The effect of uncoupler on the distribution of the electron flow between the terminal acceptors oxygen and nitrite in the cells of Paracoccus denitrificans.

The preferential utilization of oxygen, the terminal acceptor, in anaerobically grown cells of Paracoccus denitrificans was abolished in the presence of uncoupler (3 microM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) which brought about a switch to the reduction of nitrite. It has been proved by measuring the redox state of cytochromes that this effect is due to the inhibition of the electron flow to oxygen caused by nitrite, which attains the site of its inhibitory action when the membrane potential is lowered.