Work

NfoR: Chromate Reductase or Flavin Mononucleotide Reductase?

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Chromate is a toxic by-product of multiple industrial processes. Chromate reduction is an important biological activity that ameliorates Cr(VI) toxicity. Numerous researchers have identified chromate reductase activity by observing chromate reduction. However, all identified chromate reductase enzymes have flavin as a cofactor or use a flavin as a substrate. We show here that NfoR, an enzyme claimed to be a chromate reductase, is in fact an FMN reductase. In addition, we show that reduction of a flavin is a viable way to transfer electrons to chromate but that it is unlikely to be the native function of enzymes. We propose that upregulation of a redox-active flavoprotein is a viable means to detoxify chromate that relies on adventitious reduction that is not catalyzed.

Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology

DOI: 10.1128/aem.01758-20

Authors: Audrey G. O’Neill, Brett A. Beaupre, Yuanzhang Zheng, Dali Liu, Graham R. Moran

Institution: Loyola University Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Chromium effects and bioremediation

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Science Foundation

Award: Collaborative Research: The Chemistry of Riboflavin Biosynthesis