Nitrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes nitrogen fixation, is inhibited whenever free O2 reaches a critical concentration. Consequently, nitrogen fixation cannot occur in cells wherein photosynthesis produces free O2. Consider the colonial aquatic cyanobacterium, Anabaena, whose heterocytes are described as having "…a thickened cell wall that restricts entry of O2 produced by neighboring cells. Intracellular connections allow heterocysts to transport fixed nitrogen to neighboring cells in exchange for carbohydrates."
Given that the enzymes that catalyze nitrogen fixation are inhibited by oxygen, what are two "strategies" that nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes might use to protect these enzymes from oxygen?
1. couple them with photosystem II (the photosystem that splits water molecules)
2. package them in membranes that are impermeable to all gases
3. be obligate anaerobes
4. be strict aerobes
5. package these enzymes in specialized cells or compartments that inhibit oxygen entry
A) 1 and 4
B) 2 and 4
C) 2 and 5
D) 3 and 4
E) 3 and 5
Answer: E
Which two questions below arise from a careful reading of this quotation, and are most important for understanding how N2 enters heterocysts, and how O2 is kept out of heterocysts?
1. If carbohydrates can enter the heterocysts from neighboring cells via the "intracellular connections," how is it that O2 doesn't also enter via this route?
2. If the cell walls of Anabaena's photosynthetic cells are permeable to O2 and CO2, are they also permeable to N2?
3. If the nuclei of the photosynthetic cells contain the genes that code for nitrogen fixation, how can these cells fail to perform nitrogen fixation?
4. If the nuclei of the heterocysts contain the genes that code for photosynthesis, how can these cells fail to perform photosynthesis?
5. If the cell walls of Anabaena's heterocysts are permeable to N2, how is it that N2 doesn't diffuse out of the heterocysts before it can be fixed?
6. If the thick cell walls of the heterocysts exclude entry of oxygen gas, how is it that they don't also exclude the entry of nitrogen gas?
A) 1 and 3
B) 1 and 6
C) 2 and 5
D) 3 and 4
E) 4 and 6
Answer: B
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