Ammonium and methylammonium uptake in a fertilizer-degrading strain of Ochrobactrum anthropi

The transport of ammonium and methylammonium was studied in a strain of Ochrobactrum anthropi, a microorganism isolated from garden soil and able to degrade methyleneureas which are used as slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. The activity of both transport systems was determined using [¹⁴C]methylammonium. Differences between the two transport systems were observed with regard to their pH- and temperature dependence as well as their kinetic parameters and regulation during growth with various nitrogen sources. Ammonium transport was subject to repression by ammonium and to derepression in its absence, while the methylammonium carrier was induced in the presence of methylamine. The ammonium but not the methylammonium transport system was severely inhibited by ammonium, and metabolic poisons inhibited both uptake systems. The analysis of intracellular metabolites using thin-layer chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry indicated that methylammonium was rapidly metabolized to N-methylglutamate via -N-methylglutamine.     

Biochemical characterization of a singular mutant of nitrate reductase from Chlamydomonas reinhardii. New evidence for a heteropolymeric enzyme structure

A singular mutant strain from Chlamydomohas reinhardii defective in nitrate reductase has been characterized. Mutant 301 possesses an ammonia-repressible NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase with the same charge and size properties as the low molecular weight ammonia-repressible diaphorase present in the wild-type strain 6145c and is also able to reconstitute NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase activity by in vitro complementation with reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase from mutant 305. Furthermore, a heat-labile costitutive molybdenum cofactor which is fuctionally active is also present in mutant 301. Mutant 301 has the two requirements exhibited by the active nitrate reductase complex from fungi, namely, NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase activity and molybdenum cofactor, but lacks NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase activity. This fact together with biochemical data presented from other C. reinhardii mutants strongly suggest a heteropolymeric model for the nitrate reductase complex of the alga.     

Methylammonium-resistant mutants ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia are affected in nitrate transport

This work reports the isolation and preliminary characterization ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia mutants resistant to methylammonium.Nicotiana plumbaginifolia plants cannot grow on low levels of nitrate in the presence of methylammonium. Methylammonium is not used as a nitrogen source, although it can be efficiently taken up byNicotiana plumbaginifolia cells and converted into methylglutamine, an analog of glutamine. Glutamine is known to repress the expression of the enzymes that mediate the first two steps in the nitrate assimilatory pathway, nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR). Methylammonium has therefore been used, in combination with low concentrations of nitrate, as a selective agent in order to screen for mutants in which the nitrate pathway is de-repressed. Eleven semi-dominant mutants, all belonging to the same complementation group, were identified. The mutant showing the highest resistance to methylammonium was not affected either in the utilization of ammonium, accumulation of methylammonium or in glutamine synthase activity. A series of experiments showed that utilization of nitrite by the wild-type and the mutant was comparable, in the presence or the absence of methylammonium, thus suggesting that the mutation specifically affected nitrate transport or reduction. Although NR mRNA levels were less repressed by methylammonium treatment of the wild-type than the mutant, NR activities of the mutant remained comparable with or without methylammonium, leading to the hypothesis that modified expression of NR is probably not responsible for resistance to methylammonium. Methylammonium inhibited nitrate uptake in the wild-type but had only a limited effect in the mutant. The implications of these results are discussed.     

The role of glutamine in regulation of ammonium transport in Azotobacter vinelandii

Under N₂-fixing conditions, Azotobacter vinelandii expresses a specific transport system for methylammonium (ammonium) [E. M. Barnes, Jr. and P. Zimniak (1981) J. Bacteriol. 146, 512–516]. This activity is decreased markedly by culture of cells in the presence of 10 mm ammonium or 2 mm methylammonium; in both cases, the V_max values for methylammonium uptake were 25% of those of N₂-fixing cells. Mixing experiments with assay medium indicate that transport activity is controlled by intracellular rather than extracellular metabolites. Glutamine synthetase activity of cells cultured with ammonium was 33% that of N₂-fixing cultures, but activity was unaffected by incubation with methylammonium. Thus ammonium transport and ammonium fixation are regulated independently. When ammonium was removed from the medium, cells recovered over 90% of the initial transport activity after 1 h; this recovery was not affected by addition of chloramphenicol. The loss of uptake activity in cells incubated with ammonium or methylammonium correlated with over sixfold increases in intracellular levels of glutamine and γ-glutamylmethylamide, respectively. Recovery of transport was accompanied by similar reductions in pools of these compounds. Over one-half of methylammonium transport activity could be blocked by direct addition of 10 mm glutamine or γ-glutamylmethylamide to transport assays; these concentrations were similar to those observed in vivo. The glutamine analog, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine, was the most potent inhibitor found (68% inhibition at 10 μm). These results indicate that the regulation of ammonium transport by ammonium and methylammonium is due to inhibition of the transporter by intracellular γ-glutamyl amides rather than by repression of transporter synthesis.     

Methylammonium-resistant mutants ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia are affected in nitrate transport

This work reports the isolation and preliminary characterization ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia mutants resistant to methylammonium.Nicotiana plumbaginifolia plants cannot grow on low levels of nitrate in the presence of methylammonium. Methylammonium is not used as a nitrogen source, although it can be efficiently taken up byNicotiana plumbaginifolia cells and converted into methylglutamine, an analog of glutamine. Glutamine is known to repress the expression of the enzymes that mediate the first two steps in the nitrate assimilatory pathway, nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR). Methylammonium has therefore been used, in combination with low concentrations of nitrate, as a selective agent in order to screen for mutants in which the nitrate pathway is de-repressed. Eleven semi-dominant mutants, all belonging to the same complementation group, were identified. The mutant showing the highest resistance to methylammonium was not affected either in the utilization of ammonium, accumulation of methylammonium or in glutamine synthase activity. A series of experiments showed that utilization of nitrite by the wild-type and the mutant was comparable, in the presence or the absence of methylammonium, thus suggesting that the mutation specifically affected nitrate transport or reduction. Although NR mRNA levels were less repressed by methylammonium treatment of the wild-type than the mutant, NR activities of the mutant remained comparable with or without methylammonium, leading to the hypothesis that modified expression of NR is probably not responsible for resistance to methylammonium. Methylammonium inhibited nitrate uptake in the wild-type but had only a limited effect in the mutant. The implications of these results are discussed.     

In vitro complementation of assimilatory NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase from mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardii

In vitro complementation of the soluble assimilatory NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase (NAD(P)H:nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.2) was attained by mixing cell-free preparations of Chlamydomonas reinhardii mutant 104, uniquely possessing nitrate-inducible NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase, and mutant 305 which possesses solely the nitrate-inducible FMNH₂- and reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase activities.Full activity and integrity of NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase from mutant 104 and reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase from mutant 305 are needed for the complementation to take place.A constitutive and heat-labile molybdenum-containing cofactor, that reconstitutes the NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase activity of nit-1 Neurospora crassa but is incapable of complementing with 104 from C. reinhardii, is present in the wild type and 305 algal strains.The complemented NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase has been purified 100-fold and was found to be similar to the wild enzyme in sucrose density sedimentation, molecular size, pH optimum, kinetic parameters, substrate affinity and sensitivity to inhibitors and temperature.From previous data and data presented in this article on 104 and 305 mutant activities, it is concluded that C. reinhardii NAD(P)H-nitrate reductase is a heteromultimeric complex consisting of, at least, two types of subunits separately responsible for the NAD(P)H-cytochrome c reductase and the reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase activities.     

Occurrence of xanthine dehydrogenase in Chlamydomonas reinhardii: A common cofactor shared by xanthine dehydrogenase and nitrate reductase

Wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardii cells have xanthine dehydrogenase activity when grown with nitrate, nitrite, urea, or amino acid media. Mutant strains 102, 104, and 307 of Chlamydomonas, lacking both xanthine dehydrogenase and nitrate reductase activities, were incapable of restoring the NADPH-nitrate reductase activity of the mutant nit-1 of Neurospora crassa, whereas wild type cells and mutants 203 and 305 had xanthine dehydrogenase and were able to reconstitute the nitrate reductase activity of nit-1 of Neurospora. Therefore, it is concluded that in Chlamydomonas a common cofactor is shared by xanthine dehydrogenase and nitrate reductase. Xanthine dehydrogenase is repressed by ammonia and seems to be inessential for growth of Chlamydomonas.     

Localization and characterization of cytochromes from membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli K-12 grown in anaerobiosis with nitrate

Cytochromes b of anaerobically nitrate-grown Escherichia coli cells are analysed. Ascorbate phenazine methosulfate distinguishes low and high potential cytochromes b. Reduction kinetics performed at 559 nm presents a very complex pattern which can be analysed assuming that at least four b-type cytochromes are present. The electron transport chain from formate to oxygen would contain a low potential cytochrome b-556, a cytochrome b-558 associated to the oxidase, and a cytochrome d as the principal oxidase. Cytochrome o is also present, but seems to be functional only at low oxygen concentrations. A cytochrome b-556 associated to nitrate reductase is shown to belong to a branch of the formate-oxidase chain.2-N-Heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide affects the reduction kinetics in a very complex way. One inhibition site is in evidence between cytochrome b-558 and cytochrome d; another between the cytochrome associated to nitrate reductase and the nitrate reductase. A third inhibition site is located in the common part of the formate-nitrate and the formate-oxidase systems.Ascorbate phenazine methosulfate is shown to donate electrons near cytochrome b-558.     

Selection and organisation of denitrifying electron-transfer pathways in Paracoccus denitrificans

(1) Under anaerobic conditions the respiratory chain in cells of Paracoccus denitrificans, from late exponential cultures grown anaerobically with nitrate as electron acceptor and succinate as carbon source, has been shown to reduce added nitrate via nitrite and nitrous oxide to nitrogen without any accumulation of these intermediates. (2) Addition of nitrous oxide to cells reducing nitrate strongly inhibited the latter reaction. The inhibition was reversed by preventing electron flow to nitrous oxide with either antimycin or acetylene. Electron flow to nitrous oxide thus resembles electron flow to oxygen in its inhibitory effect on nitrate reduction. In contrast, addition of nitrite to an anaerobic suspension of cells reducing nitrate resulted in a stimulation of nitrate reductase activity. Usually, addition of nitrite also partially overcame the inhibitory effect of nitrous oxide on nitrate reduction. The reason why added nitrous oxide, but not nitrite, inhibits nitrate reduction is suggested to be related to the higher reductase activity of the cells for nitrous oxide compared with nitrite. Explanations for the unexpected stimulation of nitrate reduction by nitrite in the presence or absence of added nitrous oxide are considered. (3) Nitrous oxide reductase was shown to be a periplasmic protein that competed with nitrite reductase for electrons from reduced cytochrome c. Added nitrous oxide strongly inhibited the reduction of added nitrite. (4) Nitrite reductase activity of cells was strongly inhibited by oxygen in the presence of physiological reductants, but nitrite reduction did occur in the presence of oxygen when isoascorbate plus N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine was the reductant. It is concluded that competition for available electrons by two oxidases, cytochrome aa₃ and cytochrome o, severely restricted electron flow to the nitrite reductase (cytochrome cd). For this reason it is unlikely that the oxidase activity of this cytochrome is ever functional in cells. (5) The mechanism by which electron flow to oxygen or nitrous oxide inhibits nitrate reduction in cells has been investigated. It is argued that relatively small changes in the extent of reduction of ubiquinone, or of another component of the respiratory chain with similar redox potential, critically determine the capacity for reducing nitrate. The argument is based on: (i) the response of an anthroyloxystearic acid fluorescent probe that is sensitive to changes in the oxidation state of ubiquinone; (ii) consideration of the total rates of electron flow through ubiquinone both in the presence of oxygen and in the presence of nitrate under anaerobic conditions; (iii) use of relative extents of oxidation of b-type cytochromes as an indicator of ubiquinone redox state, especially the finding that b-type cytochrome of the antimycin-sensitive part of the respiratory chain is more oxidised in the presence of added nitrous oxide, which inhibits nitrate reduction, than in the presence of added nitrite which does not inhibit. Arguments against b- or c-type cytochromes themselves controlling nitrate reduction are given. (6) In principle, control on nitrate reduction could be exerted either upon electron flow or upon the movement of nitrate to the active site of its reductase. The observations that inverted membrane vesicles and detergent-treated cells reduced nitrate and oxygen simultaneously at a range of total rates of electron flow are taken to support the latter mechanism. The failure of an additional reductant, durohydroquinone, to activate nitrate reduction under aerobic conditions in the presence of succinate is also evidence that it is not an inadequate supply of electrons that prevents the functioning of nitrate reductase under aerobic conditions. (7) In inverted membrane vesicles the division of electron flow between nitrate and oxygen is determined by a competition mechanism, in contrast to cells. This change in behaviour upon converting cells to vesicles cannot be attributed to loss of cytochrome c, and therefore of oxidase activity, from the vesicles because a similar change in behaviour was seen with vesicles prepared from cells of a cytochrome c-deficient mutant.     

Further Characterization of Nitrate and Nitrite Reductases from Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The enzymes responsible for nitrate reduction in Chlamydomonas reinhardii, namely NADH-nitrate reductase and ferredoxin-nitrite reductase, have been further characterized. The first activity of the nitrate reducing complex, NADH-diaphorase, is protected by FAD against thermic inactivation. This fact suggests an important structural and functional role for this nucleotide in the first moiety of the nitrate reductase complex. The effect of p-hydroxymercuribenzoate on the diaphorase activity and the protection by NADH against its inactivation indicate that some—SH groups participate in the electron transfer mediated by diaphorase. Radioactive labelling of nitrate reductase with ⁹⁹Mo and ¹⁸⁵W as well as competition experiments between Mo and W indicate that molybdenum is an essential component of terminal nitrate reductase activity. Iron seems to participate in the redox processes mediated by both nitrate and nitrite reductases as suggested by experiments performed at physiological level. Finally a tentative mechanism for the whole process of nitrate assimilation in Chlamydomonas is proposed.     

Nitrate Reductase and Chlorate Toxicity in Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck

A study of the growth-inhibiting effect of chlorate on the Berlin strain of Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck provided complete confirmation of the theory of chlorate toxicity first proposed by Åberg in 1947. Chlorate was toxic to the cells growing on nitrate, and relatively nontoxic to the cells growing on ammonium. The latter cells contained only 0.01 as much NADH-nitrate reductase as the nitrate-grown cells. Chlorate could substitute for nitrate as a substrate of the purified nitrate reductase with Km = 1.2 mm, and V_max = 0.9V_max for nitrate. Bromate, and to a much smaller extent, iodate, also served as alternate substrates. Nitrate is a reversible competitive inhibitor of chlorate reduction, which accounts for the partial reversal, by high nitrate concentrations, of the observed inhibition of cell growth by chlorate. During the reduction of chlorate by NADH in the presence of purified nitrate reductase, there was a progressive, irreversible inhibition of the enzyme activity, presumably brought about by the reduction product, chlorite. Both the NADH-nitrate reductase activity and the associated NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity were inactivated to the same extent by added chlorite. The spectral properties of the cytochrome b₅₅₇ associated with the purified enzyme were not affected by chlorite. The inactivation of the nitrate reductase by chlorite could account for the toxicity of chlorate to cells grown on nitrate, though the destruction of other cell components by chlorite or its decomposition products cannot be excluded.     

Spectral Dependence of Photoregulation of Inorganic Nitrogen Metabolism in Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The utilization of NO₃⁻ by green algae growing photoautotrophically under air, which are growth conditions close to their more habitual situations in nature, is associated with the excretion of NO₂⁻ and NH₄⁺ to the culture medium. The entire process is promoted by blue light and depends on photosynthetically active radiation for the required reducing equivalents. The stimulation of NO₃⁻ utilization and of its associated NO₂⁻ and NH₄⁺ excretions saturated at very low quantum fluxes of blue light (15 microequivalents per square meter per second) in Chlamydomonas reinhardii cells sparged with CO₂-free air and irradiated with 50 microequivalents per square meter per second background red light. The wavelength dependence data of this stimulation correlated closely with the in situ photoactivation of nitrate reductase and also with the light induced increase in its biosynthesis and/or assembly.

These results indicate that the photoregulation of inorganic N metabolism in C. reinhardii is mainly due to the blue light modulation of nitrate reductase. Although flavins are the most suitable candidates to act as physiological photoreceptors, the wavelength dependence data only show a major peak in the blue region between 400 and 500 nanometers.

     

Different effects of 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide on oxygen and nitrate respiration in Klebsiella aerogenes

The inhibition of the oxidase and respiratory nitrate reductase activity in membrane preparations from Klebsiella aerogenes by 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HQNO) has been investigated. Addition of HQNO only slightly affected the aerobic steady-state reduction of cytochrome b₅₅₉ with NADH, but caused a significantly lower nitrate reducing steady-state of this cytochrome. The changes in the redox states of the cytochromes during a slow transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions in the presence and absence of HQNO showed that the inhibition site of HQNO is located before cytochrome d. Inhibition patterns obtained upon titration of the NADH oxidase and NADH nitrate reductase activity with HQNO indicated one site of inhibitor interaction in the NADH nitrate reductase pathway and suggested a multilocated inhibition of the NADH oxidase pathway. Difference spectra with ascorbate-dichlorophenolindophenol as electron donor indicated the presence of a cytochrome b₅₆₃ component which was not oxidized by nitrate, but was rapidly oxidized by oxygen. The latter oxidation was prevented by HQNO. A scheme for the electron transport to oxygen and nitrate is presented. In the pathway to oxygen, HQNO inhibits both at the electron-accepting side of cytochrome b₅₅₉ and at the electron-donating side of cytochrome b₅₆₃, whereas in the pathway to nitrate, inhibition occurs only at the electron-accepting side of cytochrome b₅₅₉.     

The participation of cytochromes in the process of nitrate respiration in Klebsiella (Aerobacter) aerogenes

1. The participation of cytochromes in the membrane-bound, nitrate and oxygen respiratory systems of Klebsiella (Aerobacter) aerogenes has been investigated. The membrane preparations contained the NADH, succinate, lactate and formate oxidase systems, and in addition a high respiratory nitrate reductase activity.2. Difference spectra indicated the presence of cytochromes b, a₁, d, and o. Cytochromes of the c-type could not be detected in these membranes. Both cytochrome b content and respiratory nitrate reductase activity were the highest in bacteria grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate.3. Cytochrome b was the only cytochrome which, after being reduced by NADH, could be partially reoxidized anaerobically in the presence of nitrate. Furthermore, nitrate caused a lower aerobic steady state reduction only of cytochrome b.4. NADH oxidase and NADH-linked respiratory nitrate reductase activities were both inhibited by antimycin A, 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide and KCN. NADH oxidase activity was selectively inhibited by CO, while azide was found to inhibit only the respiratory nitrate reductase. In the presence of azide, nitrate did not affect the level of reduction of cytochrome b.5. The evidence presented suggests that cytochrome b is a carrier in the electron transport systems to both nitrate and oxygen; from cytochrome b branching occurs, with one branch linked to the respiratory nitrate reductase and one branch linked to oxidase systems, containing the cytochromes a₁, d and o.     

Effects of methylammonium and ofL-methionine-DL-sulfoximine on the growth and nitrogen metabolism ofPhaeodactylum tricornutum

Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin grew well withL-methionine-DL-sulfoximine (MSX) as sole nitrogen source. Such growth helps to explain the lack of effect of MSX on ammonium assimilation by this organism. Methylammonium inhibited growth with nitrate or MSX as sole nitrogen source but not growth on ammonium. Methylammonium could not be metabolised byP. tricornutum but was accumulated in the cells, the concentration factor sometimes approaching 25,000. Ammonium addition, but not that of MSX or nitrate, displaced methylammonium from the cells and this displacement was followed by resumption of growth. Both methylammonium and ammonium inhibited the uptake of nitrate and nitrite by the cells but inhibition by methylammonium, in comparison with that by ammonium, required a higher concentration and a longer time to develop. Inhibition by methylammonium is shown to be associated with its accumulation by the cells. Methylammonium also prevented the disappearance of nitrate from the interior of the cells (presumably by nitrate assimilation) whereas ammonium did not. It is concluded that methylammonium and ammonium differ in the ways in which they inhibit nitrate metabolism inP. tricornutum.Abbreviation MSX L-methionine-DL-sulfoximine     

Nitrite oxidase and nitrate reductase in Nitrobacter agilis

Nitrite oxidase and nitrate reductase in Nitrobacter agilis were shown to be separate enzymes. The best separation of the two systems was achieved by ammonium sulphate fractionation. The effects of various compounds, including antimycin A, 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide and chlorate, also clearly distinguish between the two enzyme reactions. The relationship between the two opposing reactions in Nitrobacter is discussed.     

Loss of Nitrous Oxide Reductase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cultured under N2O as Determined by Rocket Immunoelectrophoresis

The mass ratio of nitrous oxide reductase to total protein in the soluble protein fraction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P2 was highest in cells grown on nitrate, decreased in cells grown on N₂O following the exhaustion of the initial charge of nitrate, and was nearly zero in cells exposed solely to N₂O.     

Nitrate reductase activity and growth in Paul's Scarlet rose suspension cultures in relation to nitrogen source and molybdenum

Growth and nitrate reductase activity were measured in Paul's Scarlet rose cell suspensions, cultured in media purified from molybdenum and containing nitrate or urea as sole nitrogen source with or without added Mo. Urea could replace nitrate to yield 80% of the fresh weight in nitrate medium. Nitrate reductase activities were compared by in vivo and in vitro assays. The latter varied due to inactivation during extraction. Compared with activities in cells in complete NO₃ ^- medium, activity in NO₃ ^--Mo cells was reduced to 30% and, in urea-grown cells, to trace amounts. Increases in nitrate reductase activity were found when NO₃ ^- alone was added to NO₃ ^- or urea+Mo cultures. In NO₃ ^--Mo cultures, Mo alone or with NO₃ ^- caused a similar increase in activity, whereas urea-Mo cultures required both NO₃ ^- and Mo for enzyme induction.Abbreviations FAD flavin adenine dinucleotide - Mo molybdenum - NADH reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide - NO₃ ^-+Mo standard MX₁ culture medium - NO₃ ^--Mo MX₁ medium purified of Mo and used for continuous subculture with nitrate - NR nitrate reductase - PSR Paul's Scarlet rose - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone - U urea - U+Mo MX₁ medium containing urea instead of nitrate - U-Mo MX₁ medium containing urea instead of nitrate and also purified of Mo     

Two different carriers transport both ammonium and methylammonium in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

A new methylammonium-resistant mutant strain from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, henceforth termed 2172 (ma-2), has been isolated. This mutant is affected in a single mendelian gene different from and linked to the ma-1 locus which is defective in the methylammonium-resistant mutant 2170. Both mutations in ma-1 (2170) and ma-2 (2172) are linked to the nit-1 gene coding for the nitrate reductase apoenzyme. Mutant 2172 is affected in methylammonium but not in ammonium uptake capacity and shows derepressed nitrate and nitrite reductase activities in media containing nitrate plus methylammonium but not in nitrate plus ammonium media. The following two enzymatic components for the transport of both ammonium and methylammonium in wild-type cells have been identified: component 1, with high Vmax and K values, which is constitutive, and component 2, with low Vmax and K values, which is ammonium-repressible. Mutant 2170 lacks component 1 whereas mutant 2172 lacks component 2 for both methylammonium and ammonium transport. From genetic and kinetic evidences we conclude that in C. reinhardtii two different carriers are responsible for the transport of both ammonium and methylammonium and that methylammonium (ammonium) transport is a reversible process probably inhibited by the intracellular ammonium which, in turn, regulates nitrate and nitrite reductase levels.