Role of Menaquinone in Nitrate Respiration in Staphylococcus aureus

Two menaquinone-deficient and one aromatic-deficient mutants of Staphylococcus aureus were unable to reduce nitrate to nitrite. Reinitiation of menaquinone synthesis in the aromatic-deficient mutant by growing it with shikimic acid restored its nitrate respiratory activity. The results clearly demonstrate a role for menaquinone in nitrate respiration in Staphylococcus aureus.     

铵态氮和硝态氮营养与大豆幼苗的抗氰呼吸作用

在植物体内,NO云还原成NHI是一个耗能很多的生化过程,每还原一个NO。大约要消耗15个ATP分子（Salsac等1987）。植物直接吸收和利用NHi＋,可以减少能量消耗,所节约的能量可用于植物的生长。因此,从理论上讲,供NHI的植株要比供NOt的植株能够获得更高的生物产量。然而,对于大多数植物,供NOS的植株常具有更大的生长量和产量。对于这种现象,过去人们一直在矿物质和有机物积累的差异（Robin和Salsac1985）、根际的酸化程度（Ruftv等1983,Tolley－Henry和Rapen1986）、NHt有害浓度的积累（Haynes和Goh1978）、对光合作用的…     

Light-stimulated Absorption of Nitrate by Wolffia arrhiza

The mechanism of the light-stimulated absorption of nitrate by Wolffia arrhiza was studied. The nitrate-absorption mechanism in ammonium-grown plants is stimulated by the presence of nitrate. In a manner similar to the absorption of many other ions, the absorption of nitrate follows a typical biphasic pattern in relation to external nitrate concentration. Mechanism 1 is effective at nitrate concentrations up to 0.5 to 0.75 mM and mechanism 2 becomes operative at higher nitrate levels. Light stimulates the absorption of nitrate independently of the effect of light on the reduction of nitrate. The effects of uncouplers, inhibitors, and light of wavelengths of 700 nm or longer indicate that nitrate absorption by Wolffia cells is reduced when non-cyclic electron transport is blocked. It is postulated that under this condition, ATP in the chloroplast (produced by cyclic photophosphorylation) may be less readily transported across the chloroplast envelope than when non-cyclic electron transport is proceeding.     

Trichlorfon-Induced Inhibition of Nitrate and Ammonium Uptake in Cyanobacteria

The possibility that the primary effect of the toxic insecticidetrichlorfon is an inhibition of nitrate uptake in cyanobactenahas been investigated. A drastic reduction in the rate of uptakeis detected 3 h after the addition of the insecticide to batchcultures of nabaena PCC 7119. The dose-response curves indicatea relationship between the degree of inhibition of nitrate uptakeand the reduction of chlorophyll content and growth. Nitratereductase (ferredoxin : nitrate reductase, EC 1.7.99.4[EC]) activityis also lowered as a result of insecticide action. When AnabaenaPCC 7119 cells are grown with ammonium as a source of combinednitrogen, trichlorfon reduces the rate of ammonium uptake. Therate of uptake of both nitrate and ammonium is restored uponwashing the cells. Ultrastructural analysis of Anabaena nitrate-growncells shows that trichlorfon does not damage thylakoid membranes,but brings about the accumulation of enlarged cyanophycin granulesand the increase of carboxysome number. Nitrate uptake rateand chlorophyll and phycobiliprotein contents are also reducedby insecticide treatment in the cyanobacteria SynechococcusUAM 211, GloeothecePCC 6501, Plectonema calothricoides, NostocUAM 205 and Chlorogloeopsis PCC 6912. These results are consistentwith the inhibition of nitrate uptake due to weak adsorptionof trichlorfon to the plasmalemma being the main effect of theinsecticide on cyanobacterial metabolism. Key words: Nitrate uptake, cyanobacteria, Anabaena, ammonium uptake, trichlorfon     

Inhibition of the Development of Induced Respiration and Cyanide-insensitive Respiration in Potato Tuber Slices by Cerulenin and Dimethylaminoethanol

The interdependence of the development of wound-induced respiration and membrane-related phospholipid biosynthesis in potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum var. Russet) slices was established by the use of agents which selectively affect lipid and phospholipid synthesis. Cerulenin, a specific inhibitor of de novo fatty acid synthesis, inhibited the ultimate development of wound-induced respiration and of cyanide resistance only when given in the critical first 10 to 12 hours of slice aging. Similarly, when slices were exposed to the choline analogue dimethylaminoethanol within the first 10 hours, the phospholipid composition of the membrane lipids was drastically altered, the wound-induced respiration in a 24-hr period was substantially curtailed, and the development of cyanide insensitivity was sharply inhibited. These observations indicate that time-restricted membrane-related phospholipid synthesis is prerequisite to the development of wound-induced respiration and concurrent cyanide insensitivity.     

Inhibition of Respiration in Protoplasts from Meristematic Tissues3

Owen, J. H., Hetherington, A. M. and Wellburn, A. R. 1986. Inhibitionof respiration in protoplasts from meristematic tissues by abscisicacid in the presence of calcium ions.—J. exp. Bot. 38:498–505. A study was made of the influences of abscisic acid (ABA) andcalcium ions on mitochondrial respiration in protoplasts fromcells close to the basal intercalary meristem of light-grownbarley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Patty) seedlings. This respirationwas inhibited by ABA only when calcium ions were present. Thecalcium channel agonist BAY K8644 caused a significant inhibitionof protoplast dark respiration, similar to that observed usingABA and calcium, presumably because it imitated the action ofABA by increasing calcium influx into protoplasts. These resultssuggest that ABA increases the permeability of the plasmamembraneto calcium and that calcium acts as a second messenger to regulatemitochondrial respiratory activity and thus the very early eventsassociated with plastid and meristematic cell development. Key words: Abscisic acid, calcium, meristematic respiration     

Post-transcriptional Control of Nitrate Reductase Formation in Green Algae

Cycloheximide (2·0 µg ml^–1) inhibits theincorporation of [¹⁴C]phenylalanine and [¹⁴C]adenine into insolublecompounds in Ankistrodesmus braunii. 6-Methylpurine (1·0mM) inhibits only the incorporation of [14C]adenine and it isconcluded that it inhibits RNA synthesis. When ammonium-growncells of Ankistrodesmus or Chlorella are nitrogen-starved orwhen ammonium-grown cells of Dunalitlla are resuspended in nitratemedium, the appearance of nitrate reductase in these organismsis not inhibited by 6-methylpurine. The appearance of nitratereductase activity in Ankistrodesmus or Chlorella is inhibitedby 6-methylpurine when ammonium-grown organisms are preincubatedwith this substance for 1-2 h before nitrogen starvation. Itis concluded that cells growing with ammonium and lacking nitratereductase activity nevertheless contain preformed mRNA for nitratereductase synthesis.     

Evidence for Iron-Dependent Nitrate Respiration in the Dissimilatory Iron-Reducing Bacterium Geobacter metallireducens

The dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Geobacter metallireducens was found to require iron at a concentration in excess of 50 μM for continuous cultivation on nitrate. Growth yield (~3-fold), cytochrome c content (~7-fold), and nitrate (~4.5-fold) and nitrite (~70-fold) reductase activities were all increased significantly when the growth medium was amended with 500 μM iron.     

The Involvement of Hydrogenases 1 and 2 in the Hydrogen-Dependent Nitrate Respiration of Escherichia coli

The study of Escherichia coli mutants synthesizing either hydrogenase 1 (HDK203) or hydrogenase 2 (HDK103) showed that the nitrate-dependent uptake of hydrogen by E. coli cells can be accomplished through the action of either of these hydrogenases. The capability of the cells for hydrogen-dependent nitrate respiration was found to depend on the growth conditions. E. coli cells grown anaerobically without nitrate in the presence of glucose were potentially capable of nitrate-dependent hydrogen consumption. The cells grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate exhibited a much lower capability for nitrate-dependent hydrogen consumption. The inhibitory effect of nitrate on this capability of bacterial cells was either weak (the mutant HDK203) or almost absent (the mutant HDK103) when the cells were grown in the presence of peptone and hydrogen. Hydrogen stimulated the growth of the wild-type strain and the mutant HDK103 (but not the mutant HDK203) cultivated in the medium with nitrate and peptone. These data suggest that hydrogenase 2 is much more active in catalyzing nitrate-dependent hydrogen consumption than hydrogenase 1.     

Uranyl Nitrate Inhibition of Transport Systems in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Uranyl nitrate inhibited the transport of several amino acids, a vitamin, and a disaccharide into yeast.     

Fluoride Inhibition of Respiration and Fermentation in Cultured Cells of Acer pseudoplatanus

Low concentrations of sodium fluoride severely inhibit anaerobic CO₂ evolution in Acer pseadoplatanus L. cells but have relatively little effect on aerobic respiration. The insensitivity of respiratory O₂ uptake to fluoride is due in part to the fact that fluoride reduces the intracellular pyruvate concentration to only a relatively minor extent under aerobic conditions, although it prevents the several fold increase in endogenous private which is normally brought about by anoxia. The respiratory insensitivity is also ascribable to the existence of a respiratory component which is unaffected by the decrease in endogenous private resulting from fluoride treatment. The extremely severe respiratory inhibition brought about by fluoride plus dinitrophenol is not appreciably relieved by exogenous private, indicating that this inhibition is the result of interference with the aerobic oxidation process per se and is not solely a consequence of glycolytic inhibition.     

Root Development and Absorption of Ammonium and Nitrate from the Rhizosphere

Plant roots operate in an environment that is extremely heterogeneous, both spatially and temporally. Nonetheless, under conditions of limited diffusion and against intense competition from soil microorganisms, plant roots locate and acquire vital nitrogen resources. Several factors influence the mechanisms by which roots respond to ammonium and nitrate. Nitrogen that is required for cell division and expansion derives primarily from the apex itself absorbing rhizosphere ammonium and nitrate. Root density and extension are greater in nutrient solutions containing ammonium than in those containing nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Root nitrogen acquisition alters rhizosphere pH and redox potential, which in turn regulate root cell proliferation and mechanical properties. The net result is that roots proliferate in soil zones rich in nitrogen. Moreover, plants develop thinner and longer roots when ammonium is the primary nitrogen source, an appropriate strategy for a relatively immobile nitrogen form. Present address of Alison R. Taylor: The Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK.     

Inhibition of Wheat Nitrate Reductase Activity by Zinc

The effect of Zn^2- on nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) activity was studied in botá wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Oasis) leaves and in the NR enzyme partially purified from wheat leaves. Leaf segments were floated on 0 to 5 mM ZnSO₄ solutions (pH 6.0) for 24 h under continuous light. Zn^2- at 250 M decreased NR activity and increased membrane permeability. However, parameters of cellular oxidative damage were scarcely affected by Zn^2- treatments. Accordingly, the decrease of NR activity induced by Zn^2- was not prevented by benzoate (a scavenger of oxygen radicals). The effect of Zn^2- was dependent on leaf age: it decreased NR activity in mature but not in young leaves. Zn² inhibited the partially purified NR. This inhibition was not reversed by either co- or post-incubation with cysteine, and the amount of -SH groups of the purified NR was not affected by Zn²⁺ indicating that Zn^2- inhibition does not involve key -SH groups of the enzyme. However, o-phenantroline both prevented and reversed Zn²⁺-induced NR inhibition. We concluded that the effect of Zn²⁺ on NR activity in vivo is not associated with an increase in active oxygen generation and involves a direct and reversible inhibition of the enzyme.