Stimulation of in vivo nitrate reductase activity in the thermal cyanobacterium Oscillatoria princeps under microaerobic conditions

Abstract

Nitrate reductase activity in the thermal cyanobacterium Oscillatoria princeps was studied in vivo. Nitrite production by O. princeps grown microaerobically was four- to seven-fold higher than that in aerobic controls. Whereas microaerobic conditions caused instantaneous stimulation of nitrate reductase activity, addition of 40% O2 in air immediately inhibited it. Exposure of another cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum to microaerobic conditions had no effect on NO2- production. © 1986 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.