title: Spirulina nitrate-assimilating enzymes (NR, NiR, GS) have higher specific activities and are more stable than those of rice.
abstract: Spirulina platensis, a cyanobacterium whose N-metabolic pathway is similar to that of higher plants like rice (Oryza sativa), produces tenfold more protein, indicating a higher capacity for nitrate utilization/removal. Our in vitro analyses in crude extracts revealed that this can be attributed, at least in part, to the higher specific activities (3-6 fold) and half lives (1.2-4.4 fold) of the N-assimilating enzymes, nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in Spirulina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Mumbai, 400 098 India.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Kuljeet Singh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: Nandula
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raghuram
keywords: Glutamine synthetase; Nitrate reductase; Nitrite reductase; Oryza sativa; Spirulina platensis