Structural and mechanistic aspects of flavoproteins: electron transfer through the nitric oxide synthase flavoprotein domain

FEBS J. 2009 Aug;276(15):3959-74. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07120.x. Epub 2009 Jul 3.

Abstract

Nitric oxide synthases belong to a family of dual-flavin enzymes that transfer electrons from NAD(P)H to a variety of heme protein acceptors. During catalysis, their FMN subdomain plays a central role by acting as both an electron acceptor (receiving electrons from FAD) and an electron donor, and is thought to undergo large conformational movements and engage in two distinct protein-protein interactions in the process. This minireview summarizes what we know about the many factors regulating nitric oxide synthase flavoprotein domain function, primarily from the viewpoint of how they impact electron input/output and conformational behaviors of the FMN subdomain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Dimerization
  • Electron Transport
  • Flavin Mononucleotide / metabolism
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / metabolism
  • Flavoproteins / chemistry*
  • Flavoproteins / metabolism*
  • Heme / chemistry
  • Heme / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / chemistry*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Flavoproteins
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
  • Heme
  • Flavin Mononucleotide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase