NITRITE CAUSES REVERSIBLE INACTIVATION OF NITRATE REDUCTASE IN THE YEAST HANSENULA-ANOMALA

The addition of nitrite, the product of the reaction catalysed by nitrate reductase, to cell suspensions of the yeast Hansenula anomala caused a reversible inactivation of NADPH-dependent nitrate reductase activity. The haem- and Mo-dependent and Mo-dependent activities of nitrate reductase, determined with the non-physiological electron donors FMNH(2) and reduced methyl viologen respectively, were less affected. A similar inactivation was found with the proton ionophores 2,4-dinitraphenol and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. The inactive enzyme was found in the particulate fraction and cosedimented with the mitochondrial fraction. When the NADPH-dependent nitrate reductase activity was restored in vivo the enzyme was found in the soluble fraction. The inactivation of nitrate reductase by nitrite, 2,4-dinitrophenol and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone was dependent on the external ph. The treatment of isolated mitochondria at alkaline ph with Triton X-100 solubilized about 30% of the inactive enzyme.