Intramolecular electron transfer in nitrite reductase studied by pulse radiolysis

We report the evidence for the electron-transfer reaction between two copper sites in nitrite reductase from Achromobacter cycloclastes IAM 1013 by pulse radiolysis. Type 1 Cu sites in native (type 1 Cu : type 2 Cu = 1 : 0.5) and type 2 Cu-depleted (T2D) nitrite reductase are reduced with N-methylnicotinamide radical generated by the hydrated electron. The reductions of the coppers in the both enzymes give second-order rate constants of (3.4 - 3.5) x 108 M-1s-1. In the case of the native enzyme, moreover, the recovery of the absorbance of reduced type 1 Cu is observed (about 35 %). This finding suggests the intramolecular electron transfer from type 1 Cu to type 2 Cu, because T2D nitrite reductase does not show the recovery of the absorption band at all. The electron-transfer occurs with an observed first order rate constant of 1400 s-1. The incomplete electron transfer from type 1 Cu to type 2 Cu are due to the difference between the redox potential of two Cu sites. (author)