Reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase

Abstract The reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase in the presence of NADH was investigated in this paper. 4-Amino-phenol and 4-hydroxylamino-phenol were found in the reductive products. The relationship between reaction time and the reductive ratio were studied. The similar reducing ratios of 4-nitrophenol were obtained under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results indicated that an oxygen-insensitive reaction was proceeded in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and nitroreductase was an oxygen-insensitive enzyme. The reductive products of 4-nitrophenol were determined by HPLC and MS.