Reaction: an N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenylurea compound + 2 reduced ferredoxin [iron-sulfur] cluster + 2 H+ + O2 = an N-methyl-N'-phenylurea compound + formaldehyde + 2 oxidized ferredoxin [iron-sulfur] cluster + H2O
Other name(s): pdmAB (gene names)
Systematic name: N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenylurea compound,NAD(P)H:oxygen oxidoreductase (formaldehyde-forming)
Comments: The enzyme, found in members of the Sphingobium genus, initiates the degradation of N,N-dimethyl-phenylurea herbicides by mono-N-demethylation. The catalytic unit contains a Rieske [2Fe-2S] iron-sulfur cluster, and catalyses the monooxygenation of a methyl group. The resulting N-methoxyl group is unstable and decomposes spontaneously to form formaldehyde. The enzyme associates with additional proteins (a reductase and a [3Fe-4S] type ferredoxin) that are involved in the transfer of electrons from NAD(P)H to the active site.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Gu, T., Zhou, C., Sorensen, S.R., Zhang, J., He, J., Yu, P., Yan, X. and Li, S. The novel bacterial N-demethylase PdmAB is responsible for the initial step of N,N-dimethyl-substituted phenylurea herbicide degradation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 79 (2013) 7846-7856. [PMID: 24123738]