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Science 29 June 1979:
Vol. 204. no. 4400, pp. 1429 - 1430
DOI: 10.1126/science.204.4400.1429
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Articles

Dark Anaerobic Dinitrogen Fixation by a Photosynthetic Microorganism

MICHAEL T. MADIGAN 1, JUDY D. WALL 1, and HOWARD GEST 1

1 Photosynthetic Bacteria Group, Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405

Photosynthetic purple bacteria can grow with dinitrogen gas as the sole nitrogen source under anaerobic conditions with light as the energy source. The bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata can fix nitrogen in darkness with alternative energy conversion systems, namely, anaerobic sugar fermentation and aerobic respiration at low oxygen tension. Although growth on dinitrogen is optimal under photosynthetic conditions, the results show that reduction of dinitrogen is not obligatorily coupled to activity of the photosynthetic apparatus.

Submitted on December 7, 1978
Revised on March 5, 1979

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)