Open AccessSarcosine: a possible regulatory compound in the Peltigera praetextata‐Nostoc symbiosis
Author(s) -
Hällbom Lars
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb00708.x
Subject(s) - sarcosine , nostoc , symbiosis , lichen , botany , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , cyanobacteria , biochemistry , genetics , bacteria , glycine , amino acid
In analyses of free amino acids in the lichen Peltigera praetextata high levels of sarcosine ( N ‐methylglycine) were found. Sarcosine was found to stimulate nitrogenase activity of the cyanobiont Nostoc , isolated from Peltigera canina . This stimulation was optimal at 1 mM sarcosine, a concentration which is close to that calculated as being present in a water‐saturated lichen thallus. Sarcosine also was found to inhibit the activity of glutamine synthetase in Nostoc . This inhibitory effect may account for the stimulation of nitrogenase activity and may be important in the symbiotic regulation of cyanophilic lichens.