Putidaredoxin reductase, a new function for an old protein

Abstract

Properties of recombinant wild type (WT) and six-histidine tag-fused (His6) putidaredoxin reductase (Pdr), a FAD-containing component of the soluble cytohrome P450cam monooxygenase system from Pseudomonas putida, have been studied. Both WT and His6 Pdr were found to undergo a monomer-dimer associationdissociation and were partially present as an NAD+-bound form. Although molecular, spectral, and electron transferring properties of recombinant His6 Pdr to artificial and native electron acceptors were similar to those of the WT protein, the presence of eight additional C-terminal amino acid residues, Pro-Arg-His-His-His-His-His-His, had a crucial effect on the enzyme interaction with oxidized pyridine nucleotide. Under anaerobic conditions, NAD+ induced in His6Pdr spectral changesindicative of flavin reduction and formation of the charge transfer complex between the reduced FAD and NAD+. The reaction proceeded considerably faster in the presence of free histidine and thiol-reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol and reduced glutathione. In the presence of any of these three reagents, NAD+ was capable of inducing reduction of the flavin in WT Pdr. Free thiol groups were identified as an internal source of electrons in the enzyme. The results showed that WT and His6Pdr were able to function as NAD(H)-dependent dithiol/disulfide oxidoreductases catalyzing bothforward and reverse reactions, NAD+-dependent oxidation of thiols, and NADH-dependent reduction of disulfides. This function of the flavoprotein can be dissociated from electron transfer to putidaredoxin. Similarity of Pdr to the enzymes of the glutathione reductase family is discussed.