Resolution of the nitrate reductase complex from the membrane of Escherichia coli.

A procedure has been developed whereby the components of the nitrate reductase complex from the membrane of Escherichia coli can be extracted by means of a nonionic detergent and separated from each other as discrete elements in an active form. It is not yet clear whether these are the dissociated enzymatic elements or whether they are fragments containing other membrane proteins. In any case, they appeared nearly lipid-free and still active.