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On The Biochemistry, Mechanism And Physiological Role Of Fungal Nitronate Monooxygenase, Kevin Francis

Chemistry Dissertations

Nitronate monooxygenase (E.C. 1.13.11.16), formerly known as 2-nitropropane dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.32), is a flavin dependent enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of nitronates to their corresponding carbonyl compounds and nitrite. Despite the fact that the enzyme was first isolated from Neurospora crassa 60 years ago, the biochemical and physiological properties of nitronate monooxygenase have remained largely elusive. This dissertation will present the work that established both the catalytic mechanism and physiological role of the fungal enzyme.

The biological and biochemical properties of propionate-3-nitronate, the recently discovered physiological substrate for nitronate monooxygenase, will be extensively reviewed. The nitronate is produced by a …