PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF NITRIC-OXIDE BY DENITRIFYING FLEXIBACTER-CANADENSIS

Production and consumption of nitric oxide (NO) by Flexibacter canaden sis cells under anaerobic conditions was investigated using a chemilum inescence NO analyzer. Net NO production from nitrite in the presence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) was pH dependent, i ncreased in the pH range from 4.5 to 6.5, and sharply decreased at pH >6.5. CCCP inhibited NO consumption but only at pH values less than or equal to 6.5. This can explain why CCCP stimulation of NO production depends on the pH. Denitrification of nitrite at high concentrations ( greater than or equal to 5 mM) also resulted in net NO accumulation. D iethyldithiocarbamate, a copper chelating agent, prevented not only ne t production of NO during the reduction of nitrite in the presence of CCCP, but also production of nitrous oxide (N2O) from nitrite in the p resence of C2H2 This suggests that F. canadensis may possess a copper- type nitrite reductase. However, cytochrome cd(1)- and copper-containi ng nitrite reductase DNA probes from Pseudomonas species did not hybri dize with the total DNA off. canadensis, indicating that the nitrite r eductase off. canadensis may possess unique properties. In addition to diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfide, carbon monoxide, azide, cyanide, hyd roxylamine and Triton X-100 prevented net NO production from nitrite i n the presence of CCCP, and also inhibited NO consumption. C2H2, an in hibitor of N2O reductase, did not affect NO production or consumption.