The occurrence of nitrate reductase in apple leaves

Nitrate reductase utilizing NADH or reduced flavin mononucleotide (FMNH₂) as electron donor was extracted from the leaves, stems and petioles, and roots of apple seedlings. Successful extraction was made possible by the use of insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (Polyclar AT) which forms insoluble complexes with polyphenols and tannins. The level of nitrate reductase per gram fresh weight was highest in the leaf tissue although the nitrate content of the roots was much higher than that of the leaves. Nitrite reductase activity was detected only in leaf extracts and was 4 times higher than nitrate reductase activity. Nitrate was found in all parts of young apple trees and trace amounts were also detected in mature leaves from mature trees. Nitrate reductase was induced in young leaves of apple seedlings and in mature leaves from 3 fruit-bearing varieties. An inhibitor of polyphenoloxidase, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole was used in both the inducing medium and the extracting medium in concentrations from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵m with no effect upon nitrate reductase activity.     

Nitrate content and nitrate reductase activity in Rumex obtusifolius L.

Summary The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of nitrogen starvation and subsequent fentilization with nitrate or ammonium on nitrate content and nitrate reductase activity of Rumex obtusifolius L. under natural conditions.When plants were transplanted to nitrate-poor media, endogenous nitrate was reduced within a few days. In parallel, nitrage reductase activities dropped to about 25% of the initial values. As a consequence of nitrate fertilization (1; 10 or 100 mmol KNO₃/l substrate), endogenous nitrate content of the plant abruptly increased within one day. In extreme cases, nitrate concentrations of up to 10% of plant dry weight could be observed without being lethal. High external nitrate concentrations caused an inhibition of nitrate reductase within the leaves, while low external concentrations provoked an increase in the enzyme activity of about 450% within one day. Ammonium fertilization (5 mmol (NH₄)₂SO₄/l substrate) also caused an increase in nitrate reductase activity and nitrate content within leaf blades. This observation indicates a rapid nitrification of ammonium in the substrate. When plants were fertilized with ammonium plus nitrate (2.5 mmol (NH₄)₂SO₄+ 5 mmol KNO₃/l substrate), an extremely high and long term increase in nitrate reduction could be observed. Due to an intensive enzymatic nitrate turnover, the nitrate content of leaf blades then remained relatively low. Our observations do not point to an inhibition of nitrate reductase activity in leaves of Rumex obtusifolius by ammonium. Despite temporarily high endogenous nitrate concentrations, Rumex obtusifolius may not be termed as a nitrate storage plant, since the accumulation of nitrate is a short term process only.     

Seasonal variations in nitrate content,total nitrogen,and nitrate reductase activities of macrophytes from a chalk stream in Upper Bavaria

Summary 11 macrophytic species from a groundwater influenced chalk stream in Upper Bavaria were investigated during a period of one year in order to determine differences in the endogenous nitrate content, in total nitrogen content and in nitrate reductase activity (NRA). Nitrate concentrations of different plants taken from the same site of the river varied by a factor of approximately 10³. A maximum of 1,958 mol NO ₃ ^- g^-1 dry w. could be measured in the petioles of Nasturtium officinale, which accounts for 12% of plant dry w. Very high values were also found in Callitriche obtusangula and Veronica angallis-aquatica. In comparison to the ambient water, mean accumulation rates of up to 131 could be found. In Fontinalis antipyretica, the plant poorest in nitrate, the ratio was only 1.24:1. Elodea canadensis belonged to a group of plants having very low nitrate concentrations. Since NRA was very low too, it is assumed that nitrogen nutrition of this species depends rather on ammonia than on nitrate. With a few exceptions nitrate content of different plant organs varied markedly. In general they were lowest in leaves and highest in shoot axes. Appreciable amounts of nitrate were also found in the roots of plants. No correlation could be found between endogenous nitrate content and NRA. In contrast to endogenous nitrate content and NRA, total nitrogen concentrations of the plants did not differ significantly.     

Interaction between electron transport at the plasma membrane and nitrate uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) roots

Summary In the present study nitrate uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) roots was investigated in the presence or absence of ferricyanide (hexacyanoferrate III) or dicumarol. Nitrate uptake caused an alkalization of the medium. Nitrate uptake of intact maize seedlings was inhibited by ferricyanide while the effect of dicumarol was not very pronounced. Nitrite was not detected in the incubation medium, neither with dicumarol-treated nor with control plants after application of 100 M nitrate to the incubation solution. In a second set of experiments interactions between nitrate and ferricyanide were investigated in vivo and in vitro. Nitrate (1 or 3 mM) did neither influence ferricyanide reductase activity of intact maize roots nor NADH-ferricyanide oxidoreductase activity of isolated plasma membranes. Nitrate reductase activity of plasma-membrane-enriched fractions was slightly stimulated by 25 M dicumarol but was not altered by 100 M dicumarol, while NADH-ferricyanide oxidoreductase activity was inhibited in the presence of dicumarol. These data suggest that plasma-membrane-bound standard-ferricyanide reductase and nitrate reductase activities of maize roots may be different. A possible regulation of nitrate uptake by plasmalemma redox activity, as proposed by other groups, is discussed.Abbreviations ADH alcohol dehydrogenase - HCF III hexacyanoferrate III (ferricyanide) - ME NADP-dependent malic enzyme - NR nitrate reductase - PM plasma membrane - PM NR nitrate reductase copurifying with plasma membranes     

Pyridine nucleotide specificity and other properties of purified nitrate reductase from Chlorella variegata

Nitrate reductase (NR) (EC 1.6.6.2) from Chlorella variegata 211/10d has been purified by blue sepharose affinity chromatography. The enzyme can utilise NADH or NADPH for nitrate reduction with apparent K _m values of 11.5 M and 14.5 M, respectively. Apparent K _m values for nitrate are 0.13 mM (NADH-NR) and 0.14 mM (NADPH-NR). The diaphorase activity of the enzyme is inhibited strongly by parachloromercuribenzoic acid; NADH or NADPH protects the enzyme against this inhibition. NR proper activity of the enzyme is partially inactive after extraction and may be activated after the addition of ferricyanide. The addition of NAD(P)H and cyanide causes a reversible inactivation of the NR proper activity although preincubation with either NADH or NADH and ADP has no significant effect.Abbreviations NR Nitrate reductase - FAD Flavin-adenine dinucleotide - FMN Riboflavin 5-phosphate - p-CMB para-Chloromercuribenzoic - BV Benzyl viologen     

The effect of endogenous and externally supplied nitrate on nitrate uptake and reduction in sugarbeet seedlings

The pericarp of the dormant sugarbeet fruit acts as a storage reservoir for nitrate, ammonium and -amino-N. These N-reserves enable an autonomous development of the seedling for 8–10 d after imbibition. The nitrate content of the seed (1% of the whole fruit) probably induces nitrate-reductase activity in the embryo enclosed in the pericarp. Nitrate that leaks out of the pericarp is reabsorbed by the emerging radicle. Seedlings germinated from seeds (pericarp was removed) without external N-supply are able to take up nitrate immediately upon exposure via a low-capacity uptake system (v_max = 0.8 mol NO ₃ ^- ·(g root FW)^–1·h^–1; K_s = 0.12 mM). We assume that this uptake system is induced by the seed nitrate (10 nmol/seed) during germination. Induction of a high-capacity nitrate-uptake system (v_max = 3.4 mol NO ₃ ^- ·(g root FW)^–1·h^–1; K_s = 0.08 mM) by externally supplied nitrate occurs after a 20-min lag and requires protein synthesis. Seedlings germinated from whole fruits absorb nitrate via a highcapacity uptake mechanism induced by the pericarp nitrate (748 nmol/pericarp) during germination. The uptake rates of the high-capacity system depend only on the actual nitrate concentration of the uptake medium and not on prior nitrate pretreatments. Nitrate deprivation results in a decline of the nitrate-uptake capacity (t_1/2 of v_max = 5 d) probably caused by the decay of carrier molecules. Small differences in K_s but significant differences in v_max indicate that the low- and high-capacity nitrate-uptake systems differ only in the number of identical carrier molecules.Abbreviations NR nitrate reductase - pFPA para-fluorophenylalanine This work was supported by a grant from Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie and by Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG, Einbeck.     

Nitrate,nitrate reduction and organic nitrogen in plants from different ecological and taxonomic groups of Central Europe

Summary 48 plant species of the families Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Polygonaceae and Urticaceae were investigated in 14 natural habitats of Central Europe having different nitrate supplies, with respect to their nitrate content, nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and organic nitrogen content. Plants that were flowering were selected where possible for analysis. The plants were subdivided into flowers, laminae, petioles+shoot axes and below-ground organs. Each organ was analyzed separately. Differences among species were found for the three variables investigated. Apart from the Fabaceae, which had particularly high concentrations of organic N, these differences reflect mainly the ecological behaviour, i.e. high nitrate and organic N contents and NRA values per g dry weight were found in species on sites rich in nitrate, and vice versa. Nitrate content, NRA and organic N content were correlated with nitrogen figures of Central European vascular plants defined by Ellenberg (1979). By use of regression equations this correlation was tested with species from other systematic groups. Some species were attributed with calculated N figures for the first time.     

Nitrate reductase in cell-free extracts ofAzotobacter

Summary 1. Nitrate reductase activity in cell-free extracts ofAzotobacter vinelandii was obtained. The enzyme is TPNH-linked and shows some stimulation by molybdenum and FMN.2. The cell-free preparations showed a strong DPNH-oxidase activity and also a slight TPNH oxidation following the addition of distilled water. The latter activity could, however, be removed by ultra-centrifugation of the enzyme extracts. However, nitrate reductase seems to be only to a small extent soluble as its main activity was associated with particles. The particles spun down were red in colour suggesting the presence of cytochromes.3. Thick cell suspensions ofA. vinelandii, A. agile, andA. chroococcum showed similar cytochrome spectra. The _max. observed suggest the presence of cytochromes of thec type (_max. at 524 and 552 mµ) anda type (_max. at 590 and 632 mµ).4. No apparent differences were observed between the cytochrome spectra ofA. vinelandii cells grown on molecular and nitrate nitrogen.     

Nitrite reduction in Bacteroids of Rhizobium “hedysari” strain HCNT 1

Ex planta, bacteroids of the sulla-symbiont Rhizobium hedysari strain HCNT 1 terminated reduction of nitrite at nitrous oxide irrespective of the presence or absence of acetylene. Nitrate was not reduced during the experimental period, but slight nitrate reductase activity occurred if incubation with nitrate was prolonged (up to 15 h). As was observed in free-living cells, exposure of the bacteroids to the metal chelator, diethyldithiocarbamate, prevented reduction of nitrite, indicating the presence of a copper-containing nitrite reductase. Pulses of 10–75 M nitrite transiently impeded O₂ uptake in bacteroids, which resumed consumption of O₂ when the nitrite had been reduced. Exposure to >1.0 mM nitrite for 24h greatly inhibited nitrogenase activity (assayed as acetylene reduction activity) of bacteroids in planta. Exposure to the same concentrations of nitrite after 1h of incubation in the presence of acetylene almost completely stopped ongoing ethylene production in bacteroids of strain HCNT 1 extracted from nodules. Free cells of the non-nitrite-reducing R. hedysari strain CC 1335 were lacking in nitrogenase (acetylene-reduction) activity, whereas identically cultured (low-oxygen) strain HCNT 1 cells reduced both nitrite and acetylene.Abbreviations PMS phenazine methosulfate - DDC diethyldithiocarbamate     

Utilization of nitrate by bacteroids of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in the soybean root nodule

Bacteroids of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain CB1809, unlike CC705, do not have a high level of constitutive nitrate reductase (NR; EC 1.7.99.4) in the soybean (Glycine max. Merr.) nodule. Ex planta both strains have a high activity of NR when cultured on 5 mM nitrate at 2% O₂ (v/v). Nitrite reductase (NiR) was active in cultured cells of bradyrhizobia, but activity with succinate as electron donor was not detected in freshly-isolated bacteroids. A low activity was measured with reduced methyl viologen. When bacteroids of CC705 were incubated with nitrate there was a rapid production of nitrite which resulted in repression of NR. Subsequently when NiR was induced, nitrite was utilized and NR activity recovered. Nitrate reductase was induced in bacteroids of strain CB1809 when they were incubated in-vitro with nitrate or nitrite. Increase in NR activity was prevented by rifampicin (10 g· ml^-1) or chloramphenicol (50 g·ml^-1). Nitrite-reductase activity in bacteroids of strain CB1809 was induced in parallel with NR. When nitrate was supplied to soybeans nodulated with strain CC705, nitrite was detected in nodule extracts prepared in aqueous media and it accumulated during storage (1°C) and on further incubation at 25°C. Nitrite was not detected in nodule extracts prepared in ethanol. Thus nitrite accumulation in nodule tissue appears to occur only after maceration and although bacteroids of some strains of B. japonicum have a high level of a constitutive NR, they do not appear to reduce nitrate in the nodule because this anion does not gain access to the bacteroid zone. Soybeans nodulated with strains CC705 and CB1809 were equally sensitive to nitrate inhibition of N₂ fixation.Abbreviations NR nitrate reductase - NiR nitrite reductase - Tris 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol     

Cadmium-Induced Changes in Leaf Epidermes, Photosynthetic Rate and Pigment Concentrations in Cajanus Cajan

Application of different concentrations of cadmium [5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 g(CdCl₂) g^–1(soil d.m.)] markedly affected leaves of Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Huth. Due to increased Cd content in leaves, stomatal density and size on abaxial epidermis, and the size of stomatal aperture and length and density of trichomes on both leaf epidermes decreased significantly in the treated plants. Net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were reduced significantly at each concentration of cadmium, whereas reduction in intercellular carbon dioxide concentration was significant at 10 g Cd onwards. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids were relatively low during early stages of plant development under the effect of Cd. Nitrate content, nitrate reductase activity and protein content were also lower in treated plants, compared with control.     

Anaerobic expression of nitric oxide reductase from denitrifying Pseudomonas stutzeri

NO reductase synthesis was investigated immunochemically and by activity assays in cells of Pseudomonas stutzeri ZoBell grown in continuous culture at discrete aeration levels, or in O₂-limited batch cultures supplemented with N oxides as respiratory substrate. Under aerobic conditions, NO reductase was not expressed in P. stutzeri. Oxygen limitation in combination with the presence of nitrate or nitrite derepressed NO reductase synthesis. On transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions in continuous culture, NO reductase was synthesized below 3% air saturation and reached maximum expression under anaerobic conditions. By use of mutant strains defective in nitrate respiration or nitrite respiration, the inducing effect of individual N oxides on NO reductase synthesis could be discriminated. Nitrite caused definite, concentration-dependent induction, while nitrate promoted moderate enzyme synthesis or amplified effects of nitrite. Exogenous nitric oxide (NO) in concentrations 25 M induced trace amounts of NO reductase; in higher concentrations it arrested cell growth. Nitrite reductase or NO reductase were not detected immunochemically under these conditions. NO generated as an intermediate appeared not to induce NO reductase significantly. Antiserum raised against the P. stutzeri NO reductase showed crossreaction with cell extracts from P. stutzeri JM300, but not with several other denitrifying pseudomonads or Paracoccus denitrificans.     

Assimilatory nitrate uptake in Pseudomonas fluorescens studied using nitrogen-13

The mechanism of nitrate uptake for assimilation in procaryotes is not known. We used the radioactive isotope, ¹³N as NO₃ ^-, to study this process in a prevalent soil bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens. Cultures grown on ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate failed to take up labeled nitrate, indicating ammonium repressed synthesis of the assimilatory enzymes. Cultures grown on nitrite or under ammonium limitation had measurable nitrate reductase activity, indicating that the assimilatory enzymes need not be induced by nitrate. In cultures with an active nitrate reductase, the form of ¹³N internally was ammonium and amino acids; the amino acid labeling pattern indicated that ¹³NO₃ ^- was assimilated via glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase. Cultures grown on tungstate to inactivate the reductase concentrated NO₃ ^- at least sixfold. Chlorate had no effect on nitrate transport or assimilation, nor on reduction in cell-free extracts. Ammonium inhibited nitrate uptake in cells with and without active nitrate reductases, but had no effect on cell-free nitrate reduction, indicating the site of inhibition was nitrate transport into the cytoplasm. Nitrate assimilation in cells grown on nitrate and nitrate uptake into cells grown with tungstate on nitrite both followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with similar K _mvalues, 7 M. Both azide and cyanide inhibited nitrate assimilation. Our findings suggest that Pseudomonas fluorescens can take up nitrate via active transport and that nitrate assimilation is both inhibited and repressed by ammonium.     

Effects of sodium on mineral nutrition in rose plants

The effects of sodium (Na⁺) ion concentration on shoot elongation, uptake of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃^?) and the activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were studied in rose plants (Rosa hybrida cv. “Lambada”). The results showed that shoot elongation was negatively correlated with sodium concentration, although no external symptoms of toxicity were observed. Nitrate uptake decreased at high sodium levels, specifically at 30 meq litre4 of sodium. As flower development was normal under high saline conditions, this could suggest that nitrogen was being mobilised from shoot and leaf reserves. Ammonium uptake was not affected by any of the salt treatments applied probably because it diffuses through the cell membrane at low concentrations. Nitrate reductase activity was reduced by 50% at 30 meq litre 1 compared with control treatment, probably due to a decrease in the free nitrate related to nitrate uptake pattern. None of the salt treatments used affected total leaf GS activity (both chloroplastic and cytosolic isoforms) or leaf NPK mineral contents. Nitrate reductase activity in leaves increased at 10 meq litre^?1 of sodium and GS activity in roots (cytosolic isoform only) followed the same pattern as NR. It is suggested that the activation of both enzymes at low salt level could be attributed to the beneficial effect of increased sulphur in the nutrient solutions.     

The Effect of Exogenous IAA and Kinetin on Nitrate Reductase,Nitrite Reductase and Glutamate Dehydrogenase Activities in Excised Pea Roots

Nitrate reductase (NO₃R) activity, nitrite reductase (NO₂R) activity and NADH₂ dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity were followed in extracts from excised pea roots incubated under aseptic conditions for 9 and 24 h in nitrate containing nutrient medium to which IAA was added in concentrations promoting lateral root formation (1 × 10^?5; 3 × 10^?5; 5 × 10^?5 M) and kinetin in concentrations which reduce lateral root formation (0.1; 1; 5 mg 1^?1, that is 4.65 × 10^?7;4.65 × 10^?6 and 2.3 × 10^?5 M). NO₃R activity was not influenced by IAA, NO₂R activity was slightly depressed by IAA after 24 h incubation and GDH activity was slightly increased after 24 h incubation in the presence of IAA. Kinetin decreased NO₃R activity significantly both after 9 h and 24 h incubation, slightly increased NO₂R activity after 9 h incubation but slightly decreased it after 24 h incubation, and did not affect GDH activity after 24 h incubation. However, when applied together with IAA, kinetin abolished the promoting effect of IAA on GDH activity. IAA neither reversed nor accentuated the effect of kinetin on NO₂R activity. Nevertheless the depressing effect of kinetin on NO₃R activity was emphasized by the presence of IAA after 9 h incubation. The results obtained indicate that reduced nitrate assimilation due to the depression of nitrate reductase activity caused by kinetin probably contributes to the negative growth effect of kinetin in pea root segments grown in nitrate medium.     

‘In vivo’ estimates of nitrate reductase activity

Summary A comparison was made of three different ways of preparing leaf material of Zea mays L. for the in vivo estimation of nitrate reductase activity. Slicing of lamineae into 1-mm strips gave the lowest overall activities and eliminated significant diurnal variation whilst the use of intact lamineae showed marked diurnal variation and the highest overall activity.     

Chemolithotrophic growth ofDesulfovibrio desulfuricans with hydrogen coupled to ammonification of nitrate or nitrite

Two of nine sulfate reducing bacteria tested,Desulfobulbus propionicus andDesulfovibrio desulfuricans (strain Essex 6), were able to grow with nitrate as terminal electron acceptor, which was reduced to ammonia. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was grown in chemostat culture with hydrogen plus limiting concentrations of nitrate, nitrite or sulfate as sole energy source. Growth yields up to 13.1, 8.8 or 9.7 g cell dry mass were obtained per mol nitrate, nitrite or sulfate reduced, respectively. The apparent half saturation constants (K _s) were below the detection limits of 200, 3 or 100 mol/l for nitrate, nitrite of sulfate, respectively. The maximum growth rates {ie63-1} raised from 0.124 h^-1 with sulfate and 0.150 h^-1 with nitrate to 0.193 h^-1 with nitrite as electron acceptor. Regardless of the electron acceptor in the culture medium, cell extracts exhibited absorption maxima corresponding to cytochromec and desulfoviridin. Nitrate reductase was found to be inducible by nitrate or nitrite, whereas nitrite reductase was synthesized constitutively. The activities of nitrate and nitrite reductases with hydrogen as electron donor were 0.2 and 0.3 mol/min·mg protein, respectively. If limiting amounts of hydrogen were added to culture bottles with nitrate as electron acceptor, part of the nitrate was only reduced to the level of nitrite. In media containing nitrate plus sulfate or nitrite plus sulfate, sulfate reduction was suppressed.The results demonstrate that the ammonification of nitrate or nitrite can function as sole energy conserving process in some sulfate-reducing bacteria.     

Comparison of diurnal changes in nitrate and potassium contents in lucerne shoots

During 195-min light exposure following 5 d in dark, nitrate content was studied in different organs of lucerne plants in early bud stage. Nitrate content varied considerably especially in stems. Rapid diurnal variations in nitrate content were found in lower and upper halves of stems, in petioles and in leaf blades. The results reflected discontinuous nitrate movement in lucerne shoots. The positive correlation between the diurnal course of the nitrate and potassium contents in different plant organs showed that the K⁺ transport followed the NO₃ ^? transport. Similar diurnal changes were found also in Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents. Discontinuous salt movements occurring in xylem sap flow were in contrary to continuous transpiration stream and could be a consequence of temporary adsorption or binding of salts in xylem vessels.     

Nitrate reductase activity in corn seedlings as influenced byArthrobacter sp.

Summary Nitrate reductase activity has been assayed in corn seedlings grown in a nutrient solution containing different concentrations of nitrate and inoculated withArthrobacter sp. The enzymatic activity was greatly enhanced especially at the levels of NO₃-ions suboptimal for the maximum induction. The ability of synthetic phytohormones (IAA, IPA and GA₃) in inducting nitrate reductase activity has been also texted.