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PubMed2004

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a dihaem cytochrome c peroxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans.

Cytochrome c peroxidase was isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans and purified to homogeneity in three steps prior to crystallization. Two different diffraction-quality crystal forms were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using a number of screening conditions. The best (needle-shaped) crystal form is suitable for structural studies and was grown from solutions containing 20% PEG 8000, 0.1 M Tris pH 8.5 and 0.2 M MgCl(2). Crystals grew to a maximum length of approximately 0.7 mm and belong to the primitive monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 78.3, b = 51.0, c = 167.2 A, beta = 97.9 degrees. After a dehydration step and extensive optimization of the cryocooling conditions, a complete data set was collected to 2.2 A from a native crystal of the fully oxidized form of the enzyme using synchrotron radiation.

Crystallography↗

PubMed2000

The structure and dynamics in solution of Cu(I) pseudoazurin from Paracoccus pantotrophus.

The solution structure and backbone dynamics of Cu(I) pseudoazurin, a 123 amino acid electron transfer protein from Paracoccus pantotrophus, have been determined using NMR methods. The structure was calculated to high precision, with a backbone RMS deviation for secondary structure elements of 0.35+/-0.06 A, using 1,498 distance and 55 torsion angle constraints. The protein has a double-wound Greek-key fold with two alpha-helices toward its C-terminus, similar to that of its oxidized counterpart determined by X-ray crystallography. Comparison of the Cu(I) solution structure with the X-ray structure of the Cu(II) protein shows only small differences in the positions of some of the secondary structure elements. Order parameters S2, measured for amide nitrogens, indicate that the backbone of the protein is rigid on the picosecond to nanosecond timescale.

Amides↗

PubMed1989

A bacterial c-type cytochrome can be translocated to the periplasm as an apo form; the biosynthesis of cytochrome cd1 (nitrite reductase) from Paracoccus denitrificans.

An apo form of cytochrome cd1 (nitrite reductase) of Paracoccus denitrificans has been detected immunologically in the periplasm of a mutant that lacks all c-type cytochromes. A method for the preparation of apo-nitrite reductase (lacking both c- and d-type haem) from the holoenzyme of wild-type cells has been developed. The apoprotein synthesized by the mutant is indistinguishable from the chemically prepared apoprotein in respect of: (i) subunit molecular weight; (ii) formation of a homodimer; (iii) properties on anion exchange chromatography. The holoenzyme has similar properties in respect of (i) and (ii) but behaves differently during anion exchange. A suggested mode of assembly of cytochrome cd1 is translocation into the periplasm of a precursor polypeptide, maturation by a signal peptidase to give an apoprotein identical to that prepared chemically from the holoenzyme, followed by insertion of c-type and d-type haem in an as yet unknown order.

Apoproteins↗

PubMed1990

Apo forms of cytochrome c550 and cytochrome cd1 are translocated to the periplasm of Paracoccus denitrificans in the absence of haem incorporation caused either mutation or inhibition of haem synthesis.

An apo form of cytochrome c550 can be detected by immunoblotting cell-free extracts of a mutant of Paracoccus denitrificans that is deficient in c-type cytochromes. This apoprotein is found predominantly in the periplasm, the location of the holocytochrome in the wild-type organism, indicating that translocation of the polypeptide occurs in the absence of haem attachment. The polypeptide molecular weight, as judged by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, is indistinguishable from that of the holoprotein and the chemically prepared apoprotein; this suggests that the N-terminal signal sequence is removed in the mutant as in the wild-type organism. In the presence of levulinic acid, an inhibitor of haem biosynthesis, apocytochrome c550 and aponitrite reductase (cytochrome cd1) accumulated in the periplasm of wild-type cells. Synthesis of these apoproteins was blocked by chloramphenicol. Thus in P. denitrificans the synthesis of these polypeptides is neither autoregulated nor regulated by the availability of haem. That the apoproteins appear in the periplasm argues against the possibility of polypeptide/haem co-transport from cytoplasm to periplasm. These observations are related to, and contrasted with, the biosynthesis of c-type cytochromes in eukaryotic cells.

Apoenzymes↗

PubMed1993

Identification of a two-component regulatory system controlling methanol dehydrogenase synthesis in Paracoccus denitrificans.

Upstream of the moxFJGIR genes of Paracoccus denitrificans a regulatory region involved in methanol oxidation was identified. The nucleotide sequence of this region was determined and revealed three genes, moxZ, moxY and moxX, which are transcribed opposite to moxF and which encode proteins of 16.4, 48.2 and 24.5 kDa, respectively. Computer alignment analysis revealed that the gene products of moxY and moxX have homology with the protein histidine kinases and the response regulators, respectively, forming the two-component regulatory systems. No significant homology of the moxZ gene product with any known protein, sequenced thus far, was found. The MoxZ, MoxY and MoxX proteins were identified in Escherichia coli in a heterologous expression system. Mutants with an insertion of a kanamycin-resistance marker in moxZ, moxY and moxX were isolated. These mutant strains were unable to grow on methanol while growth on methylamine was not affected. In the moxZ mutant both subunits of methanol dehydrogenase and cytochrome c551i were not synthesized, methanol dehydrogenase activity was absent, and hardly any expression of a moxZ-lacZ transcriptional fusion was found. Complementation of the mutation was observed after addition of the three genes moxZ, Y and X, in trans. This indicates that the two-component regulatory system is involved in activation of the moxF promoter. A mutant with an unmarked deletion in moxZ was isolated. This mutant showed reduced growth on methanol relative to the wild type. Expression of the moxF-lacZ transcriptional fusion gene and methanol dehydrogenase activity in this strain were also lower than those found in the wild type. Therefore, besides the two proteins of the two-component regulatory pair, a third protein, MoxZ, appears to be involved in regulation of methanol dehydrogenase synthesis.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed1994

The terminal oxidases of Paracoccus denitrificans.

Three distinct types of terminal oxidases participate in the aerobic respiratory pathways of Paracoccus denitrificans. Two alternative genes encoding subunit I of the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase have been isolated before, namely ctaDI and ctaDII. Each of these genes can be expressed separately to complement a double mutant (delta ctaDI, delta ctaDII), indicating that they are isoforms of subunit I of the aa3-type oxidase. The genomic locus of a quinol oxidase has been isolated: cyoABC. This protohaem-containing oxidase, called cytochrome bb3, is the only quinol oxidase expressed under the conditions used. In a triple oxidase mutant (delta ctaDI, delta ctaDII, cyoB::KmR) an alternative cytochrome c oxidase has been characterized; this cbb3-type oxidase has been partially purified. Both cytochrome aa3 and cytochrome bb3 are redox-driven proton pumps. The proton-pumping capacity of cytochrome cbb3 has been analysed; arguments for and against the active transport of protons by this novel oxidase complex are discussed.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed1995

Cloning and sequence analysis of cycH gene from Paracoccus denitrificans: the cycH gene product is required for assembly of all c-type cytochromes, including cytochrome c1.

A transposon Tn5 mutant of Paracoccus denitrificans, DP108, was incapable of anaerobic or methylotrophic growth and scored negative in the Nadi cytochrome c oxidase test. P. denitrificans DP108 grown aerobically on succinate or choline was devoid of soluble c-type cytochromes and accumulated periplasmic apocytochrome c550, but the membrane-bound holocytochromes c1 and c552 were present at 5-10% of the levels observed in wild-type cells. DP108 genomic DNA flanking the site of Tn5 insertion was cloned by marker rescue and used to probe a P. denitrificans wild-type DNA library. A hybridizing 3.05 kb BamHI fragment capable of complementing the DP108 mutation was isolated and a 2.05 kb region of this was sequenced. One major open reading frame equivalent to 413 amino acids was identified, the predicted product of which was similar (33% identity, 55% similarity) to the predicted product of the cycH gene previously identified in Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Similarity of the two cycH gene products to the predicted products of two Escherichia coli genes, nrfG and yejP, was also detected. Significant differences between the phenotypes of P. denitrificans DP108 and the B. japonicum cycH mutant COX3, especially with respect to cytochrome c1 synthesis, suggest that the cycH gene product may be an assembly factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Alteration of haem-attachment and signal-cleavage sites for Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome C550 probes pathway of c-type cytochrome biogenesis in Escherichia coli.

Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome C550 is expressed as a periplasmic holo-protein in Escherichia coli; amino acid substitutions of cysteine residues in the haem-binding motif (Cys-X-X-Cys-His), either together or singly, prevented covalent attachment of haem but not polypeptide translocation into the periplasm. When the three alanine residues at positions -3 to -1 in the native signal-cleavage site were deleted, or alanine at -1 was changed to glutamine, signal cleavage was at alternative sites (after only ten residues in the latter case), but haem attachment still occurred. When the same three alanines were changed to Asp-Glu-Asp, a membrane-associated apo product that had retained the complete signal sequence was detected. These and other results presented here indicate that (i) haem attachment is not required for the apo-cytochrome C550 export to the periplasm; (ii) haem cannot attach to apo-cytochrome C550 when attached to the cytoplasmic membrane, suggesting that signal-sequence cleavage precedes periplasmic haem attachment, which can occur at as few as six residues from the mature N-terminus; and (iii) two cysteines are required for haem attachment, possibly because a disulphide bond is an intermediate. The gene for Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial iso-1-cytochrome c was expressed as a holo-protein in E. coli when fused with the signal sequence plus the first 10 residues of the mature cytochrome C550, indicating that the E. coli cellular apparatus for the c-type cytochrome biogenesis has a broad substrate specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Structural and functional analysis of aa3-type and cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidases of Paracoccus denitrificans reveals significant differences in proton-pump design.

In Paracoccus denitrificans the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase and the bb3-type quinol oxidase have previously been characterized in detail, both biochemically and genetically. Here we report on the isolation of a genomic locus that harbours the gene cluster ccoNOOP, and demonstrate that it encodes an alternative cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase. This oxidase has previously been shown to be specifically induced at low oxygen tensions, suggesting that its expression is controlled by an oxygen-sensing mechanism. This view is corroborated by the observation that the ccoNOOP gene cluster is preceded by a gene that encodes an FNR homologue and that its promoter region contains an FNR-binding motif. Biochemical and physiological analyses of a set of oxidase mutants revealed that, at least under the conditions tested, cytochromes aa3, bb3 and cbb3 make up the complete set of terminal oxidases in P. denitrificans. Proton-translocation measurements of these oxidase mutants indicate that all three oxidase types have the capacity to pump protons. Previously, however, we have reported decreased H+/e- coupling efficiencies of the cbb3-type oxidase under certain conditions. Sequence alignment suggests that many residues that have been proposed to constitute the chemical and pumped proton channels in cytochrome aa3 (and probably also in cytochrome bb3) are not conserved in cytochrome cbb3. It is concluded that the design of the proton pump in cytochrome cbb3 differs significantly from that in the other oxidase types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1979

Anaerobic respiration and energy conservation in Paracoccus denitrificans. Functioning of iron-sulfur centers and the uncoupling effect of nitrite.

1. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra at 8-60 K of NADH-reduced membrane particles prepared from Paracoccus denitrificans grown anaerobically with nitrate as terminal electron acceptor show the presence of iron-sulfur centers 1-4 in the NADH-ubiquinone segment of the respiratory chain. In addition resonance lines at g = 2.058, g = 1.953 and g = 1.88 are detectable in the spectra of succinate-reduced membranes at 15 K, which are attributed to the iron-sulfur-containing nitrate reductase. 2. Sulphate-limited growth under anaerobic conditions does not affect the iron-sulfur pattern of NADH dehydrogenase or nitrate reductase. Furthermore respiratory chain-linked electron transport and its inhibition by rotenone are not influenced. These results contrast those observed for sulphate-limited growth of P. denitrificans under aerobic conditions [Eur. J. Biochem. (1977) 81, 267-275]. 3. Proton translocation studies of whole cells indicate that nitrite increases the proton conductance of the cytoplasmic membrane, resulting in a collapse of the proton gradient across the membrane. Nitrite accumulates under anaerobic growth conditions with nitrate as terminal electron acceptor; the extent of accumulation depends on the specific growth conditions. Thus the low efficiencies of respiratory chain-linked energy conservation observed during nitrate respiration [Arch. Microbiol. (1977) 112, 17-23] can be explained by the uncoupling action of nitrite.

Anaerobiosis↗

PubMed1979

Hydrodynamic parameters of the detergent-solubilised hydrogenase from Paracoccus denitrificans.

The hydrogenase from Paracoccus denitrificans, which is an intrinsic membrane protein, has been solubilised from membranes by Triton X-100. The partial specific volume of the solubilised protein has been determined using sucrose density gradient centrifugation in H2O and 2H2O. The values of the specific volumes of hydrogenase, measured in the presence or absence of Triton X-100, are 0.73 and 0.74 ml . g-1, respectively, indicating that hydrogenase binds much less than one micelle of Triton X-100. The sedimentation coefficient of hydrogenase is increased from 10.4 S to 15.9 S on removal of detergent. The Stokes' radius of hydrogenase, determined by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B, is 5.5 nm in the presence of Triton X-100 compared to 6.7 nm in the absence of detergent. The apparent molecular weight therefore increases from 242,500 to 466,000 on removal of detergent. In the presence of urea and sodium dodecylsulphate, the hydrogenase has an apparent molecular weight of 63,000. The enzyme therefore behaves as a non-covalently linked tetramer in the presence of Triton X-100. Removal of Triton X-100 results in association of tetramers to form octamers.

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed1980

Isolation and characterization of an ornithine-containing lipid from Paracoccus denitrificans.

The isolation and characterization of an ornithine-containing lipid from various strains of Paracoccus denitrificans (grown heteretrophically and autotrophically) is reported. The structure of this aminolipid was found to be H2N--CH2--(CH2)2--CH[NH--CO--CH2--CH(O--CO--R1)--R2]--CO2H, where R1 predominantly represents the residue of octadec-11-enoic acid, R2 the residue of a 3-hydroxyeicos-13-enoic acid. In addition, the major phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol) were isolated and characterized.

Fatty Acids↗

PubMed1983

Characterisation of membrane vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans and measurements of the effect of partial uncoupling on their thermodynamics of oxidative phosphorylation.

1. Vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans were prepared by applying an osmotic shock to spheroplasts derived from cells that had been grown anaerobically with succinate as carbon source and nitrate as electron acceptor. In the presence of either phenazinemethosulphate or N,N,N' N',-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, the oxidation of isoascorbate supported the uptake of both S14CN- and 86Rb+ (in the presence of valinomycin), whereas NADH and succinate oxidation resulted only in S14CN- uptake. These observations show that the preparations contain both right-side-out and inside-out vesicles, and are related to the earlier proposal that the stimulation of an NADH-2,6-dichloroindophenol reductase activity by bee venom is an indicator of the proportion of right-side-out vesicles present. The implications impinge on previous conclusions [Burnell, J. N., John. P. and Whatley, F. R. (1975) Biochem. J. 150, 527-536 and FEBS Lett. 58, 215-218] about the mechanisms of sulphate and phosphate transport in P. denitrificans. 2. The relationship between the protonmotive force (delta p; transmembrane proton electrochemical gradient expressed in mV) and the phosphorylation potential (delta Gp) generated by vesicles from P. denitrificans has been studied as a function of the concentration of an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. With either NADH or succinate as substrate, the uncoupler had a more pronounced effect on delta p than on delta Gp, so that the ratio delta Gp/F x delta p increased within a limited range of values of delta p close to the maximum. delta Gp/F x delta p was, however, approximately constant over the remaining range of delta p that was titrated. A fraction of 'highly coupled' vesicles, separated from the initial preparation by centrifugation through a Ficoll pad, showed similar titration behaviour. This demonstrated that heterogeneity within a vesicle preparation was not responsible for significant distortion of the true relationship between delta p and delta Gp. Values of delta p and delta Gp/F x delta p (H+/ATP) from 143-108 mV and 3.9-4.4, respectively, were determined when NADH was substrate, whereas with succinate, delta p ranged from 123-88 mV and delta Gp/F x delta p (H+/ATP) from 4.5-5.6. The variation in the value of delta Gp/F x delta p, which can be equated with a minimum value for the H+/ATP of the ATP synthase enzyme, is similar to, but less pronounced than, some of the data previously reported for mitochondria. Thus the observations with these bacterial vesicles, which represent an experimentally simpler system than mitochondria, might be taken as further evidence that measurements of the bulk phase delta p might not truly reflect the driving force for ATP synthesis sensed by the ATP synthase enzyme. However, other explanations that would make the data consistent with a chemiosmotic mechanism cannot be eliminated...

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1983

The effects of partial uncoupling upon the kinetics of ATP synthesis by vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans and by bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Implications for the mechanism of the proton-translocating ATP synthase.

1. Reduction in the magnitude of the respiration-dependent protonmotive force (proton electrochemical gradient in mV) of vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans, and of submitochondrial particles, has been found to be paralleled small increases in S50% values for both ADP and Pi. For example, reduction of the protonmotive force of P. denitrificans vesicles from 145 mV to 110 mV was accompanied by an increase of S50% (ADP) from 8 microM to 18 microM, and an increase of S50% (Pi) from 0.33 mM to 1.4 mM. This result was obtained with partial uncoupling quantities of both carbonyl-cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and of the synergistic combination of nigericin plus valinomycin in the presence of K+. In view of the similar effects of these two different methods of uncoupling it is concluded that the changes in S50% were a consequence of the diminished protonmotive force acting on the ATP synthase rather than of a secondary, direct interaction of the uncouplers with the enzyme. Changes in S50% rather than Km are described because under several sets of conditions double-reciprocal plots were nonlinear. 2. For equivalent attenuations in the rate of ATP synthesis by submitochondrial particles, 2,4-dinitrophenol caused much larger increases in S50% (ATP) than did carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Therefore it is concluded that the effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol was primarily a consequence of its previously recognized direct interaction with the F1 segment of the mitochondrial ATPase. The concentration range of 2,4-dinitrophenol that raised S50% (ADP) is similar to that which weakens the binding of ADP to a particular type of site on the purified F1 sector of ATP synthase. This correlation is consistent with such a site having a catalytic role during ATP synthesis. 3. A titration of the rate of ATP synthesis by vesicles of P. denitrificans with increasing quantities of carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone showed that the initial titres of the uncoupler caused large decreases in the rate of ATP synthesis for relatively small attenuations in the protonmotive force. Thus the initial 20 mV drop in the protonmotive force was accompanied by a reduction of more than 65% in the rate of ATP synthesis. Over the lowest range of values of protonmotive force that drove detectable rates of ATP synthesis however, the dependence of the rate was a less steep function of the protonmotive force. A plot of the logarithm of the rate of ATP synthesis against protonmotive force reveals a biphasic relationship. There does not appear to be a 'threshold' value of the protonmotive force below which ATP synthesis is blocked by kinetic factors. 4. The relationships of the protonmotive force with S50% values and with the rate of ATP synthesis (at near saturating concentrations of ADP and Pi) are discussed in relation to possible mechanisms for the coupling of proton translocation to ATP synthesis.

ATP Synthetase Complexes↗

PubMed1983

The function of cytoplasmic membrane of Paracoccus denitrificans in controlling the rate of reduction of terminal acceptors.

The rate of reduction of terminal acceptors (nitrate, nitrite, and oxygen) in anaerobically grown cells of Paracoccus denitrificans increased on permeabilization of cytoplasmic membrane. It was proved that under aerobic conditions the increase of the rate of nitrate reduction was caused by: (i) the abolishment of the permeability barrier for nitrate, (ii) the enhancement of the influx of redox equivalents to the respiratory chain due to the stimulation of succinate dehydrogenase reaction, and (iii) the inhibition of electron flow to oxygen by endogenously formed nitrite. Nitrite inhibits oxygen reduction by its interaction with the terminal part of the respiratory chain (I50 = 15 microM) localized at the inner aspect of the cytoplasmic membrane. The distribution of nitrite between intact cells and the suspension medium follows the Nernst equation for monovalent anion. The possible physiological consequences of the low intracellular nitrite concentration are discussed.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗

PubMed1983

ATP-AMP phosphotransferase from Paracoccus denitrificans.

Adenylate kinase has been extracted from Paracoccus denitrificans by toluene treatment and purified 370-fold (overall yield of 44%, 554 U/mg, Mr 22 000, pI 4.7; pH optimum 7.5-8.0) by using successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose DE-52, Matrex-Blue A and Sephadex G-75. The enzyme was homogeneous by dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis and constancy of specific activity across the single peak found in Sephadex G-75 chromatography. Crystals in the form of heavy needles have been obtained in poly(ethylene glycol)-400. The enzyme is specific for adenine (deoxyadenine) nucleotides with Km values for ATP, ADP and AMP of 340 microns, 980 microM and 93 microM respectively and dissociation constants, for ATP, MgATP and AMP of 7.3 microM, 7.1 microM and 6.9 microM respectively. The enzyme was noted to have no disulfide bond, two free sulfhydryl groups and a total of 208 residues. Aboe 50 mM KCl the enzyme activity drops off gradually. The enzyme is stable at neutral pH and below a temperature of 44 degrees C. Adenylate kinase from P. denitrificans resembles adenylate kinases from other sources with respect to such properties as the dependence on specific divalent cations, maximal activities at a ratio of Mg2+:ATP of about 1:1 and the ratio of Mg2+:ADP of 1:2, in having MgATP (or MgADP) binding site and another substrate binding site for AMP (or ADP), and in requiring an intact histidine and one or more arginine residues for enzymatic activity. Adenylate kinase from P. denitrificans appears to resemble the so-called muscle-type (cytoplasmic) rather than the mitochondrial-type adenylate kinase by comparisons of the following properties: low molecular weight, having --SH groups and no disulfide bonds, pH-optimum of 8.0 for formation of ADP, positive cross-reaction by ELISA test and in requiring a low concentration of Ap5A to inhibit 95% activity.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed1984

Immunochemical identification of a two-subunit NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase from Paracoccus denitrificans.

Analysis by crossed-immunoelectrophoresis of Paracoccus denitrificans membrane vesicles has shown that only one antigen stains for NADH dehydrogenase activity. This activity could be partially purified by a combination of gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography of membrane vesicles that had been solubilised in the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P-40. From the limited number of precipitates observed after crossed immunoelectrophoresis of this partially purified preparation of NADH dehydrogenase it was possible to excise specifically part of the precipitate that stained for NADH dehydrogenase. Excised precipitates containing NADH dehydrogenase that had been radiolabelled by growth of cells in the presence of [35S]SO2-(4) allowed the polypeptide composition of the enzyme to be determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate followed by fluorography. Two subunits were identified with estimated relative molecular masses of 48000 and 25000. Subunits of similar molecular weight are found in the flavoprotein fragment of the NADH dehydrogenase of the mammalian mitochondrial respiratory chain. The latter has general similarities with the respiratory chain in the plasma membrane of P. denitrificans.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗

PubMed1986

The respiratory nitrate reductase from Paracoccus denitrificans. Molecular characterisation and kinetic properties.

The respiratory nitrate reductase from Paracoccus denitrificans has been purified in the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P-40. The enzyme comprises three polypeptides, alpha, beta and gamma with estimated relative molecular masses of 127 000, 61 000 and 21 000. Duroquinol or reduced-viologen compounds acted as the reducing substrates. The nitrate reductase contained a b-type cytochrome that was reduced by duroquinol and oxidised by nitrate. A preparation of the enzyme that lacked both detectable b-type cytochrome and the gamma subunit was obtained from a trailing peak of nitrate reductase activity collected from a gel filtration column. Absence of the gamma subunit correlated with failure to use duroquinol as reductant; activity with reduced viologens was retained. It is concluded that in the plasma membrane of P. denitrificans the gamma subunit catalyses electron transfer to the alpha and beta subunits of nitrate reductase from ubiquinol which acts as a branch point in the respiratory chain. A new assay was introduced for both nitrate and quinol-nitrate oxidoreductase activity. Diaphorase was used to couple the oxidation of NADH to the production of duroquinol which acted as electron donor to nitrate reductase. Under anaerobic conditions absorbance changes at 340 nm were sensitive to nitrate concentrations in the low micromolar range. This coupled assay was used to determine that the purified enzyme had Km(NO-3) of 13 microM and a Km of 470 microM for ClO-3, an alternative substrate. With viologen substrates Km(NO-3) of 283 microM and Km(ClO-3) of 470 microM were determined; the enzymes possessed a considerably higher Vmax with either NO-3 or ClO-3 than was found when duroquinol was substrate. Azide was a competitive inhibitor of nitrate reduction in either assay system (Ki = 0.55 microM) but 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide was effective only with the complete three-subunit enzyme and duroquinol as substrate, consistent with a site of action for this inhibitor on the b-type cytochrome. The low Km for nitrate observed in the duriquinol assay is comparable with the apparent Km(NO-3) recently reported for intact cells of P. denitrificans [Parsonage, D., Greenfield, A. J. & Ferguson, S. J. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 807, 81-95]. This similarity is discussed in terms of a possible requirement for a nitrate transport system. The nitrate reductase system from P. denitrificans is compared with that from Escherichia coli.

Chromatography, Gel↗