Molecular Evolution of Respiratory Enzymes; Functional Conversion from NO Reduction to O2 Reduction

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Nitric oxide reductase (NOR) is a key enzyme of anaerobic respiration, which catalyzes decomposition of cyt-toxic NO to N_2O. We determined the crystal structures of the membrane-integrated enzymes, cNOR from P. aeruginosa and qNOR from G. stearothermophillus. On the basis of these structures, we proposed the molecular mechanism of the enzymatic NO reduction and the proton transfer, and discussed the molecular evolution of the respiratory enzymes from anaerobic to aerobic systems.