Three-dimensional structure of AzoR from Escherichia coli. An oxidereductase conserved in microorganisms

J Biol Chem. 2006 Jul 21;281(29):20567-76. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M513345200. Epub 2006 May 9.

Abstract

The crystal structure of AzoR (azoreductase) has been determined in complex with FMN for two different crystal forms at 1.8 and 2.2 A resolution. AzoR is an oxidoreductase isolated from Escherichia coli as a protein responsible for the degradation of azo compounds. This enzyme is an FMN-dependent NADH-azoreductase and catalyzes the reductive cleavage of azo groups by a ping-pong mechanism. The structure suggests that AzoR acts in a homodimeric state forming the two identical catalytic sites to which both monomers contribute. The structure revealed that each monomer of AzoR has a flavodoxin-like structure, without the explicit overall amino acid sequence homology. Superposition of the structures from the two different crystal forms revealed the conformational change and suggested a mechanism for accommodating substrates of different size. Furthermore, comparison of the active site structure with that of NQO1 complexed with substrates provides clues to the possible substrate-binding mechanism of AzoR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Flavin Mononucleotide / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / chemistry*
  • Nitroreductases
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Flavin Mononucleotide
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • Nitroreductases
  • azoreductase

Associated data

  • PDB/1V4B
  • PDB/2D5I