Environmental factors influencing nitrate respiration in Escherichia coli K12 and Rhizobium trifolii.

The nitrate respiratory systems of both the facultative anaerobe Escherichia coli K12 strain W3350 and the aerobe Rhizobium trifolii strain T1 are regulated in a similar manner by a complex set of interactions involving H2, N2, CO2, glucose and nitrate. In addition, the nitrate respiratory system of strain T1 can be regulated by chlorate. A possible mechanism is presented to illustrate how these complex interactions might take place.