Examination of Phycomyces blakesleeanus for nitrate reductase as a possible blue light photoreceptor

Phycomyces blakesleeanus is unable to grow on media which contain nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Further, according to a number of assay procedures, there is no significant nitrate reductase activity in Phycomyces. Thus, although nitrate reductase has been proposed to be a blue-light receptor in Neurospora, no active nitrate reductase is available to serve this function in Phycomyces.