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

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.