Nitrate reductase activity of a cyanobacteriumPhormidium uncinatumafter cyanophage LPP-1 infection

Abstract

The cellular glycogen pool and nitrate reductase activity were measured in the cyanobacterium Phormidium uncinatum after infection with cyanophage LPP‐1, under both light and dark conditions. While dark incubation of the cyanobacterium reduced the glycogen level, the nitrate reductase (NR) activity remained almost unchanged. Furthermore, cyanophage multiplication enhances cellular glycogen level and NR activity in both illuminated and dark‐incubated cyanobacterial cultures. Cyanophage‐mediated increase in host nitrate assimilation appears to support the high protein demand for its reproductive cycle.