Abstract: | The use of chlorate as an analogue for NO3 during nitrateuptake into Chara corallina cells has been investigated. NO3inhibits 36C1O3 influx into Chara over the concentrationrange 01000 mmol m3. Lineweaver-Burke plots ofthe data are characteristic of competitive inhibition by NO3in the low concentration range (0300 mmol m3 ClO3)and apparent KINO3 is 140 mmol m3 which is of a similarorder of magnitude as apparent KmCIO3- 180 mmol m3. Athigher substrate concentrations the inhibition by NO3was not characteristic of competitive or uncompetitive inhibition. 36C1O3/NO3 influx was dependent on K+ and Ca2+in the external medium and inhibited by FCCP. NO3 pretreatmentor N starvation increased subsequent 36C1O3/NO3influx into Chara. A comparison between rates of net NO3uptake and 36C1O3/NO3 influx supported the previoushypothesis that NO3 efflux is an important componentin the determination of overall uptake rates. Key words: Nitrate, Chara, 36CIO3 |