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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Reaction systems related to dissimilatory nitrate reductase: nitrate reduction mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes.

Kinetics of the oxygen atom transfer reactions [M(IV)(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + XO --> [M(VI)O(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + X in acetonitrile with substrates XO = NO3- and (CH2)4SO have been determined. The reactants are bis(dithiolene) complexes with M = Mo, W and sterically encumbered axial ligands with Q = O, S to stabilize mononuclear square pyramidal structures. The complex [MoIV(SC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- is an analogue of the active site of dissimilatory nitrate reductase which in the reduced state contains a molybdenum atom bound by two pyranopterindithiolene ligands and a cysteinate residue. Nitrate reduction was studied with tungsten complexes because of unfavorable stability properties of the molybdenum complexes. Product nitrite was detected by a colorimetric method. All reactions with both substrates are second-order with associative transition states (deltaS approximately -20 eu). Variation of atoms M and Q, together with data from prior work, allows certain kinetics comparisons to be made. Among them, k2W/k2Mo = 25 for (CH2)4SO reduction (Q = S), an expression of the kinetic metal effect. Further, k2S/k2O = 28 and approximately 10(4) for nitrate and (CH2)4SO reduction, respectively, effects attributed to relatively more steric congestion in achieving the transition state with hindered phenolate vs thiolate ligands. The effect is more pronounced with the larger substrate. These results demonstrate the feasibility of tungsten-mediated nitrate reduction by direct atom transfer using molecules with both axial thiolate and phenolate ligands. Complexes of the type [M(IV)(OR)(S2C2Me2)2] are capable of reducing biological N-oxide, S-oxide, and nitrate substrates and thus constitute functional analogue reaction systems of enzymic transformations.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1999

Two SNF1-related protein kinases from spinach leaf phosphorylate and inactivate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, nitrate reductase, and sucrose phosphate synthase in vitro.

We resolved from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) leaf extracts four Ca2+-independent protein kinase activities that phosphorylate the AMARAASAAALARRR (AMARA) and HMRSAMSGLHLVKRR (SAMS) peptides, originally designed as specific substrates for mammalian AMP-activated protein kinase and its yeast homolog, SNF1. The two major activities, HRK-A and HRK-C (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase kinase A and C) were extensively purified and shown to be members of the plant SnRK1 (SNF1-related protein kinase 1) family using the following criteria: (a) They contain 58-kD polypeptides that cross-react with an antibody against a peptide sequence characteristic of the SnRK1 family; (b) they have similar native molecular masses and specificity for peptide substrates to mammalian AMP-activated protein kinase and the cauliflower homolog; (c) they are inactivated by homogeneous protein phosphatases and can be reactivated using the mammalian upstream kinase; and (d) they phosphorylate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase from Arabidopsis at the inactivating site, serine (Ser)-577. We propose that HRK-A and HRK-C represent either distinct SnRK1 isoforms or the same catalytic subunit complexed with different regulatory subunits. Both kinases also rapidly phosphorylate nitrate reductase purified from spinach, which is associated with inactivation of the enzyme that is observed only in the presence of 14-3-3 protein, a characteristic of phosphorylation at Ser-543. Both kinases also inactivate spinach sucrose phosphate synthase via phosphorylation at Ser-158. The SNF1-related kinases therefore potentially regulate several major biosynthetic pathways in plants: isoprenoid synthesis, sucrose synthesis, and nitrogen assimilation for the synthesis of amino acids and nucleotides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

[Induced activity of nitrate reductase by nitrate and cloning of nitrate reductase gene].

Excessive nitrate accumulated in plants affects vegetable quality severely and excessive nitrate ingestion would do harm to human health. Assimilatory NADH: nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1), a complex Mo-pterin-, cytochrome b(557)- and FAD-containing protein, catalyzes the regulated and rate-limiting step in the utilization of inorganic nitrogen by higher plants. Enhancing the activity of NR is conducive to reduce the concentration of nitrate in plants. The experiments were conducted to investigate the activity of nitrate reductase in different plant tissues and the relationship between external inducing solution concentration and NR activity (NRA) in plant leaves. Six plant seedlings growing in solution culture were deprived of an external nitrogen (N) supply for 2 weeks. On selected days, three of six plant seedlings were exposed to 50mmol/L NO3- for 0, 2, 5, 8, 11h, and four of the six plant seedlings were exposed to 0, 10, 30, 50mmol/L NO3- for 2h. The NRA was determined in vivo at 538nm using spectrophotometer. The results showed that NRA increased when those plant seedlings were induced by nitrate solution. The change trends of NRA in roots and in leaves of cole, pea and tomato were different during treating time. The NRA in cole leaves was higher than that in its root and in other two plants and increased along with inducing time, but the NRA in bea and tomato was highest when the treating time was 8h and 2h, respectively. The highest NRA in leaves of three kinds of Chinese cabbages and tomato was induced by different concentrations of KNO3 solution. In tomato leaves, the highest NRA was induced by 10 - 30mmol/L KNO3 solution. In three Chinese cabbages, Brassica chinensis L. cv. AJH, XBC and KR-605, the highest NRA was induced by 10, 30, 10mmol/L KNO3 solution, respectively. The results indicated that the response manners of NRA in plants to external nitrate solutions were different. According to these results, the level of NR mRNA in plants could be enhanced by nitrate inducement. The total RNA was isolated from tomato leaves and root which induced by 30mmol/L KNO3 solution for 2h, and NR cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR using the specific primers. The fragments of PCR products were cloned and sequenced. There are 2736 base pairs in the whole cDNA fragment. The deduced protein sequence contains 911 amino acids. The NR gene can be fused to the CaMV 35S promoter, then introduced to higher plants, such as vegetables. It is hoped to decrease drastically the nitrate content of the transgenic plants.

Brassica↗
PubMed1992

Formation of active heterologous nitrate reductases between nitrate reductases A and Z of Escherichia coli.

Two nitrate reductases, NRA and NRZ, are present in Escherichia coli. These isoenzymes have the same alpha beta gamma, subunits composition and have similar size and genetic organization. Corresponding subunits of the complexes share at least 75% identity. By subcloning the different genes and expressing them from separate transcriptional units, we have demonstrated (i) that the translation of the subunits and their assembly are not coupled processes, since subunits produced concomitantly but independently can meet efficiently and associate to form active enzymes, and (ii) that the alpha subunit of a given complex can be replaced by its counterpart from the other isoenzyme to yield an active membrane-bound heterologous enzyme. One such heterologous enzyme, alpha A beta Z gamma Z, has been purified; it is less stable than the native enzymes, more susceptible to thermal denaturation, and shows increased sensitivity to proteolysis. It is also less stably bound to the membrane and, consequently, its activity with physiological electron donors is drastically reduced. The possibility that heterologous nitrate reductases could be formed in vivo is discussed with reference to the existence of porin heterotrimers of the outer membrane proteins OmpC, OmpF and PhoE.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1983

Synthesis and degradation of barley nitrate reductase.

Nitrate and light are known to modulate barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) nitrate reductase activity. The objective of this investigation was to determine whether barley nitrate reductase is regulated by enzyme synthesis and degradation or by an activation-inactivation mechanism. Barley seedling nitrate reductase protein (cross-reacting material) was determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis and a qualitative immunochemical technique (western blot) during the induction and decay of nitrate reductase activity. Nitrate reductase cross-reacting material was not detected in root or shoot extracts from seedlings grown without nitrate. Low levels of nitrate reductase activity and cross-reacting material were observed in leaf extracts from plants grown on nitrate in the dark. Upon nitrate induction or transfer of nitrate-grown etiolated plants to the light, increases in nitrate reductase activity were positively correlated with increases in immunological cross-reactivity. Root and shoot nitrate reductase activity and cross-reacting material decreased when nitrate-induced seedlings were transferred to a nitrate-free nutrient solution or from light to darkness. These results indicate that barley nitrate reductase levels are regulated by de novo synthesis and protein degradation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Functional analysis by site-directed mutagenesis of individual amino acid residues in the flavin domain of Neurospora crassa nitrate reductase.

Nitrate reductase of Neurospora crassa is a complex multi-redox protein composed of two identical subunits, each of which contains three distinct domains, an amino-terminal domain that contains a molybdopterin cofactor, a central heme-containing domain, and a carboxy-terminal domain which binds a flavin and a pyridine nucleotide cofactor. The flavin domain of nitrate reductase appears to have structural and functional similarity to ferredoxin NADPH reductase (FNR). Using the crystal structure of FNR and amino acid identities in numerous nitrate reductases as guides, site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace specific amino acids suspected to be involved in the binding of the flavin or pyridine nucleotide cofactors and thus important for the catalytic function of the flavin domain. Each mutant flavin domain protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and analyzed for NADPH: ferricyanide reductase activity. The effect of each amino acid substitution upon the activity of the complete nitrate reductase reaction was also examined by transforming each manipulated gene into a nit-3- null mutant of N. crassa. Our results identify amino acid residues which are critical for function of the flavin domain of nitrate reductase and appear to be important for the binding of the flavin or the pyridine nucleotide cofactors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Anaerobic cytochrome b1 in Escherichia coli: association with and regulation of nitrate reductase.

Nitrate reductase solubilized from the membrane of Escherichia coli by alkaline heat treatment was purified to homogeneity and used to prepare specific antibody. Nitrate reductase, precipitated by this antibody from Triton extracts of the membrane, contained a third subunit, not present in the purified enzyme used to prepare the antibody. This third subunit was identified as the cytochrome b1 apoprotein. This cytochrome is bound to nitrate reductase from wild-type E. coli in a ratio of 2 mol of cytochrome per mol of enzyme complex. In mutants unable to synthesize heme, this cytochrome b1 apoprotein is not bound to nitrate reductase. In these same mutants, the enzyme is overproduced and accumulates in the cytoplasm. The absence of cytochrome also affects the stability of the membrane-bound form of the enzyme.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1981

Purification and Characterization of NAD(P)H:Nitrate Reductase and NADH:Nitrate Reductase from Corn Roots.

The nitrate reductase activity of 5-day-old whole corn roots was isolated using phosphate buffer. The relatively stable nitrate reductase extract can be separated into three fractions using affinity chromatography on blue-Sepharose. The first fraction, eluted with NADPH, reduces nearly equal amounts of nitrate with either NADPH or NADH. A subsequent elution with NADH yields a nitrate reductase which is more active with NADH as electron donor. Further elution with salt gives a nitrate reductase fraction which is active with both NADH and NADPH, but is more active with NADH. All three nitrate reductase fractions have pH optima of 7.5 and Stokes radii of about 6.0 nanometers. The NADPH-eluted enzyme has a nitrate K(m) of 0.3 millimolar in the presence of NADPH, whereas the NADH-eluted enzyme has a nitrate K(m) of 0.07 millimolar in the presence of NADH. The NADPH-eluted fraction appears to be similar to the NAD(P)H:nitrate reductase isolated from corn scutellum and the NADH-eluted fraction is similar to the NADH:nitrate reductases isolated from corn leaf and scutellum. The salt-eluted fraction appears to be a mixture of NAD(P)H: and NADH:nitrate reductases.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

The iron-sulfur cluster composition of Escherichia coli nitrate reductase.

Nitrate reductase from Escherichia coli has been investigated by low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies, as well as by Fe-S core extrusion, to determine the Fe-S cluster composition. The results indicate approximately one 3Fe and three or four [4Fe-4S]2+,1+ centers/molecule of isolated enzyme. The magnetic circular dichroism spectra and magnetization characteristics show the oxidized and reduced 3Fe and [4Fe-4S] centers to be electronically analogous to those in bacterial ferredoxins. The form and spin quantitation of the EPR spectra from [4Fe-4S]1+ centers in the reduced enzyme were found to vary with the conditions of reduction. For the fully reduced enzyme, the EPR spectrum accounted for between 2.9 and 3.5 spins/molecule, and comparison with partially reduced spectra indicates weak intercluster magnetic interactions between reduced paramagnetic centers. In common with other Fe-S proteins, the 3Fe center was not extruded intact under standard conditions. The results suggest that nitrate reductase is the first example of a metalloenzyme where enzymatic activity is associated with a form that contains an oxidized 3Fe center. However, experiments to determine whether or not the 3Fe center is present in vivo were inconclusive.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1996

Identification in vitro of a post-translational regulatory site in the hinge 1 region of Arabidopsis nitrate reductase.

Nitrate reductase (NR) is rapidly inactivated by phosphorylation of serine residues in response to loss of light or reduction in CO2 levels. To identify sites within NR protein that play a role in this post-translational regulation, a heterologous expression system and an in vitro inactivation assay for Arabidopsis NR were developed. Protein extracts containing NR kinases and inhibitor proteins were prepared from an NR-defective mutant that had lesions in both the NIA1 and NIA2 NR genes of Arabidopsis. Active NR protein was produced in a Pichia pastoris expression system. Incubation of these two preparations resulted in a Mg-ATP-dependent inactivation of NR that was reversed with EDTA. Mutant forms of NR were constructed, produced in P. pastoris, and tested in the in vitro inactivation assay. Six conserved serine residues in the hinge 1 region of NR, which separates the molybdenum cofactor and heme domains, were specifically targeted for mutagenesis because they are located in a potential regulatory region identified as a target for NR kinases in spinach. A change in Ser-534 to aspartate was found to block NR inactivation; changes in the other five serines had no effect. The aspartate that replaced Ser-534 did not appear to mimic a phosphorylated serine but simply prevented the NR from being inactivated. These results identify Ser-534, located in the hinge 1 of NR and conserved among higher plants NRs, as an essential site for post-translational regulation in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Detection of genes for periplasmic nitrate reductase in nitrate respiring bacteria and in community DNA.

A nested PCR primed by four degenerate oligonucleotides was developed for the specific amplification of sequences from the napA gene encoding the periplasmic nitrate reductase. This approach was used to amplify fragments of the napA gene from 10 Pseudomonas species and one Moraxella sp., previously shown to be able to express the periplasmic nitrate reductase activity, from Rhodobacter capsulatus and from community DNA extracted from a fresh-water sediment. Amino acid sequences encoded by the napA fragments were compared to one another and to the corresponding regions of related enzymes. This comparison indicates that the amplification protocol is specific for its intended target. The napA sequences amplified from community DNA were tightly clustered, which may indicate a degree of homogeneity in the sediment community. All tested Gram-negative strains capable of aerobic nitrate respiration were found to have periplasmic nitrate reductase genes. However, some strains which have and express the genes are incapable of aerobic nitrate respiration. The PCR primers and amplification protocols described will be useful in future studies of nitrate respiring populations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Nitrosamine formation by denitrifying and non-denitrifying bacteria: implication of nitrite reductase and nitrate reductase in nitrosation catalysis.

Biochemical, microbiological and genetic studies were done to characterize the mechanism of bacterial formation of N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) from morpholine and nitrite at neutral pH. In Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii, the nitrosating activity was markedly induced when bacteria were cultured under anaerobiosis in minimal medium containing nitrate, while in the presence of nitrite there was no induction. However, induction of the nitrosating activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurred in anaerobic cultures in the presence of either nitrate or nitrite. The nitrosation capacity was also examined in various E. coli K12 mutants whose structural gene of either nitrate reductase or nitrite reductase was deleted. Nitrosation was not linked to the three (NADH-, formate- and glucose-dependent) nitrite reductases but was directly dependent on the presence of a nitrate reductase.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1996

The genes YNI1 and YNR1, encoding nitrite reductase and nitrate reductase respectively in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha, are clustered and co-ordinately regulated.

The nitrite reductase-encoding gene (YNI1) from the yeast Hansenula polymorpha was isolated from a lambda EMBL3 H. polymorpha genomic DNA library, using as a probe a 481 bp DNA fragment from the gene of Aspergillus nidulans encoding nitrite reductase (niiA). An open reading frame of 3132 bp, encoding a putative protein of 1044 amino acids with high similarity with nitrite reductases from fungi, was located by DNA sequencing in the phages lambdaNB5 and lambdaJA13. Genes YNI1 and YNR1 (encoding nitrate reductase) are clustered, separated by 1700 bp. Northern blot analysis showed that expression of YNI1 and YNR1 is co-ordinately regulated; induced by nitrate and nitrite and repressed by sources of reduced nitrogen, even in the presence of nitrate. A mutant lacking nitrite reductase activity was obtained by deletion of the chromosomal copy of YNI1. The mutant does not grow in nitrate or in nitrite; it exhibits a similar level of transcription of YNR1 to the wild type, but the nitrate reductase enzymic activity is only about 50% of the wild type. In the presence of nitrate the delta ynil::URA3 mutant extrudes approx. 24 nmol of nitrite/h per mg of yeast (wet weight), about five times more than the wild type.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Comparative induction of nitrate reductase by nitrate and nitrite in barley leaves.

The comparative induction of nitrate reductase (NR) by ambient NO3- and NO2- as a function of influx, reduction (as NR was induced) and accumulation in detached leaves of 8-day-old barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings was determined. The dynamic interaction of NO3- influx, reduction and accumulation on NR induction was shown. The activity of NR, as it was induced, influenced its further induction by affecting the internal concentration of NO3-. As the ambient concentration of NO3- increased, the relative influences imposed by influx and reduction on NO3- accumulation changed with influx becoming a more predominant regulant. Significant levels of NO3- accumulated in NO2(-)-fed leaves. When the leaves were supplied cycloheximide or tungstate along with NO2-, about 60% more NO3- accumulated in the leaves than in the absence of the inhibitors. In NO3(-)-supplied leaves NR induction was observed at an ambient concentration of as low as 0.02 mM. No NR induction occurred in leaves supplied with NO2- until the ambient NO2- concentration was 0.5 mM. In fact, NR induction from NO2- solutions was not seen until NO3- was detected in the leaves. The amount of NO3- accumulating in NO2(-)-fed leaves induced similar levels of NR as did equivalent amounts of NO3- accumulating from NO3(-)-fed leaves. In all cases the internal concentration of NO3-, but not NO2-, was highly correlated with the amount of NR induced. The evidence indicated that NO3- was a more likely inducer of NR than was NO2-.

Cycloheximide↗
PubMed1973

In vitro formation of nitrate reductase using extracts of the nitrate reductase mutant of Neurospora crassa, nit-1, and Rhodospirillum rubrum.

In vitro formation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-nitrate reductase (NADPH: nitrate oxido-reductase, EC 1.6.6.2) has been attained by using extracts of the nitrate reductase mutant of Neurospora crassa, nit-1, and extracts of either photosynthetically or heterotrophically grown Rhodospirillum rubrum, which contribute the constitutive component. The in vitro formation of NADPH-nitrate reductase is characterized by the conversion of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) stimulated NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, contributed by the N. crassa nit-1 extract from a slower sedimenting form (4.5S) to a faster sedimenting form (7.8S). The 7.8S NADPH-cytochrome c reductase peak coincides in sucrose density gradient profiles with the NADPH-nitrate reductase, FADH(2)-nitrate reductase and reduced methyl viologen (MVH)-nitrate reductase activities which are also formed in vitro. The constitutive component from R. rubrum is soluble (both in heterotrophically and photosynthetically grown cells), is stimulated by the addition of 10(-4) M Na(2)MoO(4) and 10(-2) M NaNO(3) to cell-free preparations, and has variable activity over the pH range from 3.0 to 9.5. The activity of the constitutive component in some extracts showed a threefold stimulation when the pH was lowered from 6.5 to 4.0. The constitutive activity appears to be associated with a large molecular weight component which sediments as a single peak in sucrose density gradients. However, the constitutive component from R. rubrum is dialyzable and is insensitive to trypsin and protease. These results demonstrate that R. rubrum contains the constitutive component and suggests that it is a low molecular weight, trypsin- and protease-insensitive factor which participates in the in vitro formation of NADPH nitrate reductase.

Cell-Free System↗
PubMed2006

Evolution of the soluble nitrate reductase: defining the monomeric periplasmic nitrate reductase subgroup.

Bacterial nitrate reductases can be classified into at least three groups according to their localization and function, namely membrane-bound (NAR) or periplasmic (NAP) respiratory and cytoplasmic assimilatory (NAS) enzymes. Monomeric NASs are the simplest of the soluble nitrate reductases, although heterodimeric NASs exist, and a common structural arrangement of NAP is that of a NapAB heterodimer. Using bioinformatic analysis of published genomes, we have identified more representatives of a monomeric class of NAP, which is the evolutionary link between the monomeric NASs and the heterodimeric NAPs. This has further established the monomeric structural clade of NAP. The operons of the monomeric NAP do not contain NapB and suggest that other redox partners are employed by these enzymes, including NapM or NapG predicted proteins. A structural alignment and comparison of the monomeric and heterodimeric NAPs suggests that a difference in surface polarity is related to the interaction of the respective catalytic subunit and redox partner.

Bacterial Proteins↗