ISSN:
1399-3054
Quelle:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Thema:
Biologie
Notizen:
Inhibition of nitrogenase (EC 1.18.6.1) activity by O2 has been suggested to be an early response to disturbance in carbon supply to root nodules in the Frankia-Alnus incana symbiosis. Intact nodulated root systems of plants kept in prolonged darkness of 22 h were used to test responses to O2 and short-term N2 deprivation (1 h in Ar:O2). By using a Frankia lacking uptake hydrogenase it was possible to follow nitrogenase activity over time as H2 evolution in a gas exchange system. Respiration was simultaneously recorded as CO2 evolution. Dark-treated plants had lower initial nitrogenase activity in N2:O2 (68% of controls), which declined further during a 1-h period in the assay system in N2:O2 at 21 and 17% O2, but not at 13% O2. When dark-treated plants were deprived of N2 at 21 and 17% O2 nitrogenase activity declined rapidly to 61 and 74%, respectively, after 20 min, compared with control plants continuously kept in their normal light regime. In contrast, there was no decline in dark-treated plants at 13% O2, and only a smaller and temporary decline in control plants at 21% O2. When dark-treated plants were kept at 21% O2 during 45 min prior to N2 deprivation at 17% O2 the decline was abolished. This supports the idea that the decline in nitrogenase activity observed in N2:O2 at 21% O2 and during N2 deprivation was caused by O2, which affected a sensitive nodule fraction. Nodule contents of the amino acids Gln and Cit decreased during N2 deprivation, suggesting decreased assimilation of NH4+. Contents of ATP and ADP in nodules were not affected by short-term N2 deprivation. ATP/ADP ratios were about 5 indicating a highly aerobic metabolism in the root nodule. We conclude that nitrogenase activity of Alnus plants exposed to prolonged darkness becomes more sensitive to inactivation by O2. It seemed that dark-treated plants could not adjust their nodule metabolism at higher perceived pO2 and during cessation of NH4+ production.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3054.2003.00177.x
