Nitrogen oxide reduction in Wolinella succinogenes and Campylobacter species.

Wolinella succinogenes cells and extracts reduced nitric oxide, and cells, but not extracts, reduced nitrous oxide. Formate-reduced W. succinogenes extracts generated the 573-nm peak in difference spectra seen previously in response to nitric oxide in denitrifiers. The type strains of several Campylobacter species did not reduce either gaseous oxide. Cells, but not extracts, of C. fetus subspecies (fetus and venerealis) reduced nitrous oxide; acetylene inhibited reduction. Neither cells nor extracts reduced nitric oxide.