Characterization of a light-dependent glutamate synthase activity in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

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Abstract
Photosynthetically active vesicles prepared from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii retained a light-dependent glutamate synthase activity which was highly specific for 2-oxoglutarate (Km=2.1 mM) and L-glutamine (Km=0.9 mM) as amido group acceptor and donor respectively. This activity was inhibited by azaserine, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea. Light-dependent synthesis of glutamate was also obtained by coupling Chlamydomonas photosynthetic particles to purified ferredoxin-glutamate synthase, using ascorbate and 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol as electron donor. This system was also specific for 2-oxoglutarate (Km=1 mM) and L-glutamine (Km=0.8 mM) as substrates, and was stimulated by dithioerythritol. Azaserine and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, but not 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea, inhibited the reconstituted activity; high concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate were inhibitory.