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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
Published on: October 7, 2020
The effects of salinity and other factors on nitrite reduction by Ochrobactrum anthropi 49187
Margaret B Causey1, Kimberly N Beane, Joe R Wolf
1Peace College, 15 East Peace Street, Raleigh, NC 27604, USA.
Abstract:
The nitrite reductase (NIR) gene was cloned from Ochrobactrum anthropi 49187 and found to contain an open reading frame of 1131 nucleotides, encoding a polypeptide of 376 amino acids. The O. anthropi NIR gene encodes a copper-type dissimilatory reductase based on sequence homology with other genes. The polypeptide product is predicted to form a trimeric holoenzyme of 37 kDa subunits based on molecular weight estimates of extracts in activity gels. Expression of the enzyme is up-regulated by nitrate, presumably through the intermediate nitrite, and its activity is influenced by inhibitors. Salinity enhances the activity of existing NIR enzyme, but appears to decrease the expression of new enzyme.
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