Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photosynthetic nitrate assimilation in cyanobacteria

  • Review
  • Published:
Photosynthesis Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nitrate uptake and reduction to nitrite and ammonium are driven in cyanobacteria by photosynthetically generated assimilatory power, i.e., ATP and reduced ferredoxin. High-affinity nitrate and nitrite uptake takes place in different cyanobacteria through either an ABC-type transporter or a permease from the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase are ferredoxin-dependent metalloenzymes that carry as prosthetic groups a [4Fe–4S] center and Mo-bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide (nitrate reductase) and [4Fe–4S] and siroheme centers (nitrite reductase). Nitrate assimilation genes are commonly found forming an operon with the structure: nir (nitrite reductase)-permease gene(s)-narB (nitrate reductase). When the cells perceive a high C to N ratio, this operon is transcribed from a complex promoter that includes binding sites for NtcA, a global nitrogen-control regulator that belongs to the CAP family of bacterial transcription factors, and NtcB, a pathway-specific regulator that belongs to the LysR family of bacterial transcription factors. Transcription is also affected by other factors such as CnaT, a putative glycosyl transferase, and the signal transduction protein PII. The latter is also a key factor for regulation of the activity of the ABC-type nitrate/nitrite transporter, which is inhibited when the cells are incubated in the presence of ammonium or in the absence of CO2. Notwithstanding significant advance in understanding the regulation of nitrate assimilation in cyanobacteria, further post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are likely to be discovered.

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

  • M Aichi T Omata (1997) ArticleTitleInvolvement of NtcB, a LysR family transcription factor, in nitrite activation of nitrate assimilation operon in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942. J Bacteriol 179 4671–4675 Occurrence Handle9244251

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Aichi N Takatani T Omata (2001) ArticleTitleRole of NtcB in activation of nitrate assimilation genes in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp strain PCC 6803. J Bacteriol 183 5840–584 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.183.20.5840-5847.2001 Occurrence Handle11566981

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MF Aldehni J Sauer C Spielhaupter R Schmid K Forchhammer (2003) ArticleTitleSignal transduction protein PII is required for NtcA-regulated gene expression during nitrogen deprivation in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 7942 J Bacteriol 185 2582–2591 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.185.8.2582-2591.2003 Occurrence Handle12670983

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JM Arizmendi JL Serra (1990) ArticleTitlePurification and some properties of the nitrite reductase from the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum Biochim Biophys Acta 1040 237–244 Occurrence Handle2119228

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DI Arnon (1984) ArticleTitleThe discovery of photosynthetic phosphorylation Trends Biochem Sci 9 258–262 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0968-0004(84)90159-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DI Arnon (1988) ArticleTitleThe discovery of ferredoxin: the photosynthetic path Trends Biochem Sci 13 30–33 Occurrence Handle3072694

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A Barnard A Wolfe S Busby (2004) ArticleTitleRegulation at complex bacterial promoters: how bacteria use different promoter organizations to produce different regulatory outcomes Curr Opin Microbiol 7 102–108 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.mib.2004.02.011 Occurrence Handle15063844

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RB Bass KP Locher E Borths Y Poon P Strop A Lee DC Rees (2003) ArticleTitleThe structures of BtuCD and MscS and their implications for transporter and channel function FEBS Lett 555 111–115 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(03)01126-8 Occurrence Handle14630329

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Bird M Wyman (2003) ArticleTitleNitrate/nitrite assimilation system of the marine picoplanktonic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain WH 8103: effect of nitrogen source and availability on gene expression. Appl Environ Microbiol 69 7009–7018 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.69.12.7009-7018.2003 Occurrence Handle14660343

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • W Busch MH Jr Saier (2002) ArticleTitleThe transporter classification (TC) system, 2002 Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 37 287–337 Occurrence Handle10.1080/10409230290771528 Occurrence Handle12449427

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Y Cai CP Wolk (1997) ArticleTitleNitrogen deprivation of Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120 elicits rapid activation of a gene cluster that is essential for uptake and utilization of nitrate. J Bacteriol 179 258–266 Occurrence Handle8982006

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WH Campbell (1999) ArticleTitleNitrate reductase structure, function and regulation: bridging the gap between biochemistry and physiology Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 50 277–303 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.arplant.50.1.277 Occurrence Handle15012211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Candau C Manzano M Losada (1976) ArticleTitleBioconversion of light energy into chemical energy through reduction with water of nitrate to ammonia Nature 262 715–717 Occurrence Handle10.1038/262715a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BR Crane LM Siegel ED Getzoff (1995) ArticleTitleSulfite reductase structure at 1.6 Å: evolution and catalysis for reduction of inorganic anions Science 270 59–67 Occurrence Handle7569952

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • I Curdt BB Singh M Jakoby W Hachtel H Böhme (2000) ArticleTitleIdentification of amino acid residues of nitrite reductase from Anabaena sp PCC 7120 involved in ferredoxin binding. Biochim Biophys Acta 1543 60–68 Occurrence Handle11087941

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • AL Davidson J Chen (2004) ArticleTitleATP-binding cassette trasporters in bacteria Annu Rev Biochem 73 241–268 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.biochem.73.011303.073626 Occurrence Handle15189142

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A Dufresne M Salanoubat F Partensky F Artiguenave IM Axmann V Barbe S Duprat MY Galperin EV Koonin F Gall ParticleLe KS Makarova M Ostrowski S Oztas C Robert IB Rogozin DJ Scanlan N Tandeau Particlede Marsac J Weissenbach P Wincker YI Wolf WR Hess (2003) ArticleTitleGenome sequence of the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus marinus SS120, a nearly minimal oxyphototrophic genome Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100 10020–10025 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.1733211100 Occurrence Handle12917486

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • E Flores A Herrero (1994) Assimilatory nitrogen metabolism and its regulation DA Bryant (Eds) The Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht, The Netherlands 487–517

    Google Scholar 

  • E Flores MG Guerrero M Losada (1980) ArticleTitleShort-term ammonium inhibition of nitrate utilization by Anacystis nidulans and other cyanobacteria Arch Microbiol 128 137–144 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00406150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E Flores MG Guerrero M Losada (1983a) ArticleTitlePhotosynthetic nature of nitrate uptake and reduction in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans Biochim Biophys Acta 722 408–416

    Google Scholar 

  • E Flores JM Romero MG Guerrero Losada (1983b) ArticleTitleRegulatory interaction of photosynthetic nitrate utilization and carbon dioxide fixation in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans Biochim Biophys Acta 725 529–532

    Google Scholar 

  • E Flores A Herrero MG Guerrero (1987) ArticleTitleNitrite uptake and its regulation in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans Biochim Biophys Acta 896 103–108

    Google Scholar 

  • K Forchhammer (2004) ArticleTitleGlobal carbon/nitrogen control by P IIsignal transduction in cyanobacteria: from signals to targets FEMS Microbiol Rev 28 319–333 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.femsre.2003.11.001 Occurrence Handle15449606

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • K Forchhammer de Marsac N Tandeau (1995) ArticleTitleFunctional analysis of the phosphoprotein PII (glnB gene product) in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC7942. J Bacteriol 177 2033–2040 Occurrence Handle7721695

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BG Forde (2000) ArticleTitleNitrate transporters in plants: structure, function and regulation Biochim Biophys Acta 1465 219–35 Occurrence Handle10748256

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Frazon DR Dean (2003) ArticleTitleFormation of iron–sulfur clusters in bacteria: an emerging field in bioinorganic chemistry Curr Opin Chem Biol 7 166–173 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1367-5931(03)00021-8 Occurrence Handle12714048

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JE Frías E Flores A Herrero (1994) ArticleTitleRequirement of the regulatory protein NtcA for the expression of nitrogen assimilation and heterocyst development genes in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp PCC 7120. Mol Microbiol 14 823–832 Occurrence Handle7534371

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JE Frías E Flores A Herrero (1997) ArticleTitleNitrate assimilation gene cluster from the heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120. J Bacteriol 179 477–486 Occurrence Handle8990301

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JE Frías E Flores A Herrero (2000) ArticleTitleActivation of the Anabaena nir operon promoter requires both NtcA (CAP family) and NtcB (LysR family) transcription factors Mol Microbiol 38 613–625 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2958.2000.02156.x Occurrence Handle11069684

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JE Frías A Herrero E Flores (2003) ArticleTitleOpen reading frame all0601 from Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120 represents a novel gene, cnaT, required for expression of the nitrate assimilation nir operon. J Bacteriol 185 5037–5044 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.185.17.5037-5044.2003 Occurrence Handle12923076

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MG Guerrero C Manzano M Losada (1974) ArticleTitleNitrite photoreduction by a cell-free preparation of Anacystis nidulans Plant Sci Lett 3 273–278 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0304-4211(74)90098-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Hattori (1962) ArticleTitleLight-induced reduction of nitrate, nitrite and hydroxylamine in a blue-green alga, Anabaena cylindrica Plant Cell Physiol 3 355–369

    Google Scholar 

  • A Hattori J Myers (1967) ArticleTitleReduction of nitrate and nitrite by subcellular preparations of Anabaena cylindrica II. Reduction of nitrate to nitrite. Plant Cell Physiol 8 327–337

    Google Scholar 

  • A Hattori I Uesugi (1968) ArticleTitlePurification and properties of nitrite reductase from the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica Plant Cell Physiol 9 689–699

    Google Scholar 

  • A Herrero MG Guerrero (1986) ArticleTitleRegulation of nitrite reductase in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans J Gen Microbiol 132 2463–2468

    Google Scholar 

  • A Herrero E Flores MG Guerrero (1981) ArticleTitleRegulation of nitrate reductase levels in the cyanobacteria Anacystis nidulans, Anabaena sp strain7119, and Nostoc sp. strain 6719. J Bacteriol 145 175–180 Occurrence Handle6780511

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A Herrero E Flores MG Guerrero (1984) ArticleTitleRegulation of the nitrate reductase level in Anacystis nidulans: activity decay under nitrogen stress Arch Biochem Biophys 234 454–459 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0003-9861(84)90292-3 Occurrence Handle6437330

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A Herrero E Flores MG Guerrero (1985) ArticleTitleRegulation of nitrate reductase cellular levels in the cyanobacteria Anabaena variabilis and Synechocystis sp FEMS Microbiol Lett 26 21–25 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0378-1097(85)90118-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Herrero AM Muro-Pastor E Flores (2001) ArticleTitleNitrogen control in cyanobacteria J Bacteriol 183 411–425 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.183.2.411-425.2001 Occurrence Handle11133933

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Hill (1939) ArticleTitleOxygen produced by isolated chloroplasts Proc Royal Soc B 127 192–210

    Google Scholar 

  • M Hirasawa LM Rubio JL Griffin E Flores A Herrero J Li SK Kim JK Hurley G Tollin DB Knaff (2004) ArticleTitleComplex formation between ferredoxin and Synechococcus ferredoxin: nitrate oxidoreductase Biochim Biophys Acta 1608 155–162 Occurrence Handle14871493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • F Huang I Parmryd F Nilsson AL Persson HB Pakrasi B Andersson B Norling (2003) ArticleTitleProteomics of Synechocystis sp strain PCC 6803. Identification of plasma membrane proteins. Mol Cell Proteom 1 956–966 Occurrence Handle10.1074/mcp.M200043-MCP200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BJN Jepson LJ Anderson LM Rubio CJ Taylor CS Butler E Flores A Herrero JN Butt DJ Richardson (2004) ArticleTitleTuning a nitrate reductase for function: the first spectropotentiometric characterization of a bacterial assimilatory nitrate reductase reveals novel redox properties J Biol Chem 279 32212–32218 Occurrence Handle10.1074/jbc.M402669200 Occurrence Handle15166246

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • H Kikuchi M Aichi I Suzuki T Omata (1996) ArticleTitlePositive regulation by nitrite of the nitrate assimilation operon in the cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942 and Plectonema boryanum. J Bacteriol 178 5822–5825 Occurrence Handle8824636

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DB Knaff (1996) Ferredoxin and ferredoxin-dependent enzymes DR Ort CF Yocum (Eds) Oxygenic Photosynthesis: the Light Reactions Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht, The Netherlands 333–361

    Google Scholar 

  • DB Knaff M Hirasawa (1991) ArticleTitleFerredoxin-dependent chloroplast enzymes Biochim Biophys Acta 1056 93–125 Occurrence Handle1671559

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Kobayashi R Rodríguez C Lara T Omata (1997) ArticleTitleInvolvement of the C-terminal domain of an ATP-binding subunit in the regulation of the ABC-type nitrate/nitrite transporter of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942. J Biol Chem 272 27197–27201 Occurrence Handle10.1074/jbc.272.43.27197 Occurrence Handle9341163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S Kuznetsova DB Knaff M Hirasawa B Lagoutte P Setif (2004) ArticleTitleMechanism of spinach chloroplast ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase: spectroscopic evidence for intermediate states Biochemistry 43 510–517 Occurrence Handle10.1021/bi035662q Occurrence Handle14717606

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • HM Lee E Flores A Herrero J Houmard N Tandeau de Marsac (1998) ArticleTitleA role for the signal transduction protein PII in the control of nitrate/nitrite uptake in a cyanobacterium FEBS Lett 427 291–295 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(98)00451-7 Occurrence Handle9607331

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • HM Lee E Flores K Forchhammer A Herrero de Marsac N Tandeau (2000) ArticleTitlePhosphorylation of the signal transducer PII protein and an additional effector are required for the PII-mediated regulation of nitrate and nitrite uptake in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus spPCC7942. Eur J Biochem 267 591–600 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01043.x Occurrence Handle10632730

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Locher RB Bass DC Rees (2003) ArticleTitleBreaching the barrier Science 301 603–604 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.1088621 Occurrence Handle12893929

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A López-Lozano J Díez S El Alaoui C Moreno-Vivián JM García-Fernández (2002) ArticleTitleNitrate is reduced by heterotrophic bacteria but not transferred to Prochlorococcus in non-axenic cultures FEMS Microbiol Ecol 41 151–160 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-6496(02)00297-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I Luque A Herrero E Flores F Madueño (1992) ArticleTitleClustering of genes involved in nitrate assimilation in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus Mol Gen Genet 232 7–11 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00299130 Occurrence Handle1552905

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • I Luque E Flores A Herrero (1993) ArticleTitleNitrite reductase gene from Synechococcus sp PCC 7942: homology between cyanobacterial and higher-plant nitrite reductases. Plant Mol Biol 21 1201–1205 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00023618 Occurrence Handle8490140

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • I Luque E Flores A Herrero (1994a) ArticleTitleNitrate and nitrite transport in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp PCC 7942 are mediated by the same permease. Biochim Biophys Acta 1184 296–298

    Google Scholar 

  • I Luque E Flores A Herrero (1994b) ArticleTitleMolecular mechanism for the operation of nitrogen control in cyanobacteria EMBO J 13 2862–2869

    Google Scholar 

  • I Luque MF Vázquez-Bermúdez J Paz-Yepes E Flores A Herrero (2004) ArticleTitleIn vivo activity of the nitrogen control transcription factor NtcA is subjected to metabolic regulation in Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942. FEMS Microbiol Lett 236 47–52 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.femsle.2004.05.018 Occurrence Handle15212789

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • F Madueño E Flores MG Guerrero (1987) ArticleTitleCompetition between nitrate and nitrite uptake in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans Biochim Biophys Acta 896 109–112

    Google Scholar 

  • F Madueño MA Vega-Palas E Flores A Herrero (1988) ArticleTitleA cytoplasmic-membrane protein repressible by ammonium in Synechococcus R2: altered expression in nitrate-assimilation mutants FEBS Lett 239 289–291 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0014-5793(88)80936-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SI Maeda T Omata (1997) ArticleTitleSubstrate-binding lipoprotein of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942 involved in the transport of nitrate and nitrite. J Biol Chem 272 3036–3041 Occurrence Handle10.1074/jbc.272.5.3036 Occurrence Handle9006953

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S Maeda T Omata (2004) ArticleTitleA novel gene (narM) required for expression of nitrate reductase activity in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC7942 J Bacteriol 186 2107–2114 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.186.7.2107-2114.2004 Occurrence Handle15028696

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SI Maeda Y Kawaguchi TA Ohe T Omata (1998) ArticleTitlecis-Acting sequences required for NtcB-dependent, nitrite-responsive positive regulation of the nitrate assimilation operon in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942. J Bacteriol 180 4080–4088 Occurrence Handle9696753

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Manzano P Candau C Gómez-Moreno AM Relimpio M Losada (1976) ArticleTitleFerredoxindependent photosynthetic reduction of nitrate and nitrite by particles of Anacystis nidulans Mol Cell Biochem 10 161–169 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01731687 Occurrence Handle4727

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Martín-Nieto E Flores A Herrero (1992) ArticleTitleBiphasic kinetic behavior of nitrate reductase from heterocystous, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Plant Physiol 100 157–163

    Google Scholar 

  • DE McRee DC Richardson JS Richardson LM Siegel (1986) ArticleTitleThe heme and Fe4S4 cluster in the crystallographic structure of Escherichia coli sulfite reductase J Biol Chem 261 10277–10281 Occurrence Handle3525540

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JC Meeks KL Wycoff JS Chapman CS Enderlin (1983) ArticleTitleRegulation of expression of nitrate and dinitrogen assimilation by Anabaena species Appl Environ Microbiol 45 1351–1359

    Google Scholar 

  • JC Meeks J Elhai T Thiel M Potts F Larimer J Lamerdin P Predki R Atlas (2001) ArticleTitleAn overview of the genome of Nostoc punctiforme, a multicellular, symbiotic cyanobacterium Photosynth Res 70 85–106 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013840025518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RR Mendel Hänsch (2002) ArticleTitleMolybdoenzymes and molybdenum cofactors in plants J Exp Bot 53 1689–1698 Occurrence Handle10.1093/jxb/erf038 Occurrence Handle12147719

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JM Méndez JM Vega (1981) ArticleTitlePurification and molecular properties of nitrite reductase from Anabaena sp 7119. Physiol Plant 52 7–14

    Google Scholar 

  • F Merchán KL Kindle MJ Llama JL Serra E Fernández (1995) ArticleTitleCloning and sequencing of the nitrate transport system from the thermophilic, filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum: comparative analysis with the homologous system from Synechococcus sp PCC 7942. Plant Mol Biol 28 759–766 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00021199 Occurrence Handle7647306

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • B Mikami S Ida (1984) ArticleTitlePurification and properties of ferredoxinΓÇônitrate reductase from the cyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum Biochim Biophys Acta 791 294–304

    Google Scholar 

  • SR Miller RW Castenholz (2001) ArticleTitleEcological physiology of Synechococcus sp strain SH-94-5, a naturally occurring cyanobacterium deficient in nitrate assimilation. Appl Environ Microbiol 67 3002–3009 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.67.7.3002-3009.2001 Occurrence Handle11425713

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Moreno-Vivián P Cabello M Martínez-Luque R Blasco F Castillo (1999) ArticleTitleProkaryotic nitrate reduction: molecular properties and functional distinction among bacterial nitrate reductases J Bacteriol 181 6573–6584 Occurrence Handle10542156

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MI Muro-Pastor JC Reyes FJ Florencio (2001) ArticleTitleCyanobacteria perceive nitrogen status by sensing intracellular 2-oxoglutarate levels J Biol Chem 276 38320–38328 Occurrence Handle11479309

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D Nagore M Llarena MJ Llama JL Serra (2003) ArticleTitleCharacterization of the N-terminal domain of NrtC, the ATP-binding subunit of ABC-type nitrate transporter of the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum Biochim Biophys Acta 1623 143–153 Occurrence Handle14572912

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Ohmori K Ohmori H Strotmann (1977) ArticleTitleInhibition of nitrate uptake by ammonia in a blue-green alga, Anabaena cylindrica Arch Microbiol 114 225–229 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00446866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Omata (1991) ArticleTitleCloning and characterization of the nrtA gene that encodes a 45-kDa protein involved in nitrate transport in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 Plant Cell Physiol 32 151–157

    Google Scholar 

  • T Omata M Ohmori N Arai T Ogawa (1989) ArticleTitleGenetically engineered mutant of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 defective in nitrate transport Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86 6612–6616

    Google Scholar 

  • T Omata X Andriesse A Hirano (1993) ArticleTitleIdentification and characterization of a gene cluster involved in nitrate transport of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp PCC7942. Mol Gen Genet 236 193–202 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00277112 Occurrence Handle8437564

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T Ortega F Castillo J Cárdenas (1976) ArticleTitlePhotolysis of water coupled to nitrate reduction by Nostoc muscorum subcellular particles Biochem Biophys Res Commun 71 885–891 Occurrence Handle9086

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • B Palenik B Brahamsha FW Larimer M Land L Hauser P Chain J Lamerdin W Regala EE Allen J McCarren I Paulsen A Dufresne F Partensky EA Webb J Waterbury (2003) ArticleTitleThe genome of a motile marine Synechococcus Nature 424 1037–1042

    Google Scholar 

  • A Paneque JM Ramírez Campo FF del M Losada (1964) ArticleTitleLight and dark reduction of nitrite in a reconstituted enzymic system J Biol Chem 239 1737–1741 Occurrence Handle14213343

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Paz-Yepes E Flores A Herrero (2003) ArticleTitleTranscriptional effects of the signal transduction protein PII (glnB gene product) on NtcA-dependent genes in Synechococcus sp PCC 7942. FEBS Lett 543 42–46 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(03)00384-3 Occurrence Handle12753902

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • B Persson P Argos (1996) ArticleTitleTopology prediction of membrane proteins Protein Sci 5 363–371 Occurrence Handle8745415

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KV Rajagopalan (1996) Biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor FC Neidhardt (Eds) Escherichia coli and Salmonella: cellular and molecular biology ASM Press Washington, DC 674–679

    Google Scholar 

  • KV Rajagopalan JL Johnson (1992) ArticleTitleThe pterin molybdenum cofactors J Biol Chem 267 10199–10202 Occurrence Handle1587808

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • G Rocap FW Larimer J Lamerdin S Malfatti P Chain NA Ahlgren A Arellano M Coleman L Hauser WR Hess ZI Johnson M Land D Lindell AF Post W Regala M Shah SL Shaw C Steglich MB Sullivan CS Ting A Tolonen EA Webb ER Zinser SW Chisholm (2003) ArticleTitleGenome divergence in two Prochlorococcus ecotypes reflects oceanic niche differentiation Nature 424 1042–1047 Occurrence Handle10.1038/nature01947 Occurrence Handle12917642

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Rodríguez C Lara MG Guerrero (1992) ArticleTitleNitrate transport in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2Kinetic and energetic aspects. Biochem J 282 639–643 Occurrence Handle1554347

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JM Romero E Flores MG Guerrero (1985) ArticleTitleInhibition of nitrate utilization by amino acids in intact Anacystis nidulans cells Arch Microbiol 142 1–5 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00409227 Occurrence Handle3929744

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LM Rubio A Herrero E Flores (1996) ArticleTitleA cyanobacterial narB gene encodes a ferredoxindependent nitrate reductase Plant Mol Biol 30 845–850 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00019017 Occurrence Handle8624415

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LM Rubio E Flores A Herrero (1998) ArticleTitleThe narA locus of Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942 consists of a cluster of molybdopterin biosynthesis genes. J Bacteriol 180 1200–1206 Occurrence Handle9495759

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LM Rubio E Flores A Herrero (1999) ArticleTitleMolybdopterin guanine dinucleotide cofactor in Synechococcus sp nitrate reductase: identification of mobA and isolation of a putative moeB gene. FEBS Lett 462 358–362 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(99)01556-2 Occurrence Handle10622725

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LM Rubio E Flores A Herrero (2002) ArticleTitlePurification, cofactor analysis, and site-directed mutagenesis of Synechococcus ferredoxin–nitrate reductase Photosynth Res 72 13–26 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1016078700839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Sakamoto K Inoue-Sakamoto DA Bryant (1999) ArticleTitleA novel nitrate/nitrite permease in the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7002. J Bacteriol 181 7363–7372 Occurrence Handle10572142

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T Sazuka (2003) ArticleTitleProteomic analysis of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp strain PCC7120 with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and amino-terminal sequencing. Photosynth Res 78 279–291 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:PRES.0000006830.90797.54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Serrano J Rivas M Losada (1981) ArticleTitleNitrate and nitrite as ‘in vivo’ quenchers of chlorophyll fluorescence in blue-green algae Photosynth Res 2 175–184 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00032356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MN Sivak C Lara JM Romero R Rodríguez MG Guerrero (1989) ArticleTitleRelationship between a 47-kDa cytoplasmic membrane polypeptide and nitrate transport in Anacystis nidulans Biochem Biophys Res Commun 158 257–262 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-291X(89)80206-2 Occurrence Handle2492194

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • I Suzuki T Sugiyama T Omata (1993) ArticleTitlePrimary structure and transcriptional regulation of the gene for nitrite reductase from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 Plant Cell Physiol 34 1311–1320

    Google Scholar 

  • I Suzuki H Kikuchi S Nakanishi Y Fujita T Sugiyama T Omata (1995a) ArticleTitleA novel nitrite reductase gene from the cyanobacterium Plectonema boryanum J Bacteriol 177 6137–6143

    Google Scholar 

  • I Suzuki N Horie T Sugiyama T Omata (1995b) ArticleTitleIdentification and characterization of two nitrogen-regulated genes of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC7942 required for maximum efficiency of nitrogen assimilation. J Bacteriol 177 290–296

    Google Scholar 

  • R Tanigawa M Shirokane Si S Maeda T Omata K Tanaka H Takahashi (2002) ArticleTitleTranscriptional activation of NtcA-dependent promoters of Synechococcus sp PCC 7942 by 2-oxoglutarate in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99 4251–4255

    Google Scholar 

  • R Tischner A Schmidt (1984) ArticleTitleLight mediated regulation of nitrate assimilation in Synechococcus leopoliensis Arch Microbiol 137 151–154 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00414457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niel CB Van (1941) ArticleTitleThe bacterial photosyntheses and their importance for the general problem of photosynthesis Adv Enzymol 1 263–328

    Google Scholar 

  • MF Vázquez-Bermúdez A Herrero E Flores (2002) ArticleTitle2-Oxoglutarate increases the binding affinity of the NtcA (nitrogen control) transcription factor for the Synechococcus glnA promoter FEBS Lett 512 71–74 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-5793(02)02219-6 Occurrence Handle11852054

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MF Vázquez-Bermúdez A Herrero E Flores (2003) ArticleTitleCarbon supply and 2-oxoglutarate effects on expression of nitrate reductase and nitrogen-regulated genes in Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942. FEMS Microbiol Lett 221 155–159 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1097(03)00208-8 Occurrence Handle12725920

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MA Vega-Palas F Madueño A Herrero E Flores (1990) ArticleTitleIdentification and cloning of a regulatory gene for nitrogen assimilation in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain PCC 7942. J Bacteriol 172 643–647 Occurrence Handle1967601

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MA Vega-Palas E Flores A Herrero (1992) ArticleTitleNtcA, a global nitrogen regulator from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus that belongs to the Crp family of bacterial regulators Mol Microbiol 6 1853–1859 Occurrence Handle1630321

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Q Wang H Li AF Post (2000) ArticleTitleNitrate assimilation genes of the marine diazotrophic, filamentous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium sp strain WH9601. J Bacteriol 182 1764–1767 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.182.6.1764-1767.2000 Occurrence Handle10692386

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • TH Wang H Fu YJ Shieh (2003) ArticleTitleMonomeric NarB is a dual-affinity nitrate reductase, and its activity is regulated differently from that of nitrate uptake in the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp strain RF-1. J Bacteriol 185 5838–5846 Occurrence Handle10.1128/JB.185.19.5838-5846.2003 Occurrence Handle13129956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O Warburg G Krippahl Jetschmann (1965) ArticleTitleWiderlegung der Photolyse des Wassers und Beweis der Photolyse der Kohlensäure nach Versuchen mit lebender Chlorella und den Hill-Reagentien Nitrat und K3Fe(CN)6 Z Naturforsch 20b 993–996

    Google Scholar 

  • Q Wu V Stewart (1998) ArticleTitleNasFED proteins mediate assimilatory nitrate and nitrite transport in Klebsiella oxytoca (pneumoniae) M5al J Bacteriol 180 1311–1322 Occurrence Handle9495773

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, C.S.I.C.-Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Américo Vespucio 49, Sevilla, Spain, 41092

    Enrique Flores, José E. Frías & Antonia Herrero

  2. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, 111 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA, USA, 94720

    Luis M. Rubio

Authors
  1. Enrique Flores
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José E. Frías
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luis M. Rubio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonia Herrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Enrique Flores.

Additional information

This article is dedicated to Professor Manuel Losada on the occasion of his 75th anniversary.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Flores, E., Frías, J.E., Rubio, L.M. et al. Photosynthetic nitrate assimilation in cyanobacteria. Photosynth Res 83, 117–133 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-004-5830-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-004-5830-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation