Open AccessFactors affecting nitrogen fixation and nif gene transcription in Azospirillum brasilense
Author(s) -
Mugnai Maria,
Bazzicalupo Marco,
Fani Renato,
Gallori Enzo,
Paffetti Donatella,
Pastorelli Roberta
Publication year - 1994
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.1574-6968.1994.tb07019.x
Subject(s) - nitrogenase , azospirillum brasilense , nitrite , nitrogen fixation , transcription (linguistics) , nitrate , glutamine synthetase , ammonium , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , glutamine , chemistry , bacteria , genetics , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , amino acid
The effect of environmental factors on nitrogenase activity and on transcription of nif genes in Azospirillum brasilense was investigated. Addition of ammonium, glutamine, oxygen, nitrate or nitrite together with either iron limitation or shift of temperature caused different levels of inhibition of nitrogenase activity. The nif mRNA was completely absent after addition of either ammonium or glutamine and after iron deprivation, while oxygen, nitrate or nitrite partially decreased the presence of nif mRNA. It is concluded that in A. brasilense the control of the nitrogenase switch‐off is independent of the transcription of nif genes.