HETEROTROPHY AND NITRATE METABOLISM IN A CYANOBACTERIUM PHORMIDIUM-UNCINATUM

Nitrate-supported heterotrophic growth of Phormidium uncinatum was achieved after repeated exposure to glucose in the presence of a photosystem (PS) II inhibitor. Nitrate and glucose utilization as well as activities of their metabolizing enzymes were measured comparatively in photoautotrophic and heterotrophic cells. Nitrate and glucose were taken up together at the ratio of 1:8 (molar basis) and glucose catabolism via glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activities transferred desired electrons for nitrate reduction to ammonia through coupled ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) activity. Ammonia thus generated was assimilated mainly by NADPH-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity. These data demonstrate an operation of nitrate assimilation in this cyanobacterium under heterotrophic conditions. © 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.