title: Effect of nitrogen source on cyanophycin synthesis in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6308.
abstract: Experiments were carried out to examine the effects of nitrogen source on nitrogen incorporation into cyanophycin during nitrogen limitation and repletion, both with or without inhibition of protein synthesis, in cyanobacteria grown on either nitrate or ammonium. The use of nitrate and ammonium, 14N labeled in the growth medium and 15N labeled in the repletion medium, allows the determination of the source of nitrogen in cyanophycin using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The data suggest that nitrogen from both the breakdown of cellular protein (14N) and directly from the medium (15N) is incorporated into cyanophycin. Nitrogen is incorporated into cyanophycin at different rates and to different extents, depending on the source of nitrogen (ammonium or nitrate) and whether the cells are first starved for nitrogen. These differences appear to be related to the activity of nitrate reductase in cells and to the possible expression of cyanophycin synthetase during nitrogen starvation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kolodny
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Kerstyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klucevsek
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Sogole
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moin
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Adele J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wolfson
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D046939:Synechocystis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C024250:cyanophycin; D009584:Nitrogen