Molybdenum incorporation in denitrifying Azospirillum brasilense Sp7

Abstract

Nondenaturating disc gel electrophoresis revealed that 99Mo was incorporated into the nitrate reductase of Azospirillum brasilense grown in the absence but not in the presence of tungstate. Under denitrifying conditions, A. brasilense grown in tungsten-free medium steadily accumulated 99Mo for 12 h. In contrast, Paracoccus denitrificans grown under the same conditions ceased uptake after 1 h. However, both bacteria were incapable of accumulating significant amounts of 99Mo in media containing 10 mM tungstate, even though nitrate was reduced by A. brasilense. Aerobically grown A. brasilense cells transported 99Mo more efficiently than anaerobically grown cells. Key words: Azospirillum brasilense, tungsten, molybdenum incorporation, nitrate reduction.