Effect of nitrate reduction on the enzyme levels in carbon metabolism in Escherichia coli.

The activities of twelve enzymes were measured in crude extracts from cells of Escherichia coli K-10 grown aerobically or anaerobically in a defined medium in the presence or absence of nitrate. The activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase, aconitate hydratase, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and D-lactate dehydrogenase (NAD+-independent) were found to be higher in cells grown in nitrate respiration than in those in fermentation, but lower than in those in respiration. This finding may explain the incomplete oxidation in nitrate respiration and, on the other hand, suggests the operation of the tricarboxylic acid even under these conditions. The activities of succinate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase in relation to the formation of fermentation product were as high in cells grown in fermentation as in those in respiration and were low in those in nitrate respiration. However, that ratio of the activities in the latter case to the activities in respiration was the same as the ratio for most enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The level of lactate dehydrogenase (NAD+-dependent) was not affected by nitrate respiration but its activity in the extract was inhibited by nitrate and nitrite. The absence of lactate in the anaerobic culture with nitrate may be due to this inhibition as well as NADH oxidation by nitrate. Levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase were not altered by the growth conditions and that of pyruvate dehydrogenase was low only in cells grown in fermentation.