Regulation of hydrogenase activity in vegetative cells of Anabaena variabilis.
Heterocyst-free (NH4+-grown) cultures of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis produce a hydrogenase which is reversibly inhibited by light and O2. White or red light at an intensity of 5,000 lx inhibited greater than 95% of the activity. Oxygen at concentrations as low as 0.5% inhibited more than 85% of the hydrogenase in the vegetative cells of CO2-NH4+-grown cultures. The vegatative cell hydrogenase is also sensitive to strong oxidants like ferricyanide. In the presence of strong reductants like S2O4(2-), hydrogenase activity was not inhibited by light. However, hydrogenase activity in the heterocysts was insensitive to both light (greater than 5,000 lx) and O2 (10%). Heterocysts and light-insensitive hydrogenase activity appear simultaneously during differentiation of the vegetative cells into heterocysts (an NH4+-grown culture transferred to NH4+-free, N2-containing medium). This light-insensitive hydrogenase activity was detected several hours before the induction of nitrogenase activity. These results suggest a mode of regulation of hydrogenase in the vegetative cells of A. variabilis that is similar to "redox control" of hydrogenase and other "anaerobic" proteins in enteric bacteria like Escherichia coli.
D000332:Aerobiosis; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004227:Dithionite / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006864:Hydrogenase; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*
D004227:Dithionite; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D006864:Hydrogenase; D009591:Nitrogenase; D003545:Cysteine