This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Verstraete, W. Articles by Alexander, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Verstraete, W. Articles by Alexander, M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1972 June; 110(3): 962-967
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mechanism of Nitrification by Arthrobacter sp

^a Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Department of Agronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

ABSTRACT

Resting cells of Arthrobacter sp. excrete as much as 60 µg of hydroxylamine-nitrogen per ml when supplied with ammonium. An organic carbon source in abundant supply is necessary for the oxidation. Resting cells oxidize hydroxylamine to nitrite and 1-nitrosoethanol, the former accumulating only when an exogenous carbon source is available. Cell-free extracts contain an enzyme catalyzing the formation of hydroxylamine from acetohydroxamic acid, a hydroxylamine-nitrite oxido-reductase, and an enzyme producing nitrite and nitrate from various primary nitro compounds. Nitrite is not produced from hydroxylamine by the extracts, but 1-nitrosoethanol is formed from hydroxylamine in the presence of acetate. 1-Nitrosoethanol is also produced from acetohydroxamic acid by these preparations. Nitrite was formed from hydroxylamine, however, by extracellular enzymes excreted by the bacterium.

¹ Present address: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.