Electron Transport Systems of Nitrosomonas : Isolation of a Membrane-Envelope Fraction

Freezing and thawing of Nitrosomonas, followed by centrifugation of the homogenate at 3,000 x g, resulted in a fraction which appeared to consist of an intact membrane-envelope complex and contained approximately 50% of the cell protein and more than 90% of the ubiquinone and cytochrome A-type mammalian cytochrome c oxidase activity. The supernatant fraction, resulting from subsequent centrifugation of the extract at 100,000 x g, contained approximately 50% of the cell protein and more than 80% of the B- and C-type cytochrome and P-463 and the enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase; hydroxylamine dehydrogenase; nitrite synthetase; nitrite reductase; and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol-, p-phenylenediamine-, pyrogallol-, and hydroquinone-oxidase. Data on the concentration of electron transport components in Nitrosomonas are presented.