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Inhibition of nitrogenase by nitrite and nitric oxide in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans

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Abstract

In cells of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans nitrite and nitric oxide, the products of denitrification, inhibit activity of nitrogenase enzyme.

Ferredoxin-linked CO2 fixation, with H2 as a reductant, was also inhibited by nitrite and NO in denitrifying cells.

EPR spectroscopy of cell preparations treated with NO showed that it reacts with non-haem iron-sulphur proteins to form iron-nitrosyl complexes. Nitrite also reacts with these iron-sulphur proteins, but the formation of ironnitrosyl complexes was dependent on the presence of dithionite. Since nitrite is reduced to NO by dithionite it is likely that nitrogenase and CO2 fixation reactions are inhibited not only by nitrite itself, but also by nitric oxide.

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Abbreviations

DPPH:

1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, 5064, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia

    W. P. Michalski & D. J. D. Nicholas

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  1. W. P. Michalski
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  2. D. J. D. Nicholas
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Michalski, W.P., Nicholas, D.J.D. Inhibition of nitrogenase by nitrite and nitric oxide in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans . Arch. Microbiol. 147, 304–308 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00463493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00463493

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