The biochemistry of the nitrifying organisms. 4. The respiration and intermediary metabolism of Nitrosomonas

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Abstract
The metabolism of cultures of Nitrosomonas was investigated by the Warburg technique. In contrast to results previously obtained by Meyerhof, the ammonia-oxidizing activities of Nitrosomonas in culture were found to be affected by change in pH in the same way as it is affected in soil. Evidence is presented that the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite by Nitrosomonas proceeds via hydroxylamine. Hydrazine was found to inhibit selectively the oxidation of hydroxylamine. In the presence of hydrazine, hydroxylamine accumulated and was detected during ammonia oxidation. The oxidation of ammonia to hydroxylamine was completely inhibited by allylthiourea at concns. which did not affect oxidation of the hydroxylamine.