aerobic respiration energy derivation by oxidation of reduced inorganic compounds aerobic respiration, using nitrite as electron donor MetaCyc:P282-PWY The oxidation of nitrite (NO2) to nitrate (NO3), using oxygen (O2) as the electron acceptor. Nitrite oxidation is the final step in nitrification, the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, and nitrite oxidoreductase (NOR) is the key enzyme complex that catalyzes the conversion of nitrite to nitrate in nitrite oxidizing species. biological_process GO:0019332 nitrite oxidation cellular nitrogen compound metabolic process