NITRATE REDUCTASE-ACTIVITY IN SPHEROPLASTS FROM RHODOBACTER-CAPSULATUS E1F1 REQUIRES A PERIPLASMIC PROTEIN

Spheroplasts from Rhodobacter capsulatus E1F1 cells grown in nitrate maintained nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity only when they were illuminated under anaerobiosis in the presence of the periplasmic fraction and nitrate. The effects on nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity of spheroplasts were observed at low concentrations of periplasmic protein (about 50 mug x ml-1). Periplasm from nitrate-grown cells was also required for nitrate reductase activity in spheroplasts isolated from ammonia-grown or diazotrophic cells which initially lacked this enzymatic activity. Both the maintenance of nitrate reductase in spheroplasts from nitrate-grown cells and the appearance of the activity in spheroplasts from diazotrophic cells were dependent on de novo protein synthesis. A periplasmic, 45-kDa protein which maintained the activity of nitrate reductase in spheroplasts was partially purified by gel filtration chromatography of periplasm obtained from nitrate-grown cells.