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Magnetic interactions in milk xanthine oxidase.

The relaxation behavior of the EPR signals of MoV, FAD semiquinone, and the reduced Fe/S I center was measured in the presence and absence of other paramagnetic centers in milk xanthine oxidase. Specific pairs of prosthetic groups were rendered paramagnetic by poising the native enzyme or its desulfo glycol inhibited derivative at appropriate potentials and pH values. Magnetic interactions were found between the following species: Mo--Fe/S I (100-fold increase in microwave power required to saturate the MoV EPR signal at 103 K when Fe/S I is reduced as opposed to oxidized), FAD--Fe/S I and FAD--Fe/S II (70-fold increase in power required to saturate the FADH.EPR signal at 173 K when either Fe/S center is reduced), and Fe/S I--Fe/S II (2.5-fold increase in power to saturate the reduced Fe/S I EPR signal at 20 K when Fe/S II is reduced). The Mo--Fe/S I interaction was also detected as a reduced Fe/S I induced splitting of the MoV EPR spectrum at 30 K. No splittings of the FADH. or Fe/S center spectra were detected. No magnetic interactions were found between FAD and Mo or between Mo and Fe/S II. These results, together with those of Coffman & Buettner [Coffman, R. E., & Buettner, G. R. (1979) J. Phys. Chem. 83, 2392-2400], were used to estimate the following approximate distances between the electron carrying prosthetic groups of milk xamthine oxidase: Mo--Fe/S I, 11 +/- 3 A; Fe/S I-Fe/S II, 15 +/- 4 A; FAD-Fe/S I, 16 +/- 4 A; FAD-Fe/S II, 16 +/- 4 A. A model for the arrangement of these groups within the xanthine oxidase molecule is suggested.

Animals↗

Photocycle of the flavin-binding photoreceptor AppA, a bacterial transcriptional antirepressor of photosynthesis genes.

The flavoprotein AppA from Rhodobacter sphaeroides contains an N-terminal domain belonging to a new class of photoreceptors designated BLUF domains. AppA was shown to control photosynthesis gene expression in response to blue light and oxygen tension. We have investigated the photocycle of the AppA BLUF domain by ultrafast fluorescence, femtosecond transient absorption, and nanosecond flash-photolysis spectroscopy. Time-resolved fluorescence experiments revealed four components of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) excited-state decay, with lifetimes of 25 ps, 150 ps, 670 ps, and 3.8 ns. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy revealed rapid internal conversion and vibrational cooling processes on excited FAD with time constants of 250 fs and 1.2 ps, and a multiexponential decay with effective time constants of 90 ps, 590 ps, and 2.7 ns. Concomitant with the decay of excited FAD, the rise of a species with a narrow absorption difference band near 495 nm was detected which spectrally resembles the long-living signaling state of AppA. Consistent with these results, the nanosecond flash-photolysis measurements indicated that formation of the signaling state was complete within the time resolution of 10 ns. No further changes were detected up to 15 micros. The quantum yield of the signaling-state formation was determined to be 24%. Thus, the signaling state of the AppA BLUF domain is formed on the ultrafast time scale directly from the FAD singlet excited state, without any apparent intermediate, and remains stable over 12 decades of time. In parallel with the signaling state, the FAD triplet state is formed from the FAD singlet excited state at 9% efficiency as a side reaction of the AppA photocycle.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Oxygen reactions in p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase utilize the H-bond network during catalysis.

para-Hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase is a flavoprotein monooxygenase that catalyses a reaction in two parts: reduction of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in the enzyme by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in response to binding p-hydroxybenzoate to the enzyme and oxidation of reduced FAD with oxygen to form a hydroperoxide, which then oxygenates p-hydroxybenzoate. These different reactions are coordinated through conformational rearrangements of the protein and isoalloxazine ring during catalysis. Earlier research showed that reduction of FAD occurs when the isoalloxazine of the FAD moves to the surface of the protein to allow hydride transfer from NADPH. This move is coordinated with protein rearrangements that are triggered by deprotonation of buried p-hydroxybenzoate through a H-bond network that leads to the surface of the protein. In this paper, we examine the involvement of this same H-bond network in the oxygen reactions-the initial formation of a flavin-C4a-hydroperoxide from the reaction between oxygen and reduced flavin, the electrophilic attack of the hydroperoxide upon the substrate to form product, and the elimination of water from the flavin-C4a-hydroxide to form oxidized enzyme in association with product release. These reactions were measured through absorbance and fluorescence changes in the FAD during the reactions. Results were collected over a range of pH for the reactions of wild-type enzyme and a series of mutant enzymes with the natural substrate and substrate analogues. We discovered that the rate of formation of the flavin hydroperoxide is not influenced by pH change, which indicates that the proton required for this reaction does not come from the H-bond network. The rate of the hydroxylation reaction increases with pH in a manner consistent with a pK(a) of 7.1. We conclude that the H-bond network abstracts the phenolic proton from p-hydroxybenzoate in the transition state of oxygen transfer. The rate of formation of oxidized enzyme increases with pH in a manner consistent with a pK(a) of 7.1, indicating the involvement of the H-bond network. We conclude that product deprotonation enhances the rate of a specific conformational change required for both product release and the elimination of water from C4a-OH-FAD.

4-Hydroxybenzoate-3-Monooxygenase↗

Spectroscopic properties of Escherichia coli UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine reductase.

Purified uridine diphosphate N-acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.158) was analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) and UV-visible spectroscopy to establish the spectral properties of its tightly bound flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor. The polypeptide backbone displayed a single circular dichroic minimum at 208 nm and a single maximum at 193 nm. The CD spectrum of bound flavin exhibited a single major negative Cotton peak at 364 nm and two minor negative Cotton peaks at 464 and 495 nm. The protein was reversibly unfolded in 9.8 M urea and refolded in buffer in the presence of excess FAD. The refolded enzyme incorporated FAD and catalyzed full activity. The bound FAD displayed an absorption maximum at 464 nm with an extinction coefficient of epsilon 464 = 11700 M-1 cm-1. Anaerobic reduction with dithionite was complete at 1 equiv. Anaerobic reduction with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH), also was essentially complete at 1 equiv and produced a long-wavelength absorbance band characteristic of an FAD-pyridine nucleotide charge transfer complex. Photochemical bleaching in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) followed exponential kinetics. None of the anaerobic reductive titrations produced a spectral intermediate characteristic of a flavin semiquinone, and all reduced enzyme species could be fully reoxidized by oxygen, with full recovery of catalytic activity. Photochemically reduced enzyme was reoxidized by titration with either NADP+ or uridine diphospho N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvate (UNAGEP). Reoxidation by NADP+ reached a chemical equilibrium, whereas reoxidation by UNAGEP was stoichiometric. Binding of NADP+ or UNAGEP to the oxidized form of the enzyme produced a dead-end complex that could be titrated by following a 10-nm red shift in the absorption spectrum of the bound FAD. The Kd of NADP+ for oxidized enzyme was 0.7 +/- 0.3 microM and the Kd of UNAGEP was 2.7 +/- 0.3 microM. Solvent deuterium isotope effects on binding were observed for both NADP+ and UNAGEP, depending on the pH. At pH 8.5, the HKd/DKd was 2.2 for NADP+ and 3.9 for UNAGEP. No spectral changes were observed in the presence of a 40-fold excess of uridine diphospho N-acetylmuramic acid (UNAM) either aerobically or anaerobically. These studies have identified spectral signals for five steps in the kinetic mechanism, have indicated that product formation is essentially irreversible, and have indicated that hydrogen bonding or protonation contributes significantly to ground-state complex formation with the physiological substrate.

Anaerobiosis↗

Assessment of tumor cell proliferation using [18F]fluorodeoxyadenosine and[18F]fluoroethyluracil.

This study was to develop radiofluorinated ethyluracil (FEU) and deoxyadenosine analogues (FAD) for noninvasive assessment of tumor proliferative potential by positron emission tomography (PET). 5-(2-Fluoroethyl)uracil ([18F]FEU) was prepared by treating 2,4-dimethoxy-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrimidine with K18F, followed by hydrolysis with HBr. Fluorodeoxyadenosine ([18F]FAD) was prepared by treating a triacetylated analogue of adenosine with K18F. In vitro cell proliferation assay of [18F]-FEU was performed using human peripheral blood mononucleus cells. Tissue distributions were studied in breast tumor-bearing rats at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 h along with autoradiography at 45 min postinjection. PET imaging studies were conducted in VX-2 tumor-bearing rabbits. In vitro assay indicated that [18F]FEU incorporated into DNA/RNA during cell proliferation. Tumor-to-tissue count density ratios of [18F]FAD and [18F]-FEU increased as a function of time. [18F]FAD had higher tumor-to-nontumor tissue count density ratios than [18F]FEU. Autoradiograms of [18F]FEU and [18F]FAD, and PET images of [18F]FEU, showed that the tumors could be well visualized. The results suggest that [18F]FEU and [18F]FAD have potential use in evaluating tumor cell proliferation by PET.

Animals↗

Polyanhydride microspheres that display near-constant release of water-soluble model drug compounds.

A new method to prepare polyanhydride microspheres capable of near-constant sustained release of low molecular weight, water-soluble molecules is presented. The polyanhydrides used were poly(fatty acid dimer) (PFAD), poly(sebacic acid) (PSA), and their copolymers [P(FAD-SA)]. Acid orange 63 (AO), acid red 8 (AR), and p-nitroaniline, were used as model release molecules. P(FAD-SA) microspheres containing the molecules with or without gelatin were prepared by a modified solvent evaporation method using a double emulsion. The microspheres were spherical with diameters of 50-125 microns and encapsulated more than 85% of the molecule, irrespective of the compound used. Near-zero-order degradation kinetics were observed for 5 days as judged by sebacic acid (SA) release. Microsphere degradation was pH sensitive, being enhanced at high pH, and became more stable in acidic conditions, irrespective of the incorporation of gelatin in the matrix. For the gelatin-free microspheres, a close correlation of SA release and AO release was observed (2% loading), suggesting a release mechanism that was controlled dominantly by degradation. However, the incorporation of gelatin into the microsphere significantly extended the periods of molecule release from P(FAD-SA) microspheres, although the degradation profile of the microspheres themselves was quite similar to that of gelatin-free microspheres. It is possible that an interaction between FAD monomers and gelatin molecules causes continued release, even after the polymer matrix completely degrades (even after complete degradation, FAD monomers remain because of their poor water solubility). Thermal analysis of polyanhydride microspheres at different degradation stages demonstrated that a crystalline structure was formed between gelatin and the FAD monomers produced with microsphere degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Studies on the electron-transfer mechanism of the human neutrophil NADPH oxidase.

A superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase was solubilized from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-activated human neutrophils with a mixture of sodium deoxycholate (0.125%, w/v) and Lubrol-PX (0.125%, v/v). The solubilized preparation contained FAD (577 pmol/mg of protein) and cytochrome b-245 (479 pmol/mg of protein) and produced 11.61 mol of O2-./s per mol of cytochrome b (340 nmol of O2-./min per mg of protein). On addition of NADPH, the cytochrome b-245 was reduced by 7.9% and the FAD by 38% in the aerobic steady state; NADH addition caused little steady-state reduction of cytochrome b and FAD. In this preparation, and several others, the measured rate of O2-. production correlated with the turnover of cytochrome b calculated from the extent of cytochrome b-245 reduction under aerobic conditions. Addition of diphenyleneiodonium abolished the reduction of both the FAD and cytochrome b-245 components and inhibited O2-. production. The haem ligand imidazole inhibited O2-. generation and cytochrome b reduction while permitting FAD reduction. These results support the suggestion that the human neutrophil NADPH oxidase has the electron-transport sequence: NADPH----FAD----cytochrome b-245----O2.

Cytochrome b Group↗

Three-dimensional structure of human electron transfer flavoprotein to 2.1-A resolution.

Mammalian electron transfer flavoproteins (ETF) are heterodimers containing a single equivalent of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). They function as electron shuttles between primary flavoprotein dehydrogenases involved in mitochondrial fatty acid and amino acid catabolism and the membrane-bound electron transfer flavoprotein ubiquinone oxidoreductase. The structure of human ETF solved to 2.1-A resolution reveals that the ETF molecule is comprised of three distinct domains: two domains are contributed by the alpha subunit and the third domain is made up entirely by the beta subunit. The N-terminal portion of the alpha subunit and the majority of the beta subunit have identical polypeptide folds, in the absence of any sequence homology. FAD lies in a cleft between the two subunits, with most of the FAD molecule residing in the C-terminal portion of the alpha subunit. Alignment of all the known sequences for the ETF alpha subunits together with the putative FixB gene product shows that the residues directly involved in FAD binding are conserved. A hydrogen bond is formed between the N5 of the FAD isoalloxazine ring and the hydroxyl side chain of alpha T266, suggesting why the pathogenic mutation, alpha T266M, affects ETF activity in patients with glutaric acidemia type II. Hydrogen bonds between the 4'-hydroxyl of the ribityl chain of FAD and N1 of the isoalloxazine ring, and between alpha H286 and the C2-carbonyl oxygen of the isoalloxazine ring, may play a role in the stabilization of the anionic semiquinone. With the known structure of medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, we hypothesize a possible structure for docking the two proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular characterization of monodehydroascorbate radical reductase from cucumber highly expressed in Escherichia coli.

Monodehydroascorbate radical (MDA) reductase, an FAD-enzyme, is the first enzyme to be identified whose substrate is an organic radical and catalyzes the reduction of MDA to ascorbate by NAD(P)H. Its cDNA has been cloned from cucumber seedlings (Sano, S., and Asada, K. (1994) Plant Cell Physiol. 35, 425-437), and a plasmid was constructed in the present study that allowed a high level expression in Escherichia coli of the cDNA-encoding MDA reductase using the T7 RNA polymerase expression system. The recombinant MDA reductase was purified to a crystalline state, with a yield of over 20 mg/liter of culture, and it exhibited spectroscopic properties of the FAD similar to those of the enzyme purified from cucumber fruits during redox reactions with NADH and MDA. The red semiquinone of the FAD of MDA reductase was generated by photoreduction. p-Chloromercuribenzoate inhibited the reduction of the enzyme-FAD by NADH, and dicumarol suppressed electron transfer from the reduced enzyme to MDA. The specificity of electron acceptors of the recombinant enzyme appeared to be similar to that of MDA reductase, even though the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA was somewhat different from that of the enzyme purified from cucumber fruits. The Km values for NADH and NADPH of the recombinant enzyme indicated a high affinity of the enzyme for NADH. The reaction catalyzed by the enzyme did not exhibit saturation kinetics with MDA up to 3 microM. A second order rate constant for the reduction of the enzyme-FAD with NADH was 1.25 x 10(8) M-1 s-1, as determined by a stopped-flow method, and its value decreased with increases in ionic strength, an indication of the enhanced electrostatic guidance of NADH to the enzyme-FAD.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Chemical modification of the N-10 ribityl side chain of flavins. Effects on properties of flavoprotein disulfide oxidoreductases.

Three flavin derivatives modified at the 2'-position of the flavin N-10 ribityl side chain were synthesized: arabinoflavin, 2'-F-2'-deoxyarabinoflavin, and 2'-deoxyriboflavin. These were converted to the FAD level with FAD synthetase. Apoproteins of lipoamide dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, and mercuric reductase, a family of flavoprotein oxidoreductases, were reconstituted with these flavins. Significant reduction of the catalytic activities was observed with the modified enzymes. During anaerobic reduction of the modified enzymes with substrate or dithiothreitol, decreased thermodynamic stability of the two-electron reduced enzyme forms (EH2) and the accumulation of the four-electron reduced forms (EH4) noted. This effect was more pronounced in case of arabino-FAD-reconstituted enzymes than with the other two. It was found that NAD+ binding influences the interaction between the flavin and the reduced disulfide in the 2'-F-arabino-FAD-lipoamide dehydrogenase, presumably by altering the relative oxidation-reduction potentials. 19F NMR data were obtained for different forms of the 2'-F-arabino-FAD-lipoamide dehydrogenase, which suggest marked conformational changes from one form to the other. The 19F NMR data for the oxidized forms of all three 2'-F-arabino-FAD proteins suggest that the fluorine experiences very similar chemical environments at the active sites.

Animals↗

Cofactor-dependent assembly of the flavoenzyme vanillyl-alcohol oxidase.

The oligomerization of the flavoprotein vanillyl-alcohol oxidase (VAO) and its site-directed mutant H61T was studied by mass spectrometry. Native VAO has a covalently bound FAD and forms primarily octameric assemblies of 507 kDa. H61T is purified as a FAD-free apoprotein and mainly exists as a dimeric species of 126 kDa. Binding of FAD to apoH61T rapidly restores enzyme activity and induces octamerization, although association of H61T dimers seems not to be crucial for enzyme activity. Reconstitution of H61T with the cofactor analog 5'-ADP also promotes octamerization. FMN on the other hand, interacts with apoH61T without stimulating dimer association. These results are in line with observations made for several other flavoenzymes, which contain a Rossmann fold. Members of the VAO flavoprotein family do not contain a Rossmann fold but do share two conserved loops that are responsible for binding the pyrophosphate moiety of FAD. Therefore, the observed FAD-induced oligomerization might be general for this family. We speculate that upon FAD binding, small conformational changes in the ADP-binding pocket of the dimeric VAO species are transmitted to the protein surface, promoting oligomerization.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Reduction of hydroxamic acids to the corresponding amides catalyzed by rabbit blood.

1. The hydroxamic acids N-hydroxyphenacetin and N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene were reduced to the corresponding amides, phenacetin and 2-acetylaminofluorene respectively by rabbit blood supplemented with both NAD(P)H and FAD. These reducing activities were found in erythrocytes but not in plasma, and were sensitive to inhibition by carbon monoxide and oxygen. When blood or erythrocytes were boiled, these activities were not abolished. 2. Haemoproteins such as haemoglobin and catalase exhibited the reductase activity in the presence of both NAD(P)H and FAD under anaerobic conditions. The activity was not abolished when the haemoproteins were boiled. 3. Haematin showed a significant reducing activity in the presence of these cofactors. The activity of haematin was also observed with the photochemically reduced form of FAD. 4. The reduction system in blood was composed of NAD(P)H, FAD and haemoglobin. Reduction appears to proceed in two steps, i.e. the reduction of FAD by NADH or NADPH, followed by the non-enzymatic reduction of the hydroxamic acids to the amides by reduced FAD, catalyzed by the haem group of haemoglobin in rabbit erythrocytes.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic reduction of brucine N-oxide by aldehyde oxidase and catalase.

1. Brucine N-oxide was reduced by aldehyde oxidase in rabbit liver cytosol in the presence of an electron donor, 2-hydroxypyrimidine, under anaerobic conditions. The flavoprotein purified from rabbit liver exhibited significant reductase activity in the presence of electron donors. 2. Brucine N-oxide was also reduced by rabbit liver cytosol and blood in the presence of both a reduced pyridine nucleotide and FAD under anaerobic conditions. The N-oxide reductase activities were inhibited by carbon monoxide and air. However, these activities were not abolished whe n liver cytosol and blood were boiled. Rabbit erythrocytes exhibited the reductase activity, but not plasma. 3. When liver cytosol or blood was separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, the fractions with the reducing activity in the presence of both NADH and FAD also showed catalase activity. 4. Catalase catalysed the brucine N-oxide reduction in the presence of both NAD(P)H and FAD. Hematin also exhibited the reductase activity in the presence of both NAD(P)H and FAD. Photochemically reduced FAD was effective in the reduction instead of NAD(P)H and FAD. 5. Bricine N-oxide reduction proceeds via two routes in liver cytosol and blood. One is enzymatic reduction by aldehyde oxidase; the other is non-enzymatic reduction catalysed by the haem group of catalase in the presence of reduced flavin.

Aldehyde Oxidase↗

Parent-child bonding and family functioning in depressed children and children at high risk and low risk for future depression.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate parent-child bonding and familial functioning in depressed children, children at high risk for depression, and low-risk controls. METHOD: Diagnoses of children and their relatives were obtained via structured interviews with all available informants. Depressed children (n = 54) received a diagnosis of current major depressive disorder (MDD). The high-risk children (n = 21) had no lifetime diagnoses of mood disorders, but at least one first-degree relative with a lifetime history of depression. The low-risk controls (n = 23) had no lifetime psychiatric disorders and no first-degree relative with a lifetime history of mood disorders. Parent-child bonding was evaluated with the child's report on the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Familial functioning was evaluated with each parent answering the Family Assessment Device (FAD). RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the MDD and low-risk children on most parameters of the PBI and FAD. The children with MDD reported significantly elevated maternal overprotection, and their fathers scored significantly lower on the FAD scales of Behavioral Control and General Functioning, compared with the high-risk children. Mothers of high-risk children had significantly lower scores on the Roles and Affective Involvement dimensions of the FAD compared with mothers of low-risk children. Current maternal depression had a deleterious effect on the child's perception of maternal protection and paternal care, mother's report on all FAD scales, and father's report on most FAD scales, whether interacting with the child's depression or existing even if the child was not depressed. CONCLUSION: Maternal depression and its interaction with the child's depression appear to have negative consequences for parent-child bonding and family functioning.

Adolescent↗

Neurons and extracellular neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampal subdivisions in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease: a case study.

We have investigated morphometrically unaffected neurons, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (I-NFT) and extracellular neurofibrillary tangles (E-NFT) in eight subdivisions of the hippocampal cortex in two cases of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and six cases of early-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD). The hippocampal subdivisions examined included: CA4, CA3, CA2, CA1, prosubiculum, subiculum and presubiculum (PRE), parasubiculum (PARA) and entorhinal cortex (ENT). CA3, CA2 and CA1 in the FAD cases showed more severe neuronal loss and much greater E-NFT formation than in the SAD cases, while ENT in both the FAD cases showed less neuronal loss and less E-NFT formation. These data suggest that the cornu ammonis is affected more severely than the ENT in the FAD cases. These observations indicate that hippocampal pathology in the FAD cases is qualitatively as well as quantitatively different from that in sporadic cases. These results provide further evidence for pathological heterogeneity in AD, although the number of FAD cases examined is very small.

Aged↗

Genetic and other influences on red-cell flavin enzymes, pyridoxine phosphate oxidase and glutathione reductase in families with beta-thalassaemia.

In 18 beta-thalassaemia families from the Ferrara area the incidence of an inherited low flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent pyridoxine phosphate (PNP) oxidase activity, a sensitive indicator of red-cell FMN deficiency, is higher in related members in these families than in the unrelated spouses and controls subjects without family history of thalassaemia. This suggests slower red-cell riboflavin metabolism in thalassaemia families, which may have resulted from selection in combination with thalassaemia by malaria. However, there was a markedly higher incidence of red-cell flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) deficiency in thalassaemia heterozygotes than in their normal relatives. This was indicated by higher stimulation of FAD-dependent glutathione reductase (GR) activity by FAD and lower GR activity per red cell, and suggests a marked additive effect by thalassaemia on the red cell FAD deficiency that results from the inherited slow riboflavin metabolism. There is evidence that diversion of FAD to other FAD-dependent enzymes might be an important factor.

Adult↗

Characterization of the flavin association in hexose oxidase from Chondrus crispus.

Hexose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.5) from Hansenula polymorpha was found to exhibit a dual covalent association of FAD with His79 via an 8 alpha-histidyl linkage as well as a covalent association between Cys138 and C-6 of the isoalloxazine moiety of FAD. Spectral properties of the wild-type enzyme exhibited maxima at 364 nm and 437 nm as well as a distinct shoulder at 445 nm. An H79K mutant enzyme exhibited only one maximum at 437 nm. The difference absorption spectrum between an oxidized and a substrate-reduced enzyme preparation showed maxima at 360 nm and 445 nm corresponding to an apparent novel type of association. Hexose oxidase showed a low, pH-independent fluorescence at 525 nm when excited at 450 nm. Flavin was released from the holoenzyme by treatment with trypsin. Sequencing of the flavopeptide revealed two peptides comprising positions 74-91 and 132-157 associated with FAD in equimolar amounts. A homology model of hexose oxidase was constructed using the crystal structure of glucooligosaccharide oxidase from Acremonium strictum as template. The model placed both of the sequences found above in the close vicinity of the FAD cofactor, and suggests covalent bonds between both His79 and Cys138 and FAD, in accordance with the chemical evidence. Based on the results, hexose oxidase is identified as incorporating FAD with a double covalent association with His79 and Cys138 in the holoenzyme. A reaction mechanism involving the concerted action of Tyr488 and Asp409 in hexose oxidase is suggested as the initiator of the proton abstraction from the substrate molecule in the active site.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

DNA photolyase from the fungus Neurospora crassa. Purification, characterization and comparison with other photolyases.

A phr-gene from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa was overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells, yielding a biologically active photolyase. After purification till apparent homogeneity, the 66 kDa protein was found to contain equimolar amounts of 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolic acid (MTHF) and FAD, classifying it as an MTHF-type photolyase. Compared to other MTHF photolyases the absorption maximum of Neurospora photolyase is shifted from ca 380 nm to 391 nm (epsilon = 34,800), while an additional shoulder is present at 465 nm. In dark-adapted enzyme the FAD chromophore is predominantly present in the oxidized form, in contrast with E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae photolyase, which contain mainly semiquinone or fully reduced FAD, respectively. Preillumination or dithionite treatment converted oxidized FAD in Neurospora photolyase into the fully reduced form, with a concomitant shift of the absorption maximum from 391 to 396 nm and disappearance of the 465 nm shoulder. The action spectrum of photoreactivation coincides with the absorption spectrum of preilluminated (reduced) photolyase, extending the spectral region of MTHF-type photolyases from 380 till 396 nm. A quantum yield of 0.57 was obtained for the overall repair reaction. Comparison of spectral properties of FAD in Neurospora photolyase and the model compound lumiflavin points to an apolar microenvironment of photolyase-bound FAD. Neurospora photolyase has distinct advantages over E. coli photolyase as it is more stable and contains a full complement of chromophores.

Deoxyribodipyrimidine Photo-Lyase↗