Isolation and Characterization of Nitrogenase-Derepressed Mutant Strains of Cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilist

A positive selection method for isolation of nitrogenase-derepressed mutant strains of a filamentous cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis, is described. Mutant strains that are resistant to a glutamate analog, L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine, were screened for their ability to produce and excrete NH4' into medium. Mutant strains capable of producing nitrogenase in the presence of NH4' were selected from a population of NH4+-excreting mutants. One of the mutant strains (SA-1) studied in detail was found to be a conditional glutamine auxotroph requiring glutamine for growth in media containing N2, N03 , or low concentrations of NH4' (less than 0.5 mM). This glutamine requirement is a consequence of a block in the assimilation of NH4' produced by an enzyme system like nitrogenase. Glutamate and aspartate failed to substitute for glutamine because of a defect in the transport and utilization of these amino acids. Strain SA-1 assimilated NH4' when the concentration in the medium reached about 0.5 mM, and under these conditions the growth rate was similar to that of the parent. Mutant strain SA-1 produced L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine-resistant glutamine synthetase activity. Kinetic properties of the enzyme from the parent and mutant were similar. Mutant strain SA-1 can potentially serve as a source of fertilizer nitrogen to support growth of crop plants, since the NH4' produced by nitrogenase, utilizing sunlight and water as sources of energy and reductant, respectively, is excreted into the environment.