title: Inhibitor binding within the NarI subunit (cytochrome bnr) of Escherichia coli nitrate reductase A.
abstract: We have used inhibitors and site-directed mutants to investigate quinol binding to the cytochrome bnr (NarI) of Escherichia coli nitrate reductase (NarGHI). Both stigmatellin and 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HOQNO) inhibit menadiol:nitrate oxidoreductase activity with I50 values of 0.25 and 6 microM, respectively, and prevent the generation of a NarGHI-dependent proton electrochemical potential across the cytoplasmic membrane. These inhibitors have little effect on the rate of reduction of the two hemes of NarI (bL and bH), but have an inhibitory effect on the extent of nitrate-dependent heme reoxidation. No quinol-dependent heme bH reduction is detected in a mutant lacking heme bL (NarI-H66Y), whereas a slow but complete heme bL reduction is detected in a mutant lacking heme bH (NarI-H56R). This is consistent with physiological quinol binding and oxidation occurring at a site (QP) associated with heme bL which is located toward the periplasmic side of NarI. Optical and EPR spectroscopies performed in the presence of stigmatellin or HOQNO provide further evidence that these inhibitors bind at a heme bL-associated QP site. These results suggest a model for electron transfer through NarGHI that involves quinol binding and oxidation in the vicinity of heme bL and electron transfer through heme bH to the cytoplasmically localized membrane-extrinsic catalytic NarGH dimer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, IBSM, CNRS, 31 chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalon
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rothery
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lemesle-Meunier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frixon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blasco
mesh_terms: D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D050901:Nitrate Reductase; D009565:Nitrate Reductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006873:Hydroquinones; D006418:Heme; D009565:Nitrate Reductases; D050901:Nitrate Reductase