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Abstract

In this article, we consider, in detail, the second half-cycle of the six-electron nitrite reduction mechanism catalyzed by cytochrome c nitrite reductase. In total, three electrons and four protons must be provided to reach the final product, ammonia, starting from the HNO intermediate. According to our results, the first event in this half-cycle is the reduction of the HNO intermediate, which is accomplished by two PCET reactions. Two isomeric radical intermediates, HNOH^• and H₂NO^•, are formed. Both intermediates are readily transformed into hydroxylamine, most likely through intramolecular proton transfer from either Arg₁₁₄ or His₂₇₇. An extra proton must enter the active site of the enzyme to initiate heterolytic cleavage of the N–O bond. As a result of N–O bond cleavage, the H₂N⁺ intermediate is formed. The latter readily picks up an electron, forming H₂N^+•, which in turn reacts with Tyr₂₁₈. Interestingly, evidence for Tyr₂₁₈ activity was provided by the mutational studies of Lukat (Biochemistry 47:2080, 2008), but this has never been observed in the initial stages of the overall reduction process. According to our results, an intramolecular reaction with Tyr₂₁₈ in the final step of the nitrite reduction process leads directly to the final product, ammonia. Dissociation of the final product proceeds concomitantly with a change in spin state, which was also observed in the resonance Raman investigations of Martins et al. (J Phys Chem B 114:5563, 2010).