Summary
Blending Anabaena cylindrica cultures results in a loss of nitrogenase activity which is correlated with the breakage of the filaments at the junctions between heterocysts and vegetative cells. Oxygen inhibition of nitrogen fixation was significant only above atmospheric concentrations. Nitrogen-fixation activities in the dark were up to 50% of those observed in the light and were dependent on oxygen (10 to 20% was optimal). Nitrogenase activity was lost in about 3 h when cells were incubated aerobically in the dark. Re-exposure to light resulted in recovery of nitrogenase activity within 2 h. Blending, oxygen, or dark pre-incubation had similar effects upon cultures grown under air or nitrogen and did not inhibit light-dependent CO2 fixation. We conclude that heterocysts are the sites of nitrogenase activity and propose a model for nitrogen fixation by Anabaena cylindrica.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Allen, M. B., Arnon, D. I.: Studies on nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae. I. Growth and nitrogen fixation by Anabaena cylindrica Lemm. Plant Physiol. 30, 366–372 (1955).
Benemann, J. R., McKenna, C. E., Lie, R. F., Traylor, T. G., Kamen, M. D.: The vanadium effect in nitrogen fixation by Azotobacter. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 264, 25–38 (1972).
Benemann, J. R., Valentine, R. C.: The pathways of nitrogen fixation. Advanc. Microbiol. Physiol. 8, 59–102 (1972).
Benemann, J. R., Yoch, D. C., Valentine, R. C., Arnon, D. I.: Azotoflavin as an electron carrier in nitrogen fixation by Azotobacter. Fed. Proc. 29 404 (1970).
Benemann, J. R., Yoch, D. C., Valentine, R. C., Arnon, D. I.: The electron transport system in nitrogen fixation by Azotobacter. III. Requirements for NADPH-supported nitrogenase activity. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 226, 205–212 (1971).
Biggins, J.: Respiration in blue-green algae. J. Bact. 99, 570–575 (1969).
Bothe, H.: Photosynthetische Stickstoffixierung mit einem zellfreien Extrakt aus der Blaualge Anabaena cylindrica. Ber. dtsch. bot. Ges. 83, 421–432 (1970).
Cox, R. M., Fay, P.: Nitrogen fixation and pyruvate metabolism in cell-free preparations of Anabaena cylindrica. Arch. Mikrobiol. 58, 357–365 (1967).
Cox, R. M., Fay, P.: Special aspects of nitrogen fixation by blue-green algae. Proc. roy. Soc. B 172 357–366 (1969).
Donze, M., Haveman, J., Schiereck, P.: Absence of photosystem 2 in heterocysts of the blue-green algae Anabaena. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 256, 157–161 (1972).
Fay, P.: Photostimulation of nitrogen fixation in Anabaena cylindrica. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 216, 353–356 (1970).
Fay, P., Lang, N. J.: The heterocysts of blue-green algae. I. Ultrastructural integrity after isolation. Proc. roy. Soc. B 178, 185–192 (1971).
Fay, P., Stewart, W. D. P., Walsby, A. E., Fogg, G. E.: Is the heterocyst the site of nitrogen fixation in blue-green algae? Nature (Lond.) 220, 810–812 (1968).
Fay, P., Walsby, A. E.: Metabolic activities of isolated heterocysts of the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Nature (Lond.) 209, 94–95 (1966).
Fogg, G. E.: Growth and heterocyst production in Anabaena cylindrica Lemm. II. In relation to carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Ann. Bot. 13, 241–259 (1949).
Gorkom, H. J. van, Donze, M.: Localization of nitrogen fixation in Anabaena. Nature (Lond.) 234, 231–232 (1971).
Haystead, A., Robinson, R., Stewart, W. D. P.: Nitrogenase activity in extracts of heterocystous and non-heterocystous blue-green algae. Arch. Mikrobiol. 74, 235–243 (1970).
Haystead, A., Stewart, W. D. P.: Characteristics of the nitrogenase system of the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Arch. Mikrobiol. 82, 325–336 (1972).
Kulasooriya, S. A., Lang, Norma, J., Fay, P.: The heterocysts of blue-green algae. III. Differentiation and nitrogenase activity. Proc. roy. Soc. B 181, 199–209 (1972).
Kurz, W. G. W., LaRue, T. A.: Nitrogenase in Anabaena flos-aquae filaments lacking heterocysts. Naturwissenschaften 58, 417 (1971).
Leach, C. K., Carr, N. G.: Oxidative phosphorylation in extracts of blue-green algae. Biochem. J. 112, 125–126 (1969).
Leach, C. K., Carr, N. G.: Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation in the blue-green alga Anabaena variabilis. J. gen. Microbiol. 64, 55–70 (1970).
Leach, C. K., Carr, N. G.: Pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase and its activation by ATP in the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 245, 165–174 (1971).
Millbank, J. W.: Nitrogen metabolism in lichens. IV. The nitrogenase activity of the Nostoc phycobiont in Peltigera canina. New Phytol. 71, 1–10 (1972).
Neilson, A., Rippka, R., Kunisawa, R.: Heterocyst formation and nitrogenase synthesis in Anabaena sp. Arch. Mikrobiol. 76, 139–150 (1971).
Ohmori, H., Hattori, A.: Nitrogen fixation and heterocysts in the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Plant Cell Physiol. 12, 961–967 (1971).
Smith, R. V., Evans, M. C. W.: Soluble nitrogenase from vegetative cells of the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Nature (Lond.) 225 1253–1254 (1970).
Smith, R. V., Noy, A. J., Evans, M. C. W.: Physiological electron donor systems to the nitrogenase of the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 253, 104–109 (1971).
Stewart, W. D. P.: Physiological studies on nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae. Plant Soil, Spec. Vol., pp. 377–391 (1971).
Stewart, W. D. P., Fitzgerald, G. P., Burris, R. H.: Acetylene reduction by nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae. Arch. Mikrobiol. 62, 336–348 (1968).
Stewart, W. D. P., Haystead, A., Pearson, H. W.: Nitrogenase activity in heterocysts of blue-green algae. Nature (Lond.) 224, 226–228 (1969).
Stewart, W. D. P., Lex, M.: Nitrogenase activity in the blue-green alga Plectonema boryanum strain 594. Arch. Mikrobiol. 73, 250–260 (1970).
Stewart, W. D. P., Pearson, H. W.: Effects of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on growth and metabolism of blue-green algae. Proc. roy. Soc. B 175, 293–311 (1970).
Talpasayi, E. R. S.: Localization of ascorbic acid in heterocysts of blue-green alga. Current Sci. 7, 190 (1967).
Thomas, J.: Absence of the pigments of photosystem II of photosynthesis in heterocysts of a bluegreen alga. Nature (Lond.) 228, 181–183 (1970).
Thomas, J., David, K. A. V.: Site of nitrogenase activity in the blue-green alga Anabaena sp. L-31. Nature (Lond.), 238, 219–221 (1972).
Wolk, C. P.: Movement of carbon from vegetative cells to heterocysts in Anabaena cylindrica. J. Bact. 96, 2138–2143 (1968).
Wolk, C. P.: Aspects of the development of a blue-green alga. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 175, 641–647 (1970).
Wolk, C. P., Wojciuch, E.: Photoreduction of acetylene by heterocysts. Planta (Berl.) 97, 126–134 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weare, N.M., Benemann, J.R. Nitrogen fixation by Anabaena cylindrica . Archiv. Mikrobiol. 90, 323–332 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408927
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408927