A Study on Nitrogenase - Mediated Evolution of Molecular Hydrogen in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides K-7

Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides K-7 의 질소고정 효소 의존성 수소생성에 관한 연구

Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides K-7 evolves large quantities of molecular hydrogen under anaerobic and light illuminated conditions in the presence of utilizable organic compounds as electron donors. Photoevolution of molecular hydrogen was strictly dependent on light as the activity of nitrogenase in this organism. Both of these were inhibited to the nearly same extent at varying concentrations of ammonium ion which also depressed nitrogenase synthesis. In the reaction mixtures devoid of molybdenum ion which is known as the component of nitrogenase, hydrogen evolution also decreased similarly like nitrogenase activity. Photoevolution of molecular hydrogen appeared to have no relationship with hydrogenase activity and bacteriocholophyll content and it was markedly inhibited under the atmosphere of $C_2$H$_2$, $N_2$ or $O_2$. The results strongly indicate that hydrogen evolution by R. sphaeroides K-7 might be catalyzed by nitrogenase. Both hydrogen evolution and nitrogenase activity were largely influenced by the nutritional history of the resting cells. From which we propose that glutamate might play an important role in the regulation of nigrogenase activity in vivo.

R. sphaeroides K- 7에 의한 수소생성과 질소고정효소(nitrogenase)와의 연관성을 조사한 결과 수소생성은 질소고정효소에 의해 이루어지는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 수소생성은 수소효소(hydrogenase)와 무관하며 박테리오클로로필의 농도와도 무관한 것으로 나타났다. 글루타민산이 in vivo에서 질소고정효소의 활성도를 조절하는데 중요한 역할을 할 수 있는 것으로 나타났으며 질소개스를 이용해 키운 세균을 글루타민산 존재하로 옮겼을때 보다 큰 정도의 수소생성능 및 질소고정효소 활성도가 나타났다.