Repression of nitrogenase by ethanol in nitrogen-deprived cultures of Rhodovulum sulfidophilum.

Light-dependent H2 evolution did not occur in nitrogen-deprived cultures of Rhodovulum sulfidophilum in the presence of ethanol. When ethanol was added to cells which had been grown with ammonia, derepression of the nitrogen fixation genes (nifHD) was inhibited at an ethanol concentration of 1 mM. On the other hand, when cells had nitrogenase-catalyzed proton-reducing activity prior to ethanol addition, reduction of the nifHD transcript level did not occur after the addition. In cells grown with ammonia, concomitant addition of an auxiliary oxidant such as dimethylsulfoxide or sodium bicarbonate resulted in derepression of nitrogenase activity in the presence of ethanol. These results suggest that the electron-accepting process is necessary for derepression of nif genes in cultures which use ethanol as the electron donor.