Nitrite oxidoreductase

Nitrite oxidoreductase (NOR or NXR) is an enzyme involved in nitrification. It is the last step in the process of aerobic ammonia oxidation, which is carried out by two groups of nitrifying bacteria: ammonia oxidizers such as Nitrosospira, Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus convert ammonia to nitrite, while nitrite oxidizers such as Nitrobacter oxidize nitrite to nitrate.

The enzyme is bound to the inner cytoplasmic surface of the bacterial membrane and contains multiple subunits, iron-sulphur centers and a molybdenum cofactor. The enzyme is relatively abundant, making up 10-30% of the total protein in these bacteria and forms densely-packed structures on the membrane surface.

Reaction

Nitrite + acceptor <=> nitrate + reduced acceptor