Nitrite reduction with formate in Pseudomonas denitrificans ATCC 13867.

Formate served as an electron donor in dissimilatory nitrite reduction in resting cells of a denitrifier, Pseudomonas denitrificans. Pyruvate also donated electrons to nitrite. Pyruvate reduced nitrite at the same rate as formate after some lag period. Citrate, the carbon source for cultivation medium employed in this study, was less effective for nitrite reduction. Two distinct cytochromes were shown to be involved in the electron transfer from formate to nitrite.