Open AccessNitrite accumulation by Synechococcus 6301 as a consequence of carbon‐ or sulfur‐deficiency
Author(s) -
Krämer Elisabeth,
Schmidt Ahlert
Publication year - 1989
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.1574-6968.1989.tb03108.x
Subject(s) - nitrite , nitrate , sulfur , nitrite reductase , dietary nitrate , chemistry , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , synechococcus , food science , biology , bacteria , cyanobacteria , organic chemistry , genetics
Air grown cultures of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301, when incubated under continuous illumination with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source, started to liberate nitrite from the second day of inoculation. Nitrite accumulation depended on culture density and was caused by CO 2 deficiency since it could be prevented by addition of 5% CO 2 to the gas stream. Nitrite excreted during growth with air (0.035% CO 2 ) was taken up after an increase in CO 2 concentration to 5%. In sulfur depleted cultures, nitrite excretion took place also with saturating CO 2 concentration. In this case nitrite accumulation could be reversed by addition of a suitable sulfur source. Under both conditions for nitrite accumulation, carbon and sulfur deficiency, a significant decrease in nitrite reductase activity was observed which might account for nitrite liberation.