Two distinct NAD(P)H-dependent redox enzymes isolated from onion root plasma membranes

Plasma membranes purified by two-phase partition from onion roots catalyzed the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of a variety of electron acceptor such as ferricyanide, quinones, dyes and ascorbate free radical. Among these, NAD(P)H-ferricyanide and -quinone oxidoreductase activities were effectively solubilized by Triton X-100. Both oxidoreductase activities were bound to an affinity column of Blue-Sepharose CL 6B. NADH eluted a redox enzyme showing more juglone than ferricyanide-dependent activity. Ulterior unspecific elution with salt allowed us to the partial purification of a different redox enzyme of about 31 kDa that reduced better ferricyanide than quinones and constituted the bulk of solubilized redox activity.