vmax (NADPH) = 1.7:1]. The turnover number was 4250 min-1. The enzyme also reduced N-ethylmaleimide and maleimide with NAD(P)H. The substrate, the products and the reaction stoichiometry are described in two following papers.     

Horse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase. Purification and characterization of two isozymes.

Two isozymes of horse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase (aldehyde, NAD oxidoreductase (EC 1.2.1.3)), F1 and F2, have been purified to homogeneity using salt fractionation followed by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The specific activities of the two isozymes in a pH 9.0 system with propionaldehyde as substrate were approximately 0.35 and 1.0 mumol of NADH/min/mg of protein for the F1 and F2 isozymes, respectively. The multiporosity polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis molecular weights of the F1 and F2 isozymes were approximately 230,000 and 240,000 respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave subunit molecular weight estimates of 52,000 and 53,000 for the F1 and F2 isozymes, respectively. The amino acid compositions of the two isozymes were found to be similar; the ionizable amino acid contents being consistent with the electrophoretic and chromatographic behavior of the two isozymes. Both isozymes exhibited a broad aldehyde specificity, oxidizing a wide variety of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and utilized NAD as coenzyme, but at approximately 300-fold higher coenzyme concentration could use NADP. The F1 isozyme exhibited a very low Km for NAD (3 muM) and a higher Km for acetaldehyde (70 muM), while the F2 isozyme was found to have a higher Km for NAD (30 muM) and a low Km for acetaldehyde (0.2 muM). The two isozymes showed similar chloral hydrate and p-chloromercuribenzoate inhibition characteristics, but the F1 isozyme was found to be several orders of magnittude more sensitive to disulfiram, a physiological inhibitor of acetaldehyde oxidation. Based on its disulfiram inhibition characteristics, it has been suggested that the F1 isozyme may be the primary enzyme for oxidizing the acetyldehyde produced during ethanol oxidation in vivo.     

Isozymes of alpha-galactosidase from Bacillus stearothermophilus

Two molecular forms of alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) synthesized constitutively by Bacillus stearothermophilus, strain AT-7, have been purified. alpha-Galactosidase I (with the substrate p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside (PNPG)) has a pH optimum of 6 and half-life at 65 degrees C of > 2 h at low protein concentration. alpha-Galactosidase II has a pH optimum of 7 with PNPG and a half-life at 65 degrees C of about 3 min. The isozymes also differ with respect to their Km with PNPG and melibiose. Both enzymes are inhibited competitively by D-galactose, melibiose, and Tris. With the beta-glycosides cellobiose and lactose either noncompetitive or mixed-type inhibition is observed, with the pattern dependent on both the pH and the isozyme. The two isozymes have similar Arrhenius activation energies (about 20 kcal/mol, 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ). Their molecular weights, estimated by disc gel electrophoresis, are alpha-galactosidase I, 280 000 +/- 30 000 and alpha-galactosidase II, 325 000 +/- 15 000. Dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis gave a single band for each enzyme. The respective molecular weights, 81 000 +/- 500 for alpha-galactosidase I and 84 000 +/- 500 for alpha-galactosidase II, suggest that both enzymes consist of four subunits.     

Molecular forms of guanine aminohydrolase (author's transl)

Guanine aminohydrolase (E.C. 3.5.4.3) has been purified 11-fold from the supernatant fraction of guinea-pig liver homogenates in 0.25 M sucrose (centrifuged at 50,000 X g) through thermic denaturation at 60 degrees C and ammonium sulphate fractionation (30--60% saturation). The enzyme in the homogenates and purified preparations exhibited two Km values. In both preparations four enzymatic electrophoretic bands have been detected. Purified guanine aminohydrolase is chromatographically resolved on DEAE-sephadex in three components whose active forms appeared separately on their pherograms. The enzymatic form eluted at lower ionic strength has the least anodic mobility, is inhibited by guanine (4 X 10(-5) M) and presents only one Km value (1.5 X 10(-5) M). The enzymatic form eluted at greater ionic strength exhibits the highest anodic mobility, is also inhibited by guanine (7 X 10(-5) M) and its Km value seems to be 6.3 X 10(-6) M. Molecular weight of enzymatics forms determined by Sephadex G-200 chromatography, is 120,000 +/- 5,000. The preceding results, correlated with the chromatographic homogeneity of guanine aminohydrolase, purified in Sephadex G-100, suggests that the four molecular forms of the native enzyme may be considered as isozymes.     

Purification and characterization of monodehydroascorbate reductase from soybean root nodules.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) root nodules contain the enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle as an important defense against activated forms of oxygen. A key enzyme in this cycle--monodehydroascorbate reductase (MR)--was purified 646-fold and appeared as a single band on SDS-PAGE with silver or Coomassie blue staining. Purified MR contained 0.7 mol FAD/mol enzyme and had a specific activity of 288 mumol NADH oxidized.min-1.mg protein-1. The enzyme was a single subunit occurring as two isozymes (MR I and MR II) with Mr values of 39,000 and 40,000. Isoelectric focusing revealed that each isozyme consisted of two forms with pl values of 4.6 to 4.7. Ferricyanide and 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol were effective as electron acceptors. The purified enzyme did not possess leghemoglobin reductase activity. Inhibition by p-chloromercuribenzoate indicated the involvement of a thiol group in MR activity. The Km values were 5.6, 150, and 7 microM for NADH, NADPH, and monodehydroascorbate, respectively. The pH optimum was 8 to 9. The N-terminal sequence of 10 amino acids of MR II had little homology to known protein sequences.     

Properties and subcellular distribution of two partially purified ornithine transcarbamoylases in cell suspensions of sugarcane

The spatially separated forms of ornithine transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.3) of different molecular weights coexist in sugarcane (Saccharum sp.). The smaller form of the enzyme (mol wt 79,000) appears to be cytoplasmic, while a larger form (mol wt 224,000) sedimented with mitochondria. The Km of the cytoplasmic enzyme for ornithine was 3.11 mm, while the enzyme in the mitochondrial fraction had a Km of 0.50 mm for this substrate; both enzymes had similar affinity for carbamoyl phosphate (0.12 mm). Characteristics of the smaller ornithine transcarbamoylase are in keeping with a predominantly catabolic function, those of the enzyme which sediments with mitochondria, with an anabolic function. Only the mitochondrial enzyme was regulated in vivo by exogenous arginine.     

Physical and enzymatic properties of a class III isozyme of human liver alcohol dehydrogenase: chi-ADH

chi-Alcohol dehydrogenase (chi-ADH), a class III isozyme characterized by its anodic electrophoretic mobility and lack of inhibition by 4-methylpyrazole, has been isolated from human liver and purified to homogeneity in a reducing medium. chi-ADH resembles other human liver ADH isozymes of classes I and II with respect to its molecular weight, dimeric structure, stoichiometry of zinc and NADH binding, and pH optima for the oxidation of alcohols. This homodimer exhibits subtle differences in its absorption spectrum and amino acid composition relative to those of other human isozymes but differs markedly from their specificity toward alcohols and aldehydes. chi-ADH oxidizes ethanol very poorly. The reaction is bimolecular, and an apparent Km cannot be discerned up to 2.3 M ethanol. The enzyme is inactive toward methanol, ethylene glycol, digitoxigenin, digoxigenin, and gitoxigenin , but alcohols with carbon chain lengths greater than four are oxidized rapidly with Km values decreasing with increasing carbon chain length. Taken jointly, the composition, structure, and enzymatic properties of the ADH isozymes purified and studied so far strongly imply that their metabolic roles, yet to be discovered, will give a new perspective to ethanol metabolism and pathology.     

Purification and properties of 4-aminobenzoate hydroxylase, a new monooxygenase from Agaricus bisporus

A new FAD-dependent monooxygenase, 4-aminobenzoate hydroxylase that catalyzes the decarboxylative hydroxylation of 4-aminobenzoate and forms 4-hydroxyaniline in the presence of NAD(P)H and O2 has been purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, affinity chromatography, chromatofocusing, and Sephadex G-100 chromatography from Agaricus bisporus, a common edible mushroom. The molecular weight of the enzyme, which consists of a single polypeptide, is 49,000. The enzyme contains 0.91 mol of FAD/mol of enzyme. Stoichiometric studies show that 1 mol of 4-aminobenzoate is converted to an equimolecular amount of 4-hydroxyaniline and CO2 with the consumption of 1 mol each of NADH and molecular oxygen. Results obtained isotopically with 18O2 show that one atom of molecular oxygen is incorporated into 4-hydroxyaniline formed from 4-aminobenzoate. The enzyme is most active between pH 6.5 and 8.0 in the oxidation of NADH and between pH 6.0 and 7.5 in the case of NADPH. The Km values for 4-aminobenzoate, NADH, and O2 are 20.4, 13.6, and 200 microM, respectively, and that for NADPH is 133 microM. Other substituted benzoates with free amino and carboxyl groups in the ortho or para position (e.g. 4-aminosalicylate and anthranilate) serve as substrates for hydroxylation, but, in these cases, H2O2 is formed simultaneously with the hydroxylation. The enzyme is insensitive to the chelators of iron and copper, sodium arsenite, and KCN. Heavy metal ions and p-chloromercuribenzoate severely inhibit the enzyme enzyme     

Purification and characterisation of the NADH:acceptor reductase component of xylene monooxygenase encoded by the TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida mt-2.

The xylene monooxygenase system encoded by the TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida catalyses the hydroxylation of a methyl side-chain of toluene and xylenes. Genetic studies have suggested that this monooxygenase consists of two different proteins, products of the xylA and xylM genes, which function as an electron-transfer protein and a terminal hydroxylase, respectively. In this study, the electron-transfer component of xylene monooxygenase, the product of xylA, was purified to homogeneity. Fractions containing the xylA gene product were identified by its NADH:cytochrome c reductase activity. The molecular mass of the enzyme was determined to be 40 kDa by SDS/PAGE, and 42 kDa by gel filtration. The enzyme was found to contain 1 mol/mol of tightly but not covalently bound FAD, as well as 2 mol/mol of non-haem iron and 2 mol/mol of acid-labile sulfide, suggesting the presence of two redox centers, one FAD and one [2Fe-2S] cluster/protein molecule. The oxidised form of the protein had absorbance maxima at 457 nm and 390 nm, with shoulders at 350 nm and 550 nm. These absorbance maxima disappeared upon reduction of the protein by NADH or dithionite. The NADH:acceptor reductase was capable of reducing either one- or two-electron acceptors, such as horse heart cytochrome c or 2,6-dichloroindophenol, at an optimal pH of 8.5. The reductase was found to have a Km value for NADH of 22 microM. The oxidation of NADH was determined to be stereospecific; the enzyme is pro-R (class A enzyme). The titration of the reductase with NADH or dithionite yielded three distinct reduced forms of the enzyme: the reduction of the [2Fe-2S] center occurred with a midpoint redox potential of -171 mV; and the reduction of FAD to FAD. (semiquinone form), with a calculated midpoint redox potential of -244 mV. The reduction of FAD. to FAD.. (dihydroquinone form), the last stage of the titration, occurred with a midpoint redox potential of -297 mV. The [2Fe-2S] center could be removed from the protein by treatment with an excess of mersalyl acid. The [2Fe-2S]-depleted protein was still reduced by NADH, giving rise to the formation of the anionic flavin semiquinone observed in the native enzyme, thus suggesting that the electron flow was NADH --> FAD --> [2Fe-2S] in this reductase. The resulting protein could no longer reduce cytochrome c, but could reduce 2,6-dichloroindophenol at a reduced rate.     

Simian liver alcohol dehydrogenase: isolation and characterization of isozymes from Macaca nemestrina

Three classes of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), analogous to those of human liver, are present in Macaca nemestrina. Their functional, compositional, and structural features have been established with isozymes purified to homogeneity by affinity and conventional ion-exchange chromatography. One unusual molecular form of M. nemestrina ADH is electrophoretically indistinguishable as it comigrates with one of the cathodic class I isozymes on starch gel electrophoresis. While its substrate and inhibitor specificity, a high Km value for ethanol (50 mM at pH 10), and lack of binding to the pyrazole affinity resin are consistent with the kinetics of class II ADH, the physiochemical and compositional properties are virtually identical with all other known mammalian alcohol dehydrogenases. The unexpected presence of this previously unknown ADH variant in livers of M. nemestrina demonstrates the need for prudence in assignment of ADH isozymes. Classification based solely on electrophoretic position in starch gels and enzymatic properties of human ADH but without isolation and characterization of individual isozymes may prove insufficient and inadequate. The genetic or phenotypic nature of this isozyme remains to be demonstrated.     

Separation of two forms of glutamate synthase in leaves of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Two forms of glutamate synthase, one dependent on NAD(P)H, and the other on ferredoxin, have been completely separated by ionic exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose. The NAD(P)H dependent enzyme was further purified by affinity chromatography with Blue Sepharose, showing Km values of 0.5 mM, 0.3 mM and 1.7 μM for glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate and NADH, respectively. Ferredoxin dependent enzyme was also purified to electrophoretic homogeneity; the Km values were 0.5 mM, 0.2 mM and 0.2 μM for glutamine, 2-oxoglutarate and ferredoxin, respectively. These results support the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway for nitrogen assimilation.     

Preliminary characterization of multiple hyaluronidase forms in boar reproductive tract

Hyaluronidases play an important role in gamete interaction and fertility in mammals. The objectives of the present study were to investigate multiple forms of the enzyme in boar reproductive tract using electrophoretic methods. Two forms of hyaluronidase (EC 3.2.1.35) were detected in boar seminal plasma (relative molecular masses of 55,000 and 65,000) using hyaluronic acid-substrate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS. These two forms can be separated by means of affinity chromatography on Heparin-Sepharose. They differ, besides their affinity to heparin, also in the pH optimum of their enzymatic activity. The form with relative molecular mass of 55,000 was active both at the acidic (pH 3.7) and the neutral pH (pH 7.4) and was bound to immobilized heparin. The second form (relative molecular mass 65,000) was active only at acidic pH and did not interact with heparin. The same acidic-active form (65,000) was found in seminal vesicle fluids. The hyaluronidase form which is active both at the acidic and the neutral pH (51,000) was detected in epididymal fluid. In the detergent extracts of boar sperm, three active forms of the enzyme were found (relative molecular masses 55,000, 70,000 and 80,000). The form of relative molecular mass 55,000 was active in a wide range of pH (pH 3-8). The forms of relative molecular masses 70,000 and 80,000 were active only at neutral pH.     

Identification and partial characterization of bovine heart cytosolic phosphorylase phosphatases

The properties of phosphatases in bovine heart cytosol were studied. Two isozymic forms of protein phosphatase H (H-1 and H-2) were resolved by chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel. The two isoenzymes had identical physical properties (Mr 260,000, 7.9 S). Treatment with 80% ethanol activated both isozymes and converted H-1 to a Mr 35,500 form and H-2 to Mr 67,000 and Mr 35,500 forms. Both H-1 and H-2 and their lower Mr activated forms had essentially identical Km values for phosphorylase a. The heart cytosol also contained a latent phosphatase (Fc) which could be activated by preincubation with either ATP X Mg and an activating factor (FA), or by Mn/trypsin treatment. The latter procedure converted the latent Fc (Mr 200,000) to a Mn2+-independent Mr 34,500 form. Both activated forms of Fc had similar Km values which were fourfold lower than the affinity of the protein phosphatase H forms for the phosphorylase a substrate.     

Changes in glycolytic enzyme levels and isozyme expression in human lymphocytes during blast transformation.

The levels of each of the glycolytic enzymes were observed to exhibit a parallel increase of 200 to 300% when human lymphocytes were stimulated to undergo blast transformation. A series of electrofocusing and electrophoretic studies was utilized to assess the isozyme distribution of the glycolytic enzymes during blastogenesis. Hexokinase (pI = 7.40), glucosephosphate isomerase (pI = 9.35), and enolase (pI = 8.30) existed as single electrophoretic components and were unchanged during blast transformation. Phosphoglycerate mutase was observed to exist as two isozymes (pI = 5.80 and 6.63), which were also unchanged by blastogenesis. Aldolase, which was present as two electrophoretic forms in lymphocytes (pI = 9.25 and 8.75), exhibited a shift in the relative content of each. In addition to the lactate dehydrogenase isozymes at pI 9.50 and 7.60 found in lymphocytes, lymphoblasts contained isozymes with pI values of 7.30, 7.05, and 5.85. Although glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase was present as a single electrophoretic form (pI ? 8.0) in both lymphocytes and lymphoblasts, the association of the enzyme with actin produced electrophoretic artifacts with lower pI values. Phosphoglycerate kinase, which appeared as a single form in lymphocytes (pI = 9.00), was present as two isozymes (9.00 and 8.74) in lymphoblasts. Similarly, pyruvate kinase (pI = 8.73 and 8.50 in lymphocytes) exhibited additional isozymes (pyruvate kinase, pI = 7.60 and 5.85, and triosephosphate isomerase, pI = 5.20) as a result of cell transformation.     

Multiple forms of 2-deoxy-D-glucoside-2-sulphamate sulphohydrolase from human placenta.

2-Deoxyglucoside-2-sulphamate sulphohydrolase was purified about 10 000-fold from the soluble extract of human placenta by using as substrate [N-sulpho-35S]heparin. Differently charged enzyme forms were observed on chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, all of which had an apparent mol.wt. of 110 000 as determined by gel filtration. By using immobilized heparan sulphate as affinity matrix the sulphamate sulphohydrolase could be separated into two forms, a minor one with low and a major one with high affinity for the adsorbent. When tested with [N-sulpho-35S]heparan sulphate the low-affinity form had a Km of 0.2 mM, and the high-affinity form a Km of 0.03 mM. Both forms exhibited the same Km of 10 microM towards [N-sulpho-35S]heparin and were equally well adsorbed to immobilized heparin. The two forms could be distinguished by their pH-optima and by the influence of KCl on heparan sulphate sulphohydrolase activity.     

Sunflower Nitrate Reductase: Purification and Characterization

A single isoform, NADH: nitrate reductase (NR), was purified 500 folds from sunflower leaves by affinity chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL-6B. Purified NR had a pH optima of 7.25 and a molecular weight of 210 kD. In SDS-PAGE, two bands of 47 and 56 kD were obtained. NADH: ferric citrate reductase activity was copurified with NR with a specific activity of 2. The Vmax of NADH: ferric citrate reductase was 8.69 units mg^-1 protein and the apparent Km for ferric citrate was 0.435 mM.     

Rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase. I. Isolation and characterization of four high Km normal liver isozymes

From normal rat liver mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, 4 distinct aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes with millimolar substrate Km values have been purified and characterized. Two isozymes were isolated from mitochondria and 2 from microsomes. A mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase with a substrate Km in the micromolar range was also identified. Subunit molecular weights for all millimolar Km isozymes is 54,000. The mitochondrial and microsomal millimolar Km isozymes are clearly distinguishable from each other by substrate and coenzyme specificity, pH velocity profiles, and thermal stability. By these same properties, the 2 isozymes from each organelle are virtually identical. The 2 mitochondrial isozymes can be distinguished by apparent molecular weight (I, 170,000; II, approximately 250,000), Km for NADP+, effect of inhibitors, and pI. The 2 microsomal isozymes are of the same apparent molecular weight (approximately 250,000), but are distinguishable by their Km values for benzaldehyde and NADP+, response to inhibitors, and pI.     

The beta-glucosidase in the gut contents of the snail Achatina achatina.

1. The enzyme beta-glucosidase (beta-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) from the gut contents of active Achatina achatina exists in two molecular forms, beta-glucosidase C (mol.wt. about 82000) and D (mol.wt. about 41000). 2. Only the lower-molecular-weight species was found in the gut contents of aestivating snails or in extracts from their digestive glands and washed gut walls. 3. On re-activation of some aestivating snails, betion of ATP and Mg2+ to the isolated gut contents or to extracts from washed gut walls led to the formation of higher-molecular-weight forms of the enzyme, beta-glucosidase A (mol.wt. about 329000) and beta-glucosidase B (mol.wt. about 165000). 5. All these forms of the enzyme have similar pH optimum (pH 5.0-5.6). 6. The Michaelis constants (Km) and heat stability of the enzyme increased with increasing molecular complexity.     

Purification and properties of two molecular forms of arginine kinase from the adductor muscle of the scallop, Pecten maximus.

1. Two molecular forms of arginine kinase, AK1 and AK2 have been purified from the adductor muscle of the scallop, Pecten maximus. AK2 was retained on a DEAE-cellulose column at pH 7.5, but AK1 was not. 2. Both forms were monomeric (mol. wt. approximately 42,000) and showed the same pH optimum (7.5-8.0) in the direction of phosphoarginine synthesis. 3. AK1 had slower electrophoretic mobility at pH 8.3 towards the anode, higher lysine content, lower glutamate content, lower Km for L-arginine and higher Km for Mg(2+)-ATP than AK2. Unlike AK1, AK2 was strongly inhibited at high concentrations of Mg(2+)-ATP. 4. Both molecular forms cross-reacted with antisera raised against native as well as performic acid-oxidized lobster muscle arginine kinase. However, AK1 showed a greater affinity than AK2 to anti-lobster arginine kinase antibodies, particularly to those raised against the native enzyme.     

Monodehydroascorbate reductase from cucumber is a flavin adenine dinucleotide enzyme

Monodehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.6.5.4) was purified from cucumber fruit to a homogeneous state as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cucumber monodehydroascorbate reductase was a monomer with a molecular weight of 47,000. It contained 1 mol of FAD/mol of enzyme which was reduced by NAD(P)H and reoxidized by monodehydroascorbate. The enzyme had an exposed thiol group whose blockage with thiol reagents inhibited the electron transfer from NAD(P)H to the enzyme FAD. Both NADH and NADPH served as electron donors with Km values of 4.6 and 23 microM, respectively, and Vmax of 200 mol of NADH and 150 mol of NADPH oxidized mol of enzyme-1 s-1. The Km for monodehydroascorbate was 1.4 microM. The amino acid composition of the enzyme is presented. In addition to monodehydroascorbate, the enzyme catalyzed the reduction of ferricyanide and 2,6-dichloroindophenol but showed little reactivity with calf liver cytochrome b5 and horse heart cytochrome c. The kinetic data suggested a ping-pong mechanism for the monodehydroascorbate reductase-catalyzed reaction. Cucumber monodehydroascorbate reductase occurs in soluble form and can be distinguished from NADPH dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase, DT diaphorase, microsome-bound NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase by its molecular weight, amino acid composition, and specificity of electron acceptors and donors.