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Physiological, metabolic and developmental implications of O2 regulation in legume nodules

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

The fixation of atmospheric N2 by the bacterial enzyme nitrogenase is energetically expensive, requiring at least 16 ATP per N2 fixed. The ATP is derived from oxidative phosphorylation, so a high flux of O2 is required to the bacteria. However, nitrogenase is irreversibly inhibited by O2, so the O2 concentration at the site of the enzyme must be regulated stringently (3). In legume nodules, the infected cells housing the nitrogenase-containing bacteroids occupy a distinct central zone surrounded by inner and outer cortical layers. The O2 concentration in this central zone is maintained at a low level by the high rate of respiration in support of nitrogenase activity and by a barrier to O2 diffusion in the inner cortex (27, 49 58). Recent studies have shown that the cortical diffusion barrier has a variable resistance and that it maintains the O2 concentration in the infected cells at a level which limits nitrogenase activity at all times (20, 28). The barrier also responds to changes in physiological and environmental conditions which affect nodule metabolism and therefore the ability of the nodule to consume the O2 that diffuses into the central zone from the rhizosphere (27, 58).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada

    D. B. Layzell, S. Hunt, A. H. M. Moloney, S. M. Fernando & L. Diaz del Castillo

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  1. D. B. Layzell
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  2. S. Hunt
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  3. A. H. M. Moloney
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  4. S. M. Fernando
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  5. L. Diaz del Castillo
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Peter M. Gresshoff L. Evans Roth Gary Stacey William E. Newton

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© 1990 Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Inc.

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Layzell, D.B., Hunt, S., Moloney, A.H.M., Fernando, S.M., Diaz del Castillo, L. (1990). Physiological, metabolic and developmental implications of O2 regulation in legume nodules. In: Gresshoff, P.M., Roth, L.E., Stacey, G., Newton, W.E. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6432-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6432-0_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-6434-4

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