Open AccessEvidence for nitrogenase‐catalyzed hydrogen uptake in nitrogen‐fixing filamentous blue‐green algae
Author(s) -
Chen PeiChung,
Almon Helmar,
Böger Peter
Publication year - 1986
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.1574-6968.1986.tb01764.x
Subject(s) - nitrogenase , hydrogenase , nitrogen fixation , anabaena , hydrogen , cyanobacteria , nitrogen , acetylene , catalysis , chemistry , algae , biochemistry , heterocyst , photochemistry , biology , botany , bacteria , organic chemistry , genetics
Two new strains of (heterocystous) Anabaena , one of them devoid of hydrogenase activity, were compared with respect to hydrogen‐uptake activities. Evidence was obtained for a hydrogen‐recycling pathway in the dark independent of hydrogenase, because a similar recycling activity is measured in both strains. This hydrogen uptake is dependent on substrates for nitrogenase (molecular nitrogen or acetylene) and can be abolished by oxygen treatment of filaments or by uncouplers. The findings are interpreted as nitrogenase itself being directly involved in the hydrogen‐uptake mechanism.