Metabolic role of flavoprotein in terminal oxidation by cytochrome o from Vitreoscilla

NADH-cytochrome o reductase is associated with purified preparationsof cytochrome o, and these preparations can be separated into"reductase-enriched" and "reductase-poor" fractions by columnchromatography. Direct evidence for the presence of flavin inthese preparations was obtained from fluorescence spectra, andthe intensity of the fluorescence maxima was greater in reductase-enrichedpreparations of cytochrome o than in reductase-poor ones. Exogenouslyadded flavin stimulated the rate of NADH oxidation by molecularoxygen that is catalyzed by preparations of cytochrome o, morestimulation being observed with "reductase-poor" than with "reductase-enriched"preparations. Since reduction of cytochrome o in an aerobicsolution was also stimulated by added flavin, the primary effectof the latter is on the NADH-cytochrome o reductase side ofthe cytochrome. Possible explanations for the observed stimulationof the reduction of cytochrome o in aerobic solutions in thepresence of exogenous flavin are 1) reconstitution of flavin-deficientreductase, 2) flavin acting as a mobile electron carrier betweenthe reductase and the cytochrome, 3) cytochrome o being reducedby superoxide anion generated as an intermediate in the reactionof reduced flavin with oxygen. More direct evidence for theparticipation of a flavor-protein in the reduction of cytochromeo was the observed photochemical reduction of cytochrome o inan anaerobic CO atmosphere without added flavin using EDTA asan electron donor. (Received July 18, 1977; )     

Properties of the Respiratory NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase Isolated from the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803

Activity staining with NADPH-nitroblue tetrazolium after native-PAGEof membrane proteins of Synechocystis PCC6803, solubilized with3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS),revealed four NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) activities; an NDHcomplex of the respiratory chain, a ferredoxin NADP⁺ reductase(FNR), a drgA product which oxidized both NADH and NADPH, andan uncharacterized NADH-specific enzyme. The NDH complex waspurified with anion exchange and gel filtration chromatographies.The purified complex had a molecular mass of 376 kDa and wascomposed of 9 subunits. Western analysis showed that the complexcontained the NDH-H subunit, but not NDH-A or B. The enzymereduced ferricyanide much faster than plastoquinone and usedNADPH as its prefered electron donor rather than NADH. The enzymaticactivity was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium chloride and salicylhydroxamicacid, but not by rotenone, p-chloromercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide,flavon, dicumarol, or antimycin A. These results suggest thatthe purified complex is a hydrophilic subcomplex which containsan NADPH binding site and flavin, and is dissociated from ahydrophobic subcomplex, which contains quinone binding site. ¹Present address: Division of Applied Life Sciences, GraduateSchool of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502Japan ³Present address: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering,Fukuyama University, 1 Gakuencho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, 729-0292Japan     

Studies on the metabolism of a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium VII. Oxidation of sulfite by a cell-free extract of Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Properties of the cell-free extract, prepared from a strainof Thiobacillus thiooxidans by sonic disruption followed byfractionation with centrifugatiori, were investigated with referenceto its sulfite-oxidizing activity. Without the addition of cofactors the particulate fraction(F-P)catalyzed oxidation of sulfite with oxygen or bacterial cytochromec-552 obtained from Pseudomonas stutzeri as electron acceptor.TMPD reduced by ascorbic acid was also oxidized by F-P. Thesoluble fraction(F-S) showed no activity in oxidizing sulfiteand TMPD, but stimulated TMPD oxidation by F-P. Oxygen uptake with either sulfite or TMPD as substrate was inhibitedby KCN, NaN₃, CO and c-phenanthroline. CO-Inhibition was reversedby light. Reduction of cytochrome c-552 by sulfite was insensitiveto these agents. Antimycin A markedly inhibited sulfite oxidation with eitheroxygen or cytochrome c-552 as electron acceptor, but was withouteffect on TMPD oxidation. DDC and SAO, both strong inhibitors of sulfur oxidation, didnot affect sulfite and TMPD oxidations. Cytochromes of the a, b and c types were contained in F-P. Thesecytochromes were rapidly reduced when F-P was incubated withsulfite. Cytochrome(s) of the c type was present in F-S, too. ¹VI.=References (3) ²Partly supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education ³Present address: Sanyo Women's College, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima738, Japan ⁴Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Hiroshima UniversitySchool of Dentistry, Hiroshima 734, Japan (Received May 15, 1970; )     

Accumulation of Demolybdo Nitrate Reductase during Induction and Its Separation from Active Nitrate Reductase in Chlorella

During induction of nitrate reductase in Chlorella vulgaris,synthesis of the precursor, demolybdo cytochrome c reductase,exceeds the synthesis of active enzyme. Evidence is also presentedwhich shows that the purification procedure of Funkhouser etal. [(1980) Plant Physiol. 65: 939] separates demolybdo cytochromec reductase from active nitrate reductase. ¹Supported in part by a grant to B. V. from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaftand a contribution of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. (Received July 27, 1983; Accepted September 13, 1983)     

Activation Energies of Reactions Catalyzed by the Nitrate Reductase from Chlorella vulgaris

The thermal dependence of two of the reactions catalyzed bythe nitrate reductase from Chlorella vulgaris was determined.The activation energies for NADH:nitrate oxidoreductase (EC1.6.6.1 [EC] ) and NADH:Cytochrome c oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.3 [EC] )are 42.1 kJ?mol^–1 and 21.5 kJ?mol^–1, respectively.Since the thermal dependency of the two enzymes is different,ratios of the activities will vary with temperature. The importanceof both rigorous thermal control during nitrate reductase assaysas well as the need to specify the temperature at which theratio of activities for the enzyme are clearly established. ¹Present Address: Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS,Route 3, Box 215, Lubbock, TX 79401, U.S.A. (Received November 25, 1987; Accepted March 2, 1988)     

Oxygenated cytochrome o (Vitreoscilla) formed by treating oxidized cytochrome with superoxide anion

Oxygenated cytochrome o can be formed experimentally in twoways, i) by reaction of reduced cytochrome o with molecularoxygen, or ii) by reaction of oxidized cytochrome o with superoxideanion generated by the action of the xanthine oxidase system.It is thermodynamically feasible for oxidized cytochrome o plusO₂–, and reduced cytochrome o plus O₂ to appear as intermediatesin reactions i) and ii), respectively. Superoxide dismutase completely inhibits the xanthine oxidase-catalyzedconversion of oxidized cytochrome o into the oxygenated formbut it has relatively little effect on the oxygenated cytochromeo formation in the reaction system consisting of NADH, NADH-cytochromeo reductase, and cytochrome o. Thus, if superoxide anion doesplay a significant role in the latter system it must be efficientlycoupled to react with cytochrome o and inaccessible to superoxidedismutase. Direct electron transfer from the reductase to thecytochrome without the involvement of superoxide anion is analternative mechanism. (Received December 16, 1976; )     

NITRATE REDUCTASE IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIUM, RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM. PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF NITRATE REDUCTASE IN NITRATE-ADAPTED CELLS

1. From nitrate-adapted cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum, an activepreparation of nitrate reducing enzyme was isolated in partiallypurified state. The enzyme was found to be localized in thechromatophores of the cell and, on sonication, readily releasedinto the upernatant fraction. The purified enzyme, catalyzingthe electron transfer between DPNH and nitrate, contained ab-type cytochrome, flavin and non-heme iron, which was removedon dialysis in the presence of cyanide. Besides DPNH, only methylviologen(reduced form) was effective as electron donor. 2. The effects of pH and the addition of various activatorsand inhibitors on the rate of nitrate reduction were investigated,using DPNH or reduced methylviologen as the electron donor.The oxidation-reduction of the flavin and the heme in the enzymewas followed spectrophotometrically. A pathway of electron inthe nitrate reduction through this enzyme was proposed. 3. The nitrate reductase of this bacterium was compared withother nitrate reductases obtained from other sources, and themetabolic roles of this enzyme were discussed. In the nitrate-adaptedcells of Rsp. rubrum, only one and the same enzyme was obtainedunder different growth conditions of nitrate assimilation (i.e., nitrate as N-source; light as energy source) and nitrate-respiration(i. e., in the dark; nitrate as hydrogen acceptor and N-source). ¹ Dedicated to Prof. H. TAMIYA on the occasion of his 60th birthday.This paper was submitted to the University of Tokyo to fulfillthe requirement for the author's doctorate. ² Present address; Botanical Institute, Kyoto University. (Received December 14, 1962; )     

Only the Complete NADH:Nitrate Reductase Activity is Inhibited by Magnesium, not the Partial Activities

In response to in situ dark modulation, or in vitro ATP preincubationof higher plant nitrate reductase, Mg²⁺ inhibits NADH:nitratereductase activity but not MV:nitrate reductase activity incrude extracts. Also for the purified enzyme the complete NADH:nitratereductase activity is inhibited by Mg²⁺, but not the partialMV:nitrate reductase or Cyt c reductase activities. (Received October 13, 1993; Accepted January 24, 1994)     

Purification of Sulphite-Cytochrome c Reductase of Thiobacillus novellus and Reconstitution of Its Sulphite Oxidase System with the Purified Constituents

Sulphite-cytochrome c reductase (sulphite: ferricytochrome coxidoreductase, EC 1.8.2.1 [EC] ) derived from Thiobacillus novelluswas purified by chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column andby gel filtration with a Sephadex G-100 column. Although thereductase thus purified moved as a single band both in gel filtrationand in isoelectric focusing it was always split into two bandsby polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; the one had the enzymaticactivity and showed absorption spectrum of cytochrome, whilethe other had no activity and was colourless, in contrast withthe results reported by Charles and Suzuki [(1966) Biochim.Biophys. Acta 128: 522]. The enzymatic properties of the purifiedreductase were almost the same as those of the enzyme obtainedby Charles and Suzuki. Cytochrome c-551 free of the reductase activity was obtained.Its molecular weight was determined to be 23,000 by polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate.The cytochrome seemed to exist in the organism as a complexwith the reductase or a subunit of the enzyme. In the stateof the complex with the enzyme, the cytochrome was reduced veryquickly on addition of sulphite, while the cytochrome free ofthe reductase activity was hardly reduced by the enzyme withsulphite. A sulphite oxidase system was reconstituted with the reductase,cytochrome c-550 and cytochrome oxidase highly purified fromthe bacterium. ¹ Present address: Water Research Institute, Nagoya University,Nagoya 464, Japan ² Present address: Institute for Biological Science, SumitomoChemical Co., Ltd., Takarazuka, Hyogo 665, Japan (Received January 23, 1981; Accepted March 9, 1981)     

Nitrite-reducing activity of modified cytochrome c-553 from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis Ueda

Crystalline cytochrome c-553 was obtained from Porphyra yezoensisUeda. The cytochrome in areduced form was modified to show anitrite-reducing activity after appropriate treatment with heat,hydrogen peroxide, or photooxidation using methylene blue asthe electron acceptor, but the reducing activity was far lowerthan that of the nitrite reductase isolated from this alga.The modified cytochrome c-553 was autooxidizable and showedan absorption spectrum resembling that of cytochrome c-553 inthe oxidized form except for slight shifts of the absorptionmaximumin the -band region toward shorter wavelengths. ¹ Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Universityof Tsukuba, Sakura-Mura, Ibaraki, 300-31 Japan. ² Present address: Department of Fisheries, College of Agricultureand Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Shimouma, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo, 154 Japan. (Received June 10, 1975; )     

Nitrate reductase from Dunaliella tertiolecta, purification and properties

The purification and properties of a nitrate reductase fromthe green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta are described. The enzymeis soluble, with a molecular weight greater than 500,000 andhas Km values of 0.26, 0.18, 0.10 and 0.06 m for NO₃^–,NADH, NADPH and FADH₂ respectively. Even at the highest specificactivity obtained, (0.86 µmoles NO₃^– reduced min^–1mg protein^–1) the enzyme retains the capacity to acceptelectrons from both NADH and NADPH. Unlike other nitrate reductasesit does not appear to be able to use reduced viologens as electrondonors. Its other properties are consistent with its being amolybdoflavoprotein of high molecular weight, which is alsoable to function as a cytochrome C reductase. ¹ Supported in part by the National Research Council of Canada. (Received June 18, 1972; )     

Purification and properties of human erythrocyte membrane NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase

An NADH:(acceptor) oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.3) of human erythrocyte membrane was purified by DEAE-cellulose anion exchange, hydroxyapatite adsorption, and 5′-ADP-hexane-agarose affinity chromatographies after solubilization with Triton X-100. The purified reductase preparation was homogeneous and estimated to have an apparent molecular weight of 36,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis and of 144,000 on Sephadex G-200 gel filtration in the presence of 0.2% Triton X-100, whereas a soluble NADH-cytochrome b₅ reductase of human erythrocyte had a molecular weight of 32,000 by both methods, indicating the existence of a distinct membrane reductase. Digestion of the membrane reductase with cathepsin D yielded a new polypeptide chain which gave the same relative mobility as the soluble reductase on SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. The membrane enzyme, the cathepsin-digested enzyme, and the soluble enzyme all cross-reacted with the antibody to rat liver microsomal NADH-cytochrome b₅ reductase. The enzyme had one mole FAD per 36,000 as a prosthetic group and could reduce K₃Fe(CN)₆, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, cytochrome c, methemoglobin-ferrocyanide complex, cytochrome b₅ and methemoglobin via cytochrome b₅ when NADH was used as an electron donor. NADPH was less effective as an electron donor than NADH. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 790 μmol ferricyanide reduced min^?1 mg^?1 and the turnover number was 40,600 mol ferricyanide reduced min^?1 mol^?1 FAD at 25 °C. The apparent K_m values for NADH and cytochrome b₅ were 0.6 and 20 μm, respectively, and the apparent V value was 270 μmol cytochrome b₅ reduced min^?1 mg^?1. These kinetic properties were similar to those of the soluble NADH-cytochrome b₅ reductase. The results indicate that the NADH:(acceptor) oxidoreductase of human erythrocyte membrane could be characterized as a membrane NADH-cytochrome b₅ reductase.     

Nitrite reductase in Dunaliella tertiolecta: Isolation and properties

1. A soluble nitrite reductase has been isolated from cell-freepreparations of Dunaliella tertiolecta and purified fifty fold. 2. The enzyme resembles nitrite reductases isolated from higherplants in that it is a ferredoxin-nitrite reductase, but differsin that it will not accept electrons from either NADH or NADPHeven if exogenous diaphorase is added. 3. The Km value for nitrite is 1.1 x 10^–4 M and the molecularweight as determined by chromatography on G-200 Sephadex is70,000. 4. The rates of nitrite reduction obtained in vitro, using thedithionite-viologen electron donor system are sufficient toaccount for the in vivo rates of nitrate and nitrite assimilationobserved in this species. (Received July 4, 1969; )     

Changes in the Cytochrome c Oxidase Activity in Response to Light Regime for Photosynthesis Observed with the Cyanophyte Synechocystis PCC 6714

Changes in the activity of cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1 [EC] ,Cyt-oxidase) in response to growth conditions were studied withthe cyanophyte Synechocystis PCC 6714 in relation to changesin PSI abundance induced by light regime for photosynthesis.The activity was determined with the V_max of mammalian cytochromec oxidation by isolated membranes. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate(G-6-P):NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.49 [EC] ) was also determinedsupplementarily. Cyt-oxidase activity was enhanced by glucoseadded to the medium even when cell growth maintained mainlyby oxygenic photosynthesis. G-6-P:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase was alsoactivated by glucose. The enhanced level of Cyt-oxidase washigher under PSII light, which causes high PSI abundance, thanthat under PSI light, which causes low PSI abundance. The levelwas intermediate under hetetrotrophic conditions. Although theactivity level was low in cells grown under autotrophic conditions,the level was again lower in cells grown under PSI light thanunder PSII light. The change of Cyt-oxidase activity in responseto light regime occurred in the same direction as that for thevariation of PSI abundance. Results suggest that in SynechocystisPCC 6714, the capacity of electron turnover at the two terminalcomponents of thylakoid electron transport system, Cyt-oxidaseand PSI, changes in parallel with each other in response tothe state of thylakoid electron transport system. ¹Present address: Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Beijing100044, China ²Present address: Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar,India 751004     

A Hydroxylamine-Cytochrome c Reductase Occurs in the Heterotrophic Nitrifier Arthrobacter globiformis

A partially purified cell-free extract of Arthrobacter globiformisshowed hydroxylamine-cytochrome c reductase activity. The enzymedid not seem to contain cytochrome, it was activated by ferrousions and inhibited by EDTA, and had an optimal pH of 9. ¹ On leave from Suido Kiko Kaisha, Ltd., Tokyo.     

A Manganese Protein from Thylakoids of a Cyanobacterium, Plectonema boryanum; Inhibition of Oxygen Evolution with Its Antibody

A manganese protein was solubilized from the thylakoids of thecyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum with a cholate-deoxycholatemixture, and purified to homogeneity by gel-filtration. Isolatedmanganese protein had a molecular weight of 13,000 and showedcatalase activity, which was insensitive to 3-aminotriazole.The antibody raised against the manganese protein inhibitedthe oxygen evolution using dichlorophenol indophenol (DCIP)as the electron acceptor by P. boryanum thylakoids, but notthe diphenylcarbazide-supported photoreduction of DCIP and ascorbate-supportedphotoreduction of methyl viologen in the presence of DCMU. Theseobservations suggest that isolated manganese protein is a componentof the oxygen evolving enzyme, water dehydrogenase. ¹ Dedicated to the late Dr. Joji Ashida, the first presidentof the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. (Received August 7, 1982; Accepted December 10, 1982)     

Inhibition of NADH-nitrate reductase activity in cucumber leaves due to NADH oxidation

The activity of crude NADH-nitrate reductase of cucumber leaveswas not linearly related to its concentration. The enzyme fractionand crude inhibitors could be roughly separated by saturationwith (NH₄₂SO₄. Inhibition of NR activity was not prevented bytreatment of crude inhibitors with insoluble PVP, BSA and PMSF,which is serinespecific protease inhibitor. However, the inhibitionwas reduced by increasing concentrations of NADH. Crude inhibitorsshowed NADH oxidation activities when measured with or withoutelectron acceptors. Crude enzyme preparation from cucumber leavescultured with nitrate could form nitrite when only NADH wasadded. Furthermore, NADH-oxidizing activities in crude inhibitorswere fractionated into one main and one minor activity whenassayed without an electron acceptor. DCIP accelerated onlythe main NADH oxidation activity. With NR, the minor activityproduced stronger inhibition than the main one. This stronginhibition of NR activity was found to be due to the acceleratedNADH oxidation by the association of enzyme with the minor-activityfraction. The results indicate that the NR activity in cucumberleaves may be regulated by the level of NADH, but the natureof the acceleration of NADH oxidation due to association isnot known. ¹ Pressent address: Institute for Agricultural and BiologicalSciences, Okayama University, Kurashiki, Japan. Please addressrequest of riprints to H. M. ² Present address: National Research Institute of Brewing, Kitaku,Tokyo, Japan. (Received November 9, 1978; )     

Soluble Dissimilatory Nitrate Reductase Containing Cytochrome c from a Photodenitrifier, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans

Dissimilatory nitrate reductase [nitrite: (acceptor) oxidoreductase.EC 1.7.99.4 [EC] ] from a denitrifying photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonassphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans proved to be a soluble enzymethat could be purified 47-fold. It was labile, and containedcytochrome c, based on the results of specific staining forheme on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and on its absorptionspectrum. Its physiological molecular weight was determinedto be 112k, although heterogeneous molecular weights of 112k,100k, 73k and 60k were found for different preparations. Theoptimum for enzyme activity was about pH 6, and the K_m for thenitrate was 1.6 mM. As an electron donor, benzyl viologen wasvery good; but NADH, NADPH, FAD, FMN, cytochromes b₂ and c₂,dichlorophenolindophenol and phenazine methosulfate were noteffective. Bathophenanthroline and thiocyanate inhibited enzymaticactivity. The addition of 1 mM tungstate to the growing culturein place of molybdate decreased the nitrate reductase in thecells, but a further addition of 1 mM molybdate stopped it.This nitrate reductase is believed to be a molybdo-iron proteinsimilar to the enzymes from other bacteria with a nitrate respiratingability. (Received February 29, 1980; Accepted January 29, 1981)     

Solubilization of nitrate reductase from the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica

Nitrate reductase was solubilized and purified from Anabaenacylindrica by Triton X-100 treatment of particulate preparationsfollowed by adsorption on calcium phosphate gel. Reduced methylviologen, FAD or FMN, but not ferredoxin, served as an effectiveelectron donor for the nitrate reduction by solubilized nitratereductase. ¹This work was supported by a grant (4061) from the Ministryof Education (Received June 25, 1970; )