Function
Nitroreductase or oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H nitroreductase (NR) is involved in the reduction of nitrogen-containing compounds including those containing NO2 group. The NO2 group is reduced to hydroxylamine[1]. NR uses FMN as cofactor. Among NRs are the oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H NR and NADH dehydrogenase.
- Copper-induced nitroreductase protects Lactococcus lactis against oxidative stress exerted by nitroaromatic compounds and copper[2].
- Nitrobenzoate nitroreductase metabolises 2-nitrobenzoate to form the antioxidant 3-hydroxyanthranilate in Pseudomonas fluorescens[3].
- Deazaflavin-dependent nitroreductase catalyses the reduction of nitroimidazoles into reactive nitrogen species in Mycobacterium tuberculosis [4].
Relevance
NR is of special interest due to its potential use as activator of prodrugs in cancer therapy[5].
Structural highlights
NR while the . Water molecules are shown as red spheres.
3D structures of nitroreductase
Nitroreductase 3D structures