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Na+-stimulated nitrate uptake with increased activity under osmotic upshift in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

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Abstract

In the non-diazotrophic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, an osmolality of 30 and 40 mosmol/kg sorbitol and NaCl resulted in 3.5- and 4.5-fold increase of nitrate uptake, respectively. The NaCl-stimulated uptake was abolished by treatment with chloramphenicol. At 25 mosmol/kg or higher, NaCl induced higher nitrate uptake than sorbitol suggesting an ionic effect of Na+. The nitrate uptake in Synechocystis showed K s and V max values of 46 μM and 1.37 μmol/min/mg Chl, respectively. Mutants disrupted in nitrate and nitrite reductase exhibited a decreased nitrate uptake. Ammonium, chlorate, and dl-glyceraldehyde caused a reduction of nitrate uptake. Dark treatment caused a drastic reduction of uptake by 70% suggesting an energy-dependent system. Nitrate transport was sensitive to various metabolic inhibitors including those dissipating proton gradients and membrane potential. The results suggest that nitrate uptake in Synechocystis is stimulated by Na+ ions and requires energy provided by the functioning electron transport chain.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. program (PHD/0199/2549) and the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphote Endowment Fund, REF) to W. Baebprasert. The research grant by Commission on Higher Education (CHE), Thailand (the university staff development consortium) and the grant under The National Research University Project of CHE and REF (FW659A) to A. Incharoensakdi and the support by the Swedish Research Links program (project 348-2009-6486) are also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Wipawee Baebprasert

  2. Laboratory of Cyanobacterial Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Wipawee Baebprasert & Aran Incharoensakdi

  3. Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Aphichart Karnchanatat

  4. Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science, Uppsala University, Box 523, 751 20, Uppsala, Sweden

    Peter Lindblad

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  1. Wipawee Baebprasert
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  2. Aphichart Karnchanatat
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  3. Peter Lindblad
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  4. Aran Incharoensakdi
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Correspondence to Aran Incharoensakdi.

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Baebprasert, W., Karnchanatat, A., Lindblad, P. et al. Na+-stimulated nitrate uptake with increased activity under osmotic upshift in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 27, 2467–2473 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-011-0706-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-011-0706-6

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