Nitroreductase

Function

Nitroreductase (NR) is involved in the reduction of nitrogen-containing compounds including those containing NO₂ group. The NO₂ group is reduced to hydroxylamine^[1]. NR uses FMN as cofactor. Among NRs are the oxygen-insensitive NAD(P)H NR and NADH dehydrogenase.

Relevance

NR is of special interest due to its potential use as activator of prodrugs in cancer therapy.

Structural highlights

NR cofactor FMN is bound to one subunit while the ligand - nicotinic acid - interacts with both subunits.