Chloride inhibition of spinach nitrate reductase.

Initial rate studies of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) nitrate reductase showed that NADH:nitrate reductase activity was ionic strength dependent with elevated ionic concentration resulting in inhibition. In contrast, NADH:ferricyanide reductase was markedly less ionic strength dependent. At pH 7.0, NADH:nitrate reductase activity exhibited changes in the V(max) and K(m) for NO(3) (-) yielding V(max) values of 6.1 and 4.1 micromoles NADH per minute per nanomoles heme and K(m) values of 13 and 18 micromolar at ionic strengths of 50 and 200 millimolar, respectively. Control experiments in phosphate buffer (5 millimolar) yielded a single K(m) of 93 micromolar. Chloride ions decreased both NADH:nitrate reductase and reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase activities, suggesting involvement of the Mo center. Chloride was determined to act as a linear, mixed-type inhibitor with a K(i) of 15 millimolar for binding to the native enzyme and 176 millimolar for binding to the enzyme-NO(3) (-) complex. Binding of Cl(-) to the enzyme-NO(3) (-) complex resulted in an inactive E-S-I complex. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra showed that chloride altered the observed Mo(V) lineshape, confirming Mo as the site of interaction of chloride with nitrate reductase.