Open AccessEvidence for the occurrence of the alternative, vanadium‐containing nitrogenase in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis
Author(s) -
Kentemich T.,
Danneberg G.,
Hundeshagen B.,
Bothe H.
Publication year - 1988
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.1574-6968.1988.tb02960.x
Subject(s) - anabaena variabilis , nitrogenase , vanadium , phototroph , molybdenum , cyanobacteria , chemistry , anabaena , botany , biology , inorganic chemistry , biochemistry , bacteria , photosynthesis , organic chemistry , nitrogen fixation , genetics , nitrogen
Anabaena variabilis can be grown with dependence on either molybdenum (Mo) or vanadium (V) in the medium with essentially the same growth rates. Vanadium cultures reduce C 2 H 2 to C 2 H 4 and partly (to 2–3%) to C 2 H 6 . These C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 6 formations can be shown to be strictly light dependent, proving that the gases are formed by the cyanobacterium. C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 6 productions are accompanied by a H 2 formation which is much higher than in Mo cultures. Maximal C 2 H 2 ‐formation rates are 2/3 lower in V‐grown cells compared to Mo control cultures. This is the first demonstration of a light‐dependent ethane formation and of the occurrence of the alternative nitrogenase in any phototroph.