In N2-fixing cyanobacteria the reduction of N2 to NH3
is coupled
with the production of molecular hydrogen (H2), which
is rapidly
consumed by an uptake hydrogenase, an enzyme that is
present in
almost all the diazotrophic cyanobacteria. The
cellular and sub-
cellular localization of the cyanobacterial uptake
hydrogenase
remains unclear, and the previously available data
focuses mainly on
heterocystous cyanobacteria.
In this work the localization of the uptake
hydrogenase in Lyngbya
majuscula CCAP 1446/4, a non-heterocystous
cyanobacterium, was
investigated. The data obtained revealed higher
specific labelling
associated with the thylakoid membranes of L. majuscula.
Additionally, a comparative analysis was performed
using a
unicellular - Gloeothece sp. ATCC 27152, and two
heterocystous
strains - Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 and Nostoc punctiforme
PCC 73102.
No labelling was found on the vegetative cells of
Nostoc sp. PCC
7120, in contrast with the situation in N.
punctiforme, in which
labelling was detected in both vegetative cells and
heterocysts.
The results presented in this work will contribute to
a better
understanding of the field of H2 metabolism in
cyanobacteria.
is coupled
with the production of molecular hydrogen (H2), which
is rapidly
consumed by an uptake hydrogenase, an enzyme that is
present in
almost all the diazotrophic cyanobacteria. The
cellular and sub-
cellular localization of the cyanobacterial uptake
hydrogenase
remains unclear, and the previously available data
focuses mainly on
heterocystous cyanobacteria.
In this work the localization of the uptake
hydrogenase in Lyngbya
majuscula CCAP 1446/4, a non-heterocystous
cyanobacterium, was
investigated. The data obtained revealed higher
specific labelling
associated with the thylakoid membranes of L. majuscula.
Additionally, a comparative analysis was performed
using a
unicellular - Gloeothece sp. ATCC 27152, and two
heterocystous
strains - Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 and Nostoc punctiforme
PCC 73102.
No labelling was found on the vegetative cells of
Nostoc sp. PCC
7120, in contrast with the situation in N.
punctiforme, in which
labelling was detected in both vegetative cells and
heterocysts.
The results presented in this work will contribute to
a better
understanding of the field of H2 metabolism in
cyanobacteria.