Nitrate content and induction of NADH nitrate reductase in cultured rice cells

Abstract

Abstract The nitrate content of cultured rice cells grown in liquid R-2 medium containing 40 mM nitrate increased rapidly and reached a maximum 6 hr after inoculation. After about 6-hr lag period, NADH nitrate reductase activity increased rapidly to the 24th hr. Promotive effects on the nitrate accumulation and the induction of NADH nitrate reductase were found by the addition of 5 mM ammonium into the medium. Nitrate content increased exponentially as a function of increasing external nitrate concentration between 0 and 80 mM. The NADH nitrate reductase activity also increased from 0 to 40 mM of nitrate media, but leveled off between 40 and 80 mM. A high level of nitrate content was detected in the cells grown in 10 or 40 mM of nitrate medium without sucrose for 48 hr, suggesting that sucrose in the medium may have no effect on the nitrate accumulation in the early growth period.