Factors affecting the production of hydrogenase by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

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Abstract
An examination of conditions for the growth of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, with the aim of optimizing hydrogenase production, is reported. An ammonium sulfate – lactate – yeast extract medium gave 5 to 10 times as much hydrogenase activity as a peptone – yeast extract medium. It made little if any difference whether the gas used for sparging was nitrogen, hydrogen, or a mixture thereof but increasing the rate of sparging and agitation did result in a slight decrease in activity. Control of pH during culture development was of little benefit to hydrogenase production. At least two hydrogenases were present in D. desulfuricans: one periplasmic, the other membrane bound.Desulfovibrio desulfuricans produced more hydrogenase than did either D. gigas and D. vulgaris.