ENCAPSULATION OF FLAVODOXIN IN REVERSE MICELLES

The regulation of the properties of Desulfovibrio gigas flavodoxin in AOT/water/iso-octane micellar system was studied. UV-visible spectrosc opic studies have shown that photoreduction of flavodoxin in the prese nce of EDTA leads to hydroquinone formation through the intermediate s emiquinone. The [free FMN] - [bound to flavodoxin PMN] equilibrium (an d hence, the amount of apoprotein) depends on redox state of FMN and o n hydration degree which controls the micellar size. Thus, a new metho d of reversible cofactor removing under mild conditions (at low hydrat ion degree of micelles) is suggested, accompained by isolation of apo- form of the protein. (C) 1997 Academic Press.