Azoreductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737 is a flavodoxin that also functions as nitroreductase and flavin mononucleotide reductase

Previously reported azoreductase (AZR) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737 was shown to be a flavodoxin possessing nitroreductase and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) reductase activities. The structure model of AZR constructed with SWISS-MODEL displayed a flavodoxin-like fold with a three-layer alpha/beta/alpha structure. With nitrofurazone as substrate, the optimal pH value and temperature were 7.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. AZR could reduce a number of nitroaromatic compounds including 2, 4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 3,5-dinitroaniline, and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene ( TNT). TNT resulted to be the most efficient nitro substrate and was reduced to hydroxylaminodinitrotoluene. Both NADH and NADPH could serve as electron donors of AZR, where the latter was preferred. Externally added FMN was also reduced by AZR via ping-pong mechanism and was a competitive inhibitor of NADPH, methyl red, and nitrofurazone. AZR with broad substrate specificity is a member of a new nitro/FMN reductase family demonstrating potential application in bioremediation.