Effects of short-term n(2) deficiency on N metabolism in legume nodules

The study aimed to test the hypothesis that ammonia production by Rhizobium bacteroids provides not only a source of nitrogen for growth but has a central regulatory role in maintaining the metabolic activity and functional integrity of the legume nodule. Production of ammonia in intact, attached nodules was interrupted by short-term (up to 3 days) exposure of the nodulated root systems of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp cv Vita 3: Rhizobium CB 756) and lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv Ultra: Rhizobium WU 425) to atmospheres of argon:oxygen (80:20; v/v). Treatment did not affect nodule growth, levels of plant cell and bacteroid protein, leghaemoglobin content, or nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity (acetylene reduction) but severely reduced (by 90%) synthesis and export of the major nitrogenous solutes produced by the two symbioses (ureides in cowpea, amides in lupin). Glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) and NAD:glutamate oxidoreductase (EC I.4.1.2) were more or less stable to Ar:O(2) treatment, but activities of the glutamine-utilizing enzymes, glutamate synthase (EC 2.6.1.53), asparagine synthetase (EC 6.3.5.4) (lupin only), and de novo purine synthesis (cowpea only), were all markedly reduced. Production and export of nitrogenous solutes by both symbioses resumed within 2 hours after transferring Ar:O(2)-treated plants back to air. In each case the major exported product of fixation after transfer was initially glutamine, reflecting the relative stability of glutamine synthetase activity. Subsequently, glutamine declined and products of its assimilation became predominant consistent with resurgence of enzymes for the synthesis of asparagine in lupin and ureides in cowpea. Enzymes not directly involved with either ammonia or glutamine assimilation (purine synthesis, purine oxidation, and carbon metabolism of both bacteroids and plant cells) also showed transient changes in activity following interruption of N(2) supply. These data have been interpreted to indicate a far-reaching effect of the production of ammonia by bacteroids on a wide range of enzymes, possibly through control of protein turnover, rather than a highly specific effect of ammonia, or some product of its assimilation, on a few enzyme species.