molecular mass of 54 kDa. The Km and Kcat values of soybean FLbR for soybean Lb3+ reduction are 9.2 μM and 6.2 s−1, respectively (Kcat/Km = 674 M−1 s−1). The amino acid sequence of soybean FLbR is highly related to that of the flavin-nucleotide disulfide oxidoreductases, especially dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) (EC 1.8.1.4) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The amino acid sequence of soybean FLbR contains a 30-residue signal peptide for translocation into the mitochondria as well as conserved regions for the FAD-binding site, NAD(P)H-binding site and disulfide active site characteristic of pea DLDH and other enzymes in the family of the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases. The soybean genome contains at least two copies (named flbr1 and flbr2) of the flbr gene. The amino acid sequence of soybean FLbR2 has considerable homology with soybean FLbR1 and pea leaf mitochondria DLDH and contains a 30-residue mitochondrial transit peptide. FLbR sequences have also been detected and analyzed in legumes other than soybean. For example, the nucleotide sequence of a cowpea FLbR cDNA has 88 and 85% similarity with soybean FLbR and pea DLDH, respectively. The Km and Kcat values of cowpea FLbR for cowpea Lb3+ reduction are 10.4 μM and 3.1 s−1, respectively (Kcat/Km = 298 M−1 s−1). In other plants Soybean FLbR2 reduces ferric rice Phytoglobin1.1 (Phytogb1.13+). Apparently, the soybean FLbR2-rice Phytoglobin1.13+ interaction is weak. An in silico analysis predicted that soybean FLbR2 and rice Phytogb1.13+ interact at the FAD-binding domain of soybean FLbR2 and the CD-loop and helix F of rice Phytogb1.13+. Therefore, FLbRs could be a generalized in vivo mechanism for the enzymatic reduction of Phytogbs3+. References See also Cytochrome b5 reductase EC 1.6.2 NADPH-dependent enzymes NADH-dependent enzymes Enzymes of unknown structure