Purification of NADPH-ferredoxin reductase from rat liver mitochondria

NADPH-ferredoxin reductase (NADPH:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.7.1) has been identified in rat liver mitochondria and purified to homogeneity as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. The protein was detected by its ability to reconstitute NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in the presence of adrenal ferredoxin. The purified protein had properties very similar to adrenal NADPH-ferredoxin reductase. The molecular weight was 52 000, as estimated by gel filtration. On SDS-polyacrylamide gels, mobility was identical to that of adrenal NADPH-ferredoxin reductase (Mr = 52 000). The enzyme exhibited a typical oxidized flavoprotein absorbance spectrum with maxima at 269, 377 and 450 nm and gave an absorbance ratio A450nm/A269nm of 0.138. The fluorescence excitation spectrum was identical to that of FAD. In the presence of NADPH and a ferredoxin, the reductase was found to be active in a reconstituted cytochrome P-450-dependent steroid 26-hydroxylase, which was recently isolated from rat liver mitochondria (Pedersen, J.I. (1978) FEBS Lett. 85, 35-39).