Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (1+1)

6.1.3.5.Denitrification

Biological denitrification occurs naturally when certain bacteria use nitrate as terminal electron acceptor in their respiratory process, in the absence of oxygen. Denitrification consists of a sequence of enzymatic reaction leading to the evolution of nitrogen gas. The process involves the formation of number of nitrogen intermediates and can be summarized as follows

             NO₃  à   NO₂  à    NO  à N ₂O  àN₂