Composition and structure of assimilatory nitrate reductase from Ankistrodesmus braunii

Assimilatory NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.2) from Ankistrodesmus braunii has been purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on blue Sepharose. The specific activity of the purified enzyme is in the range of 72 to 80 units/mg of protein. The electronic spectrum of the native enzyme shows absorption maxima at 278, 414 (Soret), 532 (beta), 562 (alpha), and 669 nm and shoulders at 455 and 484 nm, with an A278/A414 ratio of 2.56. The reduced enzyme shows absorption maxima at 424 (Soret), 528 (beta), 557 (alpha),and 669 n. The enzyme complex (Mr = 467,400) is composed of eight similar subunits (Mr = 58,750) and contains 4 molecules of FAD, 4 heme groups, and 2 atoms of molybdenum. Labile sulfide and nonheme iron were not detected. Electron micrographs show the eight subunits arranged alternately in two planes, and an 8-fold rotational symmetry was deduced from highly magnified images processed by optical superposition.