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. 1987 Oct;85(2):375–378. doi: 10.1104/pp.85.2.375

Characterization of Nitrate Reductases from Corn Leaves (Zea mays cv W64AxW182E) and Chlorella vulgaris1

Sensitivity to a Proteinase Extracted from Corn Roots

M Poulle 1,2, Ann Oaks 1, P Bzonek 1,3, V J Goodfellow 1, L P Solomonson 1,4
PMCID: PMC1054263  PMID: 16665705

Abstract

The sensitivity of the two forms of nitrate reductase, NRI and NRII, obtained from the primary leaf of corn, to a limited action corn root proteinase has been examined. The corn inactivating protein (CIP) inhibited the overall reaction (NADH-NR) and the two partial reactions, cytochrome c reductase and reduced methyl viologen NR (MV-NR) of both forms of NR. NADH-cytochrome c reductase was more sensitive to the protease than MV-NR. NRII was less sensitive to inactivation than NRI. When NRI and NRII were inactivated and then subjected to native gel electrophoresis the protein bands associated with MV-NR activity shifted from an Rm value of 0.32 to 0.61 for NRI and from an Rm of 0.28 to 0.60 for NRII. For Chlorella NR these values are 0.32 and 0.70. The initial cleavage of the 116 kilodalton subunit of NRI yielded fragments of 84 and 80 kilodaltons after a 5 minute incubation with CIP. With longer incubation times smaller fragments were also identified. For the Chlorella NR the initial cleavage products are approximately 68 and 25 kilodaltons. Longer incubation times also led to smaller fragments. The products of hydrolysis by this limited action protease are quite different for the corn and Chlorella NRs.

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Selected References

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