Bio-conversion of Substances and Information by Metal-containing Proteins and Enzymes

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We have examined conversion of bio-substances and information in molecular level by metal-containing enzymes and proteins such as nitric oxide reductase, indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, and oxygen sensor protein. We proposed the reaction mechansim of conversion of NO (nitric oxide) to N20 (nitrous oxide) on the basis of the ESR results of the reaction intermediates trapped by the rapid mixing-to-quench system, and the crystal structure of this enzyme. We also proposed the reaction mechanism of the tryptophan metabolism catalyzed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase on the basis of its crystal structure. We found that the oxygen sensor protein can descrominate 02 from other two-atomic gas molecules such as CO and NO, and also discussed the pathway of the intra- and inter-molecular signal transduction on the basis of the strcuture of the sensor protein of the thermophilic bacterium, which is analogus to the oxygen sensor protein.