The Sulfur Oxygenase Reductase Activity Assay: Catalyzing a Reaction with Elemental Sulfur as Substrate at High Temperatures

Abstract

The sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR) reaction is a dioxygen-dependent disproportionation of elemental sulfur (S⁰), catalyzed at optimal temperatures between 65 °C and 85 °C. Thiosulfate and sulfite are formed as oxidized products as well hydrogen sulfide as reduced product. External co-factors are not required. Usually, the SOR assay is performed in a milliliter scale in S⁰-containing Tris-buffer at high temperatures followed by colorimetric product quantification. In order to make the SOR assay more sensitive and better reproducible, several modifications were implemented compared to the original SOR assay (Kletzin, 1989). Here we present the modified SOR assay and the following quantification of the reaction products.

Keywords: Elemental sulfur; Hydrogen sulfide; Sulfite; Sulfur disproportionation; Sulfur oxygenase reductase; Thermozyme; Thiosulfate.