NITRITE INHIBITION OF AEROBIC-BACTERIA

Nitrite was shown to inhibit active transport, oxygen uptake, and oxidative phosphorylation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The evidence strongly suggested that nitrite exerted its inhibitory effect by oxidizing ferrous iron of an electron carrier(s), such as cytochrome oxidase, to ferric iron. The inhibitory effect of nitrite was readily reversible by washing the cells. Glucose transport by Streptococcus faecalis and S. lactis was not inhibited by nitrite, presumably because these species lack cytochromes and because glucose is transported by the phosphoenolpyruvate: phosphotransferase system rather than by active transport. © 1979 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.