Genes different from those of the narGHI operon and encoding a nitrate reductase activity have been cloned by Bonnefoy et al. (unpublished results). We have shown by the use of well-known assay methods that the encoded enzyme activity is catalyzed by a true nitrate reductase and not by trimethylamine-N-oxide reductase or formate dehydrogenase. The biochemical and immunological study, employing anti-(nitrate reductase) serum raised against the known enzyme, revealed that Escherichia coli contains a second nitrate reductase (nitrate reductase Z) which shares some similarities as well as differences with the known enzyme. By using a strain with a deletion of the narGHI operon and carrying a multicopy plasmid having the nitrate reductase Z genes, we have shown that nitrate reductase Z is a membrane-bound molybdoenzyme able to couple formate oxidation with nitrate reduction. Like the known nitrate reductase, this enzyme has chlorate reductase activity. The molecular mass and pH and temperature dependence of enzyme Z are similar to these of the known enzyme. On the other hand the two enzymes have significant difference in their electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gels. Unlike the known enzyme, enzyme Z is synthesized in small amounts; the expression of its structural genes does not seem to be induced by nitrate, repressed by oxygen or activated by the product of the fnr gene. The immunological comparison of the two enzymes was performed by rocket immunoelectrophoresis, double diffusion on agar plates and immunoblots. These techniques disclosed a difference between the two enzymes in their recognition by the antiserum and showed that E. coli has two types of nitrate reductase.