Oxidation–reduction midpoint potentials of the flavin, haem and Mo-pterin centres in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) nitrate reductase

Oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials have been determined for the flavin, cytochrome b557 and Mo-pterin prosthetic groups of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) assimilatory nitrate reductase using visible, c.d. and room-temperature e.p.r. potentiometric titrations. At pH 7 and 25 degrees C, the midpoint potential for the FAD/FADH2 couple was determined by c.d. potentiometry to be -280 +/- 10 mV (n = 2). The redox potential for reduction of the haem was determined by visible potentiometry to be -123 +/- 10 mV (n = 1), significantly lower than the previously published value of -60 mV [Fido, Hewitt, Notton, Jones & Nasrulhaq-Boyce (1979) FEBS Lett. 99, 180-182]. Potentials for the Mo(VI)/Mo(V) and Mo(V)/Mo(IV) redox couples, determined by room-temperature e.p.r. potentiometry, were found to be +2 +/- 20 and -6 +/- 20 mV respectively. These values are very similar to the values previously determined for the FAD, haem and Mo-pterin centres in assimilatory nitrate reductase isolated from the unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris and indicate a close thermodynamic similarity between the two enzymes.