Denitrification and nitrite reduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrite-reductase.

Present knowledge of the different enzymatic steps of the denitrification chains in various bacteria, particularly Paracoccus denitrificans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been briefly reviewed. The question whether nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O) and other nitrogen derivatives are obligatory intermediates has been discussed. The second part is an extensive review of the structure and the function of a key enzyme in denitrification, cytochrome c551-nitrite-oxidoreductase from P. aeruginosa. Recent results on the stoichiometry of nitrite reduction have been discussed.