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Flavin-dependent antioxidant properties of a new series of meso-N,N'-dialkyl-imidazolium substituted manganese(III) porphyrins.

A number of synthetic manganese complexes exhibit both in vitro and in vivo catalytic antioxidant activities. This study reports that the antioxidant potencies of a new series of meso-N,N'-dialkyl-imidazolium substituted manganese(III) porphyrins are dependent, in part, on their ability to redox cycle with endogenous flavin-dependent oxidoreductases. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation activities of these novel cationic porphyrins was compared using rat brain homogenate as a source of lipids and endogenous oxidoreductases. Iron and ascorbate was used as initiators of lipid peroxidation, and two indices of lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and F(2)-isoprostanes) were determined. All meso-N,N'-dialkyl-imidazolium substituted porphyrins tested were potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation with IC(50) ranging from 0.1 to 34 microM with a metal-dependent potency of Mn(III)>>Co(III)>Zn(II). A flavin-dependent oxidoreductase antioxidant process was supported by the ability of the diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI, a flavoenzyme inhibitor) to decrease the potency of Mn-porphyrins in the lipid peroxidation model and that Mn-porphyrins stimulate NADPH oxidation in rat brain homogenates. These data suggest that metalloporphyrins may have differential antioxidant effects in tissues due to the presence or absence of flavin-dependent oxidoreductases.

Animals↗

Subsecond separation of cellular flavin coenzymes by microchip capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

In this article, it was demonstrated that a subsecond separation of cellular metabolites such as riboflavin (RF), flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) was achieved using microchip capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. The influences of crucial parameters that governed analysis time (e.g., channel length and electric field for separation) and separation resolution (e.g., sample size) were investigated, both in theoretical aspects and experimental practice. Quantitative analyses were performed that exhibited linear dynamic range of two orders of magnitude, with calculated detection limits of 34, 201, and 127 nM for RF, FAD, and FMN, respectively. To test the validity of the method, it was successfully applied to characterize several recombinant flavin-binding domains in a human neuronal nitric oxide synthase.

Coenzymes↗

Native fluorescence detection of flavin derivatives by microchip capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence intensified charge-coupled device detection.

To widen the scope of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) for detection in microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE), a microchip CE LIF-ICCD (intensified charge-coupled device) system based on a tunable wavelength dye laser pumped by a pico-second pulse nitrogen laser for excitation and a spectrograph with ICCD for detection had developed to demonstrate the enhancement in detection sensitivity by the following three approaches: direct detection of native fluorescence, improvement of signal-to-noise ratio by pulse laser excitation and time delay detection, and selective spectral acquisition by multi-channel detection. Riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) have been selected as they are dietetically important and microchip CE provides a promising onsite detection method. The results indicate a strong effect of wavelength on detection sensitivity and the need to tune wavelength for direct detection. Under optimized conditions (excitation 450 nm, emission 520 nm, gate delay time 45 ns, 20 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.1), the following results were obtained under static condition: Working ranges (0.6-350 microg/l, r > 0.99), detection limits (0.15-1.0 microg/l) and peak height repeatability (1.8-2.2% R.S.D.), all within the applicability range for body fluids or beverages such as human urine and cow milk. Baseline separation of three flavins was obtained under dynamic condition and the fluorescence spectra acquired assist the identification of alkaline-degraded products of riboflavin. Thus, the capability to check peak purity and identify unknown peaks has been demonstrated.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

Acidianus ambivalens type-II NADH dehydrogenase: genetic characterisation and identification of the flavin moiety as FMN.

The thermoacidophilic archaeon Acidianus ambivalens contains a monomeric 47 kDa type-II NADH dehydrogenase (NDH), which contains a covalently bound flavin. In this work, by a combination of several methods, namely (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopies, it is proven that this enzyme contains covalent FMN, a novelty among this family of enzymes, which were so far thought to mainly have the flavin dinucleotide form. Discrimination between several possible covalent flavin linkages was achieved by spectral and fluorescence experiments, which identified an 8alpha-N(1)-histidylflavin-type of linkage. Analysis of the gene-deduced amino acid sequence of type-II NDH showed no transmembranar helices and allowed the definition of putative dinucleotide and quinone binding motifs. Further, it is suggested that membrane anchoring can be achieved via amphipatic helices.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence-directed single strand cleavage of DNA by a netropsin-flavin hybrid molecule.

In an attempt to obtain sequence specific DNA-cleaving molecules, we have synthesized a series of hybrid minor groove binders composed of a photoactiveable isoalloxazine (flavin) chromophore linked through a polymethylenic chain to a bis-pyrrolecarboxamide moiety related to netropsin. Like netropsin, the hybrid derivatives preferentially bind to A+T-rich sequences. Activation of the flavin chromophore by visible light results in the appearance of single strand breaks in the vicinity of the DNA binding site. We have further investigated the cleavage affinity properties of one of these compounds referred to as netropsin-flavin (Net-Fla) and considered as representative of the series. Net-Fla cleaves only one strand at a specific locus downstream of 5'-AAAT-3', upstream of 5'-TAAA-3' and on either side of a 5'-AAAA-3' sequence. Net-Fla cleaves both strands downstream to 5'-AATT-3'. This makes the properties of Net-Fla similar to that of a restriction endonuclease and provides additional insight into establishing the rules for the readout of B-DNA helix by non-nucleotidic compounds. Using molecular modeling, we show that Net-Fla binds to an asymmetric site in one orientation. The values of the energetic minima lie in the same order as expected from the cleavage patterns, which suggests that the oriented cleavage is a consequence of a sequence-oriented binding of Net-Fla in the DNA minor groove.

Base Sequence↗

Characterization of the flavins and the iron-sulfur centers of glutamate synthase from Azospirillum brasilense by absorption, circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies.

Azospirillum brasilense glutamate synthase has been studied by absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and circular dichroism spectroscopies in order to determine the type and number of iron-sulfur centers present in the enzyme alpha beta protomer and to gain information on the role of the flavin and iron-sulfur centers in the catalytic mechanism. The FMN and FAD prosthetic groups are demonstrated to be non-equivalent with respect to their reactivities with sulfite. Sulfite reacts with only one of the two flavins forming an N(5)-sulfite adduct with a Kd of approximately 1 mM. The enzyme-sulfite complex is reduced by NADPH, and the complexed sulfite is competitively displaced by 2-oxoglutarate, which suggests the reactive flavin to be at the imine-reducing site. These data are in agreement with the two-site model of the enzyme active center proposed on the basis of kinetic studies [Vanoni, M.A., Nuzzi, L., Rescigno, M., Zanetti, G., & Curti, B. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 202, 181-189]. Each enzyme protomer was found, by chemical analysis, to contain 12.1 +/- 0.5 mol of non-heme iron. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic studies on the oxidized and reduced forms of glutamate synthase demonstrated the presence of three distinct iron-sulfur centers per enzyme protomer. The oxidized enzyme exhibits an axial spectrum with g values at 2.03 and 1.97, which is highly temperature-dependent and integrates to 1.1 +/- 0.2 spin/protomer. This signal is assigned to a [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster (Fe-S)I. Reduction of the enzyme with an NADPH-regenerating system results in reduction of the [3Fe-4S]1+ center to a species with a g approximately 12 signal characteristic of the S = 2 spin state of a [3Fe-4S]0 cluster. The NADPH-reduced enzyme also exhibits an [Fe-S] signal at g values of 1.98, 1.95, and 1.88, which integrates to 0.9 spin/protomer and is due to a second cluster (Fe-S)II. Reduction of the enzyme with the light/deazaflavin method results in a signal characteristic of [Fe-S] clusters with g values of 2.03, 1.92, and 1.86 and an integrated intensity of 1.9 spin/protomer. This signal arises from reduction of the (Fe-S)II center and from that of the third, lower potential iron-sulfur center (Fe-S)III. Circular dichroism spectral data on the oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme are more consistent with the assignment of (Fe-S)II and (Fe-S)III as [4Fe-4S] clusters rather than [2Fe-2S] centers.

Azospirillum brasilense↗

Molecular relaxation spectroscopy of flavin adenine dinucleotide in wild type and mutant lipoamide dehydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The temperature dependence of the fluorescence emission spectra of flavin adenine dinucleotide bound to lipoamide dehydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii shows that the protein matrix in the vicinity of the prosthetic group is rigid on a nanosecond time scale in a medium of high viscosity (80% glycerol). The active site of a deletion mutant of this enzyme, which lacks 14 C-terminal amino acids, is converted from a solid-state environment (on the nanosecond time scale of fluorescence) into a state where efficient dipolar relaxation takes place at temperatures between 203 and 303 K. In aqueous solution, fast dipolar fluctuations are observed in both proteins. It is shown from fluorescence quenching of the flavin by iodide ions that the prosthetic groups of the mutant protein are partially iodide accessible in contrast to the wild type enzyme. A detailed analysis of the temperature dependence of spectral energies according to continuous relaxation models reveals two distinct relaxation processes in the deletion mutant, which were assigned to solvent and protein dipoles, respectively. From the long-wavelength shifts of the emission spectra upon red-edge excitation, it is demonstrated that the active site of the wild type enzyme has high structural homogeneity in comparison to the deletion mutant. In combination with results obtained by X-ray diffraction studies on crystals of the wild type enzyme, it can be concluded that the C-terminal polypeptide of the A. vinelandii enzyme interacts with the dehydrolipoamide binding site, thereby shielding the flavins from the solvent.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗

Modulation of the oxidation-reduction potential of the flavin in lipoamide dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli by alteration of a nearby charged residue, K53R.

The epsilon-amino group of a lysine residue occupies a position within bonding distance of the flavin N5 and the bound NADPH pyridinium C4' in glutathione reductase, and it has been suggested that this positive charge influences the redox potential of the FAD [Pai & Schulz (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 1752]. A conserved lysine residue occupies a similar position in lipoamide dehydrogenase. This residue has been replaced by an arginine in lipoamide dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli to give K53R. The spectral and redox properties of the FAD in K53R as well as the interaction of the flavin with bound NAD+ are profoundly affected by the change. K53R does not catalyze either the dihydrolipoamide-NAD+ or the NADH-lipoamide reactions except at very low concentrations of the reducing substrate. The absorbance spectrum of K53R in the visible and near-ultraviolet is little changed from that of wild-type enzyme, but in contrast, the spectrum of K53R is sensitive to pH with an apparent pKa = 7.0. Unlike the wild-type enzyme, the binding of beta-NAD+ to K53R alters the spectrum and indicates an apparent Kd = 7.0 microM at pH 7.6. The flavin fluorescence is partially quenched, and the visible and near-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum is changed by beta-NAD+. K53R is extensively reduced (mostly EH4) by 2 equiv of dihydrolipoamide/FAD while the wild-type enzyme is only partially reduced (mostly EH2). The rate of this reduction is lowered by approximately 3-fold relative to the wild-type enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Circular Dichroism↗

Affinity probing of flavin binding sites. 1. Covalent attachment of 8-(methylsulfonyl)FAD to pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase.

8-(Methylsulfonyl)FAD reacts with a single cysteine residue (Cys449) in pig apolipoamide dehydrogenase to generate a flavinylated enzyme containing covalently bound 8-(cysteinyl)FAD. Competitive behavior is observed in reconstitution reactions containing both FAD and 8-(methylsulfonyl)FAD. Covalently bound 8-(cysteinyl)FAD is shielded from solvent, as judged by spectral comparison with model 8-(alkylthio)-flavins in various solvents. Flavinylated lipoamide dehydrogenase is monomeric and catalytically inactive. Cys449 is located in the interface domain, near the active site histidine (His452). As shown previously, Cys449 is oxidized when native enzyme is treated with cupric ions. Cys449 is close to the isoalloxazine ring of FAD in native enzyme, as judged by alignment of the pig sequence with the structure of the homologous enzyme from Azotobacter vinelandii. The residue corresponding to Cys449 in A. vinlandii lipoamide dehydrogenase (Val447) is about 9 A from the carbonyl oxygen at C(2) in the pyrimidine ring of FAD. Approximation of a substituent at position 8 in FAD with Cys449 requires a 180 degrees flip of the isoalloxazine ring as compared with its orientation in the native structure. The different flavin orientation can explain the absence of dimerization and catalytic activity. Using the same method of apoenzyme preparation, noncovalent binding was observed with 8-chloroFAD, a less reactive flavin analogue. Relatively nonspecific covalent incorporation was observed with 8-chloroFAD when apoenzyme was prepared by an older method used in previous studies with this derivative [Moore, E.G., Cardemil, E., & Massey, V. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 6413-6422].

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Laser flash photolysis studies of electron transfer between semiquinone and fully reduced free flavins and the cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex.

Laser flash photolysis has been used to determine the rate constants for the reduction of bovine cytochrome oxidase and the cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex by the semiquinone and fully reduced forms of various flavin analogues (FH. and FH-, respectively). Under the condition used, the reaction of FH. with free cytochrome oxidase is too slow to compete with FH. disproportionation whereas FH- reacts measurably. Both FH. and FH- are effective in reducing the complex. The reduction of heme a in the complex is shown to proceed via cytochrome c, and a limiting first-order rate is observed in the case of FH- at high complex concentrations. The data indicate that the interaction site for electron transfer to cytochrome c is the same in the complex as with the free protein, and although a tight complex exists, at least small reactants like the flavins are not sterically hindered in their access to the bound cytochrome c. Moreover, the results also establish that intramolecular electron transfer between cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase within the complex occurs with a first-order rate constant of greater than 700 s-1. Thus, the presence of cytochrome c greatly enhances electron transfer from reduced flavins to cytochrome oxidase.

Animals↗

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance study on the dynamics of the conformation of reduced flavin.

Several flavin model compounds in the reduced state have been investigated by 13C NMR techniques. The NMR spectra were recorded in dependence of temperature, in the range of 30 to -100 degrees C. The results show that the activation barrier for the ring inversion ("butterfly" motion) is too low to be observed directly. In order to be able to detect the barrier of the ring inversion, it was coupled with a side-chain rotation. In this way, the intrinsic barrier for the ring inversion is increased by the barrier of the side-chain rotation, which allowed detection of the former barrier. It is shown that the intrinsic barrier for the ring inversion is less than 20 kJ/mol. Moreover, it is shown that previous results of Tauscher et al. [Tauscher, L., Ghisla, S., & Hemmerich, P. (1973) Helv. Chim. Acta 56, 630-649] are incorrect and nitrogen inversion is not observed. Symmetry arguments in the dynamic processes are discussed. From the low activation barrier for the ring inversion, it can be concluded that the conformation of the reduced flavin can be easily influenced upon binding to apoflavoproteins. This aspect might be of importance in the regulation of the function of the flavin prosthetic group in biological systems.

Animals↗

Kinetics of reduction of high redox potential ferredoxins by the semiquinones of Clostridium pasteurianum flavodoxin and exogenous flavin mononucleotide. Electrostatic and redox potential effects.

We have measured the ionic strength dependence of the rate constants for the electron-transfer reactions of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavodoxin semiquinones with 10 high redox potential ferredoxins (HiPIP's). The rate constants were extrapolated to infinite ionic strength by using a theoretical model of electrostatic interactions developed in our laboratory. In all cases, the sign of the electrostatic interaction was the same as the protein net charge, but the magnitudes were much smaller. The results are consistent with a model in which the electrical charges are approximately uniformly distributed over the HiPIP surface and in which there are both short- and long-range electrostatic interactions. An electrostatic field calculation for Chromatium vinosum HiPIP is consistent with this. The presumed site of electron transfer includes that region of the protein surface to which the iron-sulfur cluster is nearest and appears to be relatively hydrophobic. The principal short-range electrostatic interaction would involve the negative charge on the iron-sulfur cluster. For some net negatively charged proteins, this effect is magnified, and for net positively charged HiPIP's, it is counterbalanced. The rate constants extrapolated to infinite ionic strength can be correlated with redox potential differences between the reactants, as has previously been shown for cytochrome-flavin semiquinone reactions. Both electrostatic and redox potential effects are magnified for the flavodoxin semiquinone as compared to the FMN semiquinone-HiPIP reactions. This was also observed previously for the flavin semiquinone-cytochrome reactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzoquinones↗

Transient kinetics of reduction of blue copper proteins by free flavin and flavodoxin semiquinones.

Rate constants have been determined for the electron-transfer reactions between reduced free flavins and flavodoxin semiquinone and several blue copper proteins. Correlations between these values and redox potentials demonstrate that spinach plastocyanin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, Alcaligenes sp. azurin, and Alcaligenes sp. nitrite reductase have the same intrinsic reactivities toward free flavins, whereas stellacyanin is more reactive (3.3 times) and laccase considerably less reactive (approximately 12 times). Electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and the copper proteins show that the interaction site charges for laccase and nitrite reductase are opposite in sign to the net protein charge and that the signs and magnitudes of the charges are consistent with the known three-dimensional structures for plastocyanin and the azurins and with amino acid sequence homologies for stellacyanin. The results demonstrate that the apparent interaction site charge with flavodoxin is larger than that with FMN for plastocyanin, nitrite reductase, and stellacyanin but smaller for Pseudomonas azurin. This is interpreted in terms of a larger interaction domain for the flavodoxin reaction, which allows charged groups more distant from the actual electron-transfer site to become involved. The intrinsic reactivities of plastocyanin and azurin toward flavodoxin are the same, as was the case with FMN, but both stellacyanin and nitrite reductase are considerably less reactive than expected (approximately 2 orders of magnitude). This result suggests the involvement of steric factors with these latter two proteins which discriminate against large reactants such as flavodoxin.

Alcaligenes↗

Electron-transferring flavoprotein from pig kidney: flavin analogue studies.

Apo-electron-transferring flavoprotein from pig kidney (apo-ETF) has been prepared by an acid ammonium sulfate procedure and reconstituted with FAD analogues to probe the flavin binding site. The 8-position of the bound flavin is accessible to solvent as judged by the reaction of 8-Cl-FAD-ETF with sodium sulfide and thiophenol. A series of 8-alkylmercapto-FAD analogues containing increasingly bulky substituents bind tightly to apo-ETF and can be reduced to the dihydroflavin level by octanoyl-CoA in the presence of catalytic levels of the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. Bulky substituents severely slow the rate of these interflavin electron-transfer reactions. In the case of the 8-cyclohexylmercapto derivative, this decrease reflects a sizable increase in the Km for ETF (approximately 14-fold) with only a 20% decrease in Vmax. Reduction of all of these 8-substituted derivatives involves the accumulation of ETF anion radical intermediates. Dihydro-5-deaza-FAD dehydrogenase, unlike the corresponding 1-deazaflavin substitution, is unable to reduce native ETF despite a strongly favorable redox potential difference. These results, together with data from the native proteins, are consistent with obligatory 1-electron transfer between dehydrogenase and ETF possibly involving the exposed dimethylbenzene edge of ETF. Irradiation of apo-ETF reconstituted with the photoaffinity analogue 8-azidoflavin leads to approximately 10% covalent incorporation of the flavin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of apo-ETF labeled with tritiated 8-azido-FAD shows preferential labeling of the smaller subunit (88%, Mr 30,000 subunit; 12%, Mr 33,000 subunit).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Mutagenesis of the redox-active disulfide in mercuric ion reductase: catalysis by mutant enzymes restricted to flavin redox chemistry.

Mercuric reductase, a flavoenzyme that possess a redox-active cystine, Cys135Cys140, catalyzes the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0) by NADPH. As a probe of mechanism, we have constructed mutants lacking a redox-active disulfide by eliminating Cys135 (Ala135Cys140), Cys140 (Cys135Ala140), or both (Ala135Ala140). Additionally, we have made double mutants that lack Cys135 (Ala135Cys139Cys140) or Cys140 (Cys135Cys139Ala140) but introduce a new Cys in place of Gly139 with the aim of constructing dithiol pairs in the active site that do not form a redox-active disulfide. The resulting mutant enzymes all lack redox-active disulfides and are hence restricted to FAD/FADH2 redox chemistry. Each mutant enzyme possesses unique physical and spectroscopic properties that reflect subtle differences in the FAD microenvironment. These differences are manifested in a 23-nm range in enzyme-bound FAD lambda max values, an 80-nm range in thiolate to flavin charge-transfer absorbance maxima, and a ca. 100-mV range in FAD reduction potential. Preliminary evidence for the Ala135Cys139Cys140 mutant enzyme suggests that this protein forms a disulfide between the two adjacent Cys residues. Hg(II) titration experiments that correlate the extent of charge-transfer quenching with Hg(II) binding indicate that the Ala135Cys140 protein binds Hg(II) with substantially less avidity than does the wild-type enzyme. All mutant mercuric reductases catalyze transhydrogenation and oxygen reduction reactions through obligatory reduced flavin intermediates at rates comparable to or greater than that of the wild-type enzyme. For these activities, there is a linear correlation between log kappa cat and enzyme-bound FAD reduction potential. In a sensitive Hg(II)-mediated enzyme-bound FADH2 reoxidation assay, all mutant enzymes were able to undergo at least one catalytic event at rates 50-1000-fold slower than that of the wild-type enzyme. We have also observed the reduction of Hg(II) by free FADH2. In multiple-turnover assays which monitored the production of Hg(0), two of the mutant enzymes were observed to proceed through at least 30 turnovers at rates ca. 1000-fold slower than that of wild-type mercuric reductase. We conclude that the Cys135 and Cys140 thiols serve as Hg(II) ligands that orient the Hg(II) for subsequent reduction by a reduced flavin intermediate.

Disulfides↗

Chromophore function and interaction in Escherichia coli DNA photolyase: reconstitution of the apoenzyme with pterin and/or flavin derivatives.

Native DNA photolyase, as isolated from Escherichia coli, contains a neutral flavin radical (FADH.) plus a pterin chromophore (5,10-methenyltetrahydropteroylpolyglutamate) and can be converted to its physiologically significant form by reduction of FADH. to fully reduced flavin (FADH2) with dithionite or by photoreduction. Either FADH2 or the pterin chromophore in dithionite-reduced native enzyme can function as a sensitizer in catalysis. Various enzyme forms (EFADox, EFADH., EFADH2, EPteFADox, EPteFADH., EPteFADH2, EPte) containing stoichiometric amounts of FAD in either of its three oxidation states and/or 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (Pte) have been prepared in reconstitution experiments. Studies with EFADox and EPte showed that these preparations retained the ability to bind the missing chromophore. The results suggest that there could be considerable flexibility in the biological assembly of holoenzyme since the order of binding of the enzyme's chromophores is apparently unimportant, the binding of FAD is unaffected by its redox state, and enzyme preparations containing only one chromophore are reasonably stable. The same catalytic properties are observed with dithionite-reduced native enzyme or EFADH2. These preparations do not exhibit a lag in catalytic assays whereas lags are observed with preparations containing FADox or FADH. in the presence or absence of pterin. Photochemical studies show that these lags can be attributed to enzyme activation under assay conditions in a reaction involving photoreduction of enzyme-bound FADox or FADH. to FADH2. EPte is catalytically inactive, but catalytic activity is restored upon reconstitution of EPte with FADox. The results show that pterin is not required for dimer repair when FADH2 acts as the sensitizer but that FADH2 is required when dimer repair is initiated by excitation of the pterin chromophore. The relative intensity of pterin fluorescence in EPte, EPteFADH., EPteFADox, or EPteFADH2 has been used to estimate the efficiency of pterin singlet quenching by FADH. (93%), FADox (90%), or FADH2 (58%). Energy transfer from the excited pterin to flavin is energetically feasible and may account for the observed quenching of pterin fluorescence and also explain why photoreduction of FADox or FADH. is accelerated by the pterin chromophore. An irreversible photobleaching of the pterin chromophore is accelerated by FADH2 in a reaction that is accompanied by a transient oxidation of FADH2 to FADH.. Both pterin bleaching and FADH2 oxidation are inhibited by substrate.

Apoenzymes↗

Chemical synthesis and some properties of 6-substituted flavins.

A number of derivatives of riboflavin and of 3-methyllumiflavin substituted in the 6 position have been synthesized starting with 6-nitro flavins, reduction to the 6-amino flavin, and diazotization, followed by reaction with the appropriate nucleophile. The absorption spectra, oxidation-reduction potentials, and the electron spin resonance spectra of the radical cationic forms of several of these synthetic compounds have been determined, including 6-S-cysteinyl-3-methyllumiflavin and 6-S-cysteinylriboflavin. The latter has been shown to be identical with the dephosphorylated form of the aminoacyl flavin isolated from trimethylamine dehydrogenase [Steenkamp, D. J., Kenney, W. C. & Singer, T. P. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 2812-2817; Steenkamp, D. J., McIntire, W., & Kenney, W. C. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 2818-2824] in regard to absorption specturm, photochemical properties, and mobility in high-voltage electrophoresis and in thin-layer chromatography. An unusually pronounced interaction between the amino group and the isoalloxazine ring system was deduced from the absorption spectra of 6-amino-3-methyllumiflavin and 6-aminoriboflavin.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Activity and stability of the luciferase--flavin intermediate.

A luciferase intermediate in the bacterial bioluminescence system, which is formed by reaction of enzyme with reduced flavin mononucleotide (FMNH2) and oxygen, is shown to emit light with added aldehyde under anaerobic conditions. The reaction with oxygen is thus effectively irreversible under the conditions used. The flavin chromophore has an absorption maximum at about 370 nm and the potential activity (bioluminescence yield) in the further reaction of the isolated intermediate with aldehyde is strictly proportional to the amount of this flavin chromophore.

Anaerobiosis↗