Formation of the nitrogen-fixing enzyme system in Azotobacter vinelandii

The formation and activity of nitrogenase² in Azotobacter vinelandii OP was examined using a cell-free assay system. A lag period of about 30 min occurred between the exhaustion of the combined nitrogen source and growth on N₂. Cells grown on ammonium acetate or potassium nitrate had no detectable nitrogenase activity. Nitrogenase activity appeared in cells, grown under a flowing gas phase of 20% O₂ – 60% He, about 45 min after the exhaustion of ammonia. Nitrogenase formation was inhibited in a closed system with an atmosphere containing 40% O₂ but not by one containing 20% O₂. Hydrogen did not inhibit enzyme formation. The question of whether N₂ is required for the formation of the enzyme could not be answered as this gas could not be completely eliminated from the growth system. Chloramphenicol prevented the formation of the enzyme and inhibited nitrogen fixation in whole cells, but had no effect on cell-free enzyme activity. A brief rise in turbidity which occurred during nitrogenase formation appeared to be due to a color change in the cells from reddish brown to dark brown. Spectrophotometric examination of extracts from ammonia- and N₂-grown cells did not reveal any components responsible for this color difference, but this result may reflect only the presence of interfering substances in the crude extract.