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Bacillus subtilis ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase (BsFNR) is a thioredoxin reductase-type FNR whose redox properties and reactivity with nonphysiological electron acceptors have been scarcely characterized. On the basis of redox reactions with 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide phosphate, the two-electron reduction midpoint potential of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor was estimated to be −0.240 V. Photoreduction using 5-deazaflavin mononucleotide (5-deazaFMN) as a photosensitizer revealed that the difference in the redox potentials between the first and second single-electron transfer steps was 0.024 V. We examined the mechanisms of the reduction of several different groups of non-physiological electron acceptors catalyzed by BsFNR. The reactivity of quinones and aromatic N-oxides toward BsFNR increased when increasing their single-electron reduction midpoint redox potentials. The reactivity of nitroaromatic compounds was lower due to their lower electron self-exchange rate, but it exhibited the same trend. A mixed single- and two-electron reduction reaction was characteristic of quinones, whereas reactions involving nitroaromatics proceeded exclusively via the one-electron reduction reaction. The oxidation of FADH• to FAD is the rate-limiting step during the oxidation of fully reduced FAD. The calculated electron transfer distances in the reaction with nitroaromatics were close to those of other FNRs including the plant-type enzymes, thus demonstrating their similar active site accessibility to low-molecular-weight oxidants despite the fundamental differences in their structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodopseudomonas palustris ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase (RpFNR) belongs to a novel group of thioredoxin reductase-type FNRs with partly characterized redox properties. Based on the reactions of RpFNR with the 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide phosphate redox couple, we estimated the two-electron reduction midpoint potential of the FAD cofactor to be −0.285 V. 5-Deaza-FMN-sensitized photoreduction revealed −0.017 V separation of the redox potentials between the first and second electron transfer events. We examined the mechanism of oxidation of RpFNR by several different groups of nonphysiological electron acceptors. The kcat/Km values of quinones and aromatic N-oxides toward RpFNR increase with their single-electron reduction midpoint potential. The lower reactivity, mirroring their lower electron self-exchange rate, is also seen to have a similar trend for nitroaromatic compounds. A mixed single- and two-electron reduction was characteristic of quinones, with single-electron reduction accounting for 54% of the electron flux, whereas nitroaromatics were reduced exclusively via single-electron reduction. It is highly possible that the FADH· to FAD oxidation reaction is the rate-limiting step during the reoxidation of reduced FAD. The calculated electron transfer distances in the reaction with quinones and nitroaromatics were close to those of Anabaena and Plasmodium falciparum FNRs, thus demonstrating their similar "intrinsic" reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavocytochrome b2 (fcb2) (EC 1.1.2.3) is a 4 × 58 kD homotetrameric FMN and heme containing enzyme localized in the intermembrane space of yeast mitochondria. During the catalysis, FMN oxidizes L-lactate to pyruvate. Subsequently, the reduced FMN transfers electrons to the heme cofactor, which subsequently reduces cytochrome c. The kinetic properties and thermostability of the enzyme depend on its source, and these factors may be important in the construction of biosensors for L-lactate based on fcb2. In this work, we have investigated the kinetic properties of fcb2 from the thermotolerant methanotrophic strain Hansenula polymorpha. Like in our previous studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fcb2 [1], H. polymorpha fcb2 exhibited biphasic Lineweaver-Burk plots at fixed L-lactate concentrations using varied ferricyanide concentrations. It reflects the acceptance of electrons from both the reduced FMN and heme after the slower intramolecular FMN-to-heme electron transfer. At the infinite L-lactate concentration, the maximal rate of ferricyanide reduction is close to 120 s-1. The maximal rate of cytochrome c reduction is close to the second (slower) phase of ferricyanide reduction, because cytochrome c accepts electrons only from heme. The reaction product pyruvate inhibits H. polymorpha fcb2 in a mixed way at the millimolar concentration, and decreases the maximal rates of both fast and slow phases of ferricyanide reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmodione (PD) is a potent antimalarial redox-active 3-benzyl-menadione acting at low nanomolar range concentrations on different malaria parasite stages. The specific bioactivation of PD was proposed to occur via a cascade of redox reactions starting from one-electron reduction and then benzylic oxidation, leading to the generation of several key metabolites including corresponding benzylic alcohol (PD-bzol, for PD benzhydrol) and 3-benzoylmenadione (PDO, for PD oxide). In this study, we showed that the benzylic oxidation of PD is closely related to the formation of a benzylic semiquinone radical, which can be produced under two conditions: UV photoirradiation or catalysis by Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast ferredoxin-NADP + reductase ( Pf FNR) redox cycling in the presence of oxygen and the parent PD. Electrochemical properties of both PD metabolites were investigated in DMSO and in water. The single-electron reduction potential values of PD, PD-bzol, PDO, and a series of 3-benzoylmenadiones were determined according to ascorbate oxidation kinetics. These compounds possess enhanced reactivity toward Pf FNR as compared with model quinones. Optimal conditions were set up to obtain the best conversion of the starting PD to the corresponding metabolites. UV irradiation of PD in isopropanol under positive oxygen pressure led to an isolated yield of 31% PDO through the transient semiquinone species formed in a cascade of reactions. In the presence of Pf FNR, PDO and PD-bzol could be observed during long lasting redox cycling of PD continuously fueled by NADPH regenerated by an enzymatic system. Finally, we observed and quantified the effect of PD on the production of oxidative stress in the apicoplast of transgenic 3D7 [Api-roGFP2-hGrx1] P. falciparum parasites by using the described genetically encoded glutathione redox sensor hGrx1-roGFP2 methodology. The observed fast reactive oxygen species (ROS) pulse released in the apicoplast is proposed to be mediated by PD redox cycling catalyzed by Pf FNR.

Ferredoxin:NADP + oxidoreductase from Plasmodium falciparum ( Pf FNR) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of ferredoxin ( Pf Fd), which provides redox equivalents for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids and fatty acids in the apicoplast. Like other flavin-dependent electrontransferases, Pf FNR is a potential source of free radicals of quinones and other redox cycling compounds. We report here a kinetic study of the reduction of quinones, nitroaromatic compounds and aromatic N- oxides by Pf FNR . We show that all these groups of compounds are reduced in a single-electron pathway, their reactivity increasing with the increase in their single-electron reduction midpoint potential ( E 1 7 ). The reactivity of nitroaromatics is lower than that of quinones and aromatic N -oxides, which is in line with the differences in their electron self-exchange rate constants. Quinone reduction proceeds via a ping-pong mechanism. During the reoxidation of reduced FAD by quinones, the oxidation of FADH . to FAD is the possible rate-limiting step. The calculated electron transfer distances in the reaction of Pf FNR with various electron acceptors are similar to those of Anabaena FNR, thus demonstrating their similar "intrinsic" reactivity. Ferredoxin stimulated quinone- and nitro-reductase reactions of Pf FNR, evidently providing an additional reduction pathway via reduced Pf Fd. Based on the available data, Pf FNR and possibly Pf Fd may play a central role in the reductive activation of quinones, nitroaromatics and aromatic N- oxides in P. falciparum, contributing to their antiplasmodial action., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results.