Conversion of NfsB, a minor Escherichia coli nitroreductase, to a flavin reductase similar in biochemical properties to FRase I, the major flavin reductase in Vibrio fischeri, by a single amino acid substitution

Abstract

NfsB is an oxygen-insensitive nitroreductase of Escherichia coli with significant amino acid sequence homology to the major flavin reductase (FRase I) of Vibrio fischeri. Here, we show that NfsB is convertible to an FRase I-like flavin reductase three times as active as the authentic FRase I by a single amino acid substitution in the least-conserved region.