The oxidation of nicotinic acid by Pseudomonas ovalis Chester. The terminal oxidase.

In cell-free extracts of Pseudomonas ovalis nicotinic acid oxidase is confined to the wallmembrane fraction. It is associated with an electron-transport chain comprising b- and c-type cytochromes only, differing proportions of which are reduced by nicotinate and NADH. CO difference-spectra show two CO-binding pigments, cytochrome o (absorption maximum at 417nm) and another component absorbing maximally at 425nm. Cytochrome o is not reduced by NADH or by succinate but is by nicotinate, which can also reduce the ;425' CO-binding pigment. The effects of inhibitors of terminal oxidation support the idea of two terminal oxidases and a scheme involving the ;425' CO-binding pigment and the other components of the electron-transport chain is proposed.