串珠镰孢霉硝酸盐还原途径酶的遗传研究

通过对菌株突变体有性杂交后代的检测方法,对串珠镰孢霉Fusarium moniliforme氮代谢过程中硝酸盐还原途径相关酶基因间关系进行研究。串珠镰孢霉含钼协同因子突变体缺陷型(nitB)与亚硝酸盐还原酶缺陷型突变体(nitC)间的杂交结果显示,在不同的交配群以及在相同交配群不同寄主上的分离菌株中,控制这两种酶的基因有两种类型,并据此提出细胞核基因和细胞质基因共同调控硝酸盐还原途径酶的假说。当杂交后代出现四种表型(nitD：nitB：nitC：wt=1：1：1：1)时,表明这两种酶的遗传受核基因调控,分离时两种基因自由组合：当杂交后代仅有两种表型时,表现为父本表型隐藏,双基因缺陷型(表型同主氮调节基因缺陷型nitD)表型不出现,即母本表现型：野生型为1：1,表明这种遗传类型除受核基因的控制外,还存在细胞质基因的影响。     

不同地理和寄主来源的串珠镰孢的营养体亲和性研究

选用107个采自安徽、山东、江苏、湖北等不同地区棉花、玉米、水稻的串珠镰孢Fusarium moniliforme菌株,在含KClO3培养基上诱导筛选获得抗氯酸盐、不能还原利用硝酸盐的突变株(nitmutant)1081株,在MM、NM、HM等3种不同氮源培养基上划分出nitA、nitB、nitC、nitD四种突变类型,其中nitA出现频率最高,占总体76%;nitB和nitC其次,分别占12%和10%;nitD最少,占总体2%。采用nit突变体互补型配对技术,将供试菌株分别按地理来源和分离寄主进行配对培养,测得不同寄主群体内菌株的营养体亲合群(VCGs)数为56个,然后从每个VCG中随机抽取1个样本菌株,测定不同群体间菌株的VCG同一性,发现所抽取的56个菌株分属于54个VCGs,其中来自棉花的菌株Fm1、Fm2分别与来自玉米的菌株Fm19、Fm20属于同一VCG。按地理来源测定,4个群体共测得55个VCGs,其中来自山东的菌株Fm45和来自安徽的菌株Fm16发生亲和反应,属于同一VCG;107个菌株划分为54个VCGs。结果表明,串珠镰孢菌株群体内存在丰富的VCGs多样性。经多样性分析,不同地理来源的菌株平均1.9454个组成1个VCG,其P与Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分别为0.5140和1.0365;不同寄主上分离的菌株平均1.9107个形成1个VCG,P与Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分别为0.5234和0.9048。经t测验,两个群体Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H值间差异不显著(t=0.70小于t0.05=1.98),说明两个群体的VCG多样性无显著差异,相同地区来源的菌株的遗传相似性与相同寄主来源的遗传相似性相当。     

掘氏疫霉遗传学研究——Ⅱ.交配型遗传与变异的研究

本研究以掘氏疫霉Phytophthora drechsleri Tucker野生型菌株的单游动孢子无性系为亲本,测定了自交、杂交后代交配型的遗传,经KMnO_4处理引起的交配型变异以及F_1代可自孕单卵孢株有性生殖后代交配型的遗传与变异。聚碳膜间隔配对诱导A_1和A_2菌株自交产生的卵孢子经H_2O_2处理刺激萌发(萌发率12～16％)获得单卵孢株。交配型测定结果表明,A_1和A_2亲本自交S_1代单卵孢株均保持与亲本一致的交配型。用KMnO_4处理上述卵孢子导致A_1和A_2亲本的部分S_1代单卵孢株出现自孕现象,少数A_1亲本自交后代改变为A_2交配型;从A_1交配型亲本的S_1代可自孕菌株产生的卵孢子萌发所建立的单卵孢株中,同时获得A_1和A_2交配型菌株。上述结果不支持Sansome关于疫霉菌A_1、A_2交配型分别由纯合、杂合基因控制的假说,进一步证明了Ko关于交配型抑制因子控制交配型表达的假说的合理性。掘氏疫霉种内菌株直接配对产生的卵孢子用H_O_2刺激萌发获得F_1代单卵孢株。测定结果表明,在F_1代出现A_1、A_2、A_1A_2、A~04种交配型的单卵孢株,其比例因不同亲本组合而有较大差异。 F_1代出现的A_1A_2菌株自孕产生的卵孢子经H_2O_2处理刺激萌发建立自交系,观察到A_1A_2交配型在有性生殖后代发生分离,各交配型比例因亲本不同而异。A_1A_2菌株的自孕能力在单游动孢子无性系后代可稳定遗传,认为F_1代出现的A_1A_2个体来自亲本的杂交。A_1A_2单卵孢株保藏4～6个月后大多仍具自孕能力,少数改变为A_2交配型。     

不同寄主来源的串珠镰孢生物学性状及其在无性后代的遗传与变异

自安徽、山东、湖北、江苏等地多点采集棉花红腐病、水稻恶苗病、玉米穗腐病的病组织,经分离、鉴定和纯化,获得107个串珠镰孢（Fusarium monilifoFine）菌株。对上述来源于棉花、水稻、玉米的串珠镰孢的菌落形态、生长速率和产孢量等生物学性状及其在无性后代的遗传与变异进行了研究。结果表明,不同寄主来源的串珠镰孢菌株的菌丝生长温度范围和最适温度大致相同,但在菌落形态特别是色素方面存在明显差异,生长速率和产孢量也存在显著差异。棉花菌株的平均生长速率最大,玉米菌株生长速率最小,水稻菌株生长速率居中,相同群体的不同菌株间生长速率有极显著差异;玉米菌株产孢量最大,棉花菌株产孢量最小,水稻菌株产孢量居中。方差分析显示,不同寄主菌株群体间产孢量存在显著差异,而同一寄主群体的不同菌株间产孢量均无显著差异,说明菌株产孢量大小主要与其寄主种类有关,而与地区来源关系不大。遗传测定结果表明,分离自棉花、玉米和水稻的串珠镰孢的菌落形态和生长速率在单分生孢子后代均可稳定遗传;产孢量性状遗传有两种情况：分离自棉花和水稻的串珠镰孢菌株Fm1和Fm31的产孢量性状在单分生孢子后代均可稳定遗传,而分离白玉米的串珠镰孢菌株Fm19的产孢量性状在单分生孢子第一代（CG1）发生变异。     

大丽轮枝菌硝酸盐利用缺陷型和抗杀菌剂突变体的遗传研究

初步研究了大丽轮枝菌硝酸盐利用缺陷型和抗杀菌剂突变体的遗传特征。结果表明,大丽轮枝菌对三环唑的抗性不能稳定遗传,抗性菌株经低温或室温保顾一个月及转代培养后无丧失抗性,５株抗多菌灵的突变体,有一株在第二代单胞后代培养时丧失抗性,１株在单孢后代中发生分离;     

掘氏疫霉遗传学研究II．交配型遗传与变异的研究

本研究以掘氏疫霉P“yl口外埔o,o dr~cksleri丁ucke r野生型菌株的单游动孢子无性系为亲本,测定了自交、杂交后代交配型的遗传,经Kmno·处理引起的交配型变异以及Ft代可自孕单卵孢株有性生殖后代交配型的遗传与变异。聚碳膜间隔配对诱导A,和^,菌株自交产生的卵孢子经H zot处理索0激萌发(萌发率1 z～16％)获得单卵孢株。交配型测定结果表明,^t和A,亲本自交st代单卵孢株均保持与亲本一致的交配型。用KMnO．处理上述卵孢子导致A-和^z亲本的部分s一代单卵孢株出现自孕现象,少数A,亲本自交后代改变为A：交配型;从A。交配型亲本的s-代可自孕菌株产生的卵孢子萌发所建立的单卵孢株中,同时获得扎和^。交配型菌株。上述结果不支持San somc关于疫霉菌AhA,交配型分别由纯合、杂合基因控制的假说,进一步证明了Ko关于交配型抑制因子控制交配型表达的假说的合理性。 掘氏疫霉种内菌株直接配对产生的卵孢子用HtO,刺激萌发获得Ft代单卵孢拣。测定结果表明,在F。代出现A。A,、A,A;、A口4种交配型的单卵孢株,其比例因不同亲本组合而有较大差异oF。代出现的^。A,菌株自孕产生的卵孢子经HtO,处理刺激萌发建立自交系,观察到^。^：交配型在有性生殖后代发生分离,各交配型比例因亲本不同而异o A·At菌株的自孕能力在单游动孢子无性系后代可稳定遗传,认为F-代出现的AJAt个体来自亲本的杂交。AtA-单卵孢株保藏4～6个月后大多仍具自孕能力,少数改变为Az交配型。     

玉蜀黍赤霉(Gibberella zeae)对多菌灵的抗药性遗传研究

根据在 0 5、1 4、5 0、10 0 μg ml等不同浓度的含药PSA平板上能否生长 ,将玉蜀黍赤霉田间菌株对多菌灵的敏感性划分为 :敏感 (S)、中抗 (MR)和高抗 (HR)等 3个水平 ,其中S菌株在 0 5 μg ml浓度下能生长 ,但在≥ 1 4μg ml浓度下生长受到完全抑制 ;R菌株在 1 4 μg ml浓度下能快速生长 ,在 5 0 μg ml浓度下能缓慢生长 ,但在≥ 10 0μg ml浓度下不能生长 ;HR在≥ 10 0 μg ml浓度下仍能生长。没有发现在 1 4 μg ml浓度下能快速生长 ,而在 5 0 μg ml浓度下能被完全抑制的田间抗性菌株。从 2 5个敏感菌株和 31个抗性菌株中随机挑选了 2个S、3个MR和 1个HR ,并以硝酸盐营养缺陷型突变体 (nit)作为另一个遗传标记 ,按照S×S、MR×MR、MR×S、HR×S、HR×MR等共设计了 7个杂交组合 ,对各杂交后代对多菌灵的敏感性测试发现 ,在所有杂交后代中均未出现除双亲表现型以外的重组型个体 ,MR×S、HR×S及HR×MR的杂交后代出现了 1∶1的分离比例。以上结果表明玉蜀黍赤霉田间菌株对多菌灵的抗药性是由单个孟德尔基因控制的 ,该基因发生不同点突变或同一点的不同等位基因发生突变可导致不同的抗性水平 ,抗药性不受修饰基因或胞质遗传因子的影响。     

禾谷镰孢霉nit突变体的诱导及其生物学特性

将3个抗多菌灵和2个野生敏感型禾谷镰孢霉(Fusarium graminearum)菌株分别在含氯酸盐的MMC培养基上培养,共得到22个不能利用硝酸盐的营养缺陷突变体(Nitrate nonutilizing mutant, 简称nit突变体)。比较了各nit突变体与其亲本菌株之间在菌落生长速率、培养性状、产分生孢子能力、产子囊壳能力以及对多菌灵的敏感性等生物学特性方面的变化。结果表明,nit突变体均抗氯酸盐,在PSA平板上的生长速率没有改变,有性生殖能力没有下降,在Joffs 培养液和5%绿豆汤培养液中仍能产孢,但产孢量与亲本菌株有差异。此外,禾谷镰孢霉对氯酸盐和多菌灵之间没有交互抗药性。因此,可用nit作为遗传标记,研究禾谷镰孢霉有关性状的遗传学。     

禾谷镰孢霉nit突变体的诱导及其生物学特性

将3个抗多菌灵和2个野生敏感型禾谷镰孢霉（Fusarium graminearum)菌株分别在含氯酸盐的MMC培养基上培养,共得到22个不能利用硝酸盐的营养缺陷突变体（Nitrate nonutilizing mutant,简称nit突变体）。比较了各nit突变体与其亲本菌株之间在菌落生长速率,培养性状,产分生孢子能力,产生囊壳能力以及对多菌灵的敏感性等生物学特性方面的变化。结果表明,nit突变体均抗氯酸盐,在PSA平板上的生长速率没有改变,有性生殖能力没有下降,在Joff's培养液和5%绿豆汤培养液中仍能产孢,但产孢量与亲本菌株有差异。此外,禾谷镰孢霉对氯酸盐和多菌灵之间没有交互抗药性,因此,可用nit作为遗传标记,研究禾谷镰孢霉有关性状的遗传学。     

尖镰孢古巴专化型Focr4-1701突变体的生物学表型研究

由尖镰孢古巴专化型(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cubense,Foc)引起的香蕉枯萎病是香蕉生产中的毁灭性病害之一。Foc有4个小种,其中4号小种(Focr4)因其寄主范围广且无高抗病性的香蕉品种,对香蕉产业的危害最大,其致病机制至今尚不清楚。为研究其致病机制,本文对Focr4野生型菌株(Focr4-193-6)、因其T-DNA插入导致致病性严重减弱的突变体Focr4-1701、T-DNA插入标签基因敲除子△Focr4-1701及敲除基因互补子△Focr4-1701-cp-1为材料,从致病性测定、玻璃纸穿透试验、孢子形态观察、产孢量与孢子萌发率测定、粗毒素测定等方面对其与致病性相关的生物学表型进行了测定。结果表明:T-DNA插入突变体Focr4-1701和基因敲除突变体△Focr4-1701接种后的香蕉植株叶片没有表现发病症状,敲除基因互补菌株与野生型菌株一样表现出发病症状;T-DNA插入突变体和基因敲除突变体不能穿透玻璃纸生长,T-DNA插入突变体及基因敲除突变体在产孢量、孢子萌发率和产毒素能力上均极显著低于野生型菌株及互补菌株。这些表型性状差异说明Focr4-1701致病性严重减弱可能是T-DNA插入位点标签基因失活后导致了菌丝体侵染能力下降及产毒素能力降低造成的。     

炭疽菌不利用硝酸盐突变体的筛选及鉴定

将从杉木和大叶黄杨上分离获得的８个胶孢炭疽菌（Colletoctrichum gloeosporioides）分离物培养在含氯酸钾的平板上,得到快速生长抗氯酸钾的不利用硝酸盐的突变体(Nit)。所有的突变体经鉴定分属于３种表现型,即硝酸还原酶结构位点（nit１）,硝酸盐同化途径的专化调节位点（nit３）,和钼辅因位点（nitM）。分离物发生突变的频率随氯酸钾浓度的增加而提高,并且不同的氮源在一定程度上会影响突变表型种类。除ＣＣ３外,所有的分离物都是自身亲和的,即不同表型的突变体能遗传互补,其     

Nitrate reduction mutants of fusarium moniliforme (gibberella fujikuroi)

Twelve strains of Fusarium moniliforme were examined for their ability to sector spontaneously on toxic chlorate medium. All strains sectored frequently; 91% of over 1200 colonies examined formed chlorate-resistant, mutant sectors. Most of these mutants had lesions in the nitrate reduction pathway and were unable to utilize nitrate (nit mutants). nit mutations occurred in seven loci: a structural gene for nitrate reductase (nit1), a regulatory gene specific for the nitrate reduction pathway (nit3), and five genes controlling the production of a molybdenum-containing cofactor that is necessary for nitrate reductase activity (nit2, nit4, nit5, nit6, nit7). No mutations affecting nitrite reductase or a major nitrogen regulatory locus were found among over 1000 nit mutants. Mutations of nit1 were recovered most frequently (39-66%, depending on the strain) followed by nit3 mutations (23-42%). The frequency of isolation of each mutant type could be altered, however, by changing the source of nitrogen in the chlorate medium. We concluded that genetic control of nitrate reduction in F. moniliforme is similar to that in Aspergillus and Neurospora, but that the overall regulation of nitrogen metabolism may be different.     

Nitrate assimilation in Neurospora crassa: Enzymatic and immunoblot analysis of wild-type and nit mutant protein products in nitrate-induced and glutamine-repressed cultures

Summary The nitrate assimilatory pathway in Neurospora crassa is composed of two enzymes, nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. Both are ₂type homodimers. Enzymebound prosthetic groups mediate the electron transfer reactions which reduce inorganic nitrate to an organically utilizable form, ammonium. One, a molybdenum-containing cofactor, is required by nitrate reductase for both enzyme activity and holoenzyme assembly. Three modes of regulation are imposed on the expression of nitrate assimilation, namely: nitrogen metabolite repression, nitrate induction and autogenous regulation by nitrate reductase. In this study, nitrocellulose blots of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) resolved proteins from crude extracts of the wild type and specific nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants were examined for material cross-reactive with antibodies against nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. The polyclonal antibody preparations used were rendered monospecific by reverse affinity chromatography. Growth conditions which alter the regulatory response of the organism were selected such that new insight could be made into the complex nature of the regulation imposed on this pathway. The results indicate that although nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase are coordinately expressed under specific nutritional conditions, the enzymes are differentially responsive to the regulatory signals.     

Role for nitrate assimilatory genes in virulence of Ustilago maydis

Ustilago maydis can utilize nitrate as a sole source of nitrogen. This process is initiated by transporting nitrate from the extracellular environment into the cell by a nitrate transporter and followed by a two-step reduction of nitrate to ammonium via nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase enzymes, respectively. Here, we characterize the genes encoding nitrate transporter, um03849 and nitrite reductase, um03848 in U. maydis based on their roles in mating and virulence. The deletion mutants for um03848, um03849 or both genes were constructed in mating compatible haploid strains 1/2 and 2/9. In addition, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique was used for um03849 gene to create INDEL mutations in U. maydis mating strains. For all the mutants, phenotypes such as growth ability, mating efficiency and pathogenesis were examined. The growth of all the mutants was diminished when grown in a medium with nitrate as the source of nitrogen. Although no clear effects on haploid filamentation or mating were observed for either single mutant, double Δum03848 Δum03849 mutants showed reduction in mating, but increased filamentation on low ammonium, particularly in the 1/2 background. With respect to pathogenesis on the host, all the mutants showed reduced degrees of disease symptoms. Further, when the deletion mutants were paired with wild type of opposite mating-type, reduced virulence was observed, in a manner specific to the genetic background of the mutant's progenitor. This background specific reduction of plant pathogenicity was correlated with differential expression of genes for the mating program in U. maydis.     

Non-coordinate expression of the neighbouring genes rplL and rpoB,C of Escherichia coli.

Summary Two types of nitrate reductase-deficient mutant cell lines (nia and cnx) of Nicotiana tabacum have been used for in vitro reconstitution of NADH-nitrate reductase. The cnx mutants simultaneously lack NADH-,FADH₂-, red benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase, and xanthine dehydrogenase activities, but retain the nitrate reductase-associated NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity. These mutants are interpreted to be defective in the molybdenum-containing cofactor necessary for nitrate reductase activity. In the nia lines xanthine dehydrogenase activity is unaffected, and the loss of NADH-nitrate reductase is accompanied by a loss of all partial activities of nitrate reductase, including NADH-cytochrome c reductase. When cnx cells (induced by nitrate) were homogenized together with nia cells (induced by nitrate or uninduced), NADH-nitrate reductase activity was detectable in the cell extract. No nitrate reductase was observed when the cnx mutants were homogenized together, or after cohomogenization of the nia mutants. Thus, the inactive nitrate reductase molecule formed in the cnx mutants has been complemented in vitro with the molybdenum-containing cofactor supplied by nia extracts, thus giving rise to NADH-nitrate reductase activity. This result gives additional support to the interpretation that the active nitrate reductase of Nicotiana tabacum is composed of at least the NADH-cytochrome c reductase moiety and a molybdenum-containing cofactor which is formed by the action of the cnx gene product(s).     

Molybdenum cofactor in chlorate-resistant and nitrate reductase-deficient insertion mutants of Escherichia coli

We examined molybdenum cofactor activity in chlorate-resistant (chl) and nitrate reductase-deficient (nar) insertion mutants and wild-type strains of Escherichia coli K-12. The bacterial molybdenum cofactor was assayed by its ability to restore activity to the cofactor-deficient nitrate reductase found in the nit-1 strain of Neurospora crassa. In the wild-type E. coli strains, molybdenum cofactor was synthesized constitutively and found in both cytoplasmic and membrane fractions. Cofactor was found in two forms: the demolybdo form required additional molybdate in the assay mix for detection, whereas the molybdenum-containing form was active without additional molybdate. The chlA and chlE mutants had no detectable cofactor. The chlB and the narG, narI, narK, and narL (previously designated chlC) strains had cofactor levels similar to those of the wild-type strains, except the chlB strains had two to threefold more membrane-bound cofactor. Cofactor levels in the chlD and chlG strains were sensitive to molybdate. When grown in 1 microM molybdate, the chlD strains had only 15 to 20% of the wild-type levels of the demolybdo and molybdenum-containing forms of the cofactor. In contrast, the chlG strains had near wild-type levels of demolybdo cofactor when grown in 1 microM molybdate, but none of the molybdenum-containing form of the cofactor. Near wild-type levels of both forms of the cofactor were restored to the chlD and chlG strains by growth in 1 mM molybdate.     

Mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii altered in the regulation of nitrate assimilation

The two enzymes involved in the assimilatory pathway of nitrate in Azotobacter vinelandii are corregulated. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase are inducible by nitrate and nitrite. Ammonium represses induction by nitrate of both reductases. Repression by ammonium is higher in media containing 2-oxo-glutarate as carbon source than in media containing sucrose. Mutants in the gene ntrC lost nitrate and nitrite reductase simultaneously. Ten chlorate-resistant mutants with a new phenotype were isolated. In media without ammonium they had a normal phenotype, being sensitive to the toxic effect of chlorate. In media containing low ammonium concentrations they were resistant to chlorate. These mutants seem to be affected in the repression of nitrate and nitrite reductases by ammonium.     

Genetic and biochemical studies of nitrate reduction in Aspergillus nidulans

1. In Aspergillus nidulans nitrate and nitrite induce nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine reductase, and ammonium represses the three enzymes. 2. Nitrate reductase can donate electrons to a wide variety of acceptors in addition to nitrate. These artificial acceptors include benzyl viologen, 2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride, cytochrome c and potassium ferricyanide. Similarly nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine reductase (which are possibly a single enzyme in A. nidulans) can donate electrons to these same artificial acceptors in addition to the substrates nitrite and hydroxylamine. 3. Nitrate reductase can accept electrons from reduced benzyl viologen in place of the natural donor NADPH. The NADPH-nitrate-reductase activity is about twice that of reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase under comparable conditions. 4. Mutants at six gene loci are known that cannot utilize nitrate and lack nitrate-reductase activity. Most mutants in these loci are constitutive for nitrite reductase, hydroxylamine reductase and all the nitrate-induced NADPH-diaphorase activities. It is argued that mutants that lack nitrate-reductase activity are constitutive for the enzymes of the nitrate-reduction pathway because the functional nitrate-reductase molecule is a component of the regulatory system of the pathway. 5. Mutants are known at two gene loci, niiA and niiB, that cannot utilize nitrite and lack nitrite-reductase and hydroxylamine-reductase activities. 6. Mutants at the niiA locus possess inducible nitrate reductase and lack nitrite-reductase and hydroxylamine-reductase activities. It is suggested that a single enzyme protein is responsible for the reduction of nitrite to ammonium in A. nidulans and that the niiA locus is the structural gene for this enzyme. 7. Mutants at the niiB locus lack nitrate-reductase, nitrite-reductase and hydroxylamine-reductase activities. It is argued that the niiB gene is a regulator gene whose product is necessary for the induction of the nitrate-utilization pathway. The niiB mutants either lack or produce an incorrect product and consequently cannot be induced. 8. Mutants at the niiribo locus cannot utilize nitrate or nitrite unless provided with a flavine supplement. When grown in the absence of a flavine supplement the activities of some of the nitrate-induced enzymes are subnormal. 9. The growth and enzyme characteristics of a total of 123 mutants involving nine different genes indicate that nitrate is reduced to ammonium. Only two possible structural genes for enzymes concerned with nitrate utilization are known. This suggests that only two enzymes, one for the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, the other for the reduction of nitrite to ammonium, are involved in this pathway.     

Expression of a fully functional cd1 nitrite reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Pseudomonas stutzeri

Nitrite reductases are redox enzymes catalysing the one electron reduction of nitrite to nitrogen monoxide (NO) within the bacterial denitrification process. We have cloned the gene for cd(1) nitrite reductase (Pa-nirS) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa into the NiRS(-) strain MK202 of Pseudomonas stutzeri and expressed the enzyme under denitrifying conditions. In the MK202 strain, denitrification is abolished by the disruption of the endogenous nitrite reductase gene; thus, cells can be grown only in the presence of oxygen. After complementation with Pa-nirS gene, cells supplemented with nitrate can be grown in the absence of oxygen. The presence of nitrite reductase was proven in vivo by the demonstration of NO production, showing that the enzyme was expressed in the active form, containing both heme c and d(1). A purification procedure for the recombinant PaNir has been developed, based on the P. aeruginosa purification protocol; spectroscopic analysis of the purified protein fully confirms the presence of the d(1) heme cofactor. Moreover, the functional characterisation of the recombinant NiR has been carried out by monitoring the production of NO by the purified NiR enzyme in the presence of nitrite by an NO electrode. The full recovery of the denitrification properties in the P. stutzeri MK202 strain by genetic complementation with Pa-NiR underlines the high homology between enzymes of nitrogen oxianion respiration. Our work provides an expression system for cd(1) nitrite reductase and its site-directed mutants in a non-pathogenic strain and is a starting point for the in vivo study of recombinant enzyme variants.     

Nitrate reductase-deficient mutant cell lines of Nicotiana tabacum

Summary The wild-type line and 14 nitrate reductase-deficient mutant cell lines of Nicotiana tabacum were tested for the presence of nitrate reductase partial activities, and for nitrite reductase and xanthine dehydrogenase activity. Data characterizing the electron donor specificity of nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1., NADH:nitrate oxidoreductase) and nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.7.1., ferredoxin:nitrite oxidoreductase) of the wild-type line are presented. Three lines (designated cnx) simultaneously lack NADH-, FADH₂-, red. benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase, and xanthine dehydrogenase activities, but retain the nitrate reductase-associated NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity. These mutants are, therefore, interpreted to be impaired in gene functions essential for the synthesis of an active molybdenum-containing cofactor. For cnx-68 and cnx-101, the sedimentation coefficient of the defective nitrate reductase molecules does not differ from that of the wild-type enzyme (7.6S). In 11 lines (designated nia) xanthine dehydrogenase activity is unaffected, and the loss of NADH-nitrate reductase is accompanied by a loss of all partial activities, including NADH-cytochrome c reductase. However, one line (nia-95) was found to possess a partially active nitrate reductase molecule, retaining its FADH₂- and red. benzyl viologen nitrate reductase activity. It is likely that nia-95 is a mutation in the structural gene for the apoprotein. Both, the nia and cnx mutant lines exhibit nitrite reductase activity, being either nitrate-inducible or constitutive. Evidence is presented that, in Nicotiana tabacum, nitrate, without being reduced to nitrite, is an inducer of the nitrate assimilation pathway.