Nitrate reductase in Peru current phytoplankton

Abstract

Nitrate reductase (NR) activity was assayed by measuring the NADH-dependent formation of nitrite in phytoplankton extracts. NR specific activity increased with the nitrate concentration of the water in upwelling areas of the Peru Current. The temperature optimum for NR for natural phytoplankton was 15° to 20°C. NR activity showed diel periodicity, with maximum activity about noon and minimum activity near midnight local time. Rate of nitrate reduction in the extracts averaged only about 15% of the rate of nitrate assimilation in the whole cells.