[Localization of hydrogenase in the cells of the thermophilic hydrogen bacterium, Pseudomonas thermophila].

Spheroplasts that were osmotically stable in 0.2M Tris-HCl--0.02M EDTA were prepared from the autotrophically grown cells of Pseudomonas thermophila K-2. The spheroplasts possessed 90--95% of the hydrogenase activity of the whole cells. The half-life time of hydrogenase in the spheroplasts at 80 degrees C was 8.5 min. A spectrophotometric technique was developed for determining the membrane-bound hydrogenase in the presence of sulfhydryl compounds with methylene blue as electron acceptor. The maximal specific activity of hydrogenase in extracts prepared in the anaerobic conditions in the presence of dithiothreitol and Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions was 10 +/- 3 units per 1 mg of protein, which closely corresponded with the activity of hydrogenase in the whole cells. Almost all activity of hydrogenase assayed with methylene blue was localized in the membrane fraction. The activity of soluble NAD-specific hydrogenase was not detected. Large particles located in 60-70% sucrose had the highest hydrogenase activity upon fractionation in a continuous sucrose concentration gradient. The second, lower peak of the hydrogenase activity was detected in fractions of 40--50% sucrose. As was found by electron microscopy, the size of membrane vesicles with the hydrogenase activity varied within the range of 68--156 nm. The membrane preparations possessed the activity of NADH-dehydrogenase, NADH-oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase as well.