Evidence that bacterial cyanide oxygenase is a pterin-dependent hydroxylase.

The soluble cell-free fraction (150,000g high-speed supernatants [HSS]) of Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 11764 contains putative cyanide oxygenase (CNO) responsible for initiating cyanide oxidation and assimilation as a nitrogenous growth substrate. CNO activity, assayed either by cyanide-dependent O(2) or NADH uptake, or by conversion of radioactive K(14)CN to (14)CO(2), was detected at micromolar concentrations (apparent half-saturation constant, 4 microM). Results demonstrating that CNO requires a protein-enriched cell fraction and a low MW redox factor (<500 Da) for which reduced biopterin could substitute are presented. The properties of CNO are consistent with those of a pterin hydroxylase.