Copper‐Containing Nitrite Reductase

Abstract

Cu‐containing nitrite reductases (CuNiRs) catalyze the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide and water. CuNiRs are part of the denitrification and nitrification pathways that are not only important from bioenergetics perspective but are also the major contributors to terrestrial and oceanic nitrogen cycling. These pathways make a significantly increasing contribution to global warming by release of N 2 O, an ozone‐depleting and greenhouse gas some 300‐fold more potent than CO 2 . Advanced crystallographic techniques based on synchrotrons and X‐ray free electron lasers have been applied to this important class of enzymes. Here we provide a detailed review of recent results obtained from a global effort.