Tuning a nitrate reductase for function: The first spectropotentiometric characterization of a bacterial assimilatory nitrate reductase reveals novel redox properties

Jepson, Brian J. N., Anderson, Lee J., Rubio, Louis J., Taylor, Claire J., Butler, Clive S., Flores, Enrique, Herrero, Antonia, Butt, Julea N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9624-5226 and Richardson, David J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6847-1832 (2004) Tuning a nitrate reductase for function: The first spectropotentiometric characterization of a bacterial assimilatory nitrate reductase reveals novel redox properties. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279 (31). pp. 32212-32218. ISSN 1083-351X

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Abstract

Bacterial cytoplasmic assimilatory nitrate reductases are the least well characterized of all of the subgroups of nitrate reductases. In the present study the ferredoxin-dependent nitrate reductase NarB of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 was analyzed by spectropotentiometry and protein film voltammetry. Metal and acid-labile sulfide analysis revealed nearest integer values of 4:4:1 (iron/sulfur/molybdenum)/molecule of NarB. Analysis of dithionite-reduced enzyme by low temperature EPR revealed at 10 K the presence of a signal that is characteristic of a [4Fe-4S]1+ cluster. EPR-monitored potentiometric titration of NarB revealed that this cluster titrated as an n = 1 Nernstian component with a midpoint redox potential (Em) of –190 mV. EPR spectra collected at 60 K revealed a Mo(V) signal termed “very high g” with gav = 2.0047 in air-oxidized enzyme that accounted for only 10–20% of the total molybdenum. This signal disappeared upon reduction with dithionite, and a new “high g” species (gav = 1.9897) was observed. In potentiometric titrations the high g Mo(V) signal developed over the potential range of –100 to –350 mV (Em Mo6+/5+ = –150 mV), and when fully developed, it accounted for 1 mol of Mo(V)/mol of enzyme. Protein film voltammetry of NarB revealed that activity is turned on at potentials below –200 mV, where the cofactors are predominantly [4Fe-4S]1+ and Mo5+. The data suggests that during the catalytic cycle nitrate will bind to the Mo5+ state of NarB in which the enzyme is minimally two-electron-reduced. Comparison of the spectral properties of NarB with those of the membrane-bound and periplasmic respiratory nitrate reductases reveals that it is closely related to the periplasmic enzyme, but the potential of the molybdenum center of NarB is tuned to operate at lower potentials, consistent with the coupling of NarB to low potential ferredoxins in the cell cytoplasm.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Molecular Microbiology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Energy Materials Laboratory Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Light and Energy Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Life Processes Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Biophysical Chemistry (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment
Depositing User:	Rachel Smith
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2011 16:55
Last Modified:	17 May 2023 00:06
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/21415
DOI:	10.1074/jbc.M402669200

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