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IRREVERSIBLE PHOTO IN ACTIVATION OF NITRATE REDUCTASE DURING THE FLAVIN‐SENSITIZED PHOTOCHEMICAL ASSAY OF ITS CATALYTIC ACTIVITY
Author(s) -
Rosa Miguel A. Dela,
Rosa Francisco F. Dela
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1983.tb03366.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , flavin group , nitrate reductase , photochemistry , photosensitizer , hydrogen peroxide , catalysis , nitrite , reductase , catalytic cycle , superoxide , nitrate , enzyme , biochemistry , organic chemistry
— The classic photochemical system in which flavin and EDTA act as photosensitizer and electron donor, respectively, has been employed for assaying in vitro the catalytic activity of Ankistrodesmus braunii nitrate reductase. When the photochemical assay is performed under air, but not in anaerobiosis, a considerable decay in the nitrite photoproduction rate is observed after 10–15 min. which is accompanied by a decrease of reduced methyl viologen‐nitrate reductase activity. The first enzyme activity, i.e. diaphorase is photoinactivated even more quickly and does not present any initial lag phase. Some oxygen species (superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide) are probably involved in the photoinactivating mechanism, which appears to be non‐specific and irreversible. The use of flavin/EDTA photosystems is therefore, very practical for the in vitro assay of nitrate reductase activity, although anaerobic conditions are required for optimum results. Since inactivation of the terminal activity is, however, relatively slow, anaerobiosis would not be required for assay times shorter than 10 min.