Nitrosomonas europaea Expresses a Nitric Oxide Reductase during Nitrification

Abstract
In this paper, we report the identification of a norCBQD gene cluster that encodes a functional nitric oxide reductase (Nor) in Nitrosomonas europaea . Disruption of the norB gene resulted in a strongly diminished nitric oxide (NO) consumption by cells and membrane protein fractions, which was restored by the introduction of an intact norCBQD gene cluster in trans . NorB-deficient cells produced amounts of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) equal to that of wild-type cells. NorCB-dependent activity was present during aerobic growth and was not affected by the inactivation of the putative fnr gene. The findings demonstrate the presence of an alternative site of N 2 O production in N. europaea .

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