Nitrate reductase inactivating factor from rice seedlings

A nitrate reductase inactivating factor was found in extractsof leaf blades, leaf sheaths, and roots of rice seedlings. Thefactor was nondialyzable, precipitable with (NH₄)₂SO₄, and heatlabile. The factor from rice roots inactivated NADH nitratereductase, FMNH2 nitrate reductase, and NADH cytochrome c reductasefrom rice shoots, but had no effect on the activities of NADHdiaphorase and nitrite reductase. The factors from rice shoots,rice roots, and maize roots inactivated NADH nitrate reductaseprepared from cultured rice cells. The factor from culturedrice cells also inactivated rice shoot NADH nitrate reductase. The activity of the inactivating factor showed a diurnal changein shoots of rice seedlings grown with NO₃– medium, althoughthe fluctuation was not large compared to that of NADH nitratereductase activity. When the seedlings were placed in darkness,the activity of the factor did not change during 20 hr withNO₃– medium. However, the activity of the factor fluctuatedwith NO₃– -free medium in light; its activity startedto increase at the 8th hour after transfer. NADH nitrate reductaseactivity from rice shoots declined rapidly during the first8 hr and gradually thereafter in both types of culture. (Received August 24, 1977; )     

Influence of ammonium and nitrate nutrition on the pyridine and adenine nucleotides of soybean and sunflower

Total pyridine nucleotide concentration of root tissue for young soybean (Glycine max var. Bansei) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var. Mammoth Russian) plants is the same with either ammonium or nitrate, but nitrate results in an increased proportion of total oxidized plus reduced NADP (NADP[H]) seemingly at the expense of NAD. The activity of NADH- and NADPH-dependent forms of glutamic acid dehydrogenase is correlated with the ratio of total oxidized plus reduced NAD to NADP(H). The low NAD: NADH ratio maintained in nitrate roots despite active NADH utilization via nitrate reductase and glutamic acid dehydrogenase may be the result of nitrate-stimulated glycolysis. Nitrate roots also maintain a high level of NADPH, presumably by the stimulatory effect of nitrate utilization on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. In the presence of nitrate rather than ammonium, the highly active nitrate-reducing leaves of soybean show a greater proportion of total pyridine nucleotide in the form of NADP(H) than do the inactive leaves of sunflower.     

The role of nitrate reduction in the anoxic metabolism of roots II. Anoxic metabolism of tobacco roots with or without nitrate reductase activity

The effects of root anoxia on a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) wild type (WT) and a transformant (LNR-H) lacking root nitrate reductase were compared. LNR-H plants were visibly more sensitive to oxygen deprivation than WT, showing rapid and heavy wilting symptoms. LNR-H roots also produced substantially more ethanol and lactate than WT roots under anoxia, and their sugar and sugar-P content, as well as their ATP levels, remained higher. The fermentation rates of WT and LNR-H roots were unaffected by sugar feeding and the higher fermentation rate in the LNR-H roots was associated with a greater acidification of the cytoplasm under anoxia. From these observations it is concluded: (i) that the absence of NR activity in the LNR-H roots does not necessarily limit NADH recycling; and (ii) that nitrate reduction in the WT roots results in a more acidifying metabolism. It is the higher metabolic rate in the LNR-H roots that leads to the greater cytoplasmic acidification under anoxia despite the absence of a contribution from the metabolism of nitrate. Competition for NADH cannot explain this difference in metabolic rate, and it remains unclear why the NR-free LNR-H, and tungstate-treated WT roots, had much higher fermentation rates than WT roots. The difference in anaerobic metabolism could still be due to the presence or absence of nitrate reductase and the possibility that this could occur through the production of nitric oxide is discussed.     

Hysteretic behavior of nitrate reductase. Evidence of an allosteric binding site for reduced pyridine nucleotides.

In the absence of NADH, at 25 degrees C, partially purified NADH:nitrate reductase undergoes an approximately 50% reduction of its initial activity during 2 h. With the increase of inactivation, the NADH and nitrite concentration time curves become typical "sigmoidal," i.e. the reaction velocity of the nitrate reductase catalyzed reaction goes through a maximum before equilibrium is reached. About 80% of the original activity of nitrate reductase is restored when the enzyme is incubated for 2 min with 200 microM NADH or NADPH. Also other NADH substrate analogues have similar effects in restoring the lost activity. After incubation with the reduced pyridine nucleotides, the sigmoidal appearance of the NADH concentration time curve disappears almost completely. Despite the fact that NADPH increases the activity of the enzyme, NADPH does not show any competition with the NADH-binding site of nitrate reductase and does not produce nitrite in the absence of NADH. It is therefore concluded that there must be an additional allosteric site which binds either NADH or NADPH, or other pyridine nucleotides with the effect of increasing the activity of the enzyme. A kinetic model is presented which simulates the observed experimental findings.     

Nitrate reductase induction and molecular characterization in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Barley nitrate reductase cDNA clone bNRp10 was used as a hybridization probe to screen a genomic DNA library of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar M201. Two different lambda clones were isolated, subcloned to plasmids, and partially characterized. The subclone pHBH1 was tentatively identified as encoding a NADH nitrate reductase. Southern and dot blot analysis suggest that, in rice, nitrate reductase is encoded by a small gene family. Regulation of NADH nitrate reductase was investigated in rice cultivars Labelle and M201 representing the subspecies indica and japonica, respectively. In the absence of nitrate, only trace levels of nitrate reductase activity and mRNA were detected in seedling leaves. Upon addition of nitrate to seedling roots, nitrate reductase activity and mRNA increased rapidly in leaves. Nitrate reductase activity continued to increase over a 24 h period, but the mRNA accumulation peaked at about 6 h and then declined. Western blot analysis with a barley NADH nitrate reductase antiserum showed the presence of two bands of approximately 115 and 105 kDa. These protein bands were not detected in extracts of tissue grown in the absence of nitrate.     

Effect of Exogenous Nitrate on Anaerobic Metabolism in Excised Rice Roots: II. FERMENTATIVE ACTIVITY AND ADENYLIC ENERGY CHARGE

Reggiani, R., Brambilla, I. and Bertani, A. 1985. Effect ofexogenous nitrate on anaerobic metabolism in excised rice roots.II Fermentative activity and adenylic energy charge.—J.exp. Bot 36: 1698–1704. The presence of nitrate in the culture medium of excised sterilerice roots stimulated CO₂ and ethanol evolution and, to a smallerextent, alanine accumulation. The increased anaerobic carbohydrateconsumption observed in roots grown on nitrate is consistentwith the constantly higher level of adenylic energy charge.An hypothesis serving to explain the evidence concerning theeffect of nitrate on anaerobically grown rice roots is proposed. Key words: Anaerobiosis, ethanol, nitrate, alanine, adenylic energy charge     

Light and dark assimilation of nitrate in plants

Abstract. Heterotrophic assimilation of nitrate in roots and leaves in darkness is closely linked with the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. The supply of glucose-6-phosphate to roots and chloroplasts in leaves in darkness is essential for assimilation of nitrite into amino acids. When green leaves are exposed to light, the key enzyme, glucoses-phosphate dehydrogenase, is inhibited by reduction with thioredoxin. Hence the dark nitrate assimilatory pathway is inhibited under photoautotrophic conditions and replaced by regulatory reactions functioning in light. On account of direct photo-synthetic reduction of nitrite in chloroplasts and availability of excess NADH for nitrate reduclase, the rate of nitrate assimilation is extremely rapid in light. Under dark anaerobic conditions also nitrate is equally rapidly reduced to nitrite on account of abolition of competition for NADH between nitrate reductase and mitochondrial oxidation.     

Influence of ammonium and nitrate nutrition on enzymatic activity in soybean and sunflower

Under conditions of controlled pH, nitrate and ammonium are equally effective in supporting the growth of young soybean (Glycine max var. Bansei) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var., Mammoth Russian) plans. Soybean contains an active nitrate reductase in roots and leaves, but the low specific activity of this enzyme in sunflower leaves indicates a dependency upon the roots for nitrate reduction. Suppression of nitrate reductase activity in sunflower leaves may be due to high concentrations of ammonia received from the roots. Nitrate reductase activity in leaves of nitrate-supplied soybean and sunflower follows closely the distribution of nitrate reductase. For the roots of both species, glutamic acid dehydrogenase activity was greater with ammonium than with nitrate. The glutamic acid dehydrogenase of ammonium roots is wholly NADH-dependent, whereas that of nitrate roots is active with NADH and NADPH. In leaves, an NADPH-dependent glutamic acid dehydrogenase appears to be responsible for the assimilation of translocated ammonia and ammonia formed by nitrate reduction.     

Mode of action of natural inactivator proteins from corn and rice on a purified assimilatory nitrate reductase

The molecular basis for the action of two natural inactivator proteins, isolated from rice and corn, on a purified assimilatory nitrate reductase has been examined by several physical techniques. Incubation of purified Chlorella nitrate reductase with either rice inactivator protein or corn inactivator protein results in a loss of NADH:nitrate reductase and the associated partial activity, NADH:cytochrome c reductase, but no loss in nitrate-reducing activity with reduced methyl viologen as the electron donor. The molecular weight of the reduced methyl viologen:nitrate reductase species, determined by sedimentation equilibrium in the Beckman airfuge after complete inactivation with rice inactivator protein or with corn inactivator protein, was 595,000 and 283,000, respectively, compared to a molecular weight of 376,000 for the untreated control determined under the same conditions. Two protein peaks were observed after molecular-sieve chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 of nitrate reductase inactivated by corn inactivator protein. The Stokes radii of these fragments were 68 and 24 Å, compared to a value of 81 Å for untreated nitrate reductase. The large fragment contained molybdenum and heme but no flavin, and had nitrate-reducing activity with reduced methyl viologen as electron donor. The small fragment contained FAD but had no NADH:cytochrome c reductase or nitrate-reducing activities. Molecular weights determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis were 67,000 and 28,000 for the large and small fragments, respectively, compared to a subunit molecular weight of 99,000 determined for the untreated control. No change in subunit molecular weight of nitrate reductase after inactivation by rice inactivator protein was observed. These results indicate that rice inactivator protein acts by binding to nitrate reductase. The stoichiometry of binding is 1–2 molecules of rice inactivator protein to one tetrameric molecule of nitrate reductase. Corn inactivator protein, in contrast, acts by cleavage of a M_r 30,000 fragment from nitrate reductase which is associated with FAD. The remaining fragment is a tetramer of M_r 70,000 subunits which retains nitrate-reducing activity and contains molybdenum and heme but has no NADH:dehydrogenase activity. The action of rice inactivator protein was partially prevented by NADH and completely prevented by a combination of NADH and cyanide, while the action of corn inactivator protein was not significantly affected by these effectors.     

NADH‐dependent glutamate synthase plays a crucial role in assimilating ammonium in the Arabidopsis root

Plant roots under nitrogen deficient conditions with access to both ammonium and nitrate ions, will take up ammonium first. This preference for ammonium rather than nitrate emphasizes the importance of ammonium assimilation machinery in roots. Glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) catalyze the conversion of ammonium and 2‐oxoglutarate to glutamine and glutamate. Higher plants have two GOGAT species, ferredoxin‐dependent glutamate synthase (Fd‐GOGAT) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐GOGAT. While Fd‐GOGAT participates in the assimilation of ammonium, which is derived from photorespiration in leaves, NADH‐GOGAT is highly expressed in roots and its importance needs to be elucidated. While ammonium as a minor nitrogen form in most soils is directly taken up, nitrate as the major nitrogen source needs to be converted to ammonium prior to uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify the contribution of NADH‐GOGAT to the ammonium assimilation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia) roots. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and protein gel blot analysis showed an accumulation of NADH‐GOGAT in response to ammonium supplied to the roots. In addition the localization of NADH‐GOGAT and Fd‐GOGAT did not fully overlap. Promoter–β‐glucuronidase (GUS) fusion analysis and immunohistochemistry showed that NADH‐GOGAT was highly accumulated in non‐green tissue like vascular bundles, shoot apical meristem, pollen, stigma and roots. Reverse genetic approaches suggested a reduction in glutamate production and biomass accumulation in NADH‐GOGAT transfer DNA (T‐DNA) insertion lines under normal CO₂ condition. The data emphasize the importance of NADH‐GOGAT in the ammonium assimilation in Arabidopsis roots.     

Specificity for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate of Nitrate Reductase from the Salt-tolerant Alga Dunaliella parva

Nitrate reductase of the salt-tolerant alga Dunaliella parva could utilize NADPH as well as NADH as an electron donor. The two pyridine nucleotide-dependent activities could not be separated by either ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose or gel filtration on Sepharose 4B. The NADPH-dependent activity was not inhibited by phosphatase inhibitors. NADPH was not hydrolyzed to NADH and inorganic phosphate in the course of nitrate reduction. Reduction of nitrate in vitro could be coupled to a NADPH-regenerating system of glycerol and NADP-dependent glycerol dehydrogenase. It is concluded that the nitrate reductase of D. parva will function with NADPH as well as NADH. This is a unique characteristic not common to most algae.     

Glutamate synthase in rice roots. Studies on the electron donor specificity

Rice root glutamate synthase activity was assayed with various reducing systems. Ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.7.1) and pyridine nucleotide-dependent glutamate synthase (NADH, EC 1.4.1.14; or NADPH, EC 1.4.1.13) exhibited a strict specificity for the electron donor. The ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase from rice roots could accept electrons from photoreduced ferredoxin in an illuminated reconstituted spinach chloroplast system. Thioredoxin, a potent electron carrier, was not able to provide either ferredoxin-dependent or pyridine nucleotide-dependent glutamate synthase with electrons as no glutamate formation was detected in the presence of reduced thioredoxin f or m.     

A succinate-oxidising nitrate reductase is located at the plasma membrane of plant roots

Plasma-membrane-bound nitrate reductase (PM-NR) is located in roots and leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) and reduces nitrate with NADH as electron donor. When plasma membranes were prepared under specific protecting conditions, a PM-NR of roots was detected that accepts electrons from succinate to reduce nitrate. Comparison between the succinate dehydrogenase of mitochondria and the succinate-oxidising PM-NR of roots indicated that they are two different enzymes. Partial purification of the nitrate reductase forms by anion-exchange chromatography indicated that succinate and NADH supply electrons to the same plasma-membrane-bound protein. Received: 27 March 1997 / Accepted: 9 April 1997     

The bioenergetics of denitrification

In anaerobically grown Paracoccus denitrificans the dissimilatory nitrate reductase is linked to the respiratory chain at the level of cytochromes b. Electron transport to nitrite and nitrous oxide involves c-type cytochromes. During electron transport from NADH to nitrate one phosphorylation site is passed, whereas two sites are passed during electron transport from NADH to oxygen, nitrite and nitrous oxide. The presentation of a respiratory chain as a linear array of electron carriers gives a misleading picture of the efficiency of energy conservation since the location of the reductases is not taken into account. For the reduction of nitrite and nitrous oxide, protons are utilized from the periplasmic space, whereas for the reduction of oxygen and nitrate, protons are utilized from the cytoplasmic side of the inner membrane. Evidence for two transport systems for nitrate was obtained. One is driven by the proton motive force; this system is used to initiate nitrate reduction. The second system is a nitrate-nitrite antiport system. A scheme for proton translocation and electron transport to nitrate, nitrite, nitrous oxide and oxygen is presented. The number of charges translocated across the membrane during flow of two electrons from NADH is the same for all nitrogenous oxides and is 67-71% of that during electron transfer to oxygen via cytochrome o. These findings are in accordance with growth yield studies. YMAX electron values determined in chemostat cultures for growth with various substrates and hydrogen acceptors are proportional to the number of charges translocated to these hydrogen acceptors during electron transport.     

Purification and Characterization of NAD(P)H:Nitrate Reductase and NADH:Nitrate Reductase from Corn Roots

The nitrate reductase activity of 5-day-old whole corn roots was isolated using phosphate buffer. The relatively stable nitrate reductase extract can be separated into three fractions using affinity chromatography on blue-Sepharose. The first fraction, eluted with NADPH, reduces nearly equal amounts of nitrate with either NADPH or NADH. A subsequent elution with NADH yields a nitrate reductase which is more active with NADH as electron donor. Further elution with salt gives a nitrate reductase fraction which is active with both NADH and NADPH, but is more active with NADH. All three nitrate reductase fractions have pH optima of 7.5 and Stokes radii of about 6.0 nanometers. The NADPH-eluted enzyme has a nitrate K_m of 0.3 millimolar in the presence of NADPH, whereas the NADH-eluted enzyme has a nitrate K_m of 0.07 millimolar in the presence of NADH. The NADPH-eluted fraction appears to be similar to the NAD(P)H:nitrate reductase isolated from corn scutellum and the NADH-eluted fraction is similar to the NADH:nitrate reductases isolated from corn leaf and scutellum. The salt-eluted fraction appears to be a mixture of NAD(P)H: and NADH:nitrate reductases.     

Variation in the nitrate reductase of rice seedlings

Summary Nitrate reductase was induced in rice seedlings by nitrate and by chloramphenicol. During the induction period the different enzyme activities associated with nitrate reductase increased to different degrees. Nitrate induced high NADH-nitrate reductase activity and a great increase in the NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity which was associated with the nitrate reductase in a sucrose gradient. Chloramphenicol induced a nitrate reductase which had higher activity with NADPH than NADH. Chloramphenicol also induced a marked increase in NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity as well as in NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity. Both activities were associated with the nitrate reductase in a sucrose gradient.After partial purification by sucrose gradient sedimentation or by starch gel electrophoresis, the nitrate reductase of rice induced by nitrate and chloramphenicol showed the same preference in pyridine nucleotide cofactors as was shown by the crude enzyme extracts.     

Inactivation of nitrate reductase from wheat and rice leaves

In fresh leaves, the inactivation of nitrate reductase was rapid at high temperatures as compared to low temperatures. In leaves subjected to freeze-thaw treatment, the loss of enzyme activity was extremely rapid particularly at high temperatures. Pre-incubation with NADH not only protected the enzyme against inactivation, but also stimulated its activity. In dialysed extracts of rice leaves, NADH alone offered some protection while nitrate alone did not protect the enzyme from inactivation. Addition of both NADH and nitrate during pre-incubation enhanced the enzyme activity considerably. It is suggested that stimulation of nitrate reduction by NADH and nitrate may be of physiological significance to the plant, in the sense that in the presence of sufficient supplies of reluctant and nitrate, the process of nitrate assimilation would be accelerated.     

Nitrate reductase activity and uptake of nitrate and oxygen as affected by nitrate supply to detached maize organs

Supply of 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 mM nitrate to detached roots, scutella or shoots from 5- to 6-d-old Zea mays L. seedlings increased in vitro nitrate reductase (NR) activity in all the organs and NADPH specific NR (NADPH:NR) activity in roots and scutella but not in the shoots. Usually 2 to 5 mM nitrate supported maximum enzyme activity, the higher concentration did not increase it further. The protein content in the roots, scutella and shoots increased up to 5, 2 and 20 mM medium nitrate, respectively. Nitrate uptake also increased with increasing nitrate concentration in roots and shoots, but it increased only slightly in the scutella. In both roots and scutella, methionine sulfoximine had no effect, while cycloheximide and tungstate abolished nitrate induced NADH:NR activity completely and NADPH:NR partially. Methionine sulfoximine increased nitrate uptake by roots and scutella slightly, but other inhibitors had no effect. The depletion of dissolved oxygen from the medium was lower in the presence of nitrate than in its absence or in the presence of ammonium, especially in the scutella. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Physiology and interaction of nitrate and nitrite reduction in Staphylococcus carnosus.

Staphylococcus carnosus reduces nitrate to ammonia in two steps. (i) Nitrate was taken up and reduced to nitrite, and nitrite was subsequently excreted. (ii) After depletion of nitrate, the accumulated nitrite was imported and reduced to ammonia, which again accumulated in the medium. The localization, energy gain, and induction of the nitrate and nitrite reductases in S. carnosus were characterized. Nitrate reductase seems to be a membrane-bound enzyme involved in respiratory energy conservation, whereas nitrite reductase seems to be a cytosolic enzyme involved in NADH reoxidation. Syntheses of both enzymes are inhibited by oxygen and induced to greater or lesser degrees by nitrate or nitrite, respectively. In whole cells, nitrite reduction is inhibited by nitrate and also by high concentrations of nitrite (> or = 10 mM). Nitrite did not influence nitrate reduction. Two possible mechanisms for the inhibition of nitrite reduction by nitrate that are not mutually exclusive are discussed. (i) Competition for NADH nitrate reductase is expected to oxidize the bulk of the NADH because of its higher specific activity. (ii) The high rate of nitrate reduction could lead to an internal accumulation of nitrite, possibly the result of a less efficient nitrite reduction or export. So far, we have no evidence for the presence of other dissimilatory or assimilatory nitrate or nitrite reductases in S. carnosus.     

In vivo assay of nitrate reductase in cotton leaf discs: effect of oxygen and ammonium

Factors affecting nitrate reduction by leaf discs of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were investigated. When incubated in 30 mm nitrate, discs reduced nitrate much more slowly under air or O₂ than under N₂. Inhibition by O₂ did not occur at nitrate levels of 100 mm or greater. Treatment with arsenate had little effect under N₂ but stimulated nitrate reduction under air. Similarly, ammonium inhibited nitrate reduction, with the inhibition being partially relieved by arsenate. Uptake of nitrate was unaffected by ammonium. The NAD/NADH ratio increased in response to both oxygen and ammonium. The effects of these treatments on nitrate reduction can be explained by competition with nitrate for NADH generated by glycolysis.