Effect of cyanophage N-1 infection on the synthesis and stability of Nostoc muscorum nitrate reductase

The control operative on the nitrate reductase enzyme system of host cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum was studied after being infected with the cyanophage N-1. Phage infection lifted the host nitrate reductase activity level via accelerating the enzyme synthesis. It was found that the phage-mediated increase in the molybdenum cofactor synthesis was a major contributing factor for apparent elevated nitrate reductase level of the host. This process was inhibited in the presence of erythromycin and tungsten, the inhibitors of protein synthesis and new nitrate reductase synthesis respectively. While the preformed nitrate reductase of healthy cyanobacterium was inhibited by hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizing photosynthetic product, the same enzyme of infected cells remained virtually insensitive to this inhibitor. These data suggest involvement of new nitrate reductase synthesis and its resistance to oxidative inactivation as joint factors controlling the characteristic high enzyme level of host cyanobacterium.