4-Nitrobenzoic Acid Reductase ofAscaris lumbricoidesvarsuum. Substrate Specificity and Reaction Products

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Abstract
1. The substrate specificity of nitro reductase from Ascaris lumbricoides var suum was determined. This enzyme reduced nitrobenzene, 4-nitrohippuric acid and the isomers of nitrophenol, nitroanisole, nitrobenzoic acid, nitrobenzaldehyde and nitrobenzyl alcohol. The same enzyme preparation reduced azobenzene, 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene and 1,2-dimethyl-4-(4-carboxyphenylazo)-5-hydroxybenzene. Nitrobenzaldehyde isomers were not reduced to the alcohols. 2. The products of nitro- and azo-reduction were the corresponding amines, no hydroxylamino or hydrazo compounds were detected. 3. The pH optima and cofactor requirements were the same for both azo- and nitro-reduction and neither reaction was inhibited by oxygen. 4. Ammonium sulphate fractionation failed to separate azo- and nitro-reductase activities. The molecular weight of both azo- and nitro-reductase was about 130 000.