Purification and properties of thiosulfate reductase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Miyazaki F.

Thiosulfate reductase was purified to an almost homogeneous state from Desulfovibrio vulgaris, strain Miyazaki F, by ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, Ultrogel AcA 34, and hydroxylapatite, and disc electrophoresis. The specific activity was increased 580-fold over the crude extract. The molecular weight was determined by gel filtration to be 85,000-89,000, differing from those reported for thiosulfate reductases from other Desulfovibrio strains. The enzyme had no subunit structure. When coupled with hydrogenase and methyl viologen, it stoichiometrically reduced thiosulfate to sulfite and sulfide with consumption of hydrogen. It did not reduce sulfite or trithionate. Cytochrome c3 was active as an electron donor. More than 0.75 mM thiosulfate inhibited the enzyme activity. o-Phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridine inhibited the enzyme and ferrous ion stimulated the reaction.