The inhibitory effect of nitrite on the oxidase activity of cells of Paracoccus denitrificans

Abstract
It was observed with anaerobically grown cells of Paracoccus denitrificans which possess dissimilatory nitrite reductase that on increasing the flux of electrons into the terminal part of the respiratory chain by means of N,N,N',N‐tetramethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (TMPD) plus ascorbate the sensitivity of the oxidase activity towards the inhibitory action of nitrite markedly increased. It was shown that under these conditions the reduction of nitrite gave rise to the formation of an agent strongly inhibiting the terminal oxidases, the presence of which was detected using aerobically grown cells or membrane vesicles derived from them. The strong inhibition of TMPD‐oxidase activity of membranes was transient in time and could also be brought about by addition of nitric oxide (NO) but not by nitrous oxide (N2O).

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