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Factors affecting the photoproduction of ammonia from dinitrogen and water by the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain ATCC 33047
Author(s) -
Ramos Juan L.,
Guerrero Miguel G,
Losada Manuel
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260290505
Subject(s) - anabaena , strain (injury) , ammonia , cyanobacteria , chemistry , environmental chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , genetics , anatomy
Synthesis of ammonia from dinitrogen and water by suspensions of Anabaena sp. Strain ATCC 33047 treated with the glutamine synthetase inhibitor L ‐methionine‐ D , L ‐sulfoximine is strictly dependent on light. Under otherwise optimal conditions, the yield of ammonia production is influenced by irradiance, as well as by the density, depth, and turbulence of the cell suspension. The interaction among these factors seems to determine the actual amount of light available to each single cell or filament in the suspension for the photoproduction process. Under convenient illumination, the limiting factor in the synthesis of ammonia seems to be the cellular nitrogenase activity level, but under limiting light conditions the limiting factor could, however, be the assimilatory power required for nitrogen fixation. Photosynthetic ammonia production from atmospheric nitrogen and water can operate with an efficiency of ca. 10% of its theoretical maximum, representing a remarkable process for the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.