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: Nancy H Kolodny, Deborah Bauer, Kerstyn Bryce, Kristen Klucevsek, Amy Lane, Lea Medeiros, Wendy Mercer, Sogole Moin, Deborah Park, Juliette Petersen, Julie Wright, Courtney Yuen, Adele J Wolfson, Mary M Allen
• Journal: Journal of bacteriology (J Bacteriol) Vol. 188 Issue 3 Pg. 934-40 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 0021-9193 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16428397 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Bacterial Proteins
• Plant Proteins
• cyanophycin
• Nitrogen

Topics

• Bacterial Proteins
• Nitrogen (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress
• Plant Proteins (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Synechocystis (metabolism)