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Nitrite inhibition of aerobic bacteria

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Abstract

Nitrite was shown to inhibit active transport, oxygen uptake, and oxidative phosphorylation byPseudomonas aeruginosa. The evidence strongly suggested that nitrite exerted its inhibitory effect by oxidizing ferrous iron of an electron carrier(s), such as cytochrome oxidase, to ferric iron. The inhibitory effect of nitrite was readily reversible by washing the cells. Glucose transport byStreptococcus faecalis andS. lactis was not inhibited by nitrite, presumably because these species lack cytochromes and because glucose is transported by the phosphoenolpyruvate: phosphotransferase system rather than by active transport.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Dayton, 45409, Dayton, Ohio, USA

    J. J. Rowe

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, Georgia, USA

    J. M. Yarbrough, J. B. Rake & R. G. Eagon

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  1. J. J. Rowe
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  2. J. M. Yarbrough
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  3. J. B. Rake
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  4. R. G. Eagon
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Rowe, J.J., Yarbrough, J.M., Rake, J.B. et al. Nitrite inhibition of aerobic bacteria. Current Microbiology 2, 51–54 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601735

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