La fixation biologique d’azote (réduction du N2 atmosphérique, non biodisponible, en ammonium (NH3) bioassimilable) est catalysée par la métalloenzyme nitrogénase. Cette enzyme existe sous trois isoformes chez la bactérie du sol Azotobacter vinelandii: les nitrogénases au molybdène (Mo), au vanadium (V) et au fer (Fe). L’acquisition des métaux cofacteurs constitue un paramètre d’intérêt majeur car Mo et V sont fortement complexés à la matrice (matière organique et oxydes) ce qui peut limiter leur disponibilité. Ces travaux ont montré que la présence d’acide tannique et d’oxydes de fer entraîne des changements majeurs dans la gestion des métaux cofacteurs (Mo et V) chez A. vinelandii. Les stratégies d’acquisition des métaux cofacteurs sont fortement modifiées en présence de ces complexants avec (i) un changement important de la quantité des metallophores produits ainsi que (ii) une acquisition simultanée de Mo et V dans des conditions traditionnellement considérées comme non limitantes en Mo. Ceci se traduit par un changement important dans l’utilisation des nitrogénases; les niveaux de transcrits élevés des gènes nifD et vnfD, spécifiques des nitrogénases au Mo et au V respectivement, suggèrent une utilisation simultanée de ces isoenzymes pour assurer la fixation d’azote. Ce projet a permis de mettre en évidence que face à un stress métallique, l’utilisation des isoformes de la nitrogénase par A. vinelandii est un processus plus versatile que précédemment décrit et que le coût d’acquisition des métaux dans ces conditions constitue un facteur important de la régulation de l’activité des nitrogénases. Ceci suggère que les nitrogénases alternatives pourraient contribuer à la fixation d’azote de manière plus importante que présentement admis.

A resonant frequency cavity was used to determine the dielectric properties of various preparations of Azotobacter vinelandii ATTC 12837. It was found that the bacteria investigated did interact with microwave radiation in the absence of free water. The data presented here indicate that bacteria demonstrate frequency specific dielectric properties. The techniques employed in these experiments may also be used to determine microwave spectra of other species of bacteria in different physiological stages.

Alginates are copolymers of &beta / -D-mannuronic (M) and &alpha / -L-guluronic acids (G). In this study, Azotobacter vinelandii ATCC&reg / 9046 was used to produce alginate in a fermentor. The effect of parameters such as dissolved oxygen tension (DOT), agitation speed, initial concentrations of sucrose and calcium on the properties of alginate were examined. Changes of DOT in the range of 1 and 10 % affected alginate production. The optimum DOT giving high alginate yield (4.51 g/L) and maximum viscosity was observed as 5 % yielding moderate GG-blocks of 55 %. Both high and low agitation levels reduced alginate production, but these conditions increased GG-block alginates as 76 and 87 % at 200 and 700 rpm, respectively. Moderate sucrose and calcium concentrations, 20 g/L and 50 mg/L, respectively were found better since further increase in their concentrations did not lead to a considerable improvement in alginate production and quality. Sodium alginates produced in this work were investigated for maximum heavy metal uptake with a special focus on copper ion and the highest copper uptake was around 1.9 mM Cu2+/g alginate. Findings showed that the block distribution of alginate was not as important as expected for copper removal. Alginate together with calcium ions was used for the removal of turbidity. The amount of GG-block was found to be important in turbidity removal. Alginate having 55 % GG block and 8.9 cP viscosity resulted in a final turbidity lower than 1 NTU at 2 mg/L of alginate with 60 mg/L of calcium ion.

In this study, Azotobacter vinelandii ATCC13705 (A. vinelandii), which is a free-living, nitrogen-fixing, gram-negative, and aerobic rod bacterium, was need to evaluate its ability to biodegrade tetracyanonickelate (TCN) under different conditions. Results show that A. vinelandii was able to biodegrade various concentrations of TCN (1, 10, and 20 mM) under aerobic conditions. Oxygen consumption and nitrogenase activity were investigated at 1 mM of TCN. Results indicate that the production of ammonia and methane was observed when TCN was consumed. Results suggest that nitrogenase was possibly involved in the enzymatic degradation of TCN. Moreover, higher degradation rate of TCN, higher nitrogenase activity, higher oxygen consumption, and higher specific growth rates were also observed at log growth period. Results suggest that the hypothesis of respiratory protection of nitrogenase is supported. Moreover, the addition of ammonia (1, 5, and 10 mM) would cause the decrease of TCN degradation rate (28%) during a 24-hr incubation period. Inhibition of TCN degradation (degradation rate¡G16% for 24 hrs) was observed when nitrite (5 and 10 mM) was added into the growth medium. Furthermore, the addition of 8% of glucose would significantly enhance the TCN degradation by the resting cells (degradation rate¡G43% for 8 hrs) . Results from this study provide us insight into the characteristics and mechanisms of TCN conversion by A. vinelandii.

Orientador: Crispin Humberto Garcia Cruz / Banca: Alexandre Rodrigo Coelho / Banca: Vanildo Luiz Del Bianchi / Resumo: O alginato é um polissacarídeo normalmente extraído de paredes celulares de algas marrons utilizado nas indústrias de alimentos, farmacêuticas e biotecnológicas. A produção é concentrada no cultivo de algas marinhas marrons, mas várias bactérias do gênero Pseudomonas e Azotobacter produzem alginato. A estrutura química dos alginatos produzidos por algas é similar aos sintetizados pela A. vinelandii. Esta bactéria também produz polímeros intracelulares como o poli-hidroxibutirato (PHB), conhecido como bioplástico. Neste trabalho estudou-se a produção simultânea do alginato e PHB pela A. vinelandii utilizando sacarose, glicose e melaço de cana-de-açúcar como fontes de carbono, além de diferentes parâmetros de fermentação em agitador orbital rotatório. Os valores ótimos para a produção destes compostos foram determinados pela metodologia de superfície de resposta (MSR). O 1º experimento realizado para as três fontes de carbono foi um planejamento fatorial fracionado 26-2 (variáveis independentes: concentração da fonte de carbono; concentração de acetato de amônio; concentração de citrato de amônio e ferro (III); pH; temperatura de incubação e tempo de incubação). O 2º experimento baseou-se nos valores ótimos de produção de PHB para cada fonte de carbono e resultou em um planejamento fatorial completo 33-0 (variáveis independentes: concentração da fonte de carbono; temperatura de incubação e tempo de incubação). Verificou-se que a maior produtividade de PHB (100 mg/g de célula/h) utilizando o melaço de cana-de-açúcar ocorreu no tempo de incubação de aproximadamente 10 h, a 60,0ºC e nas concentrações de sólidos solúveis entre 14,0 - 25,0%. A glicose apresentou uma maior produtividade de PHB (60 mg/g de célula/h) no tempo de incubação de aproximadamente 10 h, entre 23,0-26,0ºC e concentração de glicose... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The alginate is a polysaccharide extracted from cell walls of brown seaweed used in the industries of food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology. The production is concentrated in the brown seaweed cultivation, but several bacteria, Pseudomonas and Azotobacter genus, produce alginate. The chemical structure of alginate produced by algae is similar to those synthesized by A. vinelandii. This bacterium also produces intracellular polymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), known as bioplastic. In this work the simultaneous alginate and PHB production by A. vinelandii using sucrose, glucose and sugar cane molasses as carbon source, and different fermentation parameters in orbital shaker was studied. The optimum values for the production of these compounds were determined by the response surface methodology (RSM). The 1st experiment conducted for the three carbon sources was a fractionated factorial design 26-2 (independent variables: the carbon source concentration; ammonium acetate concentration; ammonium citrate and iron (III) concentration; pH; temperature and incubation time). The 2nd experiment was based on optimum values for the production of PHB for each carbon source and resulted in a full factorial design 33-0 (independent variables: the carbon source concentration; temperature and incubation time). The highest PHB yield (100 mg/g cell/h) using sugar cane molasses as a carbon source was found in 10 h at 60.0 ºC and solids soluble concentrations between 14.0 and 25.0%. The glucose showed the highest PHB yield (60 mg/g cell/h) in approximately 10 h, at temperature between 23.0 - 26.0 ºC and glucose concentration between 48.0 and 62.0 g/L. The sucrose, showed the highest PHB yield (45 mg/g cell/h) in approximately 18 h, 60.0 ºC and sucrose concentration of 10.0 g/L. For the alginate productivity using the glucose was observed that the yield was more... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The value of the adenylate energy charge [(ATP)+1/2(ADP)/(ATP)+(ADP)+(AMP)] in Azotobacter vinelandii cells was monitored during growth and germination in flask cultures. The miximal value of 0.88 was attained during mid-log phase; this declined gradually to 0.50 by late stationary phase. When these cultures were transferred to encystment media, the adenylate energy charge decreased to an average value of 0.40 as the vegetative cells encysted and remained unchanged during the next 20 days. Encystment cultures wre composed of vegetative cells, encysting cells and mature cysts but the proportionate value of the energy charge could be assigned. Viability of the total population remained 95% or higher during the entire period studied. Azotobacter vinelandii cysts cultivated on phosphate-sufficient media. Although cell protein and nucleic acids were unaffected by phosphate deficiency, cell wall structures, oxygen uptake and sncystment were significantly affected. Phosphate-limited cysts contained much larger amounts of poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid but had a lower adenylate energy charge than did control cysts. The ATP/ADP ratio was much lower in phosophate-deficient cysts than in the control cysts. The data indicate a "substrate saving" choice of three metabolic pathways available to cells of Azotobacter under different growth conditions.

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has been shown to be potentially useful for identifying microorganisms in real time. It is a selective and sensitive technique because the excitation is performed at one wavelength while the emission is monitored at longer wavelengths so that background from the excitation source can be eliminated. This specialized optical property of LIF can be applied to development of an optical sensor capable of quickly, non-invasively, and quantitatively probing complex biochemical transformations in microorganisms. Various bio-photonic optical fiber sensors based on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy were developed as diagnostic tools for microorganisms. In the first phase, the enhancement of the sensitivity and selectivity of the optical sensor system focused on diagnosis of human breast cancer cell lines and Azotobacter vinelandii (an aerobic soil-dwelling organism). Autoluorescence spectra from human breast cancer cell lines and Azotobacter vinelandii corresponding to different growth environments were investigated. Then, the study has expanded to include the use of gold nanoparticles for specific DNA detection. The use of gold nanoparticales opens a door into construction of a compact, highly specific, inexpensive and userriendly optical fiber senor for specific DNA detection. An optical fiber laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) sensor based has been developed to detect single-strand (ss) DNA hybridization at the femtomolar level. Effects of various experimental parameters and configuration were investigated in order to optimize sensor performance and miniaturize sensor size.

No description available.

The FeMo cofactor is one of two types of prosthetic group found in the larger of the two nitrogenase component proteins, called the MoFe protein, and it is strongly implicated as the substrate binding and reduction site. The glutamine-191 residue in the Alpha-subunit of the MoFe protein of A. vinelandii nitrogenase was targeted for substitution because its side chain is involved in a hydrogen-bond network from one of the terminal carboxylates of the homocitrate component of FeMo cofactor through to the backbone NH of Alpha Gly-61, which is adjacent to Alpha Cys-62, which ligates to the P cluster (the second type of prosthetic group in the MoFe protein). A variety of altered MoFe proteins produced by the A. vinelandii mutant strains, namely the Alpha Pro-191, Alpha Ser-191, Alpha Thr-191, Alpha His-191, Alpha Glu-191, and Alpha Arg-191 altered MoFe proteins, have been purified to homogeneity and the catalytic properties of these altered MoFe proteins have been compared to those of wild type MoFe protein. Unlike wild type, the six altered MoFe proteins have decreased catalytic activity on substrate reduction and exhibited H2 evolution that was partially inhibited by added CO. Moreover, some of altered MoFe proteins with lower specific activity for the C2H4 production can produce C2H6 from C2H2. The results from the pH and activity studies indicate that the substitutions on the MoFe protein have an effect on the contribution of the responsible acid-base group(s) involved in proton transfer for H+- and C2H2-reduction. Furthermore, the inhibition by CO of hydrogen evolution by these altered MoFe proteins is likely from a lowering of the rate of both electron and proton transfer to the H+- reduction site(s). Some altered MoFe proteins but not wild type MoFe protein can produce C2H6 from C2H2. This observation suggested a lower apparent binding affinity for C2H2 and a slower proton transfer to C2H2 reduction with these altered MoFe proteins, which allow the intermediate to stay at the site longer and be further reduced by two electrons and two protons to give C2H6. These changes in the biochemical properties of these altered MoFe proteins indicate that the Alpha Gln-191 residue is intimately involved in substrate binding and reduction including proton delivery to substrate. / Ph. D.

Site-directed mutagenesis and gene replacement procedures were used to isolate mutant strains of <i>Azotobacter vinelandii</i> that produce altered MoFe proteins where the α-subunit residue-195 position, normally occupied by a histidine residue, was individually substituted by a variety of other amino acids. Structural studies have revealed that this histidine residue is associated with the FeMo-cofactor binding domain and probably provides an NH→S hydrogen bond to a central bridging sulfide located within FeMo-cofactor. The present study investigates the role of the α-histidine-195 residue in nitrogenase catalysis by examining the altered MoFe proteins. Comparisons of the catalytic and spectroscopic properties of altered MoFe proteins produced by the <i>Azotobacter vinelandii</i> mutant strains suggest that the α-histidine-195 residue has a structural role which serves to keep the FeMo-cofactor attached to the MoFe protein and to correctly position the FeMo-cofactor within the polypeptide matrix such that N₂ binding is accommodated. Substitution of the α-His-195 residue by a glutamine residue results in an altered MoFe protein that binds but does not reduce N₂, the physiological substrate. Stopped-flow spectroscopic analyses indicate that the α-195^gln MoFe protein is unable to reduce N₂ even though the altered MoFe protein can reach the redox state necessary for N₂ reduction. Although, N₂ is not a substrate for the altered MoFe protein, it is an inhibitor of both acetylene and proton reduction, both of which are otherwise effectively reduced by the altered MoFe protein. This result provides evidence that N₂ inhibits proton and acetylene reduction by simple occupancy of the active site. The α-195^gln MoFe protein catalyzes HD formation in the presence of N₂ and D₂. Moreover, N₂ binding at the active site of the altered MoFe protein is inhibited by the addition of D₂. These observations indicate that binding of nitrogen to the enzyme is necessary but its reduction is not required for the formation of HD. N₂ uncouples MgATP from proton reduction catalyzed by the α-195gln MoFe protein, but does so without lowering the overall rate of MgA TP hydrolysis. Thus, the quasi-unidirectional flow of electrons from the Fe protein to the MoFe protein that occurs during nitrogenase turnover is controlled, in part, by the substrate serving as an effective electron sink. N₂-induced uncoupling of ATP hydrolysis from substrate reduction by the α-195^gln MoFe protein is reversed by the addition of H₂ (D₂) in the assay atmosphere. This observation can successfully be explained if it-is assumed that the altered MoFe protein has a much greater binding affinity for H₂ (D₂) than for N₂. Substitution of the α-histidie-195 residue by glutamine also imparts hypersensitivity of acetylene reduction and N2 binding to inhibition by CO, indicating that the imidazole group of the α-histidine- 195 residue might protect an Fe contained within FeMo-cofactor from attack by CO. / Ph. D.