Question

Which of the following is TRUE about this reaction?

NO3- + 2H + Pseudomonas NO2- + H2O Nitrate ion Nitrite ion
A) This process requires light.
B) This process occurs anaerobically.
C) This process requires the electron transport system.
D) This process requires O2.
E) This process requires O2 and the electron transport system

Answer 1

The right answer is C

This process is called anaerobic respiration. It doesn't need dioxygen to occur (it can happen with or without O2).

Anaerobic respiration is a mechanism in which electrons pass through a chain of transporters whose final acceptor is a mineral substance other than oxygen, unlike aerobic respiration where the final acceptor is dioxygen. The final acceptor may be the nitrate ion (as in the case of Pseudomonas), carbon dioxyde or the sulfate ion.

Some bacteria (Pseudomonas) are able, anaerobically, to reduce nitrates to nitrites and then, depending on the case, to dinitrogen (with the enzyme Nitrate reductase A).

NO3- ==> NO2- ==> N2.