Enzymatic reduction of protein-bound methionine sulfoxide.

An enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of methionine sulfoxide residues in ribosomal protein L12 has been partially purified from Escherichia coli extracts. Methionine sulfoxide present in oxidize [Met]enkephalin is also reduced by the purified enzyme. The enzyme is different from a previously reported E. coli enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of methionine sulfoxide to methionine [Ejiri, S. I., Weissbach, H. & Brot, N. (1980) Anal. Biochem. 102, 393--398]. Extracts of rat tissues, Euglena gracilis, Tetrahymena pyriformis, HeLa cells, and spinach also can catalyze the reduction of methionine sulfoxide residues in protein.