Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relative efficiency of nitrogen fixation and the occurrence of hydrogenase in pea root nodules

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The apparent Km(hydrogen) for uptake of hydrogen by pea root nodules was determined. This enabled the concentration gradient necessary for the evolution of hydrogen to be calculated for nodules with no hydrogenase activity. This indicated that hydrogen inhibition of nitrogenase is not likely to be the cause of the low relative efficiency of legume root nodules. The factors that affect electron allocation between protons and nitrogen in nitrogenase are reviewed and it is concluded that there must be some as yet unknown factor that affects electron distribution inRhizobium nitrogenase. One possibility is put forward and considered. A strain ofRhizobium was used that was found to possess hydrogenase activity in combination with pea variety Feltham First but not with variety Meteor. The control of this enzyme is briefly discussed.

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

  1. Arp D J and Burris R H 1979 Purification and properties of the particulate hydrogenase from the bacteroids of soybean root nodules. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 570, 221–230.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bedmar E J, Edie S A and Phillips D A 1983 Host plant cultivar effects on hydrogen evolution byRhizobium leguminosarum. Plant Physiol. 72, 1011–1015.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bedmar E J and Phillips D A 1984 A transmissible shoot factor promotes hydrogenase activity inRhizobium symbionts. Plant Physiol. 75, 629–633.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bergersen F J 1982 Root nodules of legumes: Structure and functions. Research Studies Press. Chichester. pp 164.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dixon R O D 1972 Hydrogenase in legume root nodule bacteroids: occurrence and properties. Arch Mikrobiol. 85, 193–201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dixon R O D, Blunden E A G and Searle J W 1981 Intercellular space and hydrogen diffusion in pea and lupin root nodules. Plant Sci. Lett. 23, 109–116.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dixon R O D and Blunden E A G 1983 The relative efficiency of nitrogen fixation in pea root nodules. Plant and Soil 75, 131–138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Fuchsman W H and Hardy R W F 1973 Nitrogenase-catalysed acrylonitrite reductions. Bioinorgan. Chem. 1, 195–213.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hadfield K L and Bulen W A 1969 Adenosine triphosphate requirement of nitrogenase fromAzotobacter vinelandii. Biochemistry 8, 5103–5108.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hageman R V and Burris R H 1980 Electron allocation to alternative substrates ofAzotobacter nitrogenase is controlled by the electron flux through dinitrogenase. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 591, 63–75.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Laane C, Haaker H and Veeger C 1978 Involvement of the cytoplasmic membrane in nitrogen fixation byRhizobium leguminosarum bacteriods. Eur. J. Biochem. 87, 147–153.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Laane C, Haaker H and Veeger C 1979 On the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in membrane vescicles ofAzotobacter vinelandii and ofRhizobium leguminosarum bacteroids. Eur. J. Biochem. 97, 369–377.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Laane C, Krone W, Konings W, Haaker H and Veeger C 1980 Short-term effects of ammonium chloride on nitrogen fixation byAzotobacter vinelandii and by bacteroids ofRhizobium leguminosarum. Eur. J. Biochem. 103, 39–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Postgate J R 1982 The fundamentals of nitrogen fixation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 252 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Schubert K R and Evans H J 1976 Hydrogen evolution: A major factor affecting the efficiency of nitrogen fixation in nodulated symbionts. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 73, 1207–1211.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Schubert K R, Jennings N T and Evans H J 1978 Hydrogen reactions of nodulated leguminous plants. II. Effects on dry matter accumulation and nitrogen fixation. Plant Physiol. 61, 398–401.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sinclair T T and Goudriaan J 1981 Physical and morphological constrainst on transport in nodules. Plant Physiol. 67, 143–145.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Silverstein R and Bulen W A 1970 Kinetic studies of the nitrogenase-catalysed hydrogen evolution and nitrogen reduction reactions. Biochemistry 9, 3809–3815.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Stam H, van Verseveld H W, de Vries W and Stouthamer 1984 Hydrogen oxidation and efficiency of nitrogen fixation in succinate-limited cultures ofRhizobium ORS 571. Arch Microbiol. 139, 53–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Walker C C, Partridge C D..P and Yates M G 1981 The effect of nutrient limitation on hydrogen production by nitrogenase in continuous cultures ofAzotobacter vinelandii. J. gen. Microbiol. 124, 317–327.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zumft W G and Mortensen L E 1975 The nitrogen fixing complex of bacteria. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 416, 1–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, The King’s Buildings, Mayfield Road, EH9 3JH, Edinburgh, UK

    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. Relative efficiency of nitrogen fixation and the occurrence of hydrogenase in pea root nodules. Plant Soil 100, 149–156 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370938

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370938

Key words

Search

Navigation