Metalloenzymes of the nitrate-reducing system

Di- and tricobalt Dawson sandwich complexes: synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and electrochemical behavior of Na(18)[(NaOH(2))(2)Co(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)] and Na(17)[(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)]

The reaction of the trivacant Dawson anion alpha-[P(2)W(15)O(56)](12-) and the divalent cations Co(2+) is known to form the tetracobalt sandwich complex [Co(4)(H(2)O)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](16-) (Co(4)P(4)W(30)). Two new complexes, with different Co/P(2)W(15) stoichiometry, [(NaOH(2))(2)Co(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](18-) (Na(2)Co(2)P(4)W(30)) and [(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](17-) (NaCo(3)P(4)W(30)), have been synthesized as aqueous-soluble sodium salts, by a slight modification of the reaction conditions. Both compounds were characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and (31)P solution NMR spectroscopy. These species are "lacunary" sandwich complexes, which add Co(2+) cations according to Na(2)Co(2)P(4)W(30) + Co(2+) --> NaCo(3)P(4)W(30) + Na(+) followed by NaCo(3)P(4)W(30) + Co(2+) --> Co(4)P(4)W(30) + Na(+). A Li(+)/Na(+) exchange in the cavity was evidenced by (31)P dynamic NMR spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviors of the sandwich complexes [(NaOH(2))Co(3)(H(2)O)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](17-) and [(NaOH(2))(2)Co(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](18-) were investigated in aqueous solutions and compared with that of [Co(4)(H(2)O)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)](16-). These complexes showed an electrocatalytic effect on nitrite reduction.

Molecular evolution of nitrate reductase genes

To understand the evolutionary mechanisms and relationships of nitrate reductases (NRs), the nucleotide sequences encoding 19 nitrate reductase (NR) genes from 16 species of fungi, algae, and higher plants were analyzed. The NR genes examined show substantial sequence similarity, particularly within functional domains, and large variations in GC content at the third codon position and intron number. The intron positions were different between the fungi and plants, but conserved within these groups. The overall and nonsynonymous substitution rates among fungi, algae, and higher plants were estimated to be 4.33 x 10(-10) and 3.29 x 10(-10) substitutions per site per year. The three functional domains of NR genes evolved at about one-third of the rate of the N-terminal and the two hinge regions connecting the functional domains. Relative rate tests suggested that the nonsynonymous substitution rates were constant among different lineages, while the overall nucleotide substitution rates varied between some lineages. The phylogenetic trees based on NR genes correspond well with the phylogeny of the organisms determined from systematics and other molecular studies. Based on the nonsynonymous substitution rate, the divergence time of monocots and dicots was estimated to be about 340 Myr when the fungi-plant or algae-higher plant divergence times were used as reference points and 191 Myr when the rice-barley divergence time was used as a reference point. These two estimates are consistent with other estimates of divergence times based on these reference points. The lack of consistency between these two values appears to be due to the uncertainty of the reference times.

Ultrastructural demonstration of ferricyanide reductase (Diaphorase) activity in the envelopes of the plastids of etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaves

Electron-dense precipitate was found consistently in the plastid envelope compartment in etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaves, incubated prior to fixation with succinate or malate as substrates and ferricyanide as the electron acceptor. Sulfhydryl reagents p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide abolished this reaction, while KCN did not affect it. Prefixation with 0.1% glutaraldehyde followed by incubation in basic media did not change the fine structural localization of precipitate, whereas pretreatment with 1.25% glutaraldehyde resulted in aspecific precipitation. Omission of the subtrate from the medium brought about diminished or negative reaction. Our results indicate that a (possibly not yet assembled) nitrate reductase complex is present in the plastid envelope compartment, the diaphorase part of which is responsible for the observed precipitation.

Active and inactive nitrate reductase. Effects of mild treatment with denaturing agents of protein

Nitrate reductase (NAD(P)H:nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.2) of the unicellular alga Cyanidium caldarium can exist in two interconvertible forms; one catalytically active and one inactive. The inactive nitrate reductase can be activated by mild treatment with denaturing agents of protein. By treatment with urea or mersalyl, activation of both the NADPH and benzyl viologen activities can be realized under mild conditions, whereas by treatment with heat, the activation of benzyl viologen activity is concomitant with loss of the NADPH activity. On the other hand, both activities are activated and destroyed concomitantly by ethylene glycol. In the present of FAD, either activation of benzyl viologen activity or loss of NADPH activity upon heating occur only at higher temperatures. The existence of a controlling region in the nitrate reductase molecule is postulated.

Nitrate reductase of Chlorella fusca: Partial purification, cytochrome content and presence of HCN after in vivo inactivation

An inactivated nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) formed in vivo by the green alga Chlorella fusca Shihira and Kraus is shown to be a cyanide complex. The partially purified inactive enzyme releases 0.048 nmol of HCN per unit of enzyme activated. This compares with 0.066 nmol of HCN liberated in similar previous measurements with the inactivated enzyme from Chlorella vulgaris. The nitrate reductase from C. fusca has been purified to a level of 67 μmol nitrate reduced per min per mg enzyme. It contains a cytochrome b557, at a level 1.9-fold higher per unit of active enzyme, than the nitrate reductase from C. vulgaris.

Effect of ammonium and ferricyanide on nitrate utilization by Chlorella vulgaris

It has been shown previously that added ammonium salts cause a cessation of nitrate utilization in some Chlorella species. It has also been shown that Chlorella vulgaris can form an inactivated nitrate reductase which is an HCN complex. In the present study, a comparison has been made of the rate of nitrate utilization and the rate of nitrate reductase inactivation in Chlorella vulgaris in response to the addition of ammonium salts and light-dark changes. The rate of formation of HCN-inactivated enzyme is too slow to account for the prompt inhibition of nitrate utilization caused by adding ammonium. In contrast, when nitrate utilization is inhibited by addition of ferricyanide to intact cells, the HCN-inactivated enzyme is promptly formed in vivo, and might account for the inhibition of nitrate utilization, though inhibition of nitrate uptake can not be excluded.

Purification and properties of the NAD(P)H:nitrate reductase of the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis

The assimilatory nitrate reductase from the yeast Rhodotorula glutinus has been purified 740-fold, its different catalytic activities have been characterized and some inhibitors studied. The purified enzyme (150 units per mg protein) contains a cytochrome of the b-557 type. An S20,w of 7.9 S was found by the use of sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and a Stokes radius of 7.05 nm was determined by gel filtration. From these values, a molecular weight of 230 000 was estimated for the native enzyme. The purified preparation consisted of two electrophoretically distinguishable proteins, both of which exhibited nitrate reductase activity. The species with the higher electrophoretic mobility which represented the great majority of the total nitrate reductase gave a positive stain for heme and was shown to be composed of subunits with a molecular weight of about 118 000. Thus the molecule contains two subunits of the same size.

Assimilatory nitrate reductase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus

A soluble nitrate reductase from the bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus grown on nitrate has been characterized. The reduction of nitrate to nitrite is mediated by an enzyme of 96000 molecular weight that can use as electron donors either viologen dyes chemically reduced with dithionite or enzymatically reduced with NAD(P)H, through specific diaphorases which utilize viologens as electron acceptors. Nitrate reductase activity is molybdenumdependent as shown by tungstate antagonistic experiments and is sensitive to--SH reagents and metal chelators such as KCN. The enzyme synthesis is repressed by ammonia. Moreover, nitrate reductase activity undergoes a quick inactivation either by dithionite and temperature or by dithionite in the presence of small amounts of nitrate. Cyanate prevents this inactivating process and can restore the activity once the inactivation had occurred, thus suggesting that an interconversion mechanism may participate in the regulation of Acinetobacter nitrate reductase.