G. Klobus et al., COMPARATIVE-STUDIES ON THE SOLUBLE AND PLASMA-MEMBRANE ASSOCIATED NITRATE REDUCTASE FROM CUCUMIS-SATIVUS L, Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 63(3-4), 1994, pp. 309-314
The biochemical comparison between two forms of nitrate reductase from
cucumber roots: the soluble enzyme and the plasma membrane-associated
one was made. Soluble nitrate reductase was purified on the blue-Seph
arose 4B. The nitrate reductase bound with plasma membranes was isolat
ed from cucumber roots by partition of microsomes in the 6.5% dextran-
PEG two phase system. The molecular weight of native enzyme estimated
with HPLC was 240 kDa and 114 kDa for the soluble and membrane bounded
enzyme, respectively. Temperature induced phase separation in Triton
X-114 indicated a huge difference in hydrophobicity of the plasma memb
rane associated nitrate reductase and soluble form of enzyme. Small di
fferences were observed in partial activities of plasma membrane nitra
te reductase and soluble nitrate reductase. Also experiments with poly
clonal antiserum raised against the native nitrate reductase showed so
me differences in the immunological properties of both forms of the ni
trate reductase. The above results indicated that in cucumber roots tw
o different forms of the nitrate reductase are present.