Assimilatory nitrate reductase in a chlorate-resistant mutant of Escherichia coli

Nitrate reductase was investigated in extracts from cells of a chlorate-resistant mutant strain of E. coli which grew anaerobically on nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen. The nitrate reductase was of particulate nature and reduced chlorate like the nitrate reductase from the wild strain, but in contrast was inhibited only weakly by azide or cyanide. Nitrate reductase activity was found in extracts from the mutant cells grown on nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen, but not in extracts from cells grown in complex nutrient medium. Addition of ammonia also caused a decrease in activity. Accordingly, the nitrate reductase in the chlorate-resistant mutant is of the assimilatory type.