Nitroreductases are a family of evolutionarily related proteins involved in the reduction of nitrogen-containing compounds, including those containing the nitro functional group.
They are primarily found in bacterial lineages though a number of eukaryotic homologs have been identified: C. elegans P34273, D. melanogaster Q8T3Q0, Q9VTE7, mouse Q9DCX8 and human O75989.
[citation needed] The nitroreductase of Enterobacter cloacae was identified by Bryant and Deluca[3] in a strain isolated from a munitions facility, on the basis of its ability to metabolize TNT (trinitrotoluene).
The iodotyrosine deiodenase of mammals is a dehalogenase, the BluB of Sinorhizobium meliloti cannibalizes the bound flavin mononucleotideto furnish a critical intermediate in vitamin B12 biosynthesis.
Moreover, the enzyme could also be used for bioremediation of compounds of explosive and volatile nature in regions where high activity at low temperatures is needed.