Chlorate Reductase Research Articles

Identification, Characterization, and Classification of Genes Encoding Perchlorate Reductase

The reduction of perchlorate to chlorite, the first enzymatic step in the bacterial reduction of perchlorate, is catalyzed by perchlorate reductase. The genes encoding perchlorate reductase (pcrABCD) in two Dechloromonas species were characterized. Sequence analysis of the pcrAB gene products revealed similarity to alpha- and beta-subunits of microbial nitrate reductase, selenate reductase, dimethyl sulfide dehydrogenase, ethylbenzene dehydrogenase, and chlorate reductase, all of which are type II members of the microbial dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductase family. The pcrC gene product was similar to a c-type cytochrome, while the pcrD gene product exhibited similarity to molybdenum chaperone proteins of the DMSO reductase family members mentioned above. Expression analysis of the pcrA gene from Dechloromonas agitata indicated that transcription occurred only under anaerobic (per)chlorate-reducing conditions. The presence of oxygen completely inhibited pcrA expression regardless of the presence of perchlorate, chlorate, or nitrate. Deletion of the pcrA gene in Dechloromonas aromatica abolished growth in both perchlorate and chlorate but not growth in nitrate, indicating that the pcrABCD genes play a functional role in perchlorate reduction separate from nitrate reduction. Phylogenetic analysis of PcrA and other alpha-subunits of the DMSO reductase family indicated that perchlorate reductase forms a monophyletic group separate from chlorate reductase of Ideonella dechloratans. The separation of perchlorate reductase as an activity distinct from chlorate reductase was further supported by DNA hybridization analysis of (per)chlorate- and chlorate-reducing strains using the pcrA gene as a probe.

Enzymes responsible for chlorate reduction by Pseudomonas sp. are different from those used for perchlorate reduction by Azospira sp.

Pseudomonas sp. PDA is an unusual bacterium due to its ability to respire using chlorate under aerobic conditions. The chlorate reductase produced by PDA was shown to be intrinsically different from the enzyme responsible for chlorate and perchlorate [(per)chlorate] reduction produced by Azospira sp. KJ based on subunit composition and other enzyme properties. The perchlorate reductase from strain KJ appeared to have two subunits (100 and 40 kDa) while the chlorate reductase from PDA had three subunits (60, 48, and 27 kDa). N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the 100 kDa protein from strain KJ showed a 77% similarity with the perchlorate reductase alpha subunit from another perchlorate-respiring bacterium, Dechloromonas agitata, while the N-terminus amino acid sequence of the 60 kDa protein from strain PDA did not show a similarity to previously isolated chlorate or perchlorate reductases.

The C subunit of Ideonella dechloratans chlorate reductase: Expression, purification, refolding, and heme reconstitution

The C subunit of Ideonella dechloratans chlorate reductase has been expressed in Escherichia coli as a GST fusion protein. Purification from inclusion bodies, followed by refolding and reconstitution with heme, produced a protein with a heme/protein ratio of 0.4, and with UV–vis spectral characteristics similar to those of native chlorate reductase. Wavelength maxima for the α and β bands in the reduced state were 559 and 529 nm for both native chlorate reductase and the reconstituted recombinant subunit, whereas the reduced Soret bands were found at 426 and 424 nm, respectively. These results support the notion of the C subunit as the cytochrome b moiety of I. dechloratans chlorate reductase. Moreover, the availability of a recombinant version of the C subunit is expected to facilitate further studies of electron transfer and protein interaction included in the reaction catalyzed by chlorate reductase.

Chlorate and nitrate reduction pathways are separately induced in the perchlorate-respiring bacterium Dechlorosoma sp. KJ and the chlorate-respiring bacterium Pseudomonas sp. PDA

The effect of nitrate on perchlorate and chlorate reduction by perchlorate-respiring bacteria (PRB), and on chlorate reduction by chlorate-respiring bacteria (CRB), is not well understood, particularly with respect to the induction of pathways used to degrade these different chemicals. Based on kinetic data obtained in a series of batch tests, we determined that perchlorate respiratory enzymes were inducible (by chlorate or perchlorate) and separate from those used for denitrification by PRB strain Dechlorosoma sp. KJ. Aerobically grown cultures of KJ had lag times of greater than 0.3–2 days when transferred to a medium containing only perchlorate, chlorate, or nitrate as an electron acceptor. There were no lag times for transfers between identical media. Washed cells reduced very little nitrate (<10%) when grown only on chlorate or perchlorate. When grown on nitrate, they degraded little chlorate or perchlorate. The same lack of activity with these electron acceptors was also observed using cell extracts and methyl viologen as an electron carrier, indicating a lack of reactivity was not due to failure of the chemical to diffuse into the cell. Taken together, these results indicated that enzymes for perchlorate and nitrate reduction are separately expressed in strain KJ. The presence of small amounts of nitrate in contaminated groundwater may actually help to increase rates of perchlorate reduction once the nitrate is completely removed. When strain KJ was pre-grown on nitrate and perchlorate, perchlorate degradation (in the absence of nitrate) was more rapid compared to cells grown only on perchlorate. Pseudomonas sp. PDA was unable to degrade perchlorate or grow using nitrate, and the induction of enzymes necessary for chlorate respiration differed for strains KJ and PDA. While chlorate reductase and chlorite dismutase activity were induced in KJ by chlorate or perchlorate under anaerobic conditions, these two enzymes were constitutively expressed by PDA under anaerobic and aerobic conditions independent of the presence of chlorate. To our knowledge, this is the first report of constitutive expression of both chlorate reductase and chlorite dismutase in a bacterium.

A gene cluster for chlorate metabolism in Ideonella dechloratans.

Chlorate reductase has been isolated from the chlorate-respiring bacterium Ideonella dechloratans, and the genes encoding the enzyme have been sequenced. The enzyme is composed of three different subunits and contains molybdopterin, iron, probably in iron-sulfur clusters, and heme b. The genes (clr) encoding chlorate reductase are arranged as clrABDC, where clrA, clrB, and clrC encode the subunits and clrD encodes a specific chaperone. Judging from the subunit composition, cofactor content, and sequence comparisons, chlorate reductase belongs to class II of the dimethyl sulfoxide reductase family. The clr genes are preceded by a novel insertion sequence (transposase gene surrounded by inverted repeats), denoted ISIde1. Further upstream, we find the previously characterized gene for chlorite dismutase (cld), oriented in the opposite direction. Chlorate metabolism in I. dechloratans starts with the reduction of chlorate, which is followed by the decomposition of the resulting chlorite to chloride and molecular oxygen. The present work reveals that the genes encoding the enzymes catalyzing both these reactions are in close proximity.

Characterization of the chlorate reductase from Pseudomonas chloritidismutans.

A chlorate reductase has been purified from the chlorate-reducing strain Pseudomonas chloritidismutans. Comparison with the periplasmic (per)chlorate reductase of strain GR-1 showed that the cytoplasmic chlorate reductase of P. chloritidismutans reduced only chlorate and bromate. Differences were also found in N-terminal sequences, molecular weight, and subunit composition. Metal analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements showed the presence of iron and molybdenum, which are also found in other dissimilatory oxyanion reductases.

Isolation and characterization of chlorate resistant mutants from nitrate-nonutilizing fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Chlorate resistant mutants, which were first isolated in the zygomycetous fungusPhycomyces blakesleeanus, were found to be resistant up to a concentration of at least 300 mM of potassium chlorate. The dose-response relationship showed that although the mutants could be divided into two groups based on chlorate resistance in the mycelial elongation assay on the solid minimal medium, this was not observed in the assay using liquid culture. Genetic analysis of heterokaryons revealed the mutant alleles to be dominant. Enzymatic activities of three nitrate reductases and chlorate reductase were deficient in both the parent strain and the mutants. Intracellular incorporation of chlorate ion varied from strain to strain; however, the variation could not explain the mechanism of chlorate resistance. One unexpected characteristic of the mutants was that the intracellular sulfate ion concentration was 3.5 to 5.5 times higher than in the parent strain. We designated this mutant genotypecrw, chlorate resistant mutant from nitrate-nonutilizing wild type.

Purification and Characterization of Chlorate Reductase from Ideonella dechloratans

Purification and Characterization of Chlorate Reductase from <i>Ideonella dechloratans</i>

Purification and characterization of (per)chlorate reductase from the chlorate-respiring strain GR-1.

Strain GR-1 is one of several recently isolated bacterial species that are able to respire by using chlorate or perchlorate as the terminal electron acceptor. The organism performs a complete reduction of chlorate or perchlorate to chloride and oxygen, with the intermediate formation of chlorite. This study describes the purification and characterization of the key enzyme of the reductive pathway, the chlorate and perchlorate reductase. A single enzyme was found to catalyze both the chlorate- and perchlorate-reducing activity. The oxygen-sensitive enzyme was located in the periplasm and had an apparent molecular mass of 420 kDa, with subunits of 95 and 40 kDa in an alpha(3)beta(3) composition. Metal analysis showed the presence of 11 mol of iron, 1 mol of molybdenum, and 1 mol of selenium per mol of heterodimer. In accordance, quantitative electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy showed the presence of one [3Fe-4S] cluster and two [4Fe-4S] clusters. Furthermore, two different signals were ascribed to Mo(V). The K(m) values for perchlorate and chlorate were 27 and <5 microM, respectively. Besides perchlorate and chlorate, nitrate, iodate, and bromate were also reduced at considerable rates. The resemblance of the enzyme to nitrate reductases, formate dehydrogenases, and selenate reductase is discussed.

Molecular and Regulatory Properties of the Nitrate Reducing Systems of Rhodobacter

Phototrophic bacteria of the genus Rhodobacter possess several forms of nitrate reductase including assimilatory and dissimilatory enzymes. Assimilatory nitrate reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus E1F1 is cytoplasmic, it uses NADH as the physiological electron donor and reduced viologens as artificial electron donors, and it is coupled to an ammonium-producing nitrite reductase. Nitrate reductase induction requires a high C/N balance and the presence of nitrate, nitrite, or nitroarenes. A periplasmic 47-kDa protein facilitates nitrate uptake, thus increasing nitrate reductase activity. Two types of dissimilatory nitrate reductases have been found in strains from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. One of them is coupled to a complete denitrifying pathway, and the other is a periplasmic protein whose physiological role seems to be the dissipation of excess reducing power, thus improving photoanaerobic growth. Periplasmic nitrate reductase does not use NADH as the physiological electron donor and is a 100-kDa heterodimeric hemoprotein that receives electrons through an electron transport chain spanning the plasma membrane. This nitrate reductase is regulated neither by the intracellular C/N balance nor by O2 pressure. The enzyme also exhibits chlorate reductase activity, and both reaction products, nitrite and chlorite, are released almost stoichiometrically into the medium; this accounts for the high resistance to chlorate or nitrite exhibited by this bacterium. Nitrate reductases from both strains seem to be coded by genes located on megaplasmids.

Chlorate and nitrate reduction in the phototrophic bacteriaRhodobacter capsulatus andRhodobacter sphaeroides

Chlorate or trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) added to phototrophic cultures ofRhodobacter sphaeroides DSM 158 increased both the growth rate and the growth yield although this stimulation was not observed in the presence of tungstate. This strain, exhibited basal activities of nitrate, chlorate, and TMAO reductases independently of the presence of these substrates in the culture medium, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity was competitively inhibited by chlorate. Phototrophic growth ofRhodobacter capsulatus B10, a strain devoid of NR activity, was inhibited only by 100 mM chlorate. However, growth of the nitrate-assimilatingR. capsulatus strains E1F1 and AD2 was sensitive to 10mm chlorate, and their NR activities were not inhibited by chlorate. Both NR and chlorate reductase (CR) activities of strain E1F1 were induced in the presence of nitrate or chlorate respectively, whereas strain AD2 showed basal levels of these activities in the absence of the substrates. A basal TMAO reductase (TR) activity was also observed when these strains ofR. capsulatus were cultured in the absence of this electron acceptor. These results suggest that chlorate and TMAO can be used as ancillary oxidants byRhodobacter strains and that a single enzyme could be responsible for nitrate and chlorate reduction inR. sphaeroides DSM 158, whereas these reactions are catalyzed by two different enzymes inR. capsulatus E1F1 and AD2.

Isolation and characterization of transposon Tn5 mutants ofRhodobacter sphaeroidesdeficient in both nitrate and chlorate reduction.

The wild-type strain Rhodobacter sphaeroides DSM 158 is a nitrate-reducing bacterium with a periplasmic nitrate reductase. Addition of chlorate to the culture medium causes a stimulation of the phototrophic growth, indicating that this strain is able to use chlorate as an ancillary oxidant. Several mutant strains of R. sphaeroides deficient in nitrate reductase activity were obtained by transposon Tn5 mutagenesis. Mutant strain NR45 exhibited high constitutive nitrate and chlorate reductase activities and phototrophic growth was also increased by the presence of chlorate. In contrast, the stimulation of growth by chlorate was not observed in mutant strains NR8 and NR13, in which transposon Tn5 insertion causes the simultaneous loss of both nitrate and chlorate reductase activities. Tn5 insertion probably does not affect molybdenum metabolism since NR8 and NR13 mutants exhibit both xanthine dehydrogenase and nitrogenase activities. These results that a single enzyme could reduce both nitrate and chlorate in R. sphaeroides DSM 158.

Thiosulfate reductase as a chlorate reductase inSalmonella typhimurium

The contribution of thiosulfate reductase to chlorate sensitivity in Salmonella typhimurium was examined. Electrophoresed extracts of nitrate-grown cells of both the wild type and a chlC mutant were shown to contain chlorate reductase activity of the same relative mobility as a thiosulfate reductase activity which was present in the chlC mutant, but not in the wild-type grown under these conditions. A mutation is phs, which is essential for thiosulfate reductase by S. typhimurium, was shown to confer some chlorate resistance in the wild-type background and to increase the chlorate resistance obtained with a chlC mutation. Finally, thiosulfate in the anaerobic growth medium was shown to protect a chlC mutant growing in the presence of chlorate, but it did not protect the wild type. The results are consistent with a picture in which thiosulfate reductase can function as a chlorate reductase in both the wild-type and chlC backgrounds, although its capacity to reduce thiosulfate is diminished by the presence of an active nitrate reductase encoded by chlC.

Thiosulfate reductase as a chlorate reductase in Salmonella typhimurium

Thiosulfate reductase as a chlorate reductase in Salmonella typhimurium

Biochemical and immunological evidence for a second nitrate reductase in Escherichia coli K12.

Genes different from those of the narGHI operon and encoding a nitrate reductase activity have been cloned by Bonnefoy et al. (unpublished results). We have shown by the use of well-known assay methods that the encoded enzyme activity is catalyzed by a true nitrate reductase and not by trimethylamine-N-oxide reductase or formate dehydrogenase. The biochemical and immunological study, employing anti-(nitrate reductase) serum raised against the known enzyme, revealed that Escherichia coli contains a second nitrate reductase (nitrate reductase Z) which shares some similarities as well as differences with the known enzyme. By using a strain with a deletion of the narGHI operon and carrying a multicopy plasmid having the nitrate reductase Z genes, we have shown that nitrate reductase Z is a membrane-bound molybdoenzyme able to couple formate oxidation with nitrate reduction. Like the known nitrate reductase, this enzyme has chlorate reductase activity. The molecular mass and pH and temperature dependence of enzyme Z are similar to these of the known enzyme. On the other hand the two enzymes have significant difference in their electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gels. Unlike the known enzyme, enzyme Z is synthesized in small amounts; the expression of its structural genes does not seem to be induced by nitrate, repressed by oxygen or activated by the product of the fnr gene. The immunological comparison of the two enzymes was performed by rocket immunoelectrophoresis, double diffusion on agar plates and immunoblots. These techniques disclosed a difference between the two enzymes in their recognition by the antiserum and showed that E. coli has two types of nitrate reductase.

Influence of tungstate on the formation and activities of four reductases in Proteus mirabilis: Identification of two new molybdo-enzymes: chlorate reductase and tetrathionate reductase

Influence of tungstate on the formation and activities of four reductases in Proteus mirabilis: Identification of two new molybdo-enzymes: chlorate reductase and tetrathionate reductase

Characterization of purified nitrate reductase A and chlorate reductase C from Proteus mirabilis.

Nitrate reductase A has been solubilized from purified cytoplasmic membranes by extraction with tert-amyl alcohol. The resulting aqueous solution contained monomeric reductase which polymerized slowly to dimers and tetramers with sedimentation coefficients of respectively 10.5, 16 and 23 Svedbergunits. The polymerization could be stopped to some extent by addition of a small amount of Triton X-100. These distinct entities of nitrate reductase A were separable on electro-focusing, DEAE-column chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and have been proved to consist of similar subunits with molecular weights of 104000, 63000, and 56000 daltons. The molecular weights of monomeric nitrate reductase A was found to be about 240000 daltons. Chlorate reductase C has been solubilized by a similar procedure, resulting in only monomeric enzyme. Chlorate reductase C exhibited a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 Svedbergunits, an isoelectric point of pH = 4.55 and a molecular weight of approx. 180000 daltons. It was found to consist of three subunits with molecular weights of 75000, 63000 and 56000 daltons. The latter two subunits are most probably common in nitrate reductase A and chlorate reductase C.

The correlation between the protein composition of cytoplasmic membranes and the formation of nitrate reductase A, chlorate reductase C and tetrathionate reductase in Proteus mirabilis wild type and some cholate resistant mutants.

Three genotypically different chlorate resistant mutants, chl I, chl II and chl III, appeared to lack completely nitrate reductase A, chlorate reductase C and tetrathionate reductase activity. Fumarate reductase is only partially affected in chl I and chl III and unaffected in chl II. Formate dehydrogenase is only partially diminished in chl II, hydrogenase is diminished in chl I and chl II and completely absent in chl III. Subunits of nitrate reductase A, chlorate reductase C and tetrathionate reductase have been identified in protein profiles of purified cytoplasmic membranes from the wild type and the three mutant strains, grown under various conditions. Only the presence and absence of the largest subunits of these enzymes appeared to be correlated with their repression and derepression in the wild type membranes. On the cytoplasmic membranes of the chl I and chl III mutants these subunits lack for the greater part. In the chl II mutant, however, these subunits are inserted in the membrane all together after anaerobic growth with or without nitrate. A model for the repression/derepression mechanism for the reductases has been proposed. It includes repression by cytochrome b components, whereas the redox-state of the nitrate reductase A molecule itself is also involved in its derepression under anaerobic conditions.

Chlorate toxicity in Aspergillus nidulans. Studies of mutants altered in nitrate assimilation.

It had previously been held that chlorate is not itself toxic, but is rendered toxic as a result of nitrate reductase-catalysed conversion to chlorite. This however cannot be the explanation of chlorate toxicity in Aspergillus nidulans, even though nitrate reductase is known to have chlorate reductase activity. Among other evidence against the classical theory for the mechanism of chlorate toxicity, is the finding that not all mutants lacking nitrate reductase are clorate resistant. Both chlorate-sensitive and resistant mutants lacking nitrate reductase, also lack chlorate reductase. Data is presented which implicates not only nitrate reductase but also the product of the nirA gene, a positive regulator gene for nitrate assimilation, in the mediation of chlorate toxicity. Alternative mechanisms for chlorate toxicity are considered. It is unlikely that chlorate toxicity results from the involvement of nitrate reductase and the nirA gene product in the regulation either of nitrite reductase, or of the pentose phosphate pathway. Although low pH has an effect similar to chlorate, chorate is not likely to be toxic because it lowers the pH; low pH and chlorate may instead have similar effects. A possible explanation for chlorate toxicity is that it mimics nitrate in mediating, via nitrate reductase and the nirA gene product, a shut-down of nitrogen catabolism. As chlorate cannot act as a nitrogen source, nitrogen starvation ensues.

Etude des mutants chlorate-résistants chez Escherichia Coli K12 III. Mise en évidence et étude de l'activité chlorate-réductase c des mutants chl C −

Analysis of the biochemical properties of the mutant chl C − of E. coli K12 has given evidence for a chlorate reductase activity independent of nitrate reductase A which is induced by KNO 3 in this bacterium. This particulate enzyme is not sensitive to NaN 3 or KNC, its K m with respect chlorate is 2.5·10 −4 M. Reduced pyridine nucleotides cannot serve as electron donors. FMN ( K m = 0.19 mM) and riboflavine ( K m = 0.62 mM) are less effective electron donors than benzyl viologen ( K m = 0.6·10 −4 M). This chlorate reductase activity shows a number of analogies with the chlorate reductase C found in other Enterobacteriaceae. Repressed by NO 3− and ClO 3− in the mutant chl C −, it is absent in the pleiotropic mutants chl A − and chl B − of Escherichia coli K12 regardless of the culture conditions. It is probable that this enzyme acts as an electron barrier, integral to the multienzyme system that produces gaseous H 2 during the fermentation of glucose. Thus, the pleiotropic mutation of chlorate-resistant mutants of E. coli K12 affects three different enzymatic activities: formate dehydrogenase, nitrate reductase, and chlorate reductase.