Selective reduction of NO with hydrocarbons was studied using metal oxide catalysts having a spinel structure. A Zn-Al-Ga complex oxide was found to be very active and selective for the catalytic reduction of NO with both C3H6 and CH4. It was revealed that the role of oxygen at the initial stage of the reaction strongly depends on the reductants; oxygen is mainly used for NO oxidation to NO2 in the reduction with CH4, whereas it is used both for NO oxidation to NO2 and oxidation of C3H6 to an active intermediate in the reduction with C3H6.