Copper Enzymes in Denitrification

Abstract

Denitrification is an intrinsic part of the global nitrogen cycle, balancing the cycle by returning fixed nitrogen to the atmosphere. During denitrification, a bacterial respiratory process, nitrate or nitrite is reduced to nitrogenous oxides. All of the redox reactions of denitrification are catalyzed by metalloenzymes, two of which contain copper. This chapter reviews the structures, mechanisms, and assembly of these copper‐containing enzymes, copper nitrite reductase and nitrous oxide reductase.