Abstract
NrfA is a pentahaem cytochrome present in a wide-range of ?-, d- and e-proteobacteria. Its nitrite and nitric oxide reductase activities have been studied extensively and contribute to respiratory nitrite ammonification and nitric oxide detoxification respectively. Sulfite is a third substrate for NrfA that may be encountered in the micro-oxic environments where nrfA is expressed. Consequently, we have performed quantitative kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the interactions between sulfite and Escherichia coli NrfA to provide a biochemical framework from which to consider their possible cellular consequences. A combination of voltammetric, spectroscopic and crystallographic analyses define dissociation constants for sulfite binding to NrfA in oxidized (~54 µM), semi-reduced (~145 µM) and reduced (~180 µM) states that are comparable with each other, and the Km (~70 µM) for sulfite reduction at pH 7. Under comparable conditions Km values of ~22 and ~300 µM describe nitrite and nitric oxide reduction respectively, whereas the affinities of nitrate and thiocyanate for NrfA fall more than 50-fold on enzyme reduction. These results are discussed in terms of the nature of sulfite co-ordination within the active site of NrfA and their implications for the cellular activity of NrfA.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 73-80 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Biochemical Journal |
Volume | 431 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jul 2010 |