ENZYMATIC REDUCTION OF SELENITE

Abstract

Nickerson, Walter J. (Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J.) and Giuseppe Falcone. Enzymatic reduction of selenite. J. Bacteriol. 85:763-771.-1963. Extraction of boiled yeast extract with n-hexane removed its ability to restore selenite-reducing capacity in dialyzed enzyme preparations obtained from baker's yeast or from Candida albicans. Menadione or thiodione substituted for the quinone(s) extracted by n-hexane. Active components of the water-soluble, dialyzable fraction of yeast extract included: glucose-6-phosphate, triphosphopyridine nucleotide, and glutathione. Selenite appears to be bound to protein through vicinal thiol groups, and to be released therefrom as metallic selenium after accepting four electrons.