Ferredoxin reductase (FNR), an FAD and NAD(P) binding protein, was intially identified as a chloroplast reductase activity, catalyzing the electron transfer from reduced iron-sulfur protein ferredoxin to NADP+ as the final step in the electron transport mechanism of photosystem I. FNR transfers electrons from reduced ferredoxin to FAD (forming FADH2 via a semiquinone intermediate) and then transfers a hydride ion to convert NADP+ to NADPH. FNR has since been shown to utilize a variety of electron acceptors and donors and has a variety of physiological functions including nitrogen assimilation, dinitrogen fixation, steroid hydroxylation, fatty acid metabolism, oxygenase activity, and methane assimilation in many organisms. FNR has an NAD(P)-binding sub-domain of the alpha/beta class and a discrete (usually N-terminal) flavin sub-domain which vary in orientation with respect to the NAD(P) binding domain. The N-terminal moeity may contain a flavin prosthetic group (as in flavoenzymes) or use flavin as a substrate. Because flavins such as FAD can exist in oxidized, semiquinone (one- electron reduced), or fully reduced hydroquinone forms, FNR can interact with one and 2 electron carriers. FNR has a strong preference for NADP(H) vs NAD(H).
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