Purification of cytochrome a 1 c 1 from Nitrobacter agilis and characterization of nitrite oxidation system of the bacterium

Differential Responses of the Catalytic Efficiency of Ammonia and Nitrite Oxidation to Changes in Temperature

Microbially mediated nitrification plays an important role in the nitrogen (N) cycle, and rates of activity have been shown to change significantly with temperature. Despite this, the substrate affinities of nitrifying bacteria and archaea have not been comprehensively measured and are often assumed to be static in mathematical models of environmental systems. In this study, we measured the oxidation kinetics of ammonia- (NH3) oxidizing archaea (AOA), NH3-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and two distinct groups of nitrite (NO2 -)-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), of the genera Nitrobacter and Nitrospira, by measuring the maximum rates of apparent activity (V max(app)), the apparent half-saturation constant (K m(app)), and the overall catalytic efficiency (V max(app) /K m(app)) over a range of temperatures. Changes in V max(app) and K m(app) with temperature were different between groups, with V max(app) and catalytic efficiency increasing with temperature in AOA, while V max(app) , K m(app), and catalytic efficiency increased in AOB. In Nitrobacter NOB, V max(app) and K m(app) increased, but catalytic efficiency decreased significantly with temperature. Nitrospira NOB were variable, but V max(app) increased while catalytic efficiency and K m(app) remained relatively unchanged. Michaelis-Menten (MM) and Haldane (H) kinetic models of NH3 oxidation and NO2 - oxidation based on the collected data correctly predict nitrification potential in some soil incubation experiments, but not others. Despite previous observations of coupled nitrification in many natural systems, our results demonstrate significant differences in response to temperature strategies between the different groups of nitrifiers; and indicate the need to further investigate the response of nitrifiers to environmental changes.

Analysis of nitrite oxidation process and nitrification performance by nitrogen and oxygen isotope fractionation effect

The N and O isotope fractionation effects in NO₂^--N oxidation and nitrification performance of an activated sludge system treating municipal wastewater are unknown. The nitrifying sludge was cultured under different temperature (33 ± 1 °C, 25 ± 1 °C,and 18 ± 1 °C) and dissolved oxygen (DO: 0.5-1 mg/L, 3-4 mg/L, and 7-8 mg/L). The inverse kinetic isotope effects of N and O (¹⁵ε_NO2 and ¹⁸ε_NO2) were -0.62‰ to -7.08‰ and -0.87‰ to -1.68‰ in the process of NO₂^--N oxidation, respectively. ¹⁵ε_NO3 gradually increased with increasing of temperature (¹⁵ε_NO3-33°C (14.49‰) > ¹⁵ε_NO3-25°C (10.43‰) > ¹⁵ε_NO3-18°C (7.3‰)), while the ¹⁵ε_NO3:¹⁸ε_NO3 was maintained at 1.02-5.32. The increase of temperature improved the nitrification activity, which promoted the fractionation effect, but the change of DO did not highlight this difference. The exchange of NO₂^--N and H₂O (X_NOB) was 32.5 ± 1.5%, and the kinetic isotope effect of H₂O participating in the reaction (¹⁸ε_{k, H2O, 2}) was 22.57 ± 1.79‰, indicating that H₂O was involved in the NO₂^--N oxidation rather than DO. In summary, the elevated temperature enhanced the fractionation effect of NO₂^--N oxidation. This study provides a new perspective to reveal the mechanism of NO₂^--N oxidation, optimize the process of nitrogen removal from wastewater and further control water eutrophication.

Determination of 15N/14N of Ammonium, Nitrite, Nitrate, Hydroxylamine, and Hydrazine Using Colorimetric Reagents and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)

In the nitrogen (N) cycle, nitrogenous compounds are chemically and biologically converted to various aqueous and gaseous N species. The ¹⁵N-labeling approach is a powerful culture-dependent technique to obtain insights into the complex nitrogen transformation reactions that occur in cultures. In the ¹⁵N-labeling approach, the fates of supplemented ¹⁵N- and/or unlabeled gaseous and aqueous compounds are tracked by mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, whereas MS analysis of aqueous N species requires laborious sample preparation steps and is performed using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, which requires an expensive mass spectrometer. We developed a simple and high-throughput MS method for determining the ¹⁵N atoms percent of NH₄⁺, NO₂^-, NO₃^-, NH₂OH, and N₂H₄, where liquid samples (<0.5 mL) were mixed with colorimetric reagents (naphthylethylenediamine for NO₂^-, indophenol for NH₄⁺, and p-aminobenzaldehyde for N₂H₄), and the mass spectra of the formed N complex dyes were obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. NH₂OH and NO₃^- were chemically converted to NO₂^- by iodine oxidation and copper/hydrazine reduction reaction, respectively, prior to the above colorimetric reaction. The intensity of the isotope peak (M + 1 or M + 2) increased when the N complex dye was formed by coupling with a ¹⁵N-labeled compound, and a linear relationship was found between the determined ¹⁵N/¹⁴N peak ratio and ¹⁵N atom% for the tested N species. The developed method was applied to bacterial cultures to examine their N-transformation reactions, enabling us to observe the occurrence of NO₂^- oxidation and NO₃^- reduction in a hypoxic Nitrobacter winogradskyi culture. IMPORTANCE ¹⁵N/¹⁴N analysis for aqueous N species is a powerful tool for obtaining insights into the global N cycle, but the procedure is cumbersome and laborious. The combined use of colorimetric reagents and MALDI-TOF MS, designated color MALDI-TOF MS, enabled us to determine the ¹⁵N atom% of common aqueous N species without laborious sample preparation and chromatographic separation steps; for instance, the ¹⁵N atom% of NO₂^- can be determined from >1,000 liquid samples daily at <$1 (U.S.) per 384 samples for routine analysis. This convenient MS method is a powerful tool that will advance our ability to explore the N-transformation reactions that occur in various environments and biological samples.

Nitrite oxidation by phototrophic bacteria of Chlorobium, Thiocapsa and Lamprocystis genera under the influence of inorganic pollutants

Pollutants of inorganic nature (acids, alkalis, mineral salts of different composition, metals) change the course of biological processes of environmental purification, but their influence on the physiological properties of phototrophic sulfur bacteria has not been studied enough. The usage of nitrite ions as an electron donor of anoxygenic photosynthesis by cells of phototrophic green and purple sulfur bacteria Chlorobium limicola IMV K-8, Thiocapsa sp. Ya-2003 and Lamprocystis sp. Ya-2003, isolated from Yavorivske Lake, under the influence of the most widespread inorganic pollutants – hydro- and dihydrophosphates, sulfates, chlorides and chlorates, has been studied. It is shown that KH2PO4, K2HPO4, Na2SO4, NaCl and KClO3, present in the van Niel medium with 4.2 mM NaNO2 at concentrations that are 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 times different from the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC), influenced the biomass accumulation and nitrite ions oxidation by phototrophic green and purple sulfur bacteria. In media with hydro- and dihydrophosphate ions at concentrations 4.0 times higher than the MPC, inhibition of bacterial growth was up to 1.7 times lower than in the control. The biomass accumulation by bacteria in media with chloride and chlorate ions at concentrations 3.0–4.0 times higher than MPC was 2.0–2.8 times lower compared to the control. In the medium with Na2SO4 at concentrations 2.0–4.0 times higher than MPC, the biomass was 2.0–4.0 times lower than in the control. Nitrites’ oxidation by all strains in the media with the studied pollutants was slowed down. The residual content of nitrite ions in media with hydro- and dihydrophosphate, chloride and chlorate ions at their concentrations 4.0 times higher than MPC, exceeded the NO2– content in the control variants up to 1.7 times. If in the medium without pollutants the cells of C. limicola IMV K-8, Thiocapsa sp. Ya-2003 and Lamprocystis sp. Ya-2003 strains oxidized 72.7%, 72.2% and 71.4%, respectively, of nitrite ions present in the medium, then in the medium with sulfate ions at concentration 4.0 times higher than the MPC, bacteria oxidized nitrite ions only at 39.6%, 34.4% and 27.0%, respectively. Oxidation of a lower quantity of nitrites by phototrophic bacteria in the media with inorganic pollutants led to the production by them of a lower quantity of nitrates. The content of NO3– in the media with hydro-, dihydrophosphate and chlorate ions at all concentrations was up to 1.9 times lower than in the control. In media with sulfate ions at concentrations 2.0–4.0 times higher than MPC and chloride at concentration 4.0 times higher than MPC, the content of nitrate ions was 2.1–4.3 and 2.0 times, respectively, lower than in the control variants. Inorganic pollutants stimulated the synthesis of intracellular carbohydrates in C. limicola IMV K-8. If the content of intracellular glucose in cells grown in the medium without pollutants was 10.3 mg/g dry cell weight, then in cells grown in media with K2HPO4, KH2PO4, Na2SO4, NaCl and KClO3 at concentrations 4.0 times higher than MPC, its content increased by 12.2%, 10.7%, 51.6%, 17.1% and 35.9%, respectively. The glycogen content in the cells grown in the medium without pollutants was 45.1 mg/g dry cell weight. Hydro- and dihydrophosphate, chloride and chlorate ions at concentrations 4.0 times higher than MPC stimulated glycogen synthesis in cells by 47.5%, 57.6%, 67.4% and 74.6%, respectively. The glycogen content in cells grown in the medium with Na2SO4 at concentrations 3.0 and 4.0 times higher than MPC increased by 102.9% and 107.5%, respectively. Therefore, it is established that pollutants of inorganic nature affect the physiological properties of photosynthetic sulfur bacteria and thus change the course of biological processes of environment purification, in particular, from nitrite ions.

Cultivation and Transcriptional Analysis of a Canonical Nitrospira Under Stable Growth Conditions

Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) are vital players in the global nitrogen cycle that convert nitrite to nitrate during the second step of nitrification. Within this functional guild, members of the genus Nitrospira are most widespread, phylogenetically diverse, and physiologically versatile, and they drive nitrite oxidation in many natural and engineered ecosystems. Despite their ecological and biotechnological importance, our understanding of their energy metabolism is still limited. A major bottleneck for a detailed biochemical characterization of Nitrospira is biomass production, since they are slow-growing and fastidious microorganisms. In this study, we cultivated Nitrospira moscoviensis under nitrite-oxidizing conditions in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system. This cultivation setup enabled accurate control of physicochemical parameters and avoided fluctuating levels of their energy substrate nitrite, thus ensuring constant growth conditions and furthermore allowing continuous biomass harvesting. Transcriptomic analyses under these conditions supported the predicted core metabolism of N. moscoviensis, including expression of all proteins required for carbon fixation via the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, assimilatory nitrite reduction, and the complete respiratory chain. Here, simultaneous expression of multiple copies of respiratory complexes I and III suggested functional differentiation. The transcriptome also indicated that the previously assumed membrane-bound nitrite oxidoreductase (NXR), the enzyme catalyzing nitrite oxidation, is formed by three soluble subunits. Overall, the transcriptomic data greatly refined our understanding of the metabolism of Nitrospira. Moreover, the application of a CSTR to cultivate Nitrospira is an important foundation for future proteomic and biochemical characterizations, which are crucial for a better understanding of these fascinating microorganisms.

Nitrifier Gene Abundance and Diversity in Sediments Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage

Extremely acidic and metal-rich acid mine drainage (AMD) waters can have severe toxicological effects on aquatic ecosystems. AMD has been shown to completely halt nitrification, which plays an important role in transferring nitrogen to higher organisms and in mitigating nitrogen pollution. We evaluated the gene abundance and diversity of nitrifying microbes in AMD-impacted sediments: ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Samples were collected from the Iron Springs Mining District (Ophir, CO, United States) during early and late summer in 2013 and 2014. Many of the sites were characterized by low pH (<5) and high metal concentrations. Sequence analyses revealed AOA genes related to Nitrososphaera, Nitrosotalea, and Nitrosoarchaeum; AOB genes related to Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira; and NOB genes related to Nitrospira. The overall abundance of AOA, AOB and NOB was examined using quantitative PCR (qPCR) amplification of the amoA and nxrB functional genes and 16S rRNA genes. Gene copy numbers ranged from 3.2 × 10⁴ – 4.9 × 10⁷ archaeal amoA copies ∗ μg DNA^-1, 1.5 × 10³ – 5.3 × 10⁵ AOB 16S rRNA copies ∗ μg DNA^-1, and 1.3 × 10⁶ – 7.7 × 10⁷Nitrospira nxrB copies ∗ μg DNA^-1. Overall, Nitrospira nxrB genes were found to be more abundant than AOB 16S rRNA and archaeal amoA genes in most of the sample sites across 2013 and 2014. AOB 16S rRNA and Nitrospira nxrB genes were quantified in sediments with pH as low as 3.2, and AOA amoA genes were quantified in sediments as low as 3.5. Though pH varied across all sites (pH 3.2–8.3), pH was not strongly correlated to the overall community structure or relative abundance of individual OTUs for any gene (based on CCA and Spearman correlations). pH was positivity correlated to the total abundance (qPCR) of AOB 16S rRNA genes, but not for any other genes. Metals were not correlated to the overall nitrifier community composition or abundance, but were correlated to the relative abundances of several individual OTUs. These findings extend our understanding of the distribution of nitrifying microbes in AMD-impacted systems and provide a platform for further research.

Genomics of a phototrophic nitrite oxidizer: insights into the evolution of photosynthesis and nitrification

Oxygenic photosynthesis evolved from anoxygenic ancestors before the rise of oxygen ~2.32 billion years ago; however, little is known about this transition. A high redox potential reaction center is a prerequisite for the evolution of the water-oxidizing complex of photosystem II. Therefore, it is likely that high-potential phototrophy originally evolved to oxidize alternative electron donors that utilized simpler redox chemistry, such as nitrite or Mn. To determine whether nitrite could have had a role in the transition to high-potential phototrophy, we sequenced and analyzed the genome of Thiocapsa KS1, a Gammaproteobacteria capable of anoxygenic phototrophic nitrite oxidation. The genome revealed a high metabolic flexibility, which likely allows Thiocapsa KS1 to colonize a great variety of habitats and to persist under fluctuating environmental conditions. We demonstrate that Thiocapsa KS1 does not utilize a high-potential reaction center for phototrophic nitrite oxidation, which suggests that this type of phototrophic nitrite oxidation did not drive the evolution of high-potential phototrophy. In addition, phylogenetic and biochemical analyses of the nitrite oxidoreductase (NXR) from Thiocapsa KS1 illuminate a complex evolutionary history of nitrite oxidation. Our results indicate that the NXR in Thiocapsa originates from a different nitrate reductase clade than the NXRs in chemolithotrophic nitrite oxidizers, suggesting that multiple evolutionary trajectories led to modern nitrite-oxidizing bacteria.

Exploration of respiratory chain of Nocardia asteroides: purification of succinate quinone oxidoreductase

Nocardia asteroides is a pathogenic bacterium that causes severe pulmonary infections and plays a vital role in HIV development. Its electron transport chain containing cytochromes as electron carriers is still undiscovered. Information regarding cytochromes is important during drug synthesis based on cytochrome inhibitions. In this study we explored the electron transport of N. asteroides. Spectroscopic analysis of cytoplasm and membranes isolated from N. asteroides indicates the presence of soluble cytochrome-c, complex-II and the modified a(1)c(1) complex as the terminal oxidase. The molecular weight of the respiratory complex-II isolated and purified from the given bacterium was 103 kDa and was composed of three subunits, of 14, 26 and 63 kDa. Complex-II showed symmetrical α-absorption peaks at 561 nm in the reduced state. Spectral analysis revealed the presence of only one heme b molecule (14-kDa subunit) in complex-II, which was confirmed by heme staining. Heme b content was found to be 9.5 nmol/mg in complex-II. The electron transport chain of N. asteroides showed the presence of soluble cytochrome-c, cytochrome-a(1)c(1) and cytochrome-b.

Unexpected diversity of chlorite dismutases: a catalytically efficient dimeric enzyme from Nitrobacter winogradskyi

Chlorite dismutase (Cld) is a unique heme enzyme catalyzing the conversion of ClO(2)(-) to Cl(-) and O(2). Cld is usually found in perchlorate- or chlorate-reducing bacteria but was also recently identified in a nitrite-oxidizing bacterium of the genus Nitrospira. Here we characterized a novel Cld-like protein from the chemolithoautotrophic nitrite oxidizer Nitrobacter winogradskyi which is significantly smaller than all previously known chlorite dismutases. Its three-dimensional (3D) crystal structure revealed a dimer of two identical subunits, which sharply contrasts with the penta- or hexameric structures of other chlorite dismutases. Despite a truncated N-terminal domain in each subunit, this novel enzyme turned out to be a highly efficient chlorite dismutase (K(m) = 90 μM; k(cat) = 190 s(-1); k(cat)/K(m) = 2.1 × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)), demonstrating a greater structural and phylogenetic diversity of these enzymes than was previously known. Based on comparative analyses of Cld sequences and 3D structures, signature amino acid residues that can be employed to assess whether uncharacterized Cld-like proteins may have a high chlorite-dismutating activity were identified. Interestingly, proteins that contain all these signatures and are phylogenetically closely related to the novel-type Cld of N. winogradskyi exist in a large number of other microbes, including other nitrite oxidizers.

Expression of a putative nitrite reductase and the reversible inhibition of nitrite-dependent respiration by nitric oxide in Nitrobacter winogradskyi Nb-255

The nitrite oxidizing Alphaproteobacterium, Nitrobacter winogradskyi, primarily conserves energy from the oxidation of nitrite (NO(2)(-))to nitrate (NO(3)(-)) through aerobic respiration. Almost 20 years ago, NO-dependent NADH formation was reported to occur in both aerobic and anaerobic cell suspensions of N. winogradskyi strain 'agilis', suggesting that NO oxidation might contribute to energy conservation by Nitrobacter. Recently, the N. winogradskyi Nb-255 genome was found to contain a gene (Nwin_2648) that encodes a putative copper-containing nitrite reductase (NirK), which may reduce NO(2)(-) to NO. In this study, the putative nirK was found to be maximally transcribed under low O(2) (between zero and 4% O(2)) in the presence of NO(2)(-). Transcription of nirK was not detected under anaerobic conditions in the absence of NO(2)(-) or in the presence of NO(3)(-) and pyruvate. Although net production of NO could not be detected from either aerobically grown or anaerobically incubated cells, exogenous NO was consumed by viable cells and concomitantly inhibited NO(2)(-)-dependent O(2) uptake in a reversible, concentration dependent manner. Both NO(2(-)-dependent O(2) uptake and NO consumption were inhibited by 1 mM cyanide suggesting involvement of cytochrome oxidase with NO consumption. Abiotic consumption of NO was measured, yet, both the rates and kinetics of NO transformation in buffer alone, or by heat killed, or cyanide-treated cells differed from those of viable cells. In light of this new information, a modified model is proposed to explain how NirK and NO manage electron flux in Nitrobacter.

Genome sequence of the chemolithoautotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacterium Nitrobacter winogradskyi Nb-255

The alphaproteobacterium Nitrobacter winogradskyi (ATCC 25391) is a gram-negative facultative chemolithoautotroph capable of extracting energy from the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate. Sequencing and analysis of its genome revealed a single circular chromosome of 3,402,093 bp encoding 3,143 predicted proteins. There were extensive similarities to genes in two alphaproteobacteria, Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 (1,300 genes) and Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 CG (815 genes). Genes encoding pathways for known modes of chemolithotrophic and chemoorganotrophic growth were identified. Genes encoding multiple enzymes involved in anapleurotic reactions centered on C2 to C4 metabolism, including a glyoxylate bypass, were annotated. The inability of N. winogradskyi to grow on C6 molecules is consistent with the genome sequence, which lacks genes for complete Embden-Meyerhof and Entner-Doudoroff pathways, and active uptake of sugars. Two gene copies of the nitrite oxidoreductase, type I ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, cytochrome c oxidase, and gene homologs encoding an aerobic-type carbon monoxide dehydrogenase were present. Similarity of nitrite oxidoreductases to respiratory nitrate reductases was confirmed. Approximately 10% of the N. winogradskyi genome codes for genes involved in transport and secretion, including the presence of transporters for various organic-nitrogen molecules. The N. winogradskyi genome provides new insight into the phylogenetic identity and physiological capabilities of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. The genome will serve as a model to study the cellular and molecular processes that control nitrite oxidation and its interaction with other nitrogen-cycling processes.

New concepts of microbial treatment processes for the nitrogen removal in wastewater

Many countries strive to reduce the emissions of nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrate, NOx) to the surface waters and the atmosphere. Since mainstream domestic wastewater treatment systems are usually already overloaded with ammonia, a dedicated nitrogen removal from concentrated secondary or industrial wastewaters is often more cost-effective than the disposal of such wastes to domestic wastewater treatment. The cost-effectiveness of separate treatment has increased dramatically in the past few years, since several processes for the biological removal of ammonia from concentrated waste streams have become available. Here, we review those processes that make use of new concepts in microbiology: partial nitrification, nitrifier denitrification and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (the anammox process). These processes target the removal of ammonia from gases, and ammonium-bicarbonate from concentrated wastewaters (i.e. sludge liquor and landfill leachate). The review addresses the microbiology, its consequences for their application, the current status regarding application, and the future developments.

Close genetic relationship between Nitrobacter hamburgensis nitrite oxidoreductase and Escherichia coli nitrate reductases

The nitrite oxidoreductase (NOR) from the facultative nitrite-oxidizing bacterium Nitrobacter hamburgensis X14 was investigated genetically. In order to develop a probe for the gene norB, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the NOR beta-subunit (NorB) was determined. Based on that amino acid sequence, an oligonucleotide was derived that was used for the identification and cloning of gene norB. Sequence analysis of DNA fragments revealed three adjacent open reading frames in the order norA, norX, norB. The DNA sequences of norX and norB represented complete genes while the open reading frame of norA was truncated by the cloning site. The deduced amino acid sequence of protein NorB contained four cysteine clusters with striking homology to those of iron-sulfur centers of bacterial ferredoxins. NorB shares significant sequence similarity to the beta-subunits (NarH, NarY) of the two dissimilatory nitrate reductases (NRA, NRZ) of Escherichia coli. Additionally, the derived amino acid sequence of the truncated open reading frame of norA showed striking resemblance to the alpha-subunits (NarG, NarZ) of the E. coli nitrate reductases.

Membrane-bound cytochrome c is an alternative electron donor for cytochrome aa3 in Nitrobacter winogradskyi

We purified membrane-bound cytochrome c-550 [cytochrome c-550(m)] to an electrophoretically homogeneous state from Nitrobacter winogradskyi. The cytochrome showed peaks at 409 and 525 nm in the oxidized form and peaks at 416, 521, and 550 nm in the reduced form. The molecular weight of the cytochrome was estimated to be 18,400 on the basis of protein and heme c contents and 18,600 by gel filtration. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of cytochrome c-550(m) was determined to be A-P-T-S-A-A-D-A-E-S-F-N-K-A-L-A-S-A-?-A-E-?-G-A-?-L-V-K-P. We previously purified soluble cytochrome c-550 cytochrome c-550(s)] from N. winogradskyi and determined its complete amino acid sequence (Y. Tanaka, Y. Fukumori, and T. Y. Yamanaka, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 707:14-20, 1982). Although the sequence of cytochrome c-550(m) was completely different from that of cytochrome c-550(s), ferrocytochrome c-550(m) was rapidly oxidized by the cytochrome c oxidase of the bacterium. Furthermore, the liposomes into which nitrite cytochrome c oxidoreductase, cytochrome c oxidase, and nitrite were incorporated showed nitrite oxidase activity in the presence of cytochrome c-550(m). These results suggest that cytochrome c-550(m) may be an alternative electron mediator between nitrite cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c oxidase.

Cytochrome oxidase of an acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, functions at pH 3.5

Cytochrome oxidase of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was partially purified. The oxidase preparation had haems a and c, and oxidized ferrocytochrome c-552 of the bacterium. The optimal pH of the reaction was 3.5. The enzyme also oxidized the reduced form of rusticyanin, a copper protein of the bacterium. Our results indicate that the reduction of molecular oxygen by this enzyme may occur in the periplasm.