Mass spectrometry identification of membrane-bound respiratory nitrate reductase from Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus)

Respiratory nitrate reductase (NR) from Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) USDA 3045 has biochemical properties of the membrane-bound NR type. However, in the completely sequenced rhizobium genomes only genes for the periplasmic type of dissimilatory NR were found. Therefore purification and identification of the enzyme by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was undertaken. MS/MS spectra representing 149 unique tryptic peptides derived from purified 137-kDa subunit matched the NCBInr-deposited NarG sequences. MS/MS sequencing of two other SDS/PAGE bands (65- and 59-kDa) identified them as derivatives of the NarH-type protein. Applying additional validation criteria, 73% of the sequence of the NarG subunit (902 aa) and 52% of NarH sequence (266 aa) was assembled (UniProt KB acc. no. P85097 and P85098). This is the first unambiguous identification of an active NarGH-like NR in rhizobia. Moreover, arguments are provided here for the existence of a functional enzyme of this type also among other rhizobial species, basing on immunoblot screening and the presence of membrane-associated NR-active electrophoretic forms.