Degradation of rutin by Aspergillus flavus. Studies on specificity, inhibition, and possible reaction mechanism of quercetinase.

Abstract

The dioxygenase produced by Aspergillus flavus that oxidizes quercetin contains 2 moles of copper per mole of enzyme and binds at least 2 moles of substrate. The enzyme is not inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents or affected by H2O2, but is inhibited by copper-chelating agents and reducing agents. Nitrogen bases with chelating ability are more effective inhibitors than those that do not form metal chelates.The dioxygenase oxidizes flavones that possess a double bond between carbons-2 and -3 and a hydroxyl on carbon-3. Hydroxyls at other positions affect both the relative rates of enzymatic oxidation and the concentration of substrate required to attain half maximal rate (Km). The evidence indicates that the substrate binds to the copper of the enzyme via the 3-hydroxyl and 4-carbonyl groups of the substrate. A possible mechanism for the reaction is presented.