Abstract: | The assay of the hydrogenase of glucose-grown cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, strain 7-11-05 by means of nitrite reduction with molecular hydrogen is described. The hydrogenase of Chlorella shows maximum activity immediately after equilibration in the hydrogen atmosphere. The hydrogenase mediated reduction of nitrite to ammonia requires the presence of CO2. However, at pH 6.4. when the reaction proceeds optimally, there is apparently sufficient retention of metabolic CO2 to support the reaction, which goes to completion, at near maximum rates. Reduction of nitrite in the hydrogenase system when CO2 is present results in the uptake of 3 moles of H2 per mole of nitrite and ammonia is the product. When CO2 is absent or limiting, ammonia is also formed from nitrite but with the uptake of less than the stoichiometric amount of H2. It is concluded that CO2 is essential for the uptake of H2, and that in the absence of CO2 internal hydrogen donors support nitrite reduction. The possibility that CO2 exerts a catalytic effect in all reductions mediated by hydrogenase in algae is considered, and a further hypothesis, that hydrogenase arises from that portion of the photosynthetic machinery which also shows a catalytic requirement for CO2, is proposed. |