Skip to main content
PMC home page
Biochemical Journal logoLink to Biochemical Journal
. 1973 Jul;134(3):673–685. doi: 10.1042/bj1340673

Regulation of nitrate reductase of Neurospora at the level of transcription and translation

G J Sorger 1, J Davies 1
PMCID: PMC1177864  PMID: 4147918

Abstract

The presence of nitrate is required for the induced synthesis of NADPH–nitrate reductase and its related partial activity Benzyl Viologen–nitrate reductase in a wild-type strain of Neurospora. In nit-3, a mutant lacking complete NADPH–nitrate reductase activity but retaining the partial activity Benzyl Viologen–nitrate reductase, the presence of nitrate ions is not required for the de-repressed synthesis of the latter enzyme. The accumulation of the capacity to synthesize nitrate reductase, and the related Benzyl Viologen–nitrate reductase, in the absence of protein synthesis does not require nitrate in the normal strain or in strain nit-3. Ammonia antagonizes the accumulation of this capacity in both strains. Nitrate is required for the synthesis of nitrate reductase and related activities from presumedly preformed mRNA in the wild-type strain. Nitrate is not required for the comparable function in strain nit-3. Ammonia appears to stop the synthesis of nitrate reductase and related activities from presumedly preformed mRNA in the wild-type strain and in strain nit-3. The effects of nitrate, or ammonia and of no nitrogen source on the induced synthesis of nitrate reductase cannot be explained on the basis of the effects of the different nitrogen sources on general synthesis of RNA or of protein.

Full text

PDF
673

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Artman M., Ennis H. L. Dissociation of Lac messenger ribonucleic acid transcription from translation during recovery from inhibition of protein synthesis. J Bacteriol. 1972 May;110(2):652–660. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.2.652-660.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blow D. M., Steitz T. A. X-ray diffraction studies of enzymes. Annu Rev Biochem. 1970;39:63–100. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.39.070170.000431. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cove D. J. Control of gene action in Aspergillus nidulans. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1970 Dec 1;176(1044):267–275. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1970.0045. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cove D. J., Pateman J. A. Autoregulation of the synthesis of nitrate reductase in Aspergillus nidulans. J Bacteriol. 1969 Mar;97(3):1374–1378. doi: 10.1128/jb.97.3.1374-1378.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cove D. J. The induction and repression of nitrate reductase in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1966 Jan 11;113(1):51–56. doi: 10.1016/s0926-6593(66)80120-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. De Crombrugghe B., Chen B., Gottesman M., Pastan I., Varmus H. E., Emmer M., Perlman R. L. Regulation of lac mRNA synthesis in a soluble cell-free system. Nat New Biol. 1971 Mar 10;230(10):37–40. doi: 10.1038/newbio230037a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Evans H. J., Nason A. Pyridine Nucleotide-Nitrate Reductase from Extracts of Higher Plants. Plant Physiol. 1953 Apr;28(2):233–254. doi: 10.1104/pp.28.2.233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Filner P. Regulation of nitrate reductase in cultured tobacco cells. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1966 May 5;118(2):299–310. doi: 10.1016/s0926-6593(66)80038-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Ingle J. Nucleic acid and protein synthesis associated with the induction of nitrate reductase activity in radish cotyledons. Biochem J. 1968 Aug;108(5):715–724. doi: 10.1042/bj1080715. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Ingle J. The regulation of activity of the enzymes involved in the assimilation of nitrate by higher plants. Biochem J. 1966 Sep;100(3):577–588. doi: 10.1042/bj1000577. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. JACOB F., MONOD J. Genetic regulatory mechanisms in the synthesis of proteins. J Mol Biol. 1961 Jun;3:318–356. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(61)80072-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Joy K. W. Nitrogen metabolis of Lemna minor. II. Enzymes of nitrate assimilation and some aspects of their regulation. Plant Physiol. 1969 Jun;44(6):849–853. doi: 10.1104/pp.44.6.849. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. KINSKY S. C. Induction and repression of nitrate reductase in Neurospora crassa. J Bacteriol. 1961 Dec;82:898–904. doi: 10.1128/jb.82.6.898-904.1961. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Levinson B. B., Tomkins G. M., Stellwagen R. H. The regulation of tyrosine aminotransferase synthesis. Studies in HTC cells with inhibitors of ribonucleic acid synthesis. J Biol Chem. 1971 Oct 25;246(20):6297–6302. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lewis C. M., Fincham J. R. Regulation of nitrate reductase in the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jul;103(1):55–61. doi: 10.1128/jb.103.1.55-61.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Losada M., Paneque A., Aparicio P. J., Vega J. M., Cárdenas J., Herrera J. Inactivation and repression by ammonium of the nitrate reducing system in chlorella. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1970 Mar 27;38(6):1009–1015. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(70)90340-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. PATEMAN J. A., COVE D. J., REVER B. M., ROBERTS D. B. A COMMON CO-FACTOR FOR NITRATE REDUCTASE AND XANTHINE DEHYDROGENASE WHICH ALSO REGULATES THE SYNTHESIS OF NITRATE REDUCTASE. Nature. 1964 Jan 4;201:58–60. doi: 10.1038/201058a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Penman S. RNA metabolism in the HeLa cell nucleus. J Mol Biol. 1966 May;17(1):117–130. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(66)80098-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Pinchinoty F., Méténier G. Régulation de la biosynthèse et localisation de la nitrate-réductase d'Hansenula anomala. Ann Inst Pasteur (Paris) 1967 Jun;112(6):701–711. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Rigano C. Studies on nitrate reductase from Cyanidium caldarium. Arch Mikrobiol. 1971;76(3):265–276. doi: 10.1007/BF00409121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. SCHIMKE R. T., SWEENEY E. W., BERLIN C. M. THE ROLES OF SYNTHESIS AND DEGRADATION IN THE CONTROL OF RAT LIVER TRYPTOPHAN PYRROLASE. J Biol Chem. 1965 Jan;240:322–331. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. SILVER W. S. Pyridine nucleotidenitrate reductase from Hansenula anomala a nitrate reducing yeast. J Bacteriol. 1957 Feb;73(2):241–246. doi: 10.1128/jb.73.2.241-246.1957. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. SORGER G. J. SIMULTANEOUS INDUCTION AND REPRESSION OF NITRATE REDUCTASE AND TPNH CYTOCHROME REDUCTASE IN NEUROSPORA CRASSA. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1965 May 18;99:234–245. doi: 10.1016/s0926-6593(65)80120-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Schrader L. E., Ritenour G. L., Eilrich G. L., Hageman R. H. Some characteristics of nitrate reductase from higher plants. Plant Physiol. 1968 Jun;43(6):930–940. doi: 10.1104/pp.43.6.930. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Smith F. W., Thompson J. F. Regulation of Nitrate Reductase in Chlorella vulgaris. Plant Physiol. 1971 Aug;48(2):224–227. doi: 10.1104/pp.48.2.224. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Smith F. W., Thompson J. F. Regulation of nitrate reductase in excised barley roots. Plant Physiol. 1971 Aug;48(2):219–223. doi: 10.1104/pp.48.2.219. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sorger G. J., Giles N. H. Genetic control of nitrate reductase in Neurospora crassa. Genetics. 1965 Oct;52(4):777–788. doi: 10.1093/genetics/52.4.777. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sorger G. J. Nitrate reductase electron transport systems in mutant and in wild-type strains of Neurospora. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1966 Jun 15;118(3):484–494. doi: 10.1016/s0926-6593(66)80091-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Subramanian K. N., Sorger G. J. Regulation of nitrate reductase in Neurospora crassa: regulation of transcription and translation. J Bacteriol. 1972 May;110(2):547–553. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.2.547-553.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Subramanian K. N., Sorger G. J. Regulation of nitrate reductase in Neurospora crassa: stability in vivo. J Bacteriol. 1972 May;110(2):538–546. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.2.538-546.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Tisdale J. H., DeBusk A. G. Permeability problems encountered when treating conidia of neurospora crassa with RNA synthesis inhibitors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1972 Aug 21;48(4):816–822. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(72)90680-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Tomkins G. M., Gelehrter T. D., Granner D., Martin D., Jr, Samuels H. H., Thompson E. B. Control of specific gene expression in higher organisms. Expression of mammalian genes may be controlled by repressors acting on the translation of messenger RNA. Science. 1969 Dec 19;166(3912):1474–1480. doi: 10.1126/science.166.3912.1474. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Travers A. Control of transcription in bacteria. Nat New Biol. 1971 Jan 20;229(3):69–74. doi: 10.1038/newbio229069a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Travis R. L., Jordan W. R., Huffaker R. C. Evidence for an Inactivating System of Nitrate Reductase in Hordeum vulgare L. during Darkness That Requires Protein Synthesis. Plant Physiol. 1969 Aug;44(8):1150–1156. doi: 10.1104/pp.44.8.1150. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Vega J. M., Herrera J., Aparicio P. J., Paneque A., Losada M. Role of molybdenum in nitrate reduction by chlorella. Plant Physiol. 1971 Sep;48(3):294–299. doi: 10.1104/pp.48.3.294. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Warner R. L., Hageman R. H., Dudley J. W., Lambert R. J. Inheritance of nitrate reductase activity in Zea mays L. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1969 Mar;62(3):785–792. doi: 10.1073/pnas.62.3.785. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Weiss H., Sebald W., Bücher T. Cycloheximide resistant incorporation of amino acids into a polypeptide of the cytochrome oxidase of Neurospora crassa. Eur J Biochem. 1971 Sep 13;22(1):19–26. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1971.tb01509.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wray J. L., Filner P. Structural and functional relationships of enzyme activities induced by nitrate in barley. Biochem J. 1970 Oct;119(4):715–725. doi: 10.1042/bj1190715. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Zielke H. R., Filner P. Synthesis and turnover of nitrate reductase induced by nitrate in cultured tobacco cells. J Biol Chem. 1971 Mar 25;246(6):1772–1779. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Biochemical Journal are provided here courtesy of The Biochemical Society

RESOURCES