Five coordinated nitrosylhemoprotein in the whole cells of denitrifying bacterium, Achromobacter xylosoxidans NCIB 11015.

The denitrifying bacterium, Achromobacter xylosoxidans NCIB 11015, was cultivated in meat extract-peptone medium and in Mn-free synthetic medium under denitrifying or non-denitrifying conditions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for the whole cells of the bacteria thus obtained were measured at 77K. The characteristic three-line signal was observed in the whole cells of the bacteria under denitrifying conditions, but not under non-denitrifying conditions. The three-line signal was more distinctly observed in the cells cultured in Mn-free medium. This signal could be assigned to nitrosylcytochrome c′ containing a five-coordinated nitrosylheme. The elemental composition in these cells is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]