Flavodoxin is required for the activation of the anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase.

The inactive anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli is transformed by a multienzyme system and S-adenosylmethionine + NADPH into a radical protein that is enzymatically active. One of the activating enzyme components was earlier shown to be ferredoxin (flavodoxin):NADP+ reductase. Here we present evidence that flavodoxin, but not ferredoxin, also is a component of the system. Light reduced deazaflavin can substitute for the flavodoxin system. An additional unidentified low-molecular weight component further stimulates the reaction.