Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogenase in legume root nodule bacteroids: Occurrence and properties

  • Published:
Archiv für Mikrobiologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The hydrogenase found in Rhizobium bacteroids is compared with that found in Azotobacter and found, in all respects examined, to be similar. When three host species were inoculated with Rhizobium, strain 311, different amounts of hydrogenase activity were found in Pisum sativum and Vicia bengalensis while the enzyme was absent from nodules of Vicia faba. Of four different strains of Rhizobium examined only two strains possessed the hydrogenase when present in pea root nodules. The role of the hydrogenase in nitrogen fixation is discussed and it is tentatively concluded that the overall efficiency of the nitrogen fixation process is increased by its presence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bergersen, F. J.: Some properties of nitrogen-fixing breis prepared from soybean root nodules. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 130, 304–312 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dart, P. J.: Personal Communication (1970).

  • Dilworth, M. J.: The plant as the genetic determinant of leghaemoglobin production in the root nodule. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 184, 432–441 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, R. O. D.: Hydrogen uptake and exchange by pea root nodules. Ann. Bot. N.S. 31, 179–188 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Hydrogenase in pea root nodule bacteroids. Arch. Mikrobiol. 62, 272–283 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, M., Wilson, P. W.: Hydrogenase and nitrogenase in Azotobacter. J. Bact. 65, 511–517 (1953).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman, L. A., Burris, R. H., Wilson, P. W.: Properties of hydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii. J. Bact. 65, 522–531 (1953).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krasna, A. I., Riklis, E., Rittenberg, D.: The purification and properties of the hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. J. biol. Chem. 235, 2717–2720 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, Rittenberg, D.: A comparison of the hydrogenase activities of different micro-organisms. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 42, 180–185 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck, H. D., Jr., Gest, H.: A new procedure for assay of bacterial hydrogenases. J. Bact. 71, 70–80 (1956).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, San Pietro, A., Gest, H.: On the mechanism of hydrogenase action. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 42, 13–19 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Phelps, A. S., Wilson, P. W.: Occurrence of hydrogenase in nitrogen-fixing organisms. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.) 47, 473–476 (1941).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shug, A. L., Hamilton, P. B., Wilson, P. W.: Hydrogenase and nitrogen fixation. In: W. D. McElroy and B. Glass, eds; Inorganic nitrogen metabolism, pp. 344–360. Baltimore: The John Hopkins Press 1956.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

    R. O. D. Dixon

Authors
  1. R. O. D. Dixon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dixon, R.O.D. Hydrogenase in legume root nodule bacteroids: Occurrence and properties. Archiv. Mikrobiol. 85, 193–201 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408844

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408844

Keywords

Search

Navigation