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Azoreductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737 is a flavodoxin that also functions as nitroreductase and flavin mononucleotide reductase

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Abstract

Previously reported azoreductase (AZR) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737 was shown to be a flavodoxin possessing nitroreductase and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) reductase activities. The structure model of AZR constructed with SWISS-MODEL displayed a flavodoxin-like fold with a three-layer α/β/α structure. With nitrofurazone as substrate, the optimal pH value and temperature were 7.0 and 50°C, respectively. AZR could reduce a number of nitroaromatic compounds including 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 3,5-dinitroaniline, and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). TNT resulted to be the most efficient nitro substrate and was reduced to hydroxylamino-dinitrotoluene. Both NADH and NADPH could serve as electron donors of AZR, where the latter was preferred. Externally added FMN was also reduced by AZR via ping-pong mechanism and was a competitive inhibitor of NADPH, methyl red, and nitrofurazone. AZR with broad substrate specificity is a member of a new nitro/FMN reductase family demonstrating potential application in bioremediation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Biological Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, People’s Republic of China

    Guangfei Liu, Jiti Zhou, Hong Lv, Xuemin Xiang, Jing Wang, Mi Zhou & Yuanyuan Qv

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  1. Guangfei Liu
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  2. Jiti Zhou
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  3. Hong Lv
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  4. Xuemin Xiang
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  7. Yuanyuan Qv
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Correspondence to Guangfei Liu.

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Liu, G., Zhou, J., Lv, H. et al. Azoreductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737 is a flavodoxin that also functions as nitroreductase and flavin mononucleotide reductase. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 76, 1271–1279 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1087-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1087-5

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