Measurement in vivo of hydrogenase-catalysed hydrogen evolution in the presence of nitrogenase enzyme in cyanobacteria.

A method was devised that allows measurement in vivo of hydrogenase-catalysed H2 evolution from the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica, independent of nitrogenase activity, which is also present. Addition of low concentrations of reduced Methyl Viologen (1-10mM) to intact heterocystous filaments of the organism resulted in H2 evolution, but produced conditions giving total inhibition of nitrogenase (acetylene-reducing and H2-evolving) activity. That the H2 formed under these conditions was not contributed to by nitrogenase was also supported by the observation that its rate of formation was similar in the dark or with Ar replaced by N2 in the gas phase, and also in view of the pattern of H2 evolution at very low Methyl Viologen concentrations. Conclusive evidence that the H2 formed in the presence of Methyl Viologen was solely hydrogenase-mediated was its evolution even from nitrogenase-free (non-heterocystous) cultures; by contrast 'uptake' hydrogenase activity in such cultures was greatly decreased. The hydrogenase activity was inhibited by CO and little affected by acetylene. Finally the hydrogenase activity was shown to be relatively constant at different stages during the batch growth of the organism, as opposed to nitrogenase activity, which varied.