Effect of light nitrogenase function and synthesis in Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

The metabolic versatility of the purple nonsulfur photosynethetic bacterial permits the expression of either a phototrophic or a dark aerobic mode of growth. These organism also possess nitrogenase activity which may function under semiaerboic conditions. On the basis of these important properties, the light dependence of nitrogenase function and synthesis in Rhodopseudomonas capsulata was investigated. Nitrogenase activity was strictly dependent on light; no activity was observed in the dark, even when energy (ATP) was supplied by oxidative phosphorylation. It was concluded that the low-potential reducing agent required by the nitrogenase-catalyzed reaction could only be generated by a photochemical reaction. Nitrogenase biosynthesis was also largely dependent on light; however, a small amount of synthesis was observed in resting cells incubated in the dark. Resting cells prepared from dark-grown cultures synthesized nitrogenase at high rates upon illumination. The highest stability of nitrogenase in these resting cells was observed when suspensions were exposed to a diurnal pattern of illumination rather than continuous light. Although nitrogenase function and synthesis are closely coupled to photosynthetic activity, the biosyntheses of bacteriochorophyll and nitrogenase are independent of each other and are most probably subject to different regulatory mechanisms by light.