Pyruvate-induced stimulation of nitrogenase activity in Aulosira fertilissima

The effect of pyruvate on nitrogenase activity in the N2-fixing cyanobacterium Aulosira fertilissima has been studied. Addition of 0.01-1.0 mM concentrations of pyruvate to actively N2-fixing cultures stimulated the enzyme activity in light; the maximum stimulation was observed with 0.3 mM pyruvate. There was no detectable stimulation of nitrogenase activity in the dark. Addition of pyruvate had no effect on the growth rate. DCMU gradually inhibited nitrogenase activity, but supplementation of 0.3 mM pyruvate to such cultures restored normal activity. Furthermore, pyruvate-induced stimulation of nitrogenase activity was found to be stimulated by anaerobic conditions. The inactivation of nitrogenase activity by the addition of O2 was restored by pyruvate. From 14CO2 uptake studies it appears that the alga preferred to take up pyruvate even in the presence of 14CO2. Thus it appears that pyruvate is taken up and metabolized by the alga, which manifests the observed effects.