Structural and biochemical basis for the firm chemo- and regioselectivity of the nitro-forming N-oxygenase AurF.

Site-directed mutagenesis based on the crystal structure of AurF, a nitro group forming monooxygenase from Streptomyces thioluteus, revealed that AurF variants are capable of selectively transforming guanidyl- and amidinyl-substituted anilines into the corresponding nitro compounds. Our results provide new insights into the biochemical basis of regioselective N-oxygenation.