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Investigation of the links between heterocyst and biohydrogen production by diazotrophic cyanobacterium A. variabilis ATCC 29413

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Abstract

This work investigates the effect of heterocyst toward biohydrogen production by A. variabilis. The heterocyst frequency was artificially promoted by adding an amino acid analog, in this case DL-7-azatryptophan into the growth medium. The frequency of heterocyst differentiation was found to be proportional to the concentration of azatryptophan (0–25 µM) in the medium. Conversely, the growth and nitrogenase activity were gradually suppressed. In addition, there was also a distinct shortening of the cells filaments and detachment of heterocyst from the vegetative cells. Analysis on the hydrogen production performance revealed that both the frequency and distribution of heterocyst in the filaments affected the rate of hydrogen production. The highest hydrogen production rate and yield (41 µmol H2 mg chl a−1 h−1 and 97 mL H2 mg chl a−1, respectively) were achieved by cells previously grown in 15 µM of azatryptophan with 14.5 % of heterocyst frequency. The existence of more isolated heterocyst has been shown to cause a relative loss in nitrogenase activity thus lowering the hydrogen production rate.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Universiti Sains Malaysia for funding this current research work through the Long Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS) 203/PKT/6723003. MyBrain15 Programme from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia for its financial assistance to Siti Fatihah Salleh is duly acknowledged.

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  1. Low Carbon Economy (LCE) Research Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Seberang Prai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    Siti Fatihah Salleh, Azlina Kamaruddin, Mohamad Hekarl Uzir, Khairiah Abd Karim & Abdul Rahman Mohamed

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  1. Siti Fatihah Salleh
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  2. Azlina Kamaruddin
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Correspondence to Azlina Kamaruddin.

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Communicated by Erko Stackebrandt.

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Salleh, S.F., Kamaruddin, A., Uzir, M.H. et al. Investigation of the links between heterocyst and biohydrogen production by diazotrophic cyanobacterium A. variabilis ATCC 29413. Arch Microbiol 198, 101–113 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-015-1164-6

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