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Effect of pH on tritium exchange and hydrogen production and uptake in free-living cells and in bacteroids of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Journal Article · · Arch. Biochem. Biophys.; (United States)

Soybean nodule bacteroids and Bradyrhizobium japonicum free-living cells induced for H/sub 2/-uptake hydrogenase, actively catalyze the evolution of H/sub 2/ in a reaction highly dependent on the pH. The optimal pHs for the evolution and uptake reactions were 4.0 and 7.5-8.0, respectively. No differences were found between free-living cells and bacteroids with respect to hydrogen acceptor specificity, although absolute rates of H/sub 2/ uptake were higher for free-living cells. Both types of cells were able to evolve hydrogen from reduced methyl viologen at low pH. These intact cells also catalyzed the exchange reaction between tritium and water in the absence of oxygen. The pH profile of the exchange activity showed two peaks at values near the optimal pHs for the evolution and uptake reactions.

Research Organization:
Instituto de Catalisis, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
OSTI ID:
5478631
Journal Information:
Arch. Biochem. Biophys.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Biochem. Biophys.; (United States) Vol. 259:2; ISSN ABBIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English