Further Studies on the Induction of Nitrate Reductase by Arginine in the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Oscillatoria chalybea

Abstract

In an earlier publication we reported on the role of arginine for the development of nitrate reductase activity in cells of the filamentous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria chalybea (Bednarz and Schmid, Z. Naturforsch. 46c, 591 (1991)). In the present paper we present further evidence that arginine is the natural inducer for nitrate reductase activity. Thus, we show that the induction is regulated by transcription, probably related to the apoprotein or the molybdenumcofactor. We also examined the influence of arginine on nitrate reductase activity in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120. In contrast to Oscillatoria chalybea this cyanobacterium forms heterocysts and shows nitrogen fixation activity. Like in Oscillatoria chalybea nitrate reductase activity in Anabaena PCC7120 is stimulated in the presence of arginine as the sole nitrogen source. However, this stimulation is limited to an early growth stage. Subsequently, nitrogen fixation activity appears and nitrate reductase activity decreases.