Nitrite oxidoreductase (NOR or NXR) is an enzyme involved in nitrification. It is the last step in the process of aerobic ammonia oxidation, which is carried out by two groups of nitrifying bacteria: ammonia oxidizers such as Nitrosospira, Nitrosomonas, and Nitrosococcus convert ammonia to nitrite, while nitrite oxidizers such as Nitrobacter and Nitrospira oxidize nitrite to nitrate. NXR is responsible for producing almost all nitrate found in nature.[1]
NXR belongs to the class of EC numbers 1.7.2- [2][3] where 1 describes an oxidoreductase, 1.7 describes nitrogen compounds as donors, and 1.7.2- describes cytochromes as acceptors.[3]