Algal photosynthesis converts nitric oxide into nitrous oxide.

Nitrous oxide (NO), a potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, is produced mostly from aquatic ecosystems, to which algae substantially contribute. However, mechanisms of NO production by photosynthetic organisms are poorly described. Here we show that the green microalga reduces NO into NO using the photosynthetic electron transport. Through the study of mutants deficient in flavodiiron proteins (FLVs) or in a cytochrome p450 (CYP55), we show that FLVs contribute to NO reduction in the light, while CYP55 operates in the dark. Both pathways are active when NO is produced in vivo during the reduction of nitrites and participate in NO homeostasis. Furthermore, NO reduction by both pathways is restricted to chlorophytes, organisms particularly abundant in ocean NO-producing hot spots. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of NO production in eukaryotic phototrophs and represent an important step toward a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas emission by aquatic ecosystems.