Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

, Volume 49, Issue 1, pp 61–68 | Cite as

Proton translocation during denitrification by a nitrifying-denitrifying Alcaligenes sp.

  • Domenic Castignetti
  • Thomas C. Hollocher
Biochemistry
Received:

Abstract

A heterotrophic nitrifying Alcaligenes sp. from soil was grown as a denitrifier on nitrate and subjected to oxidant pulse experiments to ascertain the apparent effeciencies of proton translocations during O2 and nitrogen-oxide respirations. With endogenous substrate as the reducing agent the →H+/2e− ratios, extrapolated to zero amount of oxidant per pulse, were 9.4, 3.7, 4.3 and 3.5 for O2, nitrate, nitrite and N2O, respectively. The value for O2 and those for the N-oxides are, respectively, somewhat larger and smaller than corresponding values for Paracoccus denitrificans. None of the three permeant ions employed with the Alcaligenes sp. (valinomycin-K+, thiocyanate and triphenylmethylphosphonium) was ideal for all purposes. Thiocyanate provided highest ratios for O2 but abolished the oxidant pulse response for nitrate and N2O. Valinomycin was slow to penetrate to the cytoplasmic membrane and relatively high concentrations were required for optimal performance. Triphenylmethylphosphonium enhanced passive proton permeability and diminished proton translocation at concentrations required to realize the maximal oxidant pulse response.

Keywords

Nitrate Nitrite High Ratio Optimal Performance Thiocyanate 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© H. Veenman & Zonen, B. V. 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • Domenic Castignetti
    • 1
  • Thomas C. Hollocher
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of BiochemistryBrandeis UniversityWalthamUSA

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