A new oxygenase, 2-nitropropane dioxygenase of Hansenula mrakii. Enzymologic and spectrophotometric properties.

2-Nitropropane dioxygenase, purified to homogeneity from Hansenula mrakii (IFO 0895), has a molecular weight of approximately 62,000 and consists of two subunits nonidentical in molecular weight (39,000 and 25,000). Stoichiometrical studies and the results obtained with 18O2 showed that 2 atoms of molecular oxygen are incorporated into 2 molecules of acetone formed from 2-nitropropane. In addition to 2-nitropropane, nitroethane, 3-nitro-2-pentanol, and 1-nitropropane are oxidatively dentrified. The enzyme, which exhibits absorption maxima at 274, 370, 415, and 440 nm and a shoulder at 470 nm, contains 1 mol of FAD and 1 g atom of non-heme iron per mol of enzyme. The enzyme-bound FAD is reduced by 2-nitropropane under anaerogic conditions, but the enzyme-bound Fe3+ is not affected. The introduction of oxygen to the reduced form of enzyme causes reoxidation of the enzyme. The bound FAD and Fe3+ are reduced by the addition of nitromethane, which is not a substrate, under anaerobic conditions. The aerobic dialysis of the enzyme treated with nitromethane causes reoxidation of only the Fe2+. Sodium dithionite also reduces both the enzyme-bound FAD and Fe3+ under anaerobic conditions. When the enzyme is dialyzed against 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) immediately after reduction by dithionite, the absorption spectrum similar to that of the native enzyme appeared with concomitant restoration of approximately 80% of the activity. The enzyme activity is significantly inhibited by pyrocatechol-3,5-disulfonate disodium salt, 8-hydroxyquinoline, reducing agents such as 2-mercaptoethanol, and HgCl2. The Michaelis constants are as follows: 2-nitropropane (2.13 X 10(-2) M), nitroethane (2.43 X 10(-2) M), 3-nitro-2-pentanol (6.8 X 10(-3) M), 1-nitropropane (2.56 X 10(-2) M), and oxygen (3.03 X 10(-4) M, with 2-nitropropane).