Recombinant Nox4 cytosolic domain produced by a cell or cell-free base systems exhibits constitutive diaphorase activity

► A comparison of two bacterial cell and cell-free protein expression systems is presented. ► Soluble and active truncated Nox4 proteins are produced. ► Nox4 has a constitutive diaphorase activity which is independent of cytosolic factors. ► Isoform Nox4B is unable to initiate the first electronic transfer step. ► Findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of Nox4 oxidase activity.